# US 2019/0172019 A1 · Optimized online marketing and scheduling systems and methods that are based on driving demand for services > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0172019 A1 - Document ID: US20190172019A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/201,892 - Filed: 2018-11-27 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-18 - Inventors: Robert Yu; Surya Prakash - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190172019A1 ## CPC - G06Q 10/1093: Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract In some aspects, the disclosure is directed to methods and systems for driving demand for services. An appointment platform operating on a server may identify, based on an appointment inventory of a service provider, an open appointment to be filled. The appointment platform may rank a plurality of users to which the open appointment may be offered. The appointment platform may rank a user of the plurality of users based on a current membership score of the user. The appointment platform may determine, based on the ranking, to offer the user the open appointment. The appointment platform may identify, based on the current membership score of the user, a type of incentive from a plurality of types of incentives, to offer to the user for filling the open appointment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: an appointment engine comprising one or more processors, the appointment engine configured to: identify an appointment with a service provider to be filled, and a first user to be offered an incentive for filling the appointment determine, at a first time instance prior to a time of the appointment, according to conditions of a plurality of situational factors corresponding to the first time instance, a first type and level of incentive to include in a first offer to the first user for filling the appointment determine, at a second time instance after the first time instance and prior to the time of the appointment corresponding to the second time instance, according to conditions of the plurality of situational factors, a second type and level of incentive to include in a second offer to the first user for filling the appointment confirm that the first user has accepted the second offer associated with the second type and level of incentive, and has completed requirements of the appointment including consumption of a corresponding service; and releasing, responsive to the confirmation, the second type and level of incentive to the first user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of an interface or a messaging system configured to communicate the first offer and the second offer to the first user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the appointment engine is further configured to monitor the plurality of situational factors over time, the plurality of situational factors including at least one of: proximity in time to the time of the open appointment, a location of the first user or the service provider, local condition of the location, weather condition, an appointment record of the first user, a payment record of the first user, a record of services consumed or scheduled by the first user, the first user's adherence to the provider's service recommendations, revenue potential from the first user, or the first user's insurance plan or other payment method for service rendered by the service provider, or demand or interest from users for the corresponding service. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first type and level of incentive or the second type and level of incentive comprises at least one of: a reward point, a credit towards future services, a gift card or certificate, or a discount. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the appointment engine is configured to identify the first user from a plurality of users, according to at least one of: proximity of the first user to the service provider's location, a past appointment record of the first user, a past payment record of the first user, a record of services consumed or scheduled by the first user, the first user's adherence to the provider's service recommendations, revenue potential from the first user, or the first user's insurance plan or other payment method for service rendered by the service provider. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the appointment engine is configured to identify the open appointment to be filled, according to an appointment inventory of the service provider accessed via an interface configured for the service provider. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the appointment engine is further configured to: determine, prior to the time of the appointment, that the first user has accepted the second offer; determine a third type and level of incentive to include in a third offer to the first user, to allow the appointment to be filled by a second user; and communicate the third offer to the second user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the third offer comprises an offer to the first user for swapping appointments with the second user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the third type and level of incentive is at least based on a contribution or an offer from the second user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the appointment engine is further configured to: determine, prior to the time of the appointment, that the first user has accepted the second offer; and communicate to a second user, an offer from the first user to allow the second user to fill the appointment in place of the first user. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: identifying, by an appointment engine comprising one or more processors, an appointment with a service provider to be filled, and a first user to be offered an incentive for filling the appointment; determining, by the appointment engine at a first time instance prior to a time of the appointment, according to conditions of a plurality of situational factors corresponding to the first time instance, a first type and level of incentive to include in a first offer to the first user for filling the appointment; determining, by the appointment engine at a second time instance after the first time instance and prior to the time of the appointment, according to conditions of the plurality of situational factors corresponding to the second time instance, a second type and level of incentive to include in a second offer to the first user for filling the appointment; confirming, by the appointment engine, that the first user has accepted the second offer associated with the second type and level of incentive, and has completed requirements of the appointment including consumption of a corresponding service; and releasing, by the appointment engine responsive to the confirmation, the second type and level of incentive to the first user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising communicating, via at least one of an interface or a messaging system, the first offer and the second offer to the first user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising monitoring, by the appointment engine, the plurality of situational factors over time, the plurality of situational factors including at least one of: proximity in time to the time of the open appointment, a location of the first user or the service provider, local condition of the location, weather condition, an appointment record of the first user, a payment record of the first user, a record of services consumed or scheduled by the first user, the first user's adherence to the provider's service recommendations, revenue potential from the first user, or the first user's insurance plan or other payment method for service rendered by the service provider, or demand or interest from users for the corresponding service. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first type and level of incentive or the second type and level of incentive comprises at least one of: a reward point, a credit towards future services, a gift card or certificate, or a discount. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising identifying, by the appointment engine, the first user from a plurality of users, according to at least one of: proximity of the first user to the service provider's location, a past appointment record of the first user, a past payment record of the first user, a record of services consumed or scheduled by the first user, the first user's adherence to the provider's service recommendations, revenue potential from the first user, or the first user's insurance plan or other payment method for service rendered by the service provider. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising identifying, by the appointment engine, the open appointment to be filled, according to an appointment inventory of the service provider accessed via an interface configured for the service provider. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining, prior to the time of the appointment, that the first user has accepted the second offer; determining a third type and level of incentive to include in a third offer to the first user, to allow the appointment to be filled by a second user; and communicating the third offer to the second user. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the third offer comprises an offer to the first user for swapping appointments with the second user. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the third type and level of incentive is at least based on a contribution or an offer from the second user. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining, prior to the time of the appointment, that the first user has accepted the second offer; and communicating to a second user, an offer from the first user to allow the second user to fill the appointment in place of the first user.