System and Method For Allocating Inventory to Satisfy Online Demand and Demand At Physical Locations
OwnerShane N. Evangelist, Joseph W. Craft, IV +3inventors
InventorsShane N. Evangelist, Joseph W. Craft, IV, Leslie D. Crook, John D. Taylor, John F. Butler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for allocating inventory to satisfy online demand and demand at physical locations includes allocating a first portion of media rental inventory for online fulfillment and a second portion for fulfillment at physical rental locations. The method further includes making a determination of in-store rental activity for the second portion of inventory, and reallocating the first and second portions of inventory based on that determination.
Claims20
A method performed on a computer for allocating inventory, comprising:
- allocating a first portion of inventory to a particular inventory location for online fulfillment;
- allocating a second portion of inventory to the particular inventory location for fulfillment at physical locations;
- determining physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory, wherein determining physical location rental activity comprises:
- determining a projected physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory based on past physical location rental activity;
- determining an actual physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory;
- and
- comparing the projected physical location rental activity and the actual physical location rental activity to determine whether to reallocate the first and second portions of inventory;
- and
- reallocating the first and second portions of inventory in accordance with the determined physical location rental activity.
A system for allocating inventory in response to media requests, comprising:
- a plurality of computers operable to make media requests associated with subscriber accounts;
- and
- a controller operable to:
- allocate a first portion of inventory to a particular inventory location for on-line fulfillment and allocate a second portion of inventory to the particular inventory location for fulfillment at physical locations;
- determine physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory;
- determine a projected physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory based on past in-store rental activity;
- determine an actual physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory;
- compare the projected physical location rental activity and the actual physical location rental activity to determine whether to reallocate the first and second portions of inventory;
- reallocate the first and second portions of inventory in accordance with the determined physical location rental activity.
A controller, comprising:
- a memory operable to store inventory information and account information, the inventory information indicating an allocation of media at a plurality of inventory locations, wherein at least one of the locations accommodates physical location media rental requests, the account information indicating a plurality of subscriber accounts;
- a processor operable to:
- allocate a first portion of inventory for on-line fulfillment to a particular inventory location;
- allocate a second portion of inventory for physical location fulfillment to the particular inventory location;
- determine physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory;
- determine a projected physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory based on past physical location rental activity;
- determine an actual physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory;
- compare the projected physical location rental activity and the actual physical location rental activity to determine whether to reallocate the first and second portions of inventory;
- and
- reallocate the first and second portions of inventory in accordance with the determined physical location rental activity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.