Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080201268 | INVOICELESS TRADING AND SETTLEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - Methods and systems consistent with the present invention overcome the shortcomings of existing trading systems by providing an invoiceless trading system that creates incentives for customers to pay suppliers within a predetermined period of time, such as a settlement period. Specifically, the invoiceless trading system enables a customer to obtain a discount on orders placed with suppliers in return for an immediate payment (e.g., within 24 hours) by the customer. The supplier receives payment within the predetermined period of time, and the customer receives additional cash benefits by providing an early payment to the supplier. To communicate with and transfer funds between customers and suppliers, the invoiceless trading system may use an electronic gateway and a settlement bank. In addition to creating an incentive to embrace e-commerce, both customers and suppliers avoid the need to manually process orders and use invoices to complete transactions. | 08-21-2008 |
20080208763 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR FACILITATING COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING PERCENTAGE OWNERSHIPS IN PROPERTIES - A method is provided that includes maintaining a database including information associated with a real-estate portfolio of an entity, where the real-estate portfolio includes one or more real-estate properties. The method also includes receiving selection of a property in the portfolio for offering one or more percentage ownerships thereof. An offering of one or more percentage ownerships of the respective property is initiated in response to the selection, initiating an offering including automatically notifying one or more other entities of the offering. And commitments are received from one or more other entities regarding respective percentage ownerships of the property to thereby facilitate the entity and one or more other entities concluding a percentage-ownership transaction regarding the property. As provided, the offering is retractable by the entity until the other entities commit to purchase, in the aggregate, a minimum percentage ownership of the respective property. | 08-28-2008 |
20080215493 | Method and system for negotiation - A system and method for negotiating over a network, comprises a selector for selecting a random length of time for negotiation; a receiving component, operably connected to said selector, for receiving an offer to purchase over a network; and a purchase fulfillment component, operably connected to said receiving component, wherein said purchase fulfillment component completes a purchase if said offer to purchase over a network matches or exceeds a threshold criterion and/or the elapsed amount of time for negotiation does not exceed said random length of time. A maximum negotiation iteration approach may be used to allow up to a predetermined number of negotiation proposals. A maximum negotiation time frame approach may be used to allow up to a predetermined period of elapsed time for negotiation proposals. The maximum negotiation iteration approach and the maximum negotiation time frame approach may be used together or with a variety of negotiation approaches. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215494 | Online music and other copyrighted work search and licensing system - Search and licensing systems and method for copyrighted works, such as music tracks, images, and video. The system may comprise a database that stores data regarding copyrighted works. The system may also comprise a search engine for allowing a user to search the database for copyrighted works. The system also comprises a licensing module that implements licensing negotiations between the user and a copyright licensor for a selected copyrighted work selected by the user. The licensing module may send an electronic quote request via email to the licensor in response from a license request from the user. The email may contain an activation link to a web site at which the licensor can enter a quote for a license to use the copyrighted work in accordance with use details input by the user. Also disclosed are systems and methods for automating licensing negotiations for copyrighted works detected and recognized in uploaded files (such as video files) to be distributed via the Internet or other communication networks. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215495 | Method and system for reserving future purchases of goods and services - A method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services using plural electronic options with associated option fees. The plural electronic options include a hierarchy of electronic options and plural different types electronic options terms. | 09-04-2008 |
20080228656 | Method for implementing an enhanced auction via a communications network - A method of selectively implementing a live auction option in a conventional timed electronic auction. The host-server monitors bidding activity in a timed auction to detect an indication of competitive bidding. If competitive bidding is detected, a “live auction” is triggered. The client-users are provided information regarding how to participate in the live auction, which may be held immediately or at a set time in the future. Preferably, only those users who submitted a bid during the final stages of the timed auction will be allowed to participate. The live auction is not conducted by a human auctioneer. Rather, it is conducted by a software-implemented process. However, all bidders are given warnings when the auction is about to close and sufficient time to submit additional bids. These warnings can mimic a human auctioneer, such as web-posted “going once,” “going twice” calls. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228657 | Apparatus and process facilitating customer-driven sales of products having multiple configurations - The present invention provides an apparatus and process for facilitating customer-driven sales of products having multiple configurations, preferably automobiles and trucks. The apparatus is a computer network comprising a server with a product database thereon, an intermediary subsystem, and a seller subsystem. The server, intermediary subsystem, and seller subsystem function together and communicate with each other to allow an intermediary, on behalf of a customer, to configure a feasible product, transmit a request for quote (RFQ) to a target set of sellers in the customer's geographic area, receive quotes from the target sellers in response to the RFQ, and transmit the customer's acceptance of one of the quotes to the appropriate seller. The apparatus may also include a customer subsystem by which the customer may configure their own feasible product and transmit their feasible product information to the intermediary. The intermediary subsystem can optionally include a product database thereon which the intermediary can use to configure a feasible product without communicating with the server. The process allows an intermediary to configure a feasible product, transmit a request for quote (RFQ) to a target set of sellers in the customer's geographic area, receive quotes from the target sellers in response to the RFQ, and transmit the customer's acceptance of one of the quotes to the appropriate seller. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228658 | DEAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM - A method and system for identifying deals to facilitate travel planning is provided. In one embodiment, a deal identification system identifies deals on travel items and presents those deals to a person in a way that facilitates travel planning and travel shopping. The deal identification system may include an entity attributes service component that provides attributes of entities associated with the items. The deal identification system may also include a historical price service component that provides historical pricing information for the items. The deal identification system may also include a deal component that receives a criterion that defines a deal based on a combination of attributes of entities, historical pricing information, and current pricing information and identifies those items that match the criterion as deals. | 09-18-2008 |
20080235146 | System and method for affirming over the counter derivative trades - Methods and systems that provide a post-trade affirmation and messaging service. This service allows parties to affirm trades with their counterparties prior to processing. The addition of this affirmation layer helps ensure that all the key economic details of the trade including allocations, reference entity, payment dates etc. are agreed to between both counterparties immediately after execution. va-21 1431 | 09-25-2008 |
20080235147 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATION OF SHIPPING FROM MULTIPLE MERCHANDISE VENDORS - The invention relates to an improved system and method for providing a service that coordinates shipping from a plurality of merchandise vendors by combining the shipping requirements from a plurality of physical locations into one transaction. The present invention coordinates shipping from a plurality of merchandise vendors in order to streamline shipping, allowing shippers to make fewer trips by combining deliveries, thus reducing costs. In addition, this invention enables separating the cost of shipping from the cost of the product, allowing the consumer to be concerned solely with the product quality and price. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235148 | Online Dynamic Evaluation and Search for Products and Services - In one aspect, computer implemented dynamic evaluation is based on feature tags. As will be described in more detail below, a buyer may be interested in certain features of a product (e.g., color, material, design, lining, warranty, delivery terms, etc.) and the different features are described using feature tags. For custom products, the buyer's specification may be described at least in part by feature tags. Each feature tag may include one or more standardized keywords. The computer-based system can use the feature tag representation of a buyer's order to both search for appropriate products (i.e., appropriate sellers of the product requested by the buyer), and then subsequently to allow the seller to review the performance of the selected buyer. Over time, each seller will receive different reviews from different buyers. These reviews can be stored and the data used to better predict which sellers will be appropriate for a future buyer request. Buyers can also be evaluated and reviewed to allow similar screening by the sellers. The use of standardized keywords establishes a common vocabulary and rating system among the community of buyers and sellers. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235149 | Methods and Apparatus for Agreement-Based Automated Service Provisioning - Techniques are disclosed for automated provisioning of resources to fulfill a service agreement. For example, a technique for use by a service provider for automatically provisioning one or more resources based on at least one service agreement offer of a service client comprises the following steps/operations. The at least one service agreement offer is obtained. At least one implementation plan template is obtained. A provisioning description is then automatically derived in accordance with the service agreement offer and the implementation plan template, wherein the provisioning description is usable for configuring one or more resources such that a service may be provided to the service client. | 09-25-2008 |
20080243706 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR RETRIEVING DATA STORED IN A DATABASE - A computer-implemented, transaction-making, municipal bond trading system having a capability to conduct a private electronic auction of bid wanteds between a central brokers' broker and multiple prospective remote bidders and to maintain a reference database of accurate individual bond lot descriptions and identifications, including CUSIP (trademark) numbers. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243707 | EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - When product equipment is ordered, order list data configured to include an agreement ID and a product code is transmitted to a slip management server of a distribution company. The slip management server links a unit number to the product code, and stores the unit number and product code along with an agreement ID and status information indicating that the order has been placed in an equipment management table. In response to the order action, information that uniquely identifies the product is stored in the equipment management table. | 10-02-2008 |
20080255996 | System and Method for Exchanging Assets in a Network - A first negotiation ( | 10-16-2008 |
20080255997 | ENTERPRISE INTEGRATED BUSINESS PROCESS SCHEMA - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for exchanging process model data between process authoring tools in a process management system. A set of information requirements for exchanging the process model data between process authoring tools using different process model exchange formats within the process management system is identified. A definition of a common process model exchange format is extended to include a set of common objects using the set of information requirements to form a common process model exchange format. The set of common objects are supported between a source process authoring tool and a target process authoring tool in the process authoring tools. An output file is generated using the common process model exchange format. The common process model exchange format is compatible with a process model exchange format used by the target process authoring tool. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255998 | Construction Asset Backed Securities Method With Pud Auction Through Internet - The present invention is relating to the construction asset backed securities method through Internet, wherein above the method comprising the following steps: —registering developers, enterprises (Special Purpose Company; SPC) and financial institutions accessed to the PUD auction server as main bodies for development project; —proposing the project land for auction received the consents of enrolled landowners within the subject districts, after determining the project boundary with the Optimal Zoning Program in GIS fold of the Geography and Image server (S | 10-16-2008 |
20080255999 | Method and System for Effecting Straight-Through- Processing of Trades of Various Financial Instruments - A Straight-Through-Processing (STP) trading platform provides a fully electronic and seamless solution to all substantially aspects of the trading cycle for fixed income instruments and other financial instruments. In an exemplary embodiment, all participants to a trade transaction have access to computer software that facilitates trade order management, trade order generation, trade execution (including electronic axes), trade allocation, allocation acknowledgement, trade confirmation, and finally acquisition of settlement instructions. In said exemplary embodiment, the STP trading platform includes computer software modules including at least an account management module and an electronic trading module to handle the various stages of executing a trade, confirming the trade, and facilitating settlement of the trade. | 10-16-2008 |
20080270313 | Outsourced Service Level Agreement Provisioning Management System and Method - An outsourced service level agreement (SLA) deliverable management method includes configuring SLA client and secondary SLA provider master data, procuring a secondary SLA provider provision services network, administering a secondary SLA provider human resource network, processing an SLA client provisioning requirement, processing an SLA provisioning service voucher, and processing payment of an SLA provisioning work order. This Abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an Abstract that allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain subject matter of the technical disclosure. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270314 | INTEGRATED APPROACH IN AN END-TO-END PROCESS FOR MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS - Disclosed is a method, system and service for developing an end-to-end process for managing acquisitions including, developing strategies and identify an appropriate company for acquisition, managing a transaction and negotiating a deal, integrating an acquired acquisition, and tracking performance against defined business case targets and milestones. | 10-30-2008 |
20080275822 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING SPONSORSHIPS - A system and method for managing sponsorships by a sponsor, in which the party requesting the sponsorship requests to use content owned and protected by the sponsor, such as trademarks, logos, and copyrighted material. An embodiment of the method involves receiving, at a computer network site, a request for sponsorship from a requester and responding to the request by sending either an approval or a rejection. If an approval is sent, the method further involves providing the requestor with access to content of the sponsor through the site. As part of providing this access, the method can involve requiring the requestor to accept an agreement posted on the site. The method can also include monitoring the requestor's actual use of the content. | 11-06-2008 |
20080281760 | Service Negotiation - Embodiments of a method for negotiating a service include enabling a first user to submit a set of information for establishing a service on behalf of another person, the set of information prohibited from being submitted by the first user unless the set of information completely satisfies criteria for the set of information that is needed for establishing the service in accordance with operating standards for establishing the service. The method further includes, after submission of the set of information by the first user, notifying a second user of the submission and enabling the second user to review the set of information and update the set of information with additional information regarding establishment of the service. Other methods and systems are also provided. | 11-13-2008 |
20080294564 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRICE MATCHING ON FUNDS TRANSFERS - Systems and methods for performing financial transfers. In some instances, the methods include providing a staged transaction system that includes at least two stages. Quotes are accessed for the first and for the second stage of the transaction. One quote associated with a stage of the transaction is selected and used to consummate the financial transfer. Other methods include marketing financial transfer transactions. Such marketing can include providing a flexible rate fixing mechanism; monitoring a financial transaction market; and fixing a rate based at least in part on monitoring the financial transaction market where the flexible rate fixing mechanism provides access to the fixed rate. | 11-27-2008 |
20080301058 | Method and system for negotiating digital media licenses and distributing digital media - A method for uploading digital media and negotiating licenses, includes receiving, from a licensor, media and associated data and storing the received media and associated data in a database, generating a contract based on input from the licensor, for licensing the media to a licensee, storing the generated contract in the database of the system, and allowing the licensor and the licensee to negotiate the generated contract utilizing the system by using client applications to communicate with the system. | 12-04-2008 |
20080313089 | Multiple Option Auction Method and System - The present invention relates generally to a method and system for conducting online auctions. It has particular application in conducting business over a network of computers such as the Internet, for establishing materials or service supply or sales contracts, agreements for allocation of resources, etc. In particular, the invention relates to the use of multiple options within an online auction scenario. In one form, the invention provides a method for conducting an online auction event to establish a contract, the event conducted between a controlling party and at least two parties from a prescribed panel of qualified competing bidding parties, each competing bidding party operating a bidding computer, the online auction event including at least two alternative contract options potentially acceptable to said controlling party, the online auction event conducted by receiving bids from respective bidding computers, automatically comparing, during the online auction event, the respective bids and the respective contract options involving those bids, and selecting from said alternative contract options to award the contract on the basis of the comparisons. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313090 | Interaction-management methods and platform for client-agent interaction-related environments - A platform for enabling collaboration of components of a distributed interaction-related loosely-coupled system, and a method thereof are provided. The platform includes a communication medium and interaction-related business services capable of communicating via the communication medium using an interaction management protocol. The platform further includes one or more business process management services to create one or more business flows that utilize one or more of said business services | 12-18-2008 |
20080313091 | METHOD AND ELECTRONIC PLATFORM FOR ENABLING AND HOSTING A MARKET FOR RESEARCH, AND A TAXONOMY METHOD FOR SPECIFYING RESEARCH - An operational method and an electronic market platform for hosting a market place for investment research products that have been classified according to a species of research based upon a buyer-side ex-ante procurement process. Research providers are able to provide a range of prices for each species or class of equity research service provided and fund managers (research consumers) are able to place purchaser orders via the electronic market platform in a desired range according to a relative negotiating position. A research procurement “hub” enables fund managers (research consumers) to consolidate their purchases for internal and external negotiations based upon and subject to market forces. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313092 | Computerized system and method permitting a buyer to interactively barter/negotiate and arrangement to make a purchase from at least one seller - A computer implemented process, associated storage medium having program code, and system, for bartering for at least one term relating to the purchase of a product by interacting with a motional graphic displayed on a screen of a client-device. The process includes: (a) displaying a product indicia for each of a plurality of the products; (b) displaying a first pre-recorded motional graphic inviting a user to barter for one of said plurality of the products; (c) displaying offer-request indicia permitting entry by the user of data in connection with the at least one term; (d) in response to entry of first data, using a user interface for the client-device: i) an acceptance price, having been determined for the product by taking into account at least a Low Price set for the product, is displayed; ii) if said first data entered is less than said acceptance price, display a Counter-Offer value, having been determined using a Tier level value associated with the user, along with a second pre-recorded motional graphic. Additionally, if said first data entered is greater-than or equal-to said acceptance price, display a third pre-recorded motional graphic communicating offer acceptance. The first and second pre-recorded motional graphics preferably comprise a clip of a character communicating a respective response. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313093 | Electronic business transaction system - A center site is disposed to intervene in a business transaction achieved through a network. The center site includes an open business information database in which open business information received from member sites connected to the network is accumulated to be opened to the sites and a notarization database to keep therein contents of contracts of transactions between the sites. The center site receives a transaction request from a transaction partner site in accordance with the open business information and notifies the request to an information supply site associated therewith. The center site intervenes in a transaction resultantly accomplished between the information supply site and the transaction partner site and conducts a notarization process for the contents of contract for the transaction to accumulate the contract in a notarization database. | 12-18-2008 |
20080319916 | Method and Apparatus for Cashless Online Marketplace - A cashless online marketplace for the transaction of goods and services. A computer implemented method of acquiring membership, donating and acquiring goods/services via the Internet are described. A computer-implemented method for conducting a cashless online transaction is described, generally comprising the steps of a donor posting an item for donation at a sum of points, an acquirer offering to acquire the item, the donor accepting the acquirer's offer to acquire the item, deducting the sum of points from an account of the acquirer, transferring the item from the donor to the acquirer, notifying the acquirer that the item has been transferred, the acquirer responding to the notification that the item has been transferred by either accepting or disputing the cashless online transaction, and closing the cashless online transaction. Steps wherein the acquirer identifies the item to acquire, the acquirer specifying a transfer option for transfer of the item from the donor to the acquirer from one or more transfer options provided by the donor. An acquirer can respond within a specified period and dispute the transaction. A dispute may result in loss of points in the acquirer's account or the donor's account, or a demerit accruing in the donor's membership record. Upon a specified number of demerits a donor can be prevented from further donating items at the cashless online marketplace. Apparatus, system and medium embodiments are disclosed. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319917 | Bidding for position placement in a search result on time-limited resources - A method, computer program product, and system are provided for bidding for position placement in a search result on time-limited resources. For example, an embodiment of the method includes receiving a bid for position placement of the time-limited resource in the search result, calculating the bid based on historical data of the time-limited resource, and ordering the search result based on the bid and relevance between a search term and attributes of the time-limited resource. In receiving the bid, the method can vary an amount of the bid for one or more time periods of interest, thus allowing flexibility for an owner/manager of the resource to offer bids for various time periods. The calculation of the bid is based on historical data of the resource, which can assess a likelihood that a consumer will click on a link associated with the resource, inquire further information on the resource, or book the resource. In turn, the search result can order one or more results from the search primarily on relevance between a number of similarities between inquiry and characteristics of the resource and secondarily on bid amount. One advantage of this method, among others, is that the method provides relevancy in a bid for placement advertising model and efficiently facilitates the bidding process for advertisers with multiple resources. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319918 | Methods and systems for generating product offers over electronic network systems - Methods and systems are provided for advertising and providing product offers. Such methods and systems may be implemented for increasing, for example, advertising revenue or the amount of time spent by individuals viewing a Web site. According to one implementation, a method is provided that includes the steps of receiving information regarding products offered at no cost from one or more vendors, indicating, on a Web site, the availability of at least one of the products for a transient period of time, which is unpredictable by individuals viewing the Web site, and providing at least one of the individuals viewing the Web site with at least one of the products, at a price equal to or less than a delivery cost associated with delivering the at least one product to the at least one individual. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319919 | ELECTRONIC INQUIRY LISTS FOR FINANCIAL PRODUCTS - Inquiry lists for financial interests are submitted, negotiated and traded between investors and dealers over a network or networks. An investor interface for display is provided to an investor. A dealer interface for display is provided to a plurality of dealers. The investor can create an inquiry list via the investor interface containing a plurality of inquiries for a corresponding plurality of different financial interests and can send a message containing the inquiry list to selected dealer(s) where an established relationship exists between said investor and dealers. The dealer(s) can provide respective responses to the message, the response containing respective offers/bids on the plurality of inquiries contained in the inquiry list via the dealer interface. The respective offers/bids are displayed in the inquiry list on the investor interface. The investor may then select one of the respective dealer offers/bids for each inquiry list line item via the investor interface. | 12-25-2008 |
20090006265 | Systems and methods for real-time media placement - A media reservation system and method for secure, dependable, real-time reservation of media space on a plurality of media distribution channels. The system and method include transporting media to the location from which the media will enter a media distribution channel and the placement of the media in the media distribution channel. This permits media to be placed easily from any place in the world to any other place in the world. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006266 | ELECTRONIC BLOCK TRADING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A system and method are described and disclosed that are used for effecting large block trades of securities in an automated and anonymous matter in which fair pricing is carried out using features of the NBBO. The automated trading the system and method also will carry out negotiations to effect a trade in certain circumstances, though the preferred method of effecting trades is by automated trading. However, regardless of the trading method, anonymity of the trading counterparties is preserved. The system and method also tests the NBBO for each of the traded securities to ensure it is valid before an automated trade may take place. | 01-01-2009 |
20090012902 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A SUPPLEMENTARY PRODUCT SALE AT A POINT-OF-SALE TERMINAL - A POS terminal provided in accordance with the present invention receives the items in a purchase. Typically, each item will have a bar code that is scanned by a bar code scanner, and the POS terminal in turn receives, from the bar code scanner, signals representative of the items. The POS terminal then determines an upsell based on the items, and a rounded price that the customer may pay for both the items and the upsell. The rounded price may be determined by rounding up the purchase price to a predetermined multiple, such as to the next higher dollar amount. The customer is provided with an offer to exchange the items and the upsell(s) for the rounded price, and the customer in turn responds to the offer. If the response indicates acceptance of the offer, the items and the upsell are exchanged for the rounded price. If necessary, the POS terminal makes appropriate adjustments to stored indications of available quantities of items to reflect that the items and upsell(s) have been sold. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012903 | ONLINE EXCHANGE FOR INTERNET AD MEDIA - Presented are embodiments of methods and systems that create an open ad exchange for online advertising by creating and running a premium ad exchange to provide pricing control to both publishers and advertisers. Techniques are presented where advertisement campaigns are matched with ad spot for sale on relevant pages based on a bid-ask price scheme. Further, techniques are presented for allowing publishers of advertisements to still realize revenue when the exchange cannot sell an impression at an asking price by sending that impression to a backup tag. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012904 | NON-LIQUID ASSET EXCHANGE - Methods and systems are disclosed for providing an open exchange for non-liquid assets, such as high-end collectibles, valuable works of art, and real estate. Methods are provided for providing listings and handling purchase offers for assets which are not presently for sale. Additional methods are disclosed for using such offers as evidence of the value of the related assets. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012905 | Electronic Advertising System - Publisher information, such as information about available advertising space, may be received from publishers. Advertisers may provide requests associated with a print ad and receive a list of publishers with available print ad space. The list of publishers may include at least one publisher having a specified relationship with the advertiser. The advertiser may provide an offer for placing the print ad in a publication of one or more publishers on the list and may be inhibited from placing an offer for the print ad with publishers having a specified relationship with the advertiser. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012906 | AUCTION OF MULTIPLE HETEROGENEOUS ITEMS AMONG MULTIPLE BUYERS AND SELLERS USING SOFTWARE AGENTS LINKED VIA A COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A method, system and computer program product for conducting an online auction of a plurality of heterogeneous items between a plurality of selling and potential purchasing parties. The method includes the steps of accepting an offer in respect of an item, accepting one or more subsequent offers that is/are preferable to a previously accepted offer, and rejecting the previously accepted offer. While the offer/s is/are binding on a party making the offer, acceptance of the offer/s is/are not binding on a party accepting the offer. Classes of “seller strategies”, for offering items to potential purchasing parties, and “buyer strategies”, to decide which offers to accept, are also disclosed. As a result of the interaction of the buyer and seller strategies, the auction mechanism converges to an allocation of items to buyers at particular prices and assists in discovering a free and fair competitive equilibrium price. The auction is performed using terminals connected via a communications network and software-based agents hosted on the terminals, wherein the software-based agents act on behalf of the participating parties. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012907 | BOND ISSUE RISK MANAGEMENT - The present invention provides an auction system that allows bond issue sales to be offered in an open and transparent manner, wherein, a certain percentage (up to 100%) of bonds in a bond issue can be offered to qualified bidders at a “buy now” pre-auction price, set by an issuer and/or lead manager. Investors can be allowed to “bid some bonds out of the auction process” and thus guarantee their allocation and also allow bidders to participate in an open auction for other bonds. Bonds to be offered in a bond issue can include a subset of pre-auction price bonds and a subset of auction price bonds. The pre-auction price bonds are offered to pre-auction bidders at a pre-auction price, and auction bonds are generally sold to the highest bidder. Pre-auction sales can serve as a catalyst for generating enthusiasm for an associated bond issue auction. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012908 | Apparatus and method for facilitating transactions - An apparatus and method for facilitating a transaction, including a memory device for storing information regarding at least one of a good, a product, and a service, and a processor for processing at least one of a request for information regarding the at least one of a good, a product, and a service, and at least one of a bid and an offer to purchase the at least one of a good, a product, and a service. The processor processes at least one of the request for information and the at least one of a bid and an offer in conjunction with information contained in the memory device, and further wherein the processor generates a transaction report, wherein the transaction report contains at least one of the requested information and a response to the at least one of a bid and an offer, and further wherein the response contains at least one of an acceptance and a rejection of the at least one of a bid and an offer. | 01-08-2009 |
20090018965 | ECOMMERCE PRICE MATCH SYSTEM - A system for a customer to obtain price matching from a vendor in an ecommerce transaction. A first browser screen is presented to the customer offering a product of the vendor. This includes information about the product, with an offer price, and a price match request control that the customer may operate. Upon operation of the price match request control, a second browser screen is presented that includes a price match dialog form. This includes a price entry control for the customer to enter counter price data and a competitor entry control for the customer to enter competing vendor data. The counter price data and competing vendor data are analyzed for acceptability of the ecommerce transaction. If the vendor accepts the ecommerce transaction, a third browser screen is presented that includes an unit price having the counter price data entered by the customer. | 01-15-2009 |
20090024534 | ONLINE MARKETPLACE FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - A method for providing an internet network based marketplace for intellectual property assets, comprises the steps of: identifying and production of a list of intellectual property assets which a poster wishes to license or sell, and making the list of intellectual property assets accessible to the network in a controlled format with marketing information. This intellectual property is presented to viewers interested in licensing or acquiring one or more items on the list of intellectual property. The marketplace can provide for confidentiality of viewers until they elect to establish contact with the poster. | 01-22-2009 |
20090030847 | PERSONAL DATA SUBMISSION - Included are systems and methods for personal data submission. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving data related to an item, the item being associated with a listed price and receiving data related to a user requested price for the item. Some embodiments include determining whether a first seller accepts the user requested price for the item and in response to a determination that the first seller accepts the user requested price, sending an offer to the user to purchase the item at the user requested price. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030848 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ONLINE SALES NEGOTIATIONS - An online negotiations system including hardware and software, may be configured to direct or outsource online negotiations, in real or near-real time, for goods and services listed and described on an online site. Outsourcing of negotiations may be managed to provide an agent to negotiation on behalf of a seller with respect to a listed item, wherein agents are typically managed and allocated independently of sellers by an online negotiations management system including an outsourcing management module having a central queue. | 01-29-2009 |
20090037341 | Method and System for On-line Sales - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and software methods employed by a web-based system that facilitates business to business buyer and seller interaction, and more particularly to a system to fix a long-standing disconnect between corporate buyers and sellers that helps manufacturers engage with prospective business customers by providing “self-service pricing” for their products and services. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of providing electronic price quotes includes receiving a request to prepare a price quote on a product or service offered by a seller; preparing a price quote for the product or service; communicating the price quote for approval; receiving approval of the price quote; and communicating the approved price quote in response to the request to prepare the price quote to a source of the request and to at least an approver of the price quote. | 02-05-2009 |
20090043710 | Enabling a software service provider to automatically obtain software service - Methods, and apparatus, enabling an originating service provider to automatically obtain from a 3 | 02-12-2009 |
20090048980 | Method for maximizing a negotiation result - The present invention generally relates to a system and method for maximizing a negotiation result in which certain conditions and criteria must be met before commencing negotiations. The present invention also provides a seller with evaluation tools to assess the buyer's needs and to determine whether the seller is in a strong position to negotiate a favorable deal once the conditions and criteria are met. In one embodiment, the evaluation tools include a method for calculating the impact of a price discount on the seller's commission. The method of the present invention can be implemented on computer software or through an Internet website. | 02-19-2009 |
20090063356 | Consensus Determination Framework - Methods and apparatuses enable determination of consensus between parties to a business transaction. A receiving party of the transaction has a delivery expectation, and a supplying party has a proposed delivery. The delivery expectation and the proposed delivery are represented in transaction data. A consensus determination framework receives the transaction data and dynamically selects one or more consensus parameters to evaluate the transaction data for consensus between the delivery expectation and the proposed delivery. The consensus parameter may be a consensus rule defining a consensus function to perform on the transaction data, and/or a consensus profile indicating acceptable ranges. The consensus framework generates a consensus report to indicate whether consensus is found, and/or what consensus exists, in accordance with the consensus parameter. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063357 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC TARIFF NEGOTIATION - A method of and system for providing opportunistic internet connections is disclosed. The method and system receive a request from a first electronic device having network account with a first entity to negotiate a connection for a second electronic device; determine a network account associated with the second electronic device; and automatically connect the second electronic device in accordance with one or more rules including determination of a tariff for making the connection. | 03-05-2009 |
20090070273 | DATABASE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING GOODS - An online database method, comprising marking a plurality of gemstones with respective identifiers; maintaining a database linking the identifiers with at least a portion of at least one of a transaction history and a subjective description of the plurality of gemstones; updating the database with an economic value based on transactions involving respective gemstones; determining normalization parameters for extracting objective parameters determinative of value for each of a plurality of gemstones from the respective subjective description of the gemstones; and predicting a market value for a respective gemstone based on the subjective description of the respective gemstone, the normalization parameters, and the transaction history of a plurality of gemstones. | 03-12-2009 |
20090076968 | Transaction gateway - A computerized method for online trading of options is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an interface screen that shows market data and market data analysis useful to conduct a transaction and allows a user to input various transaction parameters, wherein the market data and market data analysis shown on the interface screen are continuously updated; dynamically receiving selected transaction parameters for an option from the user; calculating an option premium for the option based on the selected transaction parameters and the continuously updated market data; providing the dynamically calculated option premium to the user; receiving an on-line offer for purchasing the option from the user; and presenting the received offer to a seller of the option for acceptance or rejection. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076969 | System and method for deployment and financing of a security system - A method is provided to itemize, install, finance and monitor a security system on a campus. A behavioral recognition training program for administration and staff is provided. A set of financing options is provided that minimizes or eliminates the burden placed on the school district for payment and maintenance of the security system. A computer system and network interconnects the campus to an application server and to a wide area network controller. The application server includes applications to implement the method including a site survey application, an engineering application, a financial assessment application, an inventory application, a project management application and a training application. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076970 | System and method for sending actionable offer alerts in electronic messages - Methods, systems and apparatus for communicating an advertisement offer. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method includes receiving an offer to place an advertisement in a publication; generating an electronic message including one or more items of information corresponding to the offer; including in the electronic message an actionable link associated with the offer, wherein the actionable link can be selected to respond to the offer; and transmitting the electronic message to an offer recipient. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076971 | AUTOMATED LENDING SYSTEM WITH AUTOMATIC DIVERSIFICATION AND CONTRACT EXECUTION AND SPONSORSHIPS - In the disclosed computerized lending systems, terms of contracts are coordinated between a plurality of parties, each of which operate party client systems to interface to the electronic transaction processing system, including a database of transactions representing contracts, parties to the contracts and at least essential terms of the contracts. Signaling to each of the parties can be done without identifying each party to the other, including throughout execution of the contract. The logic to coordinate can be contract term negotiating logic and/or auction logic and the binding contract can be a loan contract, with the loans being obtained through an auction process directly between lender and borrower. A lender might have a standing order that can be filled with loans to multiple borrowers, to provide diversification. Contracts and loans can be represented by sponsors, wherein a sponsor might introduce a borrower to the system as well as be part of the process of default management for the borrowers that sponsor brings to the table. Reputations might be tracked and used in contract term negotiating, including reputations of borrowers and reputation of sponsors who sponsor borrowers. Reputation values of sponsors might relate to performance of loans of borrowers sponsored by those sponsors. Risk mitigation might occur by way of personal relationships between borrowers and sponsors. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076972 | AUTOMATED LENDING SYSTEM WITH AUTOMATIC DIVERSIFICATION AND CONTRACT EXECUTION AND SPONSORSHIPS - In the disclosed computerized lending systems, terms of contracts are coordinated between a plurality of parties, each of which operate party client systems to interface to the electronic transaction processing system, including a database of transactions representing contracts, parties to the contracts and at least essential terms of the contracts. Signaling to each of the parties can be done without identifying each party to the other, including throughout execution of the contract. The logic to coordinate can be contract term negotiating logic and/or auction logic and the binding contract can be a loan contract, with the loans being obtained through an auction process directly between lender and borrower. A lender might have a standing order that can be filled with loans to multiple borrowers, to provide diversification. Contracts and loans can be represented by sponsors, wherein a sponsor might introduce a borrower to the system as well as be part of the process of default management for the borrowers that sponsor brings to the table. Reputations might be tracked and used in contract term negotiating, including reputations of borrowers and reputation of sponsors who sponsor borrowers. Reputation values of sponsors might relate to performance of loans of borrowers sponsored by those sponsors. Risk mitigation might occur by way of personal relationships between borrowers and sponsors. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076973 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AND TRACKING AGREEMENTS FOR SELLING LOANS TO A SECONDARY MARKET PURCHASER - A system for creating an agreement and tracking compliance with terms of an agreement between a seller and a purchaser for the sale of loans includes deal management logic and a rules processor. The deal management logic is configured to store and track the terms of the agreement using a set of business rules. The rules processor comprises the set of business rules and is configured to facilitate adding or editing at least one business rule based on at least one term of the agreement. In addition, the rules processor is configured to access the business rules to assess compliance with the terms of the agreement during delivery of the loans. The system may also include pricing logic that is configured to create a set of price data based on the at least one term of the agreement. | 03-19-2009 |
20090083192 | CONTRACT FORMATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - A method for contract formation and dispute resolution in a virtual world may include presenting a graphical user interface to permit formation of a contract. The method may also include permitting a set of contract terms to be defined. The method may further include providing a mechanism for review and acceptance of the set of contract terms and providing a mechanism to designate a contract as complete and to release a bond stored in a virtual contract object for virtual payment to a contractor in response an acceptance that the contract has been fulfilled. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083193 | GUARANTEED NEGOTIATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for facilitating the negotiation of credits. The bank issuing the credit and a nominated bank agree to program conditions pursuant to which the nominated bank, based upon its own examination of documents presented under the credit and before said documents are forwarded to, received, and accepted by the issuing bank, will pay, accept, or negotiate the credit with no or limited recourse to the issuing bank for discrepancies in the documents. | 03-26-2009 |
20090089216 | Method and system for generating a negotiation - A method for generating a negotiation. A request to generate a negotiation is received, wherein the request comprises a negotiation type. Common data and meta-data are accessed, wherein the meta-data is associated with the negotiation type and comprises at least one rule describing the negotiation type. A first user interface is rendered based on the common data and the meta-data, wherein the first user interface is rendered specific to the negotiation type and prompts for a user response defining a term of the negotiation. In response to the user response, the negotiation is generated based on the user response and the meta-data. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089217 | Method and Apparatus for Issue and Trade of Real Estate Options - An electronic system—and associated method—for creating, marketing, and selling real estate options, represented by an option contracts for individual real estate parcels is provided. A system and method for providing a liquid market for real estate options is also provided. The system includes, a central controller, coupled to a network, having a trading system that processes the purchase and sale real estate parcel based options, an investor interface with which investors communicate with the central controller, and a real estate owner interface with which real estate owners communicate with the server. A real estate owner creates, through the system a real estate option offering, which is presented to a plurality of investors. Each investor may purchase the option with a purchase commitment. The investors may later trade the real estate parcel option via the system. | 04-02-2009 |
20090094165 | Global media exchange marketplace for media contents - An embodiment of the present invention is an on-line global media exchange (GMX) marketplace. The GMX marketplace manages media content participants. The participants include a first party and a second party. The first and second parties include at least one of a content owner, a buyer, an advertiser, and a third-party service provider. A transaction among the participants is executed via the on-line GMX marketplace. The transaction is customized according to, and negotiated between, the first and second parties. | 04-09-2009 |
20090099969 | Cashless Online Marketplace For Groups And Charities - A cashless online marketplace for the transaction of goods and services. A computer implemented method of acquiring membership, donating and acquiring goods/services via the Internet are described. A computer-implemented method for conducting a cashless online transaction is described, generally comprising the steps of a donor posting an item for donation at a sum of points, an acquirer offering to acquire the item, the donor accepting the acquirer's offer to acquire the item, deducting the sum of points from an account of the acquirer, transferring the item from the donor to the acquirer, notifying the acquirer that the item has been transferred, the acquirer responding to the notification that the item has been transferred by either accepting or disputing the cashless online transaction, and closing the cashless online transaction. Steps wherein the acquirer identifies the item to acquire, the acquirer specifying a transfer option for transfer of the item from the donor to the acquirer from one or more transfer options provided by the donor. An acquirer can respond within a specified period and dispute the transaction. A dispute may result in loss of points in the acquirer's account or the donor's account, or a demerit accruing in the donor's membership record. Upon a specified number of demerits a donor can be prevented from further donating items at the cashless online marketplace. Embodiments addressing the needs and benefits for groups and charitable organizations are disclosed. Apparatus, system and medium embodiments are also disclosed. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099970 | Multivariate Blind Bidding Negotiation Support System Rewarding Smallest Last Session Move - A multi-issue, multiparty computer-based blind-bidding system and method give an incentive for moving quickly to the zone of agreement. Confidential information is managed by a neutral site. After receiving optimistic proposals from the parties, the system generates visible suggestions, which are potential agreements whose values are derived from party preference information. Parties can see the suggestions generated by the system, but are “blind” to a confidential acceptance that any other party may indicate with respect to any package. Parties negotiate in a series of sessions where parties reach an agreement at the end of a particular session if they have accepted at least one same potential agreement. If parties have mutually accepted more than one same potential agreement by the end of the session, the agreement is determined by an algorithm that favors the party who moved the shortest relative distance during the session that just completed. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099971 | Methods and systems for marketing distressed inventory - Methods and systems are disclosed for marketing distressed inventory. In one aspect, a method is disclosed for marketing distressed inventory that may be performed by a distressed inventory system. The method may include receiving distressed inventory data from at least one supplier reflecting available distressed inventory and receiving a request from a client. Moreover, the method may include determining a relationship between the request and the available distressed inventory and notifying the client of the available distressed inventory. Further, the method may include receiving an indication that the client has accepted one or more terms for receiving the available distressed inventory, and reserving the available distressed inventory for the client. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099972 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUCTION OR SALES OF DELIVERABLE PREPARED FOOD VIA THE INTERNET - A method and system for auctioning or sales of deliverable prepared food via the Internet permit customers to purchase or bid on prepared food items. A food preparation and delivery portion of the system includes a delivery vehicle, which may have a mobile kitchen for the preparation of food items en-route. The location of the delivery vehicle is determined from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver in the vehicle or via another location-finding mechanism. Food items with an estimated time of arrival (ETA) is displayed on a web page that provides an interface for purchase or bidding. Bidding may be made for the actual food item purchase or for a scheduled delivery time. Items may be re-auctioned, causing the delivery of a food item to be transferred to another bidder. Audio and/or visual communication with an ordering point and/or delivery vehicle may be provided in the user interface. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099973 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING TRADERS FROM MANIPULATING ELECTRONIC TRADING MARKETS - Systems and methods are provided to control gaming in electronic trading markets. These systems and methods alleviate the problem of a seller or buyer trying to act on a trader's original bid or offer only to trade at an unfavorable level after the trader changes the bid or offer. A pricing method suspends trading for a period of time if a price difference between two bids or offers by the same trader is too great. A timing method prevents a trader from canceling or replacing a bid or offer for a period of time. These methods provide a more fair and efficient way of executing electronic trades. | 04-16-2009 |
20090106162 | ON-LINE SHOPPING SYSTEM - An on-line shopping system for selling a product over an electronic communication network such as the Internet (as detailed in | 04-23-2009 |
20090106163 | ELECTRONIC FORUM BASED ON GRAIN QUALITY - A method for providing an electronic forum for facilitating commercial transactions for grain includes collecting a grower profile for each of a plurality of growers, collecting grain bin data for the grain associated with each of the plurality of growers, determining a representation of grain quality using data comprising grain bin data, providing to a plurality of buyers access to the representation of grain quality through the electronic forum, and facilitating purchase of the grain from one or more of the plurality of growers by one or more of the plurality of buyers. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106164 | System and Method for Facilitating Transactions Between Two or More Parties - The present invention provides a system and method for facilitating a transaction between two or more parties. Electronic documents are received from a party and are posted to the secured account such that each party can retrieve and modify the electronic documents. Upon agreement, the electronically signed documents are provided to the parties. The present invention also provides a method for facilitating a proposed transaction between an originating party and a potential buying party using various levels of unrestricted and restricted descriptions of the proposed transaction tied to conditions of release. The requested restricted description is provided to the potential buying party whenever the potential buying party agrees to the one or more conditions of release for the requested restricted description. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106165 | System for intelligent search agent to access data in a distributed network - A commercial search agent (CSA) is used to access data in a distributed communications system. An initial search request constitutes a buyer's first search query at sellers' commercial database network. Analytical agents and seller promotions are used to inform the CSA, while negotiation commences after the initial RFQ. CSA's may be informed by analytical agents. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106166 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRIVACY NEGOTIATION - A method of negotiating an electronic commerce (e-commerce) transaction for the sale of a selected good can include identifying an asking price for the selected good and retrieving from memory merchant business objectives (MBOs) and consumer privacy rules (CPRs). The MBOs can specify incentive information corresponding to a proposed exchange of consumer information and the CPRs can specify asking prices corresponding to the proposed exchange of consumer information. The MBOs can be compared to the CPRs to determine if an agreement can be reached for the sale of the selected good with an incentive based upon the proposed exchange of consumer information. The e-commerce transaction for the sale of the selected good with the incentive can be consummated if in the comparing step it is determined that an agreement can be reached. | 04-23-2009 |
20090112772 | Method and system for implementing catalog inventory auctions in an electronic exchange - An auction method for specifying catalog contents for packaging and pushing to an electronic auction. The auction method is implemented in an electronic commerce exchange. The auction method includes the steps of specifying catalog contents for packaging for an auction operation hosted on the electronic exchange. Initial terms for the sale of the contents are then specified. The auction is then automatically initiated using the previously specified contents and the previously specified terms. The auction proceeds with the receiving of bids for the contents from remote bidders. The bids are received via a distributed computing network into which the electronic commerce exchange is communicatively coupled. A winning bid is selected by determining a most competitive bid out of the bids received for the contents. A sale of the contents is then completed based upon the terms of the most competitive bid. | 04-30-2009 |
20090119223 | METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING AN ELECTRONIC BARTER TRANSACTION BETWEEN BARTERING PARTIES - There is provided a method for facilitating an electronic barter transaction between bartering parties, the method comprising (1) initiating a barter request associated with a first bartering party, said barter request comprising a first data identifying a first set of items to be provided within said barter transaction, said first set of items comprising at least one item, (2) receiving a first barter offer associated with a second bartering party, said first barter offer comprising an offer to acquire said first set of items in exchange of a second set of items, said second set of items comprising at least one item, (3) accepting or refusing said first barter offer, and (4) concluding or declining said electronic barter transaction between said first bartering party and said second bartering party as a function of said accepting or refusing, said concluding or said declining being carried out without negotiation between said parties in connection with said transaction. There is also provided a system for facilitating an electronic barter transaction between bartering parties. | 05-07-2009 |
20090132426 | Arrangement for Reducing Risk in the Sale of Property - Disclosed are arrangements for selling property off the plan, involving issuing (in a step ‘ | 05-21-2009 |
20090132427 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING MULTIPLE REAL ESTATE OFFERS - The present disclosure is a real estate offer system and method for providing multiple offers to buy a property for a buyer. The present invention can be implemented through a Web site or the like. The systems and methods are utilized by realtors, real estate investors, and the like to improve the process of buying properties. | 05-21-2009 |
20090150296 | REPUTATION IN ON-LINE CONSUMER MARKETS - Seller's reputation quantification technique embodiments are presented that quantify in monetary terms a risk of dissatisfaction to a potential buyer of a product or service from a seller in an on-line consumer market. Generally, this involves computing the monetary sales limit for the seller. This monetary sales limit represents an amount, which if a sum of the current prices of all the products and services currently offered by the seller is equal to or less than the amount, there would not be a significant risk to the buyer of being dissatisfied with the product or service. Given this, a risk of a potential buyer's dissatisfaction with a product or service purchased from the seller in view of a price the buyer wants to pay is assessed. The assessed risk is then provided to the potential buyer in the form of one or more risk indicators. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150297 | System and Method for Managing Digital Interactions - A system for managing digital interactions comprising an identity module for creating an identity, wherein the identity includes a unique identifier associated with a first party and a plurality of proposed terms for a relationship with a second party; and a relationship module, in communication with the identity module, for receiving and evaluating the plurality of proposed terms, including accepting or rejecting the plurality of proposed terms and, if accepted, for allowing the first party to communicate with the second party in accordance with the plurality of proposed terms. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150298 | Computer implemented method for performing waste industry transactions - A computer-based method and apparatus for trading waste capacity and, other services/goods associated with the waste industry. The computer-based method and apparatus is designed for receipt of electronically listing, buying, selling, trading and bartering all components of the waste industry with potential end users, providers, and investors. The activities involved in the computer-based method is the buying and selling of disposal space in landfills, incinerators, transfer facilities, train car transport, etc. for either concurrent use or to be used or sold at a later time. The method provides a Total Cost Estimator that provides real time information of the actual cost associated with a particular service so as to allow for optimization of profits. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150299 | TRANSACTION SYSTEM - Transaction systems are disclosed that enable a customer to obtain services from a service provider via any of a variety of communication systems on a direct fee basis. The transaction system can be independent of the communication system used to complete the transaction and the billing system used to provide payment from the customer to the service provider. In many embodiments, the transaction system arranges direct payment from the customer to the service provider. One embodiment of the invention includes a transaction metering system connected to a service provider computing device and a client computing device via a first communication network. In addition, the service provider computing device and the client computing device are connected via a second communication network, the service provider computing device and the client computing device are configured to negotiate terms for the completion of a transaction by exchanging messages over the first communication network via the transaction metering system, the service provider computing device and the client computing device are configured to conduct a communication session via the second communication network and the transaction metering system is configured to meter a transaction conducted during a communication session. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150300 | AUTOMATED FORECLOSURE AND ASSET DISPOSITION METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS - Automated foreclosure and asset disposition methods, systems, and computer program products are provided, such as for automating a property foreclosure matter. According to one aspect, the subject matter described can include providing a data inquiry for receiving user input relating to a foreclosure matter. In response to the data inquiry, information can be retrieved over a data network relating to the foreclosure matter and documents can be generated relating to the foreclosure matter either automatically or in response to a document request. Information can be presented such as, for example, tracking information relating to the foreclosure matter. | 06-11-2009 |
20090157559 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERNET MARKETING BY ENDORSEMENTS - A method of facilitating the endorsement of products through Internet advertisements accepts a bid for an endorsement, enables communication, associated with the bid, between an advertiser and a potential endorser, and serves an endorsement associated with the bid. In one implementation, the endorsement is displayed together with a symbol verifying the endorser. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157560 | INFORMATION BANKING AND MONETIZATION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION - Information related to a person can be processed and monetized according to several methods. The person is provided control over monetization of information that is related to him or her. This information may be received and stored by a storage entity, such as an information bank. Upon confirmation of a purchase agreement between the person and a purchaser, the information is made available to the purchaser, and the person receives value in exchange for the information. The information may be collected and stored for later bulk or incremental monetization at the control of the person. | 06-18-2009 |
20090164383 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC PRODUCT PRICING - Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for dynamic product pricing. According to one embodiment, sale characteristics for a plurality of products are stored in a database. A user places a sale order including information associated with a product to be listed on a website, and a market price for the product is calculated based on the stored sale characteristics of the product. The sales characteristics include a queue of current list prices of the product as well as recent sale prices, with the queue having the number of the product available for sale at each different price. A suggested list price is displayed to the seller based on the market price. The seller is provided with a means for adjusting the suggested list price or listing the product at the suggested list price. | 06-25-2009 |
20090171853 | Method and System for Hosting an In-Store Electronic Auction - A system for hosting an in-store electronic auction including a plurality of shoppers including a store server capable of synchronizing with handheld portable devices within a predetermined geographic area, a plurality of customers having portable electronic devices. The portable electronic devices are capable of synchronizing with the store server, such that the plurality of customers can individually send and receive auction information therethrough, as well as an inventory of products within the predetermined geographic area from which a customer can shop. The store server identifies the shoppers in the predetermined geographical area through the portable electronic device, and determines a shopper's eligibility to participate in the auction. If the shopper is determined to be eligible to participate, the system synchronizes the shopper's portable electronic device to the store server. Upon receiving an offer for the purchase of an item from the inventory of products from a first eligible shopper, placed through the shopper's portable electronic device, the system determines if the first shopper's offer for the item in inventory is above a predetermined price, if the offer from the first shopper is above a predetermined price, system approves and authorizes the sales transaction. If the offer from the first shopper is not above a predetermined price the server notifies other eligible shoppers from the plurality of an auction for the item in inventory through the eligible shoppers' portable electronic device. The system then receives offers for the purchase of the item from the eligible shoppers of the plurality through the eligible shoppers' portable electronic device. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171854 | Increasing health insurance benefits - Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for providing increased health insurance benefits to employees of business entities for an insurance premium charge. A third party collects health plan requirements and critical health information from the employees. The third party then proposes health plans from health insurance companies to the business entities. Each employee of the business entities chooses a health plan. The third party combines the employees into groups based on the chosen health plans and geographic location of the business entities. The third party negotiates with the health insurance companies regarding health insurance benefits and insurance premium charges offered for the combined employee groups. Authorized personnel may be provided access to the critical health information of the employees. The access to the critical health information improves quality of health care provided to the employees by the attending physicians and reduces the liability to health insurance companies. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171855 | Monitizing Network Connected User Bases Utilizing Distributed Processing Systems - Various embodiments enable network service providers to receive revenue from their user bases by providing network services to various distributed devices in exchange for the distributed devices agreeing to process workloads for customer paid projects. In at least one embodiment, a method of operating a distributed processing system may include identifying a first party with a first user base with several first distributed devices, and identifying a different party with a different user base with several second distributed devices. Processing workloads for a customer paid project using the first and second distributed devices. Then, sharing revenue from the customer project between the first party and the second party based in part on a size of a user base, a user base's processing capability, or a type of project processed by the user base. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171856 | System and Method for Negotiating According to Improved Matching Criteria - A computer-implemented system stores profiles for parties to the negotiation, each profile specifying values for one or more parameters negotiated, the values reflecting a desirable outcome of the negotiation for the associated party. A matching server accesses an offer from a first party containing values for one or more of the parameters negotiated and computes a distance between the offer values and the profile values of a second party. If the distance is acceptably small, the server causes the offer to be accepted by the second party to conclude the negotiation. If the distance is not acceptably small, the server automatically modifies one or more values in the offer such that the distances between the modified offer and the profiles of the first and second parties are acceptably small simultaneously and causes the modified offer to be accepted by the first and second parties to conclude the automatic negotiation. | 07-02-2009 |
20090177588 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETERMINING PRICING AND SPONSORSHIP OPTIMIZATION FOR BRAND PROMOTERS AND SOCIAL PUBLISHERS - Systems and methods for quantifying points of value in a personality relevant publishing environment are disclosed. These systems and method determine and account for the value that a brand campaign provides to brand promoters when the brand campaign is delivered within the social content of social publishers. | 07-09-2009 |
20090182677 | Upsell system embedded in a system and controlled by a third party - A method of determining compensation, including the steps of: generating, using a processor of a specially programmed general-purpose computer and a first software program stored in a memory element of the general-purpose computer and offered by a first business entity, at least one sales offer; transmitting the at least one sales offer using an interface element for the general-purpose computer; tracking, using the processor and a second software program stored in the memory element and supplied by a third business entity, the at least one sales offer and respective acceptances of sales offers from the at least one sales offer, the respective acceptances received by the interface element; determining, using the processor and the second software program, revenue from the respective acceptances; and calculating, using the processor and the second software program, compensation for use of the product or service, based on the revenue. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182678 | Financial risk management system - The present invention provides a method and system for re-allocating financial risks. The system includes computer modules for assessing the behavior of the insured individual by an insurance provider, modeling the risks associated with providing insurance to the individual by the insurance provider, assessing the market risks associated with providing the insurance policy by a derivative counterparty and assuming, by the derivative counterparty, market risks associated with providing the insurance policy. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182679 | RIGHTS ESTABLISHING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for providing a present consideration to a consumer and coincidentally establishing a future right for a holder to offer or to provide, at the holder's option goods or services in response to a trigger event | 07-16-2009 |
20090182680 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANONYMIZED DISCLOSURE OF CORPORATE DATA IN ELECTRONIC NEGOTIATIONS - An automated electronic negotiation system permits anonymous negotiations between one or more buyer entities and one or more seller entities. Each buyer entity and seller entity registers and provides information related to the respective entity. The information is stored confidentially and released in a step-wise fashion only upon authorization. The buyer and seller are represented by respective agents. The agents are typically software modules that conduct negotiations in accordance with a predetermined set of rules. The respective agents disclose information in response to requests during the negotiation process. Disclosures may be preauthorized or require explicit authorization of the information owner. Buyer and seller entities are assigned pseudo identities for initial negotiations. Disclosure of the true identity of the party must be explicitly authorized during the negotiation process. The system is applicable to purchases and sales of assets, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partial sale of assets, and the like. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182681 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ELECTRONIC COMMERCE FACILITY CLIENT-BASED PRESENTATION OFFER MANAGEMENT - A method, system and computer readable medium for facilitating interactive electronic commerce transactions over an electronic commerce network between a plurality of sellers and a plurality of buyers via an independent service provider. A request is received from a seller over the electronic commerce network to generate an auction program process associated with the seller. The auction program process associated with the seller is generated by an electronic commerce computer of the independent service provider. A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) hyperlink associated with the auction program process is generated by the electronic commerce computer. The URL hyperlink is communicated to the seller for insertion into a web page hosted on a website other than the independent service provider's website, wherein the web page displays information about an item for sale. The auction program process generated by the electronic commerce computer of the independent service provider is activated when a buyer clicks on the inserted hyperlink on the hosting website. | 07-16-2009 |
20090187509 | Methods of Facilitating the Use and Occupancy of Land | 07-23-2009 |
20090192945 | Service marketplace system - A service marketplace system is disclosed for searching and finding service orders and offers, governing the negotiations and conclusions of service agreements between a number of service providers and service users, and which includes an after sale support web service interface to promote to sale of goods in remote online shops by offering related services. | 07-30-2009 |
20090198621 | Energy price protection system and method - Protection is provided against increases in the price of energy. As an example, the protection may be provided for an agreed in advance quantity of energy and/or for an agreed in advance duration. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198622 | Interactive System And Method For Transacting Business Over A Network - A method of doing business includes allowing an individual to start a group, or Swarm, for the purpose of influencing a sale before purchasing a desired product or a service. The group is recorded in a searchable computer database such that additional individuals may join the group, and potential sellers can search the computer database to determine which groups seek products or services they have for sale. Sellers then submit offers for products or service to the group, the offer being recorded in the computer, where individuals of the group may view and may accept the offer. Once an offer is accepted, a transaction is consummated between the individual and the seller based on the accepted offer. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198623 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXECUTING AND AUTHENTICATING AN ACTIVITY AT A REMOTE LOCATION - Provided is a system and a method for executing a desired activity at a remote location, wherein said activity is ordered by individual in need thereof and is executed by a person incidentally occurring within a short range of the location who owns a Location-Aware Mobile Internet Device (LAMID), and who is ready to execute such activity and to verify its execution by sending evidence from the location using the LAMID. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198624 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCHEDULING TRAVEL ON A CHARTER TRANSPORT - A method is disclosed for scheduling travel on a charter transport. The method can include obtaining from a traveler a passenger accommodation request identifying an origin-destination-pair. The method can also include automatically identifying one or more charter transports having an available passenger accommodation. Moreover, the method can include notifying the traveler of the available passenger accommodation. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198625 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING SUPPLEMENTARY PRODUCT SALES AT A POINT-OF-SALE TERMINAL - A point-of-sale terminal determines an upsell to offer in exchange for a round-up amount in connection with a purchase. In one embodiment, the point-of-sale terminal preferably maintains a database of at least one upsell price and a corresponding upsell to offer a customer in exchange for a round-up amount (e.g., change due the customer). | 08-06-2009 |
20090198626 | ELECTRONIC AUCTION METHOD - The invention relates to carrying out electronic auctions in a real-time mode. The time-limited rights of physical and/or legal persons, whose rights are based on the international applications for intellectual property protection under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filed by said persons in one of the PCT member states, are selected as items for the auction. The use of the inventive method makes it possible to draw the attention of potential buyers to novel technical solutions at early stages of the development thereof, to obtain several lots from one application (up to one hundred or more lots according to the number of PCT member states), to determine the market prices for traded intellectual property rights and to extend the intellectual property market. | 08-06-2009 |
20090204547 | TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A transaction management system manages the purchase of products and/or services by a buyer from sellers. The system comprises: (a) a data store for storing seller data comprising, for each of a plurality of sellers, a seller identifier and seller offer data indicating at least one product and/or service offered for sale (b) a program store storing processor implementable instructions; and (c) a processor coupled to the data store and to the program store for implementing the stored instructions. | 08-13-2009 |
20090210350 | Method and a system - The present invention relates to a method and a system for manufacturing of products whose design and/or price are specified individually by a set of independent customers. A customer profile of at least one customer of the set is registered through inputting customer specific data into a customer database. A manufacturer profile of at least one manufacturer is registered through inputting manufacturer specific data into a manufacturer database. A desired product design is specified through a design interface and stored in a design database. Potentially similar product designs stored in the design database are then clustered according to clustering parameters. A matching of potential manufacturers for manufacturing of the clustered similar products is performed in the manufacturer database according to scoring parameters. Thereafter an offer for product manufacturing is sent to manufacturers scored in the database according to the scoring parameters and contracts are initialized for production and deliverance of a certain amount of the products to their respective customers for manufacturers accepting the offer. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210351 | System and Method for Minimizing Redundant Meetings - A system and method for minimizing redundant events/meetings is provided. With the system and method, when a meeting request is made, a search of meetings currently in place for the participants involved in the meeting is performed to find potential matches and patterns between them. If a potential match is found, a notification is sent to request that participants join in on a matching currently existing meeting. If that request is declined, a meeting time close to the found meeting is recommended so that preparation time is minimized for these meetings as the preparation has already been completed for the previous meeting. Not only will this maximize the amount of work time people have, it will increase the size of the community that is present within meetings. This will allow for larger collaboration between different, potentially unrelated, parties interested in the meeting topic. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210352 | Website presence marketplace - A website presence marketplace includes publishing one or more website presence catalogs, each of the website presence catalogs listing one or more groupings of website presence information for sale from a particular website, receiving website presence information from one or more websites associated with the one or more website information catalogs, and sending the website presence information to one or more buyers of the website presence information. The website presence information describes one or more of the state of a website object regarding its participation in a communication session, the ability of the website object to participate in a communication session, and the willingness of the website object to participate in a communication session. Each of the one or more objects represents an entity associated with the website. | 08-20-2009 |
20090216682 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS FROM SUBSCRIBERS OF DIRECTORY SERVICES - Disclosed are systems, computer-readable medium and a method for delivering advertisements to user devices. The method includes storing first data associated with online and physical activity of plurality of customers, storing second data associated with current status of plurality of advertisers, matching a customer with an advertiser based on analysis of the first data and the second data and delivering an advertisement to a device associated with the matched customers online and physical activity. The on-line and physical activity is captured by a plurality of devices including a mobile device via a plurality of sensors. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216683 | Interactive Media Content Display System - A system and method is provided including a central application server with a data storage unit including a plurality of client containers corresponding to a plurality of clients. Each client container stores client media content provided by a respective client. The client media content includes at least one of audio files, video files, and audio/video files. A plurality of computing devices is connected to the central application server. Each computing device receives client media content from at least one client container of the plurality of client containers. Each client container of the plurality of client containers is updated independently with client media content from each respective client. | 08-27-2009 |
20090222384 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INTERVENTION IN ELECTRONIC MARKETS - A transaction management system for managing the purchase of products or services by a buyer comprising: a data store for storing a seller identifier and seller offer data indicating at least one product or service offered for sale; and transaction data for each of a plurality of historical transactions, a transaction identifier, and the seller and a buyer identifier. The system also having a program store storing instructions and a processor coupled to the data store and to the program store for implementing the instructions for controlling the processor to implement a buyer interface to receive a purchase inquiry, output seller offer data for a plurality of sellers, the sellers each being able to meet the purchase criteria; and receive a purchase request accepting an offer. The processor can also analyze the transaction data to determine stability a market. | 09-03-2009 |
20090240628 | Method and System for Facilitating a Negotiation - A computer-implemented method for facilitating a negotiation for at least one item or service for at least one user. The method includes dynamically adjusting the duration of at least one phase of the negotiation and/or the offer price of the item or service based at least in part upon data that is existing or obtained during the at least one phase of the negotiation. A negotiation system and negotiation control interfaces are also disclosed. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240629 | System and method for accelerating convergence between buyers and sellers of products - A system and method for reducing the distance of the understanding and expectation between a buyer and seller for a price of a particular product that is offered for sale. The system and method permit buyer to use their volume purchase power to lower the price of demanded product, and pay only the fair market value of the product in that the price is much lower than the price expectation or requirement of the buyer. Conversely, the system and method permit sellers to reach a targeted market in which a group of buyers are available for desired product. The seller is provided with the benefits associated with low cost competition by reducing the distribution cost and increasing the operation efficiency, such as increased inventory turnover rate, based on the advantages associated with volume sales. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240630 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING A MORTGAGE ASSET EXCHANGE - Computer systems and methods for providing a mortgage exchange with attributes of the NYSE, NASDAQ, CBOT, CME, NYMEX and other derivatives exchanges are disclosed. In one aspect, the resulting marketplace supports standardization, centralizes liquidity and provides price visibility of such assets. Further, the resulting marketplace provides the following benefits: being a lower-cost alternative to proprietary conduits; electronically linking separate pools of liquidity; enhancing transparency for buyers and investors; allowing the market to better price individual mortgage assets; and supporting technology advancements to better and more efficiently manage risks of investing in individual mortgages. | 09-24-2009 |
20090248585 | ONLINE FIXED-POSITION ADVERTISEMENT RESERVATION AT FIXED PRICE AND DURATION - A method for reservation of sponsored search listing positions, including extending an offer to advertisers to purchase a fixed sponsored search listing position on a search results web page affiliated with a keyword, wherein a location of the fixed position is guaranteed to the advertisers for a fixed fee over a fixed duration during which the position will belong to a purchasing advertiser; reserving the fixed position related to the keyword for the fixed duration for an advertiser; receiving an advertisement from the advertiser to be positioned in the fixed position; storing the advertisement in a database; and serving the advertisement to the fixed position of the search results web page in response to a search query for the keyword each time the search query is executed for the keyword over a time period of the fixed duration. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248586 | MANAGING CONSISTENT INTERFACES FOR BUSINESS OBJECTS ACROSS HETEROGENEOUS SYSTEMS - A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a cost model, a current account contract, and/or a collateral constellation business object. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248587 | SELECTIVELY NEGOTIATED RIDERSHARE SYSTEM COMPRISING RIDERS, DRIVERS, AND VEHICLES - A ridesharing system and method involving selected negotiated participation of riders and ride providers. The ridesharing system in a specific implementation involves a computer-implemented capability for computational matching of potential participants in a ridesharing arrangement, wherein such system is adapted for prioritized ranking of target ridesharing attributes by such potential participants, involving allocation by potential participants of quantitative weight within a quantitative total budget of allocatable value to predetermined selection criteria, with such system having an input capability for inputting the allocations of potential participants, and the system being constructed and arranged for effecting the computational matching based on the allocations, with communication capability for outputting results of the computational matching to the potential participants. | 10-01-2009 |
20090254486 | METHOD FOR VERIFYING VIRTUAL PHYSICAL SPACE REPRESENTING A TRANSACTION CONTEXT IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - The ‘rollback room’ is a demarked area of 3D space in the virtual world—it may be branded by its (trusted) provider. Participants who enter the space take a ‘state checkpoint’ of their virtual world state on entering the area and then become participants in a transaction that is taking place in the rollback room. They can buy, sell, or transfer goods with other parties in the room. They may trust these parties to various degrees but can interact with or try out the new ‘goods’ they have received in the rollback room within the confines of the rollback room as normal. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254487 | AUTOMATED LOAN PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A browser based automated loan system includes a loan engine offered individually to financial institutions to set up, operate and manage loan product offerings, a consumer website interface having a loan application form with data fields relevant to the loan product offerings, a designer component that establishes tasks in the form of a loan process checklist associated with each loan product offering, and a workflow engine for automatically evaluating the loan application form using the applicable loan process checklist in conjunction with rules, logical mathematical computational components, and risk based offer configurations for generating an instant loan offer when a borrower qualifies. Each task has attributes available for establishing entry conditions to provide workflow automation, and each task is performed when the entry conditions associated therewith are satisfied. The consumer website interface enables selecting a category of loan product offerings, and each checklist is associated with the selected category. | 10-08-2009 |
20090259594 | Collaborative Funding System and Methods - This invention is a collaborative funding system which allows many people to work together to fund a project or to purchase a product or service. A computer system offers services to users, typically over the internet. Users may enter a new product into the system, contribute to a fund for buying a particular product or quote a product to sell it to other buyers. Once a product is quoted, the system chooses the best quote and offers the product for sale to the users. Buyers' funds are held in trust until the product is furnished. The system also provides a mechanism for the seller to build the product in stages and be paid for each stage. The system allows a negotiation between buyers and seller to determine whether the product or stage is complete. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259595 | Systems and Methods for Operating a Computerized Trade Finance Network - This invention concerns forfeiting transactions. In particular it concerns methods of operating a computerized forfeiting exchange to develop forfeiting transactions. In another aspect it concerns a computerized forfeiting exchange. The exchange allows the parties to screen counter party types and asset types, to make the transactions more efficient. It also able to provide assistance in ensuring appropriate documentation is used and is properly completed. | 10-15-2009 |
20090265280 | MANAGING REAL TIME MEETING ROOM STATUS - Presence information within a meeting room is detected and published to users for managing room availability and real time status. Various means such as motion detectors, card readers, log-in mechanisms associated with in-room computers, and the like, are used to detect presence information. Different status indicators are assigned to each room and published through a communication application or hosted service providing useful and real time information to users. | 10-22-2009 |
20090271323 | Transactional Method for Building Three-Dimensional Objects - The present invention is a method ( | 10-29-2009 |
20090271324 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR METERED SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE - Systems and methods are provided for facilitating software as a service (SAAS) by receiving information of SAAS offerings and metrics for tracking a users use of the SAAS offerings. The systems may be used to create SAAS orders and provide compliance and auditing of the SAAS, as well as generating invoices and receiving payment for the SAAS. | 10-29-2009 |
20090276362 | Real estate commission bid system - The invention is a computerized or manual bidding system for real estate commission rates where participating registered licensed real estate brokers can acquire from participating registered real estate property owners the exclusive right to sell contract to broker a real estate property for a predetermined period of time based on placing within a specified period of time the lowest commission rate bid for said property that is equal to or less than the threshold commission rate posted by the seller. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276363 | Trading platform with automated negotiation and option crossing - A system and method for trading securities that include at least one options leg is provided. The system generally includes a database, handlers, a network and at least one server. The database stores user information, security information and transaction information. The handlers receive information feeds from at least one public exchange. The at least one server implements an exchange facility that is capable of exchanging information with client terminals to allow the client to initiate at least one offer to trade a security having an option leg, identifying users interested in the offer, broadcasting the offer to the interested users and conducting a defined period auction among the interested users. The system and method also automatically cross the options legs on exchanges and facilitate negotiation when the auction is not consummated. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276364 | PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM - A computer system configured to provide process control is described herein. The computer system optionally includes a web proxy system, including a load balancer, and a cache cluster. An interface is configured to receive a user search query. A search engine is configured to receive the user query and to identify one or more corresponding events. An interface is configured to display identified events to the user and to receive a user selection of a first event. A data store is configured to store item requests received from a plurality of users for the first event, including corresponding request timing data. An optional servo system is configured to suggest an assignment of items with respect to the first event based at least in part on the number of prior item requests and corresponding request timing data. | 11-05-2009 |
20090281952 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPECIFIED POOL TRADING - A computer system and related computer-implemented methods are designed and configured to store and deliver, upon request, information related to a plurality of asset-backed security pools, and to execute transactions between one or more parties relating to at least one of the plurality of asset backed security pools. The computer system generally comprises a computer including a computer usable medium storing a computer readable program and a network interface that includes software modules and a data storage system in communication with the computer via the network interface, the data storage system storing information relating to the plurality of asset backed securities, and account information related to at least the one or more parties. The computer is operative with the computer readable program to provide information related to a plurality of asset-backed security pools to at least one of the parties, enable the at least one party to select one or more asset-backed security pools for inclusion in a specified pool, provide aggregate pool data related to the selected specified pool, provide information related to the selected specified pool to at least one other party, receive pricing information from the at least one other party, and execute a trade for the asset-backed security pools in the specified pool. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281953 | Seller's Listing System - A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing a seller's listing system is presented. By way of the seller's listing system information services and sales tools are online at a property specific sales and information center. Sellers have full access to an organized system that gives them complete control all the way through the entire sales process. Up to the minute answers and exact information are reported directly to the seller. Every entity, professional and company involved in the transaction reports to the seller via the Internet. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281954 | METHOD FOR MANAGING DISTRIBUTED TRADING DATA - In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a computer-implemented system and method of managing market information across a network of data providers, comprising the steps of: (a) electronically receiving first data including confidential information regarding market participants in a first system that protects said first data behind a firewall; (b) electronically receiving second data including confidential information regarding market participants in a second system that protects said second data behind a firewall; (c) electronically receiving an order and targeting parameters from a first market participant; (d) electronically issuing an advertisement request message to said first system and said second system, said advertisement message comprising display attributes of said order and comprising said targeting parameters; (e) electronically prompting said first system and said second system via the advertisement request message to each send a coordination request message to a Coordination Hub, said coordination request message comprising information deduced from said confidential information regarding market participants in said first and second systems, wherein the selection of the information that is sent to the Coordination Hub is based at least in part on said first market participant's targeting parameters; (f) electronically prompting based on the coordination request message said Coordination Hub to issue permissions to advertise the order to selected market participants, wherein market participants are selected based, at least in part, on said received information regarding market participants; and (g) electronically prompting based on the permission to advertise the order said first system and said second system to route information about said order from first participant to said selected market participants. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281955 | METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR ENABLING AND MANAGING SUB-CONTRACTING ENTITIES - A method of facilitating a project bid process includes generating a buyer-associated bid request utilizing at least a portion of bid item selections of a stored bid item list, transmitting the buyer-associated bid request to at least one supplier for solicitation of a supplier bid response to be generated with the bid item selections utilized in the buyer-associated bid request, generating a supplier-associated bid request utilizing at least a portion of the bid item selections utilized in the buyer-associated bid request, and transmitting the supplier-associated bid request to at least one subcontracting entity for solicitation of a subcontracting-entity bid response to be generated with the bid item selections utilized in the supplier-associated bid request. | 11-12-2009 |
20090287609 | Method and system for managing projects over a network - A method and system for managing projects on a network platform that enables a buyer to make a buy request for a project on a network platform. The buy request includes various requirements of the project. In response to the buy request, various sellers provide submissions for the project on the network platform. The submissions may be utilized by the buyer of the project. Various sellers can provide the submissions that comply with one or more requirements of the project. The buyer utilizes the submissions to execute the project, based on their compliance with the requirements of the project, and provides compensation to the sellers. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287610 | Data Processing - A data processing procedure is shown in which the processed data includes data representing negotiations for the purchasing of a package of inventory, taking the form of offers and counter offers between a single major party and a plurality of minor parties, and data stored in a database representing details of the items of inventory available for sale. The procedure identifies a package of inventory from the database and presents a major graphical user interface to a major party that shows data from each of a plurality of participating minor parties. Minor graphical interfaces are presented to each of the minor parties that show a first indication of time remaining ( | 11-19-2009 |
20090292643 | System and method for online publication - System and method for online publication. According to an embodiment, a user stores contents on a web site, and based on the screening process and negotiated terms, the user is compensated accordingly. In certain embodiments, a user is compensated based on results of a periodical competition program offered by the web site. For example, a user whose writing wins a weekly contest, which is decided by subscribers, is awarded a publishing contract. In certain aspects of the invention, various techniques are employed to protect user contents. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292644 | System and method maximizing video license utilization using billboard services - Key to overall video license utilization lies in a cooperative sharing of licenses between the different branch operators of the licenses before the expiry of the licenses. A branch operator has a region of operation and stimulating the demand for licenses that are about to expire across multiple regions increases the overall license utilization. Billboard service provides subscribers with information and facility to preview and select movies for viewing online and it provides an opportunity for branch operators and central operator to maximize the utilization of available licenses. Central billboard provides a platform for branch operators to submit and trade their surplus licenses while a local billboard that is part of a branch operator infrastructure helps create demand for such surplus licenses. Central billboard supports both regulated and unregulated pricing and trading thereby enhancing the chances of trading of licenses that are about to expire. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292645 | Method and Apparatus for Network Marketing of Financial Securities - A centralized financial market management system and method are disclosed that permit individual investors to trade over a network. The disclosed centralized financial market management system automatically identifies bids that are in proximity to one another and permits participants to negotiate directly in order to consummate a transaction. The disclosed centralized financial market management system permits each participant in the financial security trading market to have a unique definition of its market structure. A participant can establish various market segments, each corresponding to a group of other market participants, within the push market where bids are posted. Thus, the submitter of a bid (buy or sell) can narrowly focus the bid on select market participants. A large transaction (buy or sell) can be divided by the bid submitter into smaller units and divided over a number of market segments. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292646 | Method and Apparatus for Network Marketing of Financial Securities - A centralized financial market management system and method are disclosed that permit individual investors to trade over a network. The disclosed centralized financial market management system automatically identifies bids that are in proximity to one another and permits participants to negotiate directly in order to consummate a transaction. The disclosed centralized financial market management system permits each participant in the financial security trading market to have a unique definition of its market structure. A participant can establish various market segments, each corresponding to a group of other market participants, within the push market where bids are posted. Thus, the submitter of a bid (buy or sell) can narrowly focus the bid on select market participants. A large transaction (buy or sell) can be divided by the bid submitter into smaller units and divided over a number of market segments. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292647 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND BUSINESS MODEL FOR A BUYER'S AUCTION WITH NEAR PERFECT INFORMATION USING THE INTERNET - A methodology, system and business model are disclosed for facilitating a fully automated buyer's auction in which the major types of transaction costs are significantly reduced by providing the buyer and the sellers with near-perfect information about one another, including information about buyer preferences and competing sellers' offers. The system implements a buyer's auction with multidimensional bidding that minimizes market intelligence, search, bargaining and transaction execution costs and thus creates more competitive, frictionless markets. Buyers and sellers can efficiently conduct the buyer's auction within a unified environment, thereby minimizing buyer integration costs as well. The buyer's auction generates commercially marketable proprietary information and a revenue stream for the auctioneer providing such a service. | 11-26-2009 |
20090299906 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MEASURING SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND FOR OPTIMIZING VOLUME IN AUCTIONS AND REVERSE AUCTIONS - The technology disclosed relates to a practical design for measuring demand or supply in an auction or reverse auction, respectively for one or more divisible goods. It also relates to optimizing a volume selected by the auctioneer when closing an auction. In particular, it relates to a network based protocol and interface for conducting an auction with limited feedback to participants during the auction. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299907 | Universal Platform for Automated Creation and Operation of Referral Networks - Utilizing an extensible referral management system platform, an organization may recognize a business opportunity in which the organization may benefit by receiving customer referrals from another organization and build a program under which the organization is a supplier of products and/or services to the referred customers. Thus, the referral management system platform may be used to create intersecting workflows with a core infrastructure in the form of a multi-directional referral network. | 12-03-2009 |
20090307143 | Electronic Commerce System - An electronic commerce system includes a client computer and a server computer interconnected by a public packet switched communications network. The client computer is programmed to transmit to the server computer an order acceptance request that includes a plurality of terms or conditions of a proposed offer for a purchase, including multiple options of at least one of the terms or conditions of the offer. The server computer is programmed to process the order acceptance request based on pre-programmed criteria and, based on the processing of the order acceptance request, to transmit to the client computer an order acceptance response that includes a plurality of amendments to the proposed offer for the purchase, including selection of an option of the at least one of the terms or conditions. The processing of the order acceptance request is performed by a controller module that handles processing of the order acceptance request that is primarily not specific to a particular application of the electronic commerce system to which the order acceptance request pertains, and that initiates a plurality of calls to a plurality of plug-in modules. The server can handle fraud-avoidance processing of the order acceptance request. The server can initiate a call to a database of a virtual warehouse in which merchants store virtual inventories of items, to ensure that a sufficient virtual inventory exists for a purchase. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307144 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OFFERING AND SELLING ADVERTISING | 12-10-2009 |
20090307145 | MULTIPLE PRICE CURVES AND ATTRIBUTES - The subject invention relates to electronic buying and selling systems and methods. In particular, the invention concerns relations among distinct price curves, price curve attributes (i.e., factors of the offer that can affect the price curves) and buyers or potential buyers. For instance, a price offered to a system user can vary based on total volume of all people aggregating in private environments, cumulative total order by user, ship date, optimal time, as well as terms and conditions associated with the offer (e.g., no cancellation of order, cancellation possible, payment method . . . ). | 12-10-2009 |
20090313173 | Dynamic Negotiation System - The present invention is a software-based dynamic negotiation system that walks an individual or team through a preparation process so they are prepared to enter negotiations. To accomplish this goal, the system solicits feedback from key stakeholders and completes conjoint analysis to understand how team members weigh particular issues and options while also formulating scenarios to test weightings, offers an understanding of possible alternatives, and create equally weighted offers for use in delivering multiple equivalent simultaneous offers. The system provides a framework for effective negotiation that permeates negotiation strategy best practices throughout an organization, as all employees will undertake the same preparation process and utilize similar strategies. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313174 | Approving Energy Transaction Plans Associated with Electric Vehicles - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for approving energy transaction plans for managing electric vehicle charging transactions. In one embodiment, an energy transaction plan and an identification of a set of principals associated with the energy transaction plan are received from an energy transaction planner. In response to a determination that the energy transaction plan is pre-approved by the set of principals, an energy transaction plan approval service sends a notification to the energy transaction planner indicating that the energy transaction plan is approved to form an approved energy transaction plan. In response to a determination that the energy transaction plan requires express approval from a subset of principals in the set of principals, the transaction plan approval service sends a request for approval of the energy transaction plan to each principal in the subset of principals. In response to receiving an approval from the each principal in the subset of principals, the transaction plan approval service sends the notification to the energy transaction planner indicating that the energy transaction plan is approved to form the approved energy transaction plan. The approved energy transaction plan is sent to an execution engine for implementation. | 12-17-2009 |
20090319436 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF OPINION ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN SOCIAL PLATFORM APPLICATIONS - A method, apparatus, and system of opinion analysis and recommendations in social platform applications are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes processing an opinion data of a user through a platform application interface of a social community environment, the opinion data to include at least one of an opinion and a response of the user, determining an opinion match of the user based on analyzing at least one of an attribute and a polarity of the opinion data using a natural language processing algorithm to match the opinion data across a categorized set of opinions associated with certain ones of a plurality of users of the social community environment, and recommending the opinion targeted to the user based on at least one of the opinion match and a likeness profile determined of the user agnostic of a degree of separation between the user and any of the users. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319437 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FACILITATING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN ISSUING FINANCIAL PAPER - Financial instruments, particularly time certificates of deposit issued primarily by banks in the form of a contract between the depositor and the financial depository to typically pay an fixed interest rate for a fixed period of time at which redemption may occur. In the U.S. these contracts are required by Truth in Savings Regulation DD to state at the time of account opening the penalty for early withdrawal. These penalties can not be revised by the depository prior to maturity. The penalty for early withdrawal is the deterrent to allowing depositors to take advantage of subsequent enhanced investment opportunities during the term of the instrument. The withdrawal penalty is usually stated as a number of days/months of lost interest. In certain interest rate environments, this penalty may be Insufficient to discourage depositors from redeeming their deposit despite the penalty. At present, if a depositor does redeem, they must purchase a new CD for a fixed term which will tend to lengthen the term of deposit. The present invention overcomes this handicap by formulating a shorter term CD to make up the remainder of the term of the original CD. | 12-24-2009 |
20090327147 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF STRATEGIC COALITION BUILDING AND MATCHING FOR BUSINESS SERVICES - A computerized method (and apparatus) for coalition formation. One or more coalitional and/or service constraints are received and a feedback mechanism is provided for the coalition formation, as based on the coalitional and/or service constraints. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327148 | MECHANISMS AND ARCHITECTURE FOR MOBILE OPPORTUNISTIC COMMERCE - The claimed matter provides systems and/or methods that enable sellers and buyers to take mutual advantage of the relationship of the location of seller outlets to routes that mobile buyers take to other destinations. The system can include devices that identify sellers capable of fulfilling a buyer's product or service requirements, generate value functions for the seller based on bidding functions acquired from the seller and related to the product or service requirements of the buyer, compare the value functions associated with multiple sellers to identify a successful seller, and notify the buyer of the location of the successful seller by modifying a route to a pre-established destination to include directions to the successful seller. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327149 | Facilitating compensation Arrangements for Data Brokering - Systems and methods for data brokering, and more specifically, data brokering regarding a data provider's search-related activities, are described. In particular implementations, various aspects of facilitating a compensation arrangement between a data provider and a data consumer regarding one or more data-provider-related search activities are described. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327150 | Facilitating compensation arrangements providing for data tracking components - Systems and methods for data brokering, and more specifically, data brokering regarding a data provider's search-related activities are described. In particular implementations, various aspects of arranging for compensation to be received from the data consumer in exchange for at least one of installation of or access of a data tracking component related to at least one user interface associated with the data provider, are described. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327151 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF OFFERS - A method and system for providing geographic location notifications for targeted offers is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method including monitoring for an event to trigger a targeted offer. Upon detection of the event, the offer is generated. The offer is targeted to a consumer and is generated using payment data generated in response to transactions conducted by the consumer with a plurality of different merchants. A geographic location for redeeming the offer is determined. A notification message is generated about the offer. The notification message includes the offer and the geographic location for redeeming the offer. The notification message is sent to a notification device which is operated by the consumer. A graphical depiction of the offer is displayed on a map on the notification device. | 12-31-2009 |
20100005030 | Negotiated trade facility for securities lending - A computer program provides a screen-based interface enabling anonymous negotiation between a buyer and a seller. Parties wishing to trade enter values into fields of a screen-based interface, thereby creating a trading interest, and may select from terms associated with each of the fields to augment the trading interest. The parties may also specify counter-party filtering criteria in the trading interest. The computer program then displays to the creator of the trading interest any previously entered trading interests that might result in a trade, and that satisfy the counter-party filtering criteria, if any. The computer program also displays the new trading interest to the creators of the previously entered trading interests. Two of the parties may agree to negotiate using structured messages that maintain their anonymity. The identities of the counter-parties need not be known to each other as, after a trade agreement is reached, a central clearing party becomes the counter-party to each of the parties via a novation. | 01-07-2010 |
20100010934 | UNIVERSAL ADVERTISING DIRECTORY - This invention relates generally to software, and more specifically, to systems and methods to establish a directory of any kind of offer, whether commercial or non-commercial. The invention enables any person to create a forum for any kind of offer without the intervention or action of the operator of the directory, permitting the directory to be extended to offer types not even understood by the operators of the directory. The invention further enables persons making offers of every type to advertise their offers in such directory, and to rapidly update their offers as market conditions change. The invention further enables consumers to review offers in such directories, and compare offers based on price, years of experience, and other quantified metrics. The invention further enables consumers to invite those making a particular type of offer to bid on a specific job, and for such bids to be organized in charts, maps, and lists from which the consumer can compare the prices and qualifications of those bidding. The invention further enables a reward system providing incentives to people who induce those making offers to list their offers on such directory. | 01-14-2010 |
20100017337 | ESTABLISHING A BUYER/SERVICE PROVIDER RELATIONSHIP ELECTRONICALLY - Described herein is technology for, among other things, an electronic services marketplace. The technology involves receiving a request for services from a buyer, creating a service order based on the requested services, determining which of a plurality of service providers are qualified to provide the requested services, and selecting from the qualified service providers one or more particular service providers to perform the services. | 01-21-2010 |
20100042548 | Method and System for Obtaining An Invoice Outsourcing Agreement - A computer-implemented method for electronically obtaining an agreement authorizing a digital signature prior to invoicing to comply with a regulation in a tax jurisdiction. The method comprises associating a set of suppliers with a user and retrieving from a database a set of buying companies associated with the user's set of suppliers. A list of purchasing tax countries associated with the retrieved set of buying companies is created by querying the database. A list of tax countries associated with the retrieved set of buying companies is created by querying the database. A country-to-country relationship database table is configured to identify purchasing tax country and tax country relationships that require the agreement authorizing a digital signature prior to invoicing. The country-to-country relationship database table is queried for any combination of purchasing tax country and tax country from the lists of purchasing tax countries and tax countries that requires the agreement authorizing a digital signature prior to invoicing. The user is electronically presented with the agreement if any combination of purchasing tax country and tax country from the lists of purchasing tax countries and tax countries requires the agreement authorizing a digital signature prior to invoicing. Acceptance of the agreement by the user is confirmed before an invoice is created involving a purchasing tax country and tax country relationship that requires the agreement authorizing a digital signature prior to invoicing. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042549 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR RIDE MATCHING BASED ON SELECTION CRITERIA AND DRIVER CHARACTERISTIC INFORMATION - Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for matching a passenger with a driver for a trip to a destination. Characteristic information about a plurality of drivers is received and a plurality of selection criteria are received from the passenger. A request for the trip is received from the passenger. One of the drivers is automatically identified as a candidate driver for the trip based on the selection criteria and the characteristic information responsive to the received request. Contact information is provided to the passenger and/or the identified candidate driver to match the passenger with the identified candidate driver. One or more of the drivers may be associated with transportation service providing companies and the request for the trip may be a reservation request for a planned trip at a scheduled time in the future and the reservation request may include a date and/or time defining the scheduled time in the future. | 02-18-2010 |
20100049660 | PROCUREMENT SYSTEM - The procurement system includes that a quotation regarding the request for quotation can be only submitted by a seller through means of the procurement system, when he is registered and also personally identified in the procurement system so he is known as a seller with separately defined contact data and irrespective of the contact data in the list of the buyer whereby the seller determines his own billing address in the procurement system and thus prevents sending an invoice for example to other contacts, departments or divisions of the corporate group not related to the quotation. | 02-25-2010 |
20100057625 | NEGOTIATION OF POWER RATES BASED ON DYNAMIC WORKLOAD DISTRIBUTION - A consumer initiated automated and dynamic negotiation enables the consumer to obtain more beneficial rates and/or other terms between the consumer and one or more energy providers. The negotiation is based on anticipated computational processing requirements of the consumer, and the current energy costs being offered by each provider. Other elements such as the ability of the provider to timely supply the energy and the differential between the costs of traditional and green energy may also be factored in. The results of the negotiation can produce a shifting of all or part of the workload to another provider or an alternative geographical location to capitalize on lower power rates or conditions of delivery. The negotiation may be based on an auction between more than one competing energy supplier. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057626 | CANCELLATION TIMING IN AN ELECTRONIC MARKETPLACE - A trading platform and trading method that allows access to additional pools of liquidity is described. Other embodiments are also described. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057627 | NON-FIRM ORDERS IN ELECTRONIC MARKETPLACES - A trading platform and trading method that allows access to additional pools of liquidity is described. Other embodiments are also described. | 03-04-2010 |
20100070420 | ONLINE PRICING AND BUYBACK - A seller may sell advertisements, such as banner ads, to a buyer pursuant to a request made by the buyer to the seller. Each request has a value. The seller may accept the request from the buyer to provide a banner ad for the buyer at a later time. A request, once accepted, may be revoked at a cost which may be a fixed fraction of the request value. The cost may be referred to as a buyback cost. The buyback cost represents the cost of revoking a request that had been accepted. Additionally, matroid set systems and knapsack systems may use buyback techniques. | 03-18-2010 |
20100076894 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING AND DISTRIBUTING ADVERTISEMENT IMPRESSIONS - The present invention provides a method and system for acquiring and distributing a plurality of advertising impressions. The method and system includes determining a number of advertisement impressions requested to satisfy a plurality of advertisement contracts under management in an electronic advertisement system. The method and system includes bidding, in an bid exchange, for a plurality of advertisement impressions to win the number of advertisement impressions requested, the bidding using a randomized exchange purchasing strategy for the placement of a plurality of bids in the bid exchange, the bidding performed using a decentralized implementation. And the method and system includes, upon acquisition of advertisement impressions from the exchange, allocating the advertisement impressions proportionally to each of the plurality of advertisement contracts. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076895 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CUSTOMER INTERACTION MANAGEMENT - Apparatus and methods for selecting an offer for presentation to a customer of a bank are provided. The methods may include optimizing historical customer data; selecting an offer based on the historical customer data; and, based at least in part on recent customer data, determining whether to present the offer to the customer. Optimizing the historical data may involve performing batch processing on the historical data. The recent customer data may be updated in real time. Offers may be generated and selected for presentation to the customer based on the historical data, the recent data and rules. One or more offers that are generated may be removed from consideration based on the recent customer data, which may provide real-time information about the customer and/or the customer's needs. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076896 | SUBSTITUTABILITY OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - A trading platform and trading method that allows access to additional pools of liquidity is described. Other embodiments are also described. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076897 | MEDIA INVESTMENT AND INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method that provides efficient management and analysis of campaigning is described. In one embodiment the method involves receiving inputs from user and maintaining performance of a campaign in a database to be used for further analysis and comparison with actual performance parameters of a campaign for later evaluation and deal making. | 03-25-2010 |
20100082495 | TRADING SYSTEM ACCESSIBILITY - A trading platform and trading method that allows access to additional pools of liquidity is described. Other embodiments are also described. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082496 | REAL ESTATE SITE SELECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A computerized site selection system and method. In one embodiment, the computerized site selection system includes a representation means for generating visual representations of data to at least one user, an interface means having interactive user controls for manipulating data in response to an action by the at least one user, an analysis means for analyzing data, a communication means for sending and receiving data to and from the at least one user, a storage means for storing data saved by the at least one user, and a network server in communication with and programmed for controlling the functions performed by each of the representation means, interface means, analysis means, communication means, and storage means, where the data contains real estate information, and where at least one of the representation means, interface means, analysis means, and communication means is operatively associated with the at least one user through a network connection. | 04-01-2010 |
20100088238 | Method and system utilizing an interactive, descending, sale-price meter used to optimize negotiation-free, sales offers - A method and system to determine a fair sales price for items displayed on an advertising space with connectivity to the internet. This method and system facilitates negotiation free, transactions (like, but not limited to, real-estate sales) regulated by a unique fluctuating, regressive, digitally displayed sale price in an interactive, electronic advertising space utilizing a database. The system includes algorithms that are hosted on a server such that space is provided for property owners and prospective buyers to determine an acceptable offer on advertised property. Set parameters, which regulate the sale price amount displayed on the property's advertisement. This interactive, digital/graphic, sale-price display which regressively descends at varying rates, as manipulated by the property listing representative registered with the system, until the displayed sale price is selected by a buyer. Once the buyer offer is submitted, the host application stops further price deductions and accepts the offer for closing. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088239 | Collaborative Negotiation Methods, Systems, and Apparatuses for Extended Commerce - A round of negotiation for an item is initiated between a plurality of bidders at a plurality of client nodes and a host processing node. A price bid for the item is received from each of the plurality of bidders. At least one negotiation parameter is received from at least one of the plurality of bidders. The negotiation parameter is associated with the item. A total cost value is determined based on an active negotiation term, the price bid, and the negotiation parameter for each of the plurality of bidders. | 04-08-2010 |
20100100487 | VIRTUAL WORLD CONTEST, AUCTION, ELECTION, SALES METHOD FOR NOTIFICATION AND INTERACTION WITH THE REAL WORLD - A method and system for conducting contests, auctions, elections, or sales are disclosed. A user in a real world can participate in an event in a virtual world without knowing the event occurs in the virtual world. Information related to the event is first transmitted from the virtual world to the real world in accordance with an inter-world protocol. In the real world, the information is broadcasted via a communication channel. A user in the real world provides a feedback for the event by calling or text messaging. The feedback from the user is transmitted from the real world to the virtual world. The feedback is collected in the real world or in the virtual world. Based on the number of feedbacks, a winner is selected in the event in the virtual world. The winner is also informed to the real world in accordance with the inter-world protocol. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100488 | INFRASTRUCTURE COMMODITY SAVINGS ACCOUNT - Disclosed is a method and system for an infrastructure commodity savings account program in the context of supplying an infrastructure commodity to a plurality of designated premises for consumption. The method includes receiving a purchase request from a customer for purchasing the infrastructure commodity for future use and selling a quantity of the infrastructure commodity to the customer at a first time with a condition that the infrastructure commodity will not be supplied for consumption for a period from the sale. The method further includes saving the sold quantity of the infrastructure commodity in an infrastructure commodity savings account of the customer; receiving a withdrawal request for withdrawal of the infrastructure commodity from the infrastructure commodity savings account; and processing withdrawal of the infrastructure commodity from the infrastructure commodity savings account at a second time. In the system and method, at least one of receiving the purchase request, selling a quantity, saving the sold quantity, receiving withdrawal request and processing is performed by one or more computing device comprising a processor and a memory. | 04-22-2010 |
20100106650 | JOINTLY AUCTIONING EXPIRING DOMAIN NAMES - Methods of the present inventions allow for jointly auctioning expiring domain names. An exemplary method may comprise determining (perhaps by a server) whether a domain name's registration may expire within a predetermined timeframe. If it is determined that the registration will expire within the timeframe, the domain name registrant may be contacted (prior to the domain name's expiration) to request an agreement to jointly sell the domain name and to share the resultant sales fee. If the parties agree, the domain name may then be sold (perhaps via a server) to a third party and the resultant fee may be shared with the registrant. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106651 | REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An automated system and method for managing real estate transactions includes a processing unit and a memory that may store program instructions for execution by the processing unit. The program instructions implement a real estate transaction management system that may include a contract negotiation module that may be configured to iteratively maintain, within the memory, one or more electronic versions of a real estate contract. The contract negotiation module may also provide access to each version of the contract by each party to the contract and may generate a new version of the contract in response to at least one of the parties editing, electronically initialing and electronically signing one or more times on any page of a given version of the contract. The contract negotiation module may further notify at least some parties in response to each new version being submitted. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106652 | System and Method for Procurement Strategy Optimization Against Expressive Contracts - In a computer-implemented method of procurement strategy optimization, data about a number of contracts is stored in a computer storage accessible to a processor of a computer along with a forecast of a future quantity of at least one good or service to be purchased. The processor of the computer determines a first plan for future procurement against at least one of the stored contracts based on the forecast and the following data specified by the one contract: a good or service, a payment rule, a trigger condition, and an associated effect of the trigger condition. In response to the processor automatically approving the first plan subject to one or more predetermined rules or the processor receiving an approval of the first plan, the processor causes the first plan to be adopted for future procurement. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106653 | System and Method for Contract Execution Against Expressive Contracts - In a computer-implemented method of contract execution, data about contracts is stored in a computer storage accessible to a processor of a computer along with data about a procurement plan and data about a purchase request that includes information about a first quantity of at least one good or service. The processor determines a second quantity of the one good or service and a second contract against which to complete the purchase request based on the procurement plan, the data about the contracts, at least one purchase made against one of the contracts, a trigger condition and associated effect, and the quantity of at least one good or service. In response to the second contract and the second quantity being approved, the processor causes a purchase order for the second quantity of the one good or service to be placed to the supplier associated with the second contract. | 04-29-2010 |
20100114783 | System for combining and bundling commercial products, items having monetary value, business transactions, and entertainment - A method for acquiring and distributing entertainment items, information representative of monetary funds, and/or commercial products, some or all which maybe combined or bundled in a single package. Goods and services are first identified. Advertising is provided for at least one commercial product. The advertising includes a predetermined code associated with the commercial product. The commercial product is sold and, upon acceptance of the predetermined code, a second commercial product or an entertainment item or a medium containing information representative of monetary funds is provided as a single entity or transaction. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114784 | System and Method for Payment Reconciliation Against Expressive Contracts - In a computer-implemented method of conducting expressive payment reconciliation, a purchase transaction is stored in a computer storage accessible to a processor. The processor identifies a contract against which the purchase transaction is made and a first payment amount for the purchase transaction. Contract data is stored in the computer storage and the processor determines a second payment amount for the purchase transaction based on at least one good or service associated with the purchase transaction and the data about the contract. In response to a difference in the first and second payments, the processor either stores computer storage a modified invoice with a modified payment amount, stores in the computer storage a reconciliation payment equal to the payment difference; outputs over a computer network an explanation of the modified payment; or outputs over a computer network a dispute notification. | 05-06-2010 |
20100121768 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BULK PAYMENT ACCOUNT - An offeror offers a first plurality of payment device holders a first offer including a negotiated deal on a first ware, which is available for a first predetermined period of time. Those certain holders among the first plurality of payment device holders who wish to accept the first offer (“first offer accepting holders”) are registered. Registration includes obtaining at least personal identifying information and corresponding registered payment device account numbers for the first offer accepting holders. A first plurality of transactions are processed in accordance with the negotiated deal on the first ware. The first plurality of transactions are purchases of the first ware, by the first offer accepting holders, during the first predetermined period of time. In some circumstances, the offeror does not require purchase of any product or service other than the first ware for which the negotiated unit price is offered in order for the first offer accepting holders to obtain the negotiated unit price on the first ware. In some cases, monetary amounts of the first plurality of transactions are adjusted to reflect the negotiated deal, contemporaneously with the first plurality of transactions. | 05-13-2010 |
20100125525 | PRICE ALTERATION THROUGH BUYER AFFECTED AGGREGATION OF PURCHASERS - A method, apparatus, and system of price alteration through buyer affected aggregation of purchasers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of buyer altered aggregation of purchasers includes generating an offer of at least two of an item (e.g., a good, a real property, an intangible property, and/or a service) for sale at a conditionally determined price to a potential buyer, acquiring an additional potential buyer. The method includes aggregating a set of potential buyers to affect the conditionally determined price. In addition, the method includes selling at least two of the item at the conditionally determined price to the set of potential buyers at a predetermined time. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125526 | Three Party Services Transaction System - A method of entering into and performing a service agreement, comprising maintaining a provider account database comprising records for service providers; providing a website that enables a customer to interactively select a service provider from the provider account database; enabling said service provider to provide an electronic estimate form that includes a description of work to be perform and an estimated price; enabling said customer to accept or reject said price estimate; enabling said service provider to submit a bill for work performed following acceptance of said price estimate; enabling said customer and said service provider to exchange messages via interactive chat wherein said chat is in reference to exchanged forms and bill data; and electronically obtaining money from the customer and transferring the money to an account from which the service provider is paid. | 05-20-2010 |
20100138349 | Commission Payment Preclusion In Property Sale - Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for negating payment of a commission to one or more real estate professionals by a property owner on sale of a property of the property owner over an electronic environment. The property owner sets a first list price for the property. The real estate professional sets a second list price. The property owner and the real estate professional enter into a sales agreement to list the property to a buyer at the set second list price over the electronic environment. The real estate professional negotiates a sale of the property at the second list price between the buyer and the property owner based on the sales agreement. The property is sold based on the negotiation. A return of the difference between the second list price and the first list price is remitted to the real estate professional. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138350 | METHOD OF FACILITATING VALUE-BASED BARTERING OVER THE INTERNET - A method, apparatus, and system of facilitating value-based bartering over the internet are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system of e-commerce includes a computer network, a server to host a market place website, a listing module to enable an entity to assign a specified value to a good and to list the good for trade on the market place website such that the listing of the good will expire after being posted for a specified period of time, a trade module to enable an entity to trade the good for an other good of an other entity on the market place website, a search module to enable the entity to search a list of goods on the market place website. | 06-03-2010 |
20100145862 | AUTOMATED SPECTRUM EXCHANGE SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present disclosure describes systems and methods that facilitate the transfer of rights associated with spectrum between parties by providing an automated spectrum exchange in which spectrum is a tradable commodity. In one embodiment, data is received from a spectrum holder that defines a spectrum offering by frequency, time, and geographic area to identify available spectrum from the holder. A spectrum query that defines aspects of spectrum being sought by a spectrum user is also received and matched to one or more spectrum offerings. A transactional process is hosted by receiving a bid or rebid from the spectrum user for a matched spectrum offering and receiving a counteroffer from the spectrum holder that posted the matched spectrum offering. Each spectrum offering, bid, rebid, and counteroffer specifies price, frequency, time, and geographic area information in a standardized format. As a result, the automated spectrum exchange allows parties to market, locate, and transfer spectrum use rights with relative ease, faster transaction time, and lower expense. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145863 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATIVE COLLABORATIVE MARKETPLACES - A method of conducting a multi-level transaction includes receiving a primary call for proposals, publicizing the primary call for proposals, receiving one or more primary bids by a computing system with respect to the primary call for proposals, receiving one or more secondary calls for proposals for each primary bid, receiving one or more secondary bids by the computing system with respect to the one or more secondary calls for proposals, automatically determining an estimated cost of fulfillment for each primary bid, receiving a selection of a primary bid based on at least the estimated costs of fulfillment for the primary bids, and displaying the selection of the primary bid. Each secondary call for proposals includes a job request associated with the primary bid. The estimated cost of fulfillment is based on a cost of fulfillment associated with the primary bid and one or more secondary call costs of fulfillment. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145864 | MULTIPLY-INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR PRODUCT INVENTORY, SALES, AND DISTRIBUTION - A multiply-integrated system for inventory, sales, and distribution of products comprises a supplier database, an order database, and a programmed order processor. The supplier database includes inventory/pricing information for multiple independent participating product suppliers, which may include: product manufacturers, distributors, and/or retailers. The order database includes order information received by the multiple participating product suppliers from multiple independent product purchasers. The multiple product purchasers may include any or all of: product manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and/or purchasers. The order processor is linked to the databases and programmed for implementing a multiply-integrated method comprising the steps of: a) receiving/entering pricing/inventory information for the supplier database; b/c) receiving/entering order information for multiple product purchasers into the order database; d) searching for ordered products available from a supplier; e) issuing instructions for delivery of each ordered and located product; f) updating the order database; and g) creating a financial accounting record for delivered products. | 06-10-2010 |
20100153277 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NETWORK-BASED ELECTRONIC TRADING PLATFORM FOR GOODS - A method is provided for facilitating a seller to trade goods with a buyer via a network-based electronic trading platform. The method includes facilitating a platform operator and a seller customer to enter into a first agreement to enable the platform operator to purchase the goods via a first member; assigning the property ownership of the purchased goods to the platform operator and a right to trade the purchased goods to the first member; enabling a buyer customer to buy the certain quantity of the goods from the platform operator via a second member; and assigning a right to buy the certain quantity of the goods to the second member. The method also includes performing a third action facilitating the platform operator to sell the certain quantity of the goods to the buyer customer based on the second agreement. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153278 | WEB SITES THAT INTRODUCE A SELLER TO A UNIVERSE OF BUYERS, WEB SITES THAT RECEIVE A BUYER'S LISTING OF WHAT HE WANTS TO BUY, OTHER INTRODUCTION WEB SITES, SYSTEMS USING INTRODUCTION WEB SITES AND INTERNET-BASED INTRODUCTIONS - An inventive website is used by a seller to find a universe of buyers, and by a buyer to be introduced to a seller without investing much time. The website in-takes a user's description of his target item with agreeable price, which gets posted on the website. When a seller encounters a posting for which he wants to be introduced to the poster, he has the system report his interest to the poster and once the poster grants permission, the seller can be introduced to, and directly email, telephone, etc. the poster. The provision of the introduction can be conditioned upon payment by the seller or otherwise. An Identity Scoring system outputs a score indicating the likelihood that the opposite party actually is who claims to be. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153279 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GLOBAL TRANSPORTATION,VETTING, AND PAYMENT - Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for use and payment of global transportation and vetting systems and methods. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153280 | CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PREQUALIFICATION - A networked computer system for acquiring prequalification information and comparing that prequalification information to a set of minimum requirements for a plurality of reviewing organizations. In some embodiments, the networked computer system also facilitates the project bidding process between prequalified organizations. The networked computer system receives bids from a prequalified bidding organization and assigns a rank to the bidding organization relative to other prequalified bidding organizations. In some embodiments, the networked computer system assigns a rank to the bid proposal based, in part, on the bidding organization's prequalification information and the information from the bid proposal. | 06-17-2010 |
20100161495 | System and method for managing construction project bids and/or unit pricing data - A system and a method manage construction project bids and/or unit pricing data. An online system manages bids for components of a construction project and allows a user to search aggregated unit pricing data. The user may be a bidder or a solicitor and may search construction cost information to obtain product and job-specific pricing. The user may select a construction division and/or a product to research, and the system provides up-to-date cost information. The system conducts a search that may be customized by a location, a construction category and/or a jobsite type. The user may input a user name and a password to access a personal organization tool that manages aspects of a project and provides current information on an active project. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161496 | Method for Ensuring Contractual Compliance in Cross-Platform Quality Control - Assurance of quality with respect to of a software application across different operating platforms with different system architectures is provided. Methods for determining and assuring said quality as well as a system for the same is disclosed. A method for ensuring compliance with a contractual obligation related to quality of service in software is also disclosed. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161497 | Web Service Indirect Channel Distribution System Over The Web For Ensuring Most Favored Pricing For Purchasers - A network Web service indirect channel distribution system, method and computer program that ensures purchasers are charged the most favored prices. An implementation enabling a system host to negotiate prices for vendor registered goods and services, means for modifying the host negotiated prices and means enabling a purchaser to negotiate a special price for registered goods and services in a specific purchase transaction. An entitled price repository independent of the above-described indirect channel distribution system is associated with this entitled price repository for tracking a plurality of price affecting factors selected from a group of such factors comprising the host negotiated prices, the above-described modified prices, and the specific purchase transaction prices. The entitled price repository correlates all of these price affecting factors to produce a most favored price for the customer/purchaser. | 06-24-2010 |
20100169225 | "SYSTEM FOR OUTSOURCING TECHNOLOGY SERVICES" - A system for contracting for the provision of outsourced technology services, includes a database of services and corresponding practices for performing at least some of the services. A module is provided which enable selection of services required by a client from the database and assignment of parties responsible for delivering the selected services. A further module is arranged to prepare a contract schedule in accordance with the selected services and responsible parties. The system may also enable definition of environments of the client and metrics governing the services required by the client. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169226 | METHOD FOR FACILITATING THE OUTSOURCING OF TECHNOLOGY SERVICES - The invention relates to an improved method of developing and monitoring performance of a technology outsourcing agreement. The invention provides a computer-implemented method of outsourcing technology services to a client where a client has a number of environments in which technology services are required. The method includes selecting the services which are required by the client and displaying a table where each intersection in the table is associated with a service and an environment. In each intersection is an indication of a supplier responsible for the associated service in the associated environment. Each intersection may also be associated with free-form textual information relating to the associated service in the associated environment. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169227 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY OF SERVICE (QoS) - Under the present invention, users are provided with the capability to select how energy will be throttled in shortage conditions. For example, users can promise to throttle or cut energy to devices that they consider noncritical (e.g. television, toaster, stereo) in exchange for a promise that the energy company will continue to give them enough to run more essential devices (e.g. lights, well pump, etc.). As users agree to lower usage in response to a energy shortage, they are provided a higher QoS rating than users who do not offer to lower usage. As a shortage worsens, conserving users will be allocated energy before non-conserving users. Enforcement and fulfillment of obligations established in agreements may be automated to ensure compliance. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169228 | Integrated Negotiation Engine - A negotiation system and method for producing a set of transaction terms for a transaction between a purchaser and a supplier is presented. The negotiation system includes a negotiation tool adapted to receive and store supplier data and transaction data from one or more data sources via a communications network. The negotiation system further includes a simulation tool in communication with the negotiation tool to receive selected supplier data and selected transaction data from the supplier data and transaction data stored by the negotiation tool. The simulation tool is further adapted to generate, from the selected supplier data and selected transaction data, one or more simulations of the transaction, and to generate an interactive graphical representation of selected simulations of the one or more simulations in a graphical user interface for being displayed to a user | 07-01-2010 |
20100174654 | Electronic Trading System Supporting Anonymous Negotiation and Indicators of Interest - A system conducts anonymous negotiations and supports indications-of-interest in trading stock. The system includes a database for storing public orders received from a public stock trading system; and a server for receiving hidden orders from a plurality of users and for conducting anonymous negotiations between first and second users with the hidden orders. The server repeatedly accesses the database to determine a match of any one of the hidden orders with any one of the public orders, and to execute a pair of orders selected from the hidden orders and the public orders. The system also transmits indicators-of-interest (IOIs) into a trading environment using the server for processing a trading order from a first user and for maintaining a profile of a user. The profile includes a current IOI setting for controlling transmission of the IOI from the user. The server responds to a toggle command from the first user to control transmission of the IOI opposite to the current IOI setting. The server responds to the IOI setting being set to allow transmission by transmitting the IOI of the first user associated with the trading order. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174655 | DIGITAL CONTENT DISTRIBUTION USING IDENTIFICATION TAGS - Systems and methods for storing and distributing digital content using RFID tags are described. The systems contain a storage device for the digital content, a display device that provides an offer for the digital content, a capture device for accepting the offer, a distribution device for distributing the content to the user, and a receiving device for receiving the digital content. In some configurations, the display device can contain an RFID chip that places an RFID tag in the capture device. The RFID tag can be used to retrieve the digital content from the distribution device. In some configurations, the distribution device can be a kiosk and the capture device can be also be used as the receiving device to retrieve the digital content from the kiosk. This system allows the decision to obtain the digital content to be an impulse decision since the RFID tag can be quickly and easily be downloaded from the display device. The actual content can then be retrieved at a more convenient time when the user comes in contact with the kiosk. Other embodiments are described. | 07-08-2010 |
20100185546 | PERSONAL DATA SUBSCRIBER SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Methods and systems for facilitating the propagation of personal data are provided. Example embodiments provide a Personal Data Propagation Environment (“PDP environment”), which facilitates the propagation of personal data items between secure personal data stores and various consumers of the personal data items. In one embodiment, the PDP environment includes a personal data manager and a personal data subscriber. The personal data manager manages personal data items on a secure data store associated with a user computing device. The personal data manager provides access to personal data items stored on the secure data store in accordance with a personal data subscription associated with the personal data subscriber. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185547 | PROJECT PLANNING SYSTEM - An interactive and collaborative, planning, designing and facilitating tool that connects users with organized information and relevant data, providers and facilitators to resolve technical issues in conceptualizing, designing and implementing a custom project. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185548 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating Agreement Generation and Negotiation via an Agreement Modeling System - Systems and methods are provided to facilitate generation and/or negotiation of an agreement document via an agreement modeling system. According to one embodiment, agreement information associated with an agreement between a party and a counter-party is determined. An agreement document is generated in accordance with the agreement information, and it is automatically arranged for the agreement document to be received by the party and/or the counter-party. For example, an agreement modeling system controller may transmit the agreement document to the counter-party via an electronic mail address. | 07-22-2010 |
20100191655 | REALITY GAME SHOW - A program is provided in which individuals submit business proposals in efforts to receive funding or other support to be used to implement the proposals. The program may be provided distributed for television, internet, cellular telephones or other media. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191656 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERCONNECTING MEDIA SERVICES TO AN INTERFACE FOR TRANSPORT OF MEDIA ASSETS - Systems and methods are provided to integrate disparate media services and applications across an organization. The media services are connected to an interoperable media services bus by creating a connector API for each service, thereby enabling the media services to exchange messages in a standardized format related to transactions to be performed involving media assets and/or metadata associated with media assets. Media assets are advantageously transported between different media systems using a transport interface that hides details of the transport operation from the sender and recipient media services. Each media service provides its own file transport parameters defining procedures for obtaining media assets therefrom and writing media assets thereto; the transport service determines particular protocols for each transport operation based on the information provided by the sender and recipient media services. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191657 | Reverse Billing in Online Search - There is disclosed reverse billing in online search. A telephony server may receive a request from a user to cause a telephone call to be established between the user and a merchant. A notice to the merchant may be generated. The notice may include an offer to establish a telephone call with the user in exchange for payment of a definite fee. An acceptance of the offer may be received from the merchant. A first voice communication leg with the user and a second voice communication leg with the merchant may be bridged to establish the telephone call between the user and the merchant. The definite fee may be appear on the merchant's bill for telephone service. | 07-29-2010 |
20100205099 | SYSTEM AND METHODS TO FACILITATE CONNECTIONS TO ACCESS NETWORKS - The described aspects relate to methods and systems for enabling connectivity agreements between access terminals and access networks. The connectivity agreements may be established through user-side negotiations or third party negotiations for a connection with an access network. In addition, the described aspects relate to methods and systems for paying access networks for a connection. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205100 | Real-Time Collaborative Selection of Service Providers - A method and system for customer service, comprising enabling a customer to provide a request for service, receiving the request for service from the customer and providing a website that enables a service provider to view the request for service, interactively chat about the request for service with other service providers, and respond to the request for service by creating and sending an offer of service to the customer and enabling the customer to accept the offer of service. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205101 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND ARTICLE-OF-MANUFACTURE FOR THE CREATION, ISSUANCE, TRADING, AND EXERCISE OF REFUND OPTIONS FOR ATTENDANCE RIGHTS - Computer-related methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture to permit/facilitate the creation, marketing, and/or distribution of options to purchase tickets or obtain refunds to a particular future event, particularly an elimination format competition, when the chosen competitor's qualification for such a game is currently uncertain, but where the uncertainty will be resolved prior to the commencement of the particular future event. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205102 | Method and System for Manipulation of Scheduling Information in a Distributed Virtual Enterprise - A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product for processing e-commerce information are presented. A business entity may transfer e-commerce agreements through an electronic marketplace. The business entity retrieves dependency information about a commercial transaction from an e-commerce agreement. The business entity incorporates the dependency information, e.g., dates, costs, deliveries, etc., as dependency relationships within a project model that represents a project for a product or service for sale by the first business entity. User input is received for manipulating a scheduling dependency relationship within the project model while constraining the user input to ensure that another type of dependency relationship is not incompatible with modifications to the scheduling dependency relationship. | 08-12-2010 |
20100211508 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING SERVICE TRANSACTIONS - The present invention provides a computer-based system and method for brokering transactions between sellers and a buyer of goods or services, the system including computer having the requisite software and hardware to provide a database, a provider portal, and a consumer portal. Preferably, the database contains a hierarchical listing of services being offered and options and information associated with them. The provider portal and consumer portal are configured to gather specified information so that a transaction based on the information can be formed. | 08-19-2010 |
20100217711 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING A PRIVATE COMMODITY RESOURCE TRANSACTION - The disclosure presents a system, method, and computer readable medium for facilitating a private commodity resource transaction, having logic for establishing a market for the private commodity resource transaction, communicating a plurality of market establishment prompts to the remote computer, establishing a market for the private commodity resource transaction, receiving market establishment offer information comprising a selected subset of potential respondents, offering to the selected subset of potential respondents the private commodity resource transaction, determining which potential respondents of the predetermined set of potential respondents to communicate the market establishment offer information to, privately communicating the market establishment offer information to the potential respondents, receiving an acceptance response from at least one the potential respondents, identifying which of the potential respondents is associated with a first complete acceptance, privately communicating to the identified respondent a execution communication, and closing the market. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217712 | Method for Sales Forecasting in Business-to-Business Sales Management - The invention provides a system and method for analyzing data from sales staff for multiple active business-to-business (B2B) sales opportunities—and generating a sales revenue forecast, along with additional valuable information to give the business management insight into future potential changes in revenue. The present invention lets a user define stages of selling progress based on steps known as Customer Decision Elements (CDEs) that deliver value to the customer's decision-making process, as input data, as well as the dollar value of the active sales opportunity. The sales progress in completing these defined stages is also entered into the system of the present invention. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217713 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MATCHING AN OFFER WITH A QUOTE - Described is a system and method that satisfies offers from customers with quotes from suppliers in a way that increases the likelihood of achieving an acceptable match. The system of the present invention is configured to receive from a customer an offer for a product. The system queries in parallel multiple suppliers for rate quotes on the desired product. Each of the suppliers is ranked according to the lowest rate quoted by each supplier. The supplier quoting the lowest rate is selected as the winner of the offer. The system may then evaluate any other rate quotes provided by the winning provider. The system may satisfy the customer's offer with the winning provider at a higher rate (if one was provided) than the winning rate quoted, up to the customer's offer (perhaps adjusted for a reasonable profit). In this way, even though the provider provides low rate quotes to win the offer, the provider may still realize a much higher rate for the goods or services by quoting additional, higher rate quotes as well. | 08-26-2010 |
20100223189 | METHOD FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF OFFERS RELATED TO LOAD TRANSPORTATION SERVICES - A method for the management of load transportation services offers. The method includes providing information to a server relating to firms needing transportation services. The information provided includes, on a per firm basis, at least a firm identifier and at least detail of one geographical zone of the destination of the transport. The method also makes available information about firm transport requirements to the carriers, with the carriers also providing to a main computing system a carrier identifier and carrying capacity. The method further conveys the carriers personalized offers, to the main computing system and directed to any number of the firms, and makes available the personalized offers to the firms they are directed to. A computer network is used to carry out these steps of providing and making available the information and conveying the offers. | 09-02-2010 |
20100235287 | METHOD FOR OUTSOURCING TECHNOLOGY SERVICES - A method of outsourcing technology. Metrics are determined to govern services by agreement between a client and an outsourcer. Services required by the client are selected from a fixed list of services and a quality for the selected service is determined, the selection and the quality being dependent on the metrics. The services within the fixed list of services are organised within groups and at least one service corresponds to a predetermined practice. An agreement is generated for the provision of each selected service, and the provision of each selected service is allocated to an appropriate technology service provider. Each technology service provider provides its allocated service according to the quality required and according to the corresponding practice. The services provided in conjunction are monitored and the quality of the services is adjusted or additional services are added from the list in response to the outcome of the monitoring. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235288 | E-COMMERCE USING SWAP - Some embodiments include a system that enables complex national and international multilateral swaps of goods and/or services over a network, wherein such transactions are carried out using an internal unit of account (IUA) combined with an automatic and secure credit authorization and a deposit routine. The system controls and tracks all accounts, swaps, trades and balances, and enables credit authorization, deposit interfaces for bank transfers, credit card transfers, and internet service providers, trading sites, and/or auction sites. | 09-16-2010 |
20100241573 | Conducting Customized Market Surveys with Transactional Data - Systems and methods for consumer participation in a marketing survey and for development of marketing solicitations by corporate clients based on consumer transactional/demographic data are described. An individual seeking to participate in a marketing survey may first choose to be included in a database containing many surveys that have been added by corporate sponsors. The system may select a willing consumer for participation in the survey based on predefined preferred data metrics. Upon participation, the consumer may also receive a reward in the form of a cash payment or gift, which the system may credit directly to the consumer's bank account and/or to the consumer's account with a corporate affiliate. In addition, the platform may be used to generate marketing contact lists based on consumer demographic and transactional data for a corporate client. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241574 | SYSTEM FOR ANONYMOUSLY NEGOTIATING THE PRICE OF A PARTICULAR PRODUCT TO BE PURCHASED AT A LATER TIME FROM A PARTICULAR VENDOR - A system for anonymously negotiating the price of a particular product to be purchased at a later time from a particular vendor. The system uses at least one consumer terminal, an intermediary entity, and at least one vendor terminal to (1) identify a particular item for sale at a Brick and Mortar Retailer, whereby the particular item has a stated purchase price that was decided by the Brick and Mortar Retailer, (2) anonymously place an offer for the particular item at a desired price, whereby the desired price is less than the stated purchase price, (3) purchase the item at the Brick and. Mortar Retailer at the stated price, and (4) receive a credit equal to the difference between the stated price and the desired price upon submitting proof that the transaction at the Brick and Mortar Retailer has been completed. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241575 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ONLINE NEGOTIATION - A system, apparatus, article of manufacture and method for facilitating an automatic negotiation between a consumer and a vendor for purchase of an item is described. An electronic negotiation unit receives an offer to purchase the item, and automatically processes the offer. The processing is performed by a computer and includes accepting the offer if it is greater than a bottom line price for the item. The offer is rejected if the offer is below a negotiation range which extends below the bottom line price. If the offer is within the negotiation range for the item, the electronic negotiation unit automatically generates a counter offer price that is greater than or equal to the bottom line price. If the counter offer is within a final offer range the counter offer is designated as a final counter offer. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241576 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SOCIAL NETWORK BASED TRANSACTIONS - A system, method and computer program product that comprises a non transient computer readable medium that stores instructions for: monitoring an offer to enter a transaction, wherein the offer is being distributed over a social networking community by a referring entity; wherein members of the social networking community interact through a network; detecting a completion of the transaction; and compensating the referring entity, wherein the referring entity differs from an initiator of the offer. | 09-23-2010 |
20100250444 | Reverse selling marketplace - This invention presents a method of matching sellers with buyers in which at least one buyer and one seller register on the Ibuyer website. Each user is then required to create a profile. The method requires a buyer to specify his desires in the form a buying interest and requires a seller to provide an inventory of items. Said buying interest comprises various details regarding an item. Once a user has submitted a buying interest, all the sellers who have items meeting the criteria specified in the buying interest are alerted of a potential buyer. Said sellers then contact the buyer via email, live chat, and submit the item at a price for which the seller will sell the item. Such competition among sellers not only gives sellers a target audience but it also inevitably causes the price to decrease. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250445 | Commitment tracking system - There is provided a commitment tracking system that allows for interactive input and output from multiple users including vendors and customers. The commitment tracking system allows the parties to a project to view with transparency the development of the project, its negotiation, finalization, and implementation. The commitment tracking system allows a party to identify individual commitments from multiple commitment sources. Another party can likewise populate a work breakdown structure that includes projects, deliverables, and artifacts. The parties can link individual artifacts with commitments so as to define the agreement and monitor progress and/or changes to the agreement. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250446 | FREIGHT COMMERCE SYSTEM AND METHOD - In certain embodiments, a freight commerce system is provided. The freight commerce system includes a server communicatively coupled to a communication network. The freight commerce system also includes one or more data collection devices communicatively coupled to the communication network. The one or more data collection devices are configured to provide location information to the server via the communication network, wherein the location information includes real-time geo-based information, historical geo-based information, or a combination thereof. In addition, the freight commerce system includes one or more electronic devices coupled to the communication network and configured to receive user preference information from a user and provide the preference information to the server. The server is configured to process the user preference information from the one or more electronic devices and the location information from the one or more data collection devices and provide the user with information for potential shipping business partners based on the user preference information and the location information. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250447 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REBROKERING ORDERS IN A TRADING SYSTEM - Systems and methods are described herein for supporting the trading of bonds in a computerized system using broker dealers as intermediaries. Broker dealers receive orders relating to particular transactions and have the option to accept the order by submitting a matching counter order, or to rebroker the order with the same or modified terms to a number of other investors or additional broker dealers. The additional broker dealers have similar options, thus providing a system wherein orders can be quickly proliferated to a large number of parties. This order proliferation can be fully or partially automated through the use of predefined rules stored in a database which dictate for each broker dealer whether, to whom and under what terms to rebroker orders. When an order is received, the system processes all such rules to output a set of orders which are then communicated to the corresponding parties. | 09-30-2010 |
20100262547 | USER INFORMATION BROKERING - User information corresponding to a plurality of users can be received at a user information collector computing environment and stored in a user information computer database. A general offer from a purchaser to purchase at least part of the user information can be received at a user information broker. Also at the broker, individual offers for the users can be processed. Each of the individual offers can be an offer to purchase access by the purchaser to user information corresponding to one of the users. Acceptances of the individual offers can be received by the broker from accepting users. A broker payment to the broker can be received from the purchaser, and a user payment can be sent to each of the accepting users. In addition, user information corresponding to the accepting users can be sent to the purchaser. User information data mining can also be done. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262548 | System and Methods for Multiple Pricing Comparison - The present invention relates to systems and methods for generating a deal summary including comparisons of different pricing methods. A user, or a multi-dimension top down negotiator system, supplies a time and materials quote to the system through a negotiation interface. A fixed price quote generator then utilizes the received time and materials quote to generate a fixed price quote. Likewise, a gain share quote generator utilizes the received time and materials quote to generate a gain share quote. The gain share quote may include a variable percentage share on future return on investment. A net present value calculator then generates the net present value for the generated quotes using expected future interest rates. A deal summary generator compiles the net present values for the quotes into a deal summary for comparison purposes. This deal summary is utilized to answer a request for proposal. A pricing method optimizer may select the most profitable pricing method from the time and materials quote, the fixed price quote and the gain share quote. | 10-14-2010 |
20100268651 | AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF A SCENARIO USED TO OPTIMIZE A BID AWARD SCHEDULE - An sourcing event management system includes a presentation layer, a business logic layer, an infrastructure layer and storage and operates to facilitate the creation of a bidding scenario, the opening of a bidding process, reception of bids from suppliers, the closing of the bidding process and the analysis of the bids received from the suppliers to determine an optimal bid award schedule. The sourcing event management system also includes a modified mathematical model that is solved, subject to constraints selected by a buyer and to variables specified by the buyer, to determine how the constraints can be modified to further optimize the bid award schedule. | 10-21-2010 |
20100274727 | System, method and computer program product for forming two or more contracts from offers sharing a plurality of unified terms and conditions - A method system and computer product are provided to drive a process that includes the aspects of method generating an executed license agreement by presenting a licensing offer via a computer and receiving an acceptance by a user of the computer of the licensing offer. The licensing offer may apply to one or more products, software programs, or software services. A web service may alternatively or additionally be authorized by the licensing offer upon receipt of an acceptance by the user of the licensing offer. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274728 | Video Shipment Monitoring - The present disclosure describes systems and methods for conducting remote business transactions between a client and an entrepreneur that include generating records including video verification of some or all aspects of the remote business transaction. According to one aspect of the system, the client sends a plurality of items to the recipient. Upon reception of these items, the recipient creates an inventory of the items, including video verification of the inventory. Such video verification is included in a stored electronic record of the remote business transaction. Via any suitable telecommunications network, this electronic record, including the video verification of the transmitted inventory, is accessible by the client. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274729 | System and Method for Varying Electronic Settlements Between Buyers and Suppliers with Dynamic Discount Terms - A method of making payment. A request is received to effect payment between a buyer and a seller for a transaction having established terms. The terms include a payment amount and a settlement date. Messages are exchanged between the buyer and the seller that include an offer and acceptance of new terms for payment other than the established terms. The new terms include an adjusted amount of payment to be made at a particular time after an event associated with the transaction. An electronic notification that the event has occurred is received, and after the notification, payment between the buyer and seller is effected under the new terms. In one implementation, a digital signature indicating acceptance of the new terms is received. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of effecting payment that includes receiving requests to effect a set of transactions with a set of entities. Requests for offers of terms different than the established terms are sent to the entities, and the different terms are to apply to payment made at a particular time after the event. Offers are received in response to the requests, and a set of offers among the offers is selected based on a set of one or more criteria. Requests for offers and selection of the offers may be made based on a goal seeking process. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of making payment involving a buyer, seller and a third party, such as a financial institution. A system for making payment is also described. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274730 | RIGHTS OFFERING AND GRANTING - Processes and systems for offering and granting digital rights that govern distribution and usage of content, services and resources. The processes and systems provide a basis for flexible business models and negotiation transactions between content providers and users. The concept of meta-rights, which permit digital rights to be derived, permits upstream parties in a content distribution chain to dictate rights granted and received by downstream parties. Therefore, each transaction can be considered as a two party transaction between a rights supplier and a rights consumer. | 10-28-2010 |
20100280959 | REAL-TIME SOURCING OF SERVICE PROVIDERS - A real-time sourcing system is described herein that matches consumers with service requests to providers that perform the requested services. In addition, the system automates communication between consumers and providers. The real-time sourcing system provides automated and integrated end-to-end management of a transaction. The system receives a request from a consumer that describes a particular service needed by the consumer, and sends notifications to registered providers based on the requested service. The system receives an offer from one or more notified providers that indicates terms under which the provider would perform the requested service, and sends offers that match the consumer's criteria to the consumer for evaluation. The system receives an acceptance of an offer from the consumer. Thus, the real-time sourcing system reduces the time involved with finding providers to perform services, and provides consumers with more relevant selections of providers to perform services. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280960 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR NEGOTIATING DISCOUNT OFFERS - Apparatus, systems, and methodologies are provided that facilitate negotiating discount offers. Mobile devices are equipped to detect product identification data from a barcode or RFID tag. The product identification data can be wirelessly transmitted to a discount negotiator which calculates a discount offer for the product and sends a discount offer back to the mobile device while the customer is considering whether to purchase the product. The discount negotiator calculates the discount offers based on a set of rules which may account for one or more factors, including the expiration date of a product, the quantity being purchased, product bundling, and/or the like. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280961 | Method and arrangement for Network QoS - Methods and arrangements for service specific configuration of QoS, preferably end-to-end QoS, in a data network by establishing a service specific QoS configuration in a client device. The client device is adapted to be connected to a data network. The data network comprises a service management server. The method comprises the steps of sending a request message comprising a service configuration to the server and receiving an acknowledgement message comprising the service configuration requested by the client device, from the server. The requested service configuration comprises information regarding service specific QoS configuration. | 11-04-2010 |
20100287102 | FACILITATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY DELIVERY USING FLOATING POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS - Various method, system, computer program, and business method embodiments for facilitation of renewable energy delivery using floating power purchase agreements are disclosed. In one embodiment a method for providing renewable energy for the benefit of a plurality of customers, incorporating calculations performed by at least one processor of a data processing computer environment is provided. An estimate of renewable energy provided by a renewable energy cooperative organization over a predetermined time interval is calculated based on data associated with a status of one of the plurality of the customers in the renewable energy cooperative organization. The estimate is electronically incorporated into a floating power purchase agreement (FPPA) negotiated between the renewable energy cooperative organization and an entity. The entity agrees to purchase a flexible remainder amount of the renewable energy pursuant to the FPPA. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287103 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR DISCOUNT RETAILING - A system and methods to mutually satisfy a consumer with a discount and a vendor with a minimum number of sales by establishing a tipping point associated with an offer for a good or service. If the tipping point is met, the sale of the good or service is executed and the consumer is charged and receives an indication of the discounted sale, such as a certificate. If the tipping point is not met, the discount offer is abandoned and the consumer is not charged. Once the tipping point is established, the vendor receives a payment, even before the consumer uses the certificate. The system and methods also include a reward or loyalty program, an exchange or secondary market for the purchased deals, and a matching algorithm that matches customers to relevant goods or services. | 11-11-2010 |
20100293102 | Automated bid ask spread negotiations method - The automated bid ask spread negotiations method is a computer process and system for negotiating transactions combining a bargain sale strategy with the normal negotiating process. The system effectively adds a bonus to the package of benefits, thereby closing the gap from a previous nominal price asked and bid, but payable to a charity of the seller's choice, over a long term and at a favorable rate of interest, at the same time, providing a tax deduction for the seller, as well as an interest deduction for the buyer of the asset or services. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293103 | INTERACTION MODEL TO MIGRATE STATES AND DATA - A party associated with a digital license is identified from a digital license bound to a user's user ID. This digital license identifies a set of rights for a software product. A determination is made as to when an additional sale associated with the software license is made, and an indication that the party is recognized in association with this sale is generated. Additionally, a license management service can determine, independent of whether the user is currently logged in to an online service with the user ID, when the digital license is to be renewed. The digital license is automatically renewed and automatically billed for (if authorized by the user), resulting in a new expiration date for the digital license. The digital license with the new expiration date is stored and subsequently sent to a device via which the user logs in to the online service with the user ID. | 11-18-2010 |
20100299268 | FRAMEWORK FOR SHARED PROCUREMENT SERVICES - Techniques for supporting shared procurement services in an enterprise application. According to one set of embodiments, associations between procurement service providers and procurement clients are stored, where the associations represent outsourcing relationships between these entities in the operational structure of an enterprise. The associations are then used by the application to facilitate the management of procurement-related content and the processing of procurement transactions. In one embodiment, the associations enable procurement-related content to be created/managed centrally by a procurement service provider and then made accessible to procurement clients serviced by the procurement service provider. In another embodiment, a rules-driven mechanism is provided for routing procurement requisitions from procurement clients to associated procurement service providers for processing. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299269 | METHOD OF SOLICITING AN AGGREGATE PURCHASE - There is provided a method of soliciting an aggregate purchase of goods/services from a plurality of prospective buyers. The method includes presenting to the plurality of prospective buyers an offer for purchase of multiple units of goods/services. The method includes presenting to the plurality of prospective buyers purchase commitment levels regarding the offer. At least one of the levels is a committed level corresponding to the prospective buyer agreeing to purchase a specific number of units related to the offer. The method includes receiving from the prospective buyers purchase commitment level indications with respect to the purchase commitment levels. The method includes presenting to the plurality of prospective buyers information derived from the purchase commitment level indications of prospective buyers for at least two of the purchase commitment levels. The information includes an indication of aggregate number of units which correspond to purchase commitment level indications of a committed level. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299270 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENERGY DEVICE ACTIVATION - A system for providing an energy device activation service is disclosed. The system includes one or more network-enabled energy devices and an energy management interface comprising at least one processor. The energy management interface is to establish a network connection with each one of the one or more energy devices via a first communication network, establish a network connection with an energy device activation service via a second communication network, query the one or more energy devices to receive at least one of an operational parameter and a capability from each one of the one or more energy devices, and transmit the at least one of an operational parameter and a capability to a first database of the energy device activation service. The energy management interface is also to determine if each one of the one or more energy devices is an approved energy device based on energy device information stored in a second database of the energy device activation service, determine if each one of the one or more energy devices is eligible for activation based on at least one business rule stored in a third database of the energy device activation service, retrieve a contract from a fourth database of the energy device activation service when at least one of the one or more energy devices is determined to be an approved energy device that is eligible for activation, and activate the at least one approved and eligible energy device to enable at least one of an energy generation feature and an energy consumption feature of the at least one approved and eligible energy device when an acceptance of the contract is received by the energy management interface. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299271 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PERFORMING TRANSACTIONS - A method and system are provided for using an electronic communication system such as a computer or computer network (e.g., the internet or world wide web, an intranet, LAN or WAN, cellular or mobile telephone, or an audio or visual conferencing system) to perform a transaction between one or more buyers, one of whom acts as a moderator, and at least one seller. A moderator creates a group organized for purchasing a product/service from one or more sellers. A moderator may invite one or more sellers to offer a product/service at a given price, and the moderator may review and potentially forward to the buying group offers to sell from other sellers. When multiple buyers are interested in buying from one or more sellers, opinions of the multiple buyers are considered when the group determines to accept a seller's offer or negotiate with the seller. The moderator may provide seller's offering price and other information to other sellers such that the other sellers submit competing offers. | 11-25-2010 |
20100306114 | HOUSEHOLD DIGITAL DESCRIPTION DEFINITION (H3D) ARCHITECTURE AND METHOD - A computer-implemented method, apparatus, and computer program code for conducting a transaction between a merchant and a user. Using a composite key generated by a user, a user profile associated with the user and generated by the user is accessed. Accessing is performed by a merchant. The user profile comprises data specifying a set of household items owned by the user. The user profile is one of a set of user profiles that make up a H3D definition. The H3D definition comprises data describing a plurality of household items belonging to the user. The plurality of household items includes the set of household items. Responsive to accessing the user profile, a merchant profile is generated. The merchant profile comprises data specifying a portion of inventory associated with the merchant. The portion of inventory is selected based on the user profile. An offer to sell the portion of inventory is transmitted. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306115 | MACHINE READABLE ELECTRONIC CONTRACT - Disclosed are a method and system for reviewing and approving a digital agreement comprising at least one clause. A pre-approval database containing previously approved clauses or standard clauses is established. A clause-by-clause comparison of the clauses in the agreement to the standard clauses is performed to reduce the number of the clauses that the user must review. | 12-02-2010 |
20100312711 | System And Method For On-Demand Delivery Of Audio Content For Use With Entertainment Creatives - A method of creating and delivering a license agreement related to a creative is described. The method includes the steps of accessing a central processing environment, requesting at least one recording of at least a portion of an audio transmission generated from a communication device, generating at least one audio asset, adding the audio asset to a pool of related assets stored in a vault connected to the central processing environment, selecting the generated audio asset and at least one other related asset from the pool of related assets to form a creative, then requesting delivery of the creative to another communication device, and finally delivering the creative to the other communication device. The method is performed in part by a creative composition engine, which is also described. The engine includes a central processing environment having a processor, a digital recorder and a digital asset storage vault. | 12-09-2010 |
20100318469 | MANAGEMENT OF CLAIMS - A claim management system tracks negotiations between parties as part of settlement of a claim. The claim management system generates one or more user interfaces for use by parties associated with the claim. A user interface may include a status indicator, claim information, and a history of offers made. Depending on the status of the claim, the claim management system generates a user interface with an acceptance control for selection by a party to accept an offer made to settle the claim between the parties. Upon selection of the acceptance control, the claim management system automatically updates the status indicator for the parties associated with the claim and automatically notifies the parties associated with the claim. | 12-16-2010 |
20100332401 | PERFORMING DATA STORAGE OPERATIONS WITH A CLOUD STORAGE ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING AUTOMATICALLY SELECTING AMONG MULTIPLE CLOUD STORAGE SITES - Systems and methods are disclosed for performing data storage operations, including content-indexing, containerized deduplication, and policy-driven storage, within a cloud environment. The systems support a variety of clients and cloud storage sites that may connect to the system in a cloud environment that requires data transfer over wide area networks, such as the Internet, which may have appreciable latency and/or packet loss, using various network protocols, including HTTP and FTP. Methods are disclosed for content indexing data stored within a cloud environment to facilitate later searching, including collaborative searching. Methods are also disclosed for performing containerized deduplication to reduce the strain on a system namespace, effectuate cost savings, etc. Methods are disclosed for identifying suitable storage locations, including suitable cloud storage sites, for data files subject to a storage policy. Further, systems and methods for providing a cloud gateway and a scalable data object store within a cloud environment are disclosed, along with other features. | 12-30-2010 |
20110004558 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXCHANGING REWARD CURRENCY - Methods and systems are disclosed for allowing two users to exchange reward currency, such as points, between two different loyalty programs at an exchange rate that is set by and agreed upon by the users themselves. An offer to exchange X points of one loyalty program for Y points of another loyalty program is received from a user and is made available to other users. Another user satisfied with the offered exchange accepts the offer, and the account balances of the two users are adjusted. In some embodiments, a fee is charged to one or both of the users for effecting the trade. The fee is then forwarded to the loyalty programs. In other embodiments, the loyalty programs specify rules that must be complied with before a trade can occur. | 01-06-2011 |
20110022523 | NEGOTIATION PLATFORM IN AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT - A method and a system for providing a negotiation platform in the event that a listing fails by becoming inactive without the offering being sold are provided. For example, a negotiation eligibility detector may detect a failed listing of an offering. The listing may be associated with a first user and a first offer. A potential buyer detector may identify at least one potential buyer based on a user action associated with the failed listing. A negotiation manager may be in communication with the negotiation eligibility detector and the potential buyer detector. In response to the detecting of the failed listing and the identifying of the potential buyers, the negotiation manager may transmit a request to the at least one potential buyer for a second offer associated with the failed listing. | 01-27-2011 |
20110029438 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERY OF RETAIL-CHANNEL-SPECIFIC CONTENT TO A MEDIA DEVICE - A system comprising: a memory; at least one network entity operatively coupled to the memory and configured for: receiving an identifier of a media device; receiving an identity of a retail channel used to acquire the media device; storing in the memory an association between the identity of the retail channel and the identifier of the media device; and causing content specific to the retail channel to be transmitted to the media device over a communications network in response to determining a presence of the media device on the communications network. Also, a media device, comprising: a network interface; a user interface; and a processing entity. The processing entity is configured for: identifying the media device to an external entity via the network interface; receiving retail-channel-specific content over the network interface; and conveying the retail-channel-specific content via the user interface through a retail-channel-specific application installed on the media device. | 02-03-2011 |
20110040690 | System and Methods for Ordering and Presenting Custom Electronic Advertisements - A system for ordering electronic advertisements includes a first interactive interface executable to run on a computing appliance connected to a network for configuring constraints relative to an advertisement service, and a second interactive interface executable to run on the computing appliance for displaying electronic advertisements from one or more advertisement stores connected to the network and associated with the advertisement service. A user operating the computing appliance inputs into the first interactive interface the types of goods and services desired and what pricing associated with those goods and services is acceptable and wherein the second interactive interface displays advertisements served to the computing appliance over the network that fit the user's input criteria. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040691 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VERIFIED PRESENCE MARKETPLACE - A system and method for a verified presence data marketplace. Offers for verified location data are received wherein each offer comprises an identification of at least one target user, at least one data granularity level and data reliability level and at least one offer payment term. Location data relating to the target users is retrieved from a plurality of location data sources and the reliability of the data is then verified and the data is then stored on a computer readable medium. At least one bid for verified location data from an entity is received wherein the bid relates to the offers for verified location data. An acceptance of the bid is then processed. The verified location data relating to the bid is then retrieved and is transmitted over the network to the bidding entity and the target users are paid according to the terms of the bid payment offer. | 02-17-2011 |
20110047083 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NEGOTIATING A PRICE OF A RENTAL PROPERTY - A system for negotiating pricing for a rental property includes a first client device in communication with a global communications network to be used by a prospective leasee of the rental property and a second client device in communication with the global communications network to be used by a leasor of the rental property. The system also includes a server in communication with the first and second client devices via the global communications network, and a database stored on a memory of the server having information stored thereon. The server is adapted to receive information from the first and second client devices to be stored on the database and to be transmitted between the first and second client devices via the global communications network. The server is also adapted to compare the information transmitted by the first and second client devices with the information stored on the database, and provide an indication of compatibility or non-compatibility of the information with the information stored on the database. | 02-24-2011 |
20110055087 | Determining Cost and Processing of Sensed Data - Methods, systems and apparatus for determining a proposed cost for use of sensor resources and selecting a method of processing of sensed data are presented. Such a method includes the steps of: predicting a state of an environment, obtaining at least one criterion related to the use of the sensor resources comprising one or more data sensors, determining the proposed cost for use of the sensor resources, acquiring the sensed data from the one or more data sensors, determining a characteristic of the sensed data, and selecting the method of processing the sensed data according to the determined characteristic and the predicted state. The at least one criterion is based upon the predicted state. The determining of the proposed cost is based on the at least one criterion. One or more of steps are implemented on the processor device. | 03-03-2011 |
20110060691 | TARGETABLE MULTI-MEDIA PROMOTION CHANNEL AT POINT OF SALE - Apparatus and methods for providing a targetable multi-media promotion channel at the point of sale are provided. The apparatus may include a system for providing to a customer an offer at a point of sale terminal. The system may include machine readable memory configured to store in an offer platform offer information corresponding to a first item. The system may also include an electromagnetic transmitter module configured to transmit the offer information to the point of sale terminal for presentation by the point of sale terminal during a transaction for a second item. The system may also include an electromagnetic receiver module configured to receive an offer acceptance corresponding to the offer information before the customer pays for the second item. | 03-10-2011 |
20110066556 | Method and System for Intelligent Job Assignment Through an Electronic Communications Network - A method and system for intelligent job assignment between multiple assignees and at least one client through an electronic communications network is disclosed. The method enables a business to consistently and systematically provide its customers with the best possible quality, in the shortest period of time, at the lowest possible cost, at any given time, given its current talent pool. The method includes ordering a database of qualifying assignees with a highest qualifying assignee ordered most significantly. The method also includes assigning a client's job to the most significant assignee and receiving feedback to from the client concerning an assignee's job performance and computing a cumulative qualifying value for the assignee based on the performance feedback included with any feedback received from any other client. | 03-17-2011 |
20110106711 | DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTED DECISION MAKING FOR OPTIMAL HUMAN RESOURCE DEPLOYMENT - A decision support tool which takes a high-level view of supply and demand in the realm of labor resources and produces globally-optimal recommendations for assignment of practitioners to open seats. These assignments preferably optimize a utility function composed of different business metrics and can be customizable for different organizations and priorities. | 05-05-2011 |
20110119192 | MESSAGING SYSTEM - A message status bartering system is established in a peer-to-peer messaging environment. A message status is made available to a user of the peer-to-peer messaging environment. A bartering engine is used to determine whether an attempted communication with the user is to be allowed based on the message status in use. If the communication is disallowed, the bartering engine can be used to establish a bartering agreement between the parties. | 05-19-2011 |
20110125653 | System for managing online transactions involving voice talent - Systems and methods for facilitating online interactions between voice talent users and employer users. The online web-based system has an online store module, a voice talent database module, an open job database module, a negotiation module, and a payment module. The online system allows the employer users to search for a suitable voice talent user, preview the specific voice talent user's demonstration voice clip, and contact the voice talent user. The online store module allows the voice talent user to upload generic pre-recorded voice clips and which may be purchased and downloaded by employer users for their own purposes. The open job database allows employer users to upload contracts and jobs for which they need voice talent. The employer user may upload requirements for the contract, a sample of the script, and a payment range for the contract. Voice talent users may search and/or browse the open jobs database and they may respond to the posted open contract with a proposal by way of the negotiation module. The voice talent user may also upload a demonstration voice clip with their proposal to the relevant employer user by way of the negotiation. The payment module allows payment for completed contracts to be exchanged between employer users and voice talent users with the system administrator/operator as a go-between and as an escrow agent. | 05-26-2011 |
20110137805 | INTER-CLOUD RESOURCE SHARING WITHIN A CLOUD COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT - The present invention provides a system and method for establishing inter-Cloud resource sharing agreements and policies such that dynamic expansion/contraction of Cloud resource requests can be seamlessly addressed without requiring physical build-out of the primary Cloud infrastructure and advertising the need for additional resources or the offer to provide additional resources can be brokered through an established marketplace. The financial transaction will support a symbiotic bi-lateral fair-share method that better aligns with an alternating supplier/consumer business model. Using this system and method will decrease the amount of time needed to respond to a given Cloud service request while advantaging a resource sharing model amongst established Cloud providers. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137806 | INTERNET-BASED METHODS OF OFFERING ADVERTISING - The present invention provides methods of offering advertisements on the Internet, and systems for implementing these methods. These methods offer users an accrued financial incentive to purchase products and services from advertisers. In some embodiments, a method of offering advertisements on the Internet comprises: providing one or more advertisements at an Internet site; allowing for a user to click or view the advertisements; increasing the user's account balance after an advertisement is viewed; and offering cash or a non-cash equivalent to a winning user having the highest relative value of an account balance within a selected pool of account balances. Certain embodiments of this invention relate to an Internet business known as Mascot Race. | 06-09-2011 |
20110145153 | NEGOTIATING AGREEMENTS WITHIN A CLOUD COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT - The present invention provides a solution for agreement/contract negotiations within a Cloud computing environment. Specifically, under the present invention, a resource requirement for performing a task for a first Cloud partner is assessed. Once the resource requirement is known, it can be determined whether a shortfall exists between available resources of the first Cloud partner and the resource requirement. If so, a master agreement with a second Cloud partner is identified to address the shortfall. Typically, the master agreement specifies at least a minimum service requirement and a maximum price for the second Cloud partner to provide resources to address the shortfall. If the terms are agreeable to both Cloud partners, a contract between the two can be formed (e.g., digitally) based on the master agreement. | 06-16-2011 |
20110161236 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NEGOTIATING A SALE - There is provided a computer system for negotiating a sale. A computer system comprises a processor adapted to execute stored instructions and a memory device that stores instructions for execution by the processor. The memory device comprises computer-implemented code adapted to make an offer to sell in a round of a negotiation. The memory device also comprises computer-implemented code adapted to receive a counter-offer. The memory device additionally comprises computer-implemented code adapted to determine whether to accept the counter-offer based on a pre-determined target, a best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA), and the round of the negotiation. | 06-30-2011 |
20110167005 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR FINANCING AND MARKETING A CREATIVE WORK - The present invention is directed to a system and method for raising financing and/or revenue by artist for a project, where the project may be a creative work of the artist. The method including registering, by at least one artist, with a centralized database, at least one or more projects, offering, by the at least one artist, an entitlement related to the artist in exchange for capital for the project of the artist. The method and system may also include searching, by an interested party, the centralized database, for the least one artist, registering, by the interested party, with the centralized database and accepting the offer by the interested party for the entitlement related to the project. The capital may then be forwarded to the artist and the entitlement provided to the interested party. | 07-07-2011 |
20110178934 | System and method for resolving transactions with selective use of user submission parameters - A system and method for the online settling of a transaction is provided. The system includes a server having a rules engine configured to process available data regarding the financial transaction using rules established on behalf of a party to the financial transaction. The rules engine establishes a transaction settlement offer set based on the rules established, where the transaction settlement offer set comprises multiple simultaneously presentable and individually selectable offers, each offer configured to settle the transaction on terms satisfactory to the party to the transaction. The server is further configured to provide a selectable option enabling the debtor party to provide at least one debtor party settlement term in response to the transaction settlement offer settlement set, and selectively employ the at least one debtor party settlement term to determine a subsequent transaction settlement offer set. | 07-21-2011 |
20110202467 | AUTOMATED LOAD CONTROL AND DISPATCH SYSTEM AND METHOD - A group of electronic circuit logic blocks work together to receive a load control event message and respond thereto. A display is generated for a customer that includes (1) a set of plural load control scenarios that can be selected to respond to the load control event message and (2) an amount of reduction associated with selected load control scenarios of the plural load control scenarios that were selected in response to the load control event message. The display may also include a monetary value of the amount of reduction associated with the selected load control scenarios of the plural load control scenarios that were selected in response to the load control event message. An electronic commitment message is sent in response identifying an amount the customer will reduce a load at a time specified in the load control event message. | 08-18-2011 |
20110213712 | Cloud Broker and Procurement System and Method - A cloud broker and procurement system and method is closed. In particular embodiments, the method includes receiving an offer of a computing resource from each of a plurality of providers. The method further includes receiving, from each of the plurality of providers, a service level agreement associated with each respective offered computing resource. Additionally, the method includes normalizing each of the service level agreements associated with the offered computing resources. The method further includes receiving a request from a requesting computer for a computing resource and selecting, based at least in part on the normalized service level agreements, one of the providers to provide the requested computing resource. The method also includes transmitting a service match indicator to the client, wherein the service match indicator indicates a time at which the offered computing resource will be utilized, and utilizing the computing resource on the selected provider. | 09-01-2011 |
20110213713 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OFFERING ADDITIONAL LICENSE TERMS DURING CONVERSION OF STANDARD SOFTWARE LICENSES FOR USE IN CLOUD COMPUTING ENVIRONMENTS - A “Bring Your Own License” (BYOL) service can convert users' “off-the-shelf” (OTS) software licenses for use in public clouds according to rules provided by independent software vendors (ISVs). The BYOL service can offer additional license terms to the users during conversion of the OTS software license on behalf of the ISVs. The additional license terms can be an expansion of the use of the software, an expansion of the technical support offer by the new cloud license, and expansion of the duration of use. | 09-01-2011 |
20110231320 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems, methods and software for energy management; for negotiations and/or auctions between energy aggregators and utility companies. | 09-22-2011 |
20110231321 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PREDETERMINED PROMOTIONAL OFFERS - Embodiments provide methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable media associated with provisioning of promotional offers from merchants to consumers. Merchants may submit schedules to a promotional offer provision service. The schedules may describe promotional offers which are usable during specific pre-determined time periods. The schedules may also describe other aspects of the promotional offers, such as type of offer or discount, and may include restrictions, such as restrictions based on a consumer's history of follow-through. Consumers may search the system, such as through a website, for offers of interest. Consumers may search based on criteria such as time and location. If the consumer accepts the offer, he or she may be provided a coupon with a unique code for presentation to the merchant. The consumer may also negotiate terms of the promotional offer, if desired. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. | 09-22-2011 |
20110238582 | Service Method For Customer Self-Service And Rapid On-Boarding For Remote Information Technology Infrastructure Monitoring And Management - In accordance with one aspect of the embodiments of this invention there is a method to initiate remote managed infrastructure services for a customer infrastructure site. The method includes, in response to an inquiry from a potential customer, provisioning the potential customer with a remote managed infrastructure services software client; using the provisioned software client, performing an automated process to detect specifics of a customer information technology infrastructure; in response to the customer confirming the detected specifics of customer information technology infrastructure, configuring a remote managed infrastructure service to monitor and manage all or a subset of the detected and confirmed customer information technology infrastructure. | 09-29-2011 |
20110238583 | TECHNIQUE FOR AGGREGATING REACTIVE POWER LOADS - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that aggregates an energy service from one or more participants. An aggregator in the system first sends a plurality of price points to a respective participant, wherein each price point corresponds to a particular range of phase angles between a voltage waveform and a current waveform. The aggregator then receives a price point selected by the participant, wherein the selected price point corresponds to a phase angle to which the participant agrees to adjust. Next, the aggregator aggregates from the one or more participants an energy service with reactive-power reduction. | 09-29-2011 |
20110246375 | HOME PURCHASE PROGRAM - Embodiments of the invention provide apparatuses and methods that provide for a housing purchase program in which a seller agrees to sell a home at a reduced price in return for the buyer agreeing to share with the seller some portion of the home's future appreciation. For example, the seller may desire to sell a home at a first price but the potential buyer wants to purchase the home at a lower price. The seller may agree to sell the home at a price lower than that which the seller desires, but only if the buyer agrees to share some portion of the home's future appreciation. In some embodiments, the housing purchase program further includes a mortgagee/investor that, at least temporarily, pays-off or forgives the seller's remaining mortgage principal that is above the sale price if the seller agrees to pay the mortgagee/investor back with any future appreciation in which the seller shares. | 10-06-2011 |
20110251963 | Method for Auctioning Endorsement Agreements - A method for auctioning endorsement agreements. A network computer provides access to a plurality of users, whereby the users are capable of submitting preferences related to an endorsement or sponsorship opportunity. Other users are able to review the endorsement or sponsorship opportunities and may bid to obtain the rights. The results of the bidding process are displayed to the offeror to allow the offeror to select a favored bid, or the system may select the best bid automatically based on predefined criteria. The endorsement or sponsorship opportunity, if submitted by the prospect, may be bid upon by a sponsor/endorsee. Likewise, an opportunity, if submitted by a sponsor/endorsee may be bid upon by multiple prospects. Upon selection, a contract is generated to effect the sponsor/endorsement agreement. | 10-13-2011 |
20110251964 | Pricing Guaranteed Delivery Contracts in Online Display - A method for pricing a contract for serving advertisements in an online display advertising environment comprising receiving a subject contract, the subject contract having at a target predicate for matching to a user visit, then forecasting, using a computer-based forecasting module, a set of user visits eligible to be served to the subject contract, wherein eligibility is based on matching the target predicate to a user visit (which user visit may be associated with an event predicate). Having a set of forecasted (matching) user visits, the method proceeds to select a set of eligible historical contracts that would be eligible to be served to the forecasted user visits. Finally, having a set of eligible historical contracts that would be eligible to be served to the target predicate, a curve fitting technique yields a price for the subject contract that minimizes the error in the price relative to expected user visits. | 10-13-2011 |
20110251965 | System and method for varying electronic settlements between buyers and suppliers with dynamic discount terms - A method of making payment. A request is received to effect payment between a buyer and a seller for a transaction having established terms. The terms include a payment amount and a settlement date. Messages are exchanged between the buyer and the seller that include an offer and acceptance of new terms for payment at other than the established terms. The new terms include an adjusted amount of payment to be made at a particular time after an event associated with the transaction. An electronic notification that the event has occurred is received, and the after the notification, payment between the buyer and seller is effected under the new terms. In one implementation, a digital signature indicating acceptance of the new terms is received. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of effecting payment that includes receiving requests to effect a set of transactions with a set of entities. Requests for offers of terms different than the established terms are sent to the entities, and the different terms are to apply to payment made at a particular time after the event. Offers are received in response to the requests, and a set of offers among the offers is selected based on a set of one or more criteria. Requests for offers and selection of the offers may be made based on a goal seeking process. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of making payment involving a buyer, seller and a third party, such as a financial institution. A system for making payment is also described. | 10-13-2011 |
20110258124 | LEASE FINANCED ASSET TRACKING SYSTEM AND BUNDLED ASSET DOCUMENT GENERATOR - Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for an automated and electronic means for financial institution clients to manage and track the funding of leased assets and, specifically, the combining of like assets into leased asset bundles for the purpose of generating lease records that include a leased asset bundle. By bundling assets and creating corresponding lease reports that include a leased asset bundle, the process for funding approval is streamlined, in that, document communication, signature requirements and overall tracking of documentation is minimized. In addition, an ancillary benefit is afforded the financial institution such that the bundled assets can be syndicated to third parties as a single schedule document. | 10-20-2011 |
20110264588 | TRANSPORT RATING SYSTEM - Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of generating a service contract for a shipping product. The method comprises: receiving information indicative of a requested shipping product; verifying an availability of the requested shipping product by means of an electronic product catalogue; receiving a tariff corresponding to the requested shipping product from a tariff system; receiving cost information about a cost of the requested shipping product from the electronic catalogue system; providing a user interface for allowing an operator to determine a price proposal based on the received tariff and the received cost information; generating a service contract based on the determined price proposal. | 10-27-2011 |
20110264589 | COMMISSION CALCULATOR AND DISPLAY - Commission allocations in transaction management of auction-based trading for specialized items such as fixed income instruments. A plurality of workstations that are connected to a server, and a structured commission allocation protocol may be provided. Through the workstations, the server and the commission allocation protocol, the systems and methods may allocate commissions or fees when trading securities at accelerated levels with minimal errors and costs, control commission elements during real-time trading, reward customers and brokers who participate in transactions, and distribute commission and transaction data in real time. | 10-27-2011 |
20110270765 | Self Dispatching Method for Services - A method for self dispatching services of tradesmen or other service providers. The invention allows consumers to order services based on the availability of specific servicemen working in the vicinity, based on availability of specific servicemen that the consumer wishes to use, based on urgency or lack of urgency of their service needs, and based on the price which is set by the servicemen based on urgency criteria and availability to do work in a particular area or particular time frame. The present invention also allows servicemen to work more efficiently by grouping their jobs in close proximity in time and area and by allowing them to fill in slow work times with lower urgency, lower priced work. The system allows servicemen to advertise their service and consumers to rate the quality of work they receive from specific servicemen. The invention allows consumers to find real time service by taking advantage of a vendor queue line. The invention allows consumers to keep track of property history, warranties and installed product information. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270766 | Internet Based Offer Routing and Workflow Engine Method - A system that enables parties to a real estate transaction to remotely access the system via the internet to initiate and consummate the offer/counter-offer process leading up to and including execution of a definitive purchase agreement between buyer and seller, wherein parties to the real estate transaction include the Buyer, the Seller and their respective agents. The system provides for a user interface that enables input of the transaction specification information which is typically input by the real estate agent. Subsequently, the system enables secure routing of the transaction between the parties for their online review and response. The system also provides for unique identity verification, logging and tracking functions to ensure validity and enforceability of electronic acceptance of transactions and related purchase agreements and documents by all parties. | 11-03-2011 |
20110276497 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DEBT SETTLEMENT - A system and method for debt settlement has a user enter debt information for each creditor of the user. A first letter is generated to each creditor of inability of user to maintain current credit terms. The first letter is sent to each creditor. | 11-10-2011 |
20110282793 | CONTEXTUAL TASK ASSIGNMENT BROKER - An automated broker provides contextual assignment of tasks. Service providers send the broker service provisioning information indicating the services they provide, with bids for referrals. Service consumers send the broker service requests, including criteria which the broker matches against the service provisioning information. The broker selects a recommended service provider, based on the service request's criteria, the referral bids, and reviews of the candidate service providers. Service request criteria may include a service provider's reputation in the consumer's social network, geographic proximity of the service provider to the location of the task, particular skills or experience of the service provider, the service provider's availability, and price. After a predetermined number of task assignment rejections by a service provider, a human administrator is notified. A referral bid payment or other payment made by the recommended service provider to the broker, may be shared with the service consumer. | 11-17-2011 |
20110282794 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO EXCHANGE A TOKEN CURRENCY AMOUNT FOR GOODS OR SERVICES - Methods and apparatus to exchange a token currency amount for goods or services are disclosed. In one embodiment, a token currency amount offer is received by a device of an offeree. The device of the offeree evaluates a trust indicator that indicates a level of trust associated with a token currency balance of the offeror. The offer is accepted when the trust indicator indicates an acceptable level of trust. | 11-17-2011 |
20110282795 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTELLIGENT JOB ASSIGNMENT THROUGH AN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - A method for intelligent job assignment between multiple assignees and at least one client via an electronic network is disclosed. The method enables a business to consistently and systematically provide its customers with the best possible quality, in the shortest time, at the lowest possible cost given its talent pool at any given time. The method includes receiving graduated feedback from the client(s) per certain performance criteria concerning a job performed for the client(s) by an assignee in a job type category, digitizing the feedback based on a client's weighted range of the performance criteria for a job of the client's to be to assigned, computing a qualifying value for each of the assignees in the category based on an average of the digitized feedback and assigning the client's job via an electronic transfer of the job from the client to an assignee in the category having the highest computed value. | 11-17-2011 |
20110289007 | NEGOTIABLE SENSITIVE USER DATA MANAGEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - A sensitive user data management method and system. The method includes presenting, by a negotiable content sensitive user data service (NSUDS) computing system from a consumer accessing a consumer computer in communication with a service provider computing system, a request for verifying if a provider computing system is associated with an NSUDS registry. The NSUDS computing system verifies an association with the NSUDS registry and connects to the consumer computer. The NSUDS computing system presents default sensitive user terms associated with sensitive user data for the consumer. The sensitive user data is associated with an order request. The NSUDS computing system receives from the consumer in response to the default sensitive user terms, a command associated with the default sensitive user terms. | 11-24-2011 |
20110313931 | VIRTUAL SUPPORT CONTRACT COLLABORATION - A virtual contract system is provided that can collect contract information for one or more products or support services. The information can be collected from one or more data sources including from service databases, BP databases, from equipment memory, etc. The information may be organized into a single “virtual contract.” To promote discussion and agreement on renewal of support contracts, the same virtual contract is displayed to the supplier/servicer and to the BP/customer. The display or user interface allows the servicer and customer to negotiate and approve the renewal contract and to agree on the sale of new products or services. Upon completing the negotiation, the virtual contract system can save the data regarding the virtual contract to the several data sources. | 12-22-2011 |
20110320360 | Method for Recycling Materials - A method for recycling materials comprising the steps of generating a first revenue stream by forming a contract via a computer between an advertiser and a promoter for recycling bags printed with the advertiser's promotions and/or advertisements, manufacturing the branded recycle bags based on the specifications in the contract and distributing the branded recycle bags to groups comprising members. The method further comprises the steps of the members collecting recyclables utilizing the branded recycle bag, discarding the branded recycle bags into designated collection bins, transporting the collected recycling materials from the collection bin to a recycling facility via a transporter, and, the recycling facility processing the collected recycling materials to generate a second revenue stream. The first revenue stream is allocated between the promoter and the groups utilizing the branded recycling bags and the second revenue stream is allocated between the recycler and the groups utilizing the branded recycling bags. | 12-29-2011 |
20110320361 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING VALID RESPONSES TO REQUESTS FOR QUOTATIONS - Systems and methods for providing valid responses to requests for quotations are provided. In one embodiment of the invention, a system according to the invention preferably includes a server. The server includes a server storage device and a server processor connected to the server storage device. The server storage device preferably stores a server program for controlling the server processor. The server processor is preferably operative to receive a request from a requesting participant for a market-validated offer to sell an item; receive an offer price from a responding participant in response to the request; and provide a bid to an electronic marketplace, the bid including a price that is lower than the received offer price. | 12-29-2011 |
20110320362 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING BUYER AND SELLER INTERACTION DURING A GROUP-BUYING SALE - A method and system are provided that enable buyers and sellers to communicate with each other and to negotiate the purchase terms of featured merchandise in a group-buying opportunity. Sellers and buyers may use various forms of on-line group-buying mechanisms in conjunction with the negotiation features of the invention. Buyers may send various inquiries to sellers regarding merchandise offered for sale through the online group-buying sale. Sellers may respond to buyer questions and queries, and in some instances, sellers may communicate instructions to the on-line group-buying mechanism to alter the course of an on-line group-buying sale in progress, e.g., a further reduction in price. The method and system further provides a mechanism for calculating a demand curve based on received buyer offers and applying the demand curve to an on-line group-buying sale. | 12-29-2011 |
20110320363 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING BUYER AND SELLER INTERACTION DURING A GROUP-BUYING SALE - A method and system are provided that enable buyers and sellers to communicate with each other and to negotiate the purchase terms of featured merchandise in a group-buying opportunity. Sellers and buyers may use various forms of on-line group-buying mechanisms in conjunction with the negotiation features of the invention. Buyers may send various inquiries to sellers regarding merchandise offered for sale through the online group-buying sale. Sellers may respond to buyer questions and queries, and in some instances, sellers may communicate instructions to the on-line group-buying mechanism to alter the course of an on-line group-buying sale in progress, e.g., a further reduction in price. The method and system further provides a mechanism for calculating a demand curve based on received buyer offers and applying the demand curve to an on-line group-buying sale. | 12-29-2011 |
20110320364 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING BUYER AND SELLER INTERACTION DURING A GROUP-BUYING SALE - A method and system are provided that enable buyers and sellers to communicate with each other and to negotiate the purchase terms of featured merchandise in a group-buying opportunity. Sellers and buyers may use various forms of on-line group-buying mechanisms in conjunction with the negotiation features of the invention. Buyers may send various inquiries to sellers regarding merchandise offered for sale through the online group-buying sale. Sellers may respond to buyer questions and queries, and in some instances, sellers may communicate instructions to the on-line group-buying mechanism to alter the course of an on-line group-buying sale in progress, e.g., a further reduction in price. The method and system further provides a mechanism for calculating a demand curve based on received buyer offers and applying the demand curve to an on-line group-buying sale. | 12-29-2011 |
20120005101 | System and Method for Offering Bulk Products for Sale to Multiple Businesses by Provision Point Mechanism - A method for business-to-business (B2B) provisioning implemented on a computer system. Information is stored for at least one purchase offer concerning an associated product or service. The stored information identifies the associated product or service, a number of current acceptances of the offer made by one or more businesses, and a number of acceptances required for activating an associate purchase order. Upon receipt of a next acceptance of the offer, the computer system operates to update the number of current acceptances, and to determine whether the updated number of current acceptances is greater than or equal to the number of acceptances required for activating the associate purchase order. If a time period for accepting the offer has expired and the updated number of current acceptances is greater than or equal to the number of required acceptances, the computer places an associated order with an associated supplier. | 01-05-2012 |
20120005102 | Method and System for Anonymous Communication Between A Consumer and Provider - A method and system for anonymous communication between a consumer and a provider are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a first input from a consumer, the first input including an indication of intent to purchase a desired product. A plurality of providers is queried based on the first input to locate a matching provider, and the matching provider is notified about the consumer through a notification lead without revealing an identity of the consumer. Anonymous communications are provided regarding a purchase of the desired product between the consumer and the matching provider, wherein the anonymous communications include a price negotiation. | 01-05-2012 |
20120047076 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR NEGOTIATING ONLINE TRANSACTIONS - The present invention provides a system, method and computer program for negotiating online transactions. The method includes obtaining a price for an item from one or more sellers. A buyer can make possibly dissimilar offers for one or more of the items. If all offers are less than all the prices for those items, the offer is rejected and a seller can negotiate the price for reoffer to the buyer. If the offer is at least as high as one of the prices, a transaction is processed between the buyer and a seller. If the offer meets the price of more than one seller, the seller to transact with may be determined based on a prioritized list from the buyer. | 02-23-2012 |
20120095924 | Talent Booking System and Method - A method of booking talent is provided, comprising: storing a plurality of talent files on a data storage system, each of the talent files being categorized based on select criteria, and wherein each talent file contains talent information associated with one of a plurality of performing artists; searching the data storage system through a processing device operatively coupled to the data storage system for processing requests for the talent files and the talent information; communicating requests for the talent files and the talent information through a user interface operatively coupled to the processing device, and communicating the talent files and talent information to a system user; selecting one or more talent files for possible booking of the corresponding performing artist; making an offer to book one or more of the performing artists for a performance having specified terms; and receiving a response to the offer from the performing artist. Upon agreement, the method further comprises consummating an electronic monetary transaction related to the offer between the system user and the performing artist. | 04-19-2012 |
20120116979 | Enabling Communication Between, and Production of Content By, Rights Holders and Content Producers - A content exchange service facilitates communication between, and production of content by, holders of rights in content titles and producers of content. The content exchange service receives content profiles from various rights holders and surfaces the content profiles to producers for purposes of soliciting auditions to produce the content subject of the content profiles in an alternative form. The rights holder can review the auditions submitted by producers and establish communication with the producer of the audition the rights holder liked via the content exchange service. The content exchange service can then facilitate negotiation of an agreement between the rights holder and the producer for production of the content in an alternative form. Following finalization of the agreement, the producer may submit a complete production of the content in the alternative form to the content exchange service, which in turn presents the complete production to the rights holder for approval. | 05-10-2012 |
20120203703 | Method for Negotiating Information Technology Service Processes - Techniques for establishing a performance metric are provided for facilitating a negotiation between a provider and a user. The techniques include the following steps. Resource utilization is calculated, wherein resource utilization comprises system capacity utilized for executing a task. Work lost is calculated, wherein work lost comprises an amount of work lost as a result of a potential failure. Quality of service (QoS) is calculated, wherein QoS comprises a probability of success for executing the task by a deadline. User behavior is calculated, wherein user behavior comprises an amount of risk that the user is willing to accept. Also the calculated resource utilization, work lost, QoS and user behavior are used to establish a performance metric, wherein the performance metric facilitates a negotiation between a provider and a user. | 08-09-2012 |
20120290485 | AUTOMATED NEGOTIATION - A probability that an opposing party in a negotiation will accept the terms of a candidate offer within a given number of rounds of the negotiation may be computed, and the candidate offer may be identified as an offer to present to the opposing party based on the computed probability. | 11-15-2012 |
20120296832 | DEFINING AGREEMENTS USING COLLABORATIVE COMMUNICATIONS - An agreement object comprising a plurality of terms for negotiation among two or more users is concurrently presented with an unstructured conversation among at least two users. Thereafter, data characterizing terms for which an agreement has been reached is received resulting in the agreement object being updated to reflect the terms for which an agreement has been reached. An agreement based on the agreement object is then finalized once an agreement has been reached for all of the terms. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. | 11-22-2012 |
20120303535 | SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES FOR AGREEMENT MANGEMENT - A process and system of managing agreements among users is provided. A proposed agreement is received from a first user. The proposal is relayed to a second user to view and to choose whether to accept the proposal. The agreement specifies that, at a particular time, if a particular condition is met, one user will owe the other a payment. At the specified time, a user is asked whether the condition has been met. If it has, one user will owe the other the payment. | 11-29-2012 |
20120323793 | PROVIDING VALID RESPONSES TO REQUESTS FOR QUOTATIONS - Systems and methods for providing valid responses to requests for quotations are provided. In one embodiment of the invention, a system according to the invention preferably includes a server. The server includes a server storage device and a server processor connected to the server storage device. The server storage device preferably stores a server program for controlling the server processor. The server processor is preferably operative to receive a request from a requesting participant for a market-validated offer to sell an item; receive an offer price from a responding participant in response to the request; and provide a bid to an electronic marketplace, the bid including a price that is lower than the received offer price. | 12-20-2012 |
20120323794 | MONETIZATION STRATEGIES IN PRIVACY-CONSCIOUS PERSONALIZATION - Personalization is enabled in a privacy-conscious manner. User interest information can be determined as a function of user behavior with respect interaction with content, for example. Distribution of user information can be managed as function of user permission and one or more offers to acquire the information from parties such as electronic merchants, data aggregators, or ad networks, among others. | 12-20-2012 |
20120323795 | ONLINE MARKETPLACE WITH DYNAMIC PRICING - Systems and methods for dynamic pricing in real-time marketplace transactions are provided. A method may include receiving a request from a bid agent associated with a location-aware user device, and an offer for goods/services from an offer agent that is associated with a merchant device. The offer may include an inventory and one or more locations of the goods/services. The method includes determining a location of the location-aware user device, and determining whether the inventory and the one or more locations of the goods/services are sufficient to satisfy the request. If so, then the method includes establishing a real-time dynamic marketplace session between the offer agent and the bid agent to facilitate a negotiation for the goods/services. Upon receiving an acceptance from the offer agent for a bid from the bid agent, the method includes processing a purchase transaction for the goods/services. | 12-20-2012 |
20120323796 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR RECORDING VERIFIABLE DOCUMENTATION - Systems and methods for collecting information, verifying authenticity of such information, processing, maintaining, and managing such information are described. The system can be a standalone unit or can comprise a combination of various units configured to function together. | 12-20-2012 |
20120330847 | Methods and Systems Involving Databases for Energy Microgeneration Data - A method for analyzing electrical generation data includes receiving data associated with a generating device at a metered location and storing the data associated with the generating device in a database, receiving data associated with time periods that the generating device is used at the metered location and storing the data in the database, associating the received data associated with a generating device with the data associated with time periods that the generating device is used at the metered location, processing the received data associated with a generating device with the data associated and the time periods that the generating device is used at the metered location to identify time periods that the generating device outputs electrical power to an electrical grid, and identifying a preferred time period that the generating device may be used to output power to the grid. | 12-27-2012 |
20120330848 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC CONTRACTING BETWEEN REMOTE PARTIES - A method carried out by an intermediary through an electronic contracting system, for establishing a contract between remote parties, comprising: receiving distinguishing information indicative of the first party's identity; receiving a document; establishing first party's acceptance of the document; generating a certificate of acceptance of the document; and sending the certificate of acceptance to at least one of the parties. A remote electronic contracting system, according to embodiments of the present invention may comprise at least a first communication device associated with a first party; at least a second communication device associated with a second party; and an electronic contracting unit associated with an intermediary; the first and second communication devices and the electronic contracting unit are connectable through a network, and wherein said electronic contracting unit is adapted to receive at least one document and an acceptance indication of said document and generate a certificate of acceptance. | 12-27-2012 |
20130006873 | METHOD OF CREATING AND MANAGING SIGNATURE PAGES - A computer implemented method of managing signatures includes receiving, via a computing device, signatory information from a user related to a signatory and an agreement identifier identifying a specific agreement from a plurality of agreements. Via the computing device, a signature page associated with the specific agreement is sent to the signatory. The signature page is received, via the computing device, including a signature of the signatory. The signature of the signatory may be verified visually by the user. A positive or negative verification of the signature may be stored via the computing device. A status may be displayed including an indication of the signature page being sent, received, signed or incomplete. The agreements may be organized based upon the agreement identifier, a company name or the signatory. A collaborator may be invited, via the computing device, to identify a specific individual associated with the signatory. | 01-03-2013 |
20130080335 | SOCIAL NETWORKING WEB SITE WITH DINNER OFFER FEATURE - A method on a server for facilitating meal planning for a first and second individual over a communications network is disclosed. The method includes receiving a desired profile from the first individual over, matching the desired profile to a profile of the second individual, sending a message to the first individual indicating the match, receiving a command from the first individual including an offer to attend a meal with the second individual and an offer to pay for the meal, sending a message to the second individual including the offers, and receiving a command from the second individual accepting the offer to attend the meal and accepting the offer to pay for the meal, thereby executing a contract to attend a meal with the first individual, wherein the first individual pays for the meal. | 03-28-2013 |
20130080336 | System for Anonymous Negotiated Sale of Information and Property - A system for executing a sale of information between a buyer and an anonymous seller. The buyer transmits a request for information to a website hosted by a server. A seller who has information transmits a response to the website indicating that the seller has relevant information to sell. The buyer and the seller negotiate anonymously through the server using unique, anonymous identifiers to agree to the price and content of the information. | 03-28-2013 |
20130080337 | SOCIAL NETWORKING WEB SITE WITH DINNER OFFER FEATURE - A method on a server for facilitating meal planning for a first and second individual over a communications network is disclosed. The method includes receiving a desired profile from the first individual over, matching the desired profile to a profile of the second individual, sending a message to the first individual indicating the match, receiving a command from the first individual including an offer to attend a meal with the second individual and an offer to pay for the meal, sending a message to the second individual including the offers, and receiving a command from the second individual accepting the offer to attend the meal and accepting the offer to pay for the meal, thereby executing a contract to attend a meal with the first individual, wherein the first individual pays for the meal. | 03-28-2013 |
20130091063 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING, NEGOTIATING, SHARING, PURCHASING AND/OR REDEEMING ELECTRONIC VOUCHERS - According to some aspects, a method of creating and negotiating a voucher is provided. The method comprises receiving from a first user an identification of an offer and criteria for terms of a voucher associated with the offer, presenting to a second user an identification of the offer, receiving from the second user a first proposal for terms of the voucher, and sending a response to the second user based on a comparison of the first proposal with the criteria for terms of the voucher. When the first proposal meets the criteria for terms of the voucher, the response comprises an indication that the first proposal is accepted, otherwise the response comprises a second proposal. Some aspects include a system for performing the above method and some aspects include a computer readable medium storing instructions that perform the above method when executed by at least one processor. | 04-11-2013 |
20130103592 | Interactive Licensing Of Media With Negotiation And Dynamic Pricing Guidance - Embodiments are directed towards providing method for negotiating a license to a media item by a customer for a commercial use, including maintaining by a digital media licensing server a catalog of media items that are available to be licensed, and a database of records. Receiving a designation of a media item from the catalog, providing a customer interface that enables a customer to specify an offer to license the selected media item; receiving an offer, electronically providing to a plurality of rights holders in the media item information about the offer, receiving from rights holders at least one counteroffer price, determining a collaborative counteroffer price, and providing the collaborative counteroffer price to the customer. Additional embodiments are directed toward a method for making recommendations for alternative media items to license. | 04-25-2013 |
20130173478 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A CONSUMER TO MERCHANT NEGOTIATION - A method for a consumer-to-merchant electronic negotiation. The method comprises receiving a time-limited initial binding offer from the consumer for purchasing at least one product from at least one merchant of choice; determining whether the initial offer made by the consumer is valid; notifying the least one merchant about the initial offer from the consumer with respect of the merchant without revealing consumer information; receiving from the merchant a time-limited response respective of the initial offer, the time-limited response is one of an acceptance of the initial offer, a decline of the initial offer, and one or more time-limited counter-offers; and processing the time-limited response received from the merchant to determine at least if the consumer-to-merchant negotiation has not been concluded. | 07-04-2013 |
20140019368 | AUTOMATED NEGOTIATION - A negotiation involves multiple issues. A counteroffer to an offer made by an opposing party is identified from among a set of candidate counteroffers and presented to the opposing party. | 01-16-2014 |
20140019369 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A CONSUMER TO MERCHANT NEGOTIATION - A system and method for a consumer-to-merchant electronic negotiation is provided. The method includes receiving a time-limited initial binding offer from a consumer device for purchasing at least one product of choice from at least one merchant of choice responsive of the at least one product displayed on the consumer device and being offered for sale, wherein the initial binding offer includes at least an offered price for the product of choice, the product of choice, and the at least one merchant of choice, wherein the initial offer expires after a predefined timeframe; determining whether the initial binding offer received from the consumer device is a valid offer for the product of choice; analyzing the initial binding offer using at least one first preconfigured rule received from the merchant device; and generating a time-limited merchant response respective of the analysis of the initial binding offer. | 01-16-2014 |
20140058954 | Searchable Matching System and Method with Customizable Profiles and Unique Pre-Interview Negotiation Method - A searchable matching system and method with customizable profiles and pre-interview negotiation bidding is provided. The system comprises a central website connected to a database of multimedia data related to end users customizable profiles and listings. Pre-matched searchable fields, used in profile creation facilitate matching of end users with the maximum relevancy of fields, and search results are ranked. The system includes communication, interviewing, and scheduling modules. End users negotiate terms of an agreement through placing and/or receiving bids upfront before interviewing, wherein bid terms limit the scope of the potential agreement, which can be accepted by end users making the terms of said bids binding for future negotiations. Only when users enter into a final agreement will final terms of negotiation bids become binding upon all users. Preferred industries include job placement services, landlord and tenant matching services, travel services, or real estate finding services. | 02-27-2014 |
20140089206 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSFERRING ELECTRICAL ENERGY BETWEEN VEHICLES - A central location may facilitate negotiation and exchange of electrical energy between motor vehicles that need to exchange electrical energy. The central location may identify vehicles to exchange electrical energy and may determine exchange terms. The central location may store member information from which it determines exchange terms. The central location may update the member information based on data reported from the exchange. The central location may also authorize transactions, which may comprise confirming identities of one or both vehicles, validating payment information, and/or the like. The vehicles may be members of an affinity group or common fleet. The central location may manage the affinity group or common fleet, such as by prequalifying vehicles to join the group, ensuring vehicles have sufficient energy to reach a destination, and/or the like. | 03-27-2014 |
20140095395 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VARIABLE COMMISSION STRUCTURE AFFILIATE SALES NEGOTIATION AND TRACKING - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for variable commission structure affiliate sales negotiation and tracking. An apparatus is disclosed that includes a receiving module that receives a plurality of sales terms upon which a vendor's product may be made available for resale, a connection module that connects the vendor to one or more resellers based on the sales terms, and a negotiation module that negotiates between the vendor and the resellers, the negotiation module rejecting modified offers from resellers that have not met a performance threshold. | 04-03-2014 |
20140108266 | Process for the electronic negotiation of a binding agreement - A process for the electronic negotiation that enables two or more Parties to negotiate the terms of a binding agreement. The process for the electronic negotiation of a binding agreement generally includes a Computer Server | 04-17-2014 |
20140114862 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A CONSUMER TO MERCHANT NEGOTIATION - A system and method for a consumer-to-merchant electronic negotiation is provided. The method includes receiving a time-limited initial binding offer from a consumer device for purchasing at least one product of choice from at least one merchant of choice responsive to the at least one product displayed on the consumer device and being offered for sale, wherein the initial binding offer includes at least an offered price for the product of choice, the product of choice, and the at least one merchant of choice, further wherein the initial offer expires after a predefined timeframe; determining whether the initial binding offer received from the consumer device is a valid offer for the product of choice; analyzing the initial binding offer using at least one first preconfigured rule received from the merchant device; and generating a time-limited merchant response respective to the analysis of the initial binding offer. | 04-24-2014 |
20140164255 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATIVE AUTHORING OF A NEGOTIABLE DOCUMENT - A system and method for enabling coordinated, collaborative, data-driven document negotiation among multiple, divergent parties, either internally or externally, in a virtual environment. A comprehensive, singular, transaction management platform that transforms documents from a manual, text-based and paper-laden business and legal process into a data-driven experience via a negotiable transaction environment. The system streamlines and automates coordination of the life cycle of a binding document from deal origination to collaborative negotiation to executed agreement to archival to system-generated analytics. A term-based engine replaces the manual business and legal processes, and streamlines management of communication, approvals, signatures, commenting, recordkeeping and documentation. It provides a collaborative process for authoring text-based terms, as an alternative to an iterative, sequential drafting process; and an online, real-time searchable history of all changes for later discovery and/or compliance. As the system gathers data from transaction activity and final agreement, it dynamically builds workflow deliverables as well as analyzes resultant data and creates actionable business intelligence. | 06-12-2014 |
20140214690 | DETERMINING A COUNTEROFFER - A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions to determine a counteroffer can include the set of instructions executable by a processing resource to: determine, by an automated agent, a plurality of counteroffers to an offer received by a user; separate, by the automated agent, the plurality of counteroffers into a number of clusters based on content of each of the plurality of counteroffers and a determined distance between each of the plurality of counteroffers; select, by the automated agent, an individual counteroffer from each of the number of clusters based on the offer, characteristics of the user, and the determined distances; and present each of the individual counteroffers. | 07-31-2014 |
20140279567 | NEGOTIATION FACILITATING SYSTEM WITH TWO AUTOMATED NEGOTIATING AGENTS - An apparatus and method for facilitating a negotiation between users which includes assigning a first negotiation agent and a second negotiating agent, receiving max and min price, determining a first and second offer, and reducing the first offer and increasing the second offer alliteratively until agreement or disagreement is reached. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279568 | PRICE NEGOTIATION METHOD AND SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a method for generating proposals in a negotiation, the method including an automatic agent calculating a proposal in accordance with a predetermined function using one or more variables, transmitting the proposal to another agent across a communications channel, and receiving a counter-proposal from the other agent. The variables include a loyalty parameter and/or a reputation parameter. A system for negotiation is also disclosed. | 09-18-2014 |
20140297542 | NEGOTIATION PLATFORM IN AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT - A method and a system for providing a negotiation platform in the event that a listing fails by becoming inactive without the offering being sold are provided. For example, a negotiation eligibility detector may detect a failed listing of an offering. The listing may be associated with a first user and a first offer. A potential buyer detector may identify at least one potential buyer based on a user action associated with the failed listing. A negotiation manager may be in communication with the negotiation eligibility detector and the potential buyer detector. In response to the detecting of the failed listing and the identifying of the potential buyers, the negotiation manager may transmit a request to the at least one potential buyer for a second offer associated with the failed listing. | 10-02-2014 |
20140344167 | Universal Application and Reactive Communication - Systems, methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for providing an application system that permits application for multiple products, services, accounts, and the like via one application are provided. In some examples, user input may be received and, based at least in part on the user input, recommended products, upgrades, packages, and the like, that a user may apply for that may aid in providing a benefit to the user may be communicated to the user/applicant. For instance, the recommended products, upgrades, packages and the like, may provide fee waivers, reduced fees, and/or other benefits and advantages. | 11-20-2014 |
20140358798 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPRESSION INVENTORY TRADING - Systems and methods for providing an impression inventory trading platform are described. A specification of impression inventory for sale is received from a seller, the impression inventory having associated therewith a plurality of attributes. Each attribute is specified as either visible or hidden to a potential impression inventory buyer. The impression inventory specification and visible attributes associated therewith are provided to one or more potential impression inventory buyers via a user interface, and negotiation for purchase of the impression inventory is facilitated between the seller and one or more of the potential impression inventory buyers via the user interface. | 12-04-2014 |
20140365378 | WEB-BASED AUTOMATED BILL NEGOTIATION SYSTEM - A system and methods for facilitating negotiation of a medical bill owed to a medical provider for a patient via a web based cloud application which automatically calculates the best settlement offer for the individual's bills. The system and method provide a bill negotiation tool which is automated and provides the best settlement offer for reducing a patient's bill owed to a medical provider. | 12-11-2014 |
20150074000 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR NEGOTIATING ONLINE TRANSACTIONS - The present invention provides a system, method and computer program for negotiating online transactions. The method includes obtaining a price for an item from one or more sellers. A buyer can make possibly dissimilar offers for one or more of the items. If all offers are less than all the prices for those items, the offer is rejected and a seller can negotiate the price for reoffer to the buyer. If the offer is at least as high as one of the prices, a transaction is processed between the buyer and a seller. If the offer meets the price of more than one seller, the seller to transact with may be determined based on a prioritized list from the buyer. | 03-12-2015 |
20150088761 | IMPLEMENTING A BARGAINING STRATEGY BETWEEN TEAMS WITH MAJORITY VOTING - A method of implementing a bargaining strategy includes receiving a first plurality of attributes corresponding to team members of a first team, and a second plurality of attributes corresponding to team members of a second team. The two teams participate in a bargaining process and each team bargains pursuant to a majority rule. The method includes determining at least one critical first team member from the first team using the first plurality of attributes, and at least one critical second team member from the second team using the second plurality of attributes. The at least one critical first and second team members are determinative of an agreeable outcome of the bargaining process. The method includes generating suggested bargaining terms likely to result in the agreeable outcome of the bargaining process between the first and second teams according to the at least one critical first and second team members. | 03-26-2015 |
20150088762 | IMPLEMENTING A BARGAINING STRATEGY BETWEEN TEAMS WITH MAJORITY VOTING - A method of implementing a bargaining strategy includes receiving a first plurality of attributes corresponding to team members of a first team, and a second plurality of attributes corresponding to team members of a second team. The two teams participate in a bargaining process and each team bargains pursuant to a majority rule. The method includes determining at least one critical first team member from the first team using the first plurality of attributes, and at least one critical second team member from the second team using the second plurality of attributes. The at least one critical first and second team members are determinative of an agreeable outcome of the bargaining process. The method includes generating suggested bargaining terms likely to result in the agreeable outcome of the bargaining process between the first and second teams according to the at least one critical first and second team members. | 03-26-2015 |
20150100500 | BEST OFFER IMMEDIATE PAY FEATURE - A method of handling negotiations between a seller of an item and prospective buyers of the item is disclosed. A first offer for the item is received. The first offer includes a first item price and a first item quantity. A second offer for the item is received. The second offer includes a second item price and a second item quantity. It is detected that a first prospective buyer submitted a payment corresponding to the first offer before a second prospective buyer submitted a payment corresponding to the second offer. Based on an item quantity of the seller being less than the first quantity plus the second quantity, the seller is notified that the seller has an obligation to provide the first item quantity of the item to the first prospective buyer, but not the second quantity of the item to the second prospective buyer. | 04-09-2015 |
20150120575 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPON NEGOTIATION AND AUTHENTICATION - An approach is provided for negotiating and authenticating coupons. A coupon management platform receives a request for determining a first offer information associated with at least one first coupon. The coupon management platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of the first offer information against one or more negotiation rules to determine at least one second coupon. The coupon management platform further causes, at least in part, a presentation of the at least one second coupon, second offer information associated with the at least one second coupon, or a combination thereof. | 04-30-2015 |
20150120576 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ALLOWING BUYERS TO PLACE INTENDED PURCHASE OFFERS AND REWARD THE BUYERS FOR THEIR INTENDED PURCHASE OFFERS - The invention is a method and apparatus for allowing buyers to place intended purchase offers and rewarding them whenever they receive counter offers from sellers even before they make the purchases. The invention allows prospective buyers of goods or services to communicate their intended purchase offers, to display their offers on the apparatus for sellers to see and to allow sellers to accept or and counter offer. Buyers get rewarded whenever they receive offers from sellers. The apparatus in the invention consists of a central controller to process purchase offers and counter offers, a database to store information about buyers, sellers, their purchase offers and counter offers, an interface for buyers and an interface for sellers. | 04-30-2015 |
20150142674 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING AND FINALIZING A REQUEST FOR SALE - A system and related method are provided to generate and finalize a request for sale (RFS). The system controls commerce between buyers and sellers, which is transmitted over a communication network and initiated and driven by buyer bids. In a preferred embodiment, the system allows buyers to research products and financing terms, decide on a price they would like to pay for a product, and communicate an RFS either globally to all available sellers or to a select number of filtered sellers. The system then transmits the offer to appropriate sellers. The sellers have the option to accept a buyer's RFS or to counter the RFS with different parameters. When a purchase price has been accepted, a request for sale is finalized and a non-binding agreement to purchase terms is established. | 05-21-2015 |
20150317709 | SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF FOR EFFECTUATING AN ELECTRONIC NEGOTIATION BETWEEN A CONSUMER DEVICE AND A MERCHANT - A method and system are provided for effectuating an electronic negotiation between a consumer device and a merchant. The method includes identifying an interest of the user respective of a product offered by the merchant on an e-commerce website based on a received indication from the e-commerce web site; requesting a counter offer to a price requested by the e-commerce website; upon receiving the counter offer, retrieving metadata associated with the product; computing a score representing a probability that a merchant of the product would accept the counter offer based on the retrieved metadata; selecting at least one content item for display on the consumer device in response to the counter offer, the at least one content item is selected based on the counter offer and the retrieved metadata; and causing a display of the at least one selected content item on a display of the consumer device. | 11-05-2015 |
20150332319 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN ELECTRONIC OFFER MANAGEMENT PLATFORM - The disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing an electronic offer management platform. Producers may generate offers that are communicated to consumers via a plurality of affiliates that provide the offers to the consumers via their respective assets. By leveraging affiliates who are willing to propagate the offers, the producer may obtain a broad audience of consumers to receive and potentially accept the offers. The system may receive indications that the consumer has accepted an offer, store the offer in one or more offer accounts of the consumer, monitor transaction information related to the consumer to determine whether offer requirements have been satisfied, and credit one or more consumer service accounts with the value of the offer. The system may further facilitate transfer of at least a portion of the balance of the consumer service accounts into a financial account when the balance meets or exceeds a predefined threshold. | 11-19-2015 |
20150332421 | CONCEPTS FOR GUARANTEEING ADDED VALUE - Various embodiments are directed to concepts for providing a guaranteed added value to a potential customer. According to various embodiments, a vendor of products and/or services may obtain customer data comprising data regarding the sought out products or services to be provided by the vendor. The vendor may identify one or more products and/or services to be offered to the potential customer, and generate a proposal to be presented to the potential customer, wherein the proposal comprises a guaranteed added value. After implementing the one or more products and/or services, the vendor may monitor the provided products and/or services to determine the added value realized by the potential customer that is at least in part attributable to the provided products and/or services. If the added value realized by the potential customer is less than the guaranteed added value, the vendor may reimburse the potential customer for the difference. | 11-19-2015 |
20150339709 | SELF LEARNING METHOD AND SYSTEM TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATE OR ANCILLARY PRODUCT CHOICE IN RESPONSE TO A PRODUCT SELECTION - A system including: a memory element for storing an artificial intelligence program (AIP); an interface element for receiving, from a wireless communications device (WCD), a first portion of an order; and a processor for generating, using the AIP, an offer in response to items or services in the first portion of the order. The interface element is for transmitting the offer to the WCD and receiving, from the WCD, a second portion of the order. The processor is for modifying, using the AIP, the offer in response to items or services in the first and second portions of the order by adding or modifying items, services, or incentives. The interface element is for transmitting the modified offer to the wireless communications network for transmission to the WCD. | 11-26-2015 |
20150339710 | SOCIAL NETWORKING BASED OFFERS - Techniques for providing social networking based offers, including identifying a particular user that is a customer of a service provider; identifying one or more other users that are socially connected to the particular user through at least one social network; generating, by the service provider, a master social plan for the particular user and a subset of the one or more other users, the master social plan identifying a business model between (i) each of the particular user and the subset of the one or more other users and (ii) the service provider; and providing an offer associated with the master social plan to the subset of the one or more other users. | 11-26-2015 |
20150363871 | ONLINE SHOPPING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An online shopping system and method is provided. The present invention includes a software that produces a request box for a consumer. The consumer types a request for a good and/or service within the request box. A third party receives the request and coordinates the retrieval of the goods and services. For example, the third party may contact a second party to perform the goods and services for the consumer. The goods and services are then made available for the consumer. | 12-17-2015 |
20150379481 | System and Method for Facilitating Settlement Between Disputing Parties - Methods and systems are provided for use in the settlement process for providing settlement terms between opposing parties. In at least one embodiment, the system receives dispute amounts and best offer amounts from each party. In order to proceed with the settlement process, the difference between the dispute amounts from each party is compared to and must be less than a maximum allowable dispute amount difference. Further, in at least one embodiment, the system determines a suggested settlement amount, in part, using data from each party's confidential best offer. The present system and method provide a safe and non-threatening approach to the settlement process, which promotes compromise and settlement. Moreover, the present system and method provide a simplified procedure for collecting the debt once settlement occurs. | 12-31-2015 |
20150379624 | PROXIMITY-BASED INTER-COMPUTING DEVICE NEGOTIATION - Embodiments are disclosed herein for inter-computing device negotiation. In some embodiments, a first computing device may determine that a second computing device is within a predetermined proximity of the first computing device, and may cause the transmission of negotiation initiation data to the second computing device in response to the determination. The first computing device may receive negotiation response data provided by the second computing device, and may determine that the negotiation response data meets negotiation evaluation criteria. In response, the first computing device may cause the transmission of a confirmation message to the second computing device. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed. | 12-31-2015 |
20160012466 | Marketing Methods | 01-14-2016 |
20160012532 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING A PRIVATE COMMODITY RESOURCE TRANSACTION RELATED APPLICATION | 01-14-2016 |
20160035019 | Electronic Marketplace Platform for Expiring Inventory - It is desirable to provide an e-commerce marketplace platform that can create a more responsive and more engaging user experience. Accordingly, the present disclosure introduces a technique to provide an e-commerce marketplace platform that can create a more responsive and more engaging user experience. In some embodiments, the marketplace platform can provide a real-time bidding service for the customers to purchase merchandise, which can be particularly advantageous when applied to the sales of expiring or perishable goods or services. | 02-04-2016 |
20160048909 | Landlord Financial Recovery Bureau - Disclosed is a system for a landlord to negotiate with a tenant, including the steps of at least one tenant and one landlord entering into a lease agreement that obligates the tenant to provide identifying information, sign a waiver and entering all of the aforementioned information into a database, a landlord financial recovery bureau requesting on behalf of the tenant that the landlord executes an agreement and collecting factual information about the tenant for a tenant occupancy report. The tenant occupancy report being used to develop a tenant fact report summarizing details related to the tenant's occupancy of the rental property and being annotated to reflect verified documents in a tenant evidence locker. Any tenant or client request for information or submission of information being administered online through submission of forms to a central database or manually by a landlord financial recovery bureau. | 02-18-2016 |
20160055512 | TRANSACTION FEE SURFACING SYSTEM - Systems and methods for providing a transaction fee surfacing system include a system provider device that retrieves, through communication over a network with a merchant device that is located at a merchant physical location, a product identifier for a product and determines a customer device associated with the product. The system provider also retrieves incentives associated with the product from a database located in a non-transitory memory. Additionally, the system provider device determines at least one customer payment account associated with the customer device and retrieves information associated with at least one customer payment account from the database. The system provider thus provides incentives for a particular purchase instruction associated with purchasing the product using the at least one customer payment account. The system provider then provides the incentives for display on a customer device and receives a purchase instruction selection. | 02-25-2016 |
20160055576 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A TWO-STEP NEGOTIATION PROCESS - Disclosed are systems and methods for quickly completing an online transaction for a vacation rental property. The systems and methods are based upon a “two-click” online transaction process occurring between a renter and property owner. The two-click process comprises an initial price offer set by the owner, a negotiated offer requested by a renter, and a booking offer communicated by the owner in response to the negotiated offer. The negotiated offer can be the same as the initial price offer or a reduced price from that of the initial offer. The booking offer can comprise either an acceptance of the negotiation offer, whereby the renter is automatically charged and booked for the property, or a response counter-offer to the negotiation offer, whereby if the renter accepts, the deal is automatically booked, and if the renter declines, the deal is concluded with no agreement being reached. | 02-25-2016 |
20160071058 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR CREATING, MODIFYING AND DISTRIBUTING VIDEO CONTENT USING CROWD SOURCING AND CROWD CURATION - A method and system for authoring, writing, filming, editing and the addition of special effects using social networks and cloud-computing and the curation, marketing and distribution of videos using the collective intelligence of large numbers of participants is described herein. Using either a public network of anonymous or semi-anonymous users or a private network of registered participants, multiple people can work on and/or curate scripts, shoot video, edit video, apply special effects or devise marketing or distribution plans. The people who work together in the creative process can be selected using historical performance data and reputation indices and may be selected from a pool of millions of potential contributors. Legal structures can be changed to automate ownership and credits. The filming, special effects and editing can all be done in the cloud by people dynamically chosen, and decisions regarding creative and technical choices can be optimized using crowd wisdom techniques. | 03-10-2016 |
20160071160 | MAXIMUM PROFIT GOAL SOFTWARE SYSTEM - This invention relates to a system and method to enable a business to meet its business goals. Disclosed are certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments which teach a method for reducing the risk a business takes when doing business with customers in an environment where equal pricing is not the best strategy. Based on the business goal information entered into the system, the rating of the user, and other factors determined by the business, it will automatically calculate and make offers to interested users. This invention is particularly suited for the service industry. In one embodiment, a user can request and make payment for travel services. | 03-10-2016 |
20160086253 | SHOPPING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING REAL-TIME TRANSACTION - Shopping methods and systems for providing real-time transaction are provided. First, product information of one or more stores neighboring to a plurality of first electronic devices are obtained and transmitted to a server by the first electronic devices. Thereafter, a product list in a database of the server is updated according to the obtained product information and the updated product list is further provided to a second electronic device by the server to enable the second electronic device to select a product therefrom and request a user of the first electronic device for providing a surrogate shopping service of buying the selected product. | 03-24-2016 |
20160093007 | Transactional Real Estate System - The disclosure a computer implemented method for transaction of a real estate property. The method may include receiving information from a first user device. The information may include data that corresponds to an offer to sell a real estate property. A set of terms may be extracted from the received data. The set of terms may include an offer price, a payment method for the offer price, and a series of milestones each comprising an associated closing time. A packaged offer may be created based on the extracted set of terms. The packaged offer may include attributes of the product stored on a memory device accessible to the processing device and the extracted set of terms. The packaged offer may be transmitted to a second user device. | 03-31-2016 |
20160093009 | TECHNIQUES FOR FACILITATING A NEGOTIATION - In some embodiments, a presentation offering one or more items is provided on a computing device and an offer for purchase of an item of the one or more items is received. In some instances, the offer for purchase identifies an offer amount. Payment method information related to a payment method is received and a request to authorize the payment method in a reserve amount can be transmitted. A confirmation that the payment method is authorized in the reserve amount can be received and a notification identifying the item and the first offer can be generated. The notification can include an option to respond to the first offer, in some instances, the option to respond can include an option to accept the first offer and an option to provide a counteroffer. | 03-31-2016 |
20160098771 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NEGOTIATING TERMS OF SALE - A method for negotiating terms of sale between a customer and a sales manager includes a sales terminal and a desking terminal. The sales terminal is usable by the customer and/or a salesperson, and the desking terminal is usable by the sales manager. The customer and/or salesperson transmit, using the sales terminal, a deal request to the sales manager on the desking terminal. The sales manager may then create a deal proposal using the desking terminal, and transmit the deal proposal to the customer on the sales terminal. The customer may accept or revise a proposal included with the deal proposal. Any revised proposal may be transmitted to the sales manager on the desking terminal. The sales manager may then formulate a new deal proposal based on the customer's revised proposal. The desking terminal may provide the sales manager with detailed information for use during the negotiation. | 04-07-2016 |
20160117788 | GAINING REGISTRAR PURCHASING A DOMAIN NAME FOR A BUYER - A Buyer may enter a domain name or a related search string in a search field on a website operated by a Gaining Registrar. The Gaining Registrar may determine the domain name is registered at a Losing Registrar (a different registrar) and ask if the Buyer would like to make an offer on the domain name. If the Buyer does want to make an offer, the Gaining Registrar may validate the Buyer, collect a reserve from the Buyer and communicate the domain name and the offer (and possibly a time the offer is good) to an Aftermarket Platform (or possibly directly to the Losing Registrar). The Aftermarket Platform may then communicate the domain name, offer and possibly the time the offer is good to the Losing Registrar. The Losing Registrar may present the offer to the Seller (registrant of the domain name). The Seller may accept, decline, present a counter-offer to the Buyer or let the time the offer is good to expire. If an offer or counter-offer is accepted, the domain name may be transferred to the Gaining Registrar and registered to the Buyer while the Losing Registrar disburses the reserve to the Seller. | 04-28-2016 |
20160117789 | LOSING REGISTRAR SELLING A DOMAIN NAME FOR A SELLER - A Buyer may enter a domain name or a related search string in a search field on a website operated by a Gaining Registrar. The Gaining Registrar may determine the domain name is registered at a Losing Registrar (a different registrar) and ask if the Buyer would like to make an offer on the domain name. If the Buyer does want to make an offer, the Gaining Registrar may validate the Buyer, collect a reserve from the Buyer and communicate the domain name and the offer (and possibly a time the offer is good) to an Aftermarket Platform (or possibly directly to the Losing Registrar). The Aftermarket Platform may then communicate the domain name, offer and possibly the time the offer is good to the Losing Registrar. The Losing Registrar may present the offer to the Seller (registrant of the domain name). The Seller may accept, decline, present a counter-offer to the Buyer or let the time the offer is good to expire. If an offer or counter-offer is accepted, the domain name may be transferred to the Gaining Registrar and registered to the Buyer while the Losing Registrar disburses the reserve to the Seller. | 04-28-2016 |
20160148161 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING ONLINE TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING VOICE TALENT - Systems and methods for facilitating online interactions between voice talent users and employer users. The online web-based system has a voice talent database module, an open job database module, a negotiation module, and a payment module. The online system allows the employer users to search for a suitable voice talent user, preview the specific voice talent user's demonstration voice clip, and contact the voice talent user. The open job database allows employer users to upload contracts and jobs for which they need voice talent. The payment module allows payment for completed contracts to be exchanged between employer users and voice talent users with the system administrator/operator as a go-between. A matching method may also be used with the system to match voice talent users with open contracts to alert employer users. Targeted invitations to apply for these contracts may then be sent to qualified voice talent users. | 05-26-2016 |
20160155166 | LINE POSITION BIDDING | 06-02-2016 |
20160171576 | FUNCTIONALLY INTERRELATED USER INTERFACES FOR CONDUCTING TRANSACTIONS | 06-16-2016 |
20160171635 | Automated Contract Terms Negotiating System and Method | 06-16-2016 |
20160180348 | ENTITY REPRESENTATION VIA PERSISTENT COMPUTE OBJECTS | 06-23-2016 |
20160180421 | CONSUMER-DIRECTED SOCIAL E-COMMERCE RETAILER MARKETPLACE AND OFFER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM | 06-23-2016 |
20160180422 | LINKING OPEN OFFERS AND NEGOTIATION HISTORY | 06-23-2016 |
20160253717 | System and method for alternative brand affinity content transaction payments | 09-01-2016 |
20160379240 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING SALES - Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for conducting sales. A system configured to practice the method receives an inquiry with at least one parameter from a user associated with a sale of an item. The system identifies one or more discount items that satisfy the inquiry and filters the one or more discount items based on a time-sensitive sales opacity scale. The system identifies comparable items for each discount item at nondiscount rates dynamically using real-time data and presents one or more comparable groups to the user, each comparable group including one filtered discount item and respective comparable items. Then the system advances the sale of the discount item based on user acceptance of one of the presented one or more comparable groups. | 12-29-2016 |
20160379299 | Systems and Methods for Automatic Brokering of Properties - A system and method for better allocation of rental properties and matching of tenants and properties, especially in a competitive marketplace, is presented. In some aspects, an automated system processes prospective applicant renter applications, refines and unifies property listings, and automatically generates recommendations of tenant-property matches according to a fair, economic model including bids or offers by tenants on properties for which they qualify. The system and method permits stress-free and organized and uniform viewing of the properties and bidding/making offers on the same without chaotic and unfair first-come-first-served practices and other unfair leasing practices found in the industry. Also, fair market pricing is more easily achieved, which gives feedback to lessors. In addition, uniform executable lease agreements are generated according to the results of the matching process. | 12-29-2016 |
20160379323 | BEHAVIORAL AND EXOGENOUS FACTOR ANALYTICS BASED USER CLUSTERING AND MIGRATION - A present risk aversion of a customer is determined. A temporal preference is detected using historical data related to the customer, the temporal preference showing a preference of current utility over a future utility of a product. Using the temporal preference and a negative transaction risk, a future risk aversion of the customer is projected at a future time. A pattern of offer acceptance by the customer is identified in the historical data. A value of an exogenous factor is determined on which a buying ability of the customer depends. The customer is classified in a cluster, where all customers in the cluster have the present risk aversion, the temporal preference, the negative transaction risk, the future risk aversion, and the value. An offer for a product is presented to the cluster, which satisfies the present risk aversion, and where a probability of acceptance of the offer exceeds a threshold. | 12-29-2016 |
20180025402 | System and Method For Swapping Event Tickets | 01-25-2018 |
20220138879 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING COMMUNICATIONS IN COMPUTER PLATFORMS DESIGNED FOR IMPROVED ELECTRONIC EXECUTION OF ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS - Systems and methods for an electronic transaction platform that enables receiving a session request for an electronic communication session over a computing network to facilitate a financial instrument transaction. The electronic transaction platform receives session attributes for the electronic communication session, which define rules and/or permissions. Based on the session attributes, a stack software object is configured for the electronic communication session to control a stack graphical user interface (GUI) during the electronic communication session to selectively operate according to a set of participation levels. An invitee selection list is received indicating selected invitees to participate in the electronic communication session, and the electronic communication session is established based on the stack software object. At least one session permission for at least one invitee computing device is selectively configured to enable the performance of a predetermined activity associated with the financial instrument transaction via the stack GUI. | 05-05-2022 |