Patent ID: 8326705
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for improving utilization of a perishable inventory, comprising: receiving, by an inventory allocation computing device, information regarding the perishable inventory of a merchant stored in a merchant inventory system, wherein the perishable inventory is identified as being within periods of low demand: automatically targeting, by the computing device, a consumer, wherein the targeting comprises: receiving, by the computing device, a reservation made by the consumer of a portion of the perishable inventory from the offer list; notifying the merchant of the reservation by the computing device, in response to the reservation of a portion of the perishable inventory from the offer list; debiting, by the computing device, the consumer for a full price of goods or services associated with the reservation; and crediting, by the computing device, the consumer with a difference between the full price of goods or services associated with the reservation and a discounted merchant price or an equivalent value in loyalty points.