U.S. patent application number 13/242303 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-28 for geospatially constrained gastronomic bidding.
The applicant listed for this patent is Raj Vasant Abhyanker. Invention is credited to Raj Vasant Abhyanker.
Application Number | 20130054317 13/242303 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47744939 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130054317 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Abhyanker; Raj Vasant |
February 28, 2013 |
GEOSPATIALLY CONSTRAINED GASTRONOMIC BIDDING
Abstract
A method includes determining, through one or more central
server(s) associated with a gastronomic bidding service provider,
that a bidding platform provided by the gastronomic bidding service
provider has a number of requests for gastronomical offers within a
residential location zip code and/or a daytime location zip code
associated with a user thereof. The one or more central server(s)
includes a processor communicatively coupled to a memory. The
method also includes permitting the user to access the number of
requests for gastronomical offers within the residential location
zip code and/or the daytime location zip code thereof, and denying
the user access to a request for a gastronomical offer within a zip
code outside a geospatially constrained region around the
residential location zip code and/or the daytime location zip code
thereof.
Inventors: |
Abhyanker; Raj Vasant;
(Cupertino, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Abhyanker; Raj Vasant |
Cupertino |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47744939 |
Appl. No.: |
13/242303 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61526693 |
Aug 24, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.4 ;
705/26.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/14.4 ;
705/26.3 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20060101
G06Q030/00 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: determining, through at least one central
server, which includes a processor communicatively coupled to a
memory and which is associated with a gastronomic bidding service
provider, that a bidding platform provided by the gastronomic
bidding service provider has a number of requests for gastronomical
offers within at least one of a residential location zip code and a
daytime location zip code associated with a user thereof;
permitting the user to access the number of requests for
gastronomical offers within the at least one of the residential
location zip code and the daytime location zip code thereof; and
denying the user access to a request for a gastronomical offer
within a zip code outside a geospatially constrained region around
the at least one of the residential location zip code and the
daytime location zip code thereof.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: permitting a retail
establishment within the at least one of the residential location
zip code and the daytime location zip code of the user to create a
minimum reserve price of a gastronomical item associated therewith
based on a discount percentage automatically applied to a retail
price thereof, the minimum reserve price also being a first payout
price of the gastronomical item; increasing subsequent payout
prices of the gastronomical item from the first payout price up to
a constrained price associated therewith; increasing accept prices
corresponding to the payout prices of the gastronomical item such
that a rate of change of the accept prices as a function of a
number of times the gastronomical item is sold is faster than a
rate of change of the payout prices as the function of the number
of times the gastronomical item is sold; and hiding each accept
price and payout price from a view of the user of the bidding
platform at a client device associated therewith such that the user
is configured to bid for the gastronomical item with primarily the
retail price of the gastronomical item as a guidance thereto.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising at least one of:
permitting the retail establishment to create a limited special
offering comprising at least one of the gastronomical item and
other gastronomical items associated therewith; generating a user
feed that publishes a winning bid of a particular user to other
users within the bidding platform at least one of socially and
geographically associated therewith; generating a zip feed that
publishes winning bids of various retail establishments within the
zip feed to users who at least one of reside and work in the at
least one of the residential location zip code and the daytime
location zip code; generating a retail establishment feed that
publishes winning bids of a particular retail establishment to
users at least one of socially and geographically associated
therewith; and permitting users of the bidding platform to
subscribe to at least one of the user feed, the zip feed and the
retail establishment feed such that updates associated therewith
are accessible through a client device of each of the subscribed
users.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising: permitting the user
to create a series of standing bid amounts spread across a spectrum
of time such that the standing bid amounts are submitted
periodically to a set of retail establishments based on at least
one of the gastronomical item, a business name, a cuisine type, the
residential location zip code and the daytime location zip
code.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the constrained price is one of
below and equal to a threshold percentage of the retail price of
the gastronomical item when the first payout price is at most the
threshold percentage of the retail price, and wherein the
constrained price is equal to the retail price of the gastronomical
item when the first payout price is within another threshold
percentage value equal to a difference between 100 and the
threshold percentage value.
6. The method of claim 2, further comprising: crediting an account
associated with the gastronomic bidding service provider on the at
least one central server with an amount between a bid price of the
gastronomical item and a particular payout price thereof when the
bid price is at least a particular accept price corresponding to
the particular payout price.
7. The method of claim 2, further comprising: qualifying each of at
least a threshold number of retail establishments in accordance
with an agreement between the at least the threshold number of
retail establishments and the gastronomic bidding service provider
in which the at least the threshold number of retail establishments
agree to permit the user and other users to receive corresponding
gastronomical items thereof based on receipts generated through the
at least one central server upon securitization of at least one of
a winning bid consideration and a fixed fee purchase consideration
of the user and the other users.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: appending a delivery
charge to the at least one of the winning bid consideration and the
fixed fee purchase consideration when the user provides a physical
address that is within a threshold distance from a location address
of the retail establishment.
9. The method of claim 6, further comprising: hiding a fixed fee
request for an offer in the bidding platform presented to the user
through the at least one central server when the particular accept
price is above the fixed fee request for the offer.
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising: automatically
publishing a message associated with a saving associated with the
at least one of the winning bid consideration and the fixed fee
purchase consideration of the user to a social networking page
associated with the user following completion of the securitization
thereof.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: qualifying another
retail establishment in an inactive location zip code when the
another retail establishment lists gastronomical items to be
marketed to users in a region around the inactive location zip code
through the bidding platform; and transforming the inactive
location zip code to an active location zip code when there are at
least a threshold number of retail establishments qualifying in the
inactive location zip code.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: pre-purchasing,
through the at least one central server, a set of gastronomical
items from a preferred retail establishment; and marketing, to a
plurality of users, the set of gastronomical items through the
bidding platform provided by the gastronomic bidding service
provider.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: processing, through
the at least one central server, a conditional purchase offer
having an offer price of the user within the at least one of the
residential location zip code and the daytime location zip code for
a gastronomical item associated with a plurality of retail
establishments therein; processing, through the at least one
central server, a payment identifier specifying payment information
of the user, the payment identifier being associated with the
conditional purchase offer; transmitting the conditional purchase
offer to the plurality of retail establishments within the at least
one of the residential location zip code and the daytime location
zip code; receiving, at the at least one central server, an
acceptance from a retail establishment within the at least one of
the residential location zip code and the daytime location zip
code, the acceptance being responsive to the conditional purchase
offer by the user therein; and paying the retail establishment
associated with the acceptance based on the payment identifier.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein when a plurality of retail
establishments transmits acceptances to the at least one central
server, the method further comprises selecting one received
acceptance to determine a selected retail establishment.
15. A bidding platform server associated with a gastronomic bidding
service provider, comprising: a memory; and a processor configured
to address storage locations associated with the memory, the
processor further being configured to execute instructions
associated with: determining that a bidding platform provided by
the gastronomic bidding service provider has a number of requests
for gastronomical offers within at least one of a residential
location zip code and a daytime location zip code associated with a
user thereof, permitting the user to access the number of requests
for gastronomical offers within the at least one of the residential
location zip code and the daytime location zip code thereof, and
denying the user access to a request for a gastronomical offer
within a zip code outside a geospatially constrained region around
the at least one of the residential location zip code and the
daytime location zip code thereof.
16. The bidding platform server of claim 15, wherein the processor
is further configured to execute instructions associated with:
creating, in conjunction with a retail establishment device of a
retail establishment within the at least one of the residential
location zip code and the daytime location zip code of the user, a
minimum reserve price of a gastronomical item associated therewith
based on a discount percentage automatically applied to a retail
price thereof, the minimum reserve price also being a first payout
price of the gastronomical item, increasing subsequent payout
prices of the gastronomical item from the first payout price up to
a constrained price associated therewith, increasing accept prices
corresponding to the payout prices of the gastronomical item such
that a rate of change of the accept prices as a function of a
number of times the gastronomical item is sold is faster than a
rate of change of the payout prices as the function of the number
of times the gastronomical item is sold, and hiding each accept
price and payout price from a view of the user of the bidding
platform at a client device associated therewith such that the user
is configured to bid for the gastronomical item with primarily the
retail price of the gastronomical item as a guidance thereto.
17. The bidding platform server of claim 16, wherein the processor
is further configured to execute instructions associated with at
least one of: creating, in conjunction with the retail
establishment device of the retail establishment within the at
least one of the residential location zip code and the daytime
location zip code of the user, a limited special offering
comprising at least one of the gastronomical item and other
gastronomical items associated therewith generating a user feed
that publishes a winning bid of a particular user to other users
within the bidding platform at least one of socially and
geographically associated therewith; generating a zip feed that
publishes winning bids of various retail establishments within the
zip feed to users who at least one of reside and work in the at
least one of the residential location zip code and the daytime
location zip code; generating a retail establishment feed that
publishes winning bids of a particular retail establishment to
users at least one of socially and geographically associated
therewith; and permitting users of the bidding platform to
subscribe to at least one of the user feed, the zip feed and the
retail establishment feed such that updates associated therewith
are accessible through a client device of each of the subscribed
users.
18. The bidding platform server of claim 16, wherein the processor
is further configured to execute instructions associated with:
permitting the user to create a series of standing bid amounts on
the bidding platform spread across a spectrum of time such that the
standing bid amounts are submitted periodically to a set of retail
establishments based on at least one of the gastronomical item, a
business name, a cuisine type, the residential location zip code
and the daytime location zip code.
19. The bidding platform server of claim 16, wherein the
constrained price is one of below and equal to a threshold
percentage of the retail price of the gastronomical item when the
first payout price is at most the threshold percentage of the
retail price, and wherein the constrained price is equal to the
retail price of the gastronomical item when the first payout price
is within another threshold percentage value equal to a difference
between 100 and the threshold percentage value.
20. The bidding platform server of claim 16, wherein the processor
is further configured to execute instructions associated with:
crediting an account associated with the gastronomic bidding
service provider on the bidding platform server with an amount
between a bid price of the gastronomical item and a particular
payout price thereof when the bid price is at least a particular
accept price corresponding to the particular payout price.
21. The bidding platform server of claim 16, wherein the processor
is further configured to execute instructions associated with:
qualifying each of at least a threshold number of retail
establishments in accordance with an agreement between the at least
the threshold number of retail establishments and the gastronomic
bidding service provider in which the at least the threshold number
of retail establishments agree to permit the user and other users
to receive corresponding gastronomical items thereof based on
receipts generated through the bidding platform server upon
securitization of at least one of a winning bid consideration and a
fixed fee purchase consideration of the user and the other
users.
22. The bidding platform server of claim 21, wherein the processor
is further configured to execute instructions associated with:
appending a delivery charge to the at least one of the winning bid
consideration and the fixed fee purchase consideration when the
user provides a physical address that is within a threshold
distance from a location address of the retail establishment.
23. The bidding platform server of claim 20, wherein the processor
is further configured to execute instructions associated with:
hiding a fixed fee request for an offer in the bidding platform
presented to the user through the bidding platform server when the
particular accept price is above the fixed fee request for the
offer.
24. The bidding platform server of claim 21, wherein the processor
is further configured to execute instructions associated with:
automatically publishing a message associated with a saving
associated with the at least one of the winning bid consideration
and the fixed fee purchase consideration of the user to a social
networking page associated with the user following completion of
the securitization thereof.
25. The bidding platform server of claim 15, wherein the processor
is further configured to execute instructions associated with:
qualifying another retail establishment in an inactive location zip
code when the another retail establishment lists gastronomical
items to be marketed to users in a region around the inactive
location zip code through the bidding platform, and transforming
the inactive location zip code to an active location zip code when
there are at least a threshold number of retail establishments
qualifying in the inactive location zip code.
26. The bidding platform server of claim 15, wherein the processor
is further configured to execute instructions associated with:
pre-purchasing a set of gastronomical items from a preferred retail
establishment; and marketing, to a plurality of users, the set of
gastronomical items through the bidding platform provided by the
gastronomic bidding service provider.
27. The bidding platform server of claim 15, wherein the processor
is further configured to execute instructions associated with:
processing a conditional purchase offer having an offer price of
the user within the at least one of the residential location zip
code and the daytime location zip code for a gastronomical item
associated with a plurality of retail establishments therein,
processing a payment identifier specifying payment information of
the user, the payment identifier being associated with the
conditional purchase offer, transmitting the conditional purchase
offer to the plurality of retail establishments within the at least
one of the residential location zip code and the daytime location
zip code, receiving an acceptance from a retail establishment
within the at least one of the residential location zip code and
the daytime location zip code, the acceptance being responsive to
the conditional purchase offer by the user therein, and paying the
retail establishment associated with the acceptance based on the
payment identifier.
28. The bidding platform server of claim 27, wherein when a
plurality of retail establishments transmits acceptances to the
bidding platform server, the processor is further configured to
execute instructions associated with selecting one received
acceptance to determine a selected retail establishment.
29. A gastronomic bidding system comprising: at least one central
server configured to serve as a bidding platform provided by a
gastronomic bidding service provider; a network; a retail
establishment device to submit at least one request for a
gastronomical offer associated with a gastronomical item of a
retail establishment to the at least one central server, the retail
establishment device being coupled to the at least one central
server through the network; a client device associated with a user
of the bidding platform configured to submit an offer for the
gastronomical item, the client device also being coupled to the at
least one central server through the network, wherein the at least
one central server is further configured to: determine that the
retail establishment associated with the submitted at least one
request for the gastronomical offer is within at least one of a
residential location zip code and a daytime location zip code
associated with the user, permit the user of the client device to
access the submitted at least one request when the retail
establishment is established to be within the at least one of the
residential location zip code and the daytime location zip code
thereof, and deny the user access to the submitted at least one
request when the retail establishment is established to be outside
the at least one of the residential location zip code and the
daytime location zip code thereof.
30. The gastronomic bidding system of claim 29, wherein the at
least one central server is further configured to enable
qualification of each of at least a threshold number of retail
establishments in accordance with an agreement between the at least
the threshold number of retail establishments and the gastronomic
bidding service provider in which the at least the threshold number
of retail establishments agree to permit the user to receive the
gastronomical item thereof based on a receipt generated through the
at least one central server upon securitization of at least one of
a winning bid consideration and a fixed fee purchase consideration
of the user.
31. The gastronomic bidding system of claim 29, wherein the at
least one central server is configured to enable pre-purchasing a
set of gastronomical items from a preferred retail establishment,
and marketing, to a plurality of users, the set of gastronomical
items through the bidding platform provided by the gastronomic
bidding service provider.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This is a utility application and claims priority from U.S.
provisional application No. 61526693 titled "GEOSPATIAL CONSTRAINT
AROUND BIDDABILITY OF A GASTRONOMICAL ITEM" filed on Aug. 24,
2011.
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to gastronomic bidding
and, more particularly, to methods, an apparatus and/or a system of
geospatially constrained gastronomic bidding.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A retail establishment serving gastronomical items (e.g., a
restaurant, a market, a convenience store, a catering service
provider) may depend on customers who spend a significant portion
of time thereof around a physical address of the retail
establishment (e.g., in the same zip code, in the same street, in
the same town). The retail establishment may wish to identify such
customers because the aforementioned may prospectively patronize
the retail establishment regularly and frequently because of
convenience therein.
[0004] The retail establishment may distribute material (e.g.,
flyers, menus, coupons, collateral) in the neighborhood thereof
(e.g., through direct mail, Valpak.RTM., etc.). However, these
materials may not reach prospective customers who spend daytime
hours around the retail establishment but do not live around the
retail establishment (e.g., those who work around the retail
establishment, those who go to school around the retail
establishment etc.). Additionally, the retail establishment may be
banned from distributing material on cars, in parking lots, and/or
on sidewalks by local ordinances and/or private rules. As such, it
may be difficult for the retail establishment to attract customers
who spend daytime hours around the retail establishment (e.g.,
customers who work around the retail establishment, customers who
go to school around the retail establishment).
[0005] As an additional measure, the retail establishment may agree
to be featured on a daily deals website (e.g., Groupon.RTM., Plum
District.RTM.). The retail establishment may gain single visit
customers who drive large distances (e.g., many kilometers) to the
retail establishment when featured on the daily deals website. It
may be difficult for such customers to come often and/or regularly
to the retail establishment because of the time inconvenience
involved in traveling to the retail establishment. Furthermore, the
retail establishment may not financially benefit by such single
visit customers (e.g., because there may be no profit margin in a
special offered on the deals website, and because of the
statistical improbability of repeat visits). In addition, the
retail establishment may be faced with a large influx of customers
that cannot be satisfactorily serviced based on current trained
labor, capacity and/or food sourcing constraints soon after (e.g.,
for days and/or for weeks) being featured on the daily deals
website.
[0006] Similarly, potential customers may find the daily deals
website frustrating because many of the retail establishments
featured on the daily deals website may be geographically distant
from a primary location (e.g., home) and a secondary location
(e.g., work location, school location, etc.) thereof. As a result,
the retail establishment may struggle to identify marketing avenues
to predictably attract customers around the secondary location who
spend daytime hours around the retail establishment. In addition,
the retail establishment may struggle to distribute demand better
such that trained labor, capacity and/or food sourcing constraints
can be scaled to adequately meet such demand. Current technologies
do not provide solutions to these constraints.
SUMMARY
[0007] Disclosed are methods, an apparatus and/or a system of
geospatially constrained gastronomic bidding.
[0008] In one aspect, a method includes determining, through one or
more central server(s) associated with a gastronomic bidding
service provider, that a bidding platform provided by the
gastronomic bidding service provider has a number of requests for
gastronomical offers within a residential location zip code and/or
a daytime location zip code associated with a user thereof. The one
or more central server(s) includes a processor communicatively
coupled to a memory. The method also includes permitting the user
to access the number of requests for gastronomical offers within
the residential location zip code and/or the daytime location zip
code thereof, and denying the user access to a request for a
gastronomical offer within a zip code outside a geospatially
constrained region around the residential location zip code and/or
the daytime location zip code thereof.
[0009] In another aspect, a bidding platform server associated with
a gastronomic bidding service provider includes a memory and a
processor configured to address storage locations associated with
the memory. The processor is also configured to execute
instructions associated with determining that a bidding platform
provided by the gastronomic bidding service provider has a number
of requests for gastronomical offers within a residential location
zip code and/or a daytime location zip code associated with a user
thereof. Further, the processor is configured to execute
instructions associated with permitting the user to access the
number of requests for gastronomical offers within the residential
location zip code and/or the daytime location zip code thereof, and
denying the user access to a request for a gastronomical offer
within a zip code outside a geospatially constrained region around
the residential location zip code and/or the daytime location zip
code thereof.
[0010] In yet another aspect, a gastronomic bidding system includes
one or more central server(s) configured to serve as a bidding
platform provided by a gastronomic bidding service provider, a
network, a retail establishment device to submit one or more
request(s) for a gastronomical offer associated with a
gastronomical item of a retail establishment to the one or more
central server(s), and a client device associated with a user of
the bidding platform configured to submit an offer for the
gastronomical item. The retail establishment device and the client
device are coupled to the one or more central server(s) through the
network.
[0011] The one or more central server(s) is further configured to
determine that the retail establishment associated with the
submitted at one or more request(s) for the gastronomical offer is
within a residential location zip code and/or a daytime location
zip code associated with the user. Also, the one or more central
server(s) is configured to permit the user of the client device to
access the submitted one or more request(s) when the retail
establishment is established to be within the residential location
zip code and/or the daytime location zip code thereof, and deny the
user access to the submitted one or more request(s) when the retail
establishment is established to be outside the residential location
zip code and/or the daytime location zip code thereof.
[0012] The methods and systems disclosed herein may be implemented
in any means for achieving various aspects, and may be executed in
a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions
that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform any
of the operations disclosed herein. Other features will be apparent
from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description
that follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The embodiments of this invention are illustrated by way of
example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying
drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a geospatially constrained
gastronomic bidding system (GCGBS), according to one or more
embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of constituent elements of the
central server of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 3 is an example business model of income from bidding
on a gastronomical item through the GCGBS of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 4 is an illustrative view of a website of a gastronomic
bidding service provider loaded on a browser on a client device,
according to one or more embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of a retail establishment
interface of the website of the gastronomic bidding service
provider of FIG. 4 accessed through a browser on a retail
establishment device, according to one or more embodiments.
[0019] FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of the website of FIG. 4
following the log-in of a registered user thereon, according to one
or more embodiments.
[0020] FIG. 7 is an illustrative view of purchase history of a user
on the web site of FIG. 4, according to one or more
embodiments.
[0021] FIG. 8 is an illustrative view of a bidding interface
associated with the website of FIG. 4, according to one or more
embodiments.
[0022] FIG. 9 is an illustrative view of a social networking page
of a user associated with a gastronomic bidding service provider
being populated with bid result(s), according to one or more
embodiments.
[0023] FIG. 10 is a flowchart detailing the operations involved in
a method of qualifying a retail establishment in an "inactive" zip
code as a retail establishment in an "active" zip code through the
central server of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments.
[0024] FIG. 11 is a flowchart detailing the operations involved in
a method of transacting a conditional purchase offer to be paid for
by a user between a gastronomic bidding service provider and a
retail establishment, according to one or more embodiments.
[0025] FIG. 12 is a process flow diagram detailing the operations
involved in a method of realizing geospatially constrained bidding
of a gastronomical item, according to one or more embodiments.
[0026] FIG. 13 shows an example user profile associated with the
GCGBS of FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 14 shows an example location feed provided through the
central server of the GCGBS of FIG. 1.
[0028] Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent
from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description
that follows.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] Example embodiments, as described below, may be used to
provide a method, a system and/or an apparatus of geospatially
constrained gastronomic bidding. Although the present embodiments
have been described with reference to specific example embodiments,
it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be
made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit
and scope of the various embodiments.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a geospatially constrained gastronomic bidding
system (GCGBS) 100, according to one or more embodiments. In one or
more embodiments, GCGBS 100 may include a central server 102
configured to have a number of gastronomical offers displayed
thereon listed from one or more retail establishment(s) (e.g.,
restaurant(s) and/or catering service provider(s)) by way of retail
establishment device(s) 106.sub.1-N associated therewith. In one or
more embodiments, one or more client device(s) 104.sub.1-N may be
able to bid for one or more of the number of gastronomical offers
through a bidding platform associated with central server 102.
[0031] In one or more embodiments, the one or more client device(s)
104.sub.1-N may be coupled to central server 102 through computer
network 108 (e.g., the Internet, Local Area Network (LAN), Wide
Area Network (WAN)). In one or more embodiments, the one or more
retail establishment device(s) 106.sub.1-N may also be coupled to
central server 102 through computer network 108. In an alternate
embodiment, retail establishment device(s) 106.sub.1-N may be
coupled to central server 102 through a computer network different
from the computer network coupling the one or more client device(s)
104.sub.1-N to central server 102.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows constituent elements of central server 102,
according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments,
central server 102 may include processor 202 (e.g., Central
Processing Unit (CPU) and/or other optional processor(s))
configured to address storage locations associated with memory 204
(e.g., Random-Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), disk
storage). In one or more embodiments, as central server 102 is
associated with a bidding platform serving as an interface between
a buyer (e.g., a user of a client device 104.sub.1-N) and a seller
(e.g., an entity associated with retail establishment device
106.sub.1-N), central server 102 may be capable of transacting at a
high volume.
[0033] In one or more embodiments, processor 202 may be configured
to execute instructions associated with bidding processes,
processing of payment(s) (e.g., credit/debit card payment(s)
associated with a user of client device 104.sub.1-N, verification,
authentication and/or processing of the aforementioned payments
through other server(s)), authentication of information from buyers
(e.g., from client devices 104.sub.1-N) and/or sellers (e.g.,
retail establishment device(s) 106.sub.1-N) and geospatially
constraining gastronomical search results of the prospective
buyer(s) (e.g., from client devices 104.sub.1-N) to retail
establishment(s) (e.g., associated with retail establishment
device(s) 106.sub.1-N) within a residence zip code and/or a daytime
zip code thereof.
[0034] For example, a user of client device 104.sub.1-N may be
resident at a zip code associated with Mountain View, Calif., while
spending most of the daytime hours at work at a zip code associated
with Palo Alto, Calif. During registration of the user with the
bidding platform provided through central server 102, the user may
be required to provide the zip code associated with residency
and/or the zip code associated with work. The gastronomical offers
available to the user may, then, be localized to the aforementioned
zip code(s). In other words, central server 102 may make
gastronomical offers associated with solely the residency zip code
and/or the work zip code available to the user. In another example
embodiment, central server 102 may make gastronomical offers
associated with all zip codes available (i.e., viewable) to the
user, but may only enable transaction(s) associated with the
residency zip code and/or the work zip code. In yet another example
embodiment, the residency zip code and the daytime zip code
associated with the user may be the same.
[0035] It is obvious that central server 102 may include a number
of servers communicatively coupled to each other performing the
functionality associated therewith. In one or more embodiments,
memory 204 of central server 102 may include one or more
database(s) associated therewith such as buyer database 252 and
retail establishment database 254, where buyer database 252
includes details of user(s) associated with client devices
104.sub.1-N such as name, address including a residence location
zip code and a daytime location zip code, e-mail address,
credit/debit card number (if previous transaction(s) exist) and
history of bidding/purchase(s) through the bidding platform, and
retail establishment database 254 includes details of retail
establishment(s) such as name of establishment, address/contact
information including website address, payment preferences and
ratings/user feedback associated therewith. The aforementioned
example details of the database(s) are merely for illustrative
purposes, and other implementations thereof are within the scope of
the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.
[0036] Further, in one or more embodiments, memory 204 may include
a credit module 282, instructions associated with which are
configured to execute on processor 202. In one or more embodiments,
credit module 282 may enable calculation of an amount to be
credited to a service provider associated with the bidding platform
provided through central server 102. Discussion associated with
credit module 282 has been deferred until the end of discussion
associated with FIG. 9 for the sake of clarity. It is obvious that
although processor 202 and memory 204 are shown to be distinct from
one another in FIG. 2, processor 202 may include memory 204 as a
part thereof and vice versa.
[0037] In one or more embodiments, central server 102 may select
the zip code(s) associated with a buyer to display offers from
retail establishment(s) solely within the abovementioned zip
code(s). In one or more embodiments, retail establishment(s) (e.g.,
restaurants) may enter, at central server 102, a minimum selling
price (or, reserve price) associated with a gastronomical item
provided therefrom through retail establishment device(s)
106.sub.1-N associated therewith. In one or more embodiments, the
service provider of the bidding platform associated with central
server 102 may accept the first offer above a threshold percentage
(e.g., 5%) higher than the minimum reserve price (the price
associated with the accepted offer may be called "accept price,"
for the sake of simplicity). In one or more embodiments, subsequent
orders/bids may be associated with increased income for both the
retail establishment and the service provider as both the minimum
reserve price and the accept price may be increased for each
gastronomical item associated with the retail establishment, in
accordance with a business model.
[0038] In one or more embodiments, the percentage increase between
the minimum reserve price and the accept price may not always be
proportional due to subsidization of early bidders through the
service provider. However, as discussed above, both the service
provider and the retail establishment may increase income thereof
with increased sale(s). FIG. 3 shows an example business model of
income from bidding on a gastronomical item 302. Gastronomical item
302 (e.g., eggplant parmesan sandwich) from retail establishment
304 (e.g., ABC sandwiches) may have a retail price 350 of $8.95
associated therewith. Retail establishment 304 may offer
gastronomical item 302 at a 50% discount (e.g., $4.48 approx.,
which is minimum reserve price 310) to users of the bidding
platform associated with service provider 306.
[0039] Service provider 306 may set a maximum price constraint 308
associated with gastronomical item 302, which may at most be 80%
(in general, less than or equal to a threshold) of retail price 350
of gastronomical item 302 when the first payout price (discussed
below) is at most 80% of retail price 350. Maximum price constraint
308 may be equal to retail price 350 when the first payout price is
within 20% of retail price 350. Thus, in the example shown in FIG.
3, maximum price constraint 308 may be set to be $7.16 (80% of
$8.95). Service provider 306 may also set an accept factor 316
associated with gastronomical item 302, which is 5% in the example
shown in FIG. 3. The first offer (e.g., associated with purchase of
one quantity; quantity is shown under column quantity 390) for
gastronomical item 302 may, therefore, be accepted from a buyer
(e.g., a user at client device 104.sub.1-N) at 5% above minimum
reserve price 310. The monetary value associated with the first
accepted offer (shown under accept price 320 in FIG. 3) may, thus,
be $4.61 approx, which is 5% above the difference between minimum
reserve price 310 and maximum price constraint 308.
[0040] In accordance with the first accepted offer of $4.61,
service provider 306 may pay retail establishment 304 $4.48, which
is equivalent to minimum reserve price 310 (here, payout price
312). Service provider 306 may set a payout factor 314 (e.g., 1%,
as shown in FIG. 3; setting may be done through central server 102)
associated with an increase of payout price 312 from minimum
reserve price 310 to maximum price constraint 308. Thus, for the
second accepted offer having a monetary value of $4.74 approx.
($4.61+5% of the difference between first accepted offer and
maximum price constraint 308) associated therewith, payout price
312 may be $4.50 approx., which is $4.48+1% of the difference
between maximum price constraint 308 and first payout price 312 of
$4.48.
[0041] It is obvious to see that payout price 312 may be constant
at $4.48 (minimum reserve price 310) when payout factor 314 is 0%.
Although this yields a maximum profit to service provider 306, the
business model may be static and unattractive from the perspective
of retail establishment 304. Therefore, payout factor 314 may be
chosen to be a finite percentage. Monetary value(s) associated with
subsequent offers and payout price(s) 312 shown in FIG. 3 are
obviously derived based on accept factor 316, payout factor 314,
minimum reserve price 310 and maximum price constraint 308.
[0042] From FIG. 3, it is also obvious that accept price 320 may
increase to maximum price constraint 308, following which accept
price 320 is saturated (i.e., constant). Similarly from FIG. 3, it
can be seen that payout price 312 may also increase approximately
to maximum price constraint 308, following which saturation occurs.
However, as accept factor 316 is higher than payout factor 314, the
rate of change of the increase of accept price(s) 320 as a function
of the number of gastronomical item(s) 302 sold is faster than the
rate of change of the increase in the corresponding payout price(s)
312 as a function of the number of gastronomical item(s) 302
sold.
[0043] Moreover, as seen in FIG. 3, the profit (e.g., profit 370)
associated with each accepted offer increases to a maximum value
thereof, following which the profit decreases. It is obvious that
changing values of the prices and the factors involved in the
business model discussed with respect to FIG. 3 may change
characteristics of the offers and the monetary values associated
therewith. Further, it is obvious that although accept actor 316 is
discussed as an indicator, bids above the expected accept price 320
may be accepted, thereby further increasing profit on the bid to
service provider 306.
[0044] Additionally, service provider 306 may set a buy-it-now
price 340 (e.g., $6.53 in FIG. 3), which is displayed to the
bidding user up and until accept price 320 predicted based on
accept factor 316 is less than buy-it-now price 340. The bidding
user may, therefore, have the option of buying at buy-it-now price
340, which is still less than maximum price constraint 308 and
retail price 350 associated with gastronomical item 302.
[0045] In one or more embodiments, accept price(s) 320 and payout
price(s) 312 may be hidden from the view of the bidding user in the
bidding platform displayed on client device 104.sub.1-N associated
therewith, as will be discussed below. In one or more embodiments,
the user may enter a bid amount with primarily retail price 350 of
gastronomical item 302 serving as guidance thereto. In one or more
embodiments, the user may be permitted to submit a series of
standing bid amounts spread across a spectrum of time. In the
scenario discussed in FIG. 3, the user may increase the bid amount
until the bid amount is accepted by service provider 306 (retail
establishment(s) 304 may have authorized service provider 306 to
accept bid amount(s)) and/or retail establishment(s) 304. In one or
more example embodiments, the standing bid amounts may be submitted
(e.g., on a periodic basis) to a set of retail establishment(s) 304
based on one or more of gastronomical item 302, a business name
(e.g., ABC sandwiches), a cuisine type (e.g., Italian cuisine,
Indian cuisine, Chinese cuisine), a residential location zip code
and a daytime location zip code. Other parameters/differentiators
within the context of geospatially constrained bidding are within
the scope of the exemplary embodiments.
[0046] In a first example, the user may perform a gastronomical
item 302 based search on the bidding platform (or, be presented
gastronomical item 302 through the bidding platform), following
which he/she bids on gastronomical item 302. In a second example,
the user may perform (or, be presented through the bidding
platform) a geospatially constrained search by business name,
following which he/she submits a bid for one or more item(s) (e.g.,
a combo meal). In a third example, the user may submit a bid based
on the cuisine type, which is accepted by a retail establishment
304 within the residential location zip code and/or the daytime
location zip code. In a fourth example, the user may submit a bid
that is transmitted to a number of retail establishment(s) 304
associated with the residential location zip code and/or the
daytime location zip code, following which the bid is accepted by a
retail establishment 304 therein.
[0047] It is obvious that the bid(s) submitted by the user may not
be accepted by any retail establishment 304 (or, service provider
306 authorized by retail establishment 304). The user may have a
fixed expense in mind regarding a meal, and may be unsure of a
place to eat within the residential and/or daytime location zip
code. Exemplary embodiments discussed herein may provide for a
means to match a meal at a retail establishment 304 with the fixed
expense submitted by the user in the form of a bid to the bidding
platform.
[0048] Also, it is obvious that other algorithms associated with
calculation of accept price(s) 320 and/or payout price(s) 312 are
within the scope of the exemplary embodiments, and that the
discussion above related to the calculation thereof is merely for
example illustrative purpose(s).
[0049] FIG. 4 shows a website 400 of service provider 306
associated with the bidding platform loaded on a browser on client
device 104.sub.1-N (e.g., a laptop, a personal computer (PC), a
mobile phone), according to one or more embodiments. In one or more
embodiments, website 400 may require a user to register therewith
(e.g., name, address, residential location zip code and/or daytime
location zip code) and/or to sign-in to place a bid/order thereon.
Website 400 may also have a separate interface for retail
establishment(s) 304, which is accessed by clicking the appropriate
section thereof (e.g., retail establishment owner(s) 402). FIG. 5
shows retail establishment interface 500 of website 400 accessed
through a browser on retail establishment device 106.sub.1-N,
according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments,
retail establishment interface 500 may also require retail
establishment owner(s) (or, representatives thereof) to register
therewith and/or to sign-in to enter gastronomical item(s) 302
and/or specials (e.g., day-of-the-week limited special offering
including one or more gastronomical item(s)).
[0050] In one or more embodiments, website 400 may also allow
user(s) and/or retail establishment owner(s)/representative(s) to
log-in with social networking account(s) (e.g., Facebook account,
Twitter.TM. account; not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) thereof. FIG. 6
shows website 400 following the log-in of a registered user
thereon, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more
embodiments, website 400 may provide links to purchase history 602
and/or may display one or more retail establishment(s) 304 (e.g.,
through retail establishment display 604) within the residential
location zip code and/or the daytime location zip code provided by
the user during registration thereof with website 400. In one or
more embodiments, website 400 may also provide an active feed 606
to the user based on a purchase history of user(s) associated
therewith similarly constrained by the same residential location
zip code and/or the daytime location zip code. In one or more
embodiments, active feed 606 may enable the user to make
decision(s) based on purchase(s) by other users. For example,
buy-it-now price 340 associated with a gastronomic item 302
purchased by a user may be displayed to another user based on
recency of activity associated therewith and similarity of
constraint associated with residential location zip code and/or
daytime location zip code.
[0051] In one or more embodiments, active feed 606 may be a user
feed configured to publish a winning bid of a particular user to
other users within the bidding platform at least one of socially
(e.g., through an online community such as a forum and/or a social
network-based community) and geographically associated therewith
(see, e.g., FIG. 6). Additionally, in one or more embodiments,
active feed 606 may be a zip feed that publishes winning bids of
various retail establishment(s) 304 within the zip feed to users
who reside and/or work in the residential location zip code and/or
the daytime location zip code.
[0052] Further, in one or more embodiments, active feed 606 may be
a retail establishment feed that publishes winning bids associated
with a particular retail establishment to users socially and/or
geographically associated therewith. In one or more embodiments,
central server 102 may enable generation of the aforementioned
feeds. In one or more embodiments, central server 102 may also
permit users of the bidding platform to subscribe to the user feed,
the zip feed and/or the retail establishment feed such that updates
associated therewith are accessible through client device
104.sub.1-N of each of the subscribed users.
[0053] FIG. 7 shows purchase history 702 of a user on website 400,
according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments,
the webpage associated with purchase history 702 may be reached by
the logged in user upon clicking an appropriate link associated
therewith. As shown in FIG. 7, purchase history 702 may include bid
date 704, gastronomical item 706 (analogous to gastronomical item
302), retail establishment 708 (analogous to retail establishment
304), offer price 710, quantity 712 and redemption date 714,
according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 7 shows a user having
purchased three gastronomical items 706 from separate retail
establishment(s) 708, with offers associated therewith to be
redeemed on separate redemption dates 714.
[0054] For example, the user is shown to have the capability to
redeem a $4.61 offer for an eggplant parmesan sandwich from ABC
sandwiches on Feb. 16, 2012, a $1.75 offer for a bottle of A1 beer
at ZXY eatery on Feb. 12, 2012 and a $4.25 offer for an
All-American Breakfast at CMN pancakes on Feb. 17, 2012. It is
obvious that the user may place bids on the same retail
establishment 708 and/or have the same redemption date 714
associated therewith. For example, the user may bid for breakfast
and dinner at the same retail establishment 708 on the same
redemption date 714. Other logical variations are within the scope
of the exemplary embodiments.
[0055] In one or more embodiments, retail establishment(s) 708
(e.g., restaurants) all over a region (e.g., a country like the
United States of America (USA)) may self-sign up with service
provider 306 to be capable of creating a menu thereof "online,"
creating specials (e.g., special deal(s), offer(s) on occasions
such as Labor Day, Independence Day et al.) associated with
gastronomical item(s) 706 and/or inviting patrons thereof. In one
or more embodiments, service provider 306 may start operations
associated with the bidding platform only when more than a
threshold number (e.g., 5) of retail establishment(s) 708 and a
threshold number (e.g., 200) number of active user(s) sign up
therewith.
[0056] In accordance with an agreement (e.g., a contract) between a
retail establishment 708 and service provider 306, retail
establishment 708 may have to agree to permit the user(s) to
receive gastronomical item(s) 706 (e.g., dine in person at the
appropriate retail establishment 708) based on receipt(s) generated
(e.g., see print receipt 752 of FIG. 7) through the bidding
platform provided by central server 102 upon securitization of the
winning bid consideration and/or a fixed fee purchase consideration
of the user(s). For example, securitization of the winning bid
consideration and/or a fixed fee purchase consideration of a user
may be complete upon the credit/debit card thereof being charged by
service provider 306.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 6 once again, in one or more embodiments,
user(s) may have the capability to follow (e.g., see Retail
Establishment(s) followed 640) one or more retail establishment(s)
304 of preference to aid easy cognizance of deal(s), offer(s),
special(s) and/or gastronomical item(s) 302 associated therewith.
Also, in one or more embodiments, user(s) may have the capability
to follow one another just like a social networking environment
such that a user can be apprised of eating preference(s) and/or
choice(s) of one or more other user(s).
[0058] FIG. 8 shows bidding interface 800 associated with website
400, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more
embodiments, a user of client device 104.sub.1-N may be configured
to arrive at bidding interface 800 upon logging into website 400
and opting to bid for a gastronomical item 706. FIG. 8 shows a user
bidding for a Veggie Omlette (example of gastronomical item 706)
from ABC sandwiches (example of retail establishment 708). Bidding
interface 800 may require the user to choose or enter a redemption
date 714, a quantity 712 of gastronomical item 706 and a bid price
802 thereof. The guideline for bidding may be provided by retail
price 804 associated with gastronomical item 706 (e.g., Veggie
Omelet, $9.95 retail). The user may then submit the bid through an
appropriate button (e.g., bid button 806), following which central
server 102 is configured to determine whether to accept/reject the
bid.
[0059] For example, a bid price below the expected payout price 312
may be instantly rejected and a bid corresponding to a sum of the
expected payout price 312 and a price associated with accept factor
316 may be accepted at or above the aforementioned sum. Also, FIG.
8 shows user payment of service provider 306 through account funds
812 and credit/debit card 814 as options. Account funds 812 may be
an amount the user has as credit to his/her account on website 400.
For example, the user may transfer funds to his/her account through
a bank transfer, a service provider transfer (e.g., through
Paypal.RTM.), or, the amount may be available to the user as credit
amount toward a refund from one or more retail establishment(s) 708
and/or service provider 306. FIG. 6 shows a user 670 associated
with website 400 as having a $6.96 as account balance 680 for
illustrative purpose.
[0060] In one example embodiment, service provider 306 may credit
the user account (e.g., a $20 credit) for signing up therewith as a
promotional offer to attract more user(s) thereto (e.g., by way of
the user spreading word through the Internet, word of mouth etc.).
In one or more embodiments, the user may possess the capability to
"follow" location(s) (e.g., cities), cuisine style(s),
gastronomical item(s) 706, retail establishment(s) 708 or other
users through website 400 to be apprised of social behavior,
choice(s) and/or available options.
[0061] In one or more embodiments, a user, upon winning a bid, may
have the result(s) thereof posted to his/her social networking page
(e.g., a Facebook wall) through service provider 306. This may be
made possible through either through the user logging into website
400 using his/her social networking profile and/or the user
permitting service provider 306 to access his/her social networking
profile. The social networking profile of the user may be stored in
buyer database 252 of FIG. 2, for example, thereby enabling a
social networking page associated therewith to be populated with
his/her bidding result(s). The user may obviously opt not to have
the social networking page populated with the bidding
result(s).
[0062] FIG. 9 shows an example social networking page 900 of a user
902 associated with service provider 306 being populated with bid
result(s), according to one or more embodiments. In the example
embodiment of FIG. 9, the bid result(s) are shown as "I just won a
three cheese omelet from ABC sandwiches for $4.95," and "I just won
A1 beer for $1.75 a bottle from ZXY eatery," followed by the
appropriate URLs associated with the aforementioned retail
establishment(s) 708, under the name of user 902 (e.g., username
904 shown as John Doe). The aforementioned is merely for example
purposes, and other forms of populating social networking pages are
within the scope of the exemplary embodiments. In one or more
embodiments, the aforementioned population of social networking
page 900 may enable friend(s) of user 902, friend(s) of friend(s)
of user 902 and/or networking group members thereof to track and/or
view offers availed by user 902.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 2 once again, in one or more embodiments,
central server 102 may include credit module 282 resident on memory
204 configured to enable execution of instructions associated with
crediting service provider 306 on processor 202 for a successful
accepted offer. For example, credit module 282 may enable crediting
an account (e.g., a credit/debit card, a bank account) associated
with service provider 306 with an amount between the offer price
(e.g., expected accept price 320 and above) and payout price 312
associated with a gastronomical item 302. In one or more
embodiments, credit module 282 (or, a related module on memory 204
configured to execute on processor 202) may also be associated with
crediting an account associated with the appropriate retail
establishment 304 with payout price 312 for the gastronomical item
302 following the successful completion of the debit process (or,
payment for the offer) associated with the user (or, buyer of
gastronomical item 302).
[0064] In one or more embodiments, a retail establishment 304 may
also provide home delivery (or, work delivery) options to the user
if the user is within a threshold distance (e.g., <4 miles) of a
location of retail establishment 304. In such scenarios, in one or
more embodiments, service provider 306 (e.g., with the
authorization of retail establishment 304, or, through implementing
a policy associated with website 400) may append a delivery charge
to a winning bid consideration and/or a fixed fee (e.g., a
buy-it-now price 340) purchase consideration associated with the
user based on the physical address provided by the user (or, stored
in buyer database 252). The user may be required to pay for the
delivery if requesting a home delivery (or, a work delivery), or,
may have the option to dispense with the delivery charge by not
opting for the home delivery (or, work delivery).
[0065] In an example embodiment, the user may also get at least a
portion of the delivery charge(s) waived if his/her order exceeds a
threshold monetary value (e.g., $100). In another example
embodiment, taxes (e.g., state food taxes) may be claimed from the
user during processing of a payment therefrom. Alternately, the
user may opt to pay for the taxes following consumption of
gastronomical item 302. In yet another example, the user may be
provided, through website 400, the option to merely pay for a
portion of the monetary value associated with gastronomical item
302. The user may then pay the balance amount following the
consumption of gastronomical item 302 at the location of retail
establishment 304 and/or following the receipt of the home delivery
order (or, work delivery order).
[0066] In one or more embodiments, as discussed above, the fixed
fee option (e.g., buy-it-now price 340) may be hidden from the view
of the user on the bidding platform provided through central server
102 if accept price 320 associated with gastronomical item 302
exceeds the fixed fee. In one or more embodiments, a message
associated with a percentage saved on a successful bid of
gastronomical item 302 and/or a fixed fee purchase (e.g., at
buy-it-now price 340) thereof may be posted (not shown) in active
feed 606 and/or the social networking page associated with the
user. In one or more embodiments, the "percentage saved" may be
calculated based on accept price 320 and retail price 350 of
gastronomical item 302.
[0067] In one or more embodiments, one or more retail
establishment(s) 304 in an "inactive" zip code (e.g., zero, or, a
low number of patrons associated therewith) listing gastronomical
item(s) 302 to be marketed through the bidding platform provided by
service provider 306 may qualify as retail establishment(s) 304
within an active zip code, provided the number of retail
establishment(s) 304 within the "inactive" zip code is above a
threshold number (e.g., 5). Gastronomical items 302 associated with
the aforementioned one or more retail establishment(s) 304 may be
marketed to users associated with a region around the previously
"inactive" zip code (now "active" zip code). FIG. 10 shows a
flowchart detailing the operations involved in a method of
qualifying a retail establishment 304 in an "inactive" zip code as
a retail establishment 304 in an "active" zip code through central
server 102 associated with service provider 306, according to one
or more embodiments.
[0068] In one or more embodiments, operation 1002 may involve
verifying, through central server 102, as to whether a number of
users in a zip code is below a threshold value (e.g., 200) and/or a
purchase history associated with the zip code is below a threshold
monetary value/quantity of orders. In one or more embodiments, if
yes, operation 1004 may involve classifying, through central server
102, that the zip code is "inactive." In one or more embodiments,
operation 1006 may involve checking as to whether retail
establishment(s) 304 in the "inactive" zip code is above a
threshold number. In one or more embodiments, if the number of
retail establishment(s) has increased above the threshold number,
operation 1008 may involve modifying, through central server 102, a
status of retail establishment 304 within the "inactive" zip code
to reflect the change of the zip code to "active." One or more
module(s) executing on processor 202 (or, stored in memory 204) may
be configured to perform action(s) associated with the
abovementioned qualification.
[0069] In one or more embodiments, service provider 306 may also be
configured to purchase a set of gastronomical item(s) 302 from a
preferred retail establishment 304 at a wholesale price (e.g., at
50% discount). Then, in one or more embodiments, service provider
306 may then market the aforementioned set of gastronomical item(s)
302 through the bidding platform associated therewith to the users
thereof. Here, in one or more embodiments, not only does service
provider 306 increase exposure thereof, but also service provider
306 provides means to increase exposure of the preferred retail
establishment 304. Now, in one or more embodiments, service
provider 306 may not be required to credit the preferred retail
establishment 304 for the bids and/or the fixed fee purchases.
[0070] FIG. 11 shows a flowchart detailing the operations involved
in a method of transacting a conditional purchase offer to be paid
for by a user (e.g., associated with client device 104.sub.1-N)
between service provider 306 and retail establishment 304,
according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments,
the conditional purchase offer may only be available to users
within an active specific zip code. Here, the user may be
configured to input a desired price thereof (or, offer price)
through the bidding platform provided through service provider 306
to be matched with conditional offer(s) within the active zip code.
In one or more embodiments, operation 1102 may involve processing,
through central server 102, a conditional purchase offer having the
offer price of the user within the active zip code for a
gastronomical item associated with one or more retail
establishment(s) 304.
[0071] In one or more embodiments, operation 1104 may involve
processing, through central server 102, a payment identifier
specifying payment details associated with the user (e.g., credit
card/debit card details). In one or more embodiments, the payment
identifier may be associated with the conditional purchase offer.
In one or more embodiments, operation 1106 may involve transmitting
the conditional purchase offer to a number of retail
establishment(s) 304 within the active zip code following the
processing of the payment identifier. In one or more embodiments,
operation 1108 may involve verifying as to whether the conditional
purchase offer is accepted by a retail establishment 304 within the
active zip code.
[0072] In one or more embodiments, if yes, operation 1110 may
involve inputting, into central server 102, the acceptance from
retail establishment 304 within the active zip code. In one or more
embodiments, the acceptance is responsive to the conditional
purchase offer by the user within the geospatial constraint of the
active zip code. In one or more embodiments, operation 1112 may
then involve service provider 306 paying retail establishment 304
(e.g., monetary value of payout price 312) based on a secure
communication between retail establishment device 106.sub.1-N
associated with retail establishment 304 and central server 102
associated with service provider 306.
[0073] Now, in one or more embodiments, more than one retail
establishment 304 may accept the conditional purchase offer by the
user. Here, in one or more embodiments, acceptances from each
retail establishment 304 (e.g., through retail establishment device
106.sub.1-N associated therewith) may be input into central server
102. Again, in one or more embodiments, each acceptance may be
responsive to the conditional purchase offer. In one or more
embodiments, one of the received acceptance(s) may be selected
through central server 102 (e.g., through processor 202) to
determine a selected retail establishment 304 from the number of
retail establishments 304 accepting the conditional purchase offer.
Again, in one or more embodiments, payment to the selected retail
establishment 304 may be as discussed above.
[0074] It is obvious that one or more processes associated with
service provider 306 may be performed through processor 202 of
central server 102. FIG. 12 shows a process flow diagram detailing
the operations involved in a method of realizing geospatially
constrained bidding of a gastronomical item (e.g., gastronomical
item 302), according to one or more embodiments. In one or more
embodiments, operation 1202 may involve determining, through one or
more central server(s) (e.g., central server 102) associated with a
gastronomic bidding service provider (e.g., service provider 306),
that a bidding platform provided by the gastronomic bidding service
provider has a number of requests for gastronomical offers within a
residential location zip code and/or a daytime location zip code
associated with a user thereof. In one or more embodiments, the one
or more central server(s) includes processor 202 communicatively
coupled to memory 204.
[0075] In one or more embodiments, operation 1204 may involve
permitting the user to access the number of requests for
gastronomical offers within the residential location zip code
and/or the daytime location zip code thereof. In one or more
embodiments, operation 1206 may then involve denying the user
access to a request for a gastronomical offer within a zip code
outside a geospatially constrained region around the residential
location zip code and/or the daytime location zip code thereof.
[0076] FIG. 13 shows an example user profile associated with the
bidding platform provided through service provider 306.
Specifically, FIG. 13 shows an example user profile of Jane Smith
associated with the 94301 zip code at website 400. The example user
profile may be accessed through client device 104.sub.1-N by
clicking on an appropriate link associated therewith. The user
profile may include a compiled list of winning bids and/or recent
activity associated therewith, as shown in FIG. 13. Other list(s)
such as a list of comment(s) (not shown) of the user may also be
compiled at the profile page associated with the user.
[0077] FIG. 13 also shows the user profile as providing a
capability to other users to "follow" the user (see Follow Button
1302). "Following" a user may enable other users to be apprised of
activity, updates, form posts, discussions, winning bids, purchases
etc. associated therewith. Thus, the bidding platform may provide
"online" networking capabilities to subscribed users thereof.
[0078] FIG. 14 shows location feed 1402 being provided the bidding
platform (accessed through client device 104.sub.1-N) associated
with service provider 306. Location feed 1402 may be analogous to
the zip feed discussed with regard to FIG. 6 above. Location feed
1402 for a zip code associated with a user may be accessed, for
example, by the user logging into website 400. Alternately, users
of client devices 104.sub.1-N may obtain location feed 1402 for a
specific zip code by choosing the zip code on website 400
with/without logging into website 400. The user(s) may also be
provided a capability to subscribe to location feed 1402 (e.g.,
through subscribe button 1404) by logging into website 400. The
aforementioned user(s) may or may not be associated with the zip
code related to location feed 1402. In one or more embodiments, a
user may directly be subscribed to location feed 1402 based on the
zip code(s) associated therewith. Other implementations are within
the scope of the exemplary embodiments. Generation of and/or
subscription to location feed 1402 (and other examples of active
feed 606) may be enabled through central server 102.
[0079] Although the present embodiments have been described with
reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that
various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments
without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various
embodiments. For example, the various devices and modules described
herein may be enabled and operated using hardware circuitry (e.g.,
CMOS based logic circuitry), firmware, software or any combination
of hardware, firmware, and software (e.g., embodied in a machine
readable medium). For example, the various electrical structure and
methods may be embodied using transistors, logic gates, and
electrical circuits (e.g., application specific integrated (ASIC)
circuitry and/or Digital Signal Processor (DSP) circuitry).
[0080] In addition, it will be appreciated that the various
operations, processes, and methods disclosed herein may be embodied
in a machine-readable medium and/or a machine accessible medium
compatible with a data processing system (e.g., a computer device).
Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in
an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
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