A control system for enabling communication exchanges between plural groups at widely distributed remote locations, including at least one prospective buyer at a buyer terminal including a personal computer and a plurality of vendors, wherein the prospective buyer has access to at least video data at a central site associated with the control system and managed by a third party, the central site offering to the prospective buyer services or merchandise relating to the plurality of vendors, the control system for use with a communication network accessible to the public to enable communication exchanges between the buyer terminal and the central site, wherein the communication exchanges are related to the possibility of consummating a transaction with at least one of the vendors via the central site, the control system comprising: an interface associated with the central site for facilitating communications through the communication network involving the buyer terminal and the central site for the plurality of vendors and for receiving data from the prospective buyer at the buyer terminal including identification data and data relating to an area of interest, which relate to the services or merchandise; memory storage associated with the central site to receive and store data including data relating to areas of interest on various services or merchandise provided by the plurality of vendors, the services or merchandise classified into categories and subcategories, and the memory storage also storing pricing data for the services or merchandise; and a processor associated with the central site to control, manage and interconnect the buyer terminal with the central site for the plurality of vendors, and to utilize the data provided by at least one prospective buyer to selectively determine an appropriate vendor from the plurality of vendors and to provide select video data provided by the appropriate vendor via the central site for display at the buyer terminal in accordance with the area of interest as communicated via the communication network from the buyer terminal pursuant to a possible transaction for the prospective buyer as identified by said identification data and wherein the processor provides to the buyer terminal an email relating to the area of interest indicated by the prospective buyer via the buyer terminal, following the communications involving the buyer terminal and the central site with offerings of services or merchandise for the appropriate vendor. view more

A process of control involving a plurality of terminals for prospective buyers, the terminals having video display capability, and a plurality of vendors associated with one or more different merchandise or services, wherein the buyer terminals communicate with a central site offering the one or more different merchandise or services or both associated with the plurality of vendors, and further involving a communication network accessible to members of the public, the process of control for the possible consummation of transactions, and comprising the steps of: storing at least video data and other information relating to the different merchandise or services or both for vendors wherein the merchandise or services or both relate to areas of interest; receiving buyer data including data relating to an area of interest along with identification data from a prospective buyer terminal, wherein said buyer identification data comprises a pre-registered buyer identification number or identification data; utilizing at least certain of the buyer data to determine an appropriate vendor with related video data and selectively providing and communicating via the communication system the video data and other information relating to merchandise or services or both from stored video data and other information for display at the prospective buyer terminal responsive to merchandise or service data or both received from the prospective buyer terminal; enabling control of said video data at the prospective buyer terminal; and receiving and storing data relating to communication of a transaction between the appropriate vendor via the central site and the prospective buyer terminal. view more

A process according to claim 24 wherein said video data comprise dynamic video representations.

A process according to claim 24, further including the step of: isolating certain other buyers based upon the prospective buyer's indicated area of interest.

A control system according to claim 24, wherein the processor is configured to further isolate at least certain other prospective buyers based on an indicated area of interest and at some point to notify them by email that a video presentation is available for viewing, and wherein the processor receives video data and pricing data relating to the video presentation provided by the appropriate vendor. view more

A process by which a central control site offers merchandise and services for a plurality of vendors to prospective buyers at a plurality of terminals, the terminals having video display capability, and further involving a communication network accessible to the prospective buyers for accessing the central control site, and comprising the steps of: providing stored video data and other data relating to the merchandise or services for vendors at one or more memories associated with the central control site, wherein the merchandise or services relate to different categories and subcategories classifying the merchandise and services; registering the prospective buyers with the central control site; receiving buyer requests via the central control site for one or more of the merchandise or services; utilizing the buyer requests to determine appropriate merchandise or services from any one or more of the plurality of vendors and displaying video relating to the appropriate merchandise or services at the terminals for the prospective buyers; and providing special offerings of certain of the merchandise or services for the plurality of the vendors, with an indication of pricing data, the special offerings provided to the prospective buyers for a limited period of time by one or more emails, wherein the prospective buyers subsequently communicate about the special offerings via the central site, the special offerings including both high resolution video and text data. view more

A process according to claim 70, wherein the prospective buyers can share and manipulate the video from remote locations.

A commercial transaction control system for accomplishing electronic communications via an electronic device between members of buyer and vendor groups, including at least one buyer and at least one vendor, at remote locations, the commercial transaction communication control system, comprising: an interface system configured to accomplish buyer and vendor interaction with said commercial transaction control system, said buyer expressing an area of interest via said electronic device for consideration in relation to the at least one vendor, a storage memory configured for receiving and storing data on said members of said buyer and vendor groups, including identification data and commercial transaction data including video data relating to at least certain group members that also relates to the area of interest, and a control computer unit within one or more multiple coordinated central stations distinct and remote from said buyer and vendor locations and configured to facilitate transmission of commercial transaction data, including electronic data comprising select video data selected for provision by said control computer unit, upon consideration of the area of interest in relation to one or more vendors selected based on certain criteria, the select video data provided via the control computer unit for display at the electronic device used by the buyer, the buyer having a capability to manipulate the electronic data and the control computer unit configured to transmit an electronic mail message between the one vendor and the buyer relating to the commercial transaction data. view more

A method for directing a communication from an interested party to one of a plurality of live operators at live operator stations associated with one or more vendors, the method accomplished via one or more multiple coordinated control units and utilizing public data communication links, wherein the communication includes provision of video data, comprising the steps of: selectively interfacing, over the public data communication links, the interested party with a select vendor from a plurality of vendors, the interested party utilizing an electronic device adapted for video communication to provide an indication of an area of interest; providing the interested party, under control of the one or more multiple coordinated control systems, with high resolution video data and text data relating to the area of interest from a select vendor data site associated with the select vendor, the high resolution video data and the text data provided for display at the electronic device utilized by the interested party; and transferring, the interested party from the select data site to one of the plurality of the live operator stations for further communications with a live operator relating to the area of interest. view more

A method according to claim 159, wherein the live operator at one of the live operator stations interacts with the interested party via live video.

A process, utilizing one or more multiple coordinated central control stations linked for communication with buyers or vendors located at widely distributed locations, for controlling buyer and vendor communication via public data communication links, comprising the steps of: notifying, via the one or more central control stations, one or more buyers, at personal computers with video capability utilized by the buyers, regarding an offer from a vendor, interfacing one or more buyers, via control by the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations, to provide a presentation including video data and text data relating to the offer from the vendor to the buyers at the buyer personal computers, the video data including high resolution video including high resolution still images, the buyers having a capability associated with the personal computers to alter the video data; receiving, via control by the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations, identification data from the buyers, wherein the identification data is verified before the one or more buyers receive at least a portion of the presentation at the buyer personal computers; and following a transaction between the buyers and the vendor relating to the offer, facilitating communication with the buyer regarding the transaction via electronic mail sent under control of the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations. view more

A process according to claim 1, wherein the step of notifying is accomplished by email.

A process according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing video data from one or more memory sites associated with the vendors during the course of an interface between buyers and the multiple coordinated central control stations based on the area of interest data. view more

A method for directing and exchanging on-line communications under control of one or more multiple coordinated central control stations to accomplish transactions that relate to merchandise or a service available for purchase, the method involving selectively interfacing under control of the one or more central control stations, buyers at a plurality of remote locations using remote video terminals including personal computers with video capability, the one or more multiple coordinated control stations in communication with one or more vendors with a capability to electronically communicate through a communication network, comprising the steps of: registering the buyers and vendors with the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations prior to facilitating at least certain electronic communications; interfacing the buyers with the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations in communication with one or more vendors, through the communication network wherein at least certain buyers electronically communicate with the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations; receiving request data from the buyers, via the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations in communication with the one or more vendors, the request data entered by the buyers to indicate an area of interest concerning the merchandise or the service; receiving identification data provided from the originating remote video terminals via the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations; storing at least a part of the request data from the buyers via the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations and using at least a part of it to selectively obtain proposed data from the one or more vendors responsive to the buyers' request data; providing access by the buyers under control of the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations to a video memory for conveying one or more video images as part of the proposed data relating to the area of interest indicated by the buyers, the video images previously obtained from a source relating to the one or more vendors for subsequent viewing by interested buyers; also storing via the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations, data relating to transactions initiated by interfaced buyers; and electronically transmitting by electronic mail, data relating to the transaction including a number identifying the transaction, after an interface between the interfaced buyer and the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations is terminated. view more

A method according to claim 35, wherein buyer access is provided to the one or more video data according to a priority status.

A method for directing and exchanging on-line communications under control of one or more multiple coordinated central control stations to accomplish transactions that relate to merchandise or a service available for purchase, the method involving selectively interfacing under control of the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations, buyers at a plurality of remote locations using personal computers with video capability, one or more vendors in communication with the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations with a capability to electronically communicate through a public communication system, comprising the steps of: interfacing the buyers with the one or more central control stations in communication with one or more vendors, through the public communication system; receiving request data from the buyers, at the one or more central control stations in communication with the one or more vendors, the request data entered by the buyers to indicate an area of interest concerning the merchandise or the service; receiving identification data provided by buyers from the personal computer via the one or more central control stations; storing at least a part of the request data from the buyers via the one or more central control stations and using at least a part of it to selectively obtain proposed data from the one or more vendors responsive to the buyers' request data; providing access by the buyers under control of the one or more central control stations to a video memory for conveying one or more high resolution video images as part of the proposed data relating to the area of interest indicated by the buyers, the video images previously obtained from a source relating to one or more vendors for subsequent viewing by interested buyers; also storing via the one or more central control stations, data relating to transactions initiated by interfaced buyers; electronically transmitting data relating to the transaction including a number identifying the transaction after an interface between the interfaced buyer and the one or more central control stations is terminated; and providing an additional identification number relating to the merchandise code following the receipt of the request data from the buyers. view more

A method for directing and exchanging on-line communications under control of one or more multiple coordinated central control stations to accomplish transactions that relate to merchandise or a service available for purchase, the method involving selectively interfacing under control of the one or more multiple coordinated computers, buyers at a plurality of remote locations using personal central computers with video capability, the one or more multiple coordinated computers in communication with one or more vendors with a capability to electronically communicate through a public communication network, comprising the steps of: interfacing the buyers with the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations in communication with one or more vendors, through the public communication network wherein at least certain buyers electronically communicate with the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations; receiving request data from the buyers, at the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations in communication with the one or more vendors, the request data entered by the buyers to indicate an area of interest concerning the merchandise or the service; receiving identification data provided by buyers from the personal computers via the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations; storing at least a part of the request data from the buyers via the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations and using at least a part of it via the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations to selectively obtain proposed data from the vendor responsive to the buyers' request data; providing access by the buyers under control of the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations to a video memory for conveying one or more high resolution video images as part of the proposed data relating to the area of interest indicated by the buyers, the video images previously obtained from a source relating to one or more vendors for subsequent viewing by interested buyers; facilitating manipulation by the buyer of the video images including stored dynamic video or stored high resolution still image via a control device; also storing via the one or more central control stations, data relating to transactions initiated by interfaced buyers; and electronically transmitting data relating to the transaction initiated after an interface between the interfaced buyer and the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations is terminated. view more

A method for directing and exchanging on-line communications under control of one or more multiple coordinated central control stations to accomplish transactions that relate to merchandise or a service available for purchase, the method involving selective interfacing of buyers at a plurality of remote locations using personal computers with video capability, the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations in communication with one or more vendors with a capability to electronically communicate, under control of the one or more central control stations, through a public communication system, the one or more of multiple coordinated one or more central control stations located at one or more plural sites, the method comprising the steps of: interfacing at least certain buyers with the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations to communicate with one or more widely distributed vendors; receiving request data from the buyers at the at least one or more multiple coordinated central control stations, the request data entered by the buyers to indicate an area of interest on a particular merchandise or service; receiving identification data provided by buyers from the remote locations via the one or more central control stations; storing at least a part of the request data from at least one buyer at the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations and using at least a part of the request data to selectively obtain proposed data from the vendors responsive to the buyers' request data, the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations providing the proposed data from the vendors to the buyers in accordance with stored priority designations previously accorded to at least certain of the vendors under control of the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations; providing access by the buyers under control of the one or more multiple coordinated central control stations to a video memory for providing stored video including one or more dynamic or high resolution still video images as part of the proposed data relating to the area of interest indicated by the buyers, the video images previously obtained from a source relating to one or more vendors and stored for subsequent viewing by interested buyers; and facilitating manipulation by the buyer of the stored video data whereby the buyer can use a mouse associated with the personal computers to change the video images or highlight select areas with a cursor controlled by the mouse. view more

A method for directing and exchanging on-line communications under control of a control system to accomplish communications that relate to merchandise or a service, the method involving selective interfacing of buyers at a plurality of remote locations using remote terminals with video capability, the control system in communication with one or more vendors with a capability to electronically communicate, under control of the control system, through a public communication system, the communication control system comprising one or more of multiple coordinated communication control systems located at one or more plural sites, the method comprising the steps of: receiving identification data provided from remote terminals by the buyers via the control system; maintaining a record of at least certain buyer communications with the control system; notifying buyers under control of the control system in accordance with a rotational order operation or a random operation of availability of select merchandise or services for purchase based on an area of interest stored for the buyers; interfacing at least certain buyers with the control system to communicate with one or more widely distributed vendors; and using the area of interest stored for the buyers to selectively obtain proposed data from the one or more widely distributed vendors responsive to the area of interest, the control system providing the proposed data including video image data from at least certain of the vendors to the buyers in accordance with stored priority designations previously accorded to the vendors and executed by the control system. view more

A method according to claim 85, further comprising the step of: providing a control device associated with the remote terminals configured to enable buyers to manipulate the control device and to capture at least one of the video images with an associated capability and transmit a captured video image to another remote terminal. view more

A method for directing and exchanging on-line and off-line communications under control of a traffic control system to accomplish transactions that relate to merchandise or a service available for purchase, the method involving selectively interfacing under control of the traffic control system, buyers at a plurality of remote locations using personal computers with video capability, with one or more vendors with a capability to electronically communicate through a public communication system, comprising the steps of: interfacing the buyers with the traffic control system in communication with one or more vendors, through the public communication system wherein at least certain buyers electronically communicate with the traffic control system via digital lines of the public communication system; receiving request data from the buyers, at the traffic control system in communication with the one or more vendors the request data entered by the buyers to indicate an area of interest concerning the merchandise or the service and including an indication of the maximum amount the buyers are willing to pay for select merchandise or service; receiving identification data provided by buyers from the remote video terminals at the traffic control system; storing at least a part of the request data from the buyers at the traffic control system and using at least a part of it to selectively obtain proposed data from the vendor responsive to the buyers' request data; providing access concurrently by the buyers under control of the traffic control system to a video file server for conveying one or more video images as part of the proposed data relating to the area of interest indicated by the buyers, the video images previously obtained from vendors for subsequent viewing by interested buyers; location used by said interfaced buyer to allow the buyer to view the video data and the graphic data relating to the request data prior to making a purchase; also storing at the traffic control system, billing data including a record of charges incurred for each buyer relating to transactions initiated by interfaced buyers; and electronically transmitting an indication of confirmation relating to the transaction initiated after an interface between the interfaced buyer and the traffic control system is terminated. view more

A method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL>, further comprising the step of:</claim-text> facilitating manipulation by the buyer of the stored video data via a peripheral device such as a mouse.

A method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL>, comprising the step of:</claim-text> obtaining data through the traffic control system on buyer reactions to an offer associated with select stored video data viewed by the buyers.

A method enabling on-line and off-line communications including video communication, between at least two parties from different buyer-vendor groups, located at remote terminals with communication capability, for example personal computers, through a public communication system, the communications directed and exchanged under control of a central data system that facilitates interactive data sharing by the parties, comprising the steps of: interfacing at least a requesting one of the parties from a first group, at a remote terminal, with the central data system, for on-line communication through said public communication system wherein said party uses said remote terminal to request data from the central data system; receiving data from the requesting party to indicate an area of interest and other data to facilitate further electronic communication; storing at least a part of the data received from the requesting party indicative of an area of interest at the central data system; selectively providing select data relating to the area of interest from the central data system, the select data including stored video data obtained from a video storage device associated with the central data system, the video storage device having a plurality of different video images relating to different areas of interest obtained from parties of a second group, the select data obtained from the video storage device and comprising either high resolution freeze frame data or dynamic data or both and a graphic including text display of pertinent information relating to the area of interest; transmitting from the central data system to the requesting party a notification soliciting further viewing of video and text data embodied in sales presentations relating to the select area of interest; and subsequently interfacing the requesting party to the central data system for further viewing of select video sales presentations. view more

A method for selectively accomplishing electronic communications between members of plural groups, including at least one potential buyer and at least one vendor, at widely distributed remote sites, via one or more commercial transaction communication control systems, comprising the steps of: accessing said system via an interface, receiving and storing high resolution still video data from one or more vendors for providing the high resolution still video data to said buyer at a buyer terminal upon selection by the commercial transaction communication control system, providing graphic data including text data communications for said vendors to said buyer, storing data associated with a buyer, in a memory associated with the commercial transaction communication control system including buyer identification data and request data entered by the buyer, and selectively processing the request data to fulfill a request by first identifying select data including high resolution still video and graphic data including text data relating to the vendor and then providing the high resolution still video and graphic data including text data to said buyer responsive to said request data; and in some instances, to fulfill a request, selectively routing the request data via one or more multiple coordinated commercial transaction control systems, to communicate with one or more widely distributed vendors, with capabilities to route the request data between the one or more vendors based on the request data to fulfill the request. view more

A method according to claim 31, wherein access to the video data is provided according to a priority status.

A process for directing and exchanging data communications in real-time under control of one or more multiple coordinated central control units to accomplish transactions relating to merchandise or services available for purchase, the process involving interfacing under control of the one or more multiple coordinated central control units, one or more buyers at a plurality of remote locations using remote video terminals including personal computers with video capability, the one or more multiple coordinated central control units in communication with one or more vendors and having a capability to electronically communicate through a public communication system, the process comprising the steps of: interfacing one or more buyers with the one or more multiple coordinated central control units for electronic communication; receiving identification data from at least one buyer, the identification data qualifying the at least one buyer for select communications with the one or more multiple coordinated central control units; receiving request data from one or more buyers, the request data indicating an area of interest relating to merchandise or services available for purchase; storing at least part of the request data; interfacing one or more buyers to a video memory under control of the one or more multiple coordinated central control units, the video memory storing one or more high resolution video images and text data relating to merchandise or services available for purchase from the one or more vendors; facilitating access to proposed data from the video memory, the proposed data including video images and text data responsive to the request data for viewing by a buyer; storing ratings data relating to the one or more vendors; storing data relating to one or more transactions initiated by one or more buyers; and transmitting to at least one buyer a message including data relating to a transaction initiated by the at least one buyer after an interface between the at least one buyer and the one or more multiple coordinated central control units is terminated, the data including a number identifying the transaction. view more

A process according to claim 49 further comprising the step of obtaining buyer reaction data relating to the vendor merchandise or service offering.

A process according to claim 51, wherein the new merchandise or service offering is available for a limited period of time.

A process according to claim 51, further comprising obtaining buyer reaction data regarding the new merchandise or service offering.

A process according to claim 76 wherein at least one of the one or more buyers to whom a first message is transmitted is selected for such transmittal based, at least in part, upon request data of the at least one buyer previously stored in a memory associated with the multiple coordinated central control units. view more

A process according to claim 47 wherein the rating is graphically displayed.