System and method for providing and updating user supplied context for a negotiations system

• US 6,338,050 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1998
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sky Technologies LLC (f/k/a Whitelight Technology, LLC)
• Original Assignee: TradeAccess, Inc.
• Inventors: Conklin, Jeffrey, Foucher, Daniel, Foucher, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEINECKE DIAZ, SUSANNA M
• Application Number:
  US09/192,729
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 705/80, 705/1, 705/26, 705/27, 705/39, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/80
• 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 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

A multivariate negotiations engine for international transaction processing which: enables a sponsor to create and administer a community between participants such as buyers and sellers having similar interests; allows a buyer/participant to search and evaluate seller information, propose and negotiate orders and counteroffers that include all desired terms, request sample quantities, and track activity; allows a seller/participant to use remote authoring templates to create a complete Website for immediate integration and activation in the community, to evaluate proposed buyer orders and counteroffers, and to negotiate multiple variables such as prices, terms, conditions etc., iteratively with a buyer. The system provides secure databases, search engines, and other tools for use by the sponsor, which enable the sponsor to define the terms of community participation, establish standards, help promote the visibility of participating companies, monitor activity, collect fees, and promote successes. All this is done through a multivariate negotiations engine system operated at the system provider'"'"'s Internet site, thus requiring no additional software at the sponsors'"'"', or participant sellers'"'"', or buyer'"'"'s sites. This also allows buyers and sellers to use and negotiate payment options and methods that are accepted internationally. The system maintains internal databases that contain the history of all transactions in each community, so that sponsors, buyers and sellers may retrieve appropriate records to document each stage of interaction and negotiation. Documents are created by the system during the negotiation process.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing user supplied context for processing of multivariate negotiations, comprising:

an international network;

a multivariate negotiations system including storage space, and negotiations software, such negotiations software including an automated negotiations engine for analyzing terms, the analysis of terms comprising understanding the purpose of the terms, formatting the terms according to the purpose, selecting certain of the terms to be processed according to internationally accepted methods, and placing them into user supplied context for use by a user, the multivariate negotiations system being connected to the international network and responsive to terminals communicating along a communications path over the international network;

a destination terminal for a first user connected to the international network, the destination terminal including software for sending and receiving terns along a communications path over the international network which flows through the multivariate negotiations system;

an initiating terminal for a second user connected to the international network, the initiating terminal including software for sending and receiving terms along a communications path over the international network which flows through the multivariate negotiations system, during iterative processing the automated negotiations engine recognizing the users at the destination terminal and the initiating terminal as negotiators and recognizing one of the users as a deciding entity, such automated negotiations engine further recognizing any changes in the terms and storing in the storage space the terms each terminal proposes, and recognizing the terminal to which proposed terms are being sent as the indicated terminal, sending terms to the indicated terminal, the automated negotiations engine indicating any changes in the terms until a set of terms is acted upon in a final manner by the deciding entity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multivariate negotiations system further comprises sponsored community software which establishes community participation rules.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multivariate negotiations system further comprises remote web authoring software which enables a user to create and customize its own website within the multivariate negotiations system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage space further comprises space for storing each set of proposed terms from each terminal, thereby providing documentary non-repudiation.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multivariate negotiations system further comprises software for ordering sample quantities.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage space further comprises a database integrated with the multivariate negotiations system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the internationally accepted methods include payment by a letter of credit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the internationally accepted methods include payment by a wire transfer.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the internationally accepted methods include payment by documentary collection.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multivariate negotiations system further comprises a transmission terminal connected to the international network for transmitting a negotiated international payment to an advising bank over a communications path.

11. A method for providing user supplied context for processing of multivariate negotiations, comprising the steps of:

establishing communications paths over an international network,

connecting a multivariate negotiations system including storage space and negotiations software to the international network, such negotiations software including an automated negotiations engine for analyzing terms, the analysis of terms comprising understanding the purpose of the terms, formatting the terms according to that purpose, selecting certain of the terms to be processed according to internationally accepted methods and placing them into user supplied context for use by a user;

connecting a destination terminal for a first user to the international network, the destination terminal including software for sending and receiving terms along a communications path over the international network which flows through the multivariate negotiations system;

