Farecast, Inc.

Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

David Hsu

Hugh Crean

Michael Fridgen

Jay Bartot

Oren Etzioni

A method and system is provided for making price-related predictions of items based on training a classifier using historical information including pricing information for the items and labels relating to the price-related information that are generated automatically from the historical information. A prediction system provides price-related predictions for airline tickets. The prediction system collects flight information for flights on a daily basis. The prediction system generates training data to train a classifier to make the price-related predictions using the flight information. After training the classifier, the prediction system then can make the price-related predictions for a trip.

Travel-related prediction system

A method and system for protecting prices is provided. The price protection system increases consumer confidence when making purchases by reducing the risk associated with fluctuating prices. The price protection system receives a purchase specification from a consumer. Next, the price protection system determines the risk that the prices of items matching the purchase specification will change and reports a protected price to the consumer that represents the price that the price protection system will protect based on the determined risk for a protection period. Finally, the price protection system receives a request from the consumer to purchase protection of the protected price.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

David Hsu