Abstract: A gift registry system and method for providing a group gift giving option for gift givers and an option of a gift substitution or cash for gift recipients. The gift recipient registers any type of gift from any retailer for any occasion with an associated gift amount in the registry. The gift recipient also indicates whether they will accept a substitute of gift or cash instead of the gift. The gift giver is able to select a gift and make a partial contribution toward purchase of the gift.

Abstract: A universal gift registry providing a partial payment option for gift givers and a mandatory and contingent gift substitution for gift recipients. The gift recipient registers any type of gift idea from any store or establishment, for any occasion with an associated gift amount in the registry. The registrant is able to name their own gift price by selecting a gift amount not necessarily the same as the retail cost of the gift idea. The gift recipient also indicates whether they will accept a contingent substitute of gift or cash if the system is unable to provide the gift idea at the gift amount. The recipient can also select mandatory substitution of gift or cash. A gift giver is also able to select a gift idea and make a partial contribution toward purchase of the gift idea.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for allowing a user to sample and order a product using an interactive ordering system. The ordering system includes a vending station to allow a user to sample a quantity of the product, an ordering station in close proximity to the vending station to allow the user to purchase a related product, and a delivery station to delivery the purchased product to the user.

Abstract: Managing bid pricing information comprises receiving transaction information and item data from a buyer, generating a bid invitation containing entries relating to the transaction information and item data, and making the bid invitation available to a plurality of potential bidders, receiving from one or more of the potential bidders bid invitations containing a complex pricing structure and corresponding complex pricing amounts, and selecting a winning bidder based on the complex pricing amounts.

Abstract: An automated printing system for producing an image-based product comprises a server computer that receives from a first user a group of one or more copyright protected digital images and price information for image-based product. The price information can be distinct for each group of copyright protected digital images. The automated printing system also includes a computer processor that processes the copyright protected digital images in response to an order from a second user and calculates payment to the first user based on the price information and a digital printer that produces the image-based product in response to the processed copyright protected digital image.

Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for processing order messages exchanged between a client and an order server. The order messages can be for products and services that the customer orders from a vendor. The client provides the input order messages, which contain order commands in a predefined document format, to an order message manager of the order server, which also provides an order message sorter and message processing modules. The order message sorter reads the input document in the input order message to determine a type for the message and then directs the message to a message processing module capable of processing that type of order message. The message processing module processes the input document, obtains data if needed from an order database, and prepares an output document to include in an output order message to be returned to the client.

Abstract: A method for conducting Internet domain name service to users connected to the Internet comprises an automated procedure for transferring Internet domain name service from a domain name owner to a domain name manager. This method further comprises Internet sub-domain name services to prospective buyers based on domain names transferred to the domain name manager. Messages requesting domain name service, including requests from domain name owners to sub-license their particular domain name to prospective sub-domain name buyers and from prospective sub-domain name buyers to license available sub-domain names, are received and responded to by an automated domain name management system. This automated domain name management system further comprises an interactive website which includes a database, search engine, and Web server.

Abstract: An auction method presents an auction price-setting process and a fixed price process for purchasing a seller's offering to a buyer. The seller is provided with a mechanism to adjust and publish a seller fixed-price offer during the auction price-setting process.

Abstract: A auction system includes an auction price-setting purchase process and a fixed price purchase process for purchasing a buyer's proxy bid during an auction.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and system for obtaining property owner or community association data. An order for a selection of products is directly received from a requestor. The order is built using a master questionnaire, which is stored on a database from which all sub-questionnaires (products) are created. As all “products” are created at the moment the order is placed, the information (community association data) in the master questionnaire is the information which will be incorporated into each sub-questionnaire. By receiving an order directly with the requestor and building the order using a master questionnaire which includes questions and answers that may be incorporated into the sub-questionnaires (products), the association data may be obtained by requestors in a direct, efficient manner without the use of a third party service provider.

Abstract: A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization.

Abstract: A method of conducting and on-line transaction. A user at a PC (302) of a first location completes a profile information sheet and transmits it across a secure network (2708) to a central registration server (2704) at a second location also disposed on the network (306). The central registration server (2704) transmits a unique bar code and associated unique ID back to the user PC (302) at the first location, in response to the user sending the completed profile information sheet to the registration server (2704). When the user accesses a vendor server (2700) disposed on the network (306) for the purchase of products and/or services, the user transmits the bar code to the vendor server (2700) when prompted to complete a vendor payment form. The vendor server (2700) sends the bar code to the central registration server (2704) where the bar code is matched to the user profile information. The profile information is returned to the vendor server (2700) and automatically inserted into the vendor payment form.

Abstract: A framework that enables financial services companies to manage and track information about a sales force is provided. The framework includes object models for managing distributors information, for validating and tracking licenses and credentials, for creating customized contracts, and for maintaining compensation structures. The framework allows for configuring compensations, providing financial services companies a toolkit for creating and modeling their complex commission schedules used to compensate their sales force. The framework also provides modeling tools for agreements and contracts between a financial services company or provider and the distributors who sell their products. The framework has a multi-component architecture comprising multiple modules, multiple data processing engines, a backbone and multiple data sources. The processing modules carry out information processing using one or more data processing engines.

Abstract: A method for creating solicitations based on geolocalization and observation. At remote terminal, a need is identified and a solicitation based on that need is created at a server based on commands sent over a network, such as a wireless network. In an example embodiment, a roofing company worker passing through a residential area spots a roof in need of work and based on the location of the spotter, transmits a command to a server to generate a mailing (e.g., email or regular mail) to the address responsively to the GPS data and other data.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for processing customer orders associated with providing telephony services via a telecommunications network and with services provided via a cable network. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a service-order-entry (SOE) system associated with a set of legacy components, the SOE system being operable to receive a first type of customer order that is associated with providing services via a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network not including a cable television (CATV) network; supplementing the SOE system with a secondary order-reception system operable to receive a second type of customer order that is associated with providing telephony services over a CATV network and further operable to receive the second type of customer order without substantially modifying the legacy components; receiving the second type of customer order; and fulfilling the second type of customer order without substantially modifying the legacy components.

Abstract: A computer system for conducting electronic commerce. The system provides multiple electronic shopping carts for each user. Each electronic shopping cart has an indication of items currently within the electronic shopping cart and billing and shipment information. The system generates a display that identifies each of the electronic shopping carts and sends the generated display to a user computer system. The system then receives a selection of one of the identified electronic shopping carts from the user computer system and receives a selection of an item from the user computer system. In response to receiving the selection of the item, the system adds the item to the selected electronic shopping cart. The system then receives an indication to checkout the items in the selected electronic shopping cart from the user computer system.

Abstract: A method of accessing a vendor web site (3422) over a global communication packet-switched network (306) using personal account information of a credit card (3400) retrieved from a credit card company server (3300) on the network (306). At a user location disposed on the network, a machine-resolvable code (MRC) (3402) of the credit card (3400) of a user is read with a reading device (3410). Coded information is extracted from the MRC (3402). Routing information associated with the coded information is obtained, which routing information corresponds to the personal account information of the user stored on a credit card company server (3300) disposed on the network (306). The user location connects to the credit card company server (3300) across the network (306) in accordance with the routing information. The personal account information is returned from the credit card company server (3300) to the user location. The personal account information is then presented to the user at the user location.

Abstract: The present invention involves an interactive selection system for a consumer product that improves the consumer's ability to quickly sort through numerous criteria in a complex decision making process and determine whether that particular consumer product is appropriate for his or her purchase and use.

Abstract: Purchasing, redemption and settlement systems and methods are provided wherein a buyer takes possession of a product at a retailer. A purchasing system may communicate with a buyer through a communication network to establish a first price for a product between the buyer and a seller. The purchasing system may also arrange for the buyer to take possession of the product at a retailer, different from the seller, that offers the product for sale at a second price. Verification information, which enables the retailer to authorize the buyer to take possession of the product, is transmitted to the retailer. The buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the purchasing system in exchange for the right to take possession of the product at the retailer. In one embodiment, the purchasing system receives a buyer offer, including an offer price, related to the product. In another embodiment, the purchasing system transmits redemption information, including a redemption code, to the buyer.

Abstract: A system is provided comprising a plurality of listings, a plurality of labels associated with at least some of the listings. Additionally, a plurality of form inputs are provided, each associated with one of the labels, wherein selection of a form input causes a transition of the associated label from a first state to a second state. The system further includes a link that is made active upon the transition, thereby associating an action with a label wherein a first description is displayed in the first state and a second description is displayed in the second state.