connecting an initiating terminal for a second user to the international network, the initiating terminal including software for sending and receiving terms along a communications path over the international network which flows through the multivariate negotiations engine system, during iterative processing the automated negotiations engine recognizing the users at the destination terminal and the initiating terminal as negotiators and recognizing one of the users as a deciding entity, such automated negotiations engine further recognizing any changes in the terms and storing in the storage space the terms each terminal proposes, and recognizing the terminal to which proposed terms are being sent as the indicated terminal, sending terms to the indicated terminal, the automated negotiations engine indicating any changes in the terms until a set of terms is acted upon in a final manner by the deciding entity.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of connecting a multivariate negotiations system further comprises the step of sponsoring a community with established community participation rules.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of connecting a multivariate negotiations system further comprises the step of enabling a user to create and customize its own website within the multivariate negotiations engine system through use of remote web authoring software.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of connecting a multivariate negotiations system further comprises the step of storing each set of proposed terms from each terminal to provide documentary non-repudiation.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of connecting a multivariate negotiations system further comprises the step of ordering sample quantities.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of connecting a multivariate negotiations system further comprises the step of integrating a database with the multivariate negotiations system.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of selecting certain of the terms to be processed according to internationally accepted methods further comprises the step of processing negotiation of a letter of credit.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of selecting certain of the terms to be processed according to internationally accepted methods further comprises the step of processing negotiation of a wire transfer.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of selecting certain of the terms to be processed according to internationally accepted methods further comprises the step of processing negotiation of a documentary collection.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of selecting certain of the terms to be processed according to internationally accepted methods further comprises the step of activating a transmission terminal connected to the international network for transmitting a negotiated international payment to an advising bank over a communications path.

21. An apparatus for providing user supplied context for processing of multivariate negotiations, comprising:

a network;

a multivariate negotiations system including storage space, and negotiations software, such negotiations software including sponsored community software and including an automated negotiations engine for analyzing terms, the analysis of terms comprising understanding the purpose of the terms, formatting the terms according to the purpose, selecting certain of the terms to be processed as community participation rules, and placing them into user supplied context for use by a user, the multivariate negotiations system being connected to the network and responsive to terminals communicating along a communications path over the network;

a destination terminal for a first user connected to the network, the destination terminal including software for sending and receiving terms along a communications path over the network which flows through the multivariate negotiations system;

an initiating terminal for a second user connected to the network, the initialing terminal including software for sending and receiving terms along a communications path over the network which flows through the multivariate negotiations system, during iterative processing the automated negotiations engine recognizing the users at the destination terminal and the initiating terminal as negotiators and recognizing one of the users as a deciding entity, such automated negotiations engine further recognizing any changes in the terms and storing in the storage space the terms each terminal proposes, and recognizing the terminal to which proposed terms are being sent as the indicated terminal, sending terms to the indicated terminal the automated negotiations engine indicating any changes in the terms until a set of terms is acted upon in a final manner by the deciding entity.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the sponsored community software integrates new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the integration of new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations further comprises automatically registering such new members with a sponsored community search engine.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the integration of new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations further comprises automatically submitting a new member'"'"'s name to appropriate external network search engines.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the integration of new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations further comprises automatically submitting a new member'"'"'s name to appropriate identifying agencies.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the integration of new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations further comprises automatically including the new member'"'"'s name at the top of any vendor databases listed in the sponsored community.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the integration of new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations further comprises automatically allowing the new member access to the sponsored community'"'"'s one functions.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the integration of new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations further comprises automatically promoting the visibility of the new member.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein automatically promoting the visibility of the new member further comprises:

means for formatting sponsored community names, member names, and uniform resource locators into appropriate formats;

means for selecting search engines;

means for selecting submission schedules more likely to speed up registration with the selected search engines; and

means for aggregating submissions of sponsored community names, member names, and uniform resource locators to optimize registration and visibility and automatically submitting the aggregated submissions to the selected search engines on the selected schedules.

30. A method for providing user supplied context for processing of multivariate negotiations, comprising the steps of:

establishing communications paths over a network;

connecting a multivariate negotiations system including storage space and negotiations software to the network, such negotiations software including sponsored community software and including an automated negotiations engine for analyzing terms, the analysis of terms comprising understanding the purpose of the terms, formatting the terms according to that purpose, selecting certain of the terms to be processed as community participation rules, and placing them into user supplied context for use by a user;

connecting a destination terminal for a first user to the network, the destination terminal including software for sending and receiving terms along a communications path over the network which flows through the multivariate negotiations system;

connecting an initiating terminal for a second user to the network, the initiating terminal including software for sending and receiving terms along a communications path over the network which flows through the multivariate negotiations engine system, during iterative processing the automated negotiations engine recognizing the users at the destination terminal and the initiating terminal as negotiators and recognizing one of the users as a deciding entity, such automated negotiations engine further recognizing any changes in the terms and storing in the storage space the terms each terminal proposes, and recognizing the terminal to which proposed terms are being sent as the indicated terminal, sending terns to the indicated terminal, the automated negotiations engine indicating any changes in the terms until a set of terms is acted upon in a final manner by the deciding entity.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of connecting a multivariate negotiations system further comprises the step of integrating new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of integrating new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations further comprises the step of automatically registering such new members with a sponsored community search engine.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of integrating new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations further comprises the step of automatically submitting a new member'"'"'s name to appropriate external network search engines.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of integrating new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations further comprises the step of automatically submitting a new member'"'"'s name to appropriate identifying agencies.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of integrating new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations further comprises the step of automatically including the new member'"'"'s name at the top of any vendor databases listed in the sponsored community.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of integrating new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations further comprises the step of automatically allowing the new member access to the sponsored community'"'"'s online functions.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of integrating new members desiring to participate in multivariate negotiations further comprises the step of automatically promoting the visibility of the new member.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of automatically promoting the visibility of the new member further comprises the steps of:

formatting sponsored community names, member names, and uniform resource locators into appropriate formats;

selecting search engines;

selecting submission schedules more likely to speed up registration with the selected search engines; and

aggregating submissions of sponsored community names, member names, and uniform resource locators to optimize registration and visibility and automatically submitting the aggregated submissions to the selected search engines on the selected schedules.

39. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of selecting certain of the terms to be processed as community participation rules further comprises the step of managing negotiations according to the community participation rules.

40. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of selecting certain of the terms to be processed as community participation rules further comprises the step of incorporating generally accepted laws and customs applicable to the sponsored community.

41. An apparatus for providing user supplied context for processing of multivariate negotiations, comprising;

a network;

a multivariate negotiations system including storage space, a website, and negotiations software, such negotiations software including remote web authoring software, sponsored community software, and including an automated negotiations engine for analyzing terms, the analysis of terms comprising understanding the purpose of the terms, formatting the terms according to the purpose, selecting certain of the terms to be processed as website modifications, and placing them into user supplied context for use by a user, the multivariate negotiations system being connected to the network and responsive to terminals communicating along a communications path over the network;

a destination terminal for a first user connected to the network, the destination terminal including software for sending and receiving terms along a communications path over the network which flows through the multivariate negotiations system;

an initiating terminal for a second user connected to the network, the initiating terminal including software for sending and receiving terms along a communications path over the network which flows through the multivariate negotiations system, during iterative processing the automated negotiations engine recognizing the users at the destination terminal and the initiating terminal as negotiators and recognizing one of the users as a deciding entity, such automated negotiations engine further recognizing any changes in the terms and storing in the storage space the terms each terminal proposes, and recognizing the terminal to which proposed terms are being sent as the indicated terminal, sending terms to the indicated terminal, the automated negotiations engine indicating any changes in the terms until a set of terms is acted upon in a final manner by the deciding entity.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the remote web authoring software enables a user at a terminal to use the automated negotiations engine to register the website with a sponsoring community and negotiate terms of participation.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the remote web authoring software enables the user at a terminal to customize the website for participation in the sponsored community.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the remote web authoring software enables the user at a terminal to preview the customized website.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the remote web authoring software enables the user at a terminal to integrate existing electronic versions of relevant user supplied context data into the customized website using applications programming interfaces.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the remote web authoring software enables the user at a terminal to integrate existing electronic versions of relevant user supplied context data into the customized website using file transfer protocols.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the remote web authoring software enables the user at a terminal to integrate existing electronic versions of relevant user supplied context data into the customized website using extensible markup language (XML).

48. A method for providing user supplied context for processing of multivariate negotiations, comprising the steps of:

establishing communications paths over a network;

connecting a multivariate negotiations system including storage space, a website, and negotiations software to the network, such negotiations software including remote web authoring software, sponsored community software and including an automated negotiations engine for analyzing terms, the analysis of terms comprising understanding the purpose of the terms, formatting the terms according to that purpose, selecting certain of the terms to be processed as website modifications, and placing them into user supplied context for use by a user;

connecting a destination terminal for a first user to the network, the destination terminal including software for sending and receiving terms along a communications path over the network which flows through the multivariate negotiations system;

connecting an initiating terminal for a second user to the network, the initiating terminal including software for sending and receiving terms along a communications path over the network which flows through the multivariate negotiations engine system, during iterative processing the automated negotiations engine recognizing the users at the destination terminal and the initiating terminal as negotiators and recognizing one of the users as a deciding entity, such automated negotiations engine further recognizing any changes in the terms and storing in the storage space the terms each terminal proposes, and recognizing the terminal to which proposed terms are being sent as the indicated terminal, sending terms to the indicated terminal, the automated negotiations engine indicating any changes in the terms until a set of terms is acted upon in a final manner by the deciding entity.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the step of connecting an initiating terminal further comprises the step of enabling a user at the initiating terminal to use the automated negotiations engine to register the website with a sponsoring community and negotiate terms of participation.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the step of connecting an initiating terminal further comprises the step of enabling a user at the initiating terminal to customize the website for participation in the sponsored community.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the step of customizing the website further comprises the step of enabling the user at the initiating terminal to preview the customized website.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the step of customizing the website further comprises the step of enabling the user at the initiating terminal to integrate existing electronic versions of relevant data into the customized website using applications programming interfaces.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein the step of customizing the website further comprises the step of enabling the user at the initiating terminal to integrate existing electronic versions of relevant data into the customized website using file transfer protocols.

54. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the step of customizing the website further comprises the step of enabling the user at the initiating terminal to integrate existing electronic versions of relevant data into the customized website using extensible markup language (XML).