Buyer Driven Market System and Method
An electronic negotiation system is set forth. The system includes a first processor adapted to generate and send at least one unsolicited electronic offer from a registered buyer electronic device via a subscriber network device to at least one of a registered seller electronic device and a seller electronic device. The subscriber network device is adapted for operative communication with the first processor and at least one of the registered seller electronic device and the seller electronic device adapted to receive the unsolicited electronic offer. The first processor selectively incorporates screenshot information from a seller URL, which includes any data from the seller URL, in which the unsolicited electronic offer is selectively incorporated and sent to the seller electronic device, or the at least one unsolicited electronic offer is sent to the registered seller electronic device having registered user data stored in the data storage device.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/869,716, entitled “BUYER DRIVEN MARKET SYSTEM AND METHOD”, incorporated herein by reference under 37 C.F.R. §1.78.
BACKGROUNDEarly growth and expansion of the United States was greatly affected by the availability of goods. Goods could be found at stores and trading posts located in towns or along trails. Goods could be obtained by buying or trading valuables, such as gold, eggs, or livestock for a bit of flour and some cloth, a fur, tools, or any other available necessity.
As communication avenues have broadened due to advancements in technology, modern methods of selling goods can now include virtual stores setting up shop via an online store accessible through an internet connection. Many sellers, or vendors, are exploring effective ways to sell goods via the internet.
Such advances can permit, for example, internet selling where pre-selected buyers can ask for a quote from vendors by generating a request for quote and receiving vendor quotes in response to the request for quote.
One such system is discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,043,457 B1 to Hansen, which discusses a method and system for managing and evaluating commodities purchasing over a network of distributed computing devices. In one embodiment, the method allows a plurality of buyers to generate one request for quote and, in response to the request for quote, receive a quote from a plurality of vendors. The system provides a price normalization routine that allows buyers to evaluate and compare a normalized price for commodity products having different evaluation parameters. In an arrangement comprising a plurality of computers connected to a network said plurality of computers including at least one server, at least one buyer client computer and a plurality of seller client computers, the method for providing commodities exchange services first provides a web-based browsable display describing at least one commodities exchange service. The system then receives at least one request for quote from the buyer. The system then receives at least one quote from different sellers, wherein each quote may have a different price and quantity listed. The system then compares to one or more selected metrics, and normalizes the prices received from the different quotes, thus allowing the buyer to readily compare the prices of a number of commodity items having inherently different values. In one embodiment, the system also provides a method for multi-value cross compilation of sales transactions, iterative quote information, and metric data for purposes of evaluation and strategy analysis.
Still other systems can provide a system where registered sellers can receive an offer for an item from a registered buyer according to specified rules.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,207 to Walker discusses a method and apparatus for effectuating bilateral buyer-driven commerce. Prospective buyers of goods and services communicate a binding purchase offer globally to potential registered sellers, each seller having an assigned ID for maintaining anonymity for all transactions, for sellers conveniently to search for relevant buyer purchase offers, and for sellers potentially to bind a buyer to a contract based on the buyer's anonymous purchase offer. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a controller which receives binding purchase offers from prospective registered buyers. The controller makes purchase offers available globally to potential registered sellers. Potential registered sellers then have the option to accept a purchase offer and thus bind the corresponding registered buyer to a contract.
However, limitations of trustworthiness, closed markets, and goods limitations impair the known systems from achieving a highly effective buyer driven commerce system.
SUMMARYAn electronic negotiation system is set forth. The system includes a first processor adapted to generate and send at least one unsolicited electronic offer from a registered buyer electronic device via a subscriber network device to at least one of a registered seller electronic device and a seller electronic device. The subscriber network device is adapted for operative communication with the first processor and at least one of the registered seller electronic device and the seller electronic device adapted to receive the unsolicited electronic offer.
The subscriber network device includes a data storage device for storing registered user data for each registered seller electronic device. The first processor selectively formulates screenshot information, wherein screenshot information refers to information that is visible on or associated with a seller URL, from a seller URL, in which the unsolicited electronic offer is selectively included and sent to the seller electronic device, or the at least one unsolicited electronic offer is sent to the registered seller electronic device having registered user data stored in the data storage device. Seller data is selectively added to the registered user data stored in the data storage device, and wherein an electronic negotiation is executed directly, using the first processor and the registered seller electronic device via the subscriber network device.
The unsolicited electronic offer of the system can include a contingent offer list having one or more items for which an offer is being made and one or more seller addresses. In this case each seller address can be hidden from any other seller URL's, and the first seller to complete a negotiation cycle with the buyer completes the transaction and or all other offers are terminated.
In an embodiment, the subscriber network device is operatively coupled to an electronic payment gateway.
In another embodiment, the subscriber network device stores line item data from the electronic payment gateway to establish an integrated site. Further, the subscriber network device can delete registered user data from the data storage device for nonguaranteed sellers and for non-renewed sellers.
In an embodiment, the processor is provided in the subscriber network device, and the unsolicited electronic offer is generated based on at least of voice and data input from a registered buyer having registered user data stored in the data storage device.
In yet another embodiment, an application is downloaded into the first processor from the subscriber network device to facilitate communication between the first processor and the subscriber network device.
The registered seller electronic device can be at least one of verified and guaranteed by a trustworthy seller subscriber network device.
In the system, an agreed upon price can be contained in an electronic final offer that includes all terms, stated conditions, fees, taxes, and shipping charges, and wherein the final offer is generated during the electronic negotiation executed directly, between the first processor and the registered seller electronic device via the subscriber network device.
Further, the screenshot information of the system can be an image file generated at the seller URL.
In an embodiment, a method for generating and storing a fair market value (FMV) for a good through a buyer subscription program in a subscriber network device using the electronic negotiation system is set forth. The method includes the steps of gathering information from an electronic payment gateway, where the electronic payment gateway is operatively connected to a subscriber network device; indexing and storing the information in a sales data storage device of the subscriber network device; generating a fair market value for each item in the line item sales information using an application in operative communication with the subscriber network device; and storing the fair market value for the line item in the sales data storage device.
The method can further include the step of retrieving the fair market value for the line item by a registered buyer or seller device.
The method can further include the step of generating a counter offer to an unsolicited electronic offer based on the fair market value.
A system constructed in accordance with the principles herein is set forth. The system includes a first processor adapted to generate and send an unsolicited electronic offer based on a shopping list generated by a registered buyer electronic device via a subscriber network device to a registered seller electronic device. The subscriber network device is adapted for operative communication with the first processor and the registered seller electronic device is adapted to receive the unsolicited electronic offer. The subscriber network device includes a data storage device for storing registered user data for each registered seller electronic device. The first processor selectively formulates a screenshot from a seller URL in which the unsolicited electronic offer is selectively incorporated and sent to an unregistered seller electronic device, or the unsolicited electronic offer is sent to the registered seller electronic device having registered user data stored in the data storage device. The seller data is selectively added to the registered user data stored in the data storage device, and an electronic negotiation is executed directly, using the first processor and the registered seller electronic device via the subscriber network device.
In an embodiment of the system, the items in the shopping list can be selected from the group consisting of shopping items and services.
The subscriber network device can be operatively connected to a price and offering search engine such as Nextag or Google Shopping.
The system can include a subscriber browser extension that is downloaded to the first processor.
Further, each registered seller electronic device of the system can be guaranteed by a third party.
In an embodiment, each registered seller electronic device is designated as guaranteed in the data storage device.
The registered seller electronic device can return a final electronic offer with at least one alternative item to at least one of the items on the shopping list.
In an embodiment, a system 100 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure is shown generally in
The term “unsolicited electronic offer”, as referred to herein, means an offer including items and terms created by the buyer for one or more registered or non registered online sellers for any items or services offered by the registered or nonregistered sellers, wherein the unsolicited electronic offer is sent using the subscriber network program discussed herein, and contains screenshot information, or information from the seller's webpage ranging from, for example, as little as a word, inventory or SKU number, to an image, to as much as an image of a complete webpage of the seller. The unsolicited electronic offer, formulated in accordance with the principles herein, thus opens the available goods to which a registered buyer can make an offer to all goods sold and offered by any online seller. Conceptually, the unsolicited electronic offer turns every online store from performing like a brick and mortar store to, via the unsolicited electronic offer, performing like a booth in a bazaar type online market, where every online store on the planet would now efficiently entertain and decide whether to register if not previously registered in order to respond to offers on their products, other than their listed retail price in their own, same as before, storefront.
The subscriber network program can also be adapted to block selected sellers who attempt to register to respond to an unsolicited electronic offer, or to block transmission of an unsolicited electronic offer to selected seller addresses.
In an embodiment, a network subscriber device, such as a network server, is provided for updating and storing data for the network subscriber program. Stored information can then be updated, and stored programs operatively connected to the first processor 120 can be selectively updated by connecting to the network server.
In another embodiment, the network subscriber program is stored in a network subscriber server, and all interactions between the first processor 120 and the seller device 160 take place through the network server. In yet another embodiment, encrypted algorithms are generated by at least one electronic device, such as the first processor 120 or the seller device 160, or a network subscriber server, for transmitting data between the first processor 120 and the seller device 160. Contact information for the first processor need not be conveyed within the unsolicited electronic offer. Further, the network subscriber server can be any suitable server, and can accommodate programs other than the network subscriber program herein. Further, a transaction portion of the subscriber program can take place, for example, utilizing “cloud computing” on the buyer or seller local computing device or mobile computing device, such as an iPhone.
In accordance with the principles herein, the buyer market is expanded, while computation and processing costs are reduced in comparison to known systems, where all users, buyers and sellers, must pre-register in order to participate in the services of the system. Not only do sellers not have to be pre-registered, but also the system designed in accordance with the principles herein allows for the viral growth of registered sellers, wherein buyers have no need for knowing what sellers are registered and what sellers are not registered, and wherein non-registered sellers are invited to register based on the selection of the seller by registered buyers.
As illustrated in
The system 200 can include an interactive database provided in the Subscriber Network 240 for providing steps for registering a buyer and/or seller electronic device with the Subscriber Network 240. The seller electronic device 260 can be registered, for example, via the Subscriber Network 240 of the interactive database. Once registered, the registered seller electronic device 280 can submit an electronic acceptance or counteroffer to the registered buyer electronic device 220 via the Subscriber Network 240. Where the unsolicited electronic offer is sent, for example, directly from the first processor 220 to the seller electronic device 260, a copy of the unsolicited electronic offer can be generated by the first processor 220 and sent to the subscriber network 240.
As shown in
A seller electronic device 390 can register with the SSN 310 in any suitable manner, such as by inputting data to the seller profile 340, or an indirect manor, such as, for example, by conveying the data via phone, fax or any other available means such that required registration data may be stored in the Seller profile data 340. The guaranteed seller data storage 360 provides a substantial improvement over known negotiation systems, where a seller is not necessarily subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in the buyer's home country. Providing a way of ensuring a level of trustworthiness of the seller offers a unique built-in buyer protection to deal with less well known sellers.
The guaranteed seller data storage 360 also overcomes jurisdictional problems recently faced in US Federal District Courts with internet companies subject to local jurisdiction, such as E-Bay™. The guaranteed seller data storage 360 can be operatively connected to or provided in the SSN 310. Further, the guaranteed seller data storage 360 can be operated by an independent vendor, such as an insurance company, secretary of state, chamber of commerce, local or national government, or other suitable business or organization.
Any suitable means for determining the trustworthiness of the seller can be employed. For example, the seller can be registered with a local chamber of commerce, insured, or as a client of a guarantor. The guarantor can include, for example, an independent vendor. The guaranteed seller data storage 360 can include seller data, a program for registering sellers, a seller database for a subscribed buyer's reference, or any other suitable data.
The buyer profile data 330 can include a number of parameters, such as number of successful transactions, number of previous transactions with a specific seller, number of offers made on a desired item, or any other useful buyer data parameter.
The seller profile data 340 can include a number of parameters, such as successful transactions through the SSN 310, or any other suitable seller data parameter.
As illustrated in
Additionally, the seller can operatively connect a seller item database 460 to the Selsbuyer application program for storing information such as invoice cost and inventory on hand, for items for sale, on which an offer may be received. This will be particularly helpful for the seller to process a completed transaction and fulfill the order.
In this embodiment, a signal incorporating an unsolicited electronic offer 440 can be transmitted directly from the buyer electronic device 410 to a seller electronic device 430, and the items for which the offer is being made can be selected from the item database 420. Alternatively, the buyer can shop offline using the item database 420, and submit an unsolicited electronic offer via SSN 450.
A method shown generally at 500 in
Alternatively, a registered buyer can sign, or log in, by navigating to, for example, www.selsbuyer.com, or by calling a phone number and entering a password. The buyer can then either shop online, as illustrated in step 510, or create a shopping list through the SSN, shown at step 515. A buyer shopping online can then add one or more items to a shopping cart, or similarly functioning online shopping program, of a website, and select SSN extension to create an unsolicited electronic offer, or Selsbuyer, to the completed shopping cart at step 520, as described in further detail below.
