Patents by Inventor Barnaby Merrick Harford

Barnaby Merrick Harford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20120215570
    Abstract: Described is a system and method that satisfies offers from customers with quotes from suppliers in a way that increases the likelihood of achieving an acceptable match. The system is configured to receive an offer for a product. The system queries in parallel multiple suppliers for rate quotes on the desired product. Each of the suppliers is ranked according to the lowest rate quoted by each supplier. The supplier quoting the lowest rate is selected as the winner of the offer. The system may then evaluate any other rate quotes provided by the winning provider. The system may satisfy the customer's offer with the winning provider at a higher rate than the winning rate quoted, up to the customer's offer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Barnaby Merrick Harford, Sendi Widjaja, Maja Bogdanovic, Clair Hector
  • Patent number: 8204810
    Abstract: Described is a system and method that satisfies offers from customers with quotes from suppliers in a way that increases the likelihood of achieving an acceptable match. The system of the present invention is configured to receive from a customer an offer for a product. The system queries in parallel multiple suppliers for rate quotes on the desired product. Each of the suppliers is ranked according to the lowest rate quoted by each supplier. The supplier quoting the lowest rate is selected as the winner of the offer. The system may then evaluate any other rate quotes provided by the winning provider. The system may satisfy the customer's offer with the winning provider at a higher rate (if one was provided) than the winning rate quoted, up to the customer's offer (perhaps adjusted for a reasonable profit).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Expedia, Inc.
    Inventors: Barnaby Merrick Harford, Sendi Widjaja, Maja Bogdanovic, Clair Hector
  • Publication number: 20100217713
    Abstract: Described is a system and method that satisfies offers from customers with quotes from suppliers in a way that increases the likelihood of achieving an acceptable match. The system of the present invention is configured to receive from a customer an offer for a product. The system queries in parallel multiple suppliers for rate quotes on the desired product. Each of the suppliers is ranked according to the lowest rate quoted by each supplier. The supplier quoting the lowest rate is selected as the winner of the offer. The system may then evaluate any other rate quotes provided by the winning provider. The system may satisfy the customer's offer with the winning provider at a higher rate (if one was provided) than the winning rate quoted, up to the customer's offer (perhaps adjusted for a reasonable profit).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Barnaby Merrick Harford, Sendi Widjaja, Maja Bogdanovic, Clair Hector
  • Patent number: 7672883
    Abstract: Described is a system and method that satisfies offers from customers with quotes from suppliers in a way that increases the likelihood of achieving an acceptable match. The system of the present invention is configured to receive from a customer an offer for a product. The system queries in parallel multiple suppliers for rate quotes on the desired product. Each of the suppliers is ranked according to the lowest rate quoted by each supplier. The supplier quoting the lowest rate is selected as the winner of the offer. The system may then evaluate any other rate quotes provided by the winning provider. The system may satisfy the customer's offer with the winning provider at a higher rate (if one was provided) than the winning rate quoted, up to the customer's offer (perhaps adjusted for a reasonable profit).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Expedia, Inc.
    Inventors: Barnaby Merrick Harford, Sendi Widjaja, Maja Bogdanovic, Clair Hector
  • Patent number: 6826543
    Abstract: Described is a system and method that satisfies offers from customers with quotes from suppliers in a way that increases the likelihood of achieving an acceptable match. The system of the present invention is configured to receive from a customer an offer for a product. The system queries in parallel multiple suppliers for rate quotes on the desired product. Each of the suppliers is ranked according to the lowest rate quoted by each supplier. The supplier quoting the lowest rate is selected as the winner of the offer. The system may then evaluate any other rate quotes provided by the winning provider. The system may satisfy the customer's offer with the winning provider at a higher rate (if one was provided) than the winning rate quoted, up to the customer's offer (perhaps adjusted for a reasonable profit).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Expedia, Inc.
    Inventors: Barnaby Merrick Harford, Sendi Widjaja, Maja Bogdanovic, Clair Hector
  • Publication number: 20040210513
    Abstract: Described is a system and method that satisfies offers from customers with quotes from suppliers in a way that increases the likelihood of achieving an acceptable match. The system of the present invention is configured to receive from a customer an offer for a product. The system queries in parallel multiple suppliers for rate quotes on the desired product. Each of the suppliers is ranked according to the lowest rate quoted by each supplier. The supplier quoting the lowest rate is selected as the winner of the offer. The system may then evaluate any other rate quotes provided by the winning provider. The system may satisfy the customer's offer with the winning provider at a higher rate (if one was provided) than the winning rate quoted, up to the customer's offer (perhaps adjusted for a reasonable profit).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Expedia, Inc.
    Inventors: Barnaby Merrick Harford, Sendi Widjaja, Maja Bogdanovic, Clair Hector