Transaction system and methodology with inter-party communications capability

• US 7,930,209 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2009
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Chiaramonte
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Chiaramonte
• Inventors: Mayo, Anthony Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss; John G
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAMILTON, MATTHEW L
• Application Number:
  US12/398,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20090171792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/14.23
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, although not necessarily limited thereto, the system of the present invention may function in the context of an internet based commercial real estate brokering system. In such a system, potential buyers, sellers, lessors and lessees list and respond to offerings having characteristics as described in connection with the listings. For example, a potential landlord may, through interaction with the system of the present invention, list one or more buildings for lease. Communication and interaction may occur on an anonymous basis such that the potential landlord is unaware of the actual identity of the prospective tenant and vice versa until such time as one or the other or both decide to reveal their identity.

Claims

1. A method for processing a purchase transaction over a network comprising the steps of:

receiving by a server first user information from a first user, where the first user information comprises an identity of the first user;

receiving by the server a plurality of transaction descriptions;

generating by the server a unique email address for each of the plurality of transaction descriptions, where email transmissions sent to the unique email address are accessible by the first user;

generating by the server a transaction description page for each of the transaction descriptions, where the transaction description page includes a message soft button that initiates an email message to be sent to the unique email address associated with the transaction description and does not provide the identity of the first user;

storing by a storage device the received plurality of transaction descriptions, the transaction description page generated for each transaction description, and the unique email address for each transaction description;

receiving by the server a request from a second user for at least one of the plurality of transaction descriptions;

displaying at least one of the transaction description pages by the server to the second user, where the at least one displayed transaction description page corresponds to the requested transaction description;

receiving an email transmission by the server, where the email transmission is from the second user activating the message soft button and the email transmission is directed to the unique email address and does not provide identity of the second user;

receiving a request by the server from the first user to view at least one of the plurality of transaction descriptions;

generating by the server a display page comprising at least one transaction description hyper-text link and at least one message hyper-text link, where;

a) the at least one transaction description hypertext link corresponds to one transaction description page for a transaction description; and

b) the at least one message hyper-text link corresponds to one unique email address; and

transmitting by the server the display page to the first user;

receiving by the server a request to access at least one email transmission;

transmitting an email page by the server to the first user, where the email page comprises;

a) text of the email transmission; and

b) a message soft button that initiates an email message to be sent to the second user at the unique email address associated with the transaction description; and

receiving a second email transmission by the server,

wherein the first user and second user anonymously communicate until at least one user chooses to reveal their identity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of transaction descriptions is an offer for sale of at least one of a good and a service.

3. The method of claim 2, where the at least one of a good and a service comprises a real estate listing.

4. The method of claim 2, where the at least one of a good and a service comprises a retail product.

5. The method of claim 1, where:

a) at least one of the plurality of transaction descriptions is received from a first user;

b) each of the plurality of transaction descriptions is an offer for sale of at least one of a good and a service;

c) each of the plurality of transaction descriptions comprise identification indicia, price indicia and location indicia; and

d) each of the plurality of transaction descriptions is associated with the first user and the first user information.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing code that when executed by a processor performs a purchase transaction over a network, the computer readable medium comprising:

code for receiving by a server first user information from a first user, where the first user information comprises an identity of the first user;

code for receiving by the server a plurality of transaction descriptions;

code for generating by the server a unique email address for each of the plurality of transaction descriptions, where email transmissions sent to the unique email address are accessible by the first user;

code for generating by the server a transaction description page for each of the transaction descriptions, where the transaction description page includes a message soft button that initiates an email message to be sent to the unique email address associated with the transaction description and does not provide the identity of the first user;

code for storing to a storage device the received plurality of transaction descriptions, the transaction description page generated for each transaction description, and the unique email address for each transaction description;

code for receiving by the server a request from a second user for at least one of the plurality of transaction descriptions;

code for displaying at least one of the transaction description pages by the server to the second user, where the at least one displayed transaction description page corresponds to the requested transaction description;

code for receiving an email transmission by the server, where the email transmission is from the second user activating the message soft button and the email transmission is directed to the unique email address and does not provide identity of the second user;

code for receiving a request by the server from the first user to view at least one of the plurality of transaction descriptions;

code for generating by the server a display page comprising at least one transaction description hyper-text link and at least one message hyper-text link, where;

a) the at least one transaction description hypertext link corresponds to one transaction description page for a transaction description; and

b) the at least one message hyper-text link corresponds to one unique email address; and

code for transmitting by the server the display page to the first user;

code for receiving by the server a request to access at least one email transmission;

code for transmitting an email page by the server to the first user, where the email page comprises;

a) text of the email transmission; and

b) a message soft button that initiates an email message to be sent to the second user at the unique email address associated with the transaction description; and

code for receiving a second email transmission by the server, wherein the server provides for the first user and second user to anonymously communicate until at least one user chooses to reveal their identity.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the at least one of the plurality of transaction descriptions is an offer for sale of at least one of a good and a service.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, where the at least one of a good and a service comprises a real estate listing.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7, where the at least one of a good and a service comprises a retail product.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 6, where:

a) at least one of the plurality of transaction descriptions is received from a first user;

b) each of the plurality of transaction descriptions is an offer for sale of at least one of a good and a service;

c) each of the plurality of transaction descriptions comprise identification indicia, price indicia and location indicia; and

d) each of the plurality of transaction descriptions is associated with the first user and the first user information.

11. A system for processing a purchase transaction over a network comprising:

a server configured to;

receive first user information from a first user, where the first user information comprises an identity of the first user;

receive a plurality of transaction descriptions;

generate a unique email address for each of the plurality of transaction descriptions, where email transmissions sent to the unique email address are accessible by the first user;

generate a transaction description page for each of the transaction descriptions, where the transaction description page includes a message soft button that initiates an email message to be sent to the unique email address associated with the transaction description and does not provide the identity of the first user;

a storage device linked to the server and configured to;

store the received plurality of transaction descriptions, the transaction description page generated for each transaction description, and the unique email address for each transaction description;

said server configured to receive a request from a second user for at least one of the plurality of transaction descriptions;

an output device linked to the server configured to;

display at least one of the transaction description pages to the second user, where the at least one displayed transaction description page corresponds to the requested transaction description;

said server configured to;

receive an email transmission, where the email transmission is from the second user activating the message soft button and the email transmission is directed to the unique email address and does not provide identity of the second user;

receive a request from the first user to view at least one of the plurality of transaction descriptions;

generate a display page comprising at least one transaction description hyper-text link and at least one message hyper-text link, where;

a) the at least one transaction description hyper-text link corresponds to one transaction description page for a transaction description; and

b) the at least one message hyper-text link corresponds to one unique email address; and

transmit the display page to the first user;

receive a request to access at least one email transmission;

transmit an email page to the first user, where the email page comprises;

a) text of the email transmission; and

b) a message soft button that initiates an email message to be sent to the second user at the unique email address associated with the transaction description; and

receive a second email transmission, wherein the first user and second user to anonymously communicate until at least one user chooses to reveal their identity.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one of the plurality of transaction descriptions is an offer for sale of at least one of a good and a service.

13. The system of claim 12, where the at least one of a good and a service comprises a real estate listing.

14. The system of claim 12, where the at least one of a good and a service comprises a retail product.

15. The system of claim 11, where:

a) at least one of the plurality of transaction descriptions is received from a first user;

b) each of the plurality of transaction descriptions is an offer for sale of at least one of a good and a service;

c) each of the plurality of transaction descriptions comprise identification indicia, price indicia and location indicia; and

d) each of the plurality of transaction descriptions is associated with the first user and the first user information.

16. A method for processing a purchase transaction over a network comprising the steps of:

receiving by a server first user information from a first user, where the first user information comprises an identity of the first user;

receiving by the server a transaction description;

generating by the server a unique email address for the transaction description, where email transmissions sent to the unique email address are accessible by the first user;

generating by the server a transaction description page for the transaction description, where the transaction description page includes a message soft button that initiates an email message to be sent to the unique email address associated with the transaction description and does not identify the first user;

storing by a storage device the received transaction description, the transaction description page generated for the transaction description, and the unique email address for each transaction description;

receiving by the server a request from a second user for the transaction description;

displaying the transaction description page by the server to the second user;

receiving an email transmission by the server, where the email transmission is from the second user activating the message soft button, the email transmission is directed to the unique email address and does not provide identity of the second user;

receiving a request by the server from the first user to view the transaction description;

generating by the server a listing page containing the transaction description and at least one message hyper-text link, where the at least one message hyper-text link corresponds to a unique email address;

transmitting by the server a display page to the first user;

receiving by the server a request to access at least one email transmission;

transmitting an email page by the server to the first user, where the email page comprises;

a) text of the email transmission; and

b) a message soft button that initiates an email message to be sent to the second user at the unique email address associated with the transaction description; and

receiving a second email transmission by the server, wherein the server provides for the first user and second user to anonymously communicate until at least one users chooses to reveal their identity.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the transaction descriptions is an offer for sale of at least one of a good and a service.

18. The method of claim 17, where the at least one of a good and a service comprises a real estate listing.

19. The method of claim 17, where the at least one of a good and a service comprises a retail product.

20. The method of claim 16, where:

a) the plurality of the transaction description is received from a first user;

b) the transaction descriptions is an offer for sale of at least one of a good and a service;

c) the transaction description comprise identification indicia, price indicia and location indicia; and

d) the transaction description is associated with the first user and the first user information.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing code that when executed by a processor causes a purchase transaction over a network, the computer readable medium comprising:

code for receiving by a server first user information from a first user, where the first user information comprises an identity of the first user;

code for receiving by the server a transaction description;

code for generating by the server a unique email address for the transaction description, where email transmissions sent to the unique email address are accessible by the first user;

code for generating by the server a transaction description page for the transaction description, where the transaction description page includes a message soft button that initiates an email message to be sent to the unique email address associated with the transaction description and does not identify the first user;

code for storing to a storage device the received transaction description, the transaction description page generated for the transaction description, and the unique email address for each transaction description;

code for receiving by the server a request from a second user for the transaction description;

code for displaying the transaction description page by the server to the second user;

code for receiving an email transmission by the server, where the email transmission is from the second user activating the message soft button, the email transmission is directed to the unique email address and does not provide identity of the second user;

code for receiving a request by the server from the first user to view the transaction description;

code for generating by the server a listing page containing the transaction description and at least one message hyper-text link, where the at least one message hyper-text link corresponds to a unique email address;

code for transmitting by the server the display page to the first user;

code for receiving by the server a request to access at least one email transmission;

code for transmitting an email page by the server to the first user, where the email page comprises;

a) text of the email transmission; and

b) a message soft button that initiates an email message to be sent to the second user at the unique email address associated with the transaction description; and

code for receiving a second email transmission by the server, wherein the server provides for the first user and second user to anonymously communicate until at least one user chooses to reveal their identity.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the transaction descriptions is an offer for sale of at least one of a good and a service.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, where the at least one of a good and a service comprises a real estate listing.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22, where the at least one of a good and a service comprises a retail product.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 21, where:

a) the transaction descriptions is received from a first user;

b) the transaction descriptions is an offer for sale of at least one of a good and a service;

c) the transaction description comprise identification indicia, price indicia and location indicia; and

d) the transaction descriptions is associated with the first user and the first user information.

26. A system for processing a purchase transaction over a network comprising:

a server configured to;

receive first user information from a first user, where the first user information comprises an identity of the first user;

receive a transaction description;

generate a unique email address for the transaction description, where email transmissions sent to the unique email address are accessible by the first user;

generate a transaction description page for the transaction description, where the transaction description page includes a message soft button that initiates an email message to be sent to the unique email address associated with the transaction description and does not identify the first user;

a storage device linked to the server configured to;

store the received transaction description, the transaction description page generated for the transaction description, and the unique email address for each transaction description;

said server further configured to;

receive a request from a second user for the transaction description;

an output device linked to the server configured to;

the display the transaction description page to the second user;

said server configured to;

receive an email transmission, where the email transmission is from the second user activating the message soft button, the email transmission is directed to the unique email address and does not provide identity of the second user;

receive a request from the first user to view the transaction description;

generate a listing page containing the transaction description and at least one message hyper-text link, where the at least one message hyper-text link corresponds to a unique email address;

transmit the display page to the first user;

receive a request to access at least one email transmission;

transmit an email page to the first user, where the email page comprises;

a) text of the email transmission; and

b) a message soft button that initiates an email message to be sent to the second user at the unique email address associated with the transaction description; and

receive a second email transmission, wherein the the first user and second user to anonymously communicate until at least one user chooses to reveal their identity.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the transaction descriptions is an offer for sale of at least one of a good and a service.

28. The system of claim 27, where the at least one of a good and a service comprises a real estate listing.

29. The system of claim 27, where the at least one of a good and a service comprises a retail product.

30. The system of claim 26, where:

a) the transaction description is received from a first user;

b) the transaction description is an offer for sale of at least one of a good and a service;

c) the transaction description comprise identification indicia, price indicia and location indicia; and

d) the transaction description is associated with the first user and the first user information.