Abstract:
A method and system for brokering a transaction between a plurality of wireless communication devices is disclosed. The method and system includes enabling a plurality of wireless devices to communicate with one another, allowing a user to enter a request related to an object to be brokered into a first enabled wireless device, and exchanging the request with a plurality of enabled wireless devices. The system and method also includes receiving a response to the request by a third party facilitator from a user of a wireless device interested in completing the transaction. The third party facilitator will then complete the transaction between users of the first wireless device and the wireless device interested in completing the transaction. In another aspect of the present invention, at least one wireless broker device helps disseminate the request from the first wireless device to the wireless device interested in completing the transaction. The system and method includes concealing the identity of a user of the wireless device from which a broker device received the request, thereby preserving the broker device&#39;s profit interests in the transaction, and distributing transaction proceeds to the at least one wireless broker devices.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to brokered transactions and more particularly to a method and system for automatic brokered transactions using wireless communication devices.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Buying or selling an item usually entails informing others, generally strangers, of the item sought or being sold. Typically, the more people who are informed, the better the chances of finding or selling the item for an appropriate price. Traditional venues for advertising the item include newspapers and on-line auction sites. Nevertheless, posting in such venues can be expensive, particularly if the item will be posted in several newspapers or websites.  
           [0003]    Another approach to spreading information about an item is using a distribution system, e.g., a plurality of brokers. For example, in the real estate industry, brokers represent property buyers and sellers. The brokers have access to information about demand, housing supply in a neighborhood and price information. Generally brokers work diligently to find a buyer or seller for their clients, and broker fees are reflective of this effort. Thus, it is cost prohibitive to hire multiple brokers, although doing so would increase the likelihood of completing a transaction.  
           [0004]    Accordingly, a need exists for a method and system for informing a large number of potential buyers and sellers about items for sale or for purchase without incurring the associated expenses of marketing and advertising. The present invention addresses such a need.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention provides a method and system for brokering a transaction between a plurality of users of wireless communication devices. The method and system include enabling a plurality of wireless devices to communicate with one another, allowing a user to enter a request related to an object to be brokered into a first enabled wireless device, and exchanging the request with a plurality of enabled wireless devices. The system and method also include receiving a response to the request by a third party facilitator from a user of a wireless device interested in the object. The third party facilitator will then complete the transaction between a user of the first wireless device and the user of the wireless device interested in the object.  
           [0006]    In another aspect of the present invention, at least one wireless device acts as a broker between the first wireless device and the interested wireless device, charging a broker&#39;s fee for its assistance in disseminating the request to other wireless devices. To protect and preserve the broker&#39;s interests in the transaction, i.e., to ensure that the broker is not “cut out” of the loop, the system and method include concealing the identity of the user of the wireless device from which a broker device received the request, and appending to the request the identity of the broker&#39;s user. When the transaction is finally completed, the third party facilitator will determine identities of the brokers&#39; users and pay them accordingly. Because the transaction is automated, it requires essentially no effort on the part of a broker to make a profit on a transaction. Thus, the broker&#39;s fee for its involvement can be relatively small, and more brokers can participate in the transaction.  
           [0007]    In a preferred embodiment, the wireless devices are Bluetooth enabled devices. Thus, the wireless devices need only come in proximity to one another in order to transmit and receive information.  
           [0008]    Through aspects of the present invention, exposure to an item for sale or for purchase grows exponentially as more and more wireless communication devices come within range of one another and exchange information. Thus, a request can be disseminated quickly and broadly with little extra effort or expense on the part of the device&#39;s owner. In addition, each device can be involved in multiple transactions where the device is a seller, a buyer, and a broker simultaneously. Thus, according to the present invention, the wireless communication device can earn money for its owner while it is being carried around. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a process for brokered transactions between wireless communication devices in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the process in FIG. 2.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating a distribution tree in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a process for facilitating a brokered transaction between wireless communication devices in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]    The present invention relates to brokered transactions and more particularly to a method and system for automatic brokered transactions between users of wireless communication devices. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.  
         [0015]    According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, mobile and stationary wireless communication devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, laptops, or desktop computers, are configured to transmit and receive data relating to an object to be brokered. Each wireless communication device can play one or more of the following three roles: a buyer, a seller, or a broker. As a buyer, the wireless communication device is seeking a particular object to purchase for a predetermined price; as a seller, the wireless communication device is selling an object for a particular price; and as a broker, the wireless communication device is neither selling nor buying an object, but informing other wireless communication devices of an object being sought or sold, and charging a broker&#39;s fee for its services.  
         [0016]    As an owner of a mobile wireless communication device moves through a crowd, or comes within the proximity of a similarly equipped stationary device, the device exchanges data with other compatible devices thereby disseminating data seamlessly and transparently. In another preferred embodiment, a purchase or sale can be facilitated by an on-line service provided by a trusted third party facilitator (“facilitator”). The facilitator will identify the “parties” to the transaction, e.g., the buyer, the seller, and the brokers (if any), as defined by their respective wireless communication devices, and distribute the transaction proceeds from the buyer to the seller accordingly. The facilitator also distributes fees to intermediary broker devices that helped disseminate the information to the buyer (or seller). Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the owner of a wireless communication device can distribute buying and selling data to a broad community, which grows exponentially, and/or earn money merely by carrying his or her device.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for automatic brokered transactions between wireless communication devices in accordance with the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the system  10  includes an on-line third party facilitator  12  that is accessible over a network, such as the Internet  16 , by a plurality of wireless communication device owners or users  20 . As one skilled in the art would readily appreciate, the third party facilitator  12  can also be accessed directly via a LAN or WAN, and communication channels between the third party facilitator  12 , the users  20  and/or the devices  30  can be wired or wireless.  
         [0018]    In FIG. 1, the users  20  utilize a variety of wireless devices  30 , e.g., desktop computers  18   a , cellular phones  18   b , PDAs  18   c , and laptop computers  18   d . Although the devices  30  themselves can be adapted to connect to the Internet  16  or any suitable network, such connectivity is not necessary according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Naturally, wireless devices  30  are not limited to those mentioned above, and can include any device  30  that has wireless communication capabilities. All users  20  have the ability to buy, sell, or broker transactions. Moreover, each user  20  maintains an associated website  23 .  
         [0019]    The third party facilitator (“facilitator”)  12  includes a server  34  that hosts an application program  32 . The facilitator  12  facilitates a brokered transaction. It does not buy or sell objects, nor does it set prices. Unlike other on-line services, the facilitator  12  does not list or post objects to buy or sell, nor does it allow users  20  to submit bids. Rather, the facilitator  12  provides a centralized clearing house that collects transaction information, directs the exchange of funds and objects, and distributes broker fees to the appropriate devices  30 .  
         [0020]    According to the present invention, each device  30  includes a transceiver (not shown) which is compatible with a wireless data transmission standard, such as Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15), although other wireless data transmission protocols may be used. Each device  30  is configured to run application software, either preloaded or downloaded, for communicating with other similarly configured devices  30 .  
         [0021]    To best illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, please refer now to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is flow chart of the process for automatic brokered transactions using wireless communication devices in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating same process. For the sake of clarity, the process illustrates a situation where a device user  20   a  wishes to sell an item, i.e., the device acts as a seller  30   a . The process  100  begins with the user of a seller device  20   a  creating a transaction record  21  that includes a plurality of fields into which data related to an item for sale or purchase is entered, via step  110 . In this instance, the user of the seller device  20   a  is the transaction creator or originator. The user  20   a  can create the transaction record  21  by entering data directly into the seller device  30   a , or by entering data into a desktop computer and transmitting the data into the seller device  30   a , as is well known to those skilled in the art. Exemplary fields in the transaction record  21  include:  
         [0022]    a) a transaction number assigned by the seller device  30   a  or the facilitator  12 ′;  
         [0023]    b) an item description (text field);  
         [0024]    c) UPC bar code decode of the item, if available;  
         [0025]    d) Minimum Sale Price (if selling item) or Maximum Purchase Price (if buying item);  
         [0026]    e) Final customer&#39;s offer price (left blank until offer is made);  
         [0027]    f) Expiration date and time of offer to sell or buy;  
         [0028]    g) Count of brokers in transaction (set at zero by transaction originator);  
         [0029]    h) Web address of facilitator  12 ′; and  
         [0030]    i) Identifying Information. The above list is exemplary and is by no means limited to those items.  
         [0031]    Next, the seller device  30   a  is circulated, i.e., the user  20   a  carries the seller device  30   a  into a public area, among other devices  30  (FIG. 1) similarly configured. As the seller device  30   a  moves into and out of the range of the other devices  30 , the seller device  30   a  is programmed to spontaneously establish communications with the other similarly configured devices  30  via each device&#39;s transceiver in step  120 . When the seller device  30   a  “meets” a first device  30   b , the seller device  30   a  and first device  30   b  exchange information related to items for sale (or offers to buy items) by exchanging their respective transaction record(s)  21 , via step  130 . In a preferred embodiment, each device asks the other whether it is interested in receiving information related to items for sale (or offers to buy items) before transmitting such information.  
         [0032]    Preferably, the seller device  30   a  exchanges data with each device  30  (FIG. 1) it meets. Thus, although FIG. 3 shows the seller device  30   a  meeting only one device  30   b , it should be noted that the seller device  30   a  actually meets a plurality of first devices  30   b , and not just a single device. For example, in FIG. 3A, the seller device  30   a  meets five ( 5 ) separate “first devices”  30   b ( 1 )- 30   b ( 5 ). They, in turn, potentially meet another group of devices, e.g., device  30   b ( 1 ) meets three ( 3 ) devices  30   c ( 1 )- 30   c ( 3 ). Thus, as devices  30  meet and exchange information, the distribution tree, as shown in FIG. 3A, grows exponentially because each device  30  communicates with a plurality of devices  30 , which in turn communicate with another plurality of devices  30 . According to the preferred embodiment, only one branch of the distribution tree results in a transaction. In FIG. 3A, the one branch is represented by the bolded arrows. Thus, the facilitator&#39;s  12 ′ resources are not needlessly taxed.  
         [0033]    Referring again to FIG. 2, once the first device  30   b  receives the transaction record  21  from the seller device  30   a , the user of the first device  20   b  decides whether he or she is interested in the transaction, i.e., interested in buying the object, via step  140 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device  30  can be programmed to screen for certain types of items so that items of interested are automatically brought to the attention of the owner  20 , while others are automatically placed in the unwanted category. Those items in the unwanted category can be further screened so that the device  30  automatically deletes certain types of items, e.g. pornographic materials. The owner  20  can, but is not required to, review the other items and choose which ones to propagate.  
         [0034]    If the owner  20  is interested in the transaction (step  140 ), a response, e.g. an offer to buy or sell, will be forwarded to the facilitator  12 ′ along with a final transaction record  22  in step  170 . If the owner  20  is not interested in purchasing or selling the item, but wishes to act as a broker for the item by passing the transaction record to other devices  30 , the transaction record  21  will be modified in step  150 .  
         [0035]    The transaction record  21  is modified to reflect the first device&#39;s  30   b  role as a broker. Thus, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first device  30   b  modifies the transaction record  21  by changing the seller device&#39;s  30   a  Minimum Sale Price (field (d)) to reflect the first device&#39;s  30   b  broker fee. Naturally, if the transaction was an offer to purchase, the Maximum Purchase Price would be “marked down.” The broker count (field (g)) is incremented by one to indicate that the first device  30   b  is a broker.  
