Patent Publication Number: US-2009240587-A1

Title: Method of searching for business offers

Description:
CLAIM TO DOMESTIC PRIORITY 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/069,887 filed on Mar. 18, 2008, entitled “Method of Searching for Business Offers,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a system and method for potential consumers to find business offers and business hours based on a variety of alternative criteria, and more particularly to a system and method for providing a user or searcher with search results based on a business&#39; days and hours of operation, days and/or hours that it offers particular deals or other similar criteria. The system and method is applicable to a wide variety of businesses and deals, including, but not limited to, restaurants, grocery stores, service providers and any other business that typically offers day or time-based discounts, deals or other offers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Consumers are often looking to find offers, discounts, coupons, or other deals, based upon a certain day, time and location in which they want to take advantage of an offer. For example, some consumers may want to do their shopping on their day off. In other cases, some consumers may want to eat a particular type of food on a particular night and have dinner at a particular time. Presently no system or method exists to allow consumers to easily and efficiently look for time, day and location-based business offers without having to look through multiple store or business flyers or do multiple Internet searches, looking at each businesses offers or specials individually. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of the system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an example of an array of potential businesses and service providers that would generate search results according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic flow diagram illustrating he steps of the Internet-based search system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3A-3E  are further schematic flow diagrams following in extension of  FIG. 3 , as described further in the detailed description. 
         FIGS. 3F-3H  are, in the manner, schematic flow diagrams further illustrating the schematic flow diagram from  FIG. 3A . 
         FIGS. 3I-3K  are, in the same manner, schematic flow diagrams further illustrating the schematic flow diagram from  FIG. 3B . 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  are examples of screen shots of the search system user interface as it appears to consumers desiring to search for business offers, including various levels of searching capabilities. 
         FIG. 5  is a screen shot of data entered into the search system user interface by consumers desiring to search for a particular offer on hot wings at the displayed time, day and location. 
         FIG. 6  is a screen shot of the results returned following execution of the search specified in  FIG. 5  by the server computer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is directed to a system and method for potential consumers to find business offers and business hours based on a variety of alternative criteria, and more particularly to a system and method for providing a user or searcher with search results based on a business&#39; days and hours of operation, days and/or hours that it offers particular deals or other similar criteria. The system and method is applicable to a wide variety businesses and deals, including, but not limited to, restaurants, grocery stores, service providers and any other business that typically offers day or time-based discounts, deals or other offers 
     The system and method are also capable of notifying potential consumers when a particular business or business in a pre-selected category is offering one or more deals on items in general or of certain pre-selected items. Thus, the present system and method is capable of providing consumers with a targeted list of deals resulting in a more effective and efficient search engine for shopping for a plethora of products, services and other deals. 
     Practically, the present system provides a method for consumers for reducing time and effort in searching for day and time based offers, while allowing merchants to more effectively market. Thus, one advantage of the present system and method is providing a consumer benefit of “one-stop” shopping that, at least in one embodiment, is free of charge. A second advantage of the present system and method is providing a benefit to merchants in leveraging consumer intelligence data, which increases sales and allows business resources to be allocated more effectively. 
     It is envisioned that the server website and webpages according to one embodiment of the present invention is the place to find any local deal, special, promotion, sale, or other coupon-like discounts. The primary advantage of the disclosed website is the unique mechanism disclosed herein for users or search to conduct day and time-range searches. Users or deal-searchers no longer have to go through hundreds of offers just to find one that is valid during the day and time the searcher is looking for. For example, the presently disclosed system and method is ideal for finding food and drink specials, among thousands of other offers and deals. 
     Before proceeding to a detailed description of the figures, some preliminary connotational matters will be addressed. The term “business offer” or “offer” is defined to include, but not be limited to, any offer made to a consumer for purchase of any product or service, download of any product or service, including online delivery of video, software or music via the Internet, pick-up or delivery of food, groceries, goods, services, other services provided in the home, such as lawn care, housecleaning, laundry services and pool services, and entertainment, such as live music, concerts, theatre, dance, comedy and so forth. In the present disclosure, the term business offer or offer is interchangeable with the term “deal.” 
