DETERMINING TRAVEL ROUTES BY USING AUCTION-BASED LOCATION PREFERENCES
A method and system for determining a travel route that includes a location as a result of an auction. A user request is received for determining a route from point A to point B. Locations are selected that are capable of being included along routes from point A to point B. Selecting the locations is based on the request. An auction among vendors is initiated. The vendor winning the auction is determined. The route is determined so that a location of the selected locations is included along the route. The location is associated with the winning vendor. The determined route is presented to the user as a recommended route.
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The present invention relates to a data processing method and system for providing a location preference in a routing algorithm, and more particularly to technique for determining travel routes that include locations as a result of auctions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWith an increased use of Global Positioning System (GPS) units to determine travel routes, travelers are following routes recommended to them, rather than using maps or following familiar paths. Conventional route planning systems determine optimal routes based on different preferred conditions, including minimizing travel time or minimizing the distance traveled. By focusing on optimal route determination, known route planning systems fail to consider non-optimal routes whose presentation to travelers may have value to other parties. Further, the conventional route planning systems fail to account for a dynamic market value associated with presenting a route to a traveler. Thus, there exists a need to overcome at least one of the preceding deficiencies and limitations of the related art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one or more embodiments, the present invention provides a computer-implemented method of determining a route that includes a location as a result of an auction. The method comprises:
receiving a request from a user for a determination of a route from a first point to a second point;
selecting a plurality of locations capable of being included along a plurality of routes from the first point to the second point, wherein the selecting the plurality of locations is based on the request;
initiating an auction among a plurality of vendors that submits a plurality of bids in the auction, wherein the vendors and the bids are associated in a one-to-one correspondence;
determining that a vendor of the plurality of vendors wins the auction based on a bid of the plurality of bids, wherein the bid is associated with the vendor;
a processor of a computer system determining the route so that a location of the plurality of locations is included along the route, wherein the location is associated with the vendor that wins the auction based on the bid; and presenting the determined route to the user as the recommended route.
A system, program product and process for supporting computing infrastructure corresponding to the above-summarized method is also described and claimed herein.
The present invention provides a technique for presenting travel routes to travelers, where the routes are generated so as to include locations associated with vendors that submit winning bids in auctions.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a preference for a given route to pass by a particular location, based on an auction. Multiple vendors and/or other entities bid in an auction to ensure that a route recommended to a user (i.e., traveler) passes by a particular location associated with the winning bidder (i.e., the vendor or other entity that submits the winning bid). In one embodiment, a route calculation service utilizes an algorithm that takes into account a user's profile information to determine the particular vendors and/or other entities that are permitted to bid in an auction to determine a travel route. In another embodiment, additional route generation rules may be applied to determine whether the route determined by the auction is actually presented to a user as a recommended route.
System for Determining a Route by Using an Auction-Based Location PreferenceComputer systems 104-1 . . . 104-N are managed by auction participants 1 . . . N, respectively, where N≧1. The auction participants 1 . . . N are herein also referred to as vendors 1 . . . N. The present invention contemplates that the vendors 1 . . . N may include one or more businesses and/or one or more other types of organizational entities. Via a network (not shown), computer systems 104-1 . . . 104-N send identifications of vendors 1 . . . N and identifications of multiple locations to central computer system 102 to indicate that vendors 1 . . . N may participate in an auction-based location preference system managed by central computer system 102. Each vendor in vendors 1 . . . N is associated with one or more locations of the aforementioned multiple locations. For example, if Vendor 1 is associated with Location 1 and Vendor 1 is the owner of a grocery store, then Location 1 may be the site of the grocery store.
RCS 110 receives the identifications of the vendors 1 . . . N and the identifications of the multiple locations from central computer system 102 via network 106. RCS 110 determines a travel route that includes a location associated with a vendor included in vendors 1 . . . N, where the vendor submitted a winning bid in an auction. In one embodiment, the central computer system 102 receives indications from multiple route calculation services in multiple vehicles (e.g., route calculation service 110 in vehicle 108 and other route calculation services in other vehicles not vehicles not shown in
In step 204, RCS 110 (see
In step 206, RCS 110 (see
In step 208, based on the request received in step 204 and based on user profile data if user profile data is retrieved in step 206, RCS 110 (see
In step 210, for vendors associated with the locations selected in step 208, RCS 110 (see
In step 212, RCS 110 (see
In one embodiment, RCS 110 (see
In step 214, RCS 110 (see
In one embodiment, step 214 also includes the RCS notifying the user that the recommended route passes by the aforementioned location(s) and that the winning vendor(s) are associated with the location(s). The notification to the user may also include an identification of a category of goods and/or services provided by a winning vendor.
As an example of a portion of the process of
In a variation of the example presented above with Dealer X and Dealer Y participating in an auction, multiple routes from point A to point B (including the recommended route) are presented to the user and the user is compensated (e.g., with a credit to an account) in response to the user selecting the recommended route instead of the other presented routes.
In another example, a user requests a route from point A to point B (see step 204) and the user's profile data indicates a preference for luxury automobiles and for visiting coffee shops (see step 206). The auction (see step 210) accepts bids from a first set of luxury automobile dealer vendors and bids from a second set of coffee shop vendors. The result of the auction is that Luxury Automobile Dealer 1 (i.e., the luxury automobile dealer that submitted the highest bid among the first set of vendors) is a first winning vendor and Coffee Shop 1 (i.e., the coffee shop vendor that submitted the highest bid among the second set of vendors) is a second winning vendor. The RCS determines a route from point A to point B (see step 212) that includes Location 1 and Location 2, where Location 1 is the site at which Luxury Automobile Dealer 1 conducts business and where Location 2 is the site of Coffee Shop 1.
One or more parameters received in step 302 may specify how a particular vendor's bid in the auction varies based on predefined criteria. For example, parameters may specify how a vendor's bid varies by: the time of day at which the route is requested, the value of a particular customer based on the customer's past behavior (e.g., past purchases) or predicted future behavior in the user profile data, and/or events that occurred (or will occur) within a specified time period in an area through which a requested route passes.
One or more parameters received in step 302 may specify a pre-cached auction bid. Multiple vendors may submit pre-cached auction bids that allow the auction to be conducted instantaneously (see step 310) in response to receiving the user's request for a route from point A to point B (see step 304) and selecting locations that can be included along routes from point A to point B (see step 308). In one embodiment, the parameter(s) specifying a pre-cached auction bid by a vendor includes the vendor's maximum bid amount for auctions to be conducted. In another embodiment, the parameters include X and N, where the vendor's maximum pre-cached auction bid amount X is submitted for N auctions. In still another embodiment, the parameters include X, N and T, where the vendor's maximum pre-cached auction bid amount X is submitted for N auctions, where there is not less than T time units between successive auctions. For example, a example, a vendor may specify parameters that indicate the vendor is willing to bid up to $1.20 20 times for auctions where successive auctions are not less than 20 minutes apart.
In step 304, RCS 110 (see
In step 306, RCS 110 (see
In step 308, based on the request received in step 304, the parameters received in step 302, and the user profile data if the user profile data is retrieved in step 306, RCS 110 (see
In step 310, for vendors associated with the locations selected in step 308, RCS 110 (see
In step 312, RCS 110 (see
In one embodiment, RCS 110 (see
In step 314, RCS 110 (see
In one embodiment, step 314 also includes the RCS notifying the user that the recommended route passes by the aforementioned location(s) and that the winning vendor(s) are associated with the location(s). The notification to the user may also include an identification of a a category of goods and/or services provided by a winning vendor.
In an alternate embodiment, instead of having the RCS 110 (see
Possible methods for funding and providing incentives for the processes in
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- 1. Based on the winning bid, a fee is charged to the winning vendor whose location is included in the recommended route and the user who is a customer of the vendor is not compensated.
- 2. The user (i.e., the customer of the winning vendor whose location is included in the recommended route) is compensated directly (e.g., with cash, reimbursements for tolls incurred along the route, credits for spending at the vendor's store, etc.).
- 3. Compensation may optionally be given to nonprofit causes, including charities or green initiatives.
In step 404, GPS 112 (see
In step 406, RCS 110 (see
If step 406 determines that location(s) associated with winning vendor(s) are located along the actual route taken by vehicle 108 (see
Different vendors may be charged the same or different surcharges, where the surcharges are determined in step 408.
Following step 408, the process of
A rule-based route determination process determines a route according to the process of
One rule 116 may indicate that the distance of a recommended route must not exceed a distance of a shortest-distance route from point A to point B by more than X % or by more than a distance of X units (e.g., X miles), where X is a predefined value (see the discussion of
In the rule-based route determination process, RCS 110 (see
If RCS 110 (see
If RCS 110 (see
In one embodiment, the rule-based route determination process utilizes a distance limiting rule, as described below relative to
In step 504, steps 202-212 (see
In step 506, RCS 110 (see
If RCS 110 (see
Returning to step 508, if RCS 110 (see
In an alternate embodiment, the rule received in step 502 indicates that the length of the recommended route is not permitted to exceed the length of the optimal route by more than a distance X (e.g., X miles) and step 506 determines that the length of the route determined in step 504 is a distance N longer than the length of the optimal route. Furthermore, in this alternate embodiment, step 508 determines whether N>X.
Rule Limiting the Number of Recommended RoutesIn step 604, RCS 110 (see
In step 606, the steps 204-214 (see
In step 608, steps 204-212 (see
If RCS 110 (see
Returning to step 610, if RCS 110 (see
In an alternate embodiment, step 618 is replaced with (1) the RCS 110 (see
Memory 704 may comprise any known computer readable storage medium, which is described below. In one embodiment, cache memory elements of memory 704 provide temporary storage of at least some program code (e.g., program code 714) in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage while instructions of the program code are carried out. Moreover, similar to CPU 702, memory 704 may reside at a single physical location, comprising one or more types of data storage, or be distributed across a plurality of physical systems in various forms. Further, memory 704 can include data distributed across, for example, a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN).
I/O interface 706 comprises any system for exchanging information to or from an external source. I/O devices 710 comprise any known type of external device, including a display device (e.g., monitor), keyboard, mouse, printer, speakers, handheld device, facsimile, etc. Bus etc. Bus 708 provides a communication link between each of the components in computer system 700, and may comprise any type of transmission link, including electrical, optical, wireless, etc.
I/O interface 706 also allows computer system 700 to store and retrieve information (e.g., data or program instructions such as program code 714) from an auxiliary storage device such as computer data storage unit 712 or another computer data storage unit (not shown). Computer data storage unit 712 may comprise any known computer readable storage medium, which is described below. For example, computer data storage unit 712 may be a non-volatile data storage device, such as a magnetic disk drive (i.e., hard disk drive) or an optical disc drive (e.g., a CD-ROM drive which receives a CD-ROM disk).
Memory 704 may include computer program code 714 that provides the logic for determining a travel route that includes a location as a result of an auction (e.g., the process of
Memory 704, storage unit 712, and/or one or more other computer data storage units (not shown) that are coupled to computer system 700 may store a database (e.g., central database 104 in
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “module” or “system” (e.g., system 100 in
Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) (e.g., memory 704 and computer data storage unit 712) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared or semiconductor system, apparatus, device or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer-readable storage medium includes: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain or store a program for use by or in connection with a system, apparatus, or device for carrying out instructions.
A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electromagnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with a system, apparatus, or device for carrying out instructions.
Program code (e.g., program code 714) embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.
Computer program code (e.g., program code 714) for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java®, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. Instructions of the program code may be carried out entirely on a user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server, where the aforementioned user's computer, remote computer and server may be, for example, computer system 700 or another computer system (not shown) having components analogous to the components of computer system 700 included in
Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations (e.g.,
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium (e.g., memory 704 or computer data storage unit 712) that can direct a computer (e.g., computer system 700), other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer (e.g., computer system 700), other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which are carried out on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other devices provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
Any of the components of an embodiment of the present invention can be deployed, managed, serviced, etc. by a service provider that offers to deploy or integrate computing infrastructure with respect to the process of determining a travel route that includes a location as a result of an auction. Thus, an embodiment of the present invention discloses a process for supporting computer infrastructure, comprising integrating, hosting, maintaining and deploying computer-readable code (e.g., program code 714) into a computer system (e.g., computer system 700), wherein the code in combination with the computer system is capable of performing a process of determining a travel route that includes a location as a result of an auction.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method that performs the process steps of the invention on a subscription, advertising and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider, such as a Solution Integrator, can offer to create, maintain, support, etc. a process of determining a travel route that includes a location as a result of an auction. In this case, the service provider can create, maintain, support, etc. a computer infrastructure that performs the process steps of the invention for one or more customers. In return, the service provider can receive payment from the customer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement, and/or the service provider can receive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or more third parties.
The flowcharts in
While embodiments of the present invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A computer-implemented method of determining a recommended route that includes a location as a result of an auction, said method comprising:
- receiving a request from a user for a determination of a route from a first point to a second point;
- selecting a plurality of locations capable of being included along a plurality of routes from said first point to said second point, wherein said selecting said plurality of locations is based on said request;
- initiating an auction among a plurality of vendors that submits a plurality of bids in said auction, wherein said vendors and said bids are associated in a one-to-one correspondence;
- determining that a vendor of said plurality of vendors wins said auction based on a bid of said plurality of bids, wherein said bid is associated with said vendor;
- a processor of a computer system determining said route (determined route) so that a location of said plurality of locations is included along said determined route, wherein said location is associated with said vendor that wins said auction based on said bid; and
- presenting said determined route to said user as said recommended route.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving said plurality of bids submitted by said plurality of vendors, wherein said receiving said plurality of bids is performed subsequent to said receiving said request.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- receiving a plurality of parameters from said plurality of vendors prior to said receiving said request; and
- receiving said plurality of bids submitted by said plurality of vendors, wherein said receiving said plurality of bids is performed prior to said receiving said request to facilitate conducting said auction as an instantaneous auction in response to said receiving said request and said selecting said plurality of locations, wherein said plurality of bids is based on said plurality of parameters, and wherein said selecting said plurality of locations is further based on said plurality of parameters.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- tracking an actual route traveled by said user subsequent to said presenting said determined route;
- determining that said location is included along said actual route; and
- determining a surcharge to be charged to said vendor as a result of said determining that said location is included along said actual route.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- retrieving a rule indicating that said determined route is presented as said recommended route by said presenting only if a difference N between a first measurement of said determined route and a second measurement of an optimal route from said first point to said second point does not exceed a predefined threshold value X;
- determining said difference N;
- determining said difference N does not exceed said predefined threshold value X; and
- in response to said determining said difference N does not exceed said predefined threshold value X, designating said determined route as said recommended route.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- receiving a second request from a second user for a determination of a second route from a third point to a fourth point;
- selecting a second plurality of locations capable of being included along a second plurality of routes from said third point to said fourth point, wherein said selecting said second plurality of locations is based on said second request;
- initiating a second auction among a second plurality of vendors that submits a second plurality of bids in said auction;
- determining that a vendor (winning vendor) of said second plurality of vendors wins said second auction based on a bid (winning bid) of said second plurality of bids, wherein said winning bid is associated with said winning vendor;
- determining said second route so that a second location is included along said second route, wherein said second location is associated with said winning vendor; and
- retrieving a rule indicating that a first length (determined route length) of said second route is not permitted to exceed a second length (optimal route length) of a second optimal route from said third point to said fourth point by more than X percent;
- determining said determined route length is N percent more than said optimal route length;
- determining said N percent is greater than said X percent; and
- in response to said determining said N percent is greater than said X percent, indicating said second route is not recommended to said second user and is not to be presented to said second user.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- retrieving a rule indicating that a first number of recommended routes that pass through a constrained area is not permitted to exceed a second number;
- receiving an indication of said constrained area;
- presenting N recommended routes subsequent to a receipt of N requests for N routes, wherein said N recommended routes pass through said constrained area, and wherein said presenting said N recommended routes includes said presenting said determined route to said user as said recommended route;
- determining an (N+1)-th route that passes through said constrained area, wherein said determining said (N+1)-th route is based on a receipt of a request from a second user for a determination of said (N+1)-th route;
- determining said first number is not greater than said second number, wherein said first number is said N+1;
- in response to said determining said first number is not greater than said second number, designating said (N+1)-th route as an (N+1)-th recommended route.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- retrieving a rule indicating that a first number of recommended routes that pass through a constrained area is not permitted to exceed a second number;
- receiving an indication of said constrained area;
- presenting N recommended routes subsequent to a receipt of N requests for N routes, wherein said N recommended routes pass through said constrained area, and wherein said presenting said N recommended routes includes said presenting said determined route to said user as said recommended route;
- determining an (N+1)-th route that passes through said constrained area, wherein said determining said (N+1)-th route is based on a receipt of a request from a second user for a determination of said (N+1)-th route;
- determining said first number is greater than said second number, wherein said first number is said N+1;
- in response to said determining said first number is greater than said second number, indicating that said (N+1)-th route is not a recommended route and is not to be presented to said second user.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving profile data that describes one or more behaviors of said user, wherein said selecting said location is further based on said profile data, and wherein said profile data includes a preference of said user for purchasing a good or a service.
10. A computer system comprising a processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising a software application, said software application comprising instructions that when carried out by said processor implement the method of claim 1.
11. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program code stored therein, said computer readable program code containing instructions executable by a processor of a computer system to implement a method of determining a recommended route that includes a location as a result of an auction, said method comprising:
- receiving a request from a user for a determination of a route from a first point to a second point;
- selecting a plurality of locations capable of being included along a plurality of routes from said first point to said second point, wherein said selecting said plurality of locations is based on said request;
- initiating an auction among a plurality of vendors that submits a plurality of bids in said auction, wherein said vendors and said bids are associated in a one-to-one correspondence;
- determining that a vendor of said plurality of vendors wins said auction based on a bid of said plurality of bids, wherein said bid is associated with said vendor;
- determining said route (determined route) so that a location of said plurality of locations is included along said determined route, wherein said location is associated with said vendor that wins said auction based on said bid; and
- presenting said determined route to said user as said recommended route.
12. The program product of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises receiving said plurality of bids submitted by said plurality of vendors, wherein said receiving said plurality of bids is performed subsequent to said receiving said request.
13. The program product of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:
- receiving a plurality of parameters from said plurality of vendors prior to said receiving said request; and
- receiving said plurality of bids submitted by said plurality of vendors, wherein said receiving said plurality of bids is performed prior to said receiving said request to facilitate conducting said auction as an instantaneous auction in response to said receiving said request and said selecting said plurality of locations, wherein said plurality of bids is based on said plurality of parameters, and wherein said selecting said plurality of locations is further based on said plurality of parameters.
14. The program product of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:
- tracking an actual route traveled by said user subsequent to said presenting said determined route;
- determining that said location is included along said actual route; and
- determining a surcharge to be charged to said vendor as a result of said determining that said location is included along said actual route.
15. The program product of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:
- retrieving a rule indicating that said determined route is presented as said recommended route by said presenting only if a difference N between a first measurement of said determined route and a second measurement of an optimal route from said first point to said second point does does not exceed a predefined threshold value X;
- determining said difference N;
- determining said difference N does not exceed said predefined threshold value X; and
- in response to said determining said difference N does not exceed said predefined threshold value X, designating said determined route as said recommended route.
16. The program product of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:
- receiving a second request from a second user for a determination of a second route from a third point to a fourth point;
- selecting a second plurality of locations capable of being included along a second plurality of routes from said third point to said fourth point, wherein said selecting said second plurality of locations is based on said second request;
- initiating a second auction among a second plurality of vendors that submits a second plurality of bids in said auction;
- determining that a vendor (winning vendor) of said second plurality of vendors wins said second auction based on a bid (winning bid) of said second plurality of bids, wherein said winning bid is associated with said winning vendor;
- determining said second route so that a second location is included along said second route, wherein said second location is associated with said winning vendor; and
- retrieving a rule indicating that a first length (determined route length) of said second route is not permitted to exceed a second length (optimal route length) of a second optimal route from said third point to said fourth point by more than X percent;
- determining said determined route length is N percent more than said optimal route length;
- determining said N percent is greater than said X percent; and
- in response to said determining said N percent is greater than said X percent, indicating said second route is not recommended to said second user and is not to be presented to said second user.
17. A process for supporting computing infrastructure, said process comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in a computing system comprising a processor, wherein said processor carries out instructions of said code to cause the computing system to specify a method of determining a recommended route that includes a location as a result of an auction, said method comprising:
- receiving a request from a user for a determination of a route from a first point to a second point;
- selecting a plurality of locations capable of being included along a plurality of routes from said first point to said second point, wherein said selecting said plurality of locations is based on said request;
- initiating an auction among a plurality of vendors that submits a plurality of bids in said auction, wherein said vendors and said bids are associated in a one-to-one correspondence;
- determining that a vendor of said plurality of vendors wins said auction based on a bid of said plurality of bids, wherein said bid is associated with said vendor;
- a processor of a computer system determining said route (determined route) so that a location of said plurality of locations is included along said determined route, wherein said location is associated with said vendor that wins said auction based on said bid; and
- presenting said determined route to said user as said recommended route.
18. The process of claim 17, wherein said method further comprises receiving said plurality of bids submitted by said plurality of vendors, and wherein said receiving said plurality of bids is performed subsequent to said receiving said request.
19. The process of claim 17, wherein said method further comprises:
- receiving a plurality of parameters from said plurality of vendors prior to said receiving said request; and
- receiving said plurality of bids submitted by said plurality of vendors, wherein said receiving said plurality of bids is performed prior to said receiving said request to facilitate conducting said auction as an instantaneous auction in response to said receiving said request and said selecting said plurality of locations, wherein said plurality of bids is based on said plurality of parameters, and wherein said selecting said plurality of locations is further based on said plurality of parameters.
20. The process of claim 17, wherein said method further comprises:
- tracking an actual route traveled by said user subsequent to said presenting said determined route;
- determining that said location is included along said actual route; and
- determining a surcharge to be charged to said vendor as a result of said determining that said location is included along said actual route.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 14, 2009
Publication Date: Apr 14, 2011
Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION (Armonk, NY)
Inventors: Gregory Jensen Boss (Saginaw, MI), Rick Allen Hamilton, II (Charlottesville, VA), Jacquelyn Annette Martino (Cold Spring, NY), Clifford Alan Pickover (Yorktown Heights, NY), Anne R. Sand (Peyton, CO)
Application Number: 12/578,780
International Classification: G01C 21/34 (20060101); G01C 21/00 (20060101); G06Q 30/00 (20060101); G06Q 10/00 (20060101); G06Q 50/00 (20060101);