System and method for an automated sales system with remote negotiation and post-sale verification

• US 8,793,172 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joshua David Nathanson
• Original Assignee: Joshua David Nathanson
• Inventors: Nathanson, Joshua David
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaikh, Mohammad Z
• Application Number:
  US13/608,158
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35- 45
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method to process items for sale or bid, to transmit electronic negotiations between prospective buyer and seller, and to verify the condition of the item before delivery to the buyer. The invention facilitates autonomous and remote negotiation between sellers and prospective buyers while protecting buyers from fraud and item misrepresentation. With the present invention, items can be sold individually and are not treated as standardized items that are interchangeable with similar commodity goods. The present invention also provides a waitlisting function. In addition, the functionality of traditional auction systems may be integrated with the novel features of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention provides a system and method for conducting a reverse auction by allowing prospective buyers to list desired items.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and a buyer across a network, said seller and said buyer being remote from one another, said method comprising:

receiving, from said seller to at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms,

wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale by said seller;

counteroffering, by said seller, in response to an offer by said at least one bidder, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being greater than a bid price in said offer and less than an ask price of said seller prior to receipt of said offer, and

selecting a buyer of said item,

and

wherein communications between said seller and said buyer involve at least one electronic device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of counteroffering, at new sales terms, to an offer by said at least one bidder is repeated a plurality of times.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after the step of counteroffering by said seller with new sales terms to said at least one bidder and before said selecting, an offer from said different bidder is received with terms at or above said new sales terms, and said different bidder is automatically selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein offers from said at least one bidder to said seller below a minimum value are automatically rejected.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, after the step of selecting, the step of:

adding other prospective bidders to a waitlist for said item until said item is conveyed to said buyer.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

after said item is conveyed to said buyer, removing prospective bidders from said waitlist.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

adding said item data to a wantlist of desired items for said prospective bidders.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bidder is the first prospective bidder on a waitlist for said item.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bidder has said item data in a wantlist of desired items.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein, prior to said step of receiving, said item failed to sell at auction and said item was automatically offered for bid.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of selecting is performed within a time limit.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said time limit is determined by a party, said party being selected from the group consisting of at least one of said seller, said at least one bidder, and a negotiation administrator.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein a negotiation administrator ensures said negotiation and said sale comply with rules, said rules determining allowable item data, and persons permitted to be said seller and said at least one and different bidder.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said seller and said at least one bidder are remote from said negotiation administrator.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.

16. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and a buyer across a network, said seller and said buyer being remote from one another, said method comprising:

receiving, by a seller from at least one bidder, a first offer to purchase said item at first sales terms,

wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item owned by said seller;

counteroffering, by said seller, in response to said first sales terms by said at least one bidder, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder; and

selecting a buyer of said item,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price including an ask price greater than a bid price in said first offer, and

wherein communications between said seller and said buyer involve at least one electronic device.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.

18. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and a buyer across a network, said seller and said buyer being remote from one another, said method comprising:

receiving, from said seller to at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms,

wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item listed for sale by said seller;

counteroffering, by said seller, in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being greater than a bid price in said offer and less than an ask price of said seller prior to receipt of said offer; and

selecting the buyer of said item,

wherein communications between said seller and said buyer involve at least one electronic device.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said step of counteroffering, at new sales terms, to an offer by said at least one bidder is repeated a plurality of times.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein, after the step of counteroffering by said seller with new sales terms to said at least one bidder and before said selecting, an offer from a different bidder is received with terms at or above said new sales terms, and said different bidder is automatically selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising, after said selecting:

adding other prospective bidders to a waitlist for said item until said item is conveyed to said buyer.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

after said item is conveyed to said buyer, removing non-selected bidders from said waitlist.

23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

adding said item data to a wantlist of desired items for said prospective bidders.

24. The method according to claim 18, wherein said at least one bidder is the first prospective bidder on a waitlist for said item.

25. The method according to claim 18, wherein said at least one bidder has said item data in a wantlist of desired items.

26. The method according to claim 18, wherein, prior to said receiving, said item failed to sell at auction and said item was automatically offered for bid.

27. The method according to claim 18, wherein said step of selecting is performed within a time limit.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said time limit is determined by a party, said party being selected from the group consisting of at least one of said seller, said at least one bidder, and a negotiation administrator.

29. The method according to claim 18, wherein a negotiation administrator ensures said negotiation and said sale comply with rules, said rules determining allowable item data, and persons permitted to be said seller and said at least one bidder.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said seller and said at least one bidder are remote from said negotiation administrator.

31. The method according to claim 18, wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.

32. A computer-implemented system for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and a buyer across a network, said seller and said buyer being remote from one another, said system comprising:

means for receiving from said seller to at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale by said seller;

means for counteroffering by said seller, in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being greater than a bid price in said offer and less than an ask price of said seller prior to receipt of said offer;

means for selecting the buyer of said item,

and

wherein communications between said seller and said buyer involve at least one electronic device.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein said means for counteroffering, at new sales terms, to an offer by said at least one bidder repeats a plurality of times.

34. The system according to claim 32, wherein, after counteroffering by said seller with new sales terms to said at least one bidder, an offer from a different bidder is received at or above said new sales terms and said different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said new sales terms.

35. The system according to claim 32, wherein offers from said at least one bidder to said seller below a minimum value are automatically rejected.

36. The system according to claim 32, further comprising:

means for adding other prospective bidders to a waitlist for said item until said item is conveyed to said buyer.

37. The system according to claim 36, further comprising:

means for removing, after said item is conveyed to said buyer, non-selected bidders from said waitlist.

38. The system according to claim 36, further comprising:

means for adding said item data to a wantlist of desired items for said prospective bidders.

39. The system according to claim 32, wherein said at least one bidder is the first prospective bidder on a waitlist for said item.

40. The system according to claim 32, wherein said at least one bidder has said item data in a wantlist of desired items.

41. The system according to claim 32, wherein said item failed to sell at an auction and said item was automatically offered for bid.

42. The system according to claim 32, wherein said means for selecting is performed within a time limit.

43. The system according to claim 42, wherein said time limit is determined by a party, said party being selected from the group consisting of at least one of said seller, said at least one bidder, and a negotiation administrator.

44. The system according to claim 32, wherein a negotiation administrator ensures said negotiation and said sale comply with rules, said rules determining allowable item data, and persons permitted to be said seller and said at least one bidder.

45. The system according to claim 44, wherein said seller and said at least one bidder are remote from said negotiation administrator.

46. The system according to claim 32, wherein, in said means for selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.

47. A system for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and a buyer across a network, said seller and said buyer being remote from one another, said system comprising:

means for receiving, from at least one bidder, item data about said item and a first offer to purchase said item at first sales terms, said item data comprising sales terms,

wherein said item is at least one physical item for sale or a service item owned by said seller;

means for counteroffering, by said seller, in response to said first sales terms by said at least one bidder, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder; and

means for selecting a buyer of said item;

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price include an ask price greater than a bid price in said first offer

and

wherein communications between said seller and said buyer involve at least one electronic device.

48. The system according to claim 47, wherein, in said means for selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.

49. A system for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and a buyer across a network, said seller and said buyer being remote from one another, said system comprising:

means for receiving, from said seller to at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms,

wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale by said seller;

means for counteroffering by said seller, in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being greater than a bid price in said offer and less than an ask price of said seller prior to receipt of said offer; and

means for selecting the buyer of said item,

and

wherein communications between said seller and said buyer involve at least one electronic device.

50. The system according to claim 49, wherein said means for counteroffering, at new sales terms, to an offer by said at least one bidder repeats a plurality of times.

51. The system according to claim 49, wherein, after counteroffering by said seller with new sales terms to said at least one bidder, an offer from a different bidder is received at or above said new sales terms and said different bidder is automatically selected as the buyer of said item at said new sales terms.

52. The system according to claim 49, further comprising:

means for adding other prospective bidders to a waitlist for said item until said item is conveyed to said buyer.

53. The system according to claim 52, further comprising:

means for removing, after said item is conveyed to said buyer, non-selected bidders from said waitlist.

54. The system according to claim 52, further comprising:

means for adding said item data to a wantlist of desired items for said prospective bidders.

55. The system according to claim 49, wherein said at least one bidder is the first prospective bidder on a waitlist for said item.

56. The system according to claim 49, wherein said at least one bidder has said item data in a wantlist of desired items.

57. The system according to claim 49, wherein, prior to use of said means for receiving, said item failed to sell at auction and said item was automatically offered for bid.

58. The system according to claim 49, wherein said means for selecting is performed within a time limit.

59. The system according to claim 58, wherein said time limit is determined by a party, said party being selected from the group consisting of at least one of said seller, said at least one bidder, and a negotiation administrator.

60. The system according to claim 49, wherein a negotiation administrator ensures said negotiation and said sale comply with rules, said rules determining allowable item data, and persons permitted to be said seller and said at least one bidder.

61. The system according to claim 60, wherein said seller and said at least one bidder are remote from said negotiation administrator.

62. The system according to claim 49, wherein, in said means for selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.

63. A non-transitory data storage medium with computer-executable instructions thereon for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and a buyer across a network, said seller and said buyer being remote from one another, said data storage medium comprising:

instructions for receiving, from said seller to at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms,

wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale by said seller;

in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, instructions for counteroffering, by said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being greater than a bid price in said offer and less than an ask price of said seller prior to receipt of said offer; and

instructions for selecting the buyer of said item.

64. The non-transitory data storage medium according to claim 63, wherein, in said instructions for selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.

65. A non-transitory data storage medium with computer-executable instructions thereon for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and a buyer across a network, said seller and said buyer being remote from one another, said data storage medium comprising:

instructions for receiving, from at least one bidder, item data about said item and a first offer to purchase said item at first sales terms, said item data comprising sales terms,

wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item owned by said seller;

instructions for counteroffering, by said seller, in response to said first offer by said at least one bidder, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder; and

instructions for selecting a buyer of said item,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being greater than a bid price in said first offer.

66. The non-transitory data storage medium according to claim 65, wherein, in said instructions for selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.

67. A non-transitory data storage medium with computer-executable instructions thereon for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and a buyer across a network, said seller and said buyer being remote from one another, said data storage medium comprising:

instructions for receiving, from said seller to at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms,

wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;

in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller,

instructions for counteroffering, by said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being greater than a bid price in said offer and less than an ask price of said seller prior to receipt of said offer; and

instructions for selecting the buyer of said item.

68. The non-transitory data storage medium according to claim 67, wherein, in said instructions for selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.