Identification of merchandise to be subsequently identified and delivered by a merchandise provider

Abstract

Users may identify on an interactive network merchandise that they desire and merchandise providers may access the identified merchandise from time to time so as to provide merchandise that matches the identified merchandise. In one embodiment, merchandise providers may access merchandise requests from time to time and provide the requested merchandise, even if the merchandise had not been available at the time the request was initially posted. Prior to delivery of the merchandise the parties, if desired, may negotiate when and how delivery will occur, what the cost of the merchandise is and the responsibilities of each of the parties pertaining to the merchandise. The requests may be stored local to the user or at one or more central sites.

1 . A method for allowing a user to purchase tickets over an interactive network; said method comprising: 
 posting on said interactive network by a posting user a description of tickets desired by said posting user, said ticket description not limited to events then currently scheduled; and    determining by a party other than said posting user that said determining party can provide tickets which match said posted ticket description when said tickets become available; and    communicating to said posting user by said determining party information pertaining to delivery of tickets desired by said posting user.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said determining further comprises: 
 searching said interactive network by ticket providers who are independent from any specific interactive network site upon which said posting occurred by said posting user.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said determining is facilitated by a specific network site upon which said posting user posted said ticket description.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said specific network site is available to a plurality of potential posting users and wherein said site is not specific to any particular ticket venue.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said determining further comprises: 
 searching said specific network site by a plurality of potential ticket providers who are independent from said specific network site.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said specific site facilitates said determining.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said posting is at a site local to said posting user.  
     
     
         8 . A system for allowing users to purchase merchandise over the Internet; said system comprising: 
 memory for accepting a description of merchandise desired by at least one user; said desired merchandise not necessarily available at the time said memory accepts said description; and    a search engine controlled by a party other than said user for searching said Internet based on descriptions accepted by said memory, said search engine operable for determining from time to time if said memory has accepted a description of merchandise available for purchase by said user from at least one merchandise provider.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said search engine is controlled by at least one merchandise provider.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said merchandise provider is controlled by an entity different from the entity controlling said memory.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said memory is located on a public access a site remote from said user, said site accessible by a plurality of said users and independent from merchandise providers.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said search engine is controlled by said remote site.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said merchandise comprises merchandise selected from the list of: goods, services, tickets to events, vacations, travel, entertainment programs.  
     
     
         14 . The method of obtaining merchandise on the Internet, said method comprising: 
 making it known on said Internet by a user that said user desires to obtain a specific item of merchandise;    searching on said Internet by entities independent from said user who believe they can supply merchandise to said user; and    indicating to said user that a search of said Internet has revealed that an entity believes it can supply said desired specific merchandise to said user.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said specific item of desired merchandise is not available to said user at the time said user first makes known that said user desires to obtain said specific item of merchandise.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said searching is preformed by an entity other than said user and other than an actual merchandise supplier.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 facilitating consummation of a purchase by said user of said specific item of merchandise in response to said indicating.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said merchandise comprises merchandise selected from the list of: goods, services, tickets to events, vacations, travel, entertainment programs.  
     
     
         19 . The method of providing to a user information pertaining to merchandise available at geographically diverse locations of said enterprise, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing under control of any user an identity of an enterprise, said enterprise having a plurality of geographically diverse locations;    storing provided ones of said enterprise identities; and    accessing said stored provided ones of said identities by said enterprise so as to be able to provide each said providing user with merchandise information specific to an enterprise location at a current location of said user.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further including the step of: 
 sending to each said providing user said specific merchandise information.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said sending step includes an e-mail message specific to said providing user.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said sending step includes sending a broadcast message to all providing users within said current location.