     The term “business offer” according to the present disclosure specifically excludes advertisements and offers for airline tickets, rental cars and hotels. Further, the search system disclosed herein is not merely a reservation system that searches for availability of seats on airplanes, empty hotel rooms or available restaurant tables. The novelty of the present application is focused on a search system which searches a comprehensive collection of a wide variety of businesses and business services in a particular locale, including day and time of operation and day or time-dependant offers from those businesses, so as to make consumer searching for particular business offers, deals or discounts, within a desired distance from their particular location, much more efficient and effective than any system that presently exists. 
     However, it is specifically noted that in order to fall under the definition of “business offer” in the present disclosure, the price of the good, service, entertainment or other advertisement does not need to reflect a discounted price or “deal” in the traditional sense of receiving a lower price than normally offered. Here, “business offer” is defined as an offer that could simply be an advertisement for a good or service at the regular or standard price. 
     The term “host server” designates the server on which a “host web site” will be maintained. A host web site comprises one or more web pages, including, but not limited to: a home page, a contests page, a photo gallery page, a contact page, a consumer account page, a merchant page, blog pages, chat rooms, consumer rating pages, and so forth. 
     The terms “host,” “host server,” and “host web site” will be used interchangeably since in one embodiment, the host server is accessed through the Internet or World Wide Web, as a web site. However, a “portal” will be used to refer to a web page or merchant access point on the host web site. The present system and method allow for a merchant to be given, purchase or license a portal on the host web site for its use. 
     Additionally, while it is recognized that there is a technological distinction between Internet and World Wide Web, the terms are seemingly interchangeable and used as such throughout this description. The use of these terms in this fashion is for descriptive convenience only. The skilled artisan will appreciate that the system encompasses the technological context of both the Internet and the World Wide Web. 
     Further, reference to “data” or “data storage” will refer to information stored on the “host server” and transmitted, in one embodiment, from a consumer, via the Internet from the consumer&#39;s personal computer or other personal electronic device capable of Internet communication. The transmission of data from the host server to the businesses is also envisioned to occur via Internet transmission or other secure electronic transmission from the host server to the business&#39; computer server. 
     The terms “user,” “searcher,” “consumer,” “recipient,” “subscriber,” and “customer” will be used interchangeably. Specifically, the terms “consumer,” “subscriber,” “customer,” and “recipient” are used alternately to designate any person, business, or any other entity that receives communications from any other entity, including all types of businesses and organizations. Similarly, “merchant” or “business” will be used interchangeably and will be used herein to designate any entity sending communications that are the subject of the present system and method. According to the present disclosure, the consumer is made aware of the disclosed system and method through print advertisement, Internet advertisements, or by searching the Internet for capture consumer preferences web sites. 
     “Input data” as defined in the present includes, but is not limited to, any parameter defined by the host server and presented to the consumer that can be used by the host server to identify and return matching search results (business offers). Examples of input data include business category, date, time, location, printed coupon required (yes or no), additional discounts available (military, AARP, AAA, etc), age requirements and average price. Depending on the business category, additional criteria or data may be input to further define or limit the search results.  FIG. 4C  provides an example of additional limiting input data for restaurants and bars. 
     According to all embodiments of the present disclosure the minimum input data requirement in order to return a result includes at least one keyword, a day (or date) and a time parameter. If no particular day is selected, the search system will use the following parameter: “Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday or Friday or Saturday or Sunday.” If no particular time or time range is designated, the system will use the following parameter: “12:00 am to 11:59 pm.” Thus, an example of qualifying input data would be “hot wings” and “Friday” and “9 pm.” 
     Further, according to an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure, input data and parameters can be automatically entered by the consumer computer used to communicate with the host server. For example, the presently disclosed search system is capable of receiving a location input data parameter from a consumer computer or device with a GPS. Thus, consumers, without need to manually enter a location input data point, would receive business offers at or near their present location, as determined from the GPS data transmitted by their device in communication with the host server. 
     In the same manner, date and time input data points would also be automatically transmitted from the consumer computer (including any computing device in communication with the host server, such as cell phone, pda, etc.). Based on the current date and time transmitted to the host server by the computing device, the consumer, without having to manually enter the present date and time, would receive business offers presently available at the current date and time. Thus, in an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure, a consumer would access the host website, enter a keyword, such as “hot wings” and select the “HERE AND NOW” feature, and receive results of all hot wing-associated business offers within a five mile radius (or other preset radius) that are presently available. Additionally then, the SHOW feature would provide all businesses currently open (at the present day and time) with a five mile radius that sell hot wings. 
     Turning now to the figures,  FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a system  200  for carrying our the invention. System  200  includes one or more host servers  210 , one or more consumers  220 , and one or more businesses  230 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the consumer  220  communicates with the host server  210  directly via the Internet  240 . 
     As noted above, the host server  210  includes a host web site, for example, the stored in unillustrated memory, with the web site including one or more web pages. More specifically, the web pages are formatted and developed using Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) code. As known in the art, an HTML web page includes both “content” and “markup” portions. The content portion is information that describes a web page&#39;s text or other information for display or playback on a computer or other personal electronic device via a display screen, audio device, DVD device or other multimedia device. The markup portion is information that describes the web page&#39;s behavioral characteristics, including how the content is to be displayed (e.g., the frame set) and how other information can be accessed (e.g., hyperlinks). Thus the HTML code that marks up formatted web pages of the host web site of one described embodiment displayed in selected, predetermined display regions of a single region of a single computer or other electronic device display screen. It is appreciated that other languages, such as SMGL (“Standard Generalized Markup Language”), XML (“Extensible Markup Language”) DHMTL (“Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language”), Java, Flash, Quick Time, or any other language for implementing web pages could be used. 
     The computer or device used by consumer  220  in communicating with the host server  210  are any type of computing device capable of accessing the host server  210  through a host web site via the Internet  240 , and capable of displaying the host server&#39;s  210  stored web pages using well-known web browser software packages, or any other web browser software. Such computing devices or other electronic devices include, but are not limited to, personal computers (PCs), both IBM-compatible and MacIntosh; hand-held computing devices (e.g., PDAs), cellular telephone devices and web-based telephone sets (e.g., “Web-TV”), collectively referred to herein as the consumer&#39;s computer or the computer. 
     The host server  210  is any type of computer server capable of supporting a web site and web-based management tool. The operating system used to run host server  210  and programming used in implementing the method of one embodiment are stored in unillustrated memory resident with host server  210 . The operating system and stored programming used in implementing the method of one embodiment can be any operating system or programming language. 
     The various hardware and software components of system  200  communicate, in one embodiment, via the Internet  240 , to implement the method of the present invention. Although not depicted, Internet  240  access by consumer&#39;s  220  computer could be implemented via an Internet Service Provider (ISP), a direct dial-up modem connection, a digital subscriber link (DSL), a dedicated T-1 connection, a wireless local area network connection (WLAN), a cellular signal or satellite relay, or any other communication link. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the consumer  220  access the search system of the present disclosure as described in more detail with reference to the additional figures. Specifically, consumer  220  is able to access the search system home page, a non-limiting example of which is shown in  FIG. 2 , of the host web site stored on host server  210  through accessing the search system&#39;s URL (Uniform Resource Locator). URL access may occur by numerous and varied methods. By way of example, the consumer  220  may type the desired URL directly into the browser. In addition, the consumer  220  may access the URL by selecting a hyperlink displayed on another web site or web page that links the consumer  220  computer to the home page. Hyperlinks displayed on a web page transfer the consumer  220  to a different web site or web page when selected by the consumer  220 . 
     The hyperlink to the home page may be included as part of an email message displayed by the consumer&#39;s  220  computer. The consumer  220  further may access the website from the list of frequently-used sites he or she may have stored as “favorites.” The consumer  220  can also search the Internet  240  for the search system web site using key terms in any Internet search engine such as Google. In any of these examples, when the consumer  220  selects the hyperlink, the consumer  220  computer is directed to the home page. The search system home page is then displayed on consumer&#39;s  220  computer screen. Once the consumer  220  has the home page displayed, the consumer  220  can begin using the search system and searching for offers as described below. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , and more specifically, as described below, referencing  FIGS. 3 , and  3 A through  3 K, in which is illustrated the method of finding business offers and operating hours in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, there is first seen a searcher  13  addressing computer  14  and accessing search system  15 . Searcher  13  enters input data describing the desired business or business offer. For purposes of illustration, it will be assumed the input data is searching three businesses with each having three locations and three offers per location. In response to the input data, search system  15  transmits the data to business  16 , business  17 , and business  18  as indicated by the arrowed line A. 
     Input data is similarly transmitted to business  16  locations  19 ,  20 , and  21  as indicated by the arrowed line B. Location  19  has a schedule  54  listing a plurality of open days and times  55 . Location  19  also has a schedule  56  listing a plurality of unique open days and times  57  such as holiday hours. Location  20  has a schedule  58  listing a plurality of open days and times  59 . Location  20  also has a schedule  60  listing a plurality of unique open days and times  61  such as holiday hours. Location  21  has a schedule  62  listing a plurality of open days and times  63 . Location  21  also has a schedule  64  listing a plurality of unique open days and times  65  such as holiday hours. 
     Input data is also transmitted to location  19  offers  28 ,  29 , and  30  as indicated by the arrowed line E. Offer  28  has a schedule  90  listing a plurality of valid days and times  91 . Offer  28  also has a schedule  92  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  93  such as holiday hours. Offer  29  has a schedule  94  listing a plurality of valid days and times  95 . Offer  29  also has a schedule  96  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  97  such as holiday hours. Offer  30  has a schedule  98  listing a plurality of valid days and times  99 . Offer  30  also has a schedule  100  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  101  such as holiday hours. 
     Input data is also transmitted to location  20  offers  31 ,  32 , and  33  as indicated by the arrowed line F. Offer  31  has a schedule  102  listing a plurality of valid days and times  103 . Offer  31  also has a schedule  104  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  105  such as holiday hours. Offer  32  has a schedule  106  listing a plurality of valid days and times  107 . Offer  32  also has a schedule  108  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  109  such as holiday hours. Offer  33  has a schedule  110  listing a plurality of valid days and times  111 . Offer  33  also has a schedule  112  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  113  such as holiday hours. Input data is also transmitted to location  21  offers  34 ,  35 , and  36  as indicated by the arrowed line G. 
     Offer  34  has a schedule  114  listing a plurality of valid days and times  115 . Offer  34  also has a schedule  116  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  117  such as holiday hours. Offer  35  has a schedule  118  listing a plurality of valid days and times  119 . Offer  35  also has a schedule  120  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  121  such as holiday hours. Offer  36  has a schedule  122  listing a plurality of valid days and times  123 . Offer  36  also has a schedule  124  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  125  such as holiday hours. 
     Input data is similarly transmitted to business  17  locations  22 ,  23 , and  24  as indicated by the arrowed line C. Location  22  has a schedule  66  listing a plurality of open days and times  67 . Location  22  also has a schedule  68  listing a plurality of unique open days and times  69  such as holiday hours. Location  23  has a schedule  70  listing a plurality of open days and times  71 . Location  23  also has a schedule  72  listing a plurality of unique open days and times  73  such as holiday hours. Location  24  has a schedule  74  listing a plurality of open days and times  75 . Location  24  also has a schedule  76  listing a plurality of unique open days and times  77  such as holiday hours. 
     Input data is also transmitted to location  22  offers  37 ,  38 , and  39  as indicated by the arrowed line H. Offer  37  has a schedule  126  listing a plurality of valid days and times  127 . Offer  37  also has a schedule  128  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  129  such as holiday hours. Offer  38  has a schedule  130  listing a plurality of valid days and times  131 . Offer  38  also has a schedule  132  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  133  such as holiday hours. Offer  39  has a schedule  134  listing a plurality of valid days and times  135 . Offer  39  also has a schedule  136  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  137  such as holiday hours. 
     Input data is also transmitted to location  23  offers  40 ,  41 , and  42  as indicated by the arrowed line I. Offer  40  has a schedule  138  listing a plurality of valid days and times  139 . Offer  40  also has a schedule  140  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  141  such as holiday hours. Offer  41  has a schedule  142  listing a plurality of valid days and times  143 . Offer  41  also has a schedule  144  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  145  such as holiday hours. Offer  42  has a schedule  146  listing a plurality of valid days and times  147 . Offer  42  also has a schedule  148  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  149  such as holiday hours. Input data is also transmitted to location  24  offers  43 ,  44 , and  45  as indicated by the arrowed line J. 
     Offer  43  has a schedule  150  listing a plurality of valid days and times  151 . Offer  43  also has a schedule  152  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  153  such as holiday hours. Offer  44  has a schedule  154  listing a plurality of valid days and times  155 . Offer  44  also has a schedule  156  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  157  such as holiday hours. Offer  45  has a schedule  158  listing a plurality of valid days and times  159 . Offer  45  also has a schedule  160  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  161  such as holiday hours. 
     Input data is similarly transmitted to business  18  locations  25 ,  26 , and  27  as indicated by the arrowed line D. Location  25  has a schedule  78  listing a plurality of open days and times  79 . Location  25  also has a schedule  80  listing a plurality of unique open days and times  81  such as holiday hours. Location  26  has a schedule  82  listing a plurality of open days and times  83 . Location  26  also has a schedule  84  listing a plurality of unique open days and times  85  such as holiday hours. Location  27  has a schedule  86  listing a plurality of open days and times  87 . Location  27  also has a schedule  88  listing a plurality of unique open days and times  89  such as holiday hours. 
     Input data is also transmitted to location  25  offers  46 ,  47 , and  48  as indicated by the arrowed line K. Offer  46  has a schedule  162  listing a plurality of valid days and times  163 . Offer  46  also has a schedule  164  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  165  such as holiday hours. Offer  47  has a schedule  166  listing a plurality of valid days and times  167 . Offer  47  also has a schedule  168  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  169  such as holiday hours. Offer  48  has a schedule  170  listing a plurality of valid days and times  171 . Offer  48  also has a schedule  172  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  173  such as holiday hours. 
     Input data is also transmitted to location  26  offers  49 ,  50 , and  51  as indicated by the arrowed line L. Offer  49  has a schedule  174  listing a plurality of valid days and times  175 . Offer  49  also has a schedule  176  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  177  such as holiday hours. Offer  50  has a schedule  178  listing a plurality of valid days and times  179 . Offer  50  also has a schedule  180  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  181  such as holiday hours. Offer  51  has a schedule  182  listing a plurality of valid days and times  183 . Offer  51  also has a schedule  184  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  185  such as holiday hours. 
     Input data is also transmitted to location  27  offers  52 ,  53 , and  54  as indicated by the arrowed line M. Offer  52  has a schedule  186  listing a plurality of valid days and times  187 . Offer  52  also has a schedule  188  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  189  such as holiday hours. Offer  53  has a schedule  190  listing a plurality of valid days and times  191 . Offer  53  also has a schedule  192  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  193  such as holiday hours. Offer  54  has a schedule  194  listing a plurality of valid days and times  195 . Offer  54  also has a schedule  196  listing a plurality of unique valid days and times  197  such as holiday hours. 
     In further response to the input data, offer  28  scans associated schedules  90  and  92 , offer  29  scans associated schedules  94  and  96 , offer  30  scans associated schedules  98  and  100 , offer  31  scans associated schedules  102  and  104 , offer  32  scans associated schedules  106  and  108 , offer  33  scans associated schedules  110  and  112 , offer  34  scans associated schedules  114  and  116 , offer  35  scans associated schedules  118  and  120 , offer  36  scans associated schedules  122  and  124 , offer  37  scans associated schedules  126  and  128 , offer  38  scans associated schedules  130  and  132 , offer  39  scans associated schedules  134  and  136 , offer  40  scans associated schedules  138  and  140 , offer  41  scans associated schedules  142  and  144 , offer  42  scans associated schedules  146  and  148 , offer  43  scans associated schedules  150  and  152 , offer  44  scans associated schedules  154  and  156 , offer  45  scans associated schedules  158  and  160 , offer  46  scans associated schedules  162  and  164 , offer  47  scans associated schedules  166  and  168 , offer  48  scans associated schedules  170  and  172 , offer  49  scans associated schedules  174  and  176 , offer  50  scans associated schedules  178  and  180 , offer  51  scans associated schedules  182  and  184 , offer  52  scans associated schedules  186  and  188 , offer  53  scans associated schedules  190  and  192 , and offer  54  scans associated schedules  194  and  196 . Schedules  106 ,  110 ,  118 ,  120 ,  178 ,  182 ,  190 , and  194  include valid offers relative to the input data during the specified day and time range as designated by the reference characters  198 . 
