Method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services
DC CAFC
First Claim
1. A method for providing a plurality of electronic options for goods or services, comprising:
- providing from a server network device to a client network device via a computer network, a list of available goods or services including a plurality of electronic options with associated option fees for the goods or services, wherein the plurality of electronic options include a plurality of different electronic option terms established by one or more different suppliers who can supply the goods or services, wherein a provided option fee is not part of a reservation price paid to purchase desired goods or services at a desired future time, wherein a price charged for an option fee increases from a first calculated price if a demand for purchasing the goods or services increases during a time period for which the electronic option is valid and wherein a price charged for the option fee decreases from the first calculated price if the demand for purchasing the goods or services decreases during a time period for which the electronic option is valid, wherein the electronic option does not obligate a purchaser to actually purchase the desired goods or services for the reservation price at the desired future time, wherein an increase or decrease of the option fee is a function of one or more demand factors over the time period for which the electronic option is valid, wherein the plurality of electronic options are supplied and governed by the one or more different suppliers and wherein the plurality of electronic options are not supplied or governed via a central government agency and are not supplied or governed via security laws;
providing selected electronic option terms from the plurality of different electronic option terms for a selected good or service for a desired supplier who can supply the selected good or service, wherein the selected electronic option terms for the desired supplier are unique to the desired supplier; and
accepting a purchase of an electronic option from the plurality of options provided for a provided option fee for a desired good or service for the desired supplier on the server network device, wherein the purchase of the electronic option is accepted according to the electronic option terms established by the desired supplier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services. A server network device provides to a client network device via a computer network, a list of available goods or services including plural electronic options with associated option fees for the goods or services. The plural electronic options include electronic option terms established by one or more suppliers who can supply the goods or services. An option fee is associated with a reservation price to purchase desired goods or services at a desired future. Electronic option terms for a selected good or service for a desired supplier who can supply the selected good or service are provided. A purchase of an electronic option for an option fee for a desired good or service for a desired supplier is accepted on the server network device. The purchase of the electronic option is accepted according to electronic option terms established by the desired supplier. A type of electronic option used with Method 26 is governed by the option terms established by an individual supplier. The option terms may vary greatly among the individual suppliers and no two suppliers may use the same option terms. Use of variable option terms may provide significant flexibility for use of the electronic options by suppliers. The method and system may also allow a purchaser to risk a small amount of money to use an electronic option to reserve a price to purchase desired goods or services at a desired future time. The methods and systems described herein may be used to provide electronic options for business-to-business (“b2b”), business-to-consumer (“b2c”), consumer-to-consumer, (“c2c”) or other types of transactions.
108 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for providing a plurality of electronic options for goods or services, comprising:
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providing from a server network device to a client network device via a computer network, a list of available goods or services including a plurality of electronic options with associated option fees for the goods or services, wherein the plurality of electronic options include a plurality of different electronic option terms established by one or more different suppliers who can supply the goods or services, wherein a provided option fee is not part of a reservation price paid to purchase desired goods or services at a desired future time, wherein a price charged for an option fee increases from a first calculated price if a demand for purchasing the goods or services increases during a time period for which the electronic option is valid and wherein a price charged for the option fee decreases from the first calculated price if the demand for purchasing the goods or services decreases during a time period for which the electronic option is valid, wherein the electronic option does not obligate a purchaser to actually purchase the desired goods or services for the reservation price at the desired future time, wherein an increase or decrease of the option fee is a function of one or more demand factors over the time period for which the electronic option is valid, wherein the plurality of electronic options are supplied and governed by the one or more different suppliers and wherein the plurality of electronic options are not supplied or governed via a central government agency and are not supplied or governed via security laws; providing selected electronic option terms from the plurality of different electronic option terms for a selected good or service for a desired supplier who can supply the selected good or service, wherein the selected electronic option terms for the desired supplier are unique to the desired supplier; and accepting a purchase of an electronic option from the plurality of options provided for a provided option fee for a desired good or service for the desired supplier on the server network device, wherein the purchase of the electronic option is accepted according to the electronic option terms established by the desired supplier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeHoldit, LLC
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Original AssigneeCharles P. Brown, Christian S. Pappas
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InventorsPappas, Christian S., Brown, Charles P.
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Primary Examiner(s)Abdi, Kambiz
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Application NumberUS09/566,671Time in Patent Office2,787 DaysField of Search705/14, 705/1, 705/35, 705/50, 360/27, 707/1US Class Current705/35CPC Class CodesG06Q 10/00 Administration; ManagementG06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. onl...G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding fraudsG06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shop...G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assistedG06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax str...G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. sto...G06Q 50/10 ServicesY10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
