Calendar auction method and computer program product
First Claim
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1. A method for facilitating a calendar auction between at least one consumer and at least one provider, said method comprising steps of:
- posting an available service accessible through a computerized network, wherein said service includes an available timeslot on a provider calendar when said service is offered to be performed and said at least one provider provides varying levels of service for said service;
receiving from a consumer a bid for said service, wherein said bid is based at least in part upon said service and said available timeslot, and wherein said bid may specify any form of payment of a plurality of payment forms;
selecting said bid as a winning bid;
notifying said consumer and said at least one provider of said winning bid; and
directing at least one losing bidder to an offering by said at least one provider, said offering including a lower level of service for said service than won by said consumer.
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Abstract
The present invention facilitates a calendar auction over a computerized network wherein consumers of professional services may bid on calendar timeslots for needed professional services. A provider creates an account and manages an online calendar to facilitate auctions for defined timeslots. A consumer also creates an account and manages an online calendar to solicit calendar auctions for specific needed professional services over defined times-lots. Both provider and consumer manage their calendar auction accounts and calendar over a computerized network such as the internet.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating a calendar auction between at least one consumer and at least one provider, said method comprising steps of:
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posting an available service accessible through a computerized network, wherein said service includes an available timeslot on a provider calendar when said service is offered to be performed and said at least one provider provides varying levels of service for said service; receiving from a consumer a bid for said service, wherein said bid is based at least in part upon said service and said available timeslot, and wherein said bid may specify any form of payment of a plurality of payment forms; selecting said bid as a winning bid; notifying said consumer and said at least one provider of said winning bid; and directing at least one losing bidder to an offering by said at least one provider, said offering including a lower level of service for said service than won by said consumer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions including instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor system to perform:
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posting an available service accessible through a computerized network, wherein said service includes an available timeslot on a provider calendar when said service is offered to be performed and at least one provider provides varying levels of service for said service; receiving from a consumer a bid for said service, wherein said bid is based at least in part upon said service and said available timeslot, and wherein said bid may specify any form of payment of a plurality of payment forms; selecting said bid as a winning bid; notifying said consumer and said at least one provider of said winning bid; and directing at least one losing bidder to an offering by said at least one provider, said offering including a lower level of service for said service than won by said consumer.
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Specification