Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide strong user authentication on a consumer device without requiring the user to go through a formal registration process with the issuer or processing network. Certain embodiments allow the use of any biometric technology (e.g., fingerprint scan, iris scan, voice recognition, etc.) supported by their consumer device (e.g., smart phone, tablet computer, personal computer) to authenticate the user. Additionally, the consumer device provides unforgeable evidence of the biometric match in the form of a biometric digital artifact to provide proof to a processing network that the match occurred. The processing network maintains a history of these authenticated transactions and biometric digital artifacts and as more and more non-fraudulent authenticated transactions occur over time, a higher level of trust (i.e., lower risk) is associated with the consumer device, biometric registration process, and the user.

Abstract: A process for providing seller pre-qualification during the matching phase of an electronic commerce transaction includes a directory structure comprising multiple hierarchically organized product classes, each product class categorizing multiple products and defining one or more attributes of the products categorized in the product class. The process also includes one or more pointers for each product class, each pointer identifying a seller database in which product data enabling a product transaction is stored for products categorized in the product class. The process further includes a search interface configured to communicate a search query for product data only to one or more seller databases associated with sellers having seller attribute values matching the specified seller attribute criteria, these seller databases being identified by the one or more pointers associated with the selected product class.

Abstract: A method and system for programming a universal remote control (URC) to operate with a remote-controlled device is disclosed. In response to an indication of a purchase transaction for a remote-controlled device, a network identity and a device identifier may be sent to client-premises equipment (CPE). The CPE may then program the URC to control the remote-controlled device.

Abstract: Fraud detection and/or detection of discrepancies between customer provided information and reliable information corresponding to a customer are described. The methods and apparatus are particularly well suited for Internet and/or other E-commerce transactions. A payment company, e.g., a credit card/debit card provider, as part of a transaction authorization, sends a query to a customer's ISP with some information corresponding to the payer/customer requesting the transaction (e.g. name, billing address, etc.) and the source IP address the customers is using during the transaction. The source IP address is used by the ISP provider to identify a device and/or physical location using the IP address and a customer record corresponding to the device/physical location using the IP address. In at least some embodiments the ISP returns a “matching score” based on how well the customer information matches information in the ISP's customer information record corresponding to the identified location.

Abstract: A service may be any device hardware and/or software, or portion thereof, that can be identified by a provider for sharing with or selling to a consumer device in accord with a negotiation for its sharing or selling. The consumer may be any machine capable of consuming or providing a service; artificial intelligence may facilitate the sharing/selling. A witness may: track negotiations for sharing/selling, authenticate consumers/providers, and facilitate financial payments between consumers/providers. Financial charges may be micro-charges, e.g., very low cost. A consumer/provider may have an associated reputation that may affect the negotiation, and a party may be transitory and/or in an environment risking interruption of the sharing or selling, and these characteristics may affect the negotiation. The witness may electively cover losses to the consumer/provider, particularly when the cost of the transaction is a micro-charge.

Abstract: Methods for a buyer to receive a discount from a merchant or another member in a multi-merchant, multi-payer internet commerce platform in a social network. The methods relate to deals which include loyalty-based discounts, prepaid discounts and/or coupon discounts. A buyer may wish a deal form a selected merchant at a selected discount. Upon acceptance by the merchant, the deal is published and available to all members. Existing members may sponsor friends or businesses to become members of the internet commerce platform. New businesses listed on the internet commerce platform are subject to verification by current members entering business telephone numbers and determining if the entered numbers match. Further verification may include an interactive voice response test performed on the business manager's mobile telephone number.

Abstract: A system is provided. The system comprises a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and an application stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the application receives a plurality of first messages from a first plurality of handsets, each of the first messages indicating that one of the first plurality of handsets has installed a first ID, wherein the first ID is associated with a first ID provider, receives a second message from the first ID provider, the second message indicating that new content associated with the first ID is available, and in response to the second message, transmits a plurality of third messages, each of the third messages directed to one of the first plurality of handsets, indicating that new content associated with the first ID is available.

Abstract: A support center receives a first request from a mobile device requesting a support service and establishing a communications session between the user of the mobile device and a support agent to allow the support agent to provide the support service to the product. The support center receives a message associated with the product from a vendor providing the product, the message identifying at least one of a promotion, a reward, a suggestion of an accessory, and a recall of the product. The support center accesses a set of rules associated with the product to determine whether the message associated with the product should be routed to the user, where the rules have been previously configured by the user and stored in the database, and transmits the message to the mobile device if the rules permit.

Abstract: A platform facilitates buyers, sellers, and third parties in obtaining information related to each other's transaction histories, such as a supplier's shipment history, the types of materials typically shipped, a supplier's customers, a supplier's expertise, what materials and how much a buyer purchases, buyer and shipper reliability, similarity between buyers, similarity between suppliers, and the like. The platform aggregates data from a variety of sources, including, without limitation, customs data associated with actual import/export transactions and facilitates the generation of reports as to the quality of buyers and suppliers, the reports relating to a variety of parameters that are associated with buyer and supplier quality.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for social shopping on a network-based marketplace. The method receives, over a network at a social shopping platform, a request from a user in a first community of users. The social shopping platform includes multiple network-based marketplaces respectively associated with communities that include the first community of users that is associated with a first network-based marketplace. The method identifies the first network-based marketplace from the network-based marketplaces based on the request. The request is for an activity associated with the first network-based marketplace. The first network-based marketplace is used by the first community of users to transact items of a single domain that is of interest to the first community of users. The method updates a listing reputation score based on the activity associated with the first network-based marketplace and a user reputation score based on the listing reputation score.

Abstract: A transaction-based social network for a life science vertical industry is provided. A method for implementing the network includes qualifying a user to join the transaction-based social network based on a minimum set of qualifications. The method also includes creating, from input received by the user, an opportunity with respect to an offer, identifying members of a target user community in the network based on the input from the user, and posting the opportunity over the social network to the members of the target user community. The method further includes receiving at least one response from the target user community that is indicative of a bid to accept the opportunity. The method also includes providing a view of the bid for the user and, once accepted, executing a transaction based on a pre-negotiated fee. The executing includes validating regulatory compliance of content associated with the transaction.

Abstract: Some examples provide systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products for monitoring and/or enforcing compliance with contract provisions. A market platform may operate to inform buyers and suppliers, to allow buyers and suppliers to select products and contracting parameters to meet their needs, to allow buyers and suppliers to commit to supply agreements, and to enforce those supply agreements. These examples may provide such an integrated system by receiving buyer spend data, receiving contract offers from one or more suppliers based on the spend data, allowing the buyer to select one or more of the contract offers, and monitoring spend data to ensure compliance with the selected contract offer. The system may include dynamic price models, altering the price of the purchased products based on compliance with the selected contract offer. The system may include provisions for monitoring achievement from buyer spend data, and monitoring and enforcing contract terms based on that achievement.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an information processor is provided, the information processor comprising an accepting module configured to accept access from a terminal device connected via a network, an image generating module configured to generate a purchase image including an order for purchase of one or more products, and an image sending module configured to send the purchase image to the terminal device. The purchase image includes an order deadline as a measure of safety for the product in accepting the purchase order on the purchase image.

Abstract: A bid processing system receives a project description and a baseline estimate for the project. The project is opened for bidding to multiple potential bidders. Each of the potential bidders have access to the project description and the baseline estimate for the project. The bid processing system receives multiple bids for the project and calculates a bid value associated with each of the multiple bids. The system then determines a best bid value from the plurality of received bids and awards the project to the bidder associated with the best bid value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating agreement between a first party and a second party. Each party may provide a reservation price and an offer price. Overlap between the information provided by the parties is utilized to determine a settlement price.

Abstract: A method of eliminating the need to wait in line to conduct a payment transaction in a retail establishment includes initiating a network-based electronic payment transaction with a communications device in a retail establishment. A shopper initiates the network-based electronic payment transaction. Moreover, the method includes entering a machine readable code from at least one good with the communications device, determining a price of the at least one good and a total payment transaction cost, and displaying the total payment transaction cost on a screen of the communications device. Furthermore, the method includes determining whether to approve payment for the electronic payment transaction, authenticating the shopper, completing the electronic payment transaction in the retail establishment, and transmitting a transaction complete message to the communications device when the shopper is authenticated.

