Computerized, multimedia, network, real time, interactive marketing and transactional system

• US 6,343,273 B1
• Filed: 08/30/1999
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Elliot Capital LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Honicorp, Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, Robert H., Nahan, Kenneth, Lipman, Alexander, Corapcioglu, Ahmet K., Graham, John D., Nahan, Sherri, Osipou, Andrei
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): AKERS, GEOFFREY R
• Application Number:
  US09/385,594
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/28, 705/37, 705/14, 705/1, 345/131, 345/329, 345/335, 345/348, 345/352
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

The present invention includes a system and method of electronically executing transactions with a preprogrammed main computer having data and image storage and retrieval equipment. A plurality of electronic images of works of art which are for sale are created by at least one listing dealer and stored on the storage equipment associated with the main computer. Data is input about each stored image and input data is associated with each corresponding stored image. A plurality of preprogrammed intelligent terminals each having data storage and retrieval equipment, at least one display screen and at least one input device, located at at least one listing dealer location and at at least one buying dealer location communicate with the main computer. Search criteria are input through the intelligent terminals for selecting at least one of the stored electronic images for review. Selected images and corresponding data are communicated to the intelligent terminals and at least a portion of the selected electronic images are displayed. A reservation on at least one of the displayed electronic images can be made to prevent the completion of a sale transaction involving the artwork corresponding to the selected reserved electronic image. An indication of the reserve status of the work is displayed in conjunction with the display of the reserved work on any of the intelligent terminals. A buy order can be input on the intelligent terminals to transact a purchase of the artwork corresponding to the electronic image subject to the buy order. Instructions to complete the purchase are automatically generated and communicated to the intelligent terminals corresponding to the appropriate listing dealer and the appropriate buying dealer.

Claims

1. A method of electronically executing transactions comprising the steps of:

providing a preprogrammed main computer with data and image storage and retrieval equipment;

creating a plurality of electronic images of works of art which are for sale by at least one listing dealer and storing said images on said storage equipment associated with said main computer;

inputting data about each said stored image and associating said input data with each corresponding stored image;

providing a plurality of preprogrammed intelligent terminals each having data storage and retrieval equipment, at least one display screen and at least one input device, wherein said intelligent terminals are located at at least one listing dealer location and at at least-one-buying dealer location, and wherein said intelligent terminals communicate with said main computer via a global network;

inputting, through one of said intelligent terminals, search criteria for selecting at least one of said stored electronic images for review;

communicating said search criteria to said main computer;

searching said stored images and corresponding data to select electronic images meeting said input search criteria;

communicating said selected images and corresponding data to said one of said intelligent terminals;

displaying at least a portion of said selected electronic images on said at least one display screen connected to said one of said intelligent terminals;

inputting a reservation on at least one of said displayed electronic images for reserve to prevent the completion of a sale transaction involving the artwork corresponding to said selected reserved electronic image;

displaying an indication of the reserve status of said selected reserved electronic image in conjunction with the display of said selected reserved electronic image at any of said intelligent terminals;

inputting a buy order to one of said intelligent terminals for at least one of said selected reserved electronic images to transact a purchase of said artwork corresponding to said electronic image subject to said buy order; and

automatically generating instructions to complete said purchase and communicating said instructions to the intelligent terminals corresponding to the appropriate listing dealer and the appropriate buying dealer.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:

providing at least one regionally located preprogrammed computer with data and image storage and retrieval equipment; and

establishing communication between said main computer and said regional computer to communicate at least some of said images and said corresponding data for storage on said storage equipment associated with said regional computer; and

establishing communication between said regional computer and at least one of said intelligent terminals to communicate at least some of said stored images and said corresponding data for display on said display associated with said at least one intelligent terminal.

3. A method according to claim 2 comprising the additional steps of:

selecting a plurality of images displayed on said at least one display screen connected to said one of said intelligent terminals to create a portfolio; and

storing identification of said selected images locally for local selective access by said intelligent terminal.

4. A method according to claim 2 comprising the additional steps of:

selecting one of said images displayed on said at least one display screen connected to said one of said intelligent terminals;

inputting a command via said one of said intelligent terminals to request the display of biographical information regarding the artist of the work of art corresponding to said selected image;

communicating said command to one of said regional computers;

accessing any relevant biographical information with said regional computer and communicating said biographical information to said intelligent terminal; and

displaying said biographical information on one display screen connected to said intelligent terminal.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said biographical information includes a movie which can be selectively displayed on one display screen connected to said intelligent terminal.

6. A method according to claim 5 comprising the additional steps of:

providing at least two preprogrammed intelligent terminals at each buying dealer location, wherein at least one of said intelligent terminals is used as selling station; and

providing two display screens connected to each said selling station intelligent terminal, wherein one of said display screens is used to display images and is of a relatively large size.

7. A method accordingly to claim 2, wherein said search criteria constitutes a random number to randomly select a plurality of said electronic images for display.

8. A method according to claim 2 comprising the additional step of:

selecting one of said images displayed on said at least one display screen connected to said one of said intelligent terminals;

inputting a command via said one of said intelligent terminals to request the display of a price history regarding the artist of the work of art corresponding to said selected image;

a communicating said command to one of said regional computers;

accessing any relevant price history information with said regional computer and communicating said price history information to said intelligent terminal; and

displaying said price history information on one display screen connected to said intelligent terminal.

9. A method according to claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:

selecting a plurality of electronic images displayed at one of said intelligent terminals to create a portfolio; and

storing an identification of said plurality of electronic images locally to preserve said portfolio for subsequent access.

10. A method according to claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:

automatically initiating a tracking inquiry if said main computer does not receive an indication of availability of a work which is the subject of a buy order within a predetermined period of time; and

cancelling said buy order if no response is received by said main computer to said tracking inquiry within a predetermined period of time.

11. A method according to claim 10 comprising the additional step of automatically sending a notice of confirmation to the appropriate buying dealer and the appropriate listing dealer to confirm the cancellation of said buy order.

12. A method according to claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:

automatically initiating a tracking inquiry if said main computer does not receive an indication of the payment for a work which is the subject of a buy order within a predetermined period of time; and

cancelling said buy order if no response is received by said main computer to said tracking inquiry within a predetermined period of time.

13. A method according to claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:

automatically initiating a tracking inquiry if said main computer does not receive an indication of the shipment of a work which is the subject of a buy order within a predetermined period of time; and

cancelling said buy order if no response is received by said main computer to said tracking inquiry within a predetermined period of time.

14. A method according to claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:

providing indication, via one of said intelligent terminals located at the listing dealer location corresponding to the selected work of art which is the subject of a buy order, to said main computer, that the requested work of art has been shipped by the listing dealer to the buying dealer;

automatically initiating a tracking inquiry if said main computer does not receive, from said buying dealer, an indication of the receipt of the shipped work within a predetermined period of time; and

automatically generating an insurance information request if no response is received by said main computer to said tracking inquiry within a predetermined period of time; and

communicating said insurance information request to the intelligent terminal associated with the appropriate listing dealer.

15. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

scanning a plurality of two dimensional representations of works of art to be listed for sale with a color scanner to create an electronic image of each work;

communicating said electronic images to said main computer; and

storing said electronic images on said storage equipment associated with said main computer.

16. A computerized system for buying and selling property comprising:

a preprogrammed main computer, said computer being adapted to maintain information regarding property which is for sale;

at least one intelligent terminal means located at a buying dealer location, communicating with said main computer via a global network, for selectively displaying graphical representations of property which is for sale;

at least one intelligent terminal means located at a listing dealer location, communicating with said main computer, for processing data associated with the sale of property listed by a listing dealer;

property selection means, associated with said buying dealer intelligent terminal means, for randomly, generally or specificly selecting one or more pieces of property for review; and

property purchase means for automatically generating forms and instructions for the complete payment and transfer of title of selected property.

17. A system according to claim 16, further comprising reservation means for placing a reservation on a selected property for a predetermined period of time, such that the presence of a reservation is visually indicated when the selected property is displayed.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said reservation means comprises queue means for maintaining a queue of buyers who wish to reserve a particular selected property and automatically updating the reservation status when said predetermined period of time elapses.

19. A system according to claim 16, further comprising tracking means for determining the status of a purchase transaction when indication of the occurance of a particular event is not received by said main computer within a predetermined period of time.

20. A system according to claim 19, further comprising cancellation means for cancelling a purchase transaction when response to a status inquiry initiated by said tracking means is inadequate.

21. A system according to claim 16, further comprising price history means for compiling and displaying the price history of the property of a particular classification.

22. A system according to claim 16, further comprising regional computer means communicating with said main computer and at least one of said buyer intelligent terminal means for caching image and text data to improve the response time of said buyer intelligent terminal means.

23. A system according to claim 16, further comprising delisting means for removing property from sale when the listing dealer sells it himself or fails to acknowledge predetermined sales requests.

24. A system according to claim 16, further comprising biography display means for selectively displaying biographical information about the developer of a property.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein said biographical information is in the form of a movie.

26. A system according to claim 16, wherein said buying dealer locations include a plurality of intelligent terminals.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein at least one of said intelligent terminals is connected to two display screens, one of which is relatively large for the display of images of the property.

28. A system according to claim 27, further comprising image rotation means for displaying multiple views of a property by at least appearing to rotate the image of the property.

29. A system according to claim 27, wherein at least one of said intelligent terminals at said buying dealer locations is a management unit for handling the management of the sales transactions and other administrative functions.

30. A system according to claim 16, further comprising portfolio means for compiling the identifications of a plurality of images and storing said identifications locally in association with a buying dealer'"'"'s intelligent terminal as a portfolio.