System for concurrent optimization of business economics and customer value

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for an airline to enhance customers' experience. A computer-implemented service is operated that delivers to a customer an option to upgrade on up to n of m selected products, where n is less than m. Information is recorded in a data store, pertaining to said option. In addition, a system is operated to define each of the n chosen products, whereby after each of the n chosen products is defined, the customer can be upgraded to said chosen product. The information pertaining to said defined products is recorded in a data store.

1 . A computer-implemented system to define customer preferences, comprising:
 a. a data processor adapted to record relevant information regarding products in a computer-readable data store;   b. a data processor adapted to receive at least one input that defines customer preferences regarding at least one upgrade ranking between at least two products;   c. a data processor adapted to record information pertaining to said preferences and ranking in a computer-readable data store;   d. a data processor adapted to receive at least one input that enables use of said preferences to upgrade at least one customer to at least a higher ranked product and optimize value for at least one of customers, company and an entity other than said company; and   e. a data processor adapted to record information pertaining to said upgrade in a computer-readable data store.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least two of said data processors are a same processor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein both said data stores are a same data store. 
     
     
         4 . A computer-implemented method to define customer preferences, comprising:
 a. recording relevant information regarding products in a computer-readable data store;   b. operating a data processor to receive at least one input that defines customer preferences regarding at least one upgrade ranking between at least two products;   c. recording information pertaining to said preferences in a computer-readable data store;   d. operating a data processor that enables use of said preferences to upgrade at least one customer to at least a higher ranked product and to optimize value for at least one of customers, company and an entity other than said company; and   e. recording information pertaining to said upgrade in a computer-readable data store.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein both the data processors are a same processor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein at least two of data stores are a same data store. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said input includes an indication of a price the customer is willing to pay for the upgrade if offered. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the customer is given the opportunity to modify the price before a specified notification date. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the customer expresses the ranking explicitly. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  where in the ranking is done by the company. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the ranking is implicit. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the company establishes, in advance of making the upgrade award, a ranking of attributes applicable to the product and defining upgrade possibilities. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the company establishes, in advance of delivering the option, a list of attributes applicable to the product and associates therewith rankings expressed by the customer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 f. operating a data processor to deliver at least one option to a customer to upgrade up to n of m selected products, where n is less than m;   g. operating a data processor to define each of said n chosen products, whereby after each of said n chosen products is defined by the company, the customer can utilize said chosen product; and   h. recording information pertaining to at least one of said option or said defined products in a computer-readable data store.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said n products are defined in at least one transaction. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the said n products includes a practically constrained product. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the practically constrained product cannot be fully utilized. 
     
     
         18 . A computer-implemented method to define passenger preferences, comprising:
 a. recording relevant information regarding tickets in a computer-readable data store;   b. operating a data processor to receive at least one input that defines passenger preferences regarding at least one upgrade ranking between at least two tickets;   c. recording information pertaining to said preferences in a computer-readable data store;   d. operating a data processor configured to selectively use said preferences to upgrade at least one passenger to at least a higher ranked ticket and to optimize value for at least one of a passenger, an airline on which the tickets provide passage, and an entity other than said airline; and   e. recording information pertaining to said upgrade in a computer-readable data store.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said input includes indicating the price the passenger is willing to pay for the upgrade if offered. 
     
     
         20 . The method of system of  claim 19  wherein the passenger has an opportunity to modify the price before a specified notification date. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 f. operating a data processor to deliver at least one option to a passenger to upgrade up to n of m selected tickets, where n is less than m;   g. operating a data processor to define each of said n chosen tickets, whereby after each of said n chosen tickets is defined by the airline, the passenger can utilize said chosen ticket; and   h. recording information pertaining to at least one of said option or said defined tickets in a computer-readable data store.