Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system utilizing a distributed network for the recommendation of goods and/or services to potential costumers based on a potential customer's selection of goods and/or services and a database of previous customer purchasing history.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system utilizing a distributed network for the recommendation of goods and/or services to potential costumers based on a potential customer's selection of goods and/or services and a database of previous customer purchasing history.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a computer-implemented on-line price comparison method for performing price comparison and price reduction of goods and/or services sold by a vendor over a computer network, such as the Internet. The price comparison method can be selected by a customer, whereupon the computer program requests a competitor's price by transmitting a price request over the computer network. When the competitor's price is received, it is displayed to the customer. The computer program compares the competitor's price to the item price for the specified item. If the competitor's price is higher, nothing is done. If the competitor's price is lower, however, the computer program presents to the customer the option of requesting a reduced price. If the customer requests a reduced price, the computer program checks to see if the competitor's price is below a predetermined threshold. If it is, the computer program advises the customer to buy the specified item from the competitor.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for negotiating the purchase of goods and/or services by customers utilizes a simulated human merchant having predefined behavioral attributes. An algorithm representing behavioral attributes of a simulated human merchant is used to receive customer input data relating to particular goods and/or services desired to be purchased. The customer input data is processed to generate merchant responses to the customer input data, and the sale of goods and/or services are agreed to at a particular price as a result of processing of customer replies to merchant responses according to the algorithm.