Systems and methods for task-based decreasing price markets

Abstract

Embodiments of task-based, decreasing-price markets enable dynamic discounting of items for sale. In one example, users shop for products (e.g., clothing, electronics, or cars) or services (e.g., hotel rooms, plane tickets, or car rentals) using a computing device or mobile device. As the users shop, they view advertisements or perform other tasks, like answering questions, and the system discounts an item's price based on the number or complexity of the performed tasks. Each user who performs a task gets a chance to buy the item at its discounted price. The other users also get a chance to buy the item at the discounted price. If someone buys the item, the item's price returns to its starting value. If nobody buys the item, the system discounts the item's price further as the users perform more tasks until someone buys the item or the item's price reaches a minimum value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of price discounting, the method comprising:
 communicating, by a processor, to a first user device of a plurality of user devices, information on a task to be performed by the first user device;   receiving, by the processor, an indication that the first user device of the plurality of user devices has performed the task to receive a viewing credit to view discounted prices of one or more items;   providing, by the processor, a viewing credit to view discounted prices of items, the processor revealing discounted prices of items only to those user devices with sufficient viewing credits;   receiving, by the processor, a request from the first user device to view a discounted price of an item;   determining, by the processor, that the first user device has sufficient viewing credits to view the discounted price of the item requested by the first user device; and   responsive to determining that the first user device has sufficient viewing credits to view the discounted price of the item, providing the first user device the discounted price of the item.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing the first user device an opportunity to purchase the item at the discounted price. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viewing credit corresponds to allowing the first user device to view a predetermined number of items. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 maintaining a counter to track a number of discounted prices of items viewed by the first user device; and 
 adjusting the counter responsive to providing the first user device the discounted price of the item. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viewing credit corresponds to allowing the first user device to view discounted prices of any number of items within a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising maintaining a timer to track an amount of time the user device spends on viewing discounted prices of items. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein responsive to determining that the first user device has viewed discounted prices of items for a period of time that exceeds an amount of time corresponding to a number of viewing credits provided to the first user, denying a request from the first user device to view discounted prices of another item. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 maintaining a counter tracking a number of discount prices of items viewed by the first user device; 
 determining that the counter exceeds a threshold count value; and 
 communicating, by the processor, to the first user device, information on a second task to be performed by the first user device. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 identifying a value associated with the task performed by the first user; and wherein   providing the viewing credit to view discounted prices of items includes providing a viewing credit that corresponds to the identified value associated with the task performed by the first user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating, to the first user, information on a task to be performed by the first user, the task based on information about at least one of the item, the first user, the plurality of user devices, and a specification of the task by a third party. 
     
     
         11 . A system of price discounting, the system comprising:
 a processor; and   memory having processor executable instructions stored thereon, the processor configured to execute the processor executable instructions to:   communicate to a first user device of a plurality of user devices, information on a task to be performed by the first user device;   receive an indication that the first user device has performed a task to receive a viewing credit to view discounted prices of items;   provide a viewing credit to view discounted prices of items, the processor configured to reveal discounted prices of items only to those user devices with sufficient viewing credits;   receive a request from the first user device to view discounted price of an item;   determine that the first user device has sufficient viewing credits to view the discounted price of the item requested by the first user device; and   responsive to determining that the first user device has sufficient viewing credits to view the discounted price of the item, provide the first user device the discounted price of the item.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide the first user device an opportunity to purchase the item at the discounted price. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the viewing credit corresponds to allowing the first user device to view a predetermined number of items. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 maintain a counter to track a number of discounted prices of items viewed by the first user device; and   adjust the counter responsive to providing the first user device the discounted price of the item.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the viewing credit corresponds to allowing the first user device to view discounted prices of any number of items within a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to maintain a timer to track an amount of time the user device spends on viewing discounted prices of items 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to deny a request from the first user device to view discounted prices of another item responsive to determining that the first user device has viewed discounted prices of items for a period of time that exceeds an amount of time corresponding to a number of viewing credits provided to the first user. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 maintain a counter tracking a number of discount prices of items viewed by the first user device;   determine that the counter exceeds a threshold count value; and   communicate, by the processor, to the first user device, information on a second task to be performed by the first user device.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 identify a value associated with the task performed by the first user; and wherein   to provide the viewing credit to view discounted prices of items, the processor is configured to provide a viewing credit that corresponds to the identified value associated with the task performed by the first user.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the task for which instructions are communicated is based on information about at least one of the item, the first user, the plurality of user devices, and a specification of the task by a third party.