Web-based system for connecting buyers and sellers

• US 6,574,608 B1
• Filed: 06/11/1999
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Iwant.com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Iwant.com Incorporated
• Inventors: Marcuvitz, Andrew, Dahod, Shabbir M., Spellman, Peter J., Olsen, Allen E., Gurwitz, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kanof, Pedro R.
• Application Number:
  US09/329,972
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/10, 705/34, 705/20, 705/21, 705/40
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6254 by anonymising data, e.g. decorrelating personal data from the owner's identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0615 Anonymizing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A Web-based buyer-driven system of commerce efficiently and inexpensively connects buyers and sellers. In general, the system includes a Web site globally accessible by potential buyers and sellers. Potential buyers post descriptions of products and services they desire on the Web site. Interested sellers of those products and services can access the descriptions posted by the buyers and selectively post responses to buyers. The responses preferably include information identifying the seller and describing the product or service offered by the seller. The system determines if the potential buyer retrieves a response directed to him from a potential seller and, if so, it charges that potential seller a small fee.

Claims

1. A method of connecting a potential buyer of a product or service with a potential seller of a product or service, comprising:

receiving from the potential buyer a description of a product or service desired;

making said description available to a plurality of potential sellers;

receiving a response from at least one of said potential sellers interested in making a sale to said potential buyer;

making said response accessible to said potential buyer; and

if said potential buyer accesses said response, charging said at least one potential seller a fee.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising registering said potential buyer.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein registering said potential buyer comprises receiving from said potential buyer username and password information for use in restricting access to said response.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of making said description available to a plurality of potential sellers comprises posting said description on an Internet Web site.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a category for said description and filing said description in the identified category.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising inhibiting persons other than said potential buyer from accessing said response.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said method is implemented in a Web server linked to a plurality of client machines associated with said potential buyer and potential sellers.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said client machines comprise personal computers.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said Web server is linked to said client machines through Internet connections.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving from said potential buyer information relating to said potential buyer.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said information comprises contact information.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said information comprises buyer profile information.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising making said information relating to said potential buyer available to said at least one potential seller upon request from said potential buyer.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising registering said at least one potential seller prior to making said response accessible to said potential buyer.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving payment information from said at least one potential seller.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said payment information includes a credit card number of said at least one potential seller.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing to said potential buyer information relating to said response to enable said potential buyer to make an informed decision as to whether to access said response.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said information comprises a brief description of the product or service offered by said at least one potential seller.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said information includes the identity of the said at least one potential seller.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising facilitating communication between the potential buyer and said at least one potential seller after said seller has been charged a fee.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising blocking communication between the potential buyer and said at least one potential seller upon request.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein facilitating communication comprises posting messages on an Internet Web site from said potential buyer and said at least one potential seller to each other.

28. The method of claim 1 further comprising making a reputation value of said potential buyer available to said plurality of potential sellers.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said reputation value comprises the number of times said potential buyer has previously revealed his or her identity to a potential seller.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein said response includes a description of the product or service offered by the said at least one potential seller.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein making said response accessible comprises posting said response on a Web site.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said response includes pre-formatted HTML promotional materials.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein said response includes a hyperlink to a Web site associated with said at least one potential seller.

34. The method of claim 1 wherein said potential buyer remains anonymous to said potential sellers as long as said potential buyer desires.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein said fee inhibits responses from unqualified potential sellers.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein said computer comprises a Web server.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein said step of outputting the description comprises posting said description on a Web site generated by said Web server.

39. The method of claim 34 wherein said step of outputting said response to said buyer comprises posting said response on a Web page generated by the Web server accessible by said buyer.

65. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing said description in a searchable database indexed by category and keywords;

and receiving from a potential seller a category and/or keyword for a product or service as criteria to search the searchable database; and

wherein making said description available comprises making descriptions that match the criteria available to the potential seller.

66. The method of claim 1 wherein making said description available comprises posting said description in a searchable database or catalog on an Internet Web site.

67. The method of claim 66 further comprising allowing potential sellers to search the database of buyer descriptions by category or keyword.

68. The method of claim 67 further comprising allowing potential sellers to view said description to enable a potential seller to make an informed decision as to whether to respond.

20. The method of claim I further comprising sending a notification to a selected potential seller that said description is available after receiving said description from the potential buyer.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said selected potential seller is a potential seller previously identified as having interest in receiving said notification.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said selected potential seller previously requested receiving said notification.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein sending a notification to the selected potential seller comprises sending said selected potential seller an email.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of making said description available to a plurality of sellers comprises posting said description on a Web site, and wherein said email includes a hyperlink to the Web site.

