Abstract: An online marketplace system comprising a customer profile associated with at least one customer, a vendor profile associated with each of the plurality of vendors, a main dashboard associated with the customer profile, a vendor dashboard associated with the vendor profile and an application server configured for storing details of the customer profile, the vendor profile, the main dashboard and the vendor dashboard in the online market system. The online market system allows the at least one customer to control and coordinate the requirements to the plurality of vendors in a simple and efficient manner. Embodiments of the system and method are described, and may be used for coordinating requirements of at least one customer related to at least one service of interest to a plurality of vendors.

Abstract: Described herein is technology for, among other things, exchanging value between a service buyer and a service provider. The technology involves establishing a virtual funds account associated with the service buyer. A request for services is received from the service buyer, which includes an amount that the service buyer is willing to pay for the services. An indication that the service provider will perform the services for the service buyer is received, and a hold is placed in the buyer's virtual funds account on an amount of virtual funds corresponding to the amount that the service buyer is willing to pay for the services.

Abstract: A system, methods, and apparatus for performing automobile transactions are disclosed. In an example embodiment, automobile market data representative of current automobile market characteristics is stored. The automobile market data may include pricing, inventory, and consumer interest information received from dealers, manufacturers, and consumers. A consumer may provide a request for a response regarding a specific automobile using an image of a vehicle identification number or a graphical user interface. Automobile market data may be provided to a dealer based on the request. Bids to sell the specific automobile may be requested from dealers based on the request. Dealer bids may be provided to the consumer with prices and a delivery options. The consumer may select a bid which specifies a pickup location at a first dealer.

Abstract: Techniques for negotiating with a consumer within a retail establishment are provided. A retail Point-Of-Sale (POS) system becomes aware of a consumer looking for a product and having a price comparison for other retailers for that product; the consumer is in a store of the retailer. The retailer generates one or more customized offers to compete with the other retailers and dynamically delivers those customized offers to the consumer while the consumer remains in the store in an attempt to entice the consumer to buy the product at the store.

Abstract: Selling intangible property rights may include receiving content from a seller and determining one or more potential purchasers for the content's intangible property rights. The potential purchasers may be determined according to the subject of the content, the audience for the content, and the intangible property rights being sold. An offer to sell the intangible property rights may then be transmitted to one or more potential purchasers, along with a portion of the content. Upon receiving the one or more purchaser's acceptance of the offer, a complete copy of the content may be transmitted to the purchaser.

Abstract: A methodology, system and business model are disclosed for facilitating a fully automated buyer's auction in which the major types of transaction costs are significantly reduced by providing the buyer and the sellers with near-perfect information about one another, including information about buyer preferences and competing sellers' offers. The system implements a buyer's auction with multidimensional bidding that minimizes market intelligence, search, bargaining and transaction execution costs and thus creates more competitive, frictionless markets. Buyers and sellers can efficiently conduct the buyer's auction within a unified environment, thereby minimizing buyer integration costs as well. The buyer's auction generates commercially marketable proprietary information and a revenue stream for the auctioneer providing such a service.

Abstract: Items are sold via a wireless mobile telecommunications network in which multimedia presentations describing items offered for sale are broadcast for reception by wireless mobile devices. Users of the devices can transmit responses indicating requests to buy the items or bid for them in auctions.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and program product for providing a competitive sales environment in a virtual world. In one embodiment, the invention comprises receiving a request for product or service information from a consumer avatar, querying a database of vendors based on the request for product or service information, identifying at least one vendor relevant to the request for product or service information, notifying the at least one vendor of the request, and making available to the consumer avatar a sales environment based on the request for product or service information.

Abstract: According to an example, a method for supplier quantity selection may include receiving a plurality of supplier offers for one or more items to be procured by a manufacturer, and determining whether the supplier offers include price uncertainty and a most favored customer (MFC) clause. Based on the determination that the supplier offers include price uncertainty and the MFC clause, the method may include evaluating the supplier offers by analyzing the price uncertainty and the MFC clause using a stochastic multi-stage model. The method may further include determining, by a processor, an allocation of all or part of each of the supplier offers to minimize purchase price of the one or more items based on the evaluation of the supplier offers.

Abstract: Mechanisms, in a portable computing device comprising a camera, for exchanging information between a user and a provider are provided. With these mechanisms, an image is captured using the camera of the portable computing device and an identifier of a physical object associated with the captured image is determined. The portable computing device transmits the identifier of the physical object, and user information describing a user of the portable computing device, to a separate computing device associated with a provider of the physical object. The portable computing device receives information associated with the physical object from the separate computing device associated with the provider of the physical object. A storage device of the portable computing device stores the physical object information in association with at least one of the captured image or the identifier of the physical object.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for categorizing transactions for a user comprising receiving a plurality of transactions, each transaction including a transaction party, a date associated with the transaction, and a transaction amount, providing a set of transaction categories, automatically associating one of the transaction categories with at least one of the received transactions from the set of transaction categories, providing a set of reliability codes comprising at least two reliability codes, selecting a reliability code from the set of reliability codes for at least one of the automatically selected transaction categories, and displaying at least one of the received transactions with its selected reliability code.

Abstract: A system for providing transparency in a real estate transaction is provided that allows buyers and sellers of real property to interact with each other legally, safely, and efficiently without requiring a traditional real estate agent. Sellers interact with the system to create listings, accept offers, make counter-offers, and hire experts as needed. Buyers interact with the system to find listings, make offers and counter-offers, and hire experts as needed. The system may have an integrated connection with platform partners that provide services such as seller authentication, advertising, or payment processing. Service providers may interact with the system to offer services relevant to a real estate transaction such as home inspection, repair, real estate legal counseling, lending, title search, or escrow services. Service providers may receive requests for quotes for service from buyers and sellers through the system, respond with bids, be awarded work, and paid though the system.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture for interacting with a multiple criteria buying and/or selling system to conduct business electronically. In particular, the architecture can include a dynamic discount card that includes an information access component for receiving information. In addition, the dynamic discount card can include a presentation component for displaying information to a user via the dynamic discount card.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are described for providing an item list to a computer user. An item list is provided in which a plurality of computer users each have a corresponding item list into which a computer user can add entries for various item offered by vendors. Upon receiving a user-initiated indication to add an item to the computer user's item list, an entry is added to the item list along with a user amount indicative of an amount the user is willing to pay for the item. After adding an entry to the item list, a minimum price is determined from each of a plurality of vendors offering the item. A vendor (from the plurality of vendors) is selected and an offer is generated for the user on behalf of the vendor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time pricing of shipping vendors are provided. Various shipping vendors may be queried concerning shipping specifications. Some embodiments provide for a query to be transmitted to a shipping vendor through an interface associated with the particular shipping vendor. In response to the query, real-time pricing information associated with the shipping specifications is received and displayed to a user. Upon the user designating a shipping vendor, customized shipping labels for each shipping vendor may be generated.

Abstract: The exchange-driven electronic market system disclosed herein allows increasing volume and efficiency of transactions between buyers and sellers in a marketplace. An implementation of the electronic market system includes a method comprising receiving a plurality of sale offers, each sale offer including required revenue values required volume values for a product, determining an offered market price based on the plurality of sale offers, displaying the offered market price to a plurality of buyers, receiving from the plurality of buyers a plurality of conditional offers for purchases (COPs), and completing a plurality of sales transactions, if the combination of one or more of the plurality of COPs meets the combination of one or more of the required revenue values.

Abstract: Communications between participants over a communications link are proxied by an intermediary, such as an Integrated Order Mechanism (IOM). Participants interact with each other through the IOM. The IOM may be transparent to the participants such that they are not aware that the IOM is involved in processing communications. For example, in the context of a transaction by a customer making a purchase from a merchant over the Internet, the IOM facilitates the processing of transactions by processing requests from both the customer and the merchant. Neither the customer nor the merchant may be aware that the transactions are being handled by the IOM. Order forms may be pre-filled for the transactions. For example, the IOM may obtain customer information from a database and use the customer information to complete the customer fields on a merchant web page containing an order form.

Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, a knowledge processing system performs decentralized knowledge acquisition from human experts. The system may store the acquired knowledge in a knowledge database. The system may include an AI expert system to apply computer reasoning to data stored in the knowledge database. The system may provide humanly perceptible outputs to human experts to increase the likelihood that the human experts will pay attention to requests for information or to other communications, contribute knowledge objects in response to a query, provide “high quality” information, tag knowledge objects in the database, or review knowledge objects.

Abstract: A transaction-based social network for a life science vertical industry is provided. A method for implementing the network includes creating an opportunity from input received by a user. The input specifies criteria with respect to the opportunity, a target user community, and a target subject. The method also includes identifying members of a target user community in the network based on the criteria, receiving from the user, criteria associated with an automated award feature, and posting the opportunity over the network to the members of the target user community. The method also includes receiving a response from at least one target member of the target user community, applying the criteria associated with the automated award feature to the at least one target member; automatically awarding, without input by the user, the opportunity to the target member upon determining the information satisfies the criteria associated with the automated award feature.

Abstract: Technology is described for task exchange. The method can include obtaining a task definition for a task having task details to be performed for a customer. A task value can be set for the task based on the task details. The task can be offered for exchange via an electronic exchange interface. A further operation can be exchanging the task between a first party and a second party based on the task value.

Abstract: An aggregate processing plant for processing aggregate to a pre-determined specification within a particular gravel pit may include: a feed hopper, at least a first screen plant having a corresponding configuration and cooperating with the feed hopper, a first conveyor set cooperating with the first screen plant for conveying screened aggregate from the first screen plant, a first aggregate processing cooperating with the first conveyor set and downstream of the screen plant in a direction of flow of the screened aggregate on the first conveyor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided wherein an indication of a plurality of product categories is received, each product category being associated with a plurality of products. For example, the indication of the plurality of product categories may be received from a buyer. Buyer offer information, including an indication of an offer amount associated with the plurality of product categories, is also received. A subset of the plurality of products is selected for each of the product categories, and an indication of the selected products is provided. The buyer's offer may then be evaluated. If the buyer's offer is accepted, the selected products may be provided to the buyer in exchange for payment of the offer amount.

Abstract: Shoppers at physical retailers are incentivized to purchase products from a physical retailer. The user provides a product identifier using a user device. The product identifier is used to identify the product being viewed by the user. Online retailers are queried to obtain online bids to sell the product. An incentive is identified for the user based on the product and the physical retailer. The incentive and an online retailer bid are provided to the user for the user to determine whether to purchase the product at the online retailer bid price or using the incentive. The incentive may be based on location information indicating user device movement. The incentive may require the user to perform an action, such as posting to a social network. A different incentive may be provided to the user if the user is leaving the physical retailer to promote purchase at the physical retailer.

Abstract: To disaggregate a single combined price of a bundled product, a computer receives a price data set comprised of component parts that correspond to the component parts of the bundled product. At least one component part differs in accordance with at least one parameter value of another component part. A price for a component part is calculated by obtaining metric data that includes one or more market reference prices responsive to the component part. Using the metric data, a market value is computed for each component part and the computed market values are summed to compute a market value total. A proportional value for at least one component part is generated by dividing the market value of the component part by the market value total. A price for the component part is calculated by multiplying the price data set's single combined price by the component part's proportional value.

Abstract: A system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for connecting buyers and sellers by scanning social networks, are described herein. Consistent with some embodiments, the method may include scanning social network entries made by users on one or more social network. The method may further include identifying keywords from the social network entries that indicate a product available for sale and identifying keywords that indicate a potential purchase of the product. In some embodiments, the method may include determining the intent of a user to purchase a product. The method may further include determining a first user (e.g., a potential buyer) and a second user (e.g., a potential seller) are a match based on the two users referring to the same or similar products in one or more social network entries. In response to determining that the first user and the second user are a match, the two uses may be communicatively connected.

Abstract: A vehicular part transaction system and method. A transaction coordinator can receive a part request from a purchaser via a computer network; send a respective bid invitation to sellers via the network; store associated sent-timestamps based on when bids are sent; receive a part offer from one of the sellers via the computer network; forward the offer to purchaser via the network; receive an acceptance from purchaser via the network; determine a transaction for part offer; charge the seller the transaction fee; and forward an acceptance notice, via the network, to the purchaser and seller. The transaction fee can be reduced for a fast response time. Optionally, a seller and/or a purchaser can be subscribed, which can independently provide a respective benefit thereto and/or can conditionally provide a respective benefit thereto.

Abstract: A system and method for the online settling of a transaction is provided. The system includes a server having a rules based engine including rules established on behalf of a party to the transaction, such as a creditor. The rules based engine is configured to process data and present a transaction settlement offer set comprising a plurality of selectable offers to the user based on at least one decision made by the rules based engine. The server is further configured to receive a lump sum payment proposal from the user and to use the rules based engine to process information comprising the lump sum payment proposal and present a second transaction settlement offer set to the user based at least in part on the lump sum payment proposal from the user.

Abstract: A social network is associated with an event. The event is joined by individuals who have visibility of others joined to the event via a third party network or via the social network. Demographic data is collected on the individuals joined to the event based on their social behaviour. Demographic patterns are extracted from the demographic data and individuals are targeted for ads based on the demographic patterns.

Abstract: An authored contract document can be created based on an existing RFx sourcing document such as a “terms and conditions” document. This RFx sourcing document can be the product of collaboration and editing by unrelated bidders, thus creating bidder-specific RFx documents. The authored contract document can be created using a rules-based multi-source configurator. This multi-source configurator can include in or exclude from the authored contract document clauses or edits that have been made to the RFx document. The multi-source configurator can replace text from the RFx document that is not typically found in or relevant to an authored contract document with contract-specific text that is not typically found in or relevant to an RFx document. The multi-source configurator can add, to the authored contract document, contract-specific text that is not contained within the RFx document.

Abstract: An online service method is performed on an online service system including at least one server. The method includes the steps of receiving, with the online service system, bids from service providers in relation to a service to be performed for a customer; receiving, with the online service system, acceptance of one of the bids by the customer; and notifying a service provider server of the online service system to order one or more parts required for the service to be performed.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for providing vehicle valuation management services on a computer system. The computer system includes a tangible storage medium readable by the instruction processing system and storing instructions for execution by the instruction processing system. The method comprises receiving a request from a client for a value quote of a vehicle, and determining the curb weight of the vehicle. The method further comprises determining estimated freight costs to obtain the vehicle, and sending the value quote of the vehicle to the client.

Abstract: An online offer system is directed toward methods and devices that allow a seller to enter information about the attributes of a non-fungible good based on parameter values provided on a database. In response, an automated purchaser issues a firm offer to purchase the good at a set price.

Abstract: An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.

Abstract: Motor vehicles may need to exchange electrical energy. The vehicles may negotiate a quantity to be transferred, a price for the transferred energy, transfer parameters for the exchange, and/or the like. A bidding process may be used to set the price. The bidding process may also be used to identify a vehicle with which to exchange energy. A vehicle may perform a credit check on another vehicle, and payment information may be exchanged. The transfer may be monitored and may be controlled based on monitoring data collected. The transfer may be wired or wireless, and the vehicles may be stationary or in motion during the transfer. The vehicles may be, among others, pure electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and/or fuel cell vehicles.

Abstract: A transaction arbiter system and method is disclosed which incorporates a merchant function database under control of a transaction arbiter that permits merchants to interact in an automated way with bids generated by other merchants. Rather than utilizing fixed price schedules as taught by the prior art, the present invention permits each merchant to define a set of functions which describe how the merchant will respond to a customer request-for-quote for a given product or service. These merchant functions interact with both the customer request-for-quote and the results of other merchant functions to generate a dynamic real-time bidding system which integrates competition among merchant bidders to achieve an optimal consumer price for a given product or service.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for order routing. One of the methods includes receiving a request for quote from a user, the request for quote indicating that the first user is to be anonymous during the negotiation. The method also includes selecting counterparties to receive the request for quote. The method also includes sending the request for quote to the selected counterparties absent revealing the identity of the user. The method also includes receiving prices from the counterparties, each price associated with a counterparty. The method also includes presenting the prices to the user.

Abstract: A method for selling an item, the method including: (a) displaying to a user a web page that includes multiple vendor representations; each vendor representation being representative of a vendor that was previously selected by the user; (b) receiving from a user a vendor selection indicator; (c) receiving from the user a requested price for purchasing an item from the selected vendor during a predetermined period of time that is defined by the selected vendor; (d) determining whether to proceed in a selling process of the item to the user during the predetermined period of time in response to the requested price and to an availability of the item at the predetermined period of time for selling by the selected vendor; and (e) selectively proceeding in the selling process in response to the determination.

Abstract: A method and system are provided that enable buyers and sellers to communicate with each other and to negotiate the purchase terms of featured merchandise in a group-buying opportunity. Sellers and buyers may use various forms of on-line group-buying mechanisms in conjunction with the negotiation features of the invention. Buyers may send various inquiries to sellers regarding merchandise offered for sale through the online group-buying sale. Sellers may respond to buyer questions and queries, and in some instances, sellers may communicate instructions to the on-line group-buying mechanism to alter the course of an on-line group-buying sale in progress, e.g., a further reduction in price. The method and system further provides a mechanism for calculating a demand curve based on received buyer offers and applying the demand curve to an on-line group-buying sale.

Abstract: A system to facilitate a service oriented email client application. The system includes a service registry, a service address book coupled to an email client, and an email composer coupled to the service address book. The service registry includes service information. The service information describes how to invoke a web service. The service address book includes a web service entry linked to the service information for the web service in the service registry. The email composer generates a user input form with a custom input field corresponding to the service information for the web service.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention may reduce the amount of time a consumer spends coordinating a move. A system is provided which may guide the consumer through the process of planning the move, including developing an inventory of items to be transported. Based on the consumer's plan, quotes for the move may be provided from multiple movers, and each quote may be an exact price that a mover will charge, rather than merely an estimate. To enable movers to provide exact quotes, some embodiments of the invention implement a standard pricing methodology. The system may allow movers to define pricing information in accordance with the methodology, and this information may be used to calculate a quote for a move when a consumer requests one.

Abstract: Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for performing bid assessments and outputting bid assessment scores are presented. A bid assessment analytics system may retrieve a set of predetermined bid assessment questions relating to a bidding opportunity and present the bid assessment questions via a user interface. Answers to the bid assessment questions may be received and scores may be determined for one or more bid assessment factors. Bid assessment weights associated with specific organizations, users, and/or industries may be calculated and stored based on data input for previous bidding opportunities and the outcomes of the previous bidding opportunities. The applicable bid assessment weights may be retrieved and used to calculate the bid assessment factor scores and/or overall bid assessment scores for bidding opportunities.

Abstract: Offers previously accepted and offers previously made by one or more opposing parties in negotiations inform an assessment of the likelihood that a candidate offer will be accepted by an opponent in a negotiation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving a cost determination for a job for a supplier are disclosed. A computing device may receive one or more job parameters for the job and one or more shop characteristics for a shop operated by the supplier. The computing device may determine a cost to perform the job in the shop based on the one or more job parameters and the one or more shop characteristics. The determined cost may be transmitted to the supplier.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for requesting and receiving price opinions for an asset such as a piece of real estate are provided. In response to a request for a price opinion for an asset, some or all of the data fields for a price opinion may be automatically populated. Optionally, a vendor may be provided with a work order including a partially populated price opinion, which the vendor may then fill in the remainder of the data fields thereof. Regardless, the completed price opinion may be delivered to the requestor.

Abstract: A transaction-based social network for a life science vertical industry is provided. A method for implementing the network includes qualifying a user to join the transaction-based social network based on a minimum set of qualifications. The method also includes creating, from input received by the user, an opportunity with respect to an offer, identifying members of a target user community in the network based on the input from the user, and posting the opportunity over the social network to the members of the target user community. The method further includes receiving at least one response from the target user community that is indicative of a bid to accept the opportunity. The method also includes providing a view of the bid for the user and, once accepted, executing a transaction based on a pre-negotiated fee. The executing includes validating regulatory compliance of content associated with the transaction.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for implementing an online marketplace for translation services is disclosed. A plurality of requirements is received from a client and are sent to one or more service providers. Further, service quotations from the one or more service providers are received. Based on the plurality of requirements and the service quotations, an estimate of quality of service is generated. Lastly, the service quotations and the estimate of quality of service are sent to the client.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently responding to electronic requests for quote (“RFQ”). Through use, a user, such as a merchant, can automatically create and deliver an electronic RFQ response, without need for any interaction by the merchant. The merchant may establish certain criteria in order to allow the system and method to automatically respond to electronic RFQ's received by the merchant.

Abstract: A reverse auction platform for selecting a transaction service is provided. The platform may include a database configured to store a request for a transaction service and to store fee bids corresponding to the transaction service. The platform may also include a memory configured to store execution instructions as well as a processor coupled with the database and the memory. The processor may be configured to execute the instructions. The instructions may be configured to cause the processor to receive a request for a transaction service; to present the request; and to select a transaction service based on a fee bid corresponding to the transaction service.

Abstract: A product catalog includes information regarding products for sale online by various merchants. An analysis software module can identify brand names in the product catalog that relate to the same brand. The analysis module can compute parameters of pairs of product offers having matching product identifiers. The analysis module can group the product offer pairs into brand pair groups based on the brand names for the products subject to the product offers. The analysis module can compute parameters of each brand pair group based on product offer pairs in the brand pair group and attributes of product offers in the product catalog. The analysis module can use the computed parameters to determine whether the brand names of each brand pair are related. The analysis module can use the identified related brand names and additional attributes of product offers to identify product offers related to the same product.

Abstract: An on-line venue in which buyers can anonymously communicate precisely what product or service they want to purchase by posting an interactive request that a number of sellers/service providers can then directly respond to according to one embodiment of the invention. Such embodiments may promote the buyers interests in directly matching their needs with qualified vendors. In contrast to what others provide, where the buyer has to search within each seller/service providers and then send their request. Embodiments of the present invention broadcast a buyer's needs to relevant/selected sellers/service providers. Such embodiments may take the burden from a buyer in finding the right products and services by self-qualifying the lead to proactive prospective sellers/service providers.