Confidential market making system

• US 6,067,528 A
• Filed: 06/19/1997
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CBEX Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CBEX Incorporated
• Inventors: Freed, Ian W., Morse, Christopher J., Keenan, Kelly S., Furber, Bradley B., Breed, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poinvil, Frantzy
• Assistant Examiner(s): KALINOWSKI, ALEXANDER G
• Application Number:
  US08/878,997
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/37, 705/30, 705/35, 395/200.31, 395/300.33, 707/1, 707/9
• US Class Current: 705/26.62
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A system for allowing users to present themselves to an on-line market with a number of information "veils" which, upon removal, reveal increasing levels of confidential information relating to the business being sold (if a seller) or sought (if a buyer). As prospective buyers (or sellers) consider entering into negotiations with prospective sellers (or buyers), the parties remove the veils one at a time, sequentially affording each complete control over the rate, quantity, and nature of information revealed to the other. The communications are specific between two parties and either party can terminate the communication at any point in the process. Each step is controlled by the user, but executed through the central CBeX System. All veil information concerning system users is directly loaded by the users into the system.

Claims

1. A method for allowing buyers and sellers of business said buyers and sellers having computer servers connected via a network, said network comprises a redefined database, to interact without revealing significant information to an interested buyer or seller without proper authorization, said method comprising the steps of:

entering search information by a prospective buyer based on a first level of seller information, wherein at least one level of one or more seller'"'"'s information being previously stored in the database;

searching previously stored seller information within the database in accordance with the entered search information;

displaying the first level of one or more seller'"'"'s information in accordance with the search;

selecting one of the sellers in accordance with the displayed first level of seller information;

displaying a second level of information of the selected seller;

automatically sending an electronic request for more information from the selected seller, if the prospective buyer requests more information;

displaying buyer information to the selected seller, if the seller receives an electronic request from the buyer, said buyer information being previously stored in the database; and

displaying a third level of seller information to the buyer, if the seller approves of the displayed buyer information and provides the buyer viewing authorization.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first level of information includes the seller'"'"'s SIC code, geographic location(s), and revenue and the second level of information includes asset information, business expectations and earning before interest, taxes and depreciation data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic request is one of an electronic facsimile or electronic mail.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying buyer information to the selected seller, if the seller receives an electronic request from the buyer for more information, further comprises displaying first and second levels of buyer information to the seller, if the electronic request occurred after the buyer has viewed the second level of seller information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of displaying the requested information to the buyer, if the seller approves of the displayed buyer information and provides the buyer authorization, further comprises displaying the third level of seller information to the buyer if the seller approves of the displayed first and second levels of buyer information and provides the buyer authorization.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of automatically sending an electronic request for more information from the selected seller according to a buyer'"'"'s request for more information, further comprises sending an electronic request for executing a confidentiality agreement with the selected seller.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fourth level of information includes at least one of a complete business plan or selling memorandum.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of automatically sending an electronic request for more information from the selected seller according to a buyer'"'"'s request for more information, further comprises automatically sending an electronic request for a fourth level of seller information, if the buyer requests more information beyond the third level of seller information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the third level of information includes an executive summary, company history, markets of importance, products produced, facilities, management, and finances.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of displaying buyer information to the selected seller, if the seller receives an electronic request from the buyer, further comprises displaying a third level of buyer information to the seller, if the buyer requests electronically the fourth level of seller information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of displaying the requested seller information to the buyer, if the seller approves of the displayed buyer information and provides the buyer authorization, further comprises displaying the fourth level of seller information to the buyer, if the seller has provided the buyer authorization.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of automatically sending an electronic request for more information from the selected seller according to a buyer'"'"'s request for more information, further comprises sending an electronic request for the selected seller'"'"'s identity and wherein the step of displaying the requested seller information, further comprises displaying a seller identity to the buyer, if the seller has provided the buyer authorization.

13. A method for allowing buyers and sellers of businesses with computer servers connected via a network, said network comprises a predefined database, to interact without revealing significant information to an interested buyer or seller without proper authorization, said method comprising the steps of:

entering search information by a prospective buyer based on first level of information, wherein the first level of information includes SIC codes, a revenue range and geographical information, wherein said information being previously stored in the database;

searching previously stored information within the database in accordance with the entered information;

displaying the first level of information of the in accordance with the search;

selecting one of the sellers in accordance with the displayed first level of seller information;

displaying a second level of information of the selected seller;

electronically requesting for a third level of information from the selected seller if the prospective buyer requests more information;

displaying first and second levels of buyer information to the selected seller, if the seller receives an electronic request for the third level of seller information, said buyer information being previously stored in the database;

displaying a third level of information to the buyer of the selected seller, if the seller approves of the displayed first and second levels of information and provides the buyer viewing authorization;

executing a confidentiality agreement over the network, if the buyer and seller are interested in viewing more information;

displaying a seller identity to the buyer, if the seller has provided the buyer authorization;

electronically requesting for a fourth level of information from the selected seller according to a buyer'"'"'s request for more information;

displaying a fourth level of information to the buyer of the selected seller, if the seller is satisfied with the buyer'"'"'s third level of information and has provided the buyer authorization.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first level of information includes at least one of the seller'"'"'s SIC code, geographic location(s), and revenue and the second level of information includes asset information, business expectations or earning before interest, taxes and depreciation data.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the third level of information includes at least one of an executive summary, company history, markets of importance, products produced, facilities, management, or finances.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the fourth level of information includes at least one of a complete business plan or selling memorandum.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the electronic request is at least one of an electronic facsimile or electronic mail.

18. A system for allowing buyers and sellers of businesses with computer servers connected via a network, said network comprises a predefined database, to interact without revealing significant information to an interested buyer or seller without proper authorization, said system comprising:

a means for entering search information by a prospective buyer based on a first level of information, wherein the first level of information includes SIC codes, a revenue range and geographical information and the first level of information being previously stored in the database;

a means for automatically searching previously stored seller information within the database in accordance with the buyer entered information and presenting to the buyer the first level of one or more seller'"'"'s information in accordance with the search;

a means for selecting one of the sellers in accordance with the displayed first level of seller information;

a means for presenting a second level of information according to the selected seller;

a means for electronically requesting for a third level of information from the selected seller, if the prospective buyer requests more information;

a means for presenting first and second levels of buyer information to the selected seller, if the seller receives an electronic request for the third level of seller information;

a means for presenting a third level of information to the buyer of the selected seller, if the seller approves of the displayed first and second levels of information and provides the buyer viewing authorization;

a means for executing a confidentiality agreement over the network, if the buyer and seller are interested in viewing more information;

a means for presenting a seller identity to the buyer, if the seller has provided the buyer authorization;

a means for electronically requesting for a fourth level of information from the selected seller according to a buyer'"'"'s request for more information;

a means for presenting a third level of buyer information to the selected seller, if the seller receives and electronic request for more levels of information; and

a means for presenting a fourth level of information to the buyer of the selected seller, if the seller is satisfied with the buyer'"'"'s third level of information and has provided the buyer authorization.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first level of information includes at least one of the seller'"'"'s SIC code, geographic location(s), or revenue and the second level of information includes at least one of asset information, business expectations or earning before interest, taxes and depreciation data.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the third level of information includes at least one of an executive summary, company history, markets of importance, products produced, facilities, management, or finances.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the fourth level of information includes at least one of a complete business plan or selling memorandum.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic request is at least one of an electronic facsimile or electronic mail.