In an embodiment, the seller can opt to have their online shopping program integrated with the Selsbuyer network, which would not require a browser extension, such as a PDF of the sellers online shopping program with selected items shown, to create the unsolicited electronic offer, and the unsolicited electronic offer can be submitted directly via a submit button or other similar button on the integrated online shopping program webpage.
Alternatively, the buyer can create a shopping list through, for example, a shopping list tab provided within or operatively connected to the SSN at step 515. The buyer can then enter an online address, or URL, of one or more sellers whom the buyer wants to transmit the list of items and offered price, as shown at step 525.
Once the buyer has completed step 520 or step 525, the SSN determines if, based on the seller URL, or other unique identifier of the seller, the seller is registered with the SSN, as shown at step 530. If the SSN determines that the seller is not registered, the SSN captures the base URL of the seller's website, and can add, for example, info@ to the base URL, or sales@ to the base of the URL, or any other suitable identifier for contacting the seller, as shown at step 535. The buyer can then confirm in step 540 that, for example, info@sellerURL.xyz, where x, y, and z are variables, appears to be a valid general email address for the seller at step 540. Next, the buyer enters the value of their unsolicited electronic offer, or Selsbuyer, confirms, and submits to the SSN at step 545. The SSN then transmits the Selsbuyer to the seller at step 550. Once the seller receives the Selsbuyer, shown at step 555, he can choose to register with Selsbuyer, as shown at step 560 if he is not already registered. When he contacts the SSN, the SSN determines if the seller is registered or not, as shown at step 565. The seller can also end the process by not registering with the SSN, as shown at step 570.
If the seller is registered or registers, information can then be entered regarding the seller response to the Selsbuyer, as shown at step 575. For example, the seller can accept the complete offer or a portion of the complete offer, accept payment, process and fulfill the offer, as shown at step 580.
The SSN can then process a charge to, for example, the seller, the buyer, or an advertiser, or any other suitable party for facilitating the completed transaction, as shown at step 585.
The seller can take a number of alternative steps, such as making a counter offer 591, making a counter offer with alternative items 592, rejecting the offer 593, which terminates the offer, or ignoring the offer 594, in which case the offer will expire after a predetermined time period. Any time period can be chosen as the expiration time for an offer, and if so desired can be incorporated into the Selsbuyer program as a set default or a selectable parameter. If the seller chooses to make a counter offer, he must first register if he is not already registered. The seller can then make a counter offer or a counter offer with alternate items, then an email is generated at step 595 containing the seller's final offer and is sent to the buyer. The buyer then chooses at step 596 to accept or reject the seller's counter offer 595. If an offer, made by the buyer or the seller, is ever rejected or terminates, notice will be sent to the offeror 597. If the seller accepts the buyers offer or if the buyer accepts the seller's counter offer 595, then the seller is paid at step 580, such as, for example, by a secured website, or any other suitable payment method, and a fee is charged for the completed transaction at 585. Otherwise, the counter offer terminates.
In another embodiment illustrated in
In yet another embodiment illustrated in
In still another embodiment illustrated in
The list can include desired items selected from, for example, shopping items, services, hotels, rental car, flight, and the like. To facilitate an organized shopping experience, tabs, such as tabs 810-850 can be provided to keep the subject matter of the list sorted by selected general classes. The tabs 810-850 shown in
A buyer can type in or import seller URL's to submit an offer for one or more items indicated on the list. A buyer using an offline Selsbuyer program can then connect the program to a communication link, such as the internet, to transmit the shopping list Selsbuyer, or can connect to a communication link, such as the internet, to transmit the shopping list to a Selsbuyer network server device, or SSN.
In an embodiment, if a buyer makes an offer to several sellers, the transaction of at least one item will be completed when the buyer or first accepting seller accepts the offer on the one or more items.
As illustrated in another embodiment shown generally at 900 in
Examples of suitable embedded response keys can include, but are not limited to, for example, an accept key 910, a final offer key 920, an alternative key, for offering alternate products, 930, or any other suitable key, such as a partial acceptance key, or any other suitable key. As an alternative, these keys and similar response station as represented in
Data 1000 for the price of, for example, a pair of Sneaky Shorts™ and has crossed out the digital camera data from 1010, which adjusts the price at total data 1020.
