METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN ELECTRONIC MARKETPLACE FOR SERVICES HAVING A COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACE
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Abstract
A method and system for buying and selling services online includes a process for custom services, a commodity process and a collaborative workspace on a website. The process for custom services includes the posting by a buyer of specific criteria for a desired service, the bidding by a seller to perform the service, and the selection of a seller by the buyer. The commodity process includes the posting by a seller of a service offering, the posting by the buyer of requirements for the purchase of the service offering, and the purchase of a service offering by the buyer. The commodity process may also include an optimization process that provides the buyer with an optimized list of service offerings. The collaborative workspace includes communication tools, a file structure, workbenches and project management tools used by the buyer and seller for facilitating the setup, development and release of one or more services.
16 Citations
34 Claims
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1-16. -16. (canceled)
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17. A system for buying and selling services comprising:
an online workspace created for and is remotely accessible by at least one of a buyer of services and a seller of services, wherein data associated with the workspace is persistent independent of the workspace being accessed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for buying and selling services comprising:
a website remotely accessible by buyers and sellers, wherein the website is configured for allowing the buyers to post projects and the sellers to bid on the projects, wherein the website comprises an online workspace remotely accessible by a buyer and a seller of a project, wherein the online workspace comprises tools for developing the project.
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28. A computer implemented method of fulfilling projects comprising:
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accepting project postings from one or more buyers; allowing a seller to browse through the project postings and to make a bid on a project; allowing a buyer to accept the bid from the seller; creating an online workspace for a project; and maintaining the online workspace when the online workspace is not accessed by the buyer and the seller. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A computer implemented method of fulfilling projects comprising:
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accepting service postings from one or more sellers; allowing a buyer to specify search requirements; returning a list of sellers based on the search requirements; allowing the buyer to select a seller from the list; and creating an online workspace for a project for at least one of the buyer and the seller, wherein data created in the online workspace is not lost after the at least one of the buyer and the seller leaves the online workspace. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A computer implemented method of fulfilling projects comprising:
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posting online a list of projects available through a marketplace; allowing at least one service provider to bid on a project; allowing a buyer of the project to accept a bid on the project; and providing online tools for developing the project online within a collaborative workspace.
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Specification