Patent ID: 8744921

Claim:
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by at least one processor, the instructions causing the at least one processor to perform actions for exchanging value between a service buyer and at least one service provider, the actions comprising: funding a buyer virtual funds account established for the service buyer, using actual funds; receiving a request for services from the service buyer, wherein the request for services includes an amount that the service buyer is willing to pay for the services; placing a hold on an amount of virtual funds corresponding to the amount that the service buyer is willing to pay for the services, in the buyer virtual funds account; adjusting up or down the hold on the amount of virtual funds corresponding to a negotiated amount that the service buyer is willing to pay for the services; receiving an indication from the at least one service provider that the at least one service provider will perform the services for the service buyer for a final cost; adjusting up or down the hold corresponding to the final cost; upon receiving a confirmation from the service buyer that the at least one service provider has performed the requested services, releasing the hold in order to transfer the held virtual funds from the buyer virtual funds account to a virtual funds account established for the at least one service provider; and transferring an amount of actual funds corresponding to at least a portion of the final cost to an actual funds account associated with the at least one service provider.