Method for deriving displayed time slots based on individual lister criteria

[0001] The invention saves on the time needed for back-and-forth communication and cancelation/Decline for delivery or pick up of an item. The lister is able to input a DELIVERY/PICKUP notice in hours and denotes the Time slots they are available. Pick-up and delivery time slots are separate and both have a built-in algorithm that factors in the delay time notice (1hr, 2 hr etc.) that is required by the Lister to prepare the item for Renter pick-up or Delivery. In a typical scenario, a lister offers delivery for a specific listing at 3pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7 pm but includes a Delivery notice time of 1 hour. The renter starts the transaction at 3:14pm; the invention algorithm will incorporate the individualized delivery notice time of 1 hour, taking the current time into consideration for only said particular item thereby letting the module know the earliest time the item can be delivered. In above case, only the time slots after 5:00 pm will be available for renter selection. So, the algorithm will offer 5:00 pm as the earliest slot the lister can deliver. The same algorithm applies to the Pick-up scenario where a preparation time in hours is input by the lister while listing the item. Through the Customized algorithm, different days can offer different customized times.

[0006] The separate but connected methods of operating the application are as follows:

• • [0007] 1. A smartphone application-based system where an individual (renter) may start based on the name of the stuff listed by individual (lister), specifically by name e.g. Boots, yielding a result that displays pricing which is described as the normal price.
  • [0008] 2. A listing module that is separate from the everyday price called the Weekend Pricing module which is described as the special price for all the weekends in the year to make up for listers otherwise anticipated loss of income on weekends.
  • [0009] 3. An individualized DELIVERY RADIUS in miles specified by the lister stating how far they can deliver the item.
  • [0010] 4. An individualized DELIVERY NOTICE module and a PICK-UP NOTICE module wherein the lister provides notice stating how much preparation time is required for the delivery or pick up, being the personal choice made by the lister taking into account all the factors that may hamper the delivery such as loading the item, traffic.
  • [0011] 5. An individualized DELIVERY TIME SLOT module where the lister specifies which Time slots can be used (8:00 am, 9:00 am, 2:00 pm). These timeslots are picked in the Listing module and are at the lister's discretion which works with in conjunction with #4 where the algorithm returns timeslots that are not available and the next earliest timeslot and subsequent time slots based on the DELIVERY NOTICE (hours) entered by the lister in #4 relative to the current time.
  • [0012] 6. An individualized PICK-UP TIME SLOT module where the lister specifies which Time slots can be used (8:00 am, 9:00 am, 2:00 pm), picked in the Listing module and are at the lister's discretion working in conjunction with #4 where the algorithm returns timeslots that are not available relative to the current time and the next earliest available time slot, including subsequent available time slots based on the PICK-UP NOTICE (hours) entered by the lister in #4.
  • [0013] 7. A CUSTOMIZE module where a lister can customize their listing by inputting custom prices for specific periods, specific pickup time slots and specific delivery time slots by overriding the algorithms of methods #2, #5 and #6
  • [0014] 8. A customized information module delineating the Delivery slots from #5, Pick up times from #6, specific pickup timeslots and specific delivery timeslots from #7.
  • [0015] 9. A custom DISCOUNT module that allows the lister to offer discounts based on a percentage discount for specific periods.
  • [0016] 10. A custom PROMOTION module that allows the lister to offer promotions based on percentage which apply to the promotion period only.