Method and apparatus for a cryptographically assisted commercial network system designed to facilitate buyer-driven conditional purchase offers

• US 5,794,207 A
• Filed: 09/04/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Priceline.com LLC (Booking Holdings, Inc., fka Priceline Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walker Asset Management Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Schneier, Bruce, Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laufer, Pinchus M.
• Application Number:
  US08/707,660
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 395/226, 395/227, 395/237, 395/238, 395/239, 395/244, 380/23, 380/24, 380/25, 380/49, 705/26, 705/27, 705/37, 705/38, 705/39, 705/44, 705/1, 705/5, 705/6
• US Class Current: 705/77
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0637 Approvals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 : Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 : Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 : Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/14 : Travel agencies
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 : Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 : for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/944 : Business related
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 : Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 : Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 : Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the step of inputting into the computer an acceptance comprises:

inputting into the computer an acceptance from each member of a set of sellers, the set of sellers comprising at least one seller, each acceptance being responsive to the conditional purchase offer;

and further comprising;

selecting one received acceptance, thereby determining a selected seller of the set of sellers;

and in which the step of providing a payment comprises;

providing a payment to the selected seller by using the payment identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, in which the step of selecting one received acceptance comprises:

determining a first received acceptance, thereby determining a first seller of the set of sellers;

and in which the step of providing a payment comprises;

providing a payment to the first seller by using the payment identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a predetermined amount is available in the credit card account.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the step of providing a payment comprises:

transferring payment from the buyer to the selected seller.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the step of providing a payment comprises:

transmitting the payment identifier to the selected seller.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting to the buyer a request for an authorization to use the payment identifier to provide payment it an acceptance is received; and

inputting into the computer the authorization from the buyer in response to the request.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the step of inputting into the computer an acceptance comprises:

inputting into the computer an acceptance from each of a set of sellers.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the conditional purchase offer includes an expiration date and is non-revocable prior to the expiration date.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an active period during which the conditional purchase offer is active;

and in which the step of inputting into the computer an acceptance is performed during the active period.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inputting into the computer a revocation of the conditional purchase offer after the step of receiving an acceptance; and

in which the step of providing a payment comprises;

providing a payment of a predetermined amount to the seller.

12. An apparatus for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and at least one of a plurality of sellers, comprising:

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.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

receive an acceptance from each member of a set of sellers, the set of sellers comprising at least one seller, each acceptance being responsive to the conditional purchase offer;

select one received acceptance, thereby determining a selected seller of the set of sellers; and

provide a payment to the selected seller by using the payment identifier.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

determine a first acceptance received, thereby determining a first seller of the set of sellers; and

provide a payment to the first seller by using the payment identifier.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

determine if a predetermined amount is available in the credit card account.

16. The apparatus of claim 21, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

transfer payment from the buyer to the seller.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

transmit the payment identifier to the seller.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

output to the buyer a request for an authorization to use the payment identifier to provide payment if an acceptance is received; and

receive the authorization from the buyer in response to the request.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

receive an acceptance from each of a set of sellers.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the conditional purchase offer includes an expiration date and is non-revocable prior to the expiration date.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

determine an active period during which the conditional purchase offer is active; and

receive an acceptance during the active period.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

receive a revocation of the conditional purchase offer after receiving an acceptance; and

provide a payment of a predetermined amount to the seller.

23. A method for using a computer to facilitate a transaction between a buyer and at least one of a plurality 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 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.

24. The method of claim 23, in which the step of inputting into the computer an acceptance comprises:

inputting into the computer an acceptance from each member of a set of sellers, the set of sellers comprising at least one seller, each acceptance being responsive to the conditional purchase offer;

and further comprising;

selecting one received acceptance, thereby determining a selected seller of the set of sellers;

and in which the step of providing a payment comprises;

providing a payment to the selected seller by using the payment identifier.

25. The method of claim 24, in which the step of selecting an acceptance received comprises:

determining a first acceptance received, thereby determining a first seller of the at least one seller;

and in which the step of providing a payment comprises;

providing a payment to the first seller by using the payment identifier.

26. The method of claim 23, in which the financial account is a credit card account.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

determining if a predetermined amount is available in the credit card account.

28. The method of claim 23, farther comprising:

transferring payment from the buyer to the seller.

29. The method of claim 23 in which the step of providing a payment comprises:

transmitting the payment identifier to the seller.

30. The method of claim 23, in which the step of inputting into the computer an acceptance comprises:

inputting into the computer an acceptance from each of a set of sellers.

31. The method of claim 23, in which the conditional purchase offer includes an expiration date and is non-revocable prior to the expiration date.

32. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

determining an active period during which the conditional purchase offer is active; and

in which the step of inputting into the computer an acceptance is performed during the active period.

33. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

inputting into the computer a revocation of the conditional purchase offer after the step of receiving an acceptance; and

in which the step of providing a payment comprises;

providing a payment of a predetermined amount to the seller.

34. An apparatus for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and at least one of a plurality of sellers, comprising:

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.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

receive an acceptance from each member of a set of sellers, the set of sellers comprising at least one seller, each acceptance being responsive to the conditional purchase offer;

select one received acceptance, thereby determining a selected seller of the set of sellers; and

provide a payment to the selected seller by using the payment identifier.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

determine a first acceptance received, thereby determining a first seller of the set of sellers; and

provide a payment to the first seller by using the payment identifier.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, in which the financial account is a credit card account.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

determine if a predetermined amount is available in the financial account.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

transfer payment from the buyer to the seller.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

transmit the payment identifier to the seller.

41. The apparatus of claim 34, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

receive an acceptance from each of a set of sellers.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, in which the conditional purchase offer includes an expiration date and is non-revocable prior to the expiration date.

43. The apparatus of claim 34, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

determine an active period during which the conditional purchase offer is active; and

receive an acceptance during the active period.

44. The apparatus of claim 34, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

receive a revocation of the conditional purchase offer after receiving an acceptance; and

provide a payment of a predetermined amount to the seller.