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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for purchasing an airline ticket, includes entering into a computer information describing a flight desired by a consumer, including a target price, and performing a search on an airline reservation system database for flights corresponding to the desired flight information. The method determines whether a flight found during the search has a fare that is at least equal to the target price, and if so books the flight to hold it for the consumer for a predetermined period of time to allow the consumer to effect payment. The consumer is informed by e-mail notification of the seat reservation and instructing the consumer regarding payment requirements to effect purchase of the airline ticket. If a flight having the target price or better is not found, the method continues to periodically perform the search over a predetermined number of days into the future, and inform the consumer by e-mail of the ongoing results of the search.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for purchasing an airline ticket, includes entering into a computer information describing a flight desired by a consumer, including a target price, and performing a search on an airline reservation system database for flights corresponding to the desired flight information. The method determines whether a flight found during the search has a fare that is at least equal to the target price, and if so books the flight to hold it for the consumer for a predetermined period of time to allow the consumer to effect payment. The consumer is informed by e-mail notification of the seat reservation and instructing the consumer regarding payment requirements to effect purchase of the airline ticket. If a flight having the target price or better is not found, the method continues to periodically perform the search over a predetermined number of days into the future, and inform the consumer by e-mail of the ongoing results of the search.