A system and method for grouping and selling products or services using a
computer system, potentially connected to a network. The computer system
includes a computer with multiple terminals, potentially instantiated as
a server computer or computers and distributed client computers. The
computer system presents a sales interface on some terminals. The sales
interface shows products or services and groups of products and/or
services that are for sale. The computer system presents a back end
interface on some terminals, which can be used to enter new products,
services and groupings of products and/or services to be offered for sale
on the sales interface. Descriptions of the products or service offerings
are entered into the computer system either by data entry operators using
the back end interface or by a program reading product or service
descriptions from external computer systems. The method groups these
products or services according to an affinity algorithm. The groupings
may then potentially be reviewed and approved or selected by human
operators using the back end interface before being offered for sale on
the sales interface. One advantageous application is the dynamic
packaging of perishable items such as travel goods and services (e.g.,
airline tickets, rental cars, hotel rooms, entertainment opportunities,
etc.).