Digital-timeshare-exchange

• US 5,926,793 A
• Filed: 09/10/1996
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vacation Exchange LLC
• Original Assignee: Carey A. De Rafael, Rafael Amezcua Arreola
• Inventors: de Rafael, Carey A., Arreola, Rafael Amezcua
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jeanty, Romain
• Application Number:
  US08/711,508
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 705/27, 705/37, 705/1, 705/5, 705/6, 705/14, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/5
• 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 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A novel Digital-Timeshare-Exchange that includes a database and an automated process that uses specific steps to instantly trade, sell, or exchange timeshare properties within a digital network environment. In this unique process all the steps are executed and completed by any individual user connected anytime, from any location. The procedures are done automatically, electronically, independently, interactively, and in real-time, by using a suitable computer and an appropriate communications medium.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method and database for trading vacation timeshare property time interests, comprising the steps of:

a user remotely establishing communication with a central computer system having a database, said database storing a plurality of accounts, each account associated with one of a corresponding plurality of users owning interests in vacation timeshare properties;

said user remotely storing in said database an indication of a timeshare interest owned by said user, said indication including a time interval of availability of said timeshare interest;

said computer system crediting an account associated with said user in response to said user remotely storing in said database said indication of a timeshare interest owned by said user;

said user remotely searching said database in response to timeshare desirability criteria, said computer system retrieving from said database and remotely displaying for said user indications of timeshare interests meeting said desirability criteria;

said user selecting a timeshare interest from among timeshare interests remotely displayed for said user;

said computer system debiting said account associated with said user in response to said user selecting a timeshare interest; and

said computer system notifying property management personnel of said timeshare interest selected by said user.

2. The computer-implemented method recited in claim 1, wherein said step of said computer system debiting said account associated with said user in response to said user selecting a timeshare interest comprises the step of said computer system determining whether said account associated with said user has a balance equivalent to said timeshare interest selected by said user.

3. The computer-implemented method recited in claim 1, wherein said step of said user remotely searching said database in response to timeshare desirability criteria comprises the step of said user indicating a geographic region in which said user desires to vacation.

4. The computer-implemented method recited in claim 1, wherein said step of said user remotely searching said database in response to timeshare desirability criteria comprises the step of said user indicating a time interval during which said user desires to vacation.

5. A computer system for trading vacation timeshare property time interests, comprising:

a database for storing a plurality of accounts, each account associated with one of a corresponding plurality of users owning interests in vacation timeshare properties;

communication means for establishing remote communication between a user and a central computer having access to said database;

storage means for storing in said database an indication of a timeshare interest owned by said user;

credit means for crediting an account associated with said user in response to said user remotely storing in said database said indication of a timeshare interest owned by said user;

search means for remotely searching said database in response to timeshare desirability criteria, said computer system retrieving from said database and remotely displaying for said user indications of timeshare interests meeting said desirability criteria;

selection means for selecting a timeshare interest from among timeshare interests remotely displayed for said user;

debit means for debiting said account associated with said user in response to said user selecting a timeshare interest; and

notification means for notifying property management personnel of said timeshare interest selected by said user.

6. The computer system for trading vacation timeshare property time interests recited in claim 5, wherein said debit means comprises means for determining whether said account associated with said user has a balance equivalent to said timeshare interest selected by said user.

7. The computer system for trading vacation timeshare property time interests recited in claim 5, wherein said search means comprises means for searching said database in response to said user indicating a geographic region in which said user desires to vacation.

8. The computer system for trading vacation timeshare property time interests recited in claim 5, wherein said search means comprises means for searching said database in response to said user indicating a time interval during which said user desires to vacation.