Patent ID: 6993503
Filing Date: 2006-01-31
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of using a computer system to allocate a conditional purchase offer for a hotel reservation to one of a plurality of entities in a buyer-driven system, comprising: receiving on said computer the conditional purchase offer for a hotel reservation in a specified relevant market area; identifying via said computer at least one of the plurality of entities capable of satisfying the conditional purchase offer; wherein the identifying step comprises: determining each identified entity's market share percentage in the relevant market area; determining a percentage of first-look opportunities previously provided to each of the identified entities in the relevant market area; determining a relevant market share gap for each of the identified entities by subtracting the percentage of first-look opportunities previously provided to the entity in the relevant market area from that entity's market share percentage in the relevant market area; and allocating the first-look opportunity to accept the conditional purchase offer to the identified entity having the largest negative relevant market share gap.