PROCESSING GASOLINE PRICE DATA IN A NETWORKED ENVIRONMENT

• US 20100042428A1
• Filed: 10/19/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Death, Cameron, Graff, Scott, Sheppard, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

Processing gasoline price data in a networked environment. A data source component obtains gasoline purchase transaction data, which includes data indicative of consumer credit purchases of gasoline made by a plurality of consumers. Each of the consumer credit purchases is from an identifiable location. In response to receiving an indication that a gasoline level of a gasoline tank has reached a minimum, a user interface component generates a user request for gasoline price data for a selected geographic region. A processing component processes the gasoline purchase transaction data as a function of the selected geographic region and generates a display including the processed gasoline purchase transaction data for the selected region. The generated display is transmitted to a user computing device.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable components executed by a processor of a computer for processing gasoline price information, the computer-executable components comprising:

a data source component operable to obtain, via the communication network, gasoline purchase transaction data from at least one consumer credit agency, said gasoline purchase transaction data corresponding to consumer credit purchases of gasoline made by a plurality of consumers, each said consumer credit purchase being from an identifiable location, each said consumer credit purchase including a price charged per volume for the gasoline;

a processing component operable to calculate geographic-specific gasoline price statistical information from the obtained gasoline purchase transaction data as a function of the identifiable location and the price charged per volume for the gasoline in the consumer credit purchases made by the plurality of consumers;

a user interface component operable to obtain a user request for gasoline price data for a selected geographic region in response to a level indicated by a fuel tank sensor, wherein said user request indicates the selected geographic region;

wherein the user interface component is further operable to transmit a display including the calculated gasoline price statistical information specific to the selected geographic region, wherein the identifiable location of the displayed gasoline price statistical information corresponds to the selected geographic region.

2. The computer-executable components as recited in claim 1, wherein the identifiable location is associated with a postal zip code, and wherein the processing component is operable to calculate geographic-specific gasoline price statistical information from the obtained gasoline purchase transaction data as a function of the postal zip code associated with the identifiable location and the price charged per volume for the gasoline in the consumer credit purchases made by the plurality of consumers.

3. A computer system including a processor being operable to execute the computer-executable components recited in claim 1.

4. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable components executed by a processor of a computer for processing gasoline price information, the computer-executable components comprising:

a data source component operable to obtain gasoline purchase transaction data, the gasoline purchase transaction data including data indicative of consumer credit purchases of gasoline made by a plurality of consumers, each consumer credit purchase being from an identifiable location;

a user interface component operable to receive an indication that a gasoline level of a gasoline tank has reached a minimum threshold and, responsive to receiving said indication, to generate a user request for gasoline price data for a selected geographic region; and

a processing component operable to process the gasoline purchase transaction data as a function of the selected geographic region and to generate a display including the processed gasoline purchase transaction data for the selected geographic region;

wherein the user interface component is further operable to transmit the display including the processed gasoline purchase transaction data to a user computing device.

5. The computer-executable components as recited in claim 4, wherein the gasoline purchase transaction data includes data identifying a gasoline service station.

6. The computer-executable components as recited in claim 4, wherein the gasoline purchase transaction data includes data identifying a gasoline type.

7. The computer-executable components as recited in claim 6, wherein the gasoline purchase transaction data includes data identifying a price charged per volume for the gasoline type.

8. The computer-executable components as recited in claim 4, wherein the processing component is operable to calculate an average gasoline price charged per volume for the selected geographic region.

9. The computer-executable components as recited in claim 4, wherein the processing component is operable to identify a lowest and a highest gasoline price for the selected geographic region.

10. The computer-executable components as recited in claim 4, wherein the user interface component is operable to obtain a user specified selected geographic region, and said selected geographic region is specified as one of a postal zip code and an identifiable metro area.

11. The computer-executable components as recited in claim 4, wherein the user interface component is operable to obtain a user specification of a proximity radius of all gasoline service stations from the center of a specified location.

12. The computer-executable components as recited in claim 4, wherein the processing component is further operable to verify the identifiable location corresponding to the gasoline purchase transaction data.

13. The computer-executable components as recited in claim 12, wherein the processing component is operable to obtain latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates corresponding the identifiable location.

14. The computer-executable components as recited in claim 4, wherein user interface component is operable to obtain a specification of a navigable route and wherein the processing component is operable to identify geographic locations corresponding to the navigable route.

15. A computer system including a processor operable to execute the computer-executable components recited in claim 4.

16. In a computer system having a display and a user interface selection device, a method for processing gasoline price data, the method comprising:

obtaining gasoline purchase transaction data, the transaction data including data indicative of consumer purchases of gasoline made by a plurality of consumers;

obtaining a user request for gasoline price data, the user request being automatically initiated in response to a level indicated by a fuel tank sensor, and the user request specifying a selected geographic region;

generating, on the display, a map illustrative of the selected geographic region;

generating, on the display, visual indicators indicative of at least one gasoline service station having a location within the selected geographic region, said at least one gasoline service station being identified from the obtained gasoline purchase transaction data; and

generating, on the display, gasoline statistical price information calculated as a function of the obtained gasoline purchase transaction data for the at least one gasoline service station having a location within the selected geographic region.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the selected geographic region is one of a postal zip code and an identifiable metro area.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the gasoline price data includes at least one of the following:

an average gasoline price for the selected geographic region, a lowest gasoline price for the selected geographic region, and a highest gasoline price for the selected geographic region.

19. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, perform the method recited in claim 16.

20. A computer system including a processor, a memory, and an operating environment, the computer system being operable to perform the method recited in claim 16.