| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20100049593 | MATERIALS SUPPLY CONTRACT SYSTEM AND METHOD - The invention relates to a materials supply contract system and method for use in conducting business on-line over a network of computers such as the Internet. A method is provided for a buyer to award a supply contract, issued as a BOM, to a supplier selected from a panel of predetermined suppliers which each have a base supply contract with the buyer, the method being conducted over a computer network which comprises at least one buyer computer, an administrator computer and at least two supplier computers, the method comprising the steps of sending a buyer message from the buyer computer to the administrator computer identifying the BOM which includes at least one predetermined parameter (e.g. material requirement, business and market rules and/or special instructions), receiving the buyer message and displaying the BOM on a site on the administrator computer which is accessible by at least two supplier computers, sending a BOM message from the administrator computer to the at least two suppliers, receiving and storing an offer message in the administrator computer from one or more of the at least two supplier computers which includes an offer to supply goods or services in accordance with the BOM, sending an acceptance message from the administrator computer to the supplier computer which sent the successful offer, and sending a notification message from the administrator computer to the buyer computer notifying the buyer computer of one or more of the offers. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100312662 | System and Method for Conducting Online Auctions - The invention relates to a system and method for conducting online auctions, and has particular application in conducting business on-line over a network of computers such as the Internet, for establishing materials supply contracts. In particular, the invention relates to control of a reserve price in an online bidding event. An online auction between a controlling party and at least two competing participants comprises the steps of setting a reserve price for the auction, conducting the auction between the at least two competing parties, determining whether a predetermined time trigger has been reached and suspending the auction if the reserve price is not reached at the time, determining whether the controlling party has selected to enter an optional reserve price negotiation phase, and revising the reserve price for that reserve price negotiation phase, and accordingly, extending the auction based on the revised reserve price. In application to a factored reserve or forward auction event, the invention allows the transparency and integrity of the real time negotiation process to be maintained beyond the normal bidding event and into an auction extension phase based on the revised reserve price. | 12-09-2010 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090089417 | DIALOGUE ANALYZER CONFIGURED TO IDENTIFY PREDATORY BEHAVIOR - A dialogue analyzer configured to identify online communications relating to lewd, predatory, hostile, and/or otherwise inappropriate subject matter is disclosed. Identified communications include those occurring via social networks, instant messaging, online chat rooms, computer in-game chat, email and the like. The communications of a monitored computer user are scanned to identify those communications that match predetermined lexical rules. The rules comprise sets of word-concepts that may be associated based on spelling, sound, meaning, appearance or probability of appearance in a text string, etc. Various numbers and configurations of word concepts may be implemented in a rule in order to more accurately scan the online communication data for a potential match. When a match is found, a copy of the communication, along with contextual information, is presented to a parent or guardian user. This information is presented at a central website and via an email notification to the parent or guardian. Various embodiments are described. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20110178793 | DIALOGUE ANALYZER CONFIGURED TO IDENTIFY PREDATORY BEHAVIOR - A dialogue analyzer configured to identify online communications relating to lewd, predatory, hostile, and/or otherwise inappropriate subject matter is disclosed. Identified communications include those occurring via social networks, instant messaging, online chat rooms, computer in-game chat, email and the like. The communications of a monitored computer user are scanned to identify those communications that match predetermined lexical rules. The rules comprise sets of word-concepts that may be associated based on spelling, sound, meaning, appearance or probability of appearance in a text string, etc. Various numbers and configurations of word concepts may be implemented in a rule in order to more accurately scan the online communication data for a potential match. When a match is found, a copy of the communication, along with contextual information, is presented to a parent or guardian user. This information is presented at a central website and via an email notification to the parent or guardian. Various embodiments are described. | 07-21-2011 |
