Online transaction hosting apparatus and system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for coordinating data exchanged in a product sale transaction, the apparatus comprising:
- a network for carrying data;
a server, corresponding to a host and operably connected to the network to host data corresponding to online transactions,a plurality of buyer computers connecting to the network and each corresponding to a buyer having a buyer identifier;
a plurality of seller computers connecting to the network and each corresponding to a seller having a seller identifier;
each buyer computer of the plurality of buyer computers further programmed to communicate to the server purchase requests, each comprising a product identifier, a price, funding information, shipping information, and a buyer identifier;
each seller computer of the plurality of seller computers further programmed to communicate to the server product records, each comprising a product identifier, a price, shipping information, and a seller identifier;
the server further programmed to receive, from a buyer computer of the plurality of buyer computers, data linking a first purchase request of the purchase requests to a second purchase request of the purchase requests;
and the server, further programmed to receive the first and second purchase request, both the first and second purchase requests corresponding to products identifiable as being of a type, but the product having distinct differences selected from manufacturer, brand name, and model;
the server, further programmed to access a plurality of product records, wherein at least two products records correspond to a product the type, but each respective one of the at least two product records corresponds to a product of a different designation, selected from brand, manufacturer, and model, the different designations reflecting distinctive products, not objectively equal, but subjectively comparable by the first buyer with respect to a cost-to-value relationship perceived buy the buyer;
the server, further programmed to remove for the first buyer the risk of making multiple matches for the first and second purchase requests by removing automatically one of the first and second purchase requests immediately upon matching the other thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An invention is disclosed relating to an apparatus and method for hosting transactions over a network such as the Internet. Sellers post offers to sell under a listing belonging to an organized database of listings. Likewise, buyers post offers to buy. A matching module selects offers to sell and matches them to offers to buy based on a predefined criteria. Before posting offers to sell or buy, buyers and sellers may be presented with data concerning the market for the product that is the subject of the offer. A sale is consummated between the buyer and seller of the matched offer to buy and offer to sell. Consummation may include assessing the risk of fraud posed by the matched buyer and matched seller. Fees may be charged to the matched buyer, the matched seller, or both as insurance against fraud. Payment may be made by the buyer directly to the seller or to a host hosting the apparatus and method for conducting the transaction. Payment is forwarded to the seller by the host upon confirmation by the buyer that a product has been received in good order. An automated, or partially automated, dispute resolution process may resolve disputed transactions.
142 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus for coordinating data exchanged in a product sale transaction, the apparatus comprising:
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a network for carrying data; a server, corresponding to a host and operably connected to the network to host data corresponding to online transactions, a plurality of buyer computers connecting to the network and each corresponding to a buyer having a buyer identifier; a plurality of seller computers connecting to the network and each corresponding to a seller having a seller identifier; each buyer computer of the plurality of buyer computers further programmed to communicate to the server purchase requests, each comprising a product identifier, a price, funding information, shipping information, and a buyer identifier; each seller computer of the plurality of seller computers further programmed to communicate to the server product records, each comprising a product identifier, a price, shipping information, and a seller identifier; the server further programmed to receive, from a buyer computer of the plurality of buyer computers, data linking a first purchase request of the purchase requests to a second purchase request of the purchase requests; and the server, further programmed to receive the first and second purchase request, both the first and second purchase requests corresponding to products identifiable as being of a type, but the product having distinct differences selected from manufacturer, brand name, and model; the server, further programmed to access a plurality of product records, wherein at least two products records correspond to a product the type, but each respective one of the at least two product records corresponds to a product of a different designation, selected from brand, manufacturer, and model, the different designations reflecting distinctive products, not objectively equal, but subjectively comparable by the first buyer with respect to a cost-to-value relationship perceived buy the buyer; the server, further programmed to remove for the first buyer the risk of making multiple matches for the first and second purchase requests by removing automatically one of the first and second purchase requests immediately upon matching the other thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 12)
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5. A computer network comprising:
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a server associated with an entity; a plurality of purchase requests, each comprising a product identifier, a price, and a buyer identifier, the plurality of purchase requests being stored on the server; the server storing data linking a first purchase request of the plurality of purchase requests to a second purchase request of the plurality of purchase requests; a plurality of product records, each comprising a product identifier, a price, and a seller identifier, the plurality of product records being stored on the server; the plurality of purchase requests, wherein at least two of the purchase requests thereof correspond to a single buyer, seeking a single instance of a product of a single type, and are linked to reflect that only one instance of product of the type is to be purchased based on the at least two purchase requests; the server, further programmed to receive the first and second purchase requests corresponding to products having distinct differences selected from a manufacturer, brand name, and model; the plurality of product records, wherein at least two product records correspond to the type of product, but each respective one of the at least two product records corresponds to a product of a different designation, selected from brand, manufacturer, and model, the different designations reflecting products corresponding to the at least two product records as distinct products, not objectively equal, but subjectively selected to be comparable by the first buyer; and the server programmed to match a first product record of the plurality of product records with one of the at least two purchase requests based on matching criteria; and the server further programmed to, after matching the first purchase request with the first product record and as a direct, immediate, causal effect thereof, remove the second purchase request from future matching consideration, thereby ensuring the second purchase request will not be matched with any product record of the plurality of product records. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An apparatus coordinating a product sale transaction, the apparatus comprising:
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a network carrying data; a server, corresponding to a host and operably connected to the network to host data corresponding to online transactions, a plurality of buyer computers connecting to the network, each buyer computer thereof corresponding to a buyer having a buyer identifier; a plurality of seller computers connecting to the network, each seller computer thereof corresponding to a seller having a seller identifier; each buyer computer further programmed to communicate to the server purchase requests, each comprising a product identifier, a price, shipping information, and corresponding buyer identifier; each seller computer of the plurality of seller computers further programmed to communicate to the server product records, each comprising a product identifier, a price, shipping information, and corresponding seller identifier; the server further programmed to receive, from a first buyer computer of the plurality of buyer computers, data linking a first purchase request of the purchase requests to a second purchase request of the purchase requests, both of the first and second purchase requests corresponding to the first buyer, for products subjectively comparative by the first buyer, and corresponding to a single purchase for which only one of the first and second purchase requests is to be satisfied; the server, further programmed to receive and link the first and second purchase requests, both the first and second purchase requests corresponding to products of a same type, the products having distinct differences selected from a manufacturer, brand name, and model; the server further programmed to identify a first product record of the product records, matching the first purchase request based on matching criteria; and the server, further programmed to remove for the first buyer the risk of making multiple matches for the first and second purchase requests by barring completion of all but one of the first and second purchase requests by removing automatically one of the first and second purchase requests immediately upon matching the other thereof. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification