Method and system for linking customers and vendors
First Claim
1. A computer implemented system operating under control of a stored program, the system facilitating a relationship between a vendor and a potential customer for the vendor and being located remotely from the vendor and the customer, the program including:
- at least one customer communications connection portion permitting the customer to connect to the system, to retrieve data from the system, and to input data to the system;
an information retrieval function portion for collecting information in response to request by the customer;
an information delivery function portion for sending the collected information to the customer;
an information record function portion for storing information input by the customer;
at least one vendor communications connection portion for connecting to the vendor, and for sending information to the vendor; and
a connection function portion between the customer communications connection and the vendor communications connection allowing the customer to communicate with the vendor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating and linking a vendor with a customer desiring the goods and/or services of the vendor. A remotely located system is contacted by the customer who then requests information that is displayed on a computer for the customer. The customer responds to this information by inputting data into the computer and sending the information to the remote system. This data includes information regarding, e.g., a reservation for the vendor'"'"'s services. The customer also inputs a time at which they would like to be contacted for confirming the reservation. The remote system then establishes a connection with the customer at the designated time, preferably a telephonic connection allowing voice communications. Upon establishment of this connection, the remote system may play announcements and/or advertisement to the customer and, concurrently, establishes a second connection with the vendor. The second connection is also preferably a telephonic connection, and the remote system may play announcements and/or advertisements to the vendor, and connects the customer and the vendor for voice communications therebetween.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A computer implemented system operating under control of a stored program, the system facilitating a relationship between a vendor and a potential customer for the vendor and being located remotely from the vendor and the customer, the program including:
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at least one customer communications connection portion permitting the customer to connect to the system, to retrieve data from the system, and to input data to the system;
an information retrieval function portion for collecting information in response to request by the customer;
an information delivery function portion for sending the collected information to the customer;
an information record function portion for storing information input by the customer;
at least one vendor communications connection portion for connecting to the vendor, and for sending information to the vendor; and
a connection function portion between the customer communications connection and the vendor communications connection allowing the customer to communicate with the vendor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for facilitating a relationship between a vendor and a potential customer, the method including:
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providing a remotely located system;
permitting the customer to access information via the remotely located system;
permitting the customer to input data to the remotely located system;
storing the customer input data in the remotely located system;
connecting the remotely located system with the vendor;
connecting the customer with the vendor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for facilitating arrangement of a reservation between a diner and a restaurant, the method including:
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providing a remotely located system;
permitting the customer to access information regarding at least one restaurant via the remotely located system;
sending information regarding at least one restaurant to the customer from the remotely located system;
receiving data input by the customer to input data into the remotely located system;
connecting the remotely located system with the restaurant;
providing at least one telephonic connection for communication with the customer and the restaurant. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification