US5926798A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for performing computer-based on-line commerce using an intelligent agent
Assignee: eBay Inc
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Filing: 1997-06-06
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Granted: 1999-07-20
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Expires: 2017-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A method, computer program product and system, for performing computer-based on-line commerce in which a client computer issues a commercial request and a plurality of server computers is available to service said request, said method, performed by an intelligent agent, comprising steps of: receiving said request from said client computer; reviewing content-related information and business policies of each server computer of said plurality of server computers; and making decisions as to which server should serve the request based on said content-related information and said business policies.
Inventors
- 👤 John Mervyn Carter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/02; G06Q10/025; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0613; G06Q30/0617; G06Q30/0619
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A method of performing computer-based on-line commerce in which a client computer issues a commercial request and a plurality of server computers is available to service said request, said method, performed by an intelligent agent, comprising steps of: receiving said request from said client computer; reviewing content-related information and business policies of each server computer of said plurality of server computers; and making decisions as to which server should serve the request based on said content-related information and said business policies, wherein the request issued by the client computer is made up of a group of inter-related sub-requests, and said intelligent agent decides which server should serve each sub-request based on said content-related information and said business policies; wherein said business policies of each server include cancellation conditions concerning consequences of cancelling service by that server once a decision is made by the intelligent agent to use that server to serve a particular sub-request, said conditions ranging from a first extreme where cancellation is most difficult to a second extreme where cancellation is easiest; and wherein, after making preliminary decisions as to which server should serve which request based on said content related information, said intelligent agent makes final decisions on said group of requests in the order such that a sub-request matched with a server with a cancellation condition closest to or at said second extreme is decided upon first.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
231 words
A method of performing computer-based on-line commerce in which a client computer issues a commercial request and a plurality of server computers is available to service said request, said method, performed by an intelligent agent, comprising steps of: receiving said request from said client computer; reviewing content-related information and business policies of each server computer of said plurality of server computers; and making decisions as to which server should serve the request based on said content-related information and said business policies, wherein the request issued by the client computer is made up of a group of inter-related sub-requests, and said intelligent agent decides which server should serve each sub-request based on said content-related information and said business policies; wherein said business policies of each server include cancellation conditions concerning consequences of cancelling service by that server once a decision is made by the intelligent agent to use that server to serve a particular sub-request, said conditions ranging from a first extreme where cancellation is most difficult to a second extreme where cancellation is easiest; and wherein, after making preliminary decisions as to which server should serve which request based on said content related information, said intelligent agent makes final decisions on said group of requests in the order such that a sub-request matched with a server with a cancellation condition closest to or at said second extreme is decided upon first.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein final decisions on remaining sub-requests of said group are made in a descending order from said second cancellation condition extreme to said first cancellation condition extreme.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first extreme is one where no recovery of any expended funds is allowed and said second extreme is one where total recovery of any expended funds is allowed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
242 words
An intelligent agent computer program product, stored on a computer readable storage medium, which performs computer-based on-line commerce in which a client computer issues a commercial request and a plurality of server computers is available to service said request, said intelligent agent comprising: means for receiving said request from said client computer; means for reviewing content-related information and business policies of each server computer of said plurality of server computers; and means for making decisions as to which server should serve the request based on said content-related information and said business policies; wherein the request issued by the client computer is made up of a group of inter-related sub-requests, and said intelligent agent decides which server should serve each sub-request based on said content-related information and said business policies; wherein said business policies of each server include cancellation conditions concerning consequences of cancelling service by that server once a decision is made by the intelligent agent to use that server to serve a particular sub-request, said conditions ranging from a first extreme where cancellation is most difficult to a second extreme where cancellation is easiest; and wherein, after making preliminary decisions as to which server should serve which request based on said content related information, said intelligent agent makes final decisions on said group of requests in the order such that a sub-request matched with a server with a cancellation condition closest to or at said second extreme is decided upon first.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
242 words
An intelligent agent computer program product, stored on a computer readable storage medium, which performs computer-based on-line commerce in which a client computer issues a commercial request and a plurality of server computers is available to service said request, said intelligent agent comprising: means for receiving said request from said client computer; means for reviewing content-related information and business policies of each server computer of said plurality of server computers; and means for making decisions as to which server should serve the request based on said content-related information and said business policies; wherein the request issued by the client computer is made up of a group of inter-related sub-requests, and said intelligent agent decides which server should serve each sub-request based on said content-related information and said business policies; wherein said business policies of each server include cancellation conditions concerning consequences of cancelling service by that server once a decision is made by the intelligent agent to use that server to serve a particular sub-request, said conditions ranging from a first extreme where cancellation is most difficult to a second extreme where cancellation is easiest; and wherein, after making preliminary decisions as to which server should serve which request based on said content related information, said intelligent agent makes final decisions on said group of requests in the order such that a sub-request matched with a server with a cancellation condition closest to or at said second extreme is decided upon first.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
234 words
A system for performing computer-based on-line commerce in which a client computer issues a commercial request and a plurality of server computers is available to service said request, said system having an intelligent agent comprising: means for receiving said request from said client computer; means for reviewing content-related information and business policies of each server computer of said plurality of server computers; and means for making decisions as to which server should serve the request based on said content-related information and said business policies; wherein the request issued by the client computer is made up of a group of inter-related sub-requests, and said intelligent agent decides which server should serve each sub-request based on said content-related information and said business policies; wherein said business policies of each server include cancellation conditions concerning consequences of cancelling service by that server once a decision is made by the intelligent agent to use that server to serve a particular sub-request, said conditions ranging from a first extreme where cancellation is most difficult to a second extreme where cancellation is easiest; and wherein, after making preliminary decisions as to which server should serve which request based on said content related information, said intelligent agent makes final decisions on said group of requests in the order such that a sub-request matched with a server with a cancellation condition closest to or at said second extreme is decided upon first.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
234 words
A system for performing computer-based on-line commerce in which a client computer issues a commercial request and a plurality of server computers is available to service said request, said system having an intelligent agent comprising: means for receiving said request from said client computer; means for reviewing content-related information and business policies of each server computer of said plurality of server computers; and means for making decisions as to which server should serve the request based on said content-related information and said business policies; wherein the request issued by the client computer is made up of a group of inter-related sub-requests, and said intelligent agent decides which server should serve each sub-request based on said content-related information and said business policies; wherein said business policies of each server include cancellation conditions concerning consequences of cancelling service by that server once a decision is made by the intelligent agent to use that server to serve a particular sub-request, said conditions ranging from a first extreme where cancellation is most difficult to a second extreme where cancellation is easiest; and wherein, after making preliminary decisions as to which server should serve which request based on said content related information, said intelligent agent makes final decisions on said group of requests in the order such that a sub-request matched with a server with a cancellation condition closest to or at said second extreme is decided upon first.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said client computer runs a World Wide Web browser application.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said request is received from the client computer over the Internet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The intelligent agent of claim 4 wherein said client computer runs a World Wide Web browser application.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The intelligent agent of claim 4 wherein said request is received from a client computer over the Internet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said client computer runs a World Wide Web browser application.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said request is received from the client computer over the Internet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-07-19 | 2003-01-18 | 2003-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-19 | 2007-01-18 | 2007-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-19 | 2011-01-18 | 2011-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |