Method and apparatus for a cryptographically assisted commercial network system designed to facilitate buyer-driven conditional purchase offers
First Claim
1. A processor-implemented method of electronically consummating a binding contract between a remote prospective buyer and a remote potential seller, which comprises:
- electronically receiving from the prospective buyer a purchase offer containing at least one condition;
electronically making available the purchase offer to a plurality of potential sellers;
electronically receiving from at least one of the potential sellers an unconditional acceptance of the offer;
determining by the processor the first unconditional acceptance to be received and the identity of the corresponding first-accepting seller; and
remitting payment for the purchase to the first-accepting seller, wherein part of the payment for the purchase is remitted to the first-accepting seller after acceptance of the purchase offer and the balance of the purchase amount is remitted to the first-accepting seller after the seller performs under the contract.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus for effectuating bilateral buyer-driven commerce. The present invention allows prospective buyers of goods and services to communicate a binding purchase offer globally to potential sellers, for sellers conveniently to search for relevant buyer purchase offers, and for sellers potentially to bind a buyer to a contract based on the buyer'"'"'s purchase offer. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a controller which receives binding purchase offers from prospective buyers. The controller makes purchase offers available globally to potential sellers. Potential sellers then have the option to accept a purchase offer and thus bind the corresponding buyer to a contract. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications on the Internet as well as conventional communications systems such as voice telephony.
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Citations
87 Claims
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1. A processor-implemented method of electronically consummating a binding contract between a remote prospective buyer and a remote potential seller, which comprises:
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electronically receiving from the prospective buyer a purchase offer containing at least one condition; electronically making available the purchase offer to a plurality of potential sellers; electronically receiving from at least one of the potential sellers an unconditional acceptance of the offer; determining by the processor the first unconditional acceptance to be received and the identity of the corresponding first-accepting seller; and remitting payment for the purchase to the first-accepting seller, wherein part of the payment for the purchase is remitted to the first-accepting seller after acceptance of the purchase offer and the balance of the purchase amount is remitted to the first-accepting seller after the seller performs under the contract. - 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, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A processor-implemented method of electronically consummating a binding commercial contract between a remote first party and a remote second party, comprising:
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electronically receiving from the first party an offer containing at least one condition; electronically making available the offer to a plurality of prospective second parties; electronically receiving from at least one prospective second party an unconditional acceptance of the offer; determining by the processor the first unconditional acceptance to be received and the identity of the first-accepting second party; and remitting payment for the purchase to the first-accepting second party, wherein part of the payment for the purchase is remitted to the first-accepting second party after acceptance of the purchase offer and the balance of the purchase amount is remitted to the first-accepting second party after the first-accepting second party performs under the contract. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. An electronic system for consummating a binding contract between a prospective buyer and seller, comprising:
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a central processor located remotely from the prospective buyer and the potential seller; input means associated with the processor for receiving from the prospective buyer a purchase offer containing at least one condition; means associated with the processor for electronically making available the purchase offer to a plurality of potential sellers; input means associated with the processor for electronically receiving from at least one of the potential sellers an unconditional acceptance of the offer; logic means associated with the processor for determining the first unconditional acceptance to be received and the identity of the first-accepting seller; and means associated with the processor for remitting payment for the purchase to the first-accepting seller, wherein part of the payment for the purchase is remitted to the first-accepting seller after acceptance of the purchase offer and the balance of the purchase amount is remitted to the first-accepting seller after the seller performs under the contract. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
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87. A processor-implemented method of electronically consummating a binding contract between a remote prospective buyer and a remote potential seller, which comprises:
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electronically receiving by the processor from the prospective buyer a purchase offer containing at least two conditions, one condition stating that the buyer shall have the right to choose from among a plurality of acceptances from potential sellers at least one acceptance to which the prospective buyer shall be bound; electronically making available the purchase offer to a plurality of potential sellers; electronically receiving from a plurality of the potential sellers unconditional acceptances of the offer; electronically transmitting the plurality of unconditional acceptances to the prospective buyer; electronically receiving from the prospective buyer at least one election of an unconditional acceptance corresponding to a seller under which the buyer will be bound to perform; and electronically remitting payment to the seller, wherein part of the payment for the purchase is remitted to the seller after acceptance of the purchase offer and the balance of the purchase amount is remitted to the seller after the seller performs under the contract.
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Specification