US6574608B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Web-based system for connecting buyers and sellers
Assignee: iwant com Inc
•
Filing: 1999-06-11
•
Granted: 2003-06-03
•
Expires: 2019-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A Web-based buyer-driven system of commerce efficiently and inexpensively connects buyers and sellers. In general, the system includes a Web site globally accessible by potential buyers and sellers. Potential buyers post descriptions of products and services they desire on the Web site. Interested sellers of those products and services can access the descriptions posted by the buyers and selectively post responses to buyers. The responses preferably include information identifying the seller and describing the product or service offered by the seller. The system determines if the potential buyer retrieves a response directed to him from a potential seller and, if so, it charges that potential seller a small fee.
Inventors
- 👤 Shabbir M. Dahod
- 👤 Robert F. Gurwitz
- 👤 Andrew Marcuvitz
- 👤 Allen E. Olsen
- 👤 Peter J. Spellman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/60; G06F21/62; G06F21/6218; G06F21/6245; G06F21/6254; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/10; G06Q20/102; G06Q20/20; G06Q20/201; G06Q20/202; G06Q30/04; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0609; G06Q30/0613; G06Q30/0615; G06Q30/0623; G06Q30/0625; G06Q30/0641
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 78
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of connecting a potential buyer of a product or service with a potential seller of a product or service, comprising: receiving from the potential buyer a description of a product or service desired; making said description available to a plurality of potential sellers; receiving a response from at least one of said potential sellers interested in making a sale to said potential buyer; making said response accessible to said potential buyer; and if said potential buyer accesses said response, charging said at least one potential seller a fee.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of connecting a potential buyer of a product or service with a potential seller of a product or service, comprising: receiving from the potential buyer a description of a product or service desired; making said description available to a plurality of potential sellers; receiving a response from at least one of said potential sellers interested in making a sale to said potential buyer; making said response accessible to said potential buyer; and if said potential buyer accesses said response, charging said at least one potential seller a fee.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising registering said potential buyer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 wherein registering said potential buyer comprises receiving from said potential buyer username and password information for use in restricting access to said response.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of making said description available to a plurality of potential sellers comprises posting said description on an Internet Web site.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a category for said description and filing said description in the identified category.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising inhibiting persons other than said potential buyer from accessing said response.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said method is implemented in a Web server linked to a plurality of client machines associated with said potential buyer and potential sellers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said client machines comprise personal computers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said Web server is linked to said client machines through Internet connections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving from said potential buyer information relating to said potential buyer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said information comprises contact information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said information comprises buyer profile information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising making said information relating to said potential buyer available to said at least one potential seller upon request from said potential buyer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising registering said at least one potential seller prior to making said response accessible to said potential buyer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving payment information from said at least one potential seller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said payment information includes a credit card number of said at least one potential seller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing to said potential buyer information relating to said response to enable said potential buyer to make an informed decision as to whether to access said response.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said information comprises a brief description of the product or service offered by said at least one potential seller.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said information includes the identity of the said at least one potential seller.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of claim I further comprising sending a notification to a selected potential seller that said description is available after receiving said description from the potential buyer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said selected potential seller is a potential seller previously identified as having interest in receiving said notification.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said selected potential seller previously requested receiving said notification.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 20 wherein sending a notification to the selected potential seller comprises sending said selected potential seller an email.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said step of making said description available to a plurality of sellers comprises posting said description on a Web site, and wherein said email includes a hyperlink to the Web site.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising facilitating communication between the potential buyer and said at least one potential seller after said seller has been charged a fee.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 25 further comprising blocking communication between the potential buyer and said at least one potential seller upon request.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 25 wherein facilitating communication comprises posting messages on an Internet Web site from said potential buyer and said at least one potential seller to each other.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising making a reputation value of said potential buyer available to said plurality of potential sellers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said reputation value comprises the number of times said potential buyer has previously revealed his or her identity to a potential seller.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said response includes a description of the product or service offered by the said at least one potential seller.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein making said response accessible comprises posting said response on a Web site.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said response includes pre-formatted HTML promotional materials.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said response includes a hyperlink to a Web site associated with said at least one potential seller.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said potential buyer remains anonymous to said potential sellers as long as said potential buyer desires.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fee inhibits responses from unqualified potential sellers.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of using a computer to facilitate a transaction between a buyer and a seller, comprising: inputting into the computer a description received from a potential buyer of a desired product or service; outputting the description to a plurality of sellers; inputting into the computer a response from at least one of the sellers interested in making a sale to the buyer; outputting said response to said buyer; determining if said buyer has viewed said response and, if so, charging said at least one seller a fee.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of using a computer to facilitate a transaction between a buyer and a seller, comprising: inputting into the computer a description received from a potential buyer of a desired product or service; outputting the description to a plurality of sellers; inputting into the computer a response from at least one of the sellers interested in making a sale to the buyer; outputting said response to said buyer; determining if said buyer has viewed said response and, if so, charging said at least one seller a fee.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said computer comprises a Web server.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said step of outputting the description comprises posting said description on a Web site generated by said Web server.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said step of outputting said response to said buyer comprises posting said response on a Web page generated by the Web server accessible by said buyer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and a seller, comprising: a storage device storing a program; and a processor operative with the program to: (a) receive from the buyer a description of a desired product or service; (b) make the description available to a plurality of sellers; (c) receive a response from at least one of the sellers interested in making a sale to the buyer; (d) make the response accessible to the buyer; and (e) charge the at least one seller a fee if the buyer accesses the response.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and a seller, comprising: a storage device storing a program; and a processor operative with the program to: (a) receive from the buyer a description of a desired product or service; (b) make the description available to a plurality of sellers; (c) receive a response from at least one of the sellers interested in making a sale to the buyer; (d) make the response accessible to the buyer; and (e) charge the at least one seller a fee if the buyer accesses the response.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 40 wherein said computer comprises a Web server.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
95 words
A Web-based system of connecting a potential buyer of a product or service with a potential seller, comprising: means for receiving from the potential buyer a description of a product or service desired; means for making said description available to a plurality of potential sellers; means for receiving a response from at least one of said potential sellers interested making a sale to said potential buyer; means for making said response accessible to said potential buyer; and means for charging said at least one potential seller a fee if said potential buyer accesses said response.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
95 words
A Web-based system of connecting a potential buyer of a product or service with a potential seller, comprising: means for receiving from the potential buyer a description of a product or service desired; means for making said description available to a plurality of potential sellers; means for receiving a response from at least one of said potential sellers interested making a sale to said potential buyer; means for making said response accessible to said potential buyer; and means for charging said at least one potential seller a fee if said potential buyer accesses said response.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of connecting a potential buyer of a product or service with a potential seller, comprising: receiving from a plurality of potential buyers descriptions of a products or services desired; posting said descriptions on an Internet Web site accessible by a plurality of potential sellers; receiving a response from at least one of said potential sellers interested in making a sale to a selected one of said potential buyers; posting said response on an Internet Web site accessible to said selected one of potential buyers; and determining if said selected one of said potential buyers retrieves said response and, if so, charging said at least one potential seller a fee.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of connecting a potential buyer of a product or service with a potential seller, comprising: receiving from a plurality of potential buyers descriptions of a products or services desired; posting said descriptions on an Internet Web site accessible by a plurality of potential sellers; receiving a response from at least one of said potential sellers interested in making a sale to a selected one of said potential buyers; posting said response on an Internet Web site accessible to said selected one of potential buyers; and determining if said selected one of said potential buyers retrieves said response and, if so, charging said at least one potential seller a fee.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 43 further comprising registering each of said potential buyers.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 44 wherein registering said potential buyers comprises receiving from each of said potential buyers username and password information for use in restricting access to responses posted for said buyers.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 43 further comprising identifying categories for said descriptions and filing each said description in an identified category.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 43 further comprising inhibiting persons other than said selected one of said potential buyers from accessing said response.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 43 further comprising receiving from said potential buyers information relating to said potential buyers.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 48 wherein said information comprises contact information.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 48 wherein said information comprises buyer profile information.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 48 further comprising making information relating to a given buyer available to a potential seller upon request from said given buyer.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 43 further comprising registering said at least one potential seller prior to making said response accessible to said potential buyer.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 43 further comprising receiving payment information from said at least one potential seller.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 53 wherein said payment information includes a credit card number.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 43 further comprising providing to said selected one of said potential buyers information relating to said response to enable said selected one of said potential buyers to make an informed decision as to whether to access said response.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 55 wherein said information comprises a brief description of the product or service offered by said at least one potential seller.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 55 wherein said information includes the identity of the said at least one potential seller.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 43 further comprising sending a notification to a selected potential seller that said description is available.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 58 wherein said selected potential seller is a potential seller previously identified as having interest in receiving said notification.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 59 wherein said selected potential seller previously requested receiving said notification.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 58 wherein sending a notification to the selected potential seller comprises sending said selected potential seller an email.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 61 wherein said email includes a hyperlink to the Web site.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 43 wherein said potential buyers remain anonymous to said potential sellers as long as said potential buyers desire.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 43 wherein said fee inhibits responses from unqualified potential sellers.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising storing said description in a searchable database indexed by category and keywords; and receiving from a potential seller a category and/or keyword for a product or service as criteria to search the searchable database; and wherein making said description available comprises making descriptions that match the criteria available to the potential seller.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein making said description available comprises posting said description in a searchable database or catalog on an Internet Web site.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 66 further comprising allowing potential sellers to search the database of buyer descriptions by category or keyword.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 67 further comprising allowing potential sellers to view said description to enable a potential seller to make an informed decision as to whether to respond.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 24 wherein posting said description comprises posting said description in a searchable database or catalog on the Web site.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising: storing said description received from a potential buyer in a searchable database or catalog; inputting into the computer a category and/or keywords received from a potential seller of a product or service as criteria to search the database; and wherein outputting the description comprises outputting a description that matches the criteria.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
57 words
The computer of claim 40 wherein (a) further includes store the description in a searchable database or catalog and wherein (b) comprises receive from the seller a category and/or keyword describing a product or service to be used as criteria for searching the database or catalog and make descriptions that match the criteria available to the seller.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
69 words
The Web-based system of claim 42 wherein the means for receiving comprise means for receiving a description and storing the description in a searchable database or catalog; and wherein means for making descriptions available comprise means for receiving from the potential seller a category and/or keyword describing a product or service used as criteria for searching the database or catalog and means for making descriptions matching the criteria available.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 43 wherein posting said descriptions comprises posting said descriptions in a searchable database or catalog; and further comprising receiving from the potential seller a category and/or keyword describing a product or service as criteria for searching the database or catalog and making descriptions matching said criteria available to the seller.
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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) | 2006-06-02 | 2006-12-02 | 2007-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | 2011-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-02 | 2014-12-02 | 2015-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |