Negotiating agreements
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising enabling a first party to a possible transaction to invoke an element of a user interface to cause electronic mail invitations to be sent to selected individuals who will form a team representing the first party in connection with the transaction.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A commercial transaction, e.g., the purchase and sale of an item of capital equipment, is negotiated using a communication network, e.g., the Internet.
32 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method comprising
enabling a first party to a possible transaction to invoke an element of a user interface to cause electronic mail invitations to be sent to selected individuals who will form a team representing the first party in connection with the transaction.
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5. A method comprising
enabling a user to identify a stored template as an initial draft of the text of a contract for use in connection with a possible transaction, enabling two parties to modify the text of the contract as part of a negotiation with respect to the transaction, and enabling the two parties to assent to a final version of the text of the contract as governing the transaction.
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10. A method comprising
maintaining a draft text of a contract that represents a current state of a negotiation between two parties with respect to a transaction, and maintaining a control mechanism that gives only one of the parties at a time a right to edit the draft text.
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16. A method comprising
enabling a party to a possible transaction to form a team of individuals to participate in electronically negotiating terms of a contract with another party to the transaction, identifying one of the individuals as an administrator of the team, and enabling the administrator of the team to control the electronic participation of other individuals on the team in the negotiating.
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21. A method comprising
sending automatic electronic mail messages to parties engaged in an electronic negotiation of an agreement in connection with a transaction, the electronic mail messages providing notifications of state changes associated with the negotiation.
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27. An Internet website comprising
a database containing documents pertaining to possible transactions offered by customers of the website, an interface that permits separate websites to access descriptions of the possible transactions and to direct interested users to the Internet website, and a negotiation interface configured to allow the users to negotiate online to reach the terms of a transaction with the customers that offered the transactions.
Specification