Providing time-sensitive information for purchase determinations
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsARIEL FUXMAN, SAMUEL IEONG, RAJA PALANI VELU, RAKESH AGRAWAL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method, system, and medium are provided that are directed to providing a user with time-sensitive information that is usable to determine when to purchase a product. In accordance with embodiments of the technology, exemplary steps include using historical product information to generate time-sensitive information. Moreover, in response to receiving from a user a request to receive information describing a given product, time-sensitive information is caused to be presented. For example, time-sensitive information might be usable by the user to determine when to purchase the given product and an alternative product.
Claims20
Computer storage media storing computer-executable instructions thereon that, when executed, perform a method of providing time-sensitive information that is usable to determine when to purchase a product, the method comprising:
- receiving from a client computing device a request to send information that describes products, wherein the request includes specified product parameters that are usable to identify the products;
- retrieving from a datastore a first subset of the products, wherein the first subset satisfies the specified product parameters at a time at which the request is received;
- retrieving from the datastore time-sensitive information that is usable to determine when to purchase a second subset of the products, wherein the time-sensitive information indicates that parameters of the second subset will undergo a modification on a future date;
- comparing by a processor the time-sensitive information of the second subset to the specified product parameters to determine that parameters will satisfy the specified product parameters on the future date;
- and
- transmitting information that describes the second subset to the client computing device.
A method of providing time-sensitive information that is usable to determine when to purchase a product, the method comprising:
- receiving from a client computing device a request to send information that describes products, wherein the request includes specified product parameters that are usable to identify the products;
- retrieving from a datastore a first subset of the products, wherein the first subset satisfies the specified product parameters at a time at which the request is received;
- retrieving from the datastore time-sensitive information that is usable to determine when to purchase a second subset of the products, wherein the time-sensitive information indicates that parameters of the second subset will undergo a modification on a future date;
- comparing by a processor the time-sensitive information of the second subset to the specified product parameters to determine that parameters will satisfy the specified product parameters on the future date;
- and
- transmitting information that describes the second subset to the client computing device.
Computer storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, that when executed, cause a computing device to perform a method of providing a user with time-sensitive information that is usable to determine whether to purchase a given product, the method comprising:
- receiving from the user a request to send information describing products, wherein the request includes a specified purchase price;
- identifying a product that is available to be purchased at a time at which the request is received and in exchange for an amount that is not greater than the specified purchase price;
- retrieving a first set of time-sensitive information, which indicates that the product will no longer be available to be purchased on a first future date, a new product replacing the product will be available to be purchased on a second date, or a combination thereof;
- referencing a second set of time-sensitive information describing an alternative product, which is usable as an alternative to the product and is available to be purchased at the time the request is received for an amount that is greater than the specified purchase price;
- based on the second set of time-sensitive information, determining that the alternative product will be available to be purchased on a third future date in exchange for an amount that is not greater than the specified purchase price;
- and
- causing information describing the product to be presented to the user together with information describing the alternative product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.