Abstract: Articles such as compact discs or electronic files are traded among a plurality of members who are registered in a common community. Each member has an account including a trading credit balance and a mailing address. A user interface is provided that allows a member to enter articles that the member owns and is willing to trade and articles that the member wants to own. The user interface also receives article trading instruction messages. An administration computer hosts the plurality of members and facilitates article trades among the members. The administration computer identifies matches between owned and wanted articles. A priority algorithm is used to select the member who will receive the article if there is more than one member who wants an article that another member owns and is willing to trade.

Abstract: A method of recommending vendors to bid on a print job may include identifying a print job for which a recommendation of vendors to bid on the print job is desired and identifying one or more vendors as potential bidders for the print job. The method may include, for each identified vendor, determining, by a computing device, a bidding probability associated with the vendor, a winning probability associated with the vendor, a recommendation probability associated with the vendor, and identifying the vendor as a recommended vendor based on the associated recommendation probability. The method may include notifying a user of the recommended vendors.

Abstract: A switching linear dynamical system (SLDS) transition model accommodating any number of different switching states may be used to model negotiation behavior. Furthermore, a negotiation behavior model that accommodates multiple different negotiation strategies (e.g., an SLDS transition model where individual switching states represent different negotiation strategies) may be used to predict a trajectory of offers to be made by a party to a negotiation, and terms of a counteroffer to the party may be calculated based on the predicted trajectory of offers to be made by the party.

Abstract: An online barter system for facilitating the exchange of services of equivalent value includes a computer connected to a computer network and having a processor and memory. Programming causes the processor to receive barter offer data from a system subscriber/donor over the network. A monetary value and a corresponding quantity of barter credits are associated with the submitted barter offer. The system includes programming for receiving barter selection data from another subscriber, the request including a request to redeem a respective barter offer using the subscriber's barter credits. The system determines if the requester has sufficient barter credits to redeem the requester barter offer. The system facilitates performance of a redeemed barter service and the recipient may offer online feedback. If the feedback is positive, the donor's credits are increased and the recipient's credits are decreased. The system allows for negative feedback to be challenged by a respective donor.

Abstract: A computer system and method is disclosed for pre-qualifying vendors for buyers and/or industries using vendor criteria information associated with buyers and/or industries and vendor qualification information associated with vendors. Vendors and buyers enter the vendor qualification information and vendor criteria information, respectively, into a database in a hierarchical and relational manner. The computer system compares entered vendor qualification information to stored vendor criteria information to pre-qualify vendors for buyers and/or industries. The computer system further monitors the stored vendor qualification information and requests updated vendor qualification information from the vendors to maintain vendor qualification on a per industry and/or per buyer basis.

Abstract: A system and method for aggregating services within a VoIP network. The VoIP network comprises a plurality of vendors, resellers, and users, and each reseller aggregates a plurality of services from the vendors and other resellers. Each type of service may be organized into two or more tiers, with each tier including one or more services. Each tier is presented to downstream users as a single price and is re-branded with the reseller's branding elements. Downstream users can select a desired service from a given tier, and the tier may automatically select a service that maximizes the profit for the reseller.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed toward a process for a merchant inspection, where a guaranteed shopping server inspects online merchants to ensure they are reliable, financially stable, and committed to providing a great online shopping experience to the buyer/user. Next, this service monitors merchants on a regular basis, to ensure they deliver on their terms of sale, thus assuring purchasers of an overall safe online experience. Next, the guaranteed shopping service provides, a guarantee for added peace of mind for the purchaser. In accordance with one embodiment, a guarantee is provided to the buyer including ID theft protection, a purchase guarantee and a lowest price guarantee. As with other type of guarantees, certain restrictions and terms may apply. If a buyer does experience a problem with an online merchant, a benefit claim can be made and once the claim is validated, guaranteed shopping coverage can apply.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for generating a tier rollup record perform the steps of: receiving a request for one of a product record and a plurality of product records having a determined attribute value; querying a first data set for product records corresponding to the request; receiving one or more unique record identifiers corresponding to the request; querying a second data set for a product record and associated product attribute values corresponding to each unique identifier; receiving the product record and associated product attribute values corresponding to each unique identifier; identifying a most representative product record from the product records and associated product attribute values corresponding to each unique identifier; rolling up the most representative product record; and transmitting the rolled up most representative product record.

Abstract: The invention discloses a system for enhancing trust in transactions, most particularly in remote transactions between a plurality of transactional parties, for instance a seller and buyer(s) of goods and/or services over a public computer network such as the internet. Trust is disclosed to be a multivalent commodity, in that the trust that is to be enhanced relates to information about the subject matter of the transactions (e.g., the suitability of the goods and services sold), the bona fides of the supplier of the goods and services, the appropriateness of a pricing structure for a particular transaction or series of transactions, a quantum of additional transactional value that may be imparted to the transactional relationship, security of information exchange, etc.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a cross channel fulfillment system that enables consumers to purchase and receive items using different transmission mediums. The fulfillment system is a centralized distribution system that maintains information relating to consumers and has access to multiple transmission mediums. Specifically, the fulfillment system contains a database of consumer contact information relating to each transmission medium. The fulfillment system uses a remote device to provide information to consumers. The remote device transmits and receives broadcast messages including information relating to purchasable items. The fulfillment system may deliver a purchased item to the consumer using a medium different from that used to purchase the item.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiment of the present invention would provide systems, including Internet-based systems, and computer-implemented methods, for providing online Buyers and Sellers who physically transact an exchange of an item at a local meeting place, indicia of confirmation of the exchange on which to base a background online payment. In particular, exemplary embodiments of the present invention would provide a way for Buyers and/or Sellers to input an identifier for online authentication to confirm that a physical exchange of an item sold had been transacted and that would accordingly provide an online system with a basis to charge the relevant Buyer's account for a sale amount and pay the Seller for the item sold.

Abstract: A method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services or events. Electronic options are provided for desired goods or services or events. Electronic options, electronic option terms and electronic option fees are dynamically generated and dynamically adjusted based on prior and current actions completed on a client network device. A business-to-business (b2b) marketplace is established using electronic options.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a computer-implemented method, system and apparatus to enable data-driven, multi-channel communications to facilitate business processes. By providing more than one channel for communication between market participants, which includes suppliers and consumers, real-time requests for information, services, or the like can be solicited in a way that those selected to provide responses have certain attributes, and the supplier is selected for the solicitation automatically and instantaneously notified of the request based on automatic selection of those attributes. The notification is instantaneously communicated using more than one channel of communication, potentially in a mode that the potential supplier has indicated is a more likely way of actually and instantly receiving the request. The system further provides at least one mechanism by which all of the selected suppliers can instantly respond to the request, which is then communicated to the requestor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to providing a dynamic, no-questions-asked, money-back, item-return guarantee for item purchases. For example, a buyer-dealer may access a marketplace platform and search for a particular item to purchase. In some aspects, next to each item for sale, a guarantee acquisition fee may be displayed. This guarantee acquisition fee may indicate the additional cost, to the buyer-dealer, to purchase a no-questions-asked, money-back, item-return guarantee from the marketplace platform. As such, if an item and its respective item-return guarantee are purchased, the buyer-dealer may return the item to the marketplace platform for a full or partial refund of the item purchase price.

Abstract: A business process is described for conducting business transactions over the Internet, allowing buyers an opportunity to reduce the price of a product/service based on the buyer's performance during a Price-Determining-Activity (PDA). Sellers offer the product/service within a specified price range, and buyers agree to a binding agreement, in exchange for the opportunity to close the transaction at the lowest price by achieving a high score or performance during the PDA. The price may change during the PDA, and the available price at any given time may be displayed or otherwise made available to the buyer. The price change may be continuous, at intervals, in response to certain events. The PDA may be a video game, electronic board game, sports bet, card game, or any other activity, or against the seller, a software opponent, or a computer opponent. The PDA may involve another buyer competing for the same product/service.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering a gift using social networking information is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system to manage user reputations is described. In some embodiments, a first picture is received from a first user and a second picture is received from a second user. The first picture and the second picture are associated with an in-person transaction related to an item. The method determines whether both the first picture and the second picture identify the item. The method further determines whether both the first picture and the second picture were taken at a similar geographic location. If the first picture and the second picture identify the item and were taken at a similar geographic location, transaction feedback is requested from the first user. A reputation score related to the second user is updated based on transaction feedback received from the first user.

Abstract: A method and system for managing business transactions, such as mortgages or other financial transactions. A business transaction between an end user and a financial institution includes sub-transactions between the end user and a vendor. A software system performs functions to complete the business transaction. Automated ordering allows an end user to quickly and easily order a sub-transaction without input from the financial institution or the vendor, and also automatically orders sub-transactions upon satisfaction of a trigger event. Vendor management functionality allows a financial institution to manage the transactions of a vendor. Qualitative performance analysis functionality allows an end user to monitor and evaluate a vendor's price, turn-around time, quality score, and overall score. Vendor distribution functionality distributes sub-transactions among vendors.

Abstract: An electronic business transaction system is provided for a product purchaser to purchase a product from a product supplier, and for a product delivery service provider to deliver the product to an address of the product purchaser or a product receiver. The product purchaser instructs an identification code and the product to the product supplier without disclosing a name and the address of the product purchaser or the product receiver. A terminal of an information administrator identifies the name and the address of the product purchaser or the product receiver according to the identification code of the product purchaser or the product receiver. The terminal of the information administrator instructs the name and the address of the product purchaser or the product receiver to the product delivery service provider without disclosing the identification code of the product purchaser or the product receiver, so that the product delivery service provider delivers the product.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for authorization of independent agents for processing calls and distribution of calls to authorized agents are provided. An independent agent may purchase or otherwise acquire credits for leads related to commerce transactions. The credits may be maintained by a call center and accessed by a device responsible for routing calls to agents. Calls or other transactions leads may then be directed to the independent agent, and the independent agents credits may be deducted accordingly.

Abstract: A fraudulent-purchase alarm system for issuing an alarm about a fraudulent purchase of an article for sale includes: a first storage that stores a price of the article for sale; a second storage that stores purchase amounts of articles for sale purchased by a user of the fraudulent-purchase alarm system; a third storage that stores an upper limit of a total purchase amount of the user; and a controller that, upon receiving a purchase request to purchase the article for sale and identification information about the user, refers to the first to third storages to issue an alarm about a fraudulent purchase if a sum of the purchase amounts of articles already purchased by the user identified by the identification information and the price of the article for sale indicated in the purchase request exceeds the upper limit, wherein the controller lowers the upper limit if a predetermined condition for preventing a fraudulent purchase is met.

Abstract: A method for matching a hedge fund and a hedge fund investor, and apparatus therefore, may utilize databases that may be searched by search engines. The databases and the search engines may be accessed using a website. Information regarding the investor may be stored in one database and information relating to the hedge fund may be separately stored in the other database. An investor may access the search engine associated with the database containing hedge fund information to identify hedge funds that may be relevant to that investor. Likewise, a hedge fund may access the search engine associated with the database containing investor information to identify qualified investors that may be interested in the hedge fund.

Abstract: A dealer-to-dealer social marketplace platform for aggregating item inventories and providing the items to potential buyers, sellers, dealers, traders, wholesalers, and/or retailers is provided. Dealers, buyers, and/or other users of the platform may create groups of other platform users to facilitate social and/or trusted networks for viewing and/or exchanging items listed in a seller's inventory.

Abstract: A method on a server for managing discount offers for a plurality of users over a communications network. The method includes receiving a discount offer, wherein a discount offer comprises at least a product or service description, an initial price, a discount price less than the initial price, a minimum number of acceptances and a time deadline, and transmitting the discount offer to the plurality of users. The method further includes receiving acceptances of the discount offer, and executing a preliminary credit card authorization transaction for each acceptance received, at the initial price. The method further includes calculating a number of acceptances, detecting the time deadline, and effectuating a sale of the product or service at the discount price to each user that accepted, if the number of acceptances is greater than or equal to the minimum number of acceptances, including executing a final credit card authorization transaction.

Abstract: An improved ecommerce system and process for conducting transactions is provided. The system holds a buyer's payment until the buyer has an opportunity to object to the goods or services provided. Payment is released to the seller if a complaint is not submitted within a buyer grace period. If a complaint is submitted, the system facilitates thorough communications between buyer and seller, and provides for dispute resolution. In some embodiments, a request-for-quote operation can be provided, as well as implementation of credit terms and automated generation of commercial transaction documents.

Abstract: A social e-commerce system is provided. To the extent buyers seek products not already available, the system matches buyers with related sellers and solicits listing on the sought-after items. The system includes third party certification options. Enhanced communication facilities between buyers and sellers enable reduced opportunity for dispute. Intra-party communications during the transaction can be utilized by third party neutrals for dispute resolution. Parties can select trust agents for escrow and/or dispute resolution.

Abstract: A consumer is provided with a first asset in return for a promise to earn an agreed to number of points over an agreed to redemption period. The consumer subsequently earns the points by purchasing one or more second assets. At least one of the second assets is different than the first asset. Each purchase has an associated point value, at least one of the point values being different than at least one other point value. An electronic trading system includes a first set of web sites where a consumer can select a first asset it wants to obtain in return for a promise to earn points by making future purchases of one or more second assets. The number of points which the consumer must earn varies as a function of which of the first assets is selected by the consumer. The consumer can fulfill its obligation to earn the stated number of points by purchasing one or more second assets at a second set of web sites. Each of the second assets has an associated point value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ensuring the quality and price of a good sold online is disclosed. In return for a small fee or purchase add-on, the quality or price of a good may be guaranteed by the online store or a third party. The small fee or purchase add-on amount is determined based on in part by a quality metric or a calculated return risk by a computer. If the buyer is not satisfied with a good purchased online, free return shipping, or some other incentive may be provided by the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating a purchase request to a dealer immediately. A Data Center system has a system database accessible to a plurality of dealers. A potential buyer submits a purchase request over a computer network to the Data Center system. The purchase request may include product identification data and buyer location information. The Data Center system identifies at least one appropriate dealer to receive the purchase request. The Data Center creates a purchase request record from the data and information provided in the purchase request. The Data Center then communicates the purchase request to the appropriate dealer by immediately storing the purchase request record into the system database such that the purchase request is accessible only to the at least one identified dealer. The purchase request becomes available to the at least one identified dealer immediately upon the creation of the purchase request record.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods for evaluating suppliers and performing green sourcing analysis based on customized sustainability metrics are described herein. The method in an integrated information management system involves configuring one or more criteria relating to a product as green sourcing metrics. The method further includes defining one or more constraints effecting interdependencies between the green sourcing metrics. In a further aspect, the method includes determining that the one or more constraints is fulfilled based on product data relating to one or more suppliers supplying the product and customizing the green sourcing metrics based on the one or more constraints that is fulfilled. In yet another aspect, the method involves performing green sourcing analysis for the one or more suppliers of the product based on the customized green sourcing metrics.

Abstract: Evaluating credibility of an online trading user includes, based on a user to be evaluated, querying reference users corresponding to the user to be evaluated. The reference users include trading users who have conducted a transaction with the user to be evaluated and may be obtained from a referenced transaction record of the user to be evaluated. Property information of the reference users may be obtained, and a credibility evaluation result for the user to be evaluated may be generated based on the property information of the reference users and a proportion of all transactions conducted between the user to be evaluated and the reference users for which sales transactions account.

Abstract: A platform and method provided for facilitating the trading of fractional ownerships of a digital representation of an asset. In one embodiment, the method includes: identifying an original physical asset for creating a corresponding digital asset; making a digital representation of the original physical asset; authenticating the digital representation; embedding or associating the digital representation with a unique identification code; storing the digital representations on a first non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and placing the digital representation in a market for trading.

Abstract: A commercial transaction is associated with a current location of a wireless device having location services enabled at the time of the transaction. The current location is compared to an entry in a database of associated merchants accepting transactions to the locations that they handle such transactions. If a match in location is found, the transaction may be validated. If the wireless device registered as the device of the person believed to be conducting the transaction is not at an expected or acceptable location at the time of the transaction, then the transaction may be flagged for possible fraudulent activity. At the time of the transaction, a software location based services (LBS) trigger is initiated to request validation of the transaction based on the wireless device's current location.

Abstract: Described herein is technology for, among other things, exchanging value between a service buyer and a service provider. The technology involves establishing a virtual funds account associated with the service buyer. A request for services is received from the service buyer, which includes an amount that the service buyer is willing to pay for the services. An indication that the service provider will perform the services for the service buyer is received, and a hold is placed in the buyer's virtual funds account on an amount of virtual funds corresponding to the amount that the service buyer is willing to pay for the services.