DYNAMIC PRICE-MONITOR SCHEDULING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

1 . A price-monitoring-server-implemented method for dynamically scheduling travel-product price checks, the method comprising:

obtaining, by the price-monitoring server, a request to monitor future prices associated with a travel ticket that was purchased at a purchase price at a previous date and/or time, said previously-purchased travel ticket entitling a purchaser to obtain a travel product at a future date and/or time;

determining, by the price-monitoring server, an original plurality of price-volatility factors associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket;

modifying, by the price-monitoring server, a base price-check interval according to each of said original plurality of price-volatility factors to determine a travel-ticket-specific price-check interval;

performing, by the price-monitoring server, at least one price check to determine a current price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket after said travel-ticket-specific price-check interval has passed;

periodically re-evaluating, by the price-monitoring server, at least some of said original plurality of price-volatility factors to obtain a plurality of updated price-volatility factors;

periodically determining, by the price-monitoring server, an updated price-check interval based at least in part on said plurality of updated price-volatility factors and an un-updated subset of said original plurality of price-volatility factors; and

periodically scheduling, by the price-monitoring server, a subsequent price check to occur after said updated price-check interval has passed.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein periodically re-evaluating at least some of said original plurality of price-volatility factors comprises:

periodically determining a price difference between at least one recently obtained price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket and said purchase price and/or at least one previously obtained price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket; and

evaluating said price difference to determine a recent-price-volatility factor.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein periodically determining said updated price-check interval comprises, during at least one update period:

shortening said updated price-check interval according to said recent-price-volatility factor when recent price-volatility is determined to be high.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining said original plurality of price-volatility factors comprises:

determining a historical price range associated with travel tickets that are identical or comparable to said previously-purchased travel ticket; and

ranking said purchase price according to said historical price range to determine a comparative-price factor.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein modifying said base price-check interval according to said comparative-price factor comprises:

lengthening said base price-check interval when said purchase price is low compared to said historical price range; and

shortening said base price-check interval when said purchase price is high compared to said historical price range.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining said original plurality of price-volatility factors comprises:

determining a class of service associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket; and

evaluating said class of service to determine a class-of-service factor corresponding to an interval modifier for modifying said base price-check interval.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining said original plurality of price-volatility factors comprises:

determining a date and/or time period between a current date and/or time and said previous-purchase date and/or time; and

evaluating said date and/or time period to determine a booking-recency factor.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein modifying said base price-check interval according to said booking-recency factor comprises:

shortening said base price-check interval when said previously-purchased travel ticket was recently booked.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining said original plurality of price-volatility factors comprises:

determining a date and/or time period between a current date and/or time and said future-travel date and/or time; and

evaluating said date and/or time period to determine a travel-imminence factor corresponding to an interval modifier for modifying said base price-check interval.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining said original plurality of price-volatility factors comprises evaluating said future-travel date and/or time to determine a travel-date-and/or-time factor corresponding to an interval modifier for modifying said base price-check interval.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said previously-purchased travel ticket comprises:

a flight ticket; and

wherein said travel product comprises an airline flight.

12 . A computing apparatus for dynamically scheduling travel-product price checks, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the apparatus to:

obtain a request to monitor future prices associated with a travel ticket that was purchased at a purchase price at a previous date and/or time, said previously-purchased travel ticket entitling a purchaser to obtain a travel product at a future date and/or time;

determine an original plurality of price-volatility factors associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket;

modify a base price-check interval according to each of said original plurality of price-volatility factors to determine a travel-ticket-specific price-check interval;

perform at least one price check to determine a current price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket after said travel-ticket-specific price-check interval has passed;

periodically re-evaluate at least some of said original plurality of price-volatility factors to obtain a plurality of updated price-volatility factors;

periodically determine an updated price-check interval based at least in part on said plurality of updated price-volatility factors and an un-updated subset of said original plurality of price-volatility factors; and

periodically schedule a subsequent price check to occur after said updated price-check interval has passed.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the instructions that configure the apparatus to periodically re-evaluate at least some of said original plurality of price-volatility factors further comprise instructions configuring the apparatus to:

periodically determine a price difference between at least one recently obtained price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket and said purchase price and/or at least one previously obtained price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket; and

evaluate said price difference to determine a recent-price-volatility factor.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein periodically determining said updated price-check interval comprises, during at least one update period:

shorten said updated price-check interval according to said recent-price-volatility factor when recent price-volatility is determined to be high.

15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the instructions that configure the apparatus to determine said original plurality of price-volatility factors further comprise instructions configuring the apparatus to:

determine a historical price range associated with travel tickets that are identical or comparable to said previously-purchased travel ticket; and

rank said purchase price according to said historical price range to determine a comparative-price factor.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein modifying said base price-check interval according to said comparative-price factor comprises:

lengthen said base price-check interval when said purchase price is low compared to said historical price range; and

shorten said base price-check interval when said purchase price is high compared to said historical price range.

17 . A non-transient computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the processor to:

obtain a request to monitor future prices associated with a travel ticket that was purchased at a purchase price at a previous date and/or time, said previously-purchased travel ticket entitling a purchaser to obtain a travel product at a future date and/or time;

determine an original plurality of price-volatility factors associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket;

modify a base price-check interval according to each of said original plurality of price-volatility factors to determine a travel-ticket-specific price-check interval;

perform at least one price check to determine a current price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket after said travel-ticket-specific price-check interval has passed;

periodically re-evaluate at least some of said original plurality of price-volatility factors to obtain a plurality of updated price-volatility factors;

periodically determine an updated price-check interval based at least in part on said plurality of updated price-volatility factors and an un-updated subset of said original plurality of price-volatility factors; and

periodically schedule a subsequent price check to occur after said updated price-check interval has passed.

18 . The storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions that configure the processor to periodically re-evaluate at least some of said original plurality of price-volatility factors further comprise instructions configuring the processor to:

periodically determine a price difference between at least one recently obtained price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket and said purchase price and/or at least one previously obtained price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket; and

evaluate said price difference to determine a recent-price-volatility factor.

19 . The storage medium of claim 18 , wherein periodically determining said updated price-check interval comprises, during at least one update period:

shorten said updated price-check interval according to said recent-price-volatility factor when recent price-volatility is determined to be high.

20 . The storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions that configure the processor to determine said original plurality of price-volatility factors further comprise instructions configuring the processor to:

determine a historical price range associated with travel tickets that are identical or comparable to said previously-purchased travel ticket; and

rank said purchase price according to said historical price range to determine a comparative-price factor.

21 . The storage medium of claim 20 , wherein modifying said base price-check interval according to said comparative-price factor comprises:

lengthen said base price-check interval when said purchase price is low compared to said historical price range; and

shorten said base price-check interval when said purchase price is high compared to said historical price range.