Patent ID: 7596509

Claim:
A network system for facilitating the negotiation and purchase of goods or services for buyers and sellers, the system comprising: a host processor system; at least one buyer computer terminal including a display, operated by buyer of goods or services; at least one primary seller computer terminal including a display, operated by a primary seller of goods or services for selling the goods or services of the primary seller; a virtual seller computer terminal including a display, operated by a virtual seller of goods or services who is not the primary seller for selling the goods or services of the primary seller, said virtual seller not possessing custody or control of the goods or services of the primary seller but having a database storing product information concerning the goods or services of the primary seller; a first real time two-way communication connection for selectively connecting said buyer computer terminal to said primary seller computer terminal or said virtual computer seller through said host processor system, said first communication connection for transmitting transaction data concerning the purchase of goods or services of said primary seller, input by a buyer into said buyer computer terminal, in real time to said seller computer terminal or to said virtual seller computer terminal for display to said seller and for transmitting transaction data, input by a seller into said seller computer terminal or said virtual seller computer terminal, in real time to said buyer computer terminal for display to the buyer; said host processor system including processing means for selectively connecting a buyer computer terminal to either a primary seller computer terminal or a virtual seller computer based upon predetermined criteria, and a sale agreement means for enabling a buyer to reach an agreement concerning the purchase of goods or services from a either a virtual or a primary seller over the network system.