Patent US6604083B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6604083B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Market determination based on travel time bands
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1998-06-11
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Granted: 2003-08-05
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Expires: 2018-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A market analysis system uses travel time to define a relevant market area. A map is generated using stored geographical map information around a selected geographical point or area, and a travel time around the geographical point or area is selected. A trace is formed on the map around the geographical point within the travel time using travel time data, and market information is gathered from a database for the defined geographical area.
Inventors
- 👤 G. William Bailey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T17/00; G06T17/05; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; G06Q10/063; G06Q10/0631; G06Q10/06315; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0201; G06Q30/0202; G06Q30/0204; G06Q30/0205; G06Q40/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for determining a market area comprising: receiving a potential market location and a maximum travel time; defining a preliminary market area around the potential market location using the maximum travel time from that potential market location; defining, within the preliminary market area, bands reflecting increasing travel time from the potential market location; weighting the bands according to a market-related factor; and determining a final market area based on the weighted bands.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for determining a market area comprising: receiving a potential market location and a maximum travel time; defining a preliminary market area around the potential market location using the maximum travel time from that potential market location; defining, within the preliminary market area, bands reflecting increasing travel time from the potential market location; weighting the bands according to a market-related factor; and determining a final market area based on the weighted bands.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining a market for a desired commodity or service in the final market area based on the weighted bands.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising: determining a net demand for the commodity or service in the final market area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein weighting the bands according to a market related factor further includes weighting the bands based on empirical data drawn from within the preliminary market area.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for preparing a market study comprising: defining a geographic area around a selected location, the geographic area corresponding to a market based on a selected maximum travel time; defining a plurality of bands based on increasing travel time from the location; selecting geographic units in the bands; defining market-related variables for the market; calculating values corresponding to the market-related variables for each of the selected geographic units; and calculating a net demand for a service or a commodity in the market based on the values.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for preparing a market study comprising: defining a geographic area around a selected location, the geographic area corresponding to a market based on a selected maximum travel time; defining a plurality of bands based on increasing travel time from the location; selecting geographic units in the bands; defining market-related variables for the market; calculating values corresponding to the market-related variables for each of the selected geographic units; and calculating a net demand for a service or a commodity in the market based on the values.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein selecting the geographic units includes determining whether a centroid corresponding to the geographic units falls within at least one of the bands.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
85 words
A system for determining a market area, the system comprising: means for receiving a potential market location and a maximum travel time; means for defining a preliminary market area around the potential market location using the maximum travel time from that potential market location; means for defining, within the preliminary market area, bands reflecting increasing travel time from the potential market location; means for weighting the bands according to a market-related factor; and means for determining a final market area based on the weighted bands.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
85 words
A system for determining a market area, the system comprising: means for receiving a potential market location and a maximum travel time; means for defining a preliminary market area around the potential market location using the maximum travel time from that potential market location; means for defining, within the preliminary market area, bands reflecting increasing travel time from the potential market location; means for weighting the bands according to a market-related factor; and means for determining a final market area based on the weighted bands.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 7 , further comprising: means for determining a market for a desired commodity or service in the final market area based on the weighted bands.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 8 , further comprising: means for determining a net demand for the commodity or service in the final market area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein means for weighting the bands according to a market related factor further includes means for weighting the bands based on empirical data drawn from within the preliminary market area.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for preparing a market study, the system comprising: means for defining a geographic area around a selected location, the geographic area corresponding to a market based on a selected maximum travel time; means for defining a plurality of bands based on increasing travel time from the location; means for selecting geographic units in the bands; means for defining market-related variables for the market; means for calculating values corresponding to the market-related variables for each of the selected geographic units; and means for calculating a net demand for a service or a commodity in the market based on the values.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for preparing a market study, the system comprising: means for defining a geographic area around a selected location, the geographic area corresponding to a market based on a selected maximum travel time; means for defining a plurality of bands based on increasing travel time from the location; means for selecting geographic units in the bands; means for defining market-related variables for the market; means for calculating values corresponding to the market-related variables for each of the selected geographic units; and means for calculating a net demand for a service or a commodity in the market based on the values.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein means for selecting the geographic units includes means for determining whether a centroid corresponding to the geographic units falls within at least one of the bands.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, when executed by a computer, for performing a method for determining a market area, the method comprising: receiving a potential market location and a maximum travel time; defining a preliminary market area around the potential market location using the maximum travel time from that potential market location; defining, within the preliminary market area, bands reflecting increasing travel time from the potential market location; weighting the bands according to a market-related factor; and determining a final market area based on the weighted bands.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
87 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, when executed by a computer, for performing a method for determining a market area, the method comprising: receiving a potential market location and a maximum travel time; defining a preliminary market area around the potential market location using the maximum travel time from that potential market location; defining, within the preliminary market area, bands reflecting increasing travel time from the potential market location; weighting the bands according to a market-related factor; and determining a final market area based on the weighted bands.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , further comprising: determining a market for a desired commodity or service in the final market area based on the weighted bands.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising: determining a net demand for the commodity or service in the final market area.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein weighting the bands according to a market related factor further includes weighting the bands based on empirical data drawn from within the preliminary market area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
101 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, when executed by a computer, for performing a method for preparing a market study, the method comprising: defining a geographic area around a selected location, the geographic area corresponding to a market based on a selected maximum travel time; defining a plurality of bands based on increasing travel time from the location; selecting geographic units in the bands; defining market-related variables for the market; calculating values corresponding to the market-related variables for each of the selected geographic units; and calculating a net demand for a service or a commodity in the market based on the values.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
101 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, when executed by a computer, for performing a method for preparing a market study, the method comprising: defining a geographic area around a selected location, the geographic area corresponding to a market based on a selected maximum travel time; defining a plurality of bands based on increasing travel time from the location; selecting geographic units in the bands; defining market-related variables for the market; calculating values corresponding to the market-related variables for each of the selected geographic units; and calculating a net demand for a service or a commodity in the market based on the values.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein selecting the geographic units includes determining whether a centroid corresponding to the geographic units falls within at least one of the bands.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-08-04 | 2007-02-03 | 2007-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-04 | 2011-02-03 | 2011-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-04 | 2015-02-03 | 2015-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |