Method and apparatus for a cryptographically assisted commercial network system designed to facilitate buyer-driven conditional purchase offers
September 4, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesSelf-service passenger ticketing system Touch panel passenger self-ticketing system Integrated interactive restaurant communication system for food and entertainment processing Auction information transmission processing Interactive market management system Automated futures trading exchange Trip planner optimizing travel itinerary selection conforming to individualized travel policies System for conducting and processing spot commodity transactions Knowledge based system for document authentication Trusted agents for open electronic commerce Patent #: 5557518 InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 707660 filed on 09/04/1996US Classes:705/1, AUTOMATED ELECTRICAL FINANCIAL OR BUSINESS PRACTICE OR MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT705/26, Electronic shopping (e.g., remote ordering)705/77, Including remote charge determination or related payment system705/80ELECTRONIC NEGOTIATIONExaminersPrimary: Tarcza, Thomas H.Assistant: Laufer, Pinchus M. Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassG06F 015/20AbstractThe present invention is a method and apparatus for effectuating bilateral buyer-driven commerce. The present invention allows prospective buyers of goods and services to communicate a binding purchase offer globally to potential sellers, for sellers conveniently to search for relevant buyer purchase offers, and for sellers potentially to bind a buyer to a contract based on the buyer's purchase offer. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a controller which receives binding purchase offers from prospective buyers. The controller makes purchase offers available globally to potential sellers. Potential sellers then have the option to accept a purchase offer and thus bind the corresponding buyer to a contract. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications on the Internet as well as conventional communications systems such as voice telephony.Other References
Field of SearchElectronic shopping (e.g., remote ordering)Presentation of image or description of sales item (e.g., electronic catalog browsing) Trading, matching, or bidding Credit (risk) processing or loan processing (e.g., mortgage) Including funds transfer or credit transaction Requiring authorization or authentication AUTOMATED ELECTRICAL FINANCIAL OR BUSINESS PRACTICE OR MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT Reservation, check-in, or booking display for reserved space Coordination of plural reservations (e.g., plural trip segments; transportation and accommodation, etc.) | |
