Computer and human interactive system and method for negotiating the purchase and sale of goods or services

Abstract

A computer and human interactive system and method for negotiating the purchase and sale of goods or services is provided. The system includes a plurality of primary seller terminals and at least one virtual seller terminal which are connected over a network, preferably the Internet, by a host processor to buyer terminals. The host processor connects buyers to sellers of goods according to information provided by the buyer such as the buyer's location and/or goods or services to be purchased. Where a primary dealer is unavailable to complete purchasing transactions, such as where the seller has closed for the day, a virtual seller is connected to the buyer to complete the purchasing transaction. Once a primary seller or virtual seller has been selected to complete a purchasing transaction with a buyer, the buyer and seller are connected by a real time data communications connection and a real time speech communications connection so that the buyer and seller may negotiate and complete a purchasing transaction.

1 . A network system for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers, the system comprising:
 at least one buyer computer terminal including a display, operated by buyer of goods or services;   a primary seller of goods or services for selling the goods or services of the primary seller;   a virtual seller computer terminal including a display, operated by a virtual seller of goods or services who is not the primary seller for selling the goods or services of the primary seller, said virtual seller not possessing custody or control of the goods or services of the primary seller but having a database storing product information concerning the goods or services of the primary seller; and   a first real time two-way communication connection for connecting said buyer computer terminal to said virtual computer seller through said host processor system, said first communication connection for transmitting transaction data concerning the purchase of goods or services of said primary seller, input by a buyer into said buyer computer terminal, in real time to said virtual seller computer terminal for display to said virtual seller, and for transmitting transaction data in real time to said buyer computer terminal for display to the buyer.   
     
     
         2 . A network system for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a host processor system;   at least one primary seller computer terminal including a display, operated by the primary seller of goods or services for selling the goods or services of the primary seller; and   said first real time two-way communication connection selectively connecting said buyer computer terminal to said primary seller computer terminal or said virtual computer seller through said host processor system, said first communication connection for transmitting transaction data concerning the purchase of goods or services of said primary seller, input by a buyer into said buyer computer terminal, in real time to said seller computer terminal or to said virtual seller computer terminal for display to said seller and for transmitting transaction data, input by a seller into said seller computer terminal or said virtual seller computer terminal, in real time to said buyer computer terminal for display to the buyer;   said host processor system including processing means for selectively connecting a buyer computer terminal to either a primary seller computer terminal or a virtual seller computer based upon predetermined criteria.   
     
     
         3 . A network system for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 1  further comprising a sale agreement means for enabling a buyer to reach an agreement concerning the purchase of goods or services over the network system. 
     
     
         4 . A network system for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 2  further comprising a sale agreement means for enabling a buyer to reach an agreement concerning the purchase of goods or services over the network system. 
     
     
         5 . A network system for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 2  wherein said predetermined criteria includes a determination of whether the primary seller has ceased sales operations. 
     
     
         6 . A network system for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 2  wherein said primary seller operates and ceases sales operations during predetermined periods of the day and said host processor processing means connects a buyer computer terminal to a virtual seller computer based upon a determination that said primary seller has ceased sales operations for the day. 
     
     
         7 . A network system for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 2  wherein said predetermined criteria includes a determination of whether a primary seller is located within a predetermined distance of the buyer. 
     
     
         8 . A network system for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second communication connection for connecting a buyer operating said buyer computer terminal and a virtual seller operating said virtual seller computer terminal, said second communication connection permitting real time speech communication between buyers and sellers for facilitating the real time spoken negotiations for the purchase and sale of goods or services over the network system.   
     
     
         9 . A network system for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a second communication connection for connecting a buyer operating said buyer computer terminal and a primary seller operating said primary seller computer terminal or virtual seller operating said virtual seller computer terminal, said second communication connection permitting real time speech communication between buyers and sellers for facilitating the real time spoken negotiations for the purchase and sale of goods or services over the network system.   
     
     
         10 . A network system for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a second communication connection for connecting a buyer operating said buyer computer terminal and a primary seller operating said primary seller computer terminal or virtual seller operating said virtual seller computer terminal, said second communication connection permitting real time speech communication between buyers and sellers for facilitating the real time spoken negotiations for the purchase and sale of goods or services over the network system.   
     
     
         11 . A method of facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one primary seller of goods or services of the primary seller;   providing a virtual seller who is not the primary seller for selling the goods or services of the primary seller, but having a database storing product information concerning the goods or services of the primary seller;   providing a plurality of buyers of goods or services;   providing a real time two-way data connection between the buyer and the virtual seller for transmitting transaction data from the buyer in real time for visual display of the purchase data to the virtual seller and for transmitting transaction data from the virtual seller in real time for visual display of the purchase data to the buyer for facilitating the sale of goods or services of the primary seller to the buyer, and   agreeing by the buyer over the network system to the purchase of goods or services.   
     
     
         12 . The method for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 11  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a host processor system interconnected with the at least one primary seller of goods or services and a virtual seller who is not the primary seller for selling the goods or services of the primary seller, but having a database storing product information concerning the goods or services of the primary seller;   selecting a virtual seller or a primary seller by the host processor system based upon predetermined criteria; and   providing a real time two-way data connection between the buyer and the selected primary seller or virtual seller for transmitting transaction data from the buyer in real time for visual display of the purchase data to the seller and for transmitting transaction data from the seller in real time for visual display of the purchase data to the buyer.   
     
     
         13 . The method for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 12  further comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the primary seller has ceased sales operations; and   selecting the virtual seller or a primary seller by the host processor system is based upon the determination of whether the primary seller has ceased sales operations.   
     
     
         13 . The method for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 12  wherein said primary seller operates and ceases sales operations during predetermined periods of the day. 
     
     
         14 . The method for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 12  further comprising the steps of:
 determining the location of the buyer; and   the step of selecting the virtual seller or a primary seller by the host processor system is based upon the determination of the location of the buyer.   
     
     
         15 . The method for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 12  further comprising the steps of:
 determining the location of the buyer; and   determining what goods or services are sought to be purchased by the buyer; and   the step of selecting the virtual seller or a primary seller by the host processor system is based upon the determination of the location of the buyer and the determination of what goods or services are sought to be purchased by the buyer.   
     
     
         16 . The method for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 11  further comprising the step of:
 providing a second communication connection between a buyer and a virtual seller, the second communication connection permitting real time speech communication between a buyer and a virtual seller for facilitating the real time spoken negotiations for the purchase and sale of goods or services over the network system.   
     
     
         17 . The method for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers of  claim 12  further comprising the step of:
 providing a second communication connection between a buyer and a selected primary seller or virtual seller, the second communication connection permitting real time speech communication between the buyers and sellers for facilitating the real time spoken negotiations for the purchase and sale of goods or services over the network system.