Deferred Travel Package Discount System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users are often denied travel package discounts when purchasing travel items separately, as these discounts are typically offered only when items are bought together simultaneously, which may not suit individual purchasing preferences or budgets.
Innovation Solution
A network travel package service that allows users to purchase multiple travel items at a discounted rate even when bought separately, by identifying initial travel item purchases and offering options for additional corresponding items at a later time, enabling deferred travel packages with temporal or positional relationships.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If travel items are purchased separately at different times, then purchasing flexibility and budget control are improved, but travel package discounts are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the travel package purchase into multiple separate transactions. Users can purchase travel items individually at different times while still receiving package discounts through a system that tracks and combines separate purchases. The purchase process is divided into initial purchase and subsequent additions, allowing flexibility while maintaining discount eligibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by recording and tracking initial travel item purchases before subsequent related purchases are made. The system proactively identifies opportunities to combine separate purchases into discounted packages and notifies users of available discounts, enabling users to benefit from package pricing without requiring simultaneous purchases.
2Loss of energy
If multiple travel items are purchased together simultaneously, then travel package discounts are obtained, but purchasing flexibility and decision time are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic purchase system where the package composition is not fixed at the time of initial purchase. Users can add or remove travel items from their package after the initial purchase, allowing the package to evolve over time. This dynamic approach maintains discount eligibility while accommodating changing user preferences and decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback to users about available discounts and package opportunities based on their purchase history and current selections. When users make separate purchases, the system analyzes whether combining them would qualify for package discounts and notifies users of the potential savings, enabling informed decisions about whether to consolidate purchases.
3Loss of energy
If the threshold for package discounts is set high, then discount quality and value are improved, but accessibility and user base are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements variable threshold parameters that adapt based on user behavior, purchase timing, and item combinations. Rather than a fixed high threshold, the system adjusts discount eligibility criteria dynamically, allowing lower thresholds for certain item combinations or user segments while maintaining high-value discounts for comprehensive packages. This enables both accessibility and value retention.
Data Source
AI summary
A user of a personal computing device may identify multiple travel items of interest displayed for purchase by a network-based travel service. However, the user may not desire to purchase the travel items in a single purchase. Upon making a travel purchase that includes a first travel item that does not include a second travel item corresponding to the first travel item, the user may employ the network travel package service to search for second travel items corresponding to the first travel item, select from discounted travel packages including the first travel item and second travel items returned from the search, and purchase a discounted travel package. Beneficially, multiple travel items may be purchased separately while obtaining a package discount as compared to the stand-alone price of the travel items.