Patent ID: 8370269
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of facilitating electronic commerce, the method comprising: processing with a server module registering registrations for a plurality of users on a website of a communications network, said communications network having a computer system connected thereto for hosting said website, said computer system having at least one computer defining the server module, said server module being connected to a data storage medium, each of the plurality of users being electronically interconnected so that the plurality of users define a community of users; receiving and processing with the server module listing information for products or services for sale from users in the community at the computer system over the communications network and storing the listing information in the data storage medium; providing with the server module the listing information for the products or services for sale from the data storage medium to other users in the community upon request over the communications network; processing with the server module electronic commerce between users in the community over the communications network, said electronic commerce including business transactions involving the products or services identified in the listing information stored in the data storage medium; processing with the server module, for each user in the community of users, a business network of business relationships based upon (i) the electronic commerce with other users in the community conducted through the computer system such that the only users included in a user's business network are those other users with whom the user has either sold to, purchased from, or both, and (ii) mutual agreement between the user and those other users to join each other's business network; electronically storing, for each user in the community of users, the business network of business relationships in the data storage medium; processing with the server module business ratings of electronic commerce with other users within the community and storing said business ratings in the data storage medium; processing with the server module personal, non-commercial electronic interaction between users in the community through the computer system; processing with the server module, for each user in the community of users, a personal network of personal relationships based upon (i) the personal, non-commercial electronic interaction with other users conducted through the computer system, and (ii) mutual agreement between the user and those other users to join each other's personal network; electronically storing, for each user in the community of users, the personal network of personal relationships in the data storage medium; processing with the server module personal ratings of personal, non-commercial electronic interactions with other users within the community and storing said personal ratings in the data storage medium; displaying on a computer of a third party user (i) thumbnail images, profile names, and links to homepages of users in the community belonging to a selected user's business network, (ii) thumbnail images, profile names, and links to homepages of users in the community belonging to the selected user's personal network (iii) the business and personal ratings of the selected user, (iv) any connection between the third party user and the selected user in their personal or business networks, and (v) listing information for products or services offered for sale by the selected user on the computer system; and processing with the server module a business transaction between the third party user and the selected user, the business transaction involving buying or selling of a product or service identified in the listing information stored in the data storage medium by the selected user.