IP Library Granted Patent US 8,046,247
Granted Patent B2
US 8,046,247 · App. 11/456,444 · Granted Oct 25, 2011

System and method for reselling a previously sold product

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,046,247
App. No.
11/456,444
Granted
Oct 25, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A seller, having previously sold a product to an original purchaser subject to a buyout-provision condition, determines if the buyout-provision condition is satisfied. If the buy-out provision condition is satisfied, the seller retakes the product from the original purchaser and resells the product to a subsequent purchaser.

Claims (36)

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage device storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform steps for reselling a product, said steps comprising:

selling a reservation for a product to an original purchaser at a first price, wherein the reservation for the product is subject to recall upon an occurrence of a buyout-condition;

determining, by a seller device, that the buyout-condition is satisfied;

recalling the reservation for the product from the original purchaser;

reselling, by the seller device and after the determining, the reservation for the product to a subsequent purchaser at a second price that is greater than the first price; and

providing the original purchaser with a substitute reservation for a product in exchange for the recalled reservation for the product.

2. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein determining that the buyout-condition is satisfied comprises:

evaluating at least one of: an actual product inventory; an estimated product inventory; an actual demand for the reservation for the product; and an estimated demand for the reservation for the product.

3. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein determining that the buyout-condition is satisfied comprises: determining that a comparable reservation for a product is not available for the second purchaser.

4. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein determining that the buyout-condition is satisfied comprises: determining that the substitute reservation for the product is available for the first purchaser.

5. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein providing the substitute reservation comprises providing the first purchaser with a discount for a future reservation for a product in exchange for the recalled reservation for the product.

6. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , the instructions being further adapted to be executed by a processor to perform:

receiving, from the second purchaser, an offer to purchase the reservation for the product for the second price that is higher; and

wherein determining that the buyout-condition is satisfied comprises that determining that the buyout-condition is satisfied based on the offer.

7. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein recalling comprises:

transmitting a buyout offer to the first purchaser, wherein the buyout offer comprises an offer to provide the first purchaser with one of a plurality of inducements in exchange for recalling the reservation for the product; and

receiving, from the first purchaser, an indication of an acceptance of one of the plurality of inducements.

8. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein the reservation for the product comprises at least one of a reservation for a hotel room and a reservation for an airline product.

9. A method comprising:

selling a reservation for a product to a first purchaser at a first price, wherein the reservation for the product is subject to recall upon an occurrence of a triggering condition;

determining, by a seller device in communication with at least one buyer device, that the triggering condition is satisfied;

recalling via the seller device, responsive to the determining, the reservation for the product from the first purchaser;

reselling, via the seller device and after the determining, the recalled reservation for the product to a second purchaser at a second price that is greater than the first price; and

providing the first purchaser with a substitute reservation for a product in exchange for the recalled reservation for the product.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining that the triggering condition is satisfied comprises:

evaluating at least one of: an actual product inventory; an estimated product inventory; an actual demand for the reservation for the product; and an estimated demand for the reservation for the product.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining that the triggering condition is satisfied comprises: determining that a comparable reservation for a product is not available for the second purchaser.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining that the triggering condition is satisfied comprises: determining that the substitute reservation for the product is available for the first purchaser.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein providing the substitute reservation comprises providing the first purchaser with a discount for a future reservation for a product in exchange for the recalled reservation for the product.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving, from the second purchaser, an offer to purchase the reservation for the product for the second price that is higher; and

wherein determining that the triggering condition is satisfied comprises that determining that the triggering condition is satisfied based on the offer.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein recalling comprises:

transmitting a buyout offer to the first purchaser, wherein the buyout offer comprises an offer to provide the first purchaser with one of a plurality of inducements in exchange for recalling the reservation for the product; and

receiving, from the first purchaser, an indication of an acceptance of one of the plurality of inducements.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the reservation for the product comprises at least one of a reservation for a hotel room and a reservation for an airline product.

Assignments (1)
LICENSE Recorded Aug 8, 2014
From: WALKER DIGITAL GAMING, LLC; WALKER DIGITAL GAMING HOLDING, LLC; WDG EQUITY, LLC; WALKER DIGITAL, LLC
To: IGT
Reel/Frame 033501/0023 →