Abstract:
A barter system for transferring physical assets between related entities utilizes a distributed computer network using a master user. The system utilizes a database of designated physical assets, or optionally services, a transfer value for each asset, a list of the related entities, and an account for each entity, the account for containing points to obtain physical assets from another related entity. Each entity has at least one remote computer the remote computers operably connected to the database for (i) providing a list of physical assets available for transfer limited to designated physical assets in the database; and (ii) requesting transfer of physical assets listed in the database.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a non-provisional patent application and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/438,636, titled “Barter System With A Master User,” filed Feb. 1, 2011; the contents of which are incorporated in this disclosure by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a method, a programmable device and a system for bartering for items between two or more related parties using a master user. 
         [0003]    Bartering is one of the oldest forms of exchange. Originally, bartering systems allowed participants to trade one&#39;s own products for another&#39;s products. For example, in a traditional barter exchange, a farmer traded corn or wheat in exchange for tools produced by a blacksmith or medical services provided by a doctor. The problem tended to be that barterers needed to find someone to barter with who had the product they wanted and who wanted their product. If a person had blankets to trade and wanted cotton, they not only had to find someone that had cotton, but also someone with cotton that wanted blankets. Also, barter exchanges often have no sellers willing to sell at the same time a buyer wants to buy or no buyers willing to buy at the same time a seller wants to sell. The absence of constant buyers and sellers makes it exceedingly difficult for trading to be as smooth and continuous or as liquid as possible. Another problem is that conventional barter exchanges often involve unique products which may or may not satisfy the buyer&#39;s specific needs. These continuing problems significantly reduce the liquidity, efficiency and effectiveness of a barter trading system. 
         [0004]    As civilizations evolved and trade became more complex, society found it more efficient to use a common currency to exchange products. Currency or cash allows participants to trade their products for set values of the currency. Currency can then be re-exchanged for other products at a different time and place. As a result of its liquidity, the currency exchange system has become the dominant method to complete transactions. With currency exchange dominance, barter exchange decreased and further reduced this markets liquidity. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, barter trading today is a time consuming process. First, a participant must learn how to use and navigate the exchange. Once a participant learns how to use and navigate the barter system, they must also operate the system which includes selecting what items should be sold, creating and uploading descriptions, specifications and photos, determining pricing and bidding strategies, comparing various products being offered, monitoring the auctions, negotiating with other participants and revising their barter strategies. Further, conventional barter exchanges do not tightly control and limit what specific goods and services can be sold on its exchange. Therefore, products are often fragmented, non-standardized, voluminous and in different physical condition requiring the participants to spend significant time, effort and expertise to evaluate the suitability and value of each product. Also, the individual within an organization responsible for executing this time consuming system is often not the person that directly benefits from the trading. This flawed system discourages participation in barter exchanges and, with fewer participants offering fewer products, further reduces liquidity. 
         [0006]    Lack of liquidity creates numerous problems for a barter system including reducing the number of potential transactions and likelihood a transaction occurs, slowing the speed at which a transaction occurs, and reducing the probability of achieving market and reasonable terms. These problems deter additional participants which reduce the liquidity even more. 
         [0007]    Often barter system participants are related as part of a partnership, alliance, association or common ownership and share a common objective. In spite of this common objective, existing barter systems only benefit participants to the extent of their individual benefit. There is no method or entity to coordinate the participants toward a common objective. For example, if imbalances exist between the supply and demand for a particular product across the entire barter system, there is no mechanism or entity to identify and correct these supply and demand imbalances. 
         [0008]    The barter exchange system continues to survive despite the dominance of the currency exchange system. Barter systems are often the best alternative system when participants are lacking cash, want to avoid certain cash outlays and reduce expenditures, or when using a currency system is not legal, appropriate or practical. 
         [0009]    The advent of distributed computer systems such as the Internet, sophisticated database software programs and virtual currencies has attempted to address these problems. However, despite all the advancement in technology, the systems that are currently available, fail to provide a liquid, efficient and effective marketplace in which parties may barter directly with one another and to provide a mechanism or entity to coordinate the operations of the barter system in the best interests of the combined group. 
         [0010]    For the forgoing reasons, there is need for a method, a programmable device and system that can inexpensively improve the liquidity, efficiency and effectiveness of barter exchanges and coordinate the operations of the barter exchange in the best interests of the combined group. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The present invention is directed to a process that satisfies the need for better liquidity, efficiency and effectiveness and coordination of barter exchanges. The process comprises a method, a programmable device and a system for bartering for items between two or more parties. 
         [0012]    In the present invention, an administrator controls and maintains a database enabling bartering between third parties, also referred to as entities or users. In the database there is a menu of goods, and optionally services, available for trading, and the goods and services have a set price (also referred to as points). The barter exchange controlling entity or “master user” determines what goods and services can be exchanged, uploads to the database the basic descriptions—and “purchase” price (also referred to as a transfer value) or points of these goods and services. Preferably only the master user can change the goods and services listed their price or points and a basic description. Optionally, the master user may upload a more detailed description and/or “representative” photo(s) to the database regarding a barterable item for bartering with the system. Furthermore, optionally the master user can list in the database excess merchandise it wants to sell and the master user can purchases any or all the excess inventory. The master user also provides each user in the system an account for points which optionally can contain a predetermined amount of start-up points that can be used for acquiring inventory. In addition to increasing liquidity and trading, the master user can eliminate supply and demand imbalances by buying any or all excess supply of product or selling excess demand of product throughout the entire barter system. Also the master user can provide bonus points for listing of inventory by a certain date to encourage early listing of merchandise. 
         [0013]    Each user can access the database to upload the number of goods it has available for “sale”, and upload the number of goods it wants to “purchase”. Preferably the identity of the user is anonymous, i.e., none of the other users (except the master user) knows who is offering and/or purchasing the particular goods. Optionally the master user does not know who is offering and/or purchasing the goods. This is so users are not penalized for having excess inventory and are willing to participate in the barter system. 
         [0014]    In a preferred version of the invention, the master user automatically purchases all items listed by a user that are on an approved list of merchandise (and that are confirmed by the master user as consistent with the approved item) for a set amount of points per item. Thus the user receives immediate credit. A user can also submit an item that is not already on the approved list for inclusion on the list of merchandise that can be bartered. If that submitted item is approved for inclusion by the master user, it can be included from that date forward on the approved list of merchandise that can be bartered. Optionally, if the merchandise purchased by the master user is not sold to a regular user within a specified time interval such as sixty day, the credit is reversed. Also the merchandise can be removed from the database. 
         [0015]    In one aspect of the invention, a barter system for transferring physical assets between related entities utilizes a distributed computer network. The system comprises one or more machine readable medium containing a database of designated physical assets, a transfer value for each asset, a list of the related entities, and an account for each entity, the account containing points to obtain physical assets from another related entity. The system also includes an administrative computer means operably connected to the database for maintaining the database, and at least one remote computer means for each of the related entities. The remote computers means are operably connected to the database for (i) providing a list of physical assets available for transfer limited to designated physical assets in the database; and (ii) requesting transfer of physical assets listed in the database. 
         [0016]    Optionally the system can include a processor for deducting from the account of each entity transferring physical assets the transfer value for the physical assets received by that entity. Optionally the same or different processor can allow for crediting the account of each entity transferring physical assets the transfer value for the transferred physical assets by that entity. Preferably the administrative computer means does not reveal the identity of any entity to another entity (except the master user). Also preferably the remote computers when providing a list of physical assets available for transfer maintains the identity of the entity anonymous. 
         [0017]    The account for at least one entity optionally can contain transfer points before that entity transfers any physical assets and before that entity provides a list of physical assets available for transfer. The account for at least one entity can optionally contain transfer points after that entity provides a list of physical assets available for transfer and before that entity actually transfers any physical assets. 
         [0018]    A method utilizing such a system can comprise the steps of: a) providing a set of designated physical assets subject to transfer, and a transfer value for each asset; b) providing at least some of the entities an account containing points to obtain physical assets from another related entity; c) receiving from at least one offering entity a list of physical assets available for transfer by the entity, the list being limited to the designated physical assets in the set; d) receiving from at least one requesting entity a request to receive physical assets available for transfer; e) transferring from the offering entity at least one of the physical assets listed as available for transfer to the requesting entity; and f) deducting from the account of the requesting entity the transfer value for the physical asset received by requesting entity. The method can optionally include the step of adding to the account of the offering entity the transfer value for the physical asset being transferred by the transferring entity if this was not already performed. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, and accompanying drawings, where: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an exemplary system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a general flow chart of one exemplary method for the master user of a barter system with a master user in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a general flow chart of one exemplary method for a user of a barter system with a master user in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an exemplary system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The system  100  generally includes at least a first user  105   a . The system  100  may additionally include at least a second user  105   b , and additional users, also referred to as customers, up to customer  105   n , where n represents any number of customers practical for operation of embodiments of the present invention. The system  100  also comprises a master user  120  which is a user  105  and in one embodiment of the present invention the master user determines what items can be bartered and enters the basic descriptions of the items that can be bartered and sets the prices for the items that can be bartered. The system  100  further comprises an administrator  130 , i.e., an organization, company or individual who is generally responsible for implementing and/or facilitating each of the methods disclosed herein. Optionally, the master user may upload a detailed description and/or “representative” photo(s) to the database regarding a barterable item for bartering within the system. Typically the master user works for the administrator, the administrator works for the master user or the master user and administrator work for the same entity. 
         [0024]    As is common in network-based business models, the administrator  130  may also be responsible for maintaining a website or interactive portal through which all of the users  105  of the system  100  may interact and execute the methodology or functionality in the embodiments disclosed herein. 
         [0025]    The network  110  may comprise any network suitable for embodiments of the present invention. For example, the network  110  may be a part or full deployment of most any communication or computer network or link, including any multiples of a public or private, terrestrial wireless or satellite and wire line links. The network may include the Internet, core and proprietary networks, wireless voice and packet-data networks, and the like. 
         [0026]    The embodiments may be described as a process that is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed. 
         [0027]    A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function. 
         [0028]    Moreover, a storage or storage medium may be one or more devices for storing data, including read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage mediums, optical storage mediums, flash memory devices and/or other machine readable mediums for storing information. 
         [0029]    Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by a distributed computer network such as the internet, including by use of hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or a combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in a machine-readable medium such as a storage medium or other storage(s). A processor may perform the necessary tasks. A code segment may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or a combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted through a suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc. 
         [0030]    In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe certain features of one or more embodiments of the invention. 
         [0031]    The term “machine readable medium” and “computer readable medium” includes, but is not limited to portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels and various other mediums capable of storing, containing or carrying instruction(s) and/or data. 
         [0032]    The term “computing device” includes, but is not limited to computers, cellular telephones, hand held computers and other devices that are capable of executing programmed instructions that are contained in a storage including machine readable medium. 
         [0033]    The administrator  130  may comprise any person, business or entity capable of performing and administrating the methods disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the administrator  130  is an entity hosting an accessible server and a database  132 . The server may comprise any type of computing device suitable for embodiment of the present invention. The server may be located at the administrator  130  physical site or at a remote location accessible via the network  110 . 
         [0034]    The database  132  may include a number of records in accordance with the present invention, including data and/or information, which may be parsed or stored. The database  132  may further comprise software, which may include and/or employ one or more database management systems. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  shows a general flow chart of one exemplary method for the master user  120  of a barter system with a master user in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method  200  begins with step  205 . At step  210 , the master user  120  may logon to the master user account generally hosted by the administrator  130 . Upon validation by the administrator  130 , the master user  120  may be directed to its account within the system  100 . At step  215 , the master user  120  determines what items can be bartered or the “barterable items”. 
         [0036]    At step  220 , once logged into the master user account, the master user  120  may upload data to the database  132  regarding a barterable item for bartering within the system  100  which generally includes providing a description, pricing or point value and other characteristics of the barterable item. Optionally, the master user  120  may upload a more detailed description and/or “representative” photo(s) to the database  132  regarding a barterable item for bartering within the system  100 . 
         [0037]    Optionally, at step  225 , the master user  120  uploads data to the database  132  regarding the number of initial start-up points each user  105  will be allocated. This step is optional in that a user may not receive start-up points. Instead, or in addition to start-up points, a user can list items for barter and immediate receive points for those items even before trading of these items begin. Optionally, a user  105  may receive additional bonus points for listing an item even before trading of these items begin. For example, a user  105  may receive 125 points for listing an item before trading of these items begin with a transfer value of 100 points. 
         [0038]    At step  230 , the master user  120  may search the database  132 , through a specified category (e.g., books, desks, etc.) or through a general search engine provided by the administrator  130 , for barterable items with excess supply or demand for barterable items by the users  105 . 
         [0039]    At step  235 , the master user  120  is permitted to barter the barterable items for one or more of the barterable items desired from users  105  by utilizing the system  100 . 
         [0040]    At step  240 , the master user  120  uploads data to the database  132  regarding the desired number of each barterable item identified in step  230  it wants to buy from other users  105 . 
         [0041]    At step  245 , the master user  120  uploads data to the database  132  regarding the desired number of each barterable item identified in step  230  it wants to sell to other users  105 . 
         [0042]    At step  250 , upon a sale of a barterable item to a user  105 , the master user  120  receives a notification, generally by email, that a user  105  has “bought” an item from the master user  120 . The notification will generally include the user  105  name, address and contact information, the master user  120  name, address and contact information, description of item bought, total number of items bought, total purchase price or points, transaction date and transaction identification number provided by administrator  130 . 
         [0043]    At step  255 , the administrator  130  increases the account balance on the database  132  of the master user  120  that sold the barterable item by an amount equal to the total purchase price or points for the transaction in step  250 . 
         [0044]    At step  260 , the administrator  130  decreases the account balance on the database  132  of the user  105  that bought the barterable item by an amount equal to the total purchase price or points for the transaction in step  250 . 
         [0045]    At step  265 , the master user  120  ships to the user  105  the barterable item purchased in step  250 . Alternatively, the user having the item can ship it directly to the purchaser or the purchaser can pick up the item if anonymity is not desired. 
         [0046]    The method  200  ends at step  270 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 3  shows a general flow chart of one exemplary method for a user  105  of a barter system with a master user  120  in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method  300  begins with step  305 . At step  310 , the first user  105   a  may log into an account generally hosted by the administrator  130 . Upon validation by the administrator  130 , the first user  105   a  may be directed to its account within the system  100 . 
         [0048]    At step  315 , the first user  105   a  may search the database  132 , through a specified category (e.g., books, desks, etc.) or through a general search engine or similar mechanism provided by the administrator  130  for a barterable item it wants to buy or sell. 
         [0049]    At step  320 , the first user  105   a  is permitted to barter the barterable items for one or more barterable items of other users  105  and/or the master user  120  utilizing the system  100 . 
         [0050]    At step  325 , the first user  105   a  uploads data to the database  132  regarding the number of each barterable item identified in step  315  it wants to buy from other users  105 . 
         [0051]    At step  330 , the first user  105   a  uploads data to the database  132  regarding the number of each barterable item identified in step  315  it wants to sell to other users  105 . 
         [0052]    At step  335 , upon a sale of a barterable item to a second user  105   b , the first user  105   a  receives a notification, generally by email, that the second user  105   b  has “bought” an item from the first user  105   a . The notification can include the first user&#39;s  105   a  name, address and contact information, the second user&#39;s  105   b  name, address and contact information, description of items bought, total number of items bought, purchase price or points, transaction date and transaction identification number provided by administrator  130 . If anonymity is desired, then limited information is exchanged. 
         [0053]    At step  340 , the administrator  130  increases the account balance on the database  132  of user  105   a  that sold the barterable item by an amount equal to the total purchase price or points for the transaction in step  335  if the user  105   a  did not already receive credit for the item sold. 
         [0054]    At step  345 , the administrator  130  decreases the account balance on the database  132  of user  105   b  that bought the barterable item by an amount equal to the total purchase price or points for the transaction in step  335 . 
         [0055]    At step  350 , the first user  105   a  ships to the second user  105   b  the barterable item purchased in step  335 . 
         [0056]    The method  300  ends at step  355 . 
         [0057]    The steps need not be performed in this order and many of the steps can be performed simultaneously. 
         [0058]    Although the present invention described below is with regard to a school district, where each separate school is a user, it has many other applications. These applications include governmental, quasi-governmental and non-governmental entities having multiple facilities or departments, where each separate facility or department is a user. The entity can be a public or private company having multiple facilities or departments, where each separate facility or department is a user. The entity can be an individual that may have centrally purchased and allocated assets, limited or incorrect information regarding what assets their individual units own, standardized goods and products, or no or minimal economic cost for the individual units, divisions, subsidiaries, members or the like (the “units”) to keep or an incentive to return any excess assets. 
         [0059]    Optionally the master user can purchase items as soon as they are listed for sale by an offering user without waiting for a purchase by a requesting entity to provide liquidity. 
         [0060]    The example of the present invention is an online barter exchange that allows a school district main office and the schools within that district to “sell” surplus items and “buy” needed items without spending money. Many schools districts have no or poor inventory systems, ineffective intra-district procurement communications, limited systems to determine what individual school owns and needs, no incentive for schools to return to the main district office excess products or poor product requisite systems. 
         [0061]    Optionally, each school receives an initial amount of “virtual dollars” or points to buy surplus items from the district main office and other schools throughout its school district. Also optionally each school can be allowed to run a deficit in their account to provide liquidity to the system. Preferably there is a cap on the deficit. 
         [0062]    By limiting bartering on this exchange to only schools within the district, the exchange creates a “closed system”. The closed system provides a mechanism for the main district office to coordinate efficiently the operations in the best interests of the overall district. Schools may earn additional points by selling its surplus items to others schools or back to the main district office. These earned points may be used to buy additional needed items. The barter exchange uses a web-based auction that is simple to use and benefits from the fact that schools within the same district often use much of the same or similar equipment and supplies. With standardized products, the website includes preloaded product basic descriptions and prices requiring the school to enter a limited amount of information including the number of each item it wants to buy or sell only. Optionally, the master user  120  may upload a more detailed description and/or a “representative” photo to the database  132  regarding a barterable item for bartering with the system  110 . 
         [0063]    Each school can be given a certain number of points to “prime the pump” or can immediately receive credit for listed items to prime the pump. The initial allotment of points represents enough points to initiate the buying process but not too large that schools lose their incentive to offer their excess products. The main district office will determine the initial list of barterable products with input from the individual schools. The trading exchange includes the most standardized, high volume, high priced items which can be shipped efficiently and are least subject to wear and tear. The exchange may add products over time as schools suggest additional items to exchange. Each school has its own account with user name, password, etc. Each item is pre-assigned by the main district office a specific point value based on its relative list price. There is no need for a detailed inventory process or search. A school may buy a few extra books or offer another product as quickly or as slowly as it wants. 
         [0064]    Once a purchase is completed, both the buying and selling school receive a notification receipt, generally an email, which lists the selling school, buying school, contact information, order identification number, summary of traded items and transaction cost. The selling school packs the sold items in a pre-provided box, inserts the notification receipt in the pre-provided envelope and attaches the envelope to the shipping box. Periodically, the boxes are collected from the selling schools and shipped to the buying schools. Or the master user can receive sold items and distribute them. 
         [0065]    In addition to providing pricing, product descriptions and optionally photos, the main office, referred to above as a master user, acts as a “market maker”. In this role, the main district office may buy excess product listed on the exchange either immediately when offered for sale by a school or when no individual school is offering to buy that product. Also, the main district office may offer to sell its excess product to the exchange when no individual school is offering to sell that product. This function increases the liquidity of the barter exchange by providing a constant buyer and seller of product. Not only will this better match the needed resources of each school within the district, but also will reduce wasteful purchases by the main district office. Specifically, main districts offices often have no effective method to determine what items it is overbuying. For example, if the exchange database shows that hundreds of surplus 2nd grade math books are being offered for sale, the main district office knows that it has historically bought too many 2nd grade math books. The main district office can buy these excess books from the individual schools with virtual money or points and reduce its future purchases of 2nd grade math books with real money. The potential reduction in wasted purchases is significant and these savings can be spent on other products that the schools within the district need. 
         [0066]    The schools&#39; names can be anonymous, i.e., none of the other schools or users of the exchange (except the master user) knows who is offering the particular goods. This can be accomplished by providing each user (school) with a code designation so that no other school or user of the exchange (except the master user) knows the identity of the school selling items. This is so a school will not get penalized for having excess inventory and will be willing to participate in the barter system. Thus a list of items to transfer can be provided anonymously, i.e. the identity of the offering school is not known by any other user and optionally by the master user. 
         [0067]    The previously described versions of the present invention have many advantages including, without limitation: 
         [0068]    The present invention is a highly liquid, efficient and effective barter system. The master user  120  may search the database  132  provided by the administrator  130  for barterable items with excess supply or demand. Based on the excess supply and demand, the master user  120  can buy from users  105  barterable items with excess supply and sell to users  105  from its inventory barterable items with excess demand. The system  100  items currently has no effective method to determine what barterable items it is over buying. However, with the present invention, the master user  120  can determine that the system  100  has excess supply and buy this barterable item from users  105  with virtual money or points and reduce its purchase of this barterable item with real money in future years. 
         [0069]    The present invention allows the master user  120  and user  105  to learn what the overall exchange and the individual users  105  own to determine what it actually owns and over time develop a quasi-inventory system. This allows the master user  120  to determine not only what it is overbuying or under buying barterable items and adjust its purchasing. 
         [0070]    The present invention is easy to use, navigate and is not time consuming. The master user  120  in one embodiment of the present invention uploads all the required data to the database  132  regarding what items are barterable including the description, photos, pricing or point value and other characteristics of the. Therefore, the users  105  are required to enter the number of each item it wants to buy or sell only. 
         [0071]    Also, the master user  120  determines (often in conjunction with the users  105 ) what items are “barterable items”. The master user  120  often selects the most standardized, high volume, high priced items which can be shipped efficiently and are least subject to wear and tear which increases the efficiency of the barter system. 
         [0072]    The present invention provides a mechanism and entity to coordinate the actions of the barter participants in the best interests of the system  100 . Often users  105  are related as part of a partnership, alliance, association or common ownership and share a common objective. Therefore, if imbalances exist between the supply and demand for a particular product across the entire barter system, the master user  120  can buy these excess items from users with virtual money and reduce its purchase of these same items with real money in the future. 
         [0073]    The present invention has other advantages and the present invention does not require that all the advantageous features and all the advantages need to be incorporated into every embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0074]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention the users  105  determine the barterable items. In another embodiment of the present invention, the exchange is “open” to users  105  not related to the master user  120  and other users  105 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the user  105  may upload data to the database  132  regarding a barterable item including descriptions, photos, and other characteristics of the barterable items. In another embodiment of the present invention, the user  105  selects the pricing or points of the barterable items. In another embodiment of the present invention, the users  105  name is not anonymous. In another embodiment of the present invention, the users  105  are advanced points or credit and can therefore buy items even though they currently have nothing to sell. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. 
         [0075]    Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawing disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the single claim below, the inventions are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one of more applications to claim such additional inventions is reserved.