Selling price information in e-commerce

• US 20020184102A1
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lyle Ungar, Panagiotis Markopoulos
• Original Assignee: Lyle Ungar, Panagiotis Markopoulos
• Inventors: Markopoulos, Panagiotis, Ungar, Lyle
• Application Number:
  US09/813,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20020184102A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

The present invention sets forth a model, method, database and system by which it is possible for sellers to provide product information to consumers through shopbots, while at the same time charging for price information. In a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a model for responding to a shopper'"'"'s inquiry seeking price information on a product in a competitive marketplace, comprising: receiving the shopper'"'"'s inquiry for price information on a product; searching for price information of advertised products matching the product for which the price is sought; assembling identified price information into a response to the inquiry, wherein the price of at least one product is withheld from the response; forwarding the assembled response to the shopper along with a cost for obtaining the previously withheld price information; receiving the shopper'"'"'s agreement to buy the previously withheld price information; and forwarding to the shopper the previously withheld price information in exchange for the agreed upon payment of the cost for the price information. The search for the price information comprises a search of at least one database, which may include an electronic search on a global computer network. Moreover, the price information may be provided to the seller by a variety of known ways, including via a shopbot or directly via a seller of the product.

Claims

1. A method for responding to a shopper'"'"'s inquiry seeking price information on a product in a competitive marketplace, comprising:

receiving the shopper'"'"'s inquiry for price information on a product;

searching for price information of advertised products matching the product for which the price is sought;

assembling identified price information into a response to the inquiry, wherein the price of at least one product is withheld from the response;

forwarding the assembled response to the shopper along with a cost for obtaining the previously withheld price information;

receiving the shopper'"'"'s agreement to buy the previously withheld price information; and

forwarding to the shopper the previously withheld price information in exchange for the agreed upon payment of the cost for the price information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the search for price information comprises searching at least one database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the search for price information comprises electronically searching on a global computer network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding of price information is provided to the seller by a shopbot.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing information, including product price, by a seller of the product.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein product price information is purchased from a seller of the product.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a shopbot purchases the price information from the seller.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the shopper'"'"'s agreement to pay the cost for obtaining the previously withheld price information comprises shopper applied methods recognizable by an electronic device, selected from the group consisting of clicking or pressing a button on a computer or communications device, following a link displyed on a web page on a global computer network, touching a designated point on a screen or display panel attached to a computer or communications device, and speaking a selection into an audio receiver attached to a computer or communications device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the paying by the buyer of the agreed upon cost for price information, wherein payment comprises any agreed upon medium, goods or services, and wherein the medium is not limited to money.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising agreeing to pay a predetermined amount to obtain the lowest price from among the assembled prices.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising agreeing to view or interact with a banner advertisment in exchange for the price information.

13. The database according to claim 12, whereby the first object further comprises a field for entering an inquiry asking for price information of a product.

14. The database according to claim 13, whereby the second object further comprises a field for searching for price information of advertised products.

15. The database according to claim 14, whereby the second object further comprises a data source for the third object.

16. The database according to claim 15, whereby the third object further comprises a field for assembling product price information into a response, wherein the price of at least one product is withheld from the response, and wherein a cost is provided for which the withheld price will be provided.

17. The database according to claim 16, whereby the fourth object further comprises a field for receiving an agreement to buy the previously withheld price information.

18. The database according to claim 17, whereby the fifth object further comprises a field for forwarding the previously withheld price information in exchange for the agreed upon payment of the cost for the price information.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a network based apparatus.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the system, at least in part, comprises a first apparatus in a client-server relationship with a second apparatus.

12. A database on a computer readable medium for facilitating a response to a shopper'"'"'s inquiry seeking price information on a product in a competitive marketplace, wherein the price information is provided to the shopper for a fee, comprising:

a first data object;

a second data object;

a third data object;

a fourth object;

a fifth object;

whereby any of the data objects are instantiated in order to populate the database.

19. A system for accessing a database for facilitating a response to a shopper'"'"'s inquiry seeking price information on a product in a competitive marketplace, wherein the price information is provided to the shopper for a fee, comprising

means for receiving the shopper'"'"'s inquiry for price information on a product;

means for searching for price information of advertised products matching the product for which the price is sought;

means for assembling identified price information into a response to the inquiry, wherein the price of at least one product is withheld from the response;

means for forwarding the assembled response to the shopper along with a cost for obtaining the previously withheld price information;

means for receiving the shopper'"'"'s agreement to buy the previously withheld price information; and

means for forwarding to the shopper the previously withheld price information in exchange for the agreed upon payment of the cost for the price information.