         [0036]    Finally, the identifying information (field (i) in the transaction record) is modified in two ways. First, it is modified to conceal the web address/identity of the user  20  of the transmitting device, in this case the user of the seller device  20   a . In a preferred embodiment, the web address and identity of the user of the transmitting device (seller device  20   a  ) is encrypted, and the key  25  is known only by the user  20  of the encrypting device (in this case the user of the first device  20   b ) . Second, the identifying information further is modified by appending an unencrypted web address/identity of the user of the encrypting device. The appended web address/identity includes a pointer to a file in the user&#39;s website  23  where the user&#39;s public key  25  can be accessed.  
         [0037]    In step  160 , the first device  30   b  then transmits the modified transaction record to a second device  30   c  when it meets the second device  30   c  in the same manner that the seller device  30   a  met and transmitted the original transaction record  21  to the first device  30   b . The user of the second device  20   c  decides whether it is interested in the transaction in step  140 . If not, the modified transaction record is once again modified in step  150  in the manner described above. For instance, the Minimum Sale Price is changed a second time to reflect the second device&#39;s  30   c  broker fee, and the broker count incremented by one (count=2). The identifying information field will now be expanded to include an encrypted web address/identifier for the user of the first device  20   b , and an unencrypted web address/identifier for the user of the second device  20   c . As before, only the user of the second device  20   c  has knowledge of the key  25   c  to unencrypt the web address/identifier of the transmitting device&#39;s user  20 , in this case, the user of the first device  20   b . The second device  30   c  then proceeds to meet and transmit the newly modified transaction record to a third device  30   d.    
         [0038]    Process steps  140 - 160  are repeated until a user of a device (buyer device  20   e ) is interested in purchasing (or selling) the item. As stated above, when this occurs, the user of the buyer device  20   e  notifies the facilitator  12 ′ in step  170  either using the device  30   e  or using another device, such as a PC. In either case, communication channels can be wired or wireless, as is well known to those skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment, the user of the buyer device  20   e  transmits an electronic message to the facilitator  12 ′, providing the buyer device&#39;s  30   e  user identification and a final transaction record  22  to the facilitator  12 ′ in step  170 . The final transaction record  22  now includes the final sales price, and indicates the number of broker devices involved. In this example, three broker devices  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d  are involved. The identifying information field in the final transaction record  22  includes the unencrypted web address/identifier of the third device&#39;s user  20   d , which is the most immediate transmitting device for the buyer device  30   e , and the encrypted web addresses and identifiers of all the other earlier transmitting devices&#39;  30   b ,  30   c  users. In step  180 , the facilitator  12 ′ uses the final transaction record  22  to facilitate and complete the transaction.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the facilitator process for completing the transaction in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The process  200  begins when the facilitator  12 ′ receives the final transaction record  22  from the user of the buyer device  20   e , via step  210 . As stated above, the final transaction record  22  includes the unencrypted web address/identifier of the user of the (third) device  20   d  from which the buyer device  30   e  received the transaction record. The web address/identifier includes a pointer to the user&#39;s public key  25  at the user&#39;s web site  23 . Using that information, the facilitator  12 ′ contacts the web site  23   d  associated with the third device&#39;s user  20   d  and accesses the public key  25   d  in step  220 . With the key of the third device&#39;s user  25   d , the facilitator  12 ′ can decode the encrypted web address/identifier of the user of the third device&#39;s  30   d  preceding transmitting device, i.e. the user of the second device  20   c , via  20  step  230 . In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the facilitator  12 ′ transmits the last encrypted web address/identifier to the third device&#39;s user&#39;s web site  23   d  and the third device&#39;s user  20   d  returns the unencrypted web address/identifier of the user  20  of the preceding transmitting device, i.e., the second device&#39;s user  20   c.    
         [0040]    Note that a user&#39;s public key  25  is valid only to unencrypt the web address/identifier of the preceding transmitting device&#39;s user  20 . The key  25  will not decode any of the other encrypted web addresses/identifiers of the users  20  earlier in the chain. This is so to protect the brokers&#39; financial interests in the transaction. By encrypting the identifier and web address of the preceding device&#39;s user  20 , the encrypting device&#39;s user  20  ensures he or she will not be “cut out” of the transaction loop. In other words, in order to identify the user  20  of the originating device in the chain, i.e., the seller device&#39;s user  20   a , the facilitator must follow a transaction path through each broker to attain the key  25  to eventually decode the web address/identifier for the user of the seller device  20   a.    
         [0041]    Referring again to FIG. 4, once the facilitator  12 ′ decodes the web address/identifier of the second device&#39;s user  20   c  using the key  25   d  associated with the third device&#39;s user  20   d , the facilitator  12 ′ contacts the second device owner&#39;s web site  23   c  and accesses the key associated with the second device&#39;s user  25   c , via step  240 . If there are more encrypted addresses to decode, the process repeats steps  230 - 250 . Thus, in this example, the process will loop through two additional times because the second device  30   c  has encrypted the web address/identifier of the first device&#39;s user  20   b , and the first device  30   b  has encrypted the web address/identifier of the selling device&#39;s user  20   a . When the web address/identifier for the user of the selling device  20   a  is decoded, all web addresses/identifiers in the final transaction record will have been decoded and all brokers will be identified.  
         [0042]    Next, in step  260 , the facilitator  12 ′ will notify the user of the seller device  20   a  of the transaction, and in step  270 , complete the transaction. In one embodiment of the present invention, the facilitator  12 ′ will notify the seller device&#39;s user  20   a  via an electronic message or by posting a message on the web site. The facilitator  12 ′ will complete the transaction by “billing” the user of the buyer device  20   e  for the item using “Internet money” or a payment service, such as “PayPal.” The facilitator  12 ′ will then distribute the transaction proceeds to the user of the seller device  20   a  and to the users of the brokers  20   b ,  20   c ,  20   d  through direct payment, account credit, payment service, or any other means as is well known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0043]    In the process of the preferred embodiment described above, each device  30   n  modifies the transaction record and transmits it to another device  30   n+1  until a buyer device emerges. At that point, the facilitator  12 ′ takes control and completes the transaction. Nevertheless, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least two other situations will bring the transaction to a close. In the first situation, a transaction will be terminated if a buyer (or seller) is not found within a predetermined number of transmissions. As stated above, each time the transaction record is transmitted to another device, the broker count increments by one. Thus, if the broker count exceeds a predetermined number, set by default or by the transaction originator, then the transaction will automatically terminate. In the second situation, if a buyer (or seller) is not found within the expiration time and date chosen by the transaction originator (seller device  30   a ), then the transaction will automatically terminate. Whichever condition occurs first will trigger termination. While two situations are explicitly described, those skilled in the art would readily recognize that other conditions could be cause for termination. For instance, the user  20  of a device  30  could program into the device  30  a default transaction period, e.g., 48 hours, within which a transaction record  21  will be propagated and beyond which the transaction record  21  will be automatically terminated. Such other conditions would fall within the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0044]    Through aspects of the present invention, exposure to an item for sale or for purchase grows exponentially as more and more wireless communication devices come within range of one another and exchange information. Because transactions are automated, essentially no effort on the part of a broker is required in order for the broker to make a profit on a transaction. Thus, the broker&#39;s fee can be relatively small, and more brokers can participate in the transaction. In addition, each device can be involved in multiple transactions where the device is a seller, a buyer, and a broker simultaneously. Thus, a wireless communication device can actually earn money for its owner while it is being carried around.  
         [0045]    Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For instance, the wireless communication device could be a stationary device, such as a desktop computer. When a mobile wireless communication device comes within the computer&#39;s range, sales information can be exchanged between the devices. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.