METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PREDICT DEMAND FOR A PRODUCT OR SERVICE
Methods and apparatus to predict demand for a product or service (e.g., music concerts, toys, etc.) are disclosed. A futures market is opened for the particular good or service, and market data is generated. The producer of the product or service makes a production decision based on that market data.
1 . A method of predicting demand, comprising:
receiving information defining a contingent event and a plurality of contingent event certificates associated with said contingent events;
facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders to produce market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;
selecting to produce at least one of a product or service based on the produced market data;
supplying each of a first subset of holders of contingent event certificates at least one of a product and a service associated with the contingent event certificate.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of paying a transaction fee.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of refunding at least a portion of fee collected from a plurality of holders of contingent event certificate.
4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of donating at least part of the fee collected to a charity.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the step of communicating said transactions over a computer network.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the step of communicating said transactions through a representative of the plurality of holders.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
collecting information associated with said market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;
communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event further comprises the step of paying a transaction fee.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving information regarding travel and transportation associated with said contingent event certificate.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving information defining a contingent event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a location for the event.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving information defining a contingent event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a date for the event.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving information defining a contingent event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a type of event.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving information defining a contingent event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a combination of events.
14 . The method of predicting demand, comprising:
receiving information from at least one registered user establishing a contingent event;
facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders to produce market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;
selecting to produce at least one of a product or service based on the produced market data;
supplying each of a first subset of holders of contingent event certificates at least one of a product and a service associated with the contingent event certificate.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein receiving information from a registered user establishing a contingent event further comprises the step of receiving information from multiple registered users establishing a contingent event.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of paying a transaction fee.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of refunding at least a portion of fee collected from a plurality of holders of contingent event certificate.
18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of donating at least part of the fee collected to a charity.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the step of communicating said transactions over a computer network.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the step of communicating said transactions through a representative of the exchange.
21 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
collecting information associated with said market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;
communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event.
22 . The method of claim 14 , wherein communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event further comprises the step of paying a transaction fee.
23 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of receiving information regarding travel and transportation associated with said contingent event certificate.
24 . The method of claim 14 , wherein establishing a contingent event further comprises the step of establishing a contingent event based on multiple registered users.
25 . An apparatus for predicting demand, comprising:
means for receiving information defining a contingent event and a plurality of contingent event certificates associated with said contingent events;
means for facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders to produce market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;
means for selecting to produce at least one of a product or service based on the produced market data;
means for supplying each of a first subset of holders of contingent event certificates at least one of a product and a service associated with the contingent event certificate.
26 . The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising the means for paying a transaction fee.
27 . The apparatus of claim 26 , further comprising the means for refunding at least a portion of fee collected from a plurality of holders of contingent event certificate.
28 . The apparatus of claim 26 , further comprising the means for donating at least part of the fee collected to a charity.
29 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the means for communicating said transactions over a computer network.
30 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the means for communicating said transactions through a representative of the plurality of holders.
31 . The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising:
means for collecting information associated with said market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;
means for communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event.
32 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event further comprises the means for paying a transaction fee.
33 . The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising the means for receiving information regarding travel and transportation associated with said contingent event certificate.
34 . A method of predicting demand, comprising:
receiving information from at least one registered user establishing an event;
facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders to produce market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;
selecting to produce at least one of a product or service based on the produced market data;
supplying each of a first subset of holders of contingent event certificates at least one of a product and a service associated with the contingent event certificate.
35 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising the step of paying a transaction fee.
36 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising the step of refunding at least a portion of fee collected from a plurality of holders of contingent event certificate.
37 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising the step of donating at least part of the fee collected to a charity.
38 . The method of claim 34 , wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the step of communicating said transactions over a computer network.
39 . The method of claim 34 , wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the step of communicating said transactions through a representative of the plurality of holders.
40 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising:
collecting information associated with said market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;
communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event.
41 . The method of claim 34 , wherein communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event further comprises the step of paying a transaction fee.
42 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising the step of receiving information regarding travel and transportation associated with said contingent event certificate.
43 . The method of claim 34 , wherein receiving information from at least one registered user establishing an event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a location for the event.
44 . The method of claim 34 , wherein receiving information from at least one registered user establishing an event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a date for the event.
45 . The method of claim 34 , wherein receiving information from at least one registered user establishing an event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a type of event.
46 . The method of claim 34 , wherein receiving information from at least one registered user establishing an event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a combination of events.