U.S. patent application number 14/635855 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-18 for consumer internet services.
This patent application is currently assigned to Inspired Net Limited. The applicant listed for this patent is Inspired Net Limited. Invention is credited to Rafael Lisitsa.
Application Number | 20150170233 14/635855 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36578631 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150170233 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lisitsa; Rafael |
June 18, 2015 |
CONSUMER INTERNET SERVICES
Abstract
This patent application describes many novel consumer Internet
services which are built on common principles of intelligent
hosting, direct trade between individuals and small businesses
without middlemen, direct matching of individuals, aggregated
persistent search for any commodity or service, and safe electronic
commerce and personal communications environment provided by
Trusted Net services. This patent application also describes the
integration of consumer Internet services into a consumer-centric
Internet portal.
Inventors: |
Lisitsa; Rafael; (Seattle,
WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Inspired Net Limited |
Douglas |
|
IM |
|
|
Assignee: |
Inspired Net Limited
Douglas
IM
|
Family ID: |
36578631 |
Appl. No.: |
14/635855 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11009170 |
Dec 10, 2004 |
|
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14635855 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 2924/0002 20130101;
H05K 2201/064 20130101; H05K 1/0203 20130101; H05K 7/20309
20130101; H01L 23/427 20130101; F28D 15/0266 20130101; H05K
2201/1056 20130101; G06Q 30/0601 20130101; H05K 7/1092 20130101;
H05K 1/141 20130101; H05K 2201/10477 20130101; H05K 2201/10515
20130101; H01L 2924/0002 20130101; H01L 2924/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20060101
G06Q030/06 |
Claims
1. A method for an integrated consumer portal for a plurality of
clients comprising the following steps: managing a plurality of
electronic commerce consumer portals and a plurality of personal
matching consumer portals which are utilized by said plurality of
clients; providing an aggregated persistent search service for said
plurality of electronic commerce consumer portals and for said
plurality of person matching consumer portals; and providing said
plurality of clients with a uniform user interface, a single
authentication, a single billing and a single customer support
across said plurality of electronic commerce consumer portals and
said plurality of personal matching consumer portals.
2. The method of claim 1, further including the following step;
providing said plurality of clients with an intelligent hosting
service.
3. The method of claim 2, further including the following step;
providing said plurality of clients with a certification and
prescreening service.
4. The method of claim 1, further including the following step;
providing said plurality of clients with a certification and
prescreening service.
5. A system for an integrated consumer portal for a plurality of
clients comprising: a plurality of electronic commerce consumer
portals for said plurality of clients; a plurality of personal
matching consumer portals for said plurality of clients; an
aggregated persistent search service for said plurality of
electronic commerce consumer portals and for said plurality of
personal matching consumer portals; a uniform user interface for
said plurality of clients; a single authentication service for said
plurality of clients to access said plurality of electronic
commerce consumer portals and said plurality of personal matching
consumer portals; a single billing service for said plurality of
clients to pay for said plurality of electronic commerce consumer
portals and said plurality of personal matching consumer portals;
and a single customer support service for said plurality of clients
across said plurality of electronic commerce consumer portals and
said plurality of personal matching consumer portals.
6. The system of claim 5, further including an intelligent hosting
service for hosting of said plurality of clients.
7. The system of claim 6, further including a certification and
prescreening service for verification of credentials of said
plurality of clients.
8. The system of claim 5, further including a certification and
prescreening service for verification of credentials of said
plurality of clients.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No.
11/009,173, filed Dec. 10, 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to methods and systems for integrated
consumer Internet services and business Internet services.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The system that integrates and coordinates management of
personal Internet communications, personal data, and e-commerce is
referred to as Personal Internet Coordinator or PIC hereafter. The
above mentioned patent application Ser. No. 10/665,319 (or PIC
patent application hereafter) described the following major
elements of PIC: [0004] (a) person-centric data management and
Internet communications platform with global personal identity,
single sign-on, enhanced security, automatic tracking of
individuals and their terminals, and intelligent aggregation,
filtering, conversion, and routing of content between individuals
and organizations; [0005] (b) personal e-commerce platform which
facilitates the best price online shopping for new and used
commodities, automates the shopping process by directly searching
the item of interest through many available online vendors,
provides its clients with automated and persistent search for
different types of information, and finds partners based on the
description of an item of interest; [0006] (c) personal integrated
data, commerce and Internet communications platform.
[0007] This patent application describes many novel consumer
Internet services which are built on common principles of
intelligent hosting, direct trade between individuals and small
businesses without middlemen, direct matching of individuals,
aggregated persistent search for any commodity or service, and safe
electronic commerce and personal communications environment
provided by Trusted Net services. This patent application also
describes the integration of consumer Internet services into a
consumer-centric Internet portal.
Objects and Advantages
[0008] This patent application describes the invention which has
the following goals and advantages: [0009] (a) PIC patent
application described many possible implementations of consumer
hosting services. This patent application describes Intelligent
Hosting Services (IHS). IHS adds the following details to selected
implementations of PIC hosting services in order to reduce the cost
of initial deployment: [0010] (1) simple secure framework on the
client side; [0011] (2) simple dashboard UI on the client side;
[0012] (3) integration with Trusted Net. [0013] (b) Existing real
estate online services do not provide the desired money savings,
time savings, security, and convenience to their clients. This
patent application presents a novel Real Estate Portal Service
(REPS) which offers the following benefits to its customers: [0014]
(1) a single point of access to all relevant real estate data and
services for buyers and sellers; [0015] (2) connecting buyers and
sellers directly, which is desired by the buyers and sellers who
prefer to save money on real estate commissions; [0016] (3)
providing buyers with a novel Persistent Search for Real Estate
Properties in order to find a matching property based on the
buyer's search parameters, and automatically notifying buyers when
a matching property is listed by a seller; [0017] (4) providing
sellers with a novel Persistent Search for Buyers in order to find
the registered buyers who have a matching property search profile,
and automatically notifying sellers when a matching property
profile is listed by a buyer; [0018] (5) providing buyers with a
novel Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties service, which:
[0019] i. saves the buyers' time by searching for matching
properties through the online real estate properties listings of
multiple service providers, and [0020] ii. saves the buyer's money
by searching for the real estate properties listings in the
following order: "for sale by owner" listings, low-commissions real
estate listings, standard commissions listings; [0021] (6)
providing sellers with a novel Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings
service, which: [0022] i. saves sellers' time by searching for
matching wanted properties profiles through the online real estate
buyer listings of multiple service providers, and [0023] ii. saves
sellers' money by searching for wanted real estate properties
profiles in the following order: "direct buy" listings,
low-commissions real estate listings, standard commissions
listings; [0024] (7) providing proprietary low-cost directories for
real estate buyers and sellers; [0025] (8) referring the
prescreened sale agents to the sellers who want the assistance of
an agent in selling their property; [0026] (9) referring the
prescreened buyer agents to the buyers who want the assistance of
the buyer agent; [0027] (10) providing optional novel prescreening
for buyers and sellers on demand, in order to create a safe trading
environment for consumers; [0028] (11) providing powerful
visualization tools for the following functions: describing the
property, comparing the selected properties, providing photographs
and virtual tours of properties, providing other relevant data,
including utility bills, previous home inspections reports, etc.
[0029] (c) Existing car trading online services do not provide the
desired money savings, time savings, security, and convenience to
their clients. This patent application presents a novel Cars Portal
Service (CPS) which offers the following benefits to its customers:
[0030] (1) a single point of access to all relevant car trading
data and services for buyers and sellers; [0031] (2) connecting
buyers and sellers directly, which is desired by buyers and sellers
who prefer to save money on dealer's commissions; [0032] (3)
providing buyers with a novel Persistent Search for Cars in order
to find a matching car based on the buyer's search parameters, and
automatically notifying buyers when a matching car is listed by a
seller; [0033] (4) providing sellers with a novel Persistent Search
for Buyers in order to find the registered buyers who have a
matching car search profile, and automatically notifying sellers
when a matching car profile is listed by a buyer; [0034] (5)
providing buyers with a novel Aggregated Search for Cars service,
which: [0035] i. saves the buyers' time by searching for matching
cars through the online car listings of multiple service providers,
and [0036] ii. saves the buyer's money by searching for the car
listings in the following order: "for sale by owner" listings, car
dealer sale listings; [0037] (6) providing sellers with a novel
Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service, which: [0038] i.
saves sellers' time by searching for matching "wanted cars"
profiles through the online car buyer listings of multiple service
providers, and [0039] ii. saves sellers' money by searching for the
"wanted cars" listings in the following order: "direct buy from
owner" listings, low-commissions car dealer buy listings, standard
commissions car dealer buy listings; [0040] (7) providing
proprietary low-cost directories for cars buyers and sellers;
[0041] (8) providing optional novel prescreening for buyers and
sellers on demand, in order to create a safe trading environment
for consumers; [0042] (9) referring the prescreened dealers,
inspectors, loan providers, etc., to the clients who want
professional assistance; [0043] (10) providing powerful
visualization tools for the following functions: describing the
cars, comparing the selected cars, providing photographs and
virtual tours of cars, providing gas mileage data, available
maintenance records, and any other relevant market data. [0044] (d)
Existing classifieds online services do not provide the desired
money savings, time savings, security, and convenience to their
clients. This patent application presents a novel CLassifieds
Portal Service (CLPS) which offers the following benefits to its
customers: [0045] (1) a single point of access to all relevant
classifieds data for buyers, sellers, renters, lessors, and
roommates; [0046] (2) novel Persistent Search services for buyers,
sellers, renters, lessors, and roommates; [0047] (3) novel
aggregated search services which search for the matching ads
through multiple online listings of numerous providers of
classifieds; [0048] (4) optional novel prescreening for all types
of classifieds customers on demand, in order to create a safe
trading environment for consumers. [0049] (e) Existing professional
services online Web sites do not provide the desired money savings,
time savings, security, and convenience to their clients. This
patent application presents a novel Professional Services Portal
(PSP) which offers the following benefits to its customers: [0050]
(1) a single point of access to all relevant service providers for
buyers of professional services; [0051] (2) providing all relevant
project and buyers data to the professional service providers;
[0052] (3) providing buyers with a novel Persistent Search for
Service Providers in order to find the service providers based on
the buyers' search parameters; [0053] (4) providing alerts for the
service providers when the buyer posts a new project which matches
the service provider's profile; [0054] (5) providing buyers with a
novel Aggregated Search for Service Providers Listings which
searches for the matching service provider through multiple online
listings of multiple professional service providers directories;
[0055] (6) providing service providers with a novel Persistent
Search for Projects Service in order to find posted projects based
on the service providers' search parameters; [0056] (7) providing
service providers with a novel Aggregated Search for Projects
Listings service which searches for the matching projects and
buyers through multiple online listings of multiple professional
projects directories; [0057] (8) providing optional novel
prescreening for buyers and service providers on demand, in order
to create a safe trading environment for clients; [0058] (9)
providing a proprietary low-cost directory of service providers;
(10) providing a proprietary low-cost (or free) directory of buyers
of professional services; [0059] (11) providing a proprietary
low-cost (or free) directory of professional projects; [0060] (12)
providing a proprietary bidding system hosting for buyers; [0061]
(13) providing proprietary bidding system software for the buyers
which prefer to host the bidding process themselves; [0062] (14)
providing powerful tools for the following functions: describing
the buyers; describing the service providers; describing the
projects; comparing between selected service providers; comparing
between selected buyers; comparing between selected projects;
providing all other relevant market data. [0063] (f) Existing
online dating services do not provide the desired money savings,
time savings, security, and convenience to their clients. This
patent application presents a novel online Dating Portal Service
(DPS) which offers the following benefits to its customers: [0064]
(1) a single point of access to all relevant dating data for the
clients; [0065] (2) substantially increasing the probability of
finding a match by providing novel aggregated search services,
which automatically search for the matching partner through
multiple online listings of numerous dating service providers;
[0066] (3) substantially increasing the probability of finding a
match and saving client's time by performing novel Persistent
Two-way Search across multiple providers of dating services; [0067]
(4) providing the best price/performance dating service for the
clients by performing novel search for a partner in the following
order: from the proprietary low-cost database of clients to the
low-cost partner databases to the high-cost databases; [0068] (5)
integrating Aggregated Persistent Two-way Search for Dating
Listings with Proprietary Referral Service which refers the clients
to the partnering providers of dating services which are selected
based on the client's criteria; [0069] (6) optional novel
prescreening for the clients on demand, in order to create a safe
dating environment, which: [0070] i. verifies the identity and
personal data of the clients, [0071] ii. optionally restricts
access to the client's data only to the members of the dating
service, whose verified profiles match the client's search profile
for desired partners. [0072] (g) Existing online social interests
matching services do not provide the desired money savings, time
savings, security, and convenience to their clients. This patent
application presents a novel online Social Interests Matching
Portal Service (SIMPS) which offers the following benefits to its
customers: [0073] (1) a single point of access to all relevant
social interests matching data for the clients; [0074] (2)
substantially increasing the probability of finding a match by
providing novel aggregated search services, which automatically
search for matching partners through the multiple online listings
of numerous social matching service providers; [0075] (3)
substantially increasing the probability of finding a match and
saving client's time by performing novel Persistent Two-way Search
across multiple providers of social matching services; [0076] (4)
providing the best price/performance social matching service for
the clients by performing novel search for a partner in the
following order: from the proprietary low-cost database of clients
to the low-cost partner databases to the high-cost databases;
[0077] (5) integrating Aggregated Persistent Two-way Search for
Social Matching Listings with Proprietary Referral Service which
refers the clients to the partnering providers of social matching
services which are selected based on the client's criteria; [0078]
(6) optional prescreening for the clients on demand, in order to
create a safe social interaction environment, which: [0079] i.
verifies the identity and personal data of the clients, [0080] ii.
optionally restricts access to the client's data only to the
members of the matching service, whose verified profiles match the
client's search profile for desired partners, [0081] iii. providing
optional "by invitation only" online club functionality. [0082] (h)
There are numerous security-related concerns which prevent many
individuals from conducting business or engaging in social
interactions with other individuals and small businesses online.
This patent application presents novel Certification and
Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service (CPIOS) which
provides the necessary security by verifying and certifying the
identity, credentials, and claims of the certified party on-demand.
CPIOS is the base for Trusted Net of individuals and small
businesses. CPIOS provides the following advantages over prior art:
[0083] (1) CPIOS allows authorized parties to view public and
private data of CPIOS clients; [0084] (2) CPIOS allows its client
to select a subset of personal data to be viewed by an authorized
party; [0085] (3) CPIOS aggregates client's data from multiple
sources: government, credit companies, banks, online e-commerce
providers, business and social partners, etc. [0086] (i) Real-time
secure car-pool service (RSCPS) was described in the PIC patent
application. Present patent application expands on the novel
integration of RSCPS with other Internet consumer services. The
proposed RSCPS will have the following features: [0087] (1) novel
prescreening of car-pool members; [0088] (2) novel matching of
car-pool partners based on the following factors: route, personal
interests, method of transportation, and price; [0089] (3) novel
real-time ride bidding; [0090] (4) novel Aggregated Search for
car-pool partners across multiple car-pool directories. [0091] (j)
Existing consumer Internet services are not sufficiently
integrated. Proposed Internet services have the following common
principles: [0092] (1) consumer-centric model; [0093] (2) utilizing
Aggregated Persistent Search model to save time, money, and to
maximize success rate of searches; [0094] (3) use of CPIOS for
prescreening of trade and social partners and for personal and
business networking; [0095] (4) direct person-to-person pooling of
interests, trade, and communications.
[0096] Present patent application introduces a novel integrated
consumer portal, which will have the following integrated services:
REPS, CPS, CLPS, PSP, DPS, SIMPS, RSCPS, Aggregated Persistent
Search, CPIOS, and Intelligent Hosting.
[0097] Present patent application also introduces novel integrated
services which include particular subsets of the proposed
individual services as follows: [0098] (1) DPS and SIMPS; [0099]
(2) RSCPS and SIMPS deployed together as an integrated offering;
[0100] (3) DPS, SIMPS, and CLPS combined into an Intelligent
Classifieds and Personals Portal; [0101] (4) DPS, SIMPS, CLPS and
RSCPS combined into an Intelligent Classifieds, Personals, and
Carpool Portal; [0102] (5) RSCPS, CPS, REPS, CLPS, SIMPS, and DPS
combined into and integrated portal for deployment in each
particular geographic area or globally; [0103] (6) CPIOS combined
with any of above services; [0104] (7) Intelligent Hosting combined
with any of above services.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0105] FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating Simple
Security Framework of Intelligent Hosting Services.
[0106] FIG. 2 is a block diagram generally illustrating the
mixed-mode of Persistent Search Service.
[0107] FIG. 3 is a block diagram generally illustrating the
structure of Real Estate Portal Service.
[0108] FIG. 4 is a block diagram generally illustrating the
structure of Cars Portal Service.
[0109] FIG. 5 is a block diagram generally illustrating the
structure of Classifieds Portal Service.
[0110] FIG. 6 is a block diagram generally illustrating the
structure of Professional Services Portal.
[0111] FIG. 7 is a block diagram generally illustrating the
structure of Dating Portal Service.
[0112] FIG. 8 is a block diagram generally illustrating the
structure of Social Interests Matching Portal Service.
[0113] FIG. 9 is a block diagram generally illustrating the
structure of Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and
Organizations Service.
[0114] FIG. 10 is a block diagram generally illustrating the
structure of Real-time Secure Car-Pool Service.
[0115] FIG. 11 is a block diagram generally illustrating the
structure of Integrated Consumer Portal.
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
Intelligent Hosting
[0116] PIC patent application described many possible
implementations of consumer hosting services. This patent
application describes Intelligent Hosting Services (IHS). IHS adds
the following details for the selected implementations of PIC
hosting services in order to reduce the cost of initial
deployment:
(a) simple secure framework on the client side, (b) simple
dashboard UI on the client side, (c) integration with Trusted
Net.
[0117] Existing consumer hosting services (MSN, AOL, Yahoo, etc.)
simply serve their hosted clients' Web pages to the visitors of the
hosted clients' Web sites. The proposed IHS provides intelligence
to the hosted clients and to the visitors by offering the following
key functions: [0118] (a) a Personal Identity-based Web site for
the client which serves as: [0119] (1) a single point of access for
the client to all aggregated filtered data from the client's
service-specific accounts: ISP mail, Internet mail, mobile voice
mail, PSTN voice mail, business mail and voice mail, subscribed
alerts: News, Stocks, Travel, etc; [0120] (2) a single point of
contact with the client for authorized individuals and services,
indicating client's location, status, active terminal address, and
communication options, and providing a messaging interface with the
client; [0121] (b) server-side Personal Messