Method and apparatus for a cryptographically assisted commercial network system designed to facilitate buyer-driven conditional purchase offers
First Claim
1. A method for using a computer to facilitate a transaction between a buyer and at least one of sellers, comprising:
- inputting into the computer a conditional purchase offer which includes an offer price;
inputting into the computer a payment identifier specifying a credit card account, the payment identifier being associated with the conditional purchase offer;
outputting the conditional purchase offer to the plurality of sellers after receiving the payment identifier;
inputting into the computer an acceptance from a seller, the acceptance being responsive to the conditional purchase offer; and
providing a payment to the seller by using the payment identifier.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus for effectuating bilateral buyer-driven commerce. The present invention allows prospective buyers of goods and services to communicate a binding purchase offer globally to potential sellers, for sellers conveniently to search for relevant buyer purchase offers, and for sellers potentially to bind a buyer to a contract based on the buyer'"'"'s purchase offer. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a controller which receives binding purchase offers from prospective buyers. The controller makes purchase offers available globally to potential sellers. Potential sellers then have the option to accept a purchase offer and thus bind the corresponding buyer to a contract. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications on the Internet as well as conventional communications systems such as voice telephony.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for using a computer to facilitate a transaction between a buyer and at least one of sellers, comprising:
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inputting into the computer a conditional purchase offer which includes an offer price; inputting into the computer a payment identifier specifying a credit card account, the payment identifier being associated with the conditional purchase offer; outputting the conditional purchase offer to the plurality of sellers after receiving the payment identifier; inputting into the computer an acceptance from a seller, the acceptance being responsive to the conditional purchase offer; and providing a payment to the seller by using the payment identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and at least one of a plurality of sellers, comprising:
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a storage device; and a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and the processor operative with the program to receive a conditional purchase offer which includes an offer price; receive a payment identifier specifying a credit card account, the payment identifier being associated with the conditional purchase offer; make the conditional purchase offer available to the plurality of sellers after receiving the payment identifier; receive an acceptance from a seller, the acceptance being responsive to the conditional purchase offer; and provide payment to the seller by using the payment identifier. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for using a computer to facilitate a transaction between a buyer and at least one of a plurality of sellers, comprising:
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inputting into the computer a conditional purchase offer which includes an offer price; inputting into the computer a payment identifier specifying a financial account, the payment identifier being associated with the conditional purchase offer; outputting to the buyer a request for authorization to use the payment identifier to provide a payment it an acceptance is received; inputting into the computer authorization from the buyer in response to the request; outputting the conditional purchase offer to the plurality of sellers after receiving the payment identifier; inputting into the computer an acceptance from a seller, the acceptance being responsive to the conditional purchase offer; and providing the payment to the seller by using the payment identifier. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An apparatus for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and at least one of a plurality of sellers, comprising:
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a storage device; and a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and the processor operative with the program to receive a conditional purchase offer which includes an offer price; receive a payment identifier specifying a financial account, the payment identifier being associated with the conditional purchase offer; output to the buyer a request for an authorization to use the payment identifier to provide a payment if an acceptance is received; receive the authorization from the buyer in response to the request; transmit the conditional purchase otter to the plurality of sellers after receiving the payment identifier; receive an acceptance from a seller, the acceptance being responsive to the transmitted conditional purchase offer; and provide the payment to the seller by using the payment identifier. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification