IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,505,394
Granted Patent B2
US 12,505,394 · App. 17/408,673 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

Systems and methods for modifying online stores

Inventor: Kathryn Tang (Comox, CA)
Assignee: Shopify Inc.
G06Q10/06315G06Q30/0633G06Q30/0641
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,505,394
App. No.
17/408,673
Granted
Dec 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for scheduling modifications to online stores. Detecting an anticipated flash sale event for a first online store. Scheduling a modification to a second online store to occur at a first time, wherein the modification is to enable the second online store to receive orders for a product. Determining that the first time is within a defined time of the anticipated flash sale. Responsive to determining that the first time is within a defined time of the anticipated flash sale, determining a second time for scheduling the modification, the second time different from the first time.

Claims (44)

1 . A computer-implemented method for scheduling modifications to online stores, the method comprising:

monitoring traffic for an individual online store hosted by an individual server hosting more than one online store and corresponding to a first online store in a plurality of online stores hosted by a computer system;

detecting, based on the traffic as monitored, an anticipated flash sale event for the first online store hosted by the computer system;

scheduling a modification to a second online store hosted by the computer system to automatically occur on the computer system hosting the first and second online stores at a first time, wherein the modification is to enable the second online store hosted by the computer system to receive orders for a product;

determining that the first time at which the scheduled modification to the second online store is to automatically occur on the computer system hosting the first and second online stores is within a defined time of the detected anticipated flash sale event for the first online store hosted by the computer system;

determining that the modification occurring at the first time would result in a resource exceeding a utilization threshold; and

responsive to determining that the first time at which the scheduled modification to the second online store is to automatically occur on the computer system hosting the first and second online stores is within the defined time of the detected anticipated flash sale event for the first online store hosted by the computer system:

determining a second time for rescheduling the scheduled modification to the second online store to automatically occur on the computer system hosting the first and second online stores, the second time different from the first time, wherein determining the second time is further responsive to determining that the modification occurring at the first time would result in the resource exceeding the utilization threshold;

responsive to determining that an anticipated level of online traffic associated with the second online store at the second time does not exceed a traffic threshold, increasing resources available to the second online store, wherein a first server hosts the second online store and the second online store is one of the plurality of online stores and increasing resources available to the second online store includes moving one or more of the plurality of online stores between the first server and a second server.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modification includes a user interface modification.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second time does not coincide with the anticipated flash sale.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modification includes a product modification event.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modification includes a security modification event.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modification includes a data modification event.

7 . A system, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, are to cause the processor to:

monitor traffic for an individual online store hosted by an individual server hosting more than one online store and corresponding to a first online store in a plurality of online stores hosted by a computer system;

detect, based on the traffic as monitored, an anticipated flash sale event for the first online store hosted by the system;

schedule a modification to a second online store hosted by the system to automatically occur on the system hosting the first and second online stores at a first time, wherein the modification is to enable the second online store hosted by the system to receive orders for a product;

determine that the first time at which the scheduled modification to the second online store is to automatically occur on the system hosting the first and second online stores is within a defined time of the detected anticipated flash sale for the first online store hosted by the system;

determine that the modification occurring at the first time would result in a resource exceeding a utilization threshold; and

responsive to determining that the first time at which the scheduled modification to the second online store is to automatically occur on the system hosting the first and second online stores is within the defined time of the detected anticipated flash sale event for the first online store hosted by the system:

determine a second time for rescheduling the scheduled modification to the second online store to automatically occur on the system hosting the first and second online stores, the second time different from the first time, wherein determining the second time is further responsive to determining that the modification occurring at the first time would result in the resource exceeding the utilization threshold;

responsive to a determination that an anticipated level of online traffic associated with the second online store at the second time does not exceed a traffic threshold, increase resources available to the second online store, wherein a first server hosts the second online store and the second online store is one of the plurality of online stores and increasing resources available to the second online store includes moving one or more of the plurality of online stores between the first server and a second server.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the modification includes a user interface modification.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the second time does not coincide with the anticipated flash sale.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the modification includes a product modification event.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the modification includes a security modification event.

12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the modification includes a data modification event.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, are to cause the one or more processors to:

monitor traffic for an individual online store hosted by an individual server hosting more than one online store and corresponding to a first online store in a plurality of online stores hosted by a computer system;

detect, based on the traffic as monitored, an anticipated flash sale event for the first online store hosted by a system;

schedule a modification to a second online store hosted by the system to automatically occur on the system hosting the first and second online stores at a first time, wherein the modification is to enable the second online store hosted by the system to receive orders for a product;

determine that the first time at which the scheduled modification to the second online store is to automatically occur on the system hosting the first and second online stores is within a defined time of the detected anticipated flash sale for the first online store hosted by the system;

determine that the modification occurring at the first time would result in a resource exceeding a utilization threshold; and

responsive to determining that the first time at which the scheduled modification to the second online store is to automatically occur on the system hosting the first and second online stores is within the defined time of the detected anticipated flash sale event for the first online store hosted by the system:

determine a second time for rescheduling the scheduled modification to the second online store to automatically occur on the system hosting the first and second online stores, the second time different from the first time, wherein determining the second time is further responsive to determining that the modification occurring at the first time would result in the resource exceeding the utilization threshold;

responsive to a determination that an anticipated level of online traffic associated with the second online store at the second time does not exceed a traffic threshold, increase resources available to the second online store, wherein a first server hosts the second online store and the second online store is one of the plurality of online stores and increasing resources available to the second online store includes moving one or more of the plurality of online stores between the first server and a second server.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the modification includes a user interface modification.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the second time does not coincide with the anticipated flash sale.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the modification includes a product modification event.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the modification includes a security modification event.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the modification includes a data modification event.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 2, 2021
From: TANG, KATHRYN
To: SHOPIFY INC.
Reel/Frame 057371/0044 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230053818A1 · Feb 23, 2023
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