TRANSACTION FEEDBACK MECHANISMS

• US 20080183551A1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jain, Kamal
• Application Number:
  US11/668,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20080183551A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

Randomness and/or blind submissions are employed to substantially remove biased feedback from online transaction rating processes. In one instance, a probability mechanism is determined before a transaction occurs but is not employed until after the transaction occurs. In another instance, feedback is collected from participants in a transaction in a blind manner. These mechanisms allow participants to submit their feedback without being biased by the other participant'"'"'s feedback, producing less biased feedback submissions.

Claims

1. A method for rating participants in online transactions, comprising:

establishing a probability mechanism, before a transaction occurs, for determining which transaction participant is allowed to submit a transaction rating; and

employing the probability mechanism after the transaction is completed to determine which participant can submit a transaction rating.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

employing the probability mechanism after a seller participant has received payment and a buyer participant has received transaction associated goods and/or services.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

employing a probability mechanism with a biased probability towards a transaction participant.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a probability mechanism based on, at least in part, input from at least one transaction participant.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

utilizing a probability mechanism with a probability biased towards a participant who is a buyer in the transaction.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

employing a third party to the transaction to determine a probability for the probability mechanism.

7. An online auction service that employs the method of claim 1.

8. An online marketplace that employs the method of claim 1.

19. A device employing the method of claim 1 comprising a computer, a server, and/or a handheld electronic device.

9. A method for rating participants in online transactions, comprising:

collecting ratings from participants in an independent and undisclosed fashion; and

making the ratings available to the participants after a submission time is met and/or an event has occurred.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

disclosing ratings to participants after all participants have submitted their ratings and/or waived their rights to submit their ratings.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

revealing ratings after a pre-determined length of time initiated by a transaction event.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

divulging ratings after a time-of-day has been reached subsequent to a transaction event.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

disclosing ratings after all participants have submitted their ratings and/or waived their right to submit their rating.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

collecting ratings after a seller participant has received payment and a buyer participant has received transaction associated goods and/or services.

15. An online auction service that employs the method of claim 9.

16. An online marketplace that employs the method of claim 9.

20. A device employing the method of claim 9 comprising a computer, a server, and/or a handheld electronic device.

17. A system that determines online transaction feedback, comprising:

means for determining a probability mechanism before an occurrence of an online marketplace transaction;

the probability mechanism determined by, at least in part, participants of the online marketplace transaction; and

means for determining which of the participants can submit feedback via employment of the probability mechanism after completion of the online marketplace transaction.

18. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable components of the system of claim 17.