     This data is then transmitted to each schedules respective offer. Schedule  106  transmits to offer  32  which, in turn, transmits the data to search system  15 , computer  14  and subsequently to searcher  13  as indicated by the arrowed line R. Schedule  110  transmits to offer  33  which, in turn, transmits the data to search system  15 , computer  14  and subsequently to searcher  13  as indicated by the arrowed line S. Schedules  118  and  120  transmit to offer  35  which, in turn, transmits the data to search system  15 , computer  14  and subsequently to searcher  13  as indicated by the arrowed line T. Schedule  178  transmits to offer  50  which, in turn, transmits the data to search system  15 , computer  14  and subsequently to searcher  13  as indicated by the arrowed line U. Schedule  182  transmits to offer  51  which, in turn, transmits the data to search system  15 , computer  14  and subsequently to searcher  13  as indicated by the arrowed line V. Schedule  190  transmits to offer  53  which, in turn, transmits the data to search system  15 , computer  14  and subsequently to searcher  13  as indicated by the arrowed line W. Schedule  194  transmits to offer  54  which, in turn, transmits the data to search system  15 , computer  14  and subsequently to searcher  13  as indicated by the arrowed line X. 
     Alternatively the searcher may desire to search businesses and its locations by their open hours rather than by specific valid business offers. The input data will scan the locations schedules of open days and times similarly to how the first input data scanned each business offer schedule. In this instance the only response difference will be which schedules are scanned. With new input data searching for open businesses schedules  54 ,  66 ,  70 , and  74  include open hours during the specified day and time range as designated by the reference characters  199 . This data is then transmitted to each schedules respective location. Schedule  54  transmits to location  19 , which, in turn, transmits the data to search system  15 , computer  14  and subsequently to searcher  13  as indicated by the arrowed line N. Schedule  66  transmits to location  22  which, in turn, transmits the data to search system  15 , computer  14  and subsequently to searcher  13  as indicated by the arrowed line O. Schedule  70  transmits to location  23  which, in turn, transmits the data to search system  15 , computer  14  and subsequently to searcher  13  as indicated by the arrowed line P. Schedule  74  transmits to location  24  which, in turn, transmits the data to search system  15 , computer  14  and subsequently to searcher  13  as indicated by the arrowed line Q. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 4A-4C ,  FIG. 4A  illustrates one embodiment of the search system as the potential searcher would view it on consumer  220  computer. The particular example provided in  FIG. 4A  is for restaurants. However, as noted above, and shown in  FIG. 2 , this is only one of many potential and unlimited categories for searching, and is used here by way of example only. As shown in  FIG. 4A , the searcher has the option of providing different data inputs. The potential data inputs may include, but are not limited to, location (by zip code, city, address, and so on), distance from chosen location, time or time range, dates or days of the week. The particular input data points shown in  FIG. 4A  are by way of example only, and it is noted that other data inputs that accomplish the same goals of the present disclosure may be used. 
       FIGS. 4B and 4C  also illustrate alternate embodiments of the search system and input data user entry fields as displayed to the consumer via the host server website and particular search webpage. While  FIG. 4B  has less criteria and is more of a basic search,  FIG. 4C  illustrates an advanced search feature of the disclosed search system that allows for additional defining user inputs and return of business offers that meet more specific criteria. 
     For example, an advanced search, as shown in  FIG. 4C , allows a consumer to find bar and grills that serve barbeque and allow patrons under 18 years of age after 7 pm. This feature is of particular usefulness to a group consumers of varying age, such as a family with children, who want to have a barbeque dinner with the children, but are unsure if children are allowed in after 7 pm. Search features such as this on the presently disclosed search system allow consumers to avoid calling or looking up each restaurant to determine whether that restaurant will meet their needs—or from arriving at a restaurant only to be turned away or disappointed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the searcher enters particular data into the search fields indicating a desire for hot wings from 5 pm to 7 pm on Friday within 5 miles of zip code 85282.  FIG. 6  illustrates the results returned to the searcher upon selecting “search deals.” 
     Also note, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , that the present disclosure provides for additional opportunities for businesses to advertise “featured deals” or other deals before the searcher initiates the search, and as shown in  FIG. 6 , even after the searcher has completed the search. The present system also includes a searching mechanism for return of featured deals based either on the consumer&#39;s input of date or time, or as described above, based on a “HERE AND NOW” feature. Returning advertisements or featured deals for consumers in a fashion that lists the most relevant results first. Thus, if the consumer selects the HERE AND NOW feature, utilizing the present date and time and/or GPS position, if available, from the computing device as an automatically input parameter, the results returned would either not include or give a very low ranking to businesses that are currently closed. In this manner, the disclosed system also includes additional advertising mechanisms for businesses in the selected category as well as opportunities for those business to provide coupons or other offers to potential consumers. 
     As disclosed herein, a further searching mechanism used by the search system displays advertisements for other business offers in close proximity to the business offer the consumer originally searched for. For example, a consumer searches for hot wings in Tempe, Ariz. at 5 pm on Friday. The present search system would then generate advertisements or featured deals for other related, but complementary, business offers or specials in Tempe at 5 pm on Friday, such as live music and drink specials. 
     Further, if there are no business offer results returned in  FIG. 6  (or even if business offer results are returned in  FIG. 6 ), in an alternate embodiment, a consumer would have the option of selecting “Show” and displaying all businesses that are consistent with the input data received by the host server, although the businesses returned upon selection of “Show” would not necessarily have discounted business offers or traditional deals on the requested product or service at the time or day requested. Yet, the consumer could still be apprised that the requested good or service is offered at that day and/or time in the desired location for regular price. This feature is most beneficial when attempting to identify particular goods or services such as delivery, live music, age requirements, etc. in a given business category and location. 
     Additionally more than one type of business category can be searched at one time—allowing consumers to find locations or businesses that offer multiple goods or services at one time and in one location. For example, a consumer could enter input data “drink specials live music;” “Friday;” “10 pm.” The results returned based on the input data parameter would include all businesses with both drink specials and live music on Fridays that spans the 10:00 pm hour (e.g. drink specials from 7 pm to midnight and live music from 9 pm to 11 pm). 
     It is also envisioned that the present disclosure includes web pages that allow users to post reviews and comments about businesses, deals, offers and other relevant information. This can be through a blog type page, chat room, or other mechanism known in the art. In a further embodiment of the disclosure, this consumer-provided information may also be included in the searchable data. For example, a consumer may be allowed to post a comment about a particular business, not yet in the database, having hot wings from 5 pm to 7 pm. The result, if the criteria of the input data meet that posting, would then also include that particular blog posting or chat entry. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the present disclosure also envisions being able to email particular deals to other potential consumers and searchers, as denoted by the “tell a friend” feature shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Finally, the present disclosure also envisions a one-stop shopping feature for groceries and other necessities. A searcher is capable of making a grocery list, entering the day the searcher intends to go shopping, and then the search system will return deals from grocery stores and markets that fit the searcher&#39;s criteria or input data. The searcher, then, can scan the return list and either shop each store where a deal is returned or select the one store with the most deals on the particular items needed. Thus, the search system herein eliminates the wasted time of shoppers in scanning each and every flyer or shoppers guide mailed to them. 
     Therefore, the present system provides a method for consumers for reducing time and effort in searching for day and time based offers, while allowing merchants to more effectively market. This provides consumers the attractive benefit of “one-stop” shopping that, at least in one embodiment, is free of charge. This further provides merchants a mechanism of leveraging consumer intelligence data, which increases sales and allows business resources to be allocated more effectively. 
     Various embodiments of the invention are described above in the Detailed Description. While these descriptions directly describe the above embodiments, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, it is the intention of the inventor that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s). 
     The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention known to the applicant at this time of filing the application has been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise form disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.