Method and apparatus for negotiating a contract over a computer network
First Claim
1. A computer-assisted method of negotiating a contract over a computer network between a first negotiator and a second negotiator, comprising the steps of:
- (1) displaying on a first computer screen a plurality of predefined contract provisions, each relating to a contract provision and including an agree/defer selector for the first negotiator;
a first dialogue box into which the first negotiator can enter text;
an agree/defer selector for the second negotiator; and
a second dialogue box into which the second negotiator can enter text;
(2) receiving for each of the plurality of predefined contract provisions an agree/defer selection from the first negotiator;
(3) displaying on a second computer screen the plurality of predefined contract provisions, including any agree/defer selections made by the first negotiator;
the first dialogue box;
the agree/defer selector for the second negotiator, and the second dialog box;
(4) receiving for each of the plurality of predefined contract provisions an agree/defer selection from the second negotiator;
(5) storing the agree/defer selections made by the first and second negotiators in a computer memory;
(6) in response to detecting that the first and second negotiators have entered identical text in each respective first and second dialogue boxes, permitting the second negotiator to select “
agree” and
otherwise inhibiting such selection; and
(7) repeating steps (1) and (3) until the first and second negotiator have selected either agree or defer for each of the plurality of contract provisions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a system and method that facilitates a structured contract negotiation between two parties, such as parties to a real estate transaction. A series of predefined milestone negotiation steps are executed on a computer that couples two parties through a network, such as the Internet. The negotiators answer predefined questions regarding a proposed transaction in such a manner that certain aspects of the transaction can be agreed upon early during the negotiation process while others are deferred to later phases. In each phase, each party selects from a predefined list of actions associated with a particular aspect of the negotiation (e.g., sale price). Third-party service providers such as brokers and architects can be automatically pulled into the negotiations using computer-issued requests for services. Feedback from the parties in the form of problems encountered and solutions achieved during the negotiation process are collected and stored in a database for review and use by other future negotiation parties. Improvements to the disclosed invention include (1) rules-based agreement on negotiator-supplied terms; (2) delegation to transaction team members or service providers; (3) summary reports with link to messaging system; (4) a dual messaging system; (5) customized negotiation process; and (6) sale-specific features.
44 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A computer-assisted method of negotiating a contract over a computer network between a first negotiator and a second negotiator, comprising the steps of:
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(1) displaying on a first computer screen a plurality of predefined contract provisions, each relating to a contract provision and including an agree/defer selector for the first negotiator;
a first dialogue box into which the first negotiator can enter text;
an agree/defer selector for the second negotiator; and
a second dialogue box into which the second negotiator can enter text;(2) receiving for each of the plurality of predefined contract provisions an agree/defer selection from the first negotiator; (3) displaying on a second computer screen the plurality of predefined contract provisions, including any agree/defer selections made by the first negotiator;
the first dialogue box;
the agree/defer selector for the second negotiator, and the second dialog box;(4) receiving for each of the plurality of predefined contract provisions an agree/defer selection from the second negotiator; (5) storing the agree/defer selections made by the first and second negotiators in a computer memory; (6) in response to detecting that the first and second negotiators have entered identical text in each respective first and second dialogue boxes, permitting the second negotiator to select “
agree” and
otherwise inhibiting such selection; and(7) repeating steps (1) and (3) until the first and second negotiator have selected either agree or defer for each of the plurality of contract provisions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification