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 provide options on products, comprising:
 a. a data processor adapted to receive at least one input that allows a customer to receive a conditional option for an upgrade;   b. a data processor adapted to record information pertaining to said option in a computer-readable data store;   c. a data processor adapted to receive at least one input that upgrades the customer if
 i. at least one condition on said option is satisfied, and 
 ii. the company receives the payment, 
   
       wherein the customer's acceptance of said option confers upon the company a right to enforce a payment obligation on the customer if said customer receives an upgrade;
 d. a data processor adapted to deliver said upgrade to said customer; 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 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises
 f. a data processor adapted to store a data structure in a computer-readable data store, wherein are stored, for a customer who may be awarded one or more upgrades, data including a value assigned to each potential upgrade the company may realize if the customer receives said upgrade; 
 g. a data processor adapted to receive at least one input to receive and process said data to determine possible combinations of potential upgrade awards to said set of customers; and 
 h. a data processor adapted to receive at least one input to award upgrades to said set of customers according to instructions implementing a stored algorithm. 
 
     
     
         5 . A computer-implemented method to provide options on products, comprising:
 a. operating a data processor to receive at least one input that allows a customer to receive a conditional option for an upgrade;   b. recording information pertaining to said option in a computer-readable data store;   c. operating a data processor to receive at least one input to decide to upgrade the customer if   i. at least one condition on said option is satisfied, and   ii. the company receives the payment,   
       wherein the customer's acceptance of said option confers upon the company a right to enforce a payment obligation on the customer when said customer is selected to receive a said upgrade;
 d. operating a data processor to receive at least one input to deliver said upgrade decision to said customer; and 
 e. recording information pertaining to said upgrade in a computer-readable data store. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein at least two of said data processors are a same processor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein both said data stores are a same data store. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said option requires the customer to indicate the price the customer is willing to pay for the upgrade if offered. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further including providing to the customer an opportunity to modify the price before a specified notification date. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said selection confers a right upon the company to enforce a payment obligation on said customer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the company may not exercise its right of enforcing the payment obligation upon the customer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the customer becomes entitled to utilize said option by making said payment, at least in part, when purchasing said option. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said upgrade will upgrade the customer to more than one upgraded product. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the \ more than one upgraded products includes at least one practically constrained product. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said option confers on the customer the right to enforce the upgrade, provided at least one condition on the option has been satisfied. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the payment obligation for the upgrade is priced dynamically. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the payment obligation is determined by bidding from customers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising;
 f. storing a data structure in a computer-readable data store, wherein are stored, for a customer who may be awarded one or more upgrades, data including, for each potential upgrade, a value the company may realize if the customer receives said upgrade; 
 g. operating a data processor to receive and processes at least one input and said data to determine possible combinations of potential upgrade awards to said set of customers; and 
 h. operating a data processor to receive at least one input to award upgrades to said set of customers. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the payment obligation for the upgrade is priced dynamically. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the payment obligation is determined by bidding from customers. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the company has the right to choose the customers that will be awarded a said upgrade. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 5  wherein a processor, on detecting the occurrence of an event associated with potential generation of upgrade availability, executes one or more event response algorithms, which:
 f. determine at least a number or type of upgrade or upgrades available for a product, or both number and type; 
 g. determine a subset of customers possessing conditional options making them eligible to receive an available upgrade; and 
 h. allocate upgrade offers among the customers in said subset. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said product is a flight including at least one lower ranked and at least one higher ranked cabin, said company is an airline and said upgrade comprises an upgrade from a lower ranked cabin to a higher ranked cabin. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said product is a flight including at least one lower ranked and at least one higher ranked cabin, said company is an airline and said upgrade is 25 upgrade from a lower ranked cabin to a higher ranked cabin.