Systems and methods for transacting business over a global communications network such as the internet
First Claim
1. A method of determining a price of a product comprising the steps:
- communicating to a buyer via a global communications network, a description of a product;
accepting a first request from the buyer to buy the product for a price to be determined within a price range;
accepting a second request from the buyer to allow the price to be determined based upon a performance rating of the buyer obtained by participation in a Price-Determining-Activity (PDA) having a start time and an end time;
receiving data over the global communications network representing the performance rating of the buyer at a first point in time; and
determining the price of the product based at least partially upon the data received, said price being within the price range and scaled to the performance rating of the PDA.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A business model/process is described for conducting business transactions over the Internet, allowing buyers to reduce the price of the selected product/service based on the buyer'"'"'s performance during a collateral activity. Sellers offer the product/service within a specified price range, and buyers accept the offer, in exchange for the opportunity to close the transaction at the lowest price offered by achieving a high score or performance rating during the collateral activity. The ultimate price is within the agreed upon range, but is determined based upon the buyer'"'"'s performance and scaled to the performance at the collateral activity. The price may change throughout performance of the collateral activity, and the available price at any given time may be displayed or otherwise made available to the buyer. The price change may be continuous, at intervals, in response to certain events, etc. The activity may be a video game, electronic board game, sports bet, card game, or any other activity, and may be performed against the seller, a pre-programmed software opponent, a computer opponent, another buyer competing for the same or a different product, a player participating as a player only and not as a buyer, or anyone or anything else.
80 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of determining a price of a product comprising the steps:
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communicating to a buyer via a global communications network, a description of a product;
accepting a first request from the buyer to buy the product for a price to be determined within a price range;
accepting a second request from the buyer to allow the price to be determined based upon a performance rating of the buyer obtained by participation in a Price-Determining-Activity (PDA) having a start time and an end time;
receiving data over the global communications network representing the performance rating of the buyer at a first point in time; and
determining the price of the product based at least partially upon the data received, said price being within the price range and scaled to the performance rating of the PDA. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of determining a price of a product using a global communications network, comprising the steps:
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communicating to a buyer via the global communications network, data representing a plurality of products available, said plurality of products including a first product;
accepting acknowledgement from the buyer representing an intent of the buyer to buy the first product at a price to be scaled and determined based upon a performance rating of the buyer while participating in a Price-Determining-Activity (PDA) having a start time and an end time, said acknowledgment being communicated over the global communications network;
determining the performance rating of the buyer at a first point in time between the start time and the end time; and
assigning the price to the product, said price being dependent upon the performance rating and scaled to the performance rating. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for conducting e-commerce over a global communications network, comprising:
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a computer server having access to the global communications network and hosting software programmed to;
a) communicate to a buyer via the global communications network, data representing a plurality of products, said plurality of products including a first product;
b) accept acknowledgement from the buyer representing an intent of the buyer to buy the first product at a price to be determined dependent on a performance rating of the buyer that changes with respect to time while participating in a Price-Determining-Activity (PDA), said acknowledgement being communicated over the global communications network;
c) determine the performance rating of the buyer with respect to time based upon data received over the global communications network; and
d) assign a price to the product with respect to time, said price being dependent upon and scaled to the performance rating. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of determining a price of a product comprising the steps:
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communicating to a buyer via a global communications network, a description of a product;
accepting a first request from the buyer to buy the product for a price to be determined within a price range;
accepting a second request from the buyer to allow the price to be determined based upon a performance rating of the buyer obtained by participation in a Price-Determining-Activity (PDA) having a start time and an end time;
receiving data over the global communications network representing the performance rating of the buyer at a first point in time; and
determining the price of the product based at least partially upon the data received, said price being within the price range and scaled to the performance rating of the PDA;
displaying data representing any product or pluarity of products other than the first product based on the performance of the PDA and the choice of PDA. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of determining a price of a product comprising the steps:
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communicating to a buyer via a global communications network, a description of a product;
accepting a first request from the initial buyer to buy the product for a price to be determined within a price range;
accepting a second request from the buyer to allow the price to be determined based upon a performance rating of the initial buyer obtained by participation in a Price-Determining-Activity (PDA) having a start time and an end time;
receiving data over the global communications network representing the performance rating of the buyer at a first point in time; and
determining the price of the product based at least partially upon the data received, said price being within the price range and scaled to the performance rating of the PDA;
receiving data over the global communications network representing the assignment by the initial buyer to the second buyer or any other buyers to buy the product;
receiving the data from the assigned second buyer or any other buyers to buy the product. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of assisgning a price to a product comprising the steps:
determing a performance of a buyer during a Prcie Determining Activity (PDA); and
assigning a price to the product, said price being scaled to the performance of the buyer.- View Dependent Claims (21)
Specification