Patent ID: 8032447
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for using electronic options for goods or services or events, comprising: reading a plurality of entries from a database accessible from a computer network from a server network device with one or more processors, wherein the plurality of entries include electronic option information, wherein the electronic option information includes a plurality of electronic options supplied and governed by one or more different suppliers, 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 and wherein the electronic option information further includes a plurality of different electronic option terms for the plurality of different suppliers, wherein the electronic option terms for a desired supplier are unique to the desired supplier; creating a plurality of new electronic offers based on desired goods or services or events associated with the electronic option information, wherein the plurality of new electronic offers include a plurality of reservation prices and a plurality of associated option fees, wherein an option fee is not part of a reservation price paid to purchase desired goods or services or events at a desired future time and wherein selected ones of the plurality of electronic options include electronic options for goods or services that do not currently exist and may never exist and other selected ones of the plurality of electronic options include electronic options for a sporting event or entertainment event that may or may never happen; and adding electronic counters to the plurality of electronic options associated with the created plurality of new electronic offers, wherein the electronic counters include a number of electronic options available for the goods or services or events; sending one or more of the plurality of new electronic offers to selected client network devices each with one or more processors via the computer network for selected potential purchasers of electronic options; accepting purchases of electronic options for option fees for desired goods or services for one or more desired suppliers on the server network device from one or more selected client network devices, wherein the purchase of the electronic option is accepted according to electronic option terms established by the desired supplier providing the electronic option; decrementing in real-time electronic counters for accepted purchases of electronic options; determining final pricing and final features of the goods or services or final pricing of events using electronic counters that have been decremented down to a desired pre-determined value; and allowing a purchaser of an electronic option to exercise the electronic option at any time before the desired future time to purchase the desired goods or services at the reservation price, at the desired future time to purchase the desired goods or services at the reservation price, at a price lower than the reservation price or at a price higher than the reservation price or to not exercise the electronic option at all and not purchase the desired goods or services at all.