Electronic exchange apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method of establishing a contract and exchanging payments between a buyer and seller comprising the steps of:
- the buyer and seller agreeing on a contract specifying terms and conditions;
the buyer and seller agreeing on a multi-stage payment plan;
the buyer depositing a payment in an escrow account representing a first payment of the multi-stage payment plan;
the seller withdrawing from the escrow account the first payment of the multi-stage payment plan;
at a later time according to the multi-stage payment plan, the buyer depositing a payment in the escrow account representing a second payment of the multi-stage payment plan; and
the seller withdrawing from the escrow account the second payment of the multi-stage payment plan.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for facilitating the exchange of services between a buyer and seller includes a server having a memory to store messages posted by buyers and sellers identifying goods and services. The messages are accessible to buyers and sellers to review the messages and to provide responses thereto. The memory stores a message agreed to between the buyer and seller representing a payment plan and deliverable plan. An escrow procedure stores a monetary representation of a deposit by the buyer equal to an amount of money in an escrow account, according to the agreed upon payment plan. The escrow procedure includes a release procedure that is configured such that when the deliverables are delivered to and approved by the buyer, the release procedure releases the amount of money equal to the respective stage of the agreed upon payment plan. In one embodiment, the system compares the specified parameters to prevailing market rates, and provides the prevailing market rates to the buyer. Advantages of the invention include the ability of the service buyer and seller to connect with one another though postings, and to exchange the payment and services according to an agreed upon payment plan with the security of an escrow. Additional advantages include the ability of the service buyer to purchase the needed services at the best available market rate and to have the services delivered within the parameters identified by the buyer.
40 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of establishing a contract and exchanging payments between a buyer and seller comprising the steps of:
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the buyer and seller agreeing on a contract specifying terms and conditions;
the buyer and seller agreeing on a multi-stage payment plan;
the buyer depositing a payment in an escrow account representing a first payment of the multi-stage payment plan;
the seller withdrawing from the escrow account the first payment of the multi-stage payment plan;
at a later time according to the multi-stage payment plan, the buyer depositing a payment in the escrow account representing a second payment of the multi-stage payment plan; and
the seller withdrawing from the escrow account the second payment of the multi-stage payment plan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of establishing a contract and exchanging services between a buyer and seller comprising the steps of:
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a first party posting a message identifying one of a need and offer for a license;
a second party reviewing the message and responding to the message regarding the license;
the first party and second party agreeing on a payment plan and deliverable plan, wherein one party is the buyer of the license and the other party is the seller of the license;
the buyer depositing an amount of money in an escrow account, according to the agreed upon payment plan; and
the seller performing action or refraining from action as required by the license, and when the deliverable is approved by the buyer, receiving from the escrow account the amount of money equal to the agreed upon payment plan. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for establishing a contract and facilitating the exchange of services between
a buyer and seller comprising: -
a server including a memory configured to store a plurality of messages posted by first parties identifying one of a need and offer for services, wherein the server is accessible to second parties to review the messages and to respond to the messages and wherein one of the parties is the buyer and another of the parties is the seller;
a contract procedure configured to store a representations of contract terms agreed to between the buyer and seller, and wherein the memory is configured to store a message agreed to between the buyer and seller representing a payment plan and deliverable plan;
an escrow procedure configured to store a monetary representation of a deposit by the buyer equal to an amount of money in an escrow account, according to the agreed upon payment plan; and
wherein the escrow procedure includes a release procedure that is configured such that when the deliverable is delivered to and approved by the buyer, the release procedure releases from the escrow account the amount of money equal to the agreed upon payment plan. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification