Patent Publication Number: US-2002010685-A1

Title: Electronic exchange apparatus and method

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Prov. No. 60/190,824 filed Mar. 21, 2000, U.S. Prov. No. 60/180,733 filed Feb. 7, 2000 and U.S. Prov. No. 60/174,639 filed Jan. 5, 2000, all incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     
       FIELD  
       [0002] The invention is related to an electronic exchange method and apparatus. In particular, the invention provides a method and apparatus for matching buyers with sellers and providing attendant support to a transaction. In the exemplary embodiment, a transaction can include service costs, fees, commodities, licensing and other tangibles and intangibles.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003] The Internet is a technology that has become widely used for communication between people and businesses. Communication over the Internet often provides a mechanism for connecting buyers and sellers of goods and services. Many web sites host message boards or auctions where sellers of goods can post their products and buyers can then review the merchandise postings. Once the buyer has identified a product, the buyer bids for the product. At the close of the auction, the winning buyer pays the seller and the seller ships the product. However, several problems have occurred in the past with sellers misrepresenting the quality of the product and with buyers not following through with their winning bids or sending false payment.  
       [0004] To remedy this problem, some companies have set up escrow services where the escrow service is sent both the payment and the product. Once the payment has cleared, the escrow service forwards the product to the buyer. Once the buyer verifies the quality of the product, the payment is forwarded to the seller. This is similar to escrow that occurs when a house is purchased, where one lump sum payment is made to the seller at the close of escrow.  
       [0005] In the service business, service providers typically take some time to complete their task and require some level of payment along the way. For example, it may take over a month to prepare a patent application and much longer to prepare a computer program. Also, in the conventional service business, buyers and sellers of services are typically located in close geographic proximity to one another because services are typically customized. However, the Internet has the ability to facilitate connections between buyers and sellers of services who may not have an established relationship and/or who may be located at great geographic distance. To these buyers and sellers an escrow service is important, but a lump sum arrangement is not practical to the buyer or seller of such services; the buyer does not want to pay in full before the service is rendered, and the seller does not want to render the service without payment. Accordingly, what is needed is a method and apparatus that combines the benefits of Internet communication and connection along with a customized escrow service between the buyer and seller of such services. Ideally, such a technique would provide safety and security to both the seller and buyer.  
       [0006] In other cases, the goods or services are not necessarily personalized and the buyer wants to get the best value for his money. For example, in order for a business or person to link to the Internet, the business must contract with an Internet provider for access and often for hosting e-mail and other communication support. In the case of an e-commerce application, the business must develop a web site, obtain payment processing and manage order fulfillment. The way most people decide on an Internet provider or other services is by reviewing advertisements, reviewing search engine results or talking to friends and associates. This decision is often inefficient and leads to a business relationship that is not optimized for the buyer. That is, the buyer often pays more than a competitive price and/or does not receive the best range of services. What is needed is a technique that improves the efficiency of such a marketplace and provides safety and security to both the seller and buyer.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007] The invention provides an electronic exchange method and apparatus. The invention combines the benefits of Internet communication with an efficient marketplace that is safe and secure for both the seller and buyer. In one aspect, the marketplace provides custom notification of goods and services and provides a custom escrow technology. In another aspect, the marketplace insures that the buyers obtain the services as a market rate.  
       [0008] The invention combines the benefits of Internet communication and connection along with customized service notification and matching based on a plurality of parameters, and a tool for intelligently contracting and carrying out the transaction. An exemplary method of exchanging services between a buyer and seller includes a seller submitting a registration to receive requests from buyers in a least one preference category. A buyer posts a request for quotes (RFQ) message identifying a need for a service in an RFQ category. When the RFQ category matches the seller&#39;s preference category, the system notifies the seller of the RFQ message. The seller reviews the RFQ message and responds to the buyer regarding the requested service. The buyer and the seller form a contract for the service including a payment plan and deliverables plan.  
       [0009] In one aspect of the invention, the buyer&#39;s registration includes a field to receive the RFQ message in a preferred language. The system converts the RFQ message to the preferred language and then notifies the seller.  
       [0010] In another aspect of the invention, the system aggregates RFQ messages in at least one category to generate an aggregated RFQ message. The system then notifies sellers of the aggregated RFQ message, and obtains a reduced cost for the aggregated services.  
       [0011] In another aspect of the invention, the buyer deposits an amount of money in an escrow account, according to the agreed upon payment plan, and the seller performs the service. When a deliverable is delivered to and approved by the buyer, the seller receives from the escrow account the amount of money equal to the agreed upon payment plan. The payment plan and deliverables plan can include a down payment or advance payment and a plurality of stages.  
       [0012] An exemplary apparatus for facilitating an exchange between a buyer and seller includes a server having a memory to store messages posted by buyers and sellers identifying goods and services. The server is accessible to buyers and sellers to review the messages and to provide responses to the respective postings. The memory stores a contract agreed to between the buyer and seller representing a multi-stage payment plan and multi-stage deliverables plan. An escrow procedure stores a monetary representation of a deposit by the buyer equal to an amount of money in an escrow account, according to the agreed upon multi-stage payment plan. In a simple arrangement, the multi-stage payment plan includes an advance payment and a final payment. Also, in a simple arrangement, the multi-stage deliverables plan includes an acceptance of the contract terms and the final deliverable. The escrow procedure includes a release procedure such that when the deliverables according to the multi-stage deliverable plan are delivered to and approved by the buyer, the release procedure releases from the escrow account the amount of money equal to the respective stage of the agreed upon multi-stage payment plan.  
       [0013] An automated exemplary embodiment for facilitating the exchange of services between a buffer and seller includes a server having a memory configured to store a plurality of messages posted by buyers identifying a need for services. In this case, the messages include specified parameters regarding the service need. The server is accessible to service sellers to review the messages and to respond to the messages. A processor is coupled to the memory and compares the entered parameters to prevailing market rates and provides the prevailing market rates to the buyer. Also, the system is configured to allow the buyer to modify the parameters and store the parameters for potential execution. In one embodiment, the processor receives a service request from the buyer, compares the stored parameters to those available from at least one service seller, and if the service seller is willing to provide service within the specified parameters, executes the transaction. In another embodiment, the processor receives a service request from the buyer, compares the stored parameters to those available from at least one service seller, if the service seller is not willing to provide service within the specified parameters, the processor compares the stored parameters to those available from at least one excess capacity seller, and if the excess capacity seller is willing to provide service within the specified parameters, executes the transaction. In yet another embodiment, the processor receives a service request from the buyer, aggregates other service requests having similar stored parameters to form bulk parameters, compares the bulk parameters to those available from at least one service seller, and if the service seller is willing to provide service within the specified bulk parameters, executes the transaction. In this context, a service includes any tangible or intangible such as computer network bandwidth, computer processing capacity, licensing fees and revenues, or other tangibles or intangibles.  
       [0014] In another aspect of the invention, the exchange is dynamic and allows the buyer to specify a range over which the buyer is willing to buy the services. The transaction is processed based on the acceptable range; when the price is above the upper range limit, the transaction is not processed until the price falls below the upper range limit. In another aspect of the invention, the range can include a number of parameters such as time, day, price, acceptable sellers and others. This aspect if particularly useful for commodities where the price may vary by date or time, for example, computer network bandwidth or processing capacity may be less expensive at night.  
       [0015] Advantages of the invention include the ability of the service buyer and seller to connect with one another though postings and notifications, and to exchange the payment and services according to an agreed upon payment plan with the security of an escrow. Additional advantages of the invention include the ability of the service buyer to purchase the needed services at the best available market rate and to have the services delivered within the parameters identified by the buyer. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
     [0016] The invention is described below with reference to the following figures, in which:  
     [0017]FIG. 1 depicts a computer server according to an embodiment of the invention;  
     [0018]FIG. 2 depicts a seller registration screen according to an embodiment of the invention;  
     [0019]FIG. 3 depicts a buyer registration screen according to an embodiment of the invention;  
     [0020] FIGS.  4 A-C depict a buyer listing, match data and aggregation data according to an embodiment of the invention;  
     [0021]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing steps for parties to agree to contract terms according to an embodiment of the invention;  
     [0022]FIG. 6 is a sample screen display of a contract term sheet according to an embodiment of the invention;  
     [0023]FIG. 7 is a sample screen display for an escrow term sheet according to an embodiment of the invention;  
     [0024] FIGS.  8 A-C depict a buyer listing, match data and aggregation data according to an embodiment of the invention;  
     [0025]FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing steps for adding a buy listing according to an embodiment of the invention; and  
     [0026]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing steps for fulfilling a service request according to an embodiment of the invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0027] The invention is described with reference to exemplary embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations can be made to the description while remaining within the bounds of the claims. For example, while the exemplary embodiments describe transactions related to services, the invention is equally applicable to transactions related to goods, costs, fees, commodities, licensing fees and revenues, or other tangibles or intangibles.  
     [0028] 1. Architecture  
     [0029]FIG. 1 depicts a computer server  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. The computer includes a processor  12  coupled to a memory  14 . The memory contains a storage structure  16  further comprising a plurality of software structures including control procedures  20 , communication procedures  22 , interaction procedures  24  and data  26 . The processor is coupled to a user interface  30 , an Internet communication interface  32  and a network interface  34 .  
     [0030] The memory&#39;s control procedures  20  are program routines that control the operation of the system. For example, the registration procedures manage information related to the registered users of the system and their respective preferences. The posting procedures manage new listings and the notification procedures communicate listings to registered users based on their preferences. The memory  14  is configured to store a plurality of messages posted by buyers and sellers identifying services. The server is accessible to buyers and sellers via the interfaces  32  and  34  in order to review the messages and to provide responses to the respective postings. These procedures are described below in the respective sections.  
     [0031] In one embodiment, the memory  14  is configured to store an installment agreement between the buyer and seller representing a multi-stage payment plan and multi-stage deliverable plan. An escrow procedure is configured to store a monetary representation of a deposit by the buyer equal to an amount of money in an escrow account, according to the agreed upon multi-stage payment plan. The escrow procedure includes a release procedure such that when the deliverables according to the multi-stage service deliverable plan are delivered to and approved by the buyer, the release procedure releases from the escrow account the amount of money equal to the respective stage of the agreed upon multi-stage payment plan.  
     [0032] In another embodiment, the memory is configured to store market data and allow the automated matching of buyers and sellers according to posted parameters and available parameters. In many instances this is a dynamic pricing model. In one aspect of this embodiment, the memory stores aggregation data allowing a plurality of buyers to aggregate their purchases from a seller.  
     [0033] These embodiments and other aspects of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the additional figures.  
     [0034] 2. Intelligent Notification and Matching  
     [0035] The invention provides an electronic exchange apparatus and method that combines the benefits of Internet communication and connection along with customized service notification and matching based on a plurality of parameters. The invention also includes a tool for intelligently contracting for and carrying out the transaction.  
     [0036]FIG. 2 depicts a seller registration form  36  that includes available parameters on which the buyer is willing to buy the goods or services. The buyer completes the form as a request for quotes (RFQ) message. The registration includes an entry for the listing title as well as any deadline, category and full description. There are entry spaces for a number of related purchase parameters including the price that the buyer is willing to pay for a specified service, the date and time of the transaction, bulk parameters and other parameters. Many of these parameters depend on the specific type of service or transaction. For example, if the service is related to computer network bandwidth, the time parameter may be very important, while if the service is related to excess computer processing capacity, the time parameter may not be important.  
     [0037]FIG. 3 depicts a buyer registration form  38  that includes available parameters on which the seller is willing to sell the goods or services. The registration includes an entry for the name and company, and category notification attributes that can be associated with a registered user.  
     [0038] This allows the computer server  10  to match and notify potential sellers when a buyer posts an RFQ in a specific category. In one aspect of the invention, the buyer can indicate a preference language. The system converts the RFQ message from a posted language to the preference language before notifying the seller of the RFQ message. FIG. 4A depicts a buyer listing  42  showing the posting data, and FIG. 4B depicts match data  44  according to an embodiment of the invention.  
     [0039] In another aspect of the invention, the system aggregates RFQ messages in at least one category to generate an aggregated RFQ message. FIG. 4C shows the aggregation data  46  as stored in the memory  14 . The system then notifies service sellers of the aggregated RFQ message. When the service sellers review the aggregated RFQ message, the service sellers bid on providing services to the group of buyers based at least in part on the aggregated RFQ. As a result, the buyers obtain a reduced cost of the aggregated RFQ services. Additional criteria can be applied to aggregate the RFQs such as business identity, geographic location, affinity groups, and other factors.  
     [0040] An exemplary method of exchanging services between a buyer and seller includes a service seller submitting a registration to receive requests from service buyers in a least one preference category, as shown in FIG. 3. A service buyer posts a request for quotes (RFQ) message identifying a need for a service in at least one RFQ category, as shown in FIG. 2. This is shown in the FIG. 5 flowchart  50  step  52 . When the RFQ category matches the preference category, the method notifies the seller of the RFQ message in step  53 . The seller reviews the RFQ message in step  54 , shown in FIG. 4A, and responds to the buyer regarding the requested service. Since the buyer may have several offers from sellers, the buyer selects the winning offer in step  56 . The buyer and the seller form a contract for the service including a payment plan and deliverable plan in step  58 . If the parties wish to handle payment on their own, they may do so. If the parties wish to handle payment through the inventive escrow agreement technology, the steps continue as described below.  
     [0041] 3. Multi-Stage Escrow Agreements  
     [0042] Referring back to FIG. 1, the memory storage structure  16  includes a number of contract procedures, escrow procedures and release procedures. These procedures are used in combination with the other procedures and data in this aspect of the invention. When a buyer and seller have agreed to transact business, the buyer and seller agree upon a contract terms sheet  74  shown in FIG. 6 that includes a payment plan and a deliverables plan. The plan includes a number of stages  1  to N that represent payments by the buyer and deliverables by the seller. This step is reflected in the FIG. 5 flowchart step  58 . The memory  14  is configured to store contract data and multi-stage data representing the agreement and a multi-stage payment plan and multi-stage service deliverable plan. An escrow procedure is configured to store a monetary representation of a deposit by the buyer equal to an amount of money in an escrow account, according to the agreed upon multi-stage payment plan. The memory  14  includes a release procedure associated with the escrow procedure such that when a deliverable according to the multi-stage service deliverables plan is delivered to and approved by the buyer, the release procedure releases from the escrow account the amount of money equal to the respective stage of the agreed upon multi-stage payment plan. FIG. 7 depicts an escrow term sheet  76  that is used by the buyer and seller during the course of the contract to indicate a deposit in escrow, to confirm that the deliverable is acceptable and to secure release of the escrow funds to the seller.  
     [0043] Referring to the FIG. 5 flowchart and FIG. 7, in step  60  the buyer deposits a payment for a particular stage of the agreement in the escrow account. At this point, the seller would see that the advance payment light is active on the escrow display sheet  76 . The seller would know that the funds are in escrow and that he can begin work on the project. In some cases, the buyer would release the advance payment to the seller in advance of work performed. In the exemplary embodiment, the buyer deposits Payment  1  into escrow, which signifies to the seller that the first payment for a deliverable is in escrow. In step  62 , the seller then performs work to create the first Deliverable  1  and sends it to the buyer for approval. In step  64 , when the buyer accepts and approves the Deliverable  1 , money in escrow is released to the seller. Step  66  determines whether the contract is complete. If not, then the buyer deposits Payment  2  into escrow, which signifies to the seller that the second payment for a deliverable is in escrow. The seller then prepares the second deliverable and sends it to the buyer for approval. This continues until the contract is complete, step  68 .  
     [0044]FIG. 6 shows a proposed contract terms sheet in which the buyer and seller agree on a payment plan and service deliverable plan, which may be a multi-stage payment plan and multistage deliverable plan. The buyer deposits an amount of money in an escrow account, according to the agreed upon multi-stage payment plan. The seller performs the stages of the multi-stage performance plan, and when the deliverables are delivered to and approved by the buyer, receives from the escrow account the amount of money equal to the respective stage of the agreed upon multi-stage payment plan.  
     [0045]FIG. 7 shows an implementation of the escrow where the buyer deposits an amount of money in an escrow account, and where the amount of money at least meets the first stage of the multi-stage payment plan. The seller performs the first stage of the multi-stage performance plan, and when the first stage deliverables are delivered to and approved by the buyer, receives from the escrow account the amount of money equal to the first stage of the multi-stage payment plan. This aspect of the invention can include the seller being paid an advance prior to the multistage payment plan. As the payments are made and the deliverables are approved, the escrow sheet of FIG. 7 fills up and the Y N buttons are lit up and approved.  
     [0046] In another aspect of the invention, the system aggregates RFQ messages in at least one category to generate an aggregated RFQ message. The system then notifies service sellers of the aggregated RFQ message, and obtains a reduced cost of the aggregated RFQ services.  
     [0047] In a simple arrangement, the multi-stage payment plan includes an advance payment and a final payment. Also, in a simple arrangement, the multi-stage deliverables plan includes an acceptance of the agreement and the final deliverable. The escrow procedure includes a release procedure that is configured such that when the deliverables according to the multi-stage service deliverables plan are delivered to and approved by the buyer, the release procedure releases from the escrow account the amount of money equal to the respective stage of the agreed upon multistage payment plan.  
     [0048] In one aspect of the invention, the buyer deposits an amount of money in an escrow account, where the amount of money at least meets the first stage of the multi-stage payment plan. The seller performs the first stage of the multi-stage performance plan, and when the first stage deliverable is delivered to and approved by the buyer, receives from the escrow account the amount of money equal to the first stage of the multi-stage payment plan. This aspect of the invention can include the seller being paid an advance prior to the multi-stage payment plan.  
     [0049] In yet another aspect of the invention, the buyer deposits an amount of money in the escrow account, where the amount of money at least meets the first stage and second stage of the multi-stage payment plan. When first stage is complete, the buyer deposits an additional amount of money in the escrow account, where the amount of money at least meets the third stage of the multi-stage payment plan. Likewise, this aspect of the invention can include the seller being paid an advance prior to the multi-stage payment plan.  
     [0050] 4. Automated Agreements  
     [0051] An automated exemplary embodiment for facilitating the exchange of services between a buffer and seller includes the server  10  as shown in FIG. 1. In the exemplary embodiment, the messages include parameters regarding a service need. The server is accessible to service sellers to review the messages and to respond to the messages. The processor  12  is configured to compare the entered parameters to prevailing market rates, and to provide the prevailing market rates to the buyer. Also, the system is configured to allow the buyer to modify the parameters and store the parameters for potential execution. In one embodiment, the processor is configured to receive a service request from the buyer, to compare the stored parameters to those available from at least one service seller, and if the service seller is willing to provide service within the specified parameters, to execute the transaction. In another embodiment, the processor is configured to receive a service request from the buyer, to compare the stored parameters to those available from at least one service seller, if the service seller is not willing to provide service within the specified parameters, to compare the stored parameters to those available from at least one excess capacity seller, and if the excess capacity seller is willing to provide service within the specified parameters, to execute the transaction. In yet another embodiment, the processor is configured to receive a service request from the buyer, to aggregate other service requests having similar stored parameters to form bulk parameters, to compare the bulk parameters to those available from at least one service seller; and if the service seller is willing to provide service within the specified bulk parameters, execute the transaction. In this context, a service includes any tangible or intangible such as computer network bandwidth, computer processing capacity, licensing fees and revenues, or other tangibles or intangibles.  
     [0052]FIG. 8A depicts a buyer listing including a number of posted parameters. These parameters can include information such as the date and time that the service is needed, the duration or periodicity of the service and other parameters. FIG. 8B depicts match procedures for matching up the posted parameters with those that are listed from available providers. For example, a buyer may want to purchase computer network bandwidth for a specific duration such as a month or year, or a buyer may want to purchase computer processing based on cycles (e.g. floating point operations or FLOPS) or a specified duration or time. There may be additional parameters of interest that may be geographically related or otherwise related.  
     [0053]FIG. 8C depicts aggregation data that can be used to determine an aggregated market price for a given service. For example, if a number of buyers want to purchase computer network bandwidth between Los Angeles and New York, there may be a lower aggregated market price for the service and that could be passed along to the group of buyers.  
     [0054]FIG. 9 is a flowchart  100  showing steps for adding a buy listing using automated matching. In step  102 , the buyer posts an RFQ message with the buy parameters. In step  104 , the system notifies sellers of the RFQ message. In step  106 , the system automatically reviews the specified parameters and the market rates. Step  108  generates a market parameters report to the buyer with notification of the prevailing market rates for the service. In step  110 , the buyer enters any parameter refinements and submits the RFQ message.  
     [0055]FIG. 10 is a flowchart  150  showing steps for fulfilling a service request. Step  152  is based on the flowchart  100  with the service request. In step  154 , the final buyer parameters are entered into the system. Step  156  determines if based on those parameters, whether a seller will fulfill the service request. If yes, in step  158  the system checks to determine if there is a better price available. If there is a better price available, step  160  switches sellers to the one offering the better price. Step  160  will act only if the buyer parameters allow the switch to a different seller, and/or as long as the different seller is on an approved list. Step  162  executes the transaction and step  164  finishes.  
     [0056] If step  156  determines that no seller will fulfill the service request, then step  170  determines whether a provider will fulfill the request on an excess capacity basis. This may relevant if, for example, the request is to move a large amount of data that is not time sensitive. Step  172  determines is the service is within the specified parameters. If so, step  174  notifies the buyer and requests whether to proceed in step  176 . If yes, step  178  executes the transaction. If no, then the transaction goes unfulfilled and step  164  finishes the procedure.  
     [0057] In another aspect of the invention, the exchange is dynamic and allows the buyer to specify a range over which the buyer is willing to buy the services. The transaction is processed based on the acceptable range; when the price is above the upper range limit, the transaction is not processed until the price falls below the upper range limit. In another aspect of the invention, the range can include a number of parameters such as time, day, price, acceptable sellers and others. This aspect if particularly useful for commodities where the price may vary by date or time, for example, computer network bandwidth or processing capacity may be less expensive at night.  
     [0058] In yet another aspect of the invention, the invention includes a contract manager that assists the buyer and seller in negotiating the services contract. This is similar to the aspect of the invention described above with reference to FIG. 6. Additionally, the escrow procedure as described above is available to assist the buyer and seller in creating and executing on a payment and deliverables plan. This is similar to the aspect of the invention described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.  
     [0059] 5. Conclusion  
     [0060] An advantage of the invention is the ability for the seller and buyer to negotiate a safe and secure transaction while minimizing risk to each party. Additional advantages include the ability of the service buyer to purchase the needed services at the best available market rate and to have the services delivered within the parameters identified by the buyer.  
     [0061] The invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations can be made to the description while remaining within the bounds of the claims.