Method and apparatus for facilitating the sale of goods over the internet

• US 20010018672A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 08/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Redtagoutlet.com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Redtagoutlet.com Incorporated
• Inventors: Hay, Thomas, Carter, Dove, Petters, Thomas J., Stortz, Theodore L., Dennis, Brad W.
• Application Number:
  US09/821,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20010018672A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6254 by anonymising data, e.g. decorrelating personal data from the owner's identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0615 Anonymizing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

Method and apparatus for the sale of goods over the Internet provides, in one example embodiment, a sales or “scrubbing” agent receiving a request to offer goods for sale on an Internet web site, with the request specifying the kind of goods, and restrictions on the sale of the goods. The scrubbing agent validates that the goods are as specified in the request, and offers the goods for sale over the Internet in accordance with any applicable restrictions. The scrubbing agent receives offers over the Internet to purchase the goods, and assures that that any sales of the goods will be made in accordance with any restrictions specified for the sale of the goods. Also, the scrubbing agent may arrange to ship any goods sold, and, optionally, arrange for or invoice the buyer of goods and arrange for or remit payment to the seller of the goods. According to one example embodiment, the seller and buyer of the goods remain anonymous to one another. According to another example embodiment, the scrubbing agent physically inspects the goods to verify that they are bona fide and in conformance with a proposed listing from a seller, before being posted for sale on the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for the sale of goods over the Internet, comprising:

a) a scrubbing agent receiving a request to offer goods for sale on an Internet web site, the request specifying the kind of goods, and restrictions on the sale of the goods;

b) the scrubbing agent validating that the goods are as specified in the request;

c) the scrubbing agent offering the goods for sale over the Internet in accordance with any applicable restrictions;

d) the scrubbing agent receiving offers over the Internet to purchase the goods;

e) the scrubbing agent assuring that any sales of the goods will be made in accordance with any restrictions specified for the sale of the goods;

f) the scrubbing agent arranging to ship any sold; and

g) the scrubbing agent invoicing the buyer of goods and remitting payment to the seller of the goods.

2. A method according to

claim 1

further including the step of the seller and buyer of the goods remaining anonymous to one another.

3. A method according to

claim 1

further including the step of physically inspecting the goods to verify that they are bona fide and in conformance with a proposal from a seller.

4. A method according to

claim 1

wherein a restriction on the sale of the goods is the destination for a shipment of the goods.

5. A method according to

claim 1

wherein a restriction on the sale of the goods is a type of business that is allowed to purchase the goods.

6. A system for the sale of goods over the Internet, comprising:

a) generating one or more web pages to receive application data used to qualify an entity to open an account and use a web site for the sale of goods;

b) establishing accounts for use of the web site for qualified buyers and qualified sellers based at least on application data, the account information for a qualified buyer including data specifying whether the qualified buyer is a wholesaler, retailer, or both, and the geographic territory associated with the qualified buyer;

c) generating one or more web pages to receive data for a qualified seller'"'"'s proposal to offer goods for sale on the web site, the proposal including data describing the goods for sale and data specifying one or more restrictions on the sale of goods;

d) approving or rejecting a qualified seller'"'"'s proposal to offer goods for sale on the web site and generating one or more web pages indicating the acceptance or rejection of the proposal;

e) adding an approved offer to a pool of goods for sale, wherein such pool is represented by a set of data electronic data;

f) in response to a request by a qualified buyer to review goods for sale on the web site, using the set of data to generate one or more web pages to display information representing pending goods for sale that are available to be purchased by the requesting qualified buyer, wherein goods for sale that are available to the requesting qualified buyer are selected in accordance with the restrictions specified for the sale of the goods by the qualified seller;

g) generating one or more web pages to receive data for a qualified buyer'"'"'s offer to purchase goods for sale or to receive data from a qualified seller accepting, rejecting or counter-offering an offer submitted by a qualified buyer;

h) identify accepted offers and removing the associated goods for sale from the pool of goods for sale and updating the set of data to reflect the same, and performing one or more post sale processing steps; and

i) generating one or more web pages to display data relating to the status of a qualified buyer'"'"'s or qualified seller'"'"'s account, including data on any pending offers to sell goods and any pending offers to purchase goods.

7. A system according to

claim 6

further wherein the identity of a qualified seller or qualified buyer is not disclosed in connection with the sale of goods over the web site.

8. A system according to

claim 6

further including the step of validating a proposal for goods for sale by physically inspecting the goods.

9. A method for the sale of goods over the Internet, comprising:

a) generating one or more web pages to receive application data used to qualify an entity to open an account and use the web site;

b) establishing accounts for use of the web site for qualified buyers and qualified sellers based at least on application data, the account information for a qualified buyer including data specifying whether the qualified buyer is a wholesaler, retailer, or both, and the geographic territory associated with the qualified buyer;

c) generating one or more web pages to receive data for a qualified seller'"'"'s proposal to offer goods for sale on the web site, the proposal including data describing the goods for sale and data specifying one or more restrictions on the sale of goods;

d) reviewing the qualified seller'"'"'s proposal to offer goods for sale on the web site including a physical verification of the goods and validating that a proposal is bona fide and approving or rejecting the proposed offer based on the review;

e) adding an approved proposal to a pool of goods for sale on the web site;

f) in response to a request by a qualified buyer to review goods for sale on the web site, generating one or more web pages to display information representing pending goods for sale that are available to be purchased by the requesting qualified buyer, wherein goods for sale that are available to the requesting qualified buyer are selected in accordance with the restrictions specified for the sale of the goods by the qualified seller;

g) generating one or more web pages to receive data for a qualified buyer'"'"'s offer to purchase goods for sale or to receive data from a qualified seller accepting, rejecting or counter-offering an offer submitted by a qualified buyer;

h) identify accepted offers and removing the associated goods for sale from the pool of goods for sale and updating the set of data to reflect the same, and performing one or more post sale processing steps;

i) generating one or more web pages to display data relating to the status of a qualified buyer'"'"'s or qualified seller'"'"'s account, including data on any pending offers to sell goods and any pending offers to purchase goods;

j) the entity operating the web site arranging for shipping of goods associated with accepted offers;

k) the entity operating the web site invoicing a qualified buyer that has purchased goods over the web site; and

l) the entity operating the web site paying the qualified seller that has sold goods over the web site.