As illustrated in
A screen can then be presented offering editing options to confirm the information displayed in the counter offer 1140, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The embodiments described and shown are for purposes of illustration only, and are not to be construed as constituting any limitations of the disclosure. Modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and all modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the disclosure are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosure. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
The concepts herein reside not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combinations of some or all of them herein disclosed and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in these particular combinations of some or all of its structures for the functions specified.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the disclosure, including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, that would be deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.
Claims
1. An electronic negotiation system comprising:
- a first processor adapted to generate and send at least one unsolicited electronic offer from a registered buyer electronic device via a subscriber network device to at least one of a registered seller electronic device and a seller electronic device, the subscriber network device adapted for operative communication with the first processor and at least one of the registered seller electronic device and the seller electronic device adapted to receive the unsolicited electronic offer; and
- the subscriber network device including a data storage device for storing registered user data for each registered seller electronic device;
- wherein the first processor selectively incorporates screenshot information from a seller URL in which the unsolicited electronic offer is selectively incorporated and sent to the seller electronic device, or the at least one unsolicited electronic offer is sent to the registered seller electronic device having registered user data stored in the data storage device; and
- wherein seller data is selectively added to the registered user data stored in the data storage device, and wherein an electronic negotiation is executed directly, using the first processor and the registered seller electronic device via the subscriber network device.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unsolicited electronic offer includes a contingent offer list having one or more items for which an offer is being made and one or more seller addresses, wherein each seller address can be hidden from any other seller URL's, and wherein the first seller to complete a negotiation cycle with the buyer completes the transaction and or all other offers are terminated.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the subscriber network device is operatively coupled to an electronic payment gateway.
4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the subscriber network device stores line item data from the electronic payment gateway to establish an integrated site.
5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the subscriber network device deletes registered user data from the data storage device for nonguaranteed sellers and for non-renewed sellers.
6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is provided in the subscriber network device, and wherein the unsolicited electronic offer is generated based on at least on of voice and data input from a registered buyer having registered user data stored in the data storage device.
7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an application is downloaded into the first processor from the subscriber network device to facilitate communication between the first processor and the subscriber network device.
8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the registered seller electronic device is at least one of verified and guaranteed by a trustworthy seller subscriber network device.
9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an agreed upon price contained in an electronic final offer includes all terms, stated conditions, fees, taxes, and shipping charges, and wherein the final offer is generated during the electronic negotiation executed directly, between the first processor and the registered seller electronic device via the subscriber network device.
10. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screenshot information is an image file generated at the seller URL.
11. A method for generating and storing a fair market value (FMV) for a good through a buyer subscription program in a subscriber network device using the electronic negotiation system of claim 1, comprising the steps of:
- a) gathering information from an electronic payment gateway, the electronic payment gateway operatively connected to a subscriber network device;
- b) indexing and storing the information in a sales data storage device of the subscriber network device;
- c) generating a fair market value for each item in the line item sales information using an application in operative communication with the subscriber network device; and
- d) storing the fair market value for the line item in the sales data storage device.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the step of retrieving the fair market value for the line item by a registered buyer or seller device.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of generating a counter offer to an unsolicited electronic offer based on the fair market value.
14. A system comprising:
- a first processor adapted to generate and send an unsolicited electronic offer based on a shopping list generated by a registered buyer electronic device via a subscriber network device to a registered seller electronic device, the subscriber network device adapted for operative communication with the first processor and the registered seller electronic device adapted to receive the unsolicited electronic offer; and
- the subscriber network device including a data storage device for storing registered user data for each registered seller electronic device;
- wherein the first processor selectively formulates a screenshot from a seller URL in which the unsolicited electronic offer is selectively incorporated and sent to an unregistered seller electronic device, or the unsolicited electronic offer is sent to the registered seller electronic device having registered user data stored in the data storage device; and
- wherein seller data is selectively added to the registered user data stored in the data storage device, and wherein an electronic negotiation is executed directly, using the first processor and the registered seller electronic device via the subscriber network device.
15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the items in the shopping list are selected from the group consisting of shopping items and services.
16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the subscriber network device is operatively connected to a price and offering search engine such as Nextag or Google Shopping.
17. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein a subscriber browser extension is downloaded to the first processor.
18. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein each registered seller electronic device is guaranteed by a third party.
19. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein each registered seller electronic device is designated as guaranteed in the data storage device.
20. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the registered seller electronic device returns a final electronic offer with at least one alternative item to at least one of the items on the shopping list.
Type: Application
Filed: May 18, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2012
Inventor: Adam Selsby (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 13/110,837
International Classification: G06Q 20/00 (20060101);