Methods and systems for electronic transactions

Abstract

In the preferred computer system, the user is provided with a separate Internet-accessible entity referred to here as the “personal page.” A personal page, preferably, includes memory for storing information related to the user. For example, on his/her personal page the user indicates what he/she wishes to purchase, possibly along with other criteria associated with the purchase, such as, for example, a time that the purchase should take The user is provided with the ability to create personalized bidding rules that vendors that offer goods and services must respect. Vendors have the ability to specify similar criteria, which describe the goods and/or services they offer. Vendors can indicate, for example, the prices of their goods, times and places that their services are available, etc. Preferably, these specifications, called “vendor scripts,” are embodied in active software/data entities (agents) that traverse sites on the Internet visiting sites hosting users' personal pages. Thus, preferably, vendor software/data agents (comprising vendor scripts) are the mobile, active elements in the system and purchasing requirements are stationary and more passive in comparison.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising: 
 storing at least one acquisition specification comprising data represented by a scripting language;    electronically receiving and storing at least one offering specification; and    electronically testing the acquisition specifications against the offering specifications for satisfiability.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of electronically receiving comprises communication over the Internet.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one offering specification comprises data represented by a scripting languages.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the storing the at least one acquisition specification is on a personal page assigned to a user providing the acquisition specification.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the offering specification is received at the location where the personal page with at least one acquisition specification is stored.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the testing acquisition specifications against offering specifications for satisfiability uses a compatibility dictionary.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the acquisition specification comprises data related to at least one advertisement.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the personal page communicates with Global Positioning System.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein voice recognition software is associated with the personal page and the acquisition specification is provided using voice input.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the acquisition specification is provided to the personal page using wireless communication.  
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method comprising: 
 electronically providing to a first user to obtain a deal identifier;    receiving from the first user a first electronic contract and the deal identifier;    electronically providing a second user with the deal identifier;    receiving from the second user a second electronic contract and the deal identifier; and    determining if the transmitted first and second contracts are compatible;    
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented method comprising: 
 electronically indexing using at least one index value into a compatibility dictionary; and    electronically extracting a compatibility designation based on the at least one index value.    
     
     
         13 . A computer-implemented method comprising: 
 storing a telephone service logic program on a personal page accessible over the Internet; and    electronically providing information encoded in the service logic programs to at least one computer controlling telephone service so as to enable the at least one computer controlling telephone service to control telephone service in accordance with the service logic program.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the at least one computer controlling telephone service is a telephone company computer.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the at least one computer controlling telephone service is users' local computers.  
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method comprising: 
 electronically enabling a user to create location sensitive trigger events;    electronically enabling users' software to access global positioning system data; and    electronically enabling triggering of location sensitive trigger events based on global positioning system data.    
     
     
         17 . A computer method comprising: 
 enabling a user to enter purchasing requirements in a memory space accessible over the Internet and assigned to the user;    receiving over the Internet vendor's information associated with goods or services available from the vendor;    comparing the received vendor's information to the stored purchasing requirements of the user; and    completing a transaction if the step of comparing indicated that the vendor's information meets the purchasing requirements.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising storing statements expressed in a high level language so as to represent the purchasing requirements.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the high level language includes an If statement.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising processing the high level language so as to represent the purchasing requirements as lower level representation.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the low level representation includes one or more forms.  
     
     
         22  The system of  claim 21  wherein voice recognition software is stored in connection with the memory space accessible over the Internet and assigned to the user, wherein the voice recognition software is adjusted to recognize user's voice input.  
     
     
         23 . A computer system comprising: 
 memory storing at least one acquisition specification comprising data represented by a scripting language;    means for electronically receiving and storing at least one offering specification; and    means for electronically testing the acquisition specifications against the offering specifications for satisfiability.    
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the means for electronically receiving comprises means for communication over the Internet.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the at least one offering specification comprises data represented by a scripting languages.  
     
     
         26 . A compute system comprising: 
 means for enabling a user to enter purchasing requirements in a memory space accessible over the Internet and assigned to the user;    means for receiving over the Internet vendor's information associated with goods or services available from the vendor;    means for comparing the received vendor's information to the stored purchasing requirements of the user; and    means for completing a transaction if the step of comparing indicated that the vendor's information meets the purchasing requirements.    
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the purchasing requirements are expressed in a high level language.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27  further comprising mens for processing the high level language so as to represent the purchasing requirements as lower level representation.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the low level representation includes one or more forms.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein voice recognition software is stored in connection with the memory space accessible over the Internet and assigned to the user, wherein the voice recognition software is adjusted to recognize user's voice input.  
     
     
         31 . A computer system comprising: 
 means for electronically providing to a first user to obtain a deal identifier;    means for receiving from the first user a first electronic contract and the deal identifier;    means for electronically providing a second user with the deal identifier;    means for receiving from the second user a second electronic contract and the deal identifier; and    means for determining if the transmitted first and second contracts are compatible;    
     
     
         32 . A computer system comprising: 
 means for electronically indexing using at least one index value into a compatibility dictionary; and    means for electronically extracting a compatibility designation based on the at least one index value.    
     
     
         33 . A computer system comprising: 
 memory storing a telephone service logic program on a personal page accessible over the Internet; and    means for electronically providing information encoded in the service logic programs to at least one computer controlling telephone service so as to enable the at least one computer controlling telephone service to control telephone service in accordance with the service logic program.    
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33  wherein the at least one computer controlling telephone service is a telephone company computer.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the at least one computer controlling telephone service is users' local computers.  
     
     
         36 . A computer system comprising: 
 means for electronically enabling a user to create location sensitive trigger events;    means for electronically enabling users' software to access global positioning system data; and    means for electronically enabling triggering of location sensitive trigger events based on global positioning system data.