Resource price management incorporating indirect value

Claim 2

A computer-implemented method of managing a resource, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for an instance of the resource for a customer; determining, in the computer, an indirect value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance to the customer and based on at least one characteristic of the customer, wherein the indirect value is based on a customer gaming value; and responsive to the indirect value exceeding a threshold, offering the resource instance to the customer.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , wherein determining an indirect value comprises determining an indirect value based on a customer segment associated with the customer.

Claim 4

A computer-implemented method of managing a resource, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for an instance of the resource for a customer; determining, in the computer, an indirect value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance to the customer and based on at least one characteristic of the customer, wherein the indirect value is based on a customer gaming value; determining, in the computer, a price at which to offer the resource instance to the customer, the price being determined as a function of the indirect value; and offering the resource instance to the customer at the determined price.

Claim 5

A computer-implemented method of managing a resource, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for an instance of the resource for a customer; determining, in the computer, an indirect value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance to the customer and based on at least one characteristic of the customer, wherein the indirect value is based on a customer gaming value; determining, in the computer, a price at which to offer the resource instance to the customer, the price being determined as a function of the indirect value; and offering the resource instance to the customer at the determined price.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 , wherein determining a price at which to offer the resource instance takes into account forecasted demand and projected response to marketing activities related to at least one special event.

Claim 7

The method of claim 3 , wherein the indirect value is based on a customer segment associated with the customer.

Claim 8

The method of claim 3 , wherein determining a price comprises determining a price to maximize total value including direct value and indirect value.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 , wherein the resource comprises a set of hotel rooms, the direct value comprises a room rate, and the indirect value comprised gaming values.

Claim 10

The method of claim 3 , wherein determining a price at which to offer the resource instance takes into account forecasted demand and projected response to marketing activities.

Claim 11

The method of claim 3 , wherein the resource has a type and wherein determining a price for the resource takes into account forecasted demand for the resource type.

Claim 12

A computer-implemented method of managing a resource, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for an instance of the resource for a customer; determining, in the computer, an indirect value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance to the customer and based on at least one characteristic of the customer; determining, in the computer, a price at which to offer the resource instance to the customer, the price being determined as a function of the indirect value, wherein the indirect value is based on a customer gaming value; responsive to the determined price exceeding all prices in a predefined set of prices, denying the resource instance to the customer; and responsive to the determined price not exceeding all prices in a predetermined set of prices, offering the resource instance to the customer at a minimum price in the predefined set of prices that exceeds the determine price.

Claim 13

A computer-implemented method of managing a resource, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for an instance of the resource for a customer; determining, in the computer, an indirect value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance to the customer and based on at least one characteristic of the customer; determining, in the computer, a price at which to offer the resource instance to the customer, the price being determined as a function of the indirect value, wherein the indirect value is based on a customer gaming value; responsive to the determined price exceeding all prices in a predefined set of prices, denying the resource instance to the customer; and responsive to the determined price not exceeding all prices in a predetermined set of prices, offering the resource instance to the customer at a minimum price in the predefined set of prices that exceeds the determine price.

Claim 14

A computer-implemented method of managing value for a property, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for a room for a customer; determining, in the computer, an indirect value potentially resulting from providing the room to the customer and based on at least one characteristic of the customer, wherein the indirect value is based on a customer gaming value; and responsive to the indirect value exceeding a threshold, offering the room to the customer.

Claim 15

A computer-implemented method of managing value for a property, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for a room for a customer; determining, in the computer, an indirect value potentially resulting from providing the room to the customer and based on at least one characteristic of the customer, wherein the indirect value is based on a customer gaming value; and responsive to the indirect value exceeding a threshold, offering the room to the customer.

Claim 16

The method of claim 11 , wherein determining an indirect value comprises determining an indirect value based on a customer segment associated with the customer.

Claim 17

A computer-implemented method of managing value for a property, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for a room for a customer; determining, in the computer, a potential gaming value of the customer; determining, in the computer, a price at which to offer the room to the customer, the price being determined as a function of the estimated gaming value of the customer; and offering the room to the customer at the determined price.

Claim 18

A computer-implemented method of managing value for a property, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for a room for a customer; determining, in the computer, a potential gaming value of the customer; determining, in the computer, a price at which to offer the room to the customer, the price being determined as a function of the estimated gaming value of the customer; and offering the room to the customer at the determined price.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13 , wherein determining a price at which to offer the room takes into account forecasted demand and projected response to marketing activities.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13 , wherein determining a price at which to offer the room takes into account forecasted demand and projected response to marketing activities related to at least one special event.

Claim 21

The method of claim 13 , wherein the potential gaming value is based on a customer segment associated with the customer.

Claim 22

The method of claim 13 , wherein determining a price comprises determining a price to maximize total value including aggregate room value and aggregate gaming value.

Claim 23

The method of claim 13 , wherein the room has a type and wherein determining a price for the room takes into account forecasted demand for the room type.

Claim 24

The method of claim 13 , wherein the estimated gaming value of the customer is derived from past gaming behavior of the customer.

Claim 25

The method of claim 13 , wherein the estimated gaming value of the customer is derived from demographic characteristics of the customer.

Claim 26

The method of claim 13 , further comprising: receiving, in the computer, at least one room price for at least one second property; and adjusting, in the computer, the determined price responsive to the received room price.

Claim 27

The method of claim 13 , further comprising: receiving, in the computer, a composite price representing competing room prices; and adjusting, in the computer, the determined price responsive to the composite price.

Claim 28

The method of claim 13 , further comprising: receiving, in the computer, a composite price representing a weighted average of competing room prices; and adjusting, in the computer, the determined price responsive to the composite price.

Claim 29

A computer-implemented method of managing value for a property, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for a room for a customer; determining, in the computer, an estimated gaming value of the customer; determining, in the computer, a price at which to offer the room to the customer, the price being determined as a function of the estimated gaming value of the customer; responsive to the determined price exceeding all prices in a predefined set of prices, denying the room to the customer; and responsive to the determined price not exceeding all prices in a predetermined set of prices, offering the room to the customer at a minimum price in the predefined set of prices that exceeds the determined price.

Claim 30

A computer-implemented method of managing value for a property, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for a room for a customer; determining, in the computer, an estimated gaming value of the customer; determining, in the computer, a price at which to offer the room to the customer, the price being determined as a function of the estimated gaming value of the customer; responsive to the determined price exceeding all prices in a predefined set of prices, denying the room to the customer; and responsive to the determined price not exceeding all prices in a predetermined set of prices, offering the room to the customer at a minimum price in the predefined set of prices that exceeds the determined price.

Claim 31

The method of claim 24 , wherein determining the estimated gaming value of the customer comprises: classifying, in the computer, the customer into one of a plurality of customer segments; and determining, in the computer, the expected gaming value associated with the customer segment into which the customer is classified.

Claim 32

The method of claim 25 , wherein classifying the customer comprises determining an applicable customer segment responsive to past gaming behavior of the customer.

Claim 33

The method of claim 25 , wherein classifying the customer comprises determining an applicable customer segment responsive to demographic characteristics of the customer.

Claim 34

A computer-implemented method of managing resource, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for an instance of the resource for a customer; determining, in the computer, at least two sources of value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance to the customer, at least one of the sources of value being based on at least one characteristic of the customer, wherein at least one of the sources of value is based on a customer gaming value; and responsive to the sum of the two sources of value exceeding a threshold, offering the resource instance to the customer.

Claim 35

A computer-implemented method of managing resource, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for an instance of the resource for a customer; determining, in the computer, at least two sources of value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance to the customer, at least one of the sources of value being based on at least one characteristic of the customer, wherein at least one of the sources of value is based on a customer gaming value; and responsive to the sum of the two sources of value exceeding a threshold, offering the resource instance to the customer.

Claim 36

The method of claim 28 , wherein at least one of the sources of value is based on a customer segment associated with the customer.

Claim 37

A computer-implemented method of managing a resource, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for an instance of the resource for a customer; determining, in the computer, at least two sources of value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance to the customer, at least one of the sources of value being based on at least one characteristic of the customer; determining, in the computer, a price at which to offer the resource instance to the customer, the price being determined as a function of the at least two sources of value, wherein at least one of the sources of value is based on a customer gaming value; and offering the resource instance to the customer at the determined price.

Claim 38

A computer-implemented method of managing a resource, comprising: receiving, in a computer, a request for an instance of the resource for a customer; determining, in the computer, at least two sources of value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance to the customer, at least one of the sources of value being based on at least one characteristic of the customer; determining, in the computer, a price at which to offer the resource instance to the customer, the price being determined as a function of the at least two sources of value, wherein at least one of the sources of value is based on a customer gaming value; and offering the resource instance to the customer at the determined price.

Claim 39

A computer-implemented method of managing a resource comprising: receiving a request for an instance of the resource for a customer; determining at least two sources of value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance to the customer, at least one of the sources of value being based on at least one characteristic of the customer, wherein at least one of the sources of value is based on a customer gaming value; and responsive to the sum of the two sources of value exceeding a threshold; determining a price for the resource instance as a function of the sum of the at least two sources of value; and offering the resource instance to the customer.

Claim 40

A computer-implemented method of managing a resource comprising: receiving a request for an instance of the resource for a customer; determining at least two sources of value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance to the customer, at least one of the sources of value being based on at least one characteristic of the customer, wherein at least one of the sources of value is based on a customer gaming value; and responsive to the sum of the two sources of value exceeding a threshold; determining a price for the resource instance as a function of the sum of the at least two sources of value; and offering the resource instance to the customer.

Claim 41

The method of claim 31 , wherein the at least two sources of value comprise a direct value and an indirect value.

Claim 42

The method of claim 32 , wherein the resource comprises a set of hotel rooms, the direct value comprises a room rate, and the indirect value comprises gaming value.

Claim 47

A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for managing a resource, comprising: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to receive a request or an instance of the resource for a customer; computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine an indirect value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance o the customer and based on at least one characteristic of the customer, wherein the indirect value is based on a customer gaming value; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to, responsive to the indirect value exceeding a threshold, offer the resource instance to the customer.

Claim 48

A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for managing a resource, comprising: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to receive a request or an instance of the resource for a customer; computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine an indirect value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance o the customer and based on at least one characteristic of the customer, wherein the indirect value is based on a customer gaming value; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to, responsive to the indirect value exceeding a threshold, offer the resource instance to the customer.

Claim 49

A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for managing a resource, comprising: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to receive a request for an instance of the resource for a customer; computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine an indirect value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance to the customer and based on at least one characteristic of the customer; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine a price for the resource instance as a function of the indirect value, wherein the indirect value is based on a customer gaming value; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to offer the resource instance to the customer at the determined price.

Claim 50

A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for managing a resource, comprising: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to receive a request for an instance of the resource for a customer; computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine an indirect value potentially resulting from providing the resource instance to the customer and based on at least one characteristic of the customer; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine a price for the resource instance as a function of the indirect value, wherein the indirect value is based on a customer gaming value; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to offer the resource instance to the customer at the determined price.