69. The method of claim 24 wherein posting said description comprises posting said description in a searchable database or catalog on the Web site.

36. A method of using a computer to facilitate a transaction between a buyer and a seller, comprising:

inputting into the computer a description received from a potential buyer of a desired product or service;

outputting the description to a plurality of sellers;

inputting into the computer a response from at least one of the sellers interested in making a sale to the buyer;

outputting said response to said buyer;

determining if said buyer has viewed said response and, if so, charging said at least one seller a fee.

70. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

storing said description received from a potential buyer in a searchable database or catalog;

inputting into the computer a category and/or keywords received from a potential seller of a product or service as criteria to search the database;

and wherein outputting the description comprises outputting a description that matches the criteria.

40. A computer for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and a seller, comprising:

a storage device storing a program; and

a processor operative with the program to;

(a) receive from the buyer a description of a desired product or service;

(b) make the description available to a plurality of sellers;

(c) receive a response from at least one of the sellers interested in making a sale to the buyer;

(d) make the response accessible to the buyer; and

(e) charge the at least one seller a fee if the buyer accesses the response.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said computer comprises a Web server.

71. The computer of claim 40 wherein (a) further includes store the description in a searchable database or catalog and wherein (b) comprises receive from the seller a category and/or keyword describing a product or service to be used as criteria for searching the database or catalog and make descriptions that match the criteria available to the seller.

42. A Web-based system of connecting a potential buyer of a product or service with a potential seller, comprising:

means for receiving from the potential buyer a description of a product or service desired;

means for making said description available to a plurality of potential sellers;

means for receiving a response from at least one of said potential sellers interested making a sale to said potential buyer;

means for making said response accessible to said potential buyer; and

means for charging said at least one potential seller a fee if said potential buyer accesses said response.

72. The Web-based system of claim 42 wherein the means for receiving comprise means for receiving a description and storing the description in a searchable database or catalog;

and wherein means for making descriptions available comprise means for receiving from the potential seller a category and/or keyword describing a product or service used as criteria for searching the database or catalog and means for making descriptions matching the criteria available.

43. A method of connecting a potential buyer of a product or service with a potential seller, comprising:

receiving from a plurality of potential buyers descriptions of a products or services desired;

posting said descriptions on an Internet Web site accessible by a plurality of potential sellers;

receiving a response from at least one of said potential sellers interested in making a sale to a selected one of said potential buyers;

posting said response on an Internet Web site accessible to said selected one of potential buyers; and

determining if said selected one of said potential buyers retrieves said response and, if so, charging said at least one potential seller a fee.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising registering each of said potential buyers.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein registering said potential buyers comprises receiving from each of said potential buyers username and password information for use in restricting access to responses posted for said buyers.

46. The method of claim 43 further comprising identifying categories for said descriptions and filing each said description in an identified category.

47. The method of claim 43 further comprising inhibiting persons other than said selected one of said potential buyers from accessing said response.

48. The method of claim 43 further comprising receiving from said potential buyers information relating to said potential buyers.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein said information comprises contact information.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein said information comprises buyer profile information.

51. The method of claim 48 further comprising making information relating to a given buyer available to a potential seller upon request from said given buyer.

52. The method of claim 43 further comprising registering said at least one potential seller prior to making said response accessible to said potential buyer.

53. The method of claim 43 further comprising receiving payment information from said at least one potential seller.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said payment information includes a credit card number.

55. The method of claim 43 further comprising providing to said selected one of said potential buyers information relating to said response to enable said selected one of said potential buyers to make an informed decision as to whether to access said response.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein said information comprises a brief description of the product or service offered by said at least one potential seller.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein said information includes the identity of the said at least one potential seller.

58. The method of claim 43 further comprising sending a notification to a selected potential seller that said description is available.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein said selected potential seller is a potential seller previously identified as having interest in receiving said notification.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein said selected potential seller previously requested receiving said notification.

61. The method of claim 58 wherein sending a notification to the selected potential seller comprises sending said selected potential seller an email.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein said email includes a hyperlink to the Web site.

63. The method of claim 43 wherein said potential buyers remain anonymous to said potential sellers as long as said potential buyers desire.

64. The method of claim 43 wherein said fee inhibits responses from unqualified potential sellers.

73. The method of claim 43 wherein posting said descriptions comprises posting said descriptions in a searchable database or catalog;

and further comprising receiving from the potential seller a category and/or keyword describing a product or service as criteria for searching the database or catalog and making descriptions matching said criteria available to the seller.