Patents Assigned to Intellectual Ventures Holding 79 LLC
  • Patent number: 8712864
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 79 LLC
    Inventors: Tom Van Horn, Dale A. Woodford, Richard A. Halbert, Kevin Dean Wampler
  • Patent number: 8676664
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 79 LLC
    Inventors: Tom Van Horn, Dale A. Woodford, Richard A. Halbert, Kevin Dean Wampler
  • Patent number: 8639580
    Abstract: A method and system are provided that enable partner sites to join in the sale of products/services via an on-line group-buying sale business method. A seller registers a list of products/services to be displayed on partner sites. Customers/visitors who access partner sites may link to one or more on-line group-buying sales conducted on an owner's main site. Accordingly, the method and system enable a super demand aggregation for products/services offered for sale by the on-line group-buying sale business method. The invention provides a partner menu tree that allows partners to pre-select products/categories for display to customers linking to the on-line group-buying sale from their partner site. Sellers may provide particular products, services, categories, and abstract terms to help partners select which products/services to display for customers from among all the on-line group-buying sale products/services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 79 LLC
    Inventors: Tom Van Horn, Richard V. Halbert, Dale A. Woodford
  • Patent number: 8489466
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 79 LLC
    Inventors: Tom Van Horn, Dale A. Woodford, Richard V. Halbert, Kevin Dean Wampler