Method and system for facilitating buying and selling transactions

• US 20020069166A1
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bryan Richard, Lawrence R. Moreau
• Original Assignee: Bryan Richard, Lawrence R. Moreau
• Inventors: Richard, Bryan, Moreau, Lawrence R.
• Application Number:
  US09/772,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069166A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating buying and selling of products and services is disclosed. In this system, a merchant who offers products or services to customers may provide its customers an option to pay for the products and services to a collection agent selected by the customer. The collection agent who receives the payments from the customers, in turn, may forward them to the merchant or a facilitator. In one aspect, a merchant offers a product or service to a customer through a communication device or network such as the Internet. The merchant or a facilitator serving the merchant enlists a number of collection agents wherein any one collection agent may receive payment from the customer for the product or service on behalf of the merchant.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating transactions by a consumer over a network that includes a merchant, a collection agent and a facilitator, comprising:

the consumer ordering a good or service from the merchant;

the merchant transmitting order information to the facilitator over the network thereby establishing the order with the facilitator; and

the facilitator providing a list of one or more collection agents.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the consumer choosing a collection agent at which to make payment for the order.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the consumer orders the good or service from the merchant'"'"'s web site and the choosing of a collection agent comprises the consumer clicking on a button or icon displayed at the merchant'"'"'s web site.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

the merchant transmitting information to the facilitator regarding the consumer'"'"'s choice of collection agent.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

the facilitator transmitting information regarding the consumer'"'"'s choice of collection agent to the chosen collection agent.