Method for using computers to facilitate and control the creating of a plurality of functions

• US 6,446,045 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Function Media LLC
• Original Assignee: Lucinda Stone, Michael A. Dean
• Inventors: Dean, Michael A., Stone, Lucinda
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAKETIC, BRYAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/480,303
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• 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 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• 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 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• 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 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus that allows competing as well as complementing suppliers, vendors, service providers, purveyors, and other types of sellers internal inventory management as well as controlled design and publication of presentations for external near real-time interactive access to buyer-centered presentation, sales, distribution, and confirmation systems as well as other traditional media advertising and outreach. The Automated Media Presentation Generator including a Publication and Placement Control Engine, integrates a Distributed Sales and Inventory Control structure with Processing and Communications Resource Saver, and further provides a Reservation, Access, and Verification System replacing traditional ticket and confirmation methods.

Claims

1. A method of using a network of computers to contract for, facilitate and control the creating and publishing of presentations, by a seller, to a plurality of media venues owned or controlled by other than the seller, comprising:

a) providing a media database having a list of available media venues;

b) providing means for applying corresponding guidelines of the media venues;

c) providing means for transmitting said presentations to a selected media venue of the media venues;

d) providing means for a seller to select the media venues; and

e) providing means for the seller to input information;

whereby the seller may select one or more of the media venues, create a presentation that complies with said guidelines of the media venues selected, and transmit the presentation to the selected media venues for publication.

2. The method of claim 1 further providing a seller database having a list of seller.

3. The method of claim 1 further providing a means for creating structured presentations from the sellers information.

4. The method of claim 3 farther providing a means for transferring said created presentations to the media venues for publishing.

5. The method of claim 1 further providing a means for said media venues to input said guidelines and information.

6. The method of claim 1 further providing means for said media venues to receive the sellers presentations.

7. The method of claim 1 further providing a media buyers database having a list of media buyers.

8. The method of claim 1 further providing a media transactions database having a list of media transactions.

9. The method of claim 1 further providing a media inventory database having a list of media inventory.

10. The method of claim 1 further providing a presentations database containing created presentations.

11. The method of claim 1 further providing an inventory database containing available inventory.

12. The method of claim 1 further providing a transaction database containing transactions made.

13. The method of claim 1 further providing means with instructions for a buyer to select and purchase offers of sellers.

14. The method of claim 13 further providing a transaction database for recording the purchases of the buyers.

15. The method of claim 13 further providing a means for the buyers to purchase goods or services offered by the seller.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the media database includes a list of available media and corresponding editorial, design and publication standards.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the media database includes a list of available media and corresponding pricing and media inventory availability.

18. The method of claim 1 further providing means for transferring said presentations to said selected media venues.

19. The method of claim 1 further providing a computer to control and facilitate the network of computers.

20. The method of claim 1 further providing a computer to control and facilitate creation and distribution of all presentations to said selected media venues.

21. The method of claim 1 further providing a means for automatically creating open-access electronic presentations.

22. The method of claim 1 further providing a means for publishing open-access presentations electronically.

23. The method of claim 1 further providing a computer to present dynamic presentations electronically.