Systems and methods for aggregating buyers for the purchase of telecommunication services via a network

• US 7,076,447 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1999
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ebm/Ip, Llc
• Original Assignee: Inphonic Incorporated (Simplexity)
• Inventors: Peyser, Charles A., Beyer, Constance, McLaughlin, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen, Nicholas D.
• Application Number:
  US09/390,025
• Time in Patent Office: 2,503 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/26.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A system facilitates the purchase of telecommunication services from a variety of sellers. The system aggregates buyers for purchasing at least one telecommunication service as a group, generates a request for purchasing the telecommunication services, provides the request to the sellers, and receives replies from the sellers in response to the request. The system then provides the replies to the group, receives a selection from the group in response to the replies, and notifies a seller of the selection.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

aggregating a plurality of buyers for purchasing at least one telecommunication service as a group;

obtaining information regarding prior use of the at least one telecommunication service by at least one of the plurality of buyers;

generating a request for purchasing the at least one telecommunication service, the request including the information regarding the prior use;

presenting the request to a plurality of providers of telecommunication services;

receiving replies from the providers in response to the request;

presenting the replies to at least one of the buyers in the group;

receiving a selection from the at least one buyer in response to the replies; and

notifying a provider of the selection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating a request includes:

compiling the request from information received from the group during the aggregating step.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the compiling includes:

obtaining contact information for the group,

obtaining a name for the group, and

assigning an initial password to the group.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the compiling includes:

identifying each of the buyers in the group.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating a request includes:

identifying billing preferences for the at least one telecommunication service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating a request includes:

compiling a list of providers to receive the request; and

wherein the presenting the request includes;

granting access to the request to only the providers on the list.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating a request includes:

compiling a list of providers to receive the request; and

wherein the presenting the request includes;

transmitting the request to only the providers on the list.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating a request includes:

qualifying the group to verify an identity of at least one of the buyers; and

wherein the presenting the request includes;

distributing the request to the providers only when the group is qualified.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting, to the group, contractual terms and conditions for providing the at least one telecommunication service from the notified provider, and

receiving an acceptance of the terms and conditions from the group.

10. A system for purchasing telecommunication services, comprising:

means for aggregating a plurality of buyers for purchasing at least one telecommunication service as a group;

means for obtaining information regarding prior use of the at least one telecommunication service by at least one of the plurality of buyers;

means for generating a request for purchasing the at least one telecommunication means for presenting the request to a plurality of sellers of telecommunication service, the request including the information regarding the prior use;

means for receiving replies from the sellers in response to the request;

means for presenting the replies to at least one of the buyers in the group;

means for receiving a selection from the at least one buyer in response to the replies; and

means for notifying a seller of the selection.

11. A system for purchasing telecommunication services in a network connecting buyers and sellers of telecommunication services, the system comprising:

a memory that stores data; and

a processor, connected to the memory, that aggregates a plurality of the buyers for purchasing at least one telecommunication service as a group, generates a request for purchasing the at least one telecommunication service, the request including information on prior use of telecommunication services of the group, presents the request to a plurality of the sellers, receives replies from the sellers in response to the request, presents the replies to the group, receives a selection from the group in response to the replies, and notifies a seller of the selection.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein when generating the request, the processor is associated with aggregating the buyers.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein when compiling the request, the processor is further configured to obtain contact information from the group, to obtain a buyer name for the group, and to assign an initial password to the group.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein when compiling the request, the processor is further configured to identify each of the buyers in the group.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein when generating the request, the processor is further configured to identify billing preferences for the at least one telecommunication service.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein when generating the request the processor is further configured to obtain information regarding prior use of telecommunication services of the group.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein when generating the request, the processor is further configured to compile a list of sellers to receive the request, and when presenting the request, the processor is further configured to grant access to the request to only the sellers on the list.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein when generating the request, the processor is further configured to compile a list of sellers to receive the request, and when presenting the request, the processor is further configured to distribute the request to only the sellers on the list.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to present contractual terms and conditions, to the group, for providing the at least one telecommunication service from the notified seller, and to receive an acceptance of the terms and conditions from the group.

19. The system of claim wherein when generating the request, the processor is further configured to verify an identity of the group, and when presenting the request, the processor is further configured to present the request to the sellers only when the identity is verified.

21. A computer-readable medium configured to store instructions that cause a computer to perform the steps of:

aggregating a plurality of buyers for purchasing at least one telecommunication service as a group;

obtaining information regarding prior use of the at least one telecommunication service by at least one of the plurality of buyers;

generating a request for purchasing the at least one telecommunication service;

the request including the information regarding the prior use;

presenting the request to a plurality of providers of telecommunication services;

receiving replies from the providers in response to the request;

presenting the replies to at least one of the buyers in the group;

receiving a selection from the at least one buyer in response to the replies; and

notifying a provider of the selection.