Abstract: A method for providing pricing information for ordering a vehicle is provided. The method is performed by a server computing device. The method includes receiving, by the server computing device, pricing information including an identification of the vehicle and a price at which a vehicle dealership offers to order and deliver the vehicle. The method also includes receiving, by the server computing device, from a client computing device associated with a consumer, a pricing request including the identification of the vehicle, and transmitting the price for the vehicle to the client computing device while withholding an identity of the vehicle dealership.

Abstract: A method for a consumer to provide himself with timely and appropriate marketing data while remaining anonymous to the sources of the marketing data is described. The method includes self-generating an anonymous consumer profile for the consumer, providing access to the anonymous consumer profile to one or more entities, and receiving marketing data from the entities based on the anonymous consumer profile. The method also includes providing feedback on the received marketing data, the feedback becoming a part of the anonymous consumer profile, and repeating the receiving marketing data and providing feedback steps.

Abstract: A method of operating an online dynamic-bidding exchange for use in a reverse auction. The exchange includes a server system that includes a database, and a client system coupled to the server system via a communications network. The method includes determining a lowest credible price of a product, and receiving one or more offers to sell the product from a seller and storing the offers to sell in the database, wherein the offers to sell is embodied as a reserve price. The method also includes determining a sales price of the product based on a comparison of the lowest credible price and the competing reserve prices, transmitting the sales price from the server system to the client system, and displaying the sales price to a buyer via the client system.

Abstract: An exchange system for facilitating the purchase of products is described. The system is coupled, in one embodiment, to a communications link. Potential product purchasers and sellers may access the exchange system via the network, and submit offers and/or pricing requests to such system. In response to the requests, the system processor retrieves the stored data from the respective databases, and causes such data to be transmitted to the local site for display. The exchange systems also executes certain functions in response to commands and data transmitted from buyer sites, seller sites and institution sites.

Abstract: A method of operating an online purchasing system for use by a plurality of buyers includes receiving product information from a client system including a buyer-observed price of a product that is input by one of the plurality of buyers, using a server system to execute a multi-input search algorithm and to determine a sales price for the product, wherein the sales price is a lowest price available from at least one online search tool and the buyer-observed price, and transmitting the sales price to a client system for display to one of the plurality of buyers.

Abstract: A method for identifying non-terrorists among a plurality of participants and/or potential participants using a communication system includes electronically communicating a verification request from a first participant to a second participant, wherein the second participant is a member of a personal network of the first participant, and electronically communicating a verification request from the second participant to a third participant, wherein the third participant is a member of a personal network of the second participant. The method also includes receiving replies to the verification requests sent by the first and second participants, and determining a likelihood that the first participant is a non-terrorist threat based on the replies received from the second and third participants.

Abstract: A method for identifying non-terrorists among a plurality of participants and/or potential participants using a communication system includes electronically communicating a verification request from a first participant to a second participant, wherein the second participant is a member of a personal network of the first participant, and electronically communicating a verification request from the second participant to a third participant, wherein the third participant is a member of a personal network of the second participant. The method also includes receiving replies to the verification requests sent by the first and second participants, and determining a likelihood that the first participant is a non-terrorist threat based on the replies received from the second and third participants.

Abstract: A method of operating an online dynamic-bidding exchange for use in a reverse auction. The exchange includes a server system that includes a database, and a client system coupled to the server system via a communications network. The method includes determining a lowest credible price of a product, and receiving one or more offers to sell the product from a seller and storing the offers to sell in the database, wherein the offers to sell is embodied as a reserve price. The method also includes determining a sales price of the product based on a comparison of the lowest credible price and the competing reserve prices, transmitting the sales price from the server system to the client system, and displaying the sales price to a buyer via the client system.

Abstract: Apparatus for interfacing with a personal communication device having at least one device transceiver. The apparatus includes a first portion having a first wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the device transceiver using a first wireless connection to facilitate transmitting incoming communication data from the communication device to a user through the first portion. The apparatus also includes a second portion having a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the device transceiver using a second wireless connection maintained simultaneously to the first wireless connection to facilitate transmitting outgoing communication data from the user to the communication device through the second portion.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating revenue from social interaction between a plurality of participants of a marketing system. The method includes electronically communicating a comment regarding a resource from a first participant of the plurality of network participants to a second participant of the plurality of network participants, wherein the second participant is a member of a personal network of the first participant, and electronically communicating a comment regarding the resource from the second participant to a third participant of the plurality of network participants, wherein the third participant is a member of a personal network of the second participant. The method also includes rewarding at least one of the first and second participants based on the electronic communication from the first participant to the second participant and the electronic communication from the second participant to the third participant, wherein the third participant purchases the resource.

Abstract: An exchange system for facilitating the purchase of new cars is described. The system is coupled, in one embodiment, to a communications link. Potential car purchasers and sellers may access the exchange system via the network, and submit offers and/or pricing requests to such system. In response to the requests, the system processor retrieves the stored data from the respective databases, and causes such data to be transmitted to the local site for display. The exchange systems also executes certain functions in response to commands and data transmitted from buyer sites, dealer sites and institution sites.

Abstract: An exchange system for facilitating the purchase of products is described. The system is coupled, in one embodiment, to a communications link. Potential product purchasers and sellers may access the exchange system via the network, and submit offers and/or pricing requests to such system. In response to the requests, the system processor retrieves the stored data from the respective databases, and causes such data to be transmitted to the local site for display. The exchange systems also executes certain functions in response to commands and data transmitted from buyer sites, seller sites and institution sites.

Abstract: An exchange system for facilitating the purchase of new cars is described. The system is coupled, in one embodiment, to a communications link. Potential car purchasers and sellers may access the exchange system via the network, and submit offers and/or pricing requests to such system. In response to the requests, the system processor retrieves the stored data from the respective databases, and causes such data to be transmitted to the local site for display. The exchange systems also executes certain functions in response to commands and data transmitted from buyer sites, dealer sites and institution sites.