Network transaction system and method
First Claim
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1. A network transaction system, which includes:
- a network;
a home server connected to the network;
a user connected to the network and configured for accessing or being accessed by the home server, said user being associated with a party to a prospective transaction and adapted for transmitting a query to the home server or receiving a reply therefrom; and
said user including a criterion relating to said query or reply.
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Abstract
A network transaction system is provided for peer-to-peer commerce in private and public marketplaces among system users. The users direct criteria for access to each other and third parties at desired levels of participation in vertical markets. Automatic reply functions are activated in response to queries according to user-defined criteria. The system accommodates transactions of various kinds over networks corresponding to the private and public marketplaces, which can interface with each other according to the user-defined criteria. Inventory and catalog database functions reside on the users'"'"' computers for management by the user or client system software.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A network transaction system, which includes:
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a network;
a home server connected to the network;
a user connected to the network and configured for accessing or being accessed by the home server, said user being associated with a party to a prospective transaction and adapted for transmitting a query to the home server or receiving a reply therefrom; and
said user including a criterion relating to said query or reply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A network transaction system, which includes:
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a network;
a home server connected to the network;
first and second users connected to the network and configured for accessing and/or being accessed by the home server, each said user being associated with a party to a prospective transaction and adapted for transmitting a query to the home server and/or receiving a reply therefrom;
each said user including a criterion relating to said query and/or reply;
said criteria on including one or more criteria from the group comprising;
rule;
filter;
user profile;
catalog; and
business specialty;
said first and second users including first and second computers respectively, said computers being programmed with peer-to-peer compatible user software for accessing or being accessed by said home server and said criteria are applied with filters or rules associated with said computers;
first and second local databases associated with said first and second computers respectively;
said first database being adapted for storing a profile, quotes, queries and orders;
said second database being adapted for storing a profile, quotes, queries and sales;
said home server comprising an instant exchange (IX) computer and said first and second computers being preprogrammed with buyer and seller client software respectively for IX communication with said home server;
a matching logic function adapted for matching a reply with a query;
an auto-reply function adapted for automatically transmitting a predetermined reply in reply to a predetermined query;
said system providing a private marketplace accessible by said users;
a public marketplace selectively accessible through said private marketplace;
interaction by said users with said public and private marketplaces being controlled by rules or filters comprising said criteria;
a first level of filters or rules applied by said home server;
a user-directed second level of filters or rules defined and applied by said users;
said user-directed second level of filters being adapted for controlling a level of participation by said user in a vertical private marketplace;
said users maintaining catalogs or inventories on their respective computers for peer-to-peer access;
said home server providing said peer-to-peer access using home server criteria installed thereon without storing said user catalogs or inventories whereby said system has a decentralized database function configuration;
a connector for obtaining real-time quotes from user inventory systems;
an instant quote function whereby a user can obtain an instant message quote from another user'"'"'s catalog; and
an external catalog import function for importing information from a third-party to a user'"'"'s catalog.
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19. A network transaction method, which comprises the steps of:
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providing a home server;
connecting said home server to a network;
connecting a user to the network;
configuring the user for accessing or being accessed by the home server;
associating said user with a party to a prospective transaction;
transmitting a query to the home server or receiving a reply therefrom; and
providing said user with a criterion and applying same to said query or reply. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification