Method and system for selecting a sales channel
AssigneeJabil Global Services, Inc.
InventorsLawrence Snapp, Jeffrey S Rogers, Michael Nardella, Morris A Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A processor-assisted method for selecting a sales channel for a specific item (4900). The disclosed method includes analyses of variables such as expected costs (4600), sales items (4100) and market, third party and/or internal data (4200).
Claims387
A processor-assisted method for selecting a sales channel for a specific item, comprising:
- for a set of items, the set associated with one or more channel variables, each channel variable having a plurality of channel values, the set also associated with a plurality of item variables, each item variable having a plurality of item values, identifying each possible combination of channel values and item values;
- with a processor, comparing a statistically determined expected cost to a statistically determined expected benefit of each possible combination to determine an optimal combination;
- and
- offering a specific item for sale on a channel having the channel values of the optimal combination.
A computer-readable medium storing instructions for activities comprising:
- for a set of items, the set associated with one or more channel variables, each channel variable having a plurality of channel values, the set also associated with a plurality of item variables, each item variable having a plurality of item values, identifying each possible combination of channel values and item values;
- with a processor, comparing a statistically determined expected cost to a statistically determined expected benefit of each possible combination to determine an optimal combination;
- and
- offering a specific item for sale on a channel having the channel values of the optimal combination.
An apparatus for selecting variables to identify for an item, comprising:
- for a set of items, the set associated with one or more channel variables, each channel variable having a plurality of channel values, the set also associated with a plurality of item variables, each item variable having a plurality of item values, means for identifying each possible combination of channel values and item values;
- means for comparing a statistically determined expected cost to a statistically determined expected benefit of each possible combination to determine an optimal combination;
- and
- means for offering a specific item for sale on a channel having the channel values of the optimal combination.
A method for selecting a sales channel, comprising:
- obtaining a plurality of values of an item;
- associating the plurality of values of the item with an expected profit for the item from a potential sale of the item via each of a plurality of sales channels;
- and
- determining, with a processor, the sales channel with the largest expected profit.
A processor-assisted method for determining an optimal sales channel, comprising:
- identifying a plurality of values of an item;
- associating the plurality of values of the item with a processor-determined expected benefit for the item from a potential sale of the item via each of a plurality of sales channels;
- and
- determining, with a processor, the sales channel with the largest expected benefit.
A method for providing a description of an item, comprising:
- receiving an item;
- recording a verbal description of the item;
- linking the verbal description to a textual description of the item;
- and
- rendering the descriptions to a potential rightholder of the item.
A computer-readable medium storing instructions for activities comprising:
- receiving an item;
- recording a verbal description of the item;
- linking the verbal description to a textual description of the item;
- and
- rendering the descriptions to a potential rightholder of the item.
An apparatus for providing a description of an item, comprising:
- means for receiving an item;
- means for recording a verbal description of the item;
- means for linking the verbal description to a textual description of the item;
- and
- means for rendering the descriptions to a potential rightholder of the item.
A description of an item provided by a process comprising:
- receiving an item;
- recording a verbal description of the item;
- linking the verbal description to a textual description of the item;
- and
- rendering the descriptions to a potential rightholder of the item.
A method for providing a description of an item, comprising:
- recording a verbal description of the item;
- linking the verbal description to a textual description of the item;
- and
- rendering the verbal description to a potential rightholder of the item.
A method for providing a description of an item, comprising:
- receiving an item;
- recording a first description of the item;
- linking the first description to a second description of the item;
- and
- rendering the descriptions to a potential rightholder of the item.
A method for providing a description of a returned item, comprising:
- receiving a returned item;
- recording a first description of the item;
- linking the first description to a second description of the item;
- and
- rendering the descriptions to a potential rightholder of the item.
A method for providing a description of a returned item, comprising:
- receiving a returned item by a bailee from a second rightholder, a right for the item having previously transferred from one of a plurality of first rightholders to the second rightholder;
- recording a first description of the item;
- linking the first description to a second description of the item;
- and
- rendering the descriptions to a potential rightholder of the item.
A method for providing a description of a returned item, comprising:
- receiving a returned item;
- recording a description of the item;
- rendering the description to a potential rightholder of the item.
A method for providing a description of a returned item, comprising:
- receiving a returned item;
- recording a first description of the item;
- and
- joining the first description with a second description of the item.
A computer-readable medium storing instructions for activities comprising:
- receiving a returned item;
- recording a description of the item;
- rendering the description to a potential rightholder of the item.
An apparatus for providing a description of a returned item, comprising:
- means for receiving a returned item;
- means for recording a description of the item;
- means for rendering the description to a potential rightholder of the item.
A method for managing a change in rightholders for an item, comprising:
- receiving an item by a bailee from a second rightholder, a right for the item having previously transferred from one of a plurality of first rightholders to the second rightholder;
- after receipt of the item, facilitating a return of the right for the item from the second rightholder to the first rightholder;
- appraising the item;
- and
- identifying a third rightholder for the item.
A computer-readable medium storing instructions for activities comprising:
- receiving the item by a bailee from a second rightholder, a right for the item having previously transferred from one of a plurality of first rightholders to the second rightholder;
- after receipt of the item, facilitating a return of the right for the item from the second rightholder to the first rightholder;
- appraising the item;
- and
- identifying a third rightholder for the item.
An apparatus for managing a change in rightholders for an item, comprising:
- means for receiving the item by a bailee from a second rightholder, a right for the item having previously transferred from one of a plurality of first rightholders to the second rightholder;
- means for facilitating a return of the right for the item from the second rightholder to the first rightholder after receipt of the item;
- means for appraising the item;
- and
- means for identifying a third rightholder for the item.
An item returned by a process comprising:
- receiving the item by a bailee from a second rightholder, a right for the item having previously transferred from one of a plurality of first rightholders to the second rightholder;
- after receipt of the item, facilitating a return of the right for the item from the second rightholder to the first rightholder;
- appraising the item;
- and
- identifying a third rightholder for the item.
A method for managing reverse logistics for a plurality of items, comprising:
- for each item from the plurality of items:
- receiving possession, but not title, of the item from one of a plurality of first purchasers, title for the item having previously transferred from one of a plurality of sellers to the one of a plurality of first purchasers;
- facilitating a return of title for the item from its first purchaser to its seller;
- appraising the item;
- and
- identifying a second purchaser for the item.
A method for a first rightholder to manage a return of an item by a second rightholder, comprising:
- transferring a right for the item from the first rightholder to the second rightholder;
- authorizing a bailee to receive the item from the second rightholder;
- obtaining the bailee's appraisal of the item.
A method for managing Z-goods, comprising:
- receiving from a financial intermediary an authorization regarding a Z-good;
- receiving the Z-good from a provider at a central location;
- classifying the Z-good into one of a plurality of classifications;
- identifying a purchaser for the Z-good.
A method for re-selling Z-goods, comprising:
- receiving from a provider a Z-good that is unwanted by the provider, the provider having obtained the Z-good via a financial instrument;
- sorting the Z-good into one of a plurality of classifications;
- describing the Z-good;
- offering the Z-good for sale;
- selling the Z-good to a purchaser;
- delivering the Z-good to the purchaser;
- receiving payment for the Z-good from the purchaser;
- paying the provider for the Z-good.
A computer-readable medium storing instructions for activities comprising:
- receiving from a financial intermediary an authorization regarding a Z-good;
- receiving the Z-good from a provider at a central location;
- classifying the Z-good into one of a plurality of classifications;
- identifying a purchaser for the Z-good.
An apparatus for managing Z-goods, comprising:
- means for receiving from a financial intermediary an authorization regarding a Z-good,
- means for receiving the Z-good from a provider at a central location;
- means for classifying the Z-good into one of a plurality of classifications;
- means for identifying a purchaser for the Z-good.
A method for re-selling a previously-purchased Z-good, comprising:
- receiving from a financial intermediary, through whom a first consumer financed a purchase of a Z-good, an authorization to facilitate the reselling of the Z-good by the first consumer;
- receiving a description of the previously-purchased Z-good from the first consumer,
- offering the Z-good for sale via an Internet auction site;
- selling the Z-good to a second consumer;
- receiving an evaluation of the Z-good from the second consumer;
- providing the evaluation to the financial intermediary.
A method for re-selling a previously-purchased Z-good, comprising:
- receiving from a financial intermediary, through whom a first consumer financed a purchase of a Z-good, an authorization to facilitate the reselling of the Z-good;
- receiving the Z-good from the first consumer;
- offering the Z-good for sale;
- and
- selling the Z-good to a second consumer.
A computer-readable medium storing instructions for activities comprising:
- receiving from a financial intermediary, through whom a first consumer financed a purchase of a Z-good, an authorization to facilitate the reselling of the Z-good;
- receiving the Z-good from the first consumer;
- offering the Z-good for sale;
- and
- selling the Z-good to a second consumer.
An apparatus for re-selling a previously-purchased Z-good, comprising:
- means for receiving from a financial intermediary, through whom a first consumer financed a purchase of a Z-good, an authorization to facilitate the reselling of the Z-good;
- means for receiving the Z-good from the first consumer;
- means for offering the Z-good for sale;
- and
- means for selling the Z-good to a second consumer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.