SERVICE TRANSACTION FACILITATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A method for facilitating a transaction for a delivery of a service by a service provider to a service buyer, the method comprising:
- listing a service work order from a service buyer in an auction for bidding by one or more service providers;
selecting a service provider from one or more service providers that submitted a bid for the service work order listed at the auction;
causing a payment from the service buyer to be escrowed, the payment being responsive to the bid submitted by the selected service provider;
providing the selected service provider with data relating to the escrowed payment and the service buyer;
providing an escrowed payment release authorization to the service buyer; and
allowing transfer of at least a portion of the escrowed payment to the selected service provider in response to receipt of the escrowed payment release authorization.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure provide various embodiments of systems and methods that can be used for facilitating a transaction for a delivery of a service by a service provider to a service buyer. In one exemplary embodiment, a method generally includes listing a service work order in an auction for bidding by one or more service providers, and selecting a service provider from one or more service providers that submitted a bid for the service work order listed at the auction. The method can also include causing a payment from the service buyer to be escrowed, providing the selected service provider with data relating to the escrowed payment and the service buyer, and providing an escrowed payment release authorization to the service buyer. The method can further include allowing transfer of at least a portion of the escrowed payment to the selected service provider in response to receipt of the escrowed payment release authorization.
45 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating a transaction for a delivery of a service by a service provider to a service buyer, the method comprising:
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listing a service work order from a service buyer in an auction for bidding by one or more service providers; selecting a service provider from one or more service providers that submitted a bid for the service work order listed at the auction; causing a payment from the service buyer to be escrowed, the payment being responsive to the bid submitted by the selected service provider; providing the selected service provider with data relating to the escrowed payment and the service buyer; providing an escrowed payment release authorization to the service buyer; and allowing transfer of at least a portion of the escrowed payment to the selected service provider in response to receipt of the escrowed payment release authorization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for facilitating a transaction for a delivery of a service by a service provider to a service buyer, the method comprising:
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hosting a first webpage configured for providing a service work order entry form for completion by a service buyer; hosting a second webpage configured for online auctions of service work orders; listing on the second webpage a service work order in an online auction for bidding by one or more service providers, the listing corresponding to data entered by a service buyer into a service work order entry form provided by the first webpage; selecting a service provider from one or more service providers that submitted a bid, via the second webpage, for the service work order listed at the online auction; causing a payment from the service buyer to be escrowed, the payment being responsive to the bid submitted by the selected service provider; electronically communicating the selected service provider with data relating to the escrowed payment and the service buyer; electronically communicating an escrowed payment release authorization to the service buyer; and electronically transferring at least a portion of the escrowed payment to the selected service provider in response to receipt of the escrowed payment release authorization.
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34. A system for facilitating a transaction for a delivery of a service by a service provider to a service buyer, the system comprising:
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a network configured for transmitting electronic data; a first communication device coupled to the network and configured for allowing a service buyer to enter data for a service work order; a second communication device coupled to the network and configured for receiving a listing of a service work order and for placing a bid in response to the listed service work order; and a server coupled to the network and configured for; receiving data relating to a service work order from the first communication device; generating a service work order in response to the received data; providing the listing with the service work order to the second communication device in an auction for bidding by one or more service providers; receiving a service provider'"'"'s bid from the second communication device; selecting a service provider from one or more service providers that submitted a bid for the service work order; transmitting to the first communication device information relating to the selected service provider and the bid associated therewith; causing a payment from the service buyer to be escrowed; transmitting to the second communication device data relating to the escrowed payment and the service buyer; providing an escrowed payment release authorization to the service buyer; and allowing transfer of at least a portion of the escrowed payment to the selected service provider in response to receipt of the escrowed payment release authorization.
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35. A method relating to selection of a service provider for maintenance services to be performed on a motor vehicle having an onboard computer, the method comprising:
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providing a predetermined work order form for use by the motor vehicle'"'"'s onboard computer to be automatically transmitted therefrom without manual intervention by the service buyer when the onboard computer has determined that the motor vehicle needs a maintenance service, the predetermined work order form including information identifying the service buyer, information identifying the motor vehicle type, and a description of the maintenance service to be performed on the motor vehicle; receiving the predetermined work order form automatically transmitted by the motor vehicle'"'"'s onboard computer; and providing the predetermined work order form to one or more potential service providers. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification