Builders on-line assistant

• US 7,254,553 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ePt Records, LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bruce A.. Fogelson
• Inventors: Fogelson, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUCHANAN, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US09/768,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,386 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/14.39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for servicing a customer of a builder by a third-party website provider. The method includes the steps of providing a first website by the third-party website provider for use by the customer in viewing and selecting product options for product offerings provided by the builder, receiving from the customer through the first website views and selections of an option of the options provided by the builder and collecting a fee or commission based upon the received selection made by the customer.

Claims

1. A method of servicing a plurality of customers or potential customers among a plurality of builders by a third-party website provider, such method comprising the steps of:

providing a first website by the third-party website provider for use by the plurality of customers or potential customers in viewing and selecting product options of product offerings available from or through the plurality of builders, an information content of at least some customers of the plurality of customers within said first website being password protected by a respective password of the at least some customers of the plurality of customers and the first website having at least one page of offerings unique to each of the plurality of builders;

a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders entering into a contract to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract forming a new contract or a modification or amendment of a pre-existing contract;

providing at least one form to be filled out by the customer through the first website;

providing a second website associated with the first website by the third-party website provider for entry of information related to the customer by the builder said second website being password protected by the builder;

receiving from the customer through the first website a view and selection of an option of the options provided by the builder;

incorporating the selected options, and a content of the at least one filled in form into a modification of the contract; and

collecting a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by and selections made by the customer.

2. The method of servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 further comprising the first website offering purchase and pre-purchase information, a buyers'"'"' group service for a plurality of builders for volume discounts, advertising, and product information, and customer and sales support.

3. The method of servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing the first website further comprises providing an online deposit system.

4. The method of servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 3 further comprising purchasing extras using the online deposit system.

5. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing the first website further comprises allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, and vendors to pre-view potential orders, groups of orders, and customer product viewings.

6. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 further comprising providing web and communications tools to the builder, sub-contractors, and suppliers.

7. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 6 further comprising defining the web and communication tools as at least one of the group consisting of e-mail, real-time chat, calendars, escrow services, e-business services, job reports, notices, attendance tracking, buyer satisfaction ratings, next day activity lists, job logs, messaging, post-its, sample request-taking system, and threaded discussion groups.

8. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 further comprising collecting up-front access, semi-custom web design, and data service fees or commissions from the builder and third-party advertisers.

9. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing the first website further comprises allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, and suppliers to advertise their products through the system.

10. An apparatus for servicing a plurality of customers or potential customers among a plurality of builders by a third-party website provider, such apparatus comprising:

means for providing a first website by the third-party website provider for use by the plurality of customers in viewing and selecting product options of product offerings available from the plurality of builders, an information content of at least some customers of the plurality of customers within said first website being password protected by a respective password of the at least some customers the means for providing a first website further providing at least one page of offerings unique to each of the plurality of builders;

means for establishing the terms of a contract between a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract forming a new contract or a modification or amendment of a pre-existing contract;

means for providing at least one form to be filled out by the customer through the first website;

means for providing a second website associated with the first website by the third-party website provider for entry of information related to the customer by the builder said second website being password protected by a password of the builder;

means for receiving from the customer through the first website a selection of an option of the options provided by the builder;

means for incorporating the selected options and content of the at least one filled in form into a modification of the contract; and

means for collecting a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by and selections made by the customer.

11. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 10 further comprising means for offering purchase and pre-purchase information, a buyers'"'"' group service for a plurality of builders for volume discounts, advertising, post-closing product information, and customer and sales support.

12. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 10 wherein the means for providing the first website further comprises means for offering an online deposit system.

13. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 12 wherein the means for offering the online deposit system further comprises means for purchasing extras.

14. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 10 wherein the means for providing the first website further comprises means for allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, and vendors to pre-view potential orders, groups of orders, and customer or plurality of builders product viewings.

15. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 10 further comprising means for providing web and communications tools to the builder, sub-contractors, and suppliers.

16. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 15 wherein the web and communication tools further comprise at least one of the group consisting of e-mail, real-time chat, calendars, escrow services, e-business services, job reports, notices, attendance tracking, buyer satisfaction ratings, next day activity lists, job logs, messaging, post-its, sample request-taking system, and threaded discussion groups.

17. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 10 further comprising means for collecting up-front access, semi-custom web design, and data service fees or commissions from the contractor.

18. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 10 wherein the means of providing the first website further comprises means for allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, and suppliers to advertise their products through the system.

19. An apparatus for servicing a plurality of customers among a plurality of builders by a third-party website provider, such apparatus comprising:

a first website provided by the third-party website provider for use by the plurality of customers in viewing and selecting product options of product offerings available from the plurality of builders, an information content of at least some customers of the plurality of customers within said first website being password protected by a respective password of the at least some customers the first website having at least one page of offerings unique to each of the plurality of builders;

a contract term establishment processor establishing terms of a contract between a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract forming a new contract or a modification or amendment of a pre-existing contract;

a second website associated with the first website provided by the third-party website provider for entry of information related to the customer by the contractor said second website being password protected by a password of the contractor;

at least one form to be filled out by the customer that are provided through the first website;

a selection processor receiving through the first website views and selections of an option of the options provided by the builder;

a commission processor adapted to collect a fee or commission based upon the received selection made by the customer, and/or the products viewed by the customer; and

a contract term change processor for altering the terms of the contract based upon a content of the at least one filled in form and selected options.

20. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 19 wherein the first website further comprises an online deposit system.

21. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 20 wherein the online deposit system further comprises a credit source for the purchase of extras.

22. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 19 wherein the first website further comprises a system for allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, and vendors to pre-view potential orders, groups of orders, and customer product viewings.

23. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 19 further comprising web and communications tools available to the builder, sub-contractors, and suppliers.

24. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 23 wherein the web and communication tools further comprise at least one of the group consisting of e-mail, real-time chat, calendars, escrow services, e-business services, job reports, notices, attendance tracking, buyer satisfaction ratings, next day activity lists, job logs, messaging, post-its, sample request-taking system, and threaded discussion groups.

25. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 19 wherein the first website further comprises a system for allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, and suppliers to advertise their products.

26. A method of servicing customers of a plurality of builders or a plurality of builders through a third-party website provider, such method comprising the steps of:

the plurality of builders providing product offerings to customers through a first website provided by the third-party website provider the first website having at least one page of offerings unique to each of the plurality of builders;

a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders entering into a contract to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract forming a pre-existing contract;

the customer viewing and selecting product options of product offerings available from or through the builder through the first website;

receiving from the customer through the first website a selection of an option of the options provided by the builder;

incorporating the selected options, into a new or modification of the pre-existing contract; and

the third-party website collecting a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by and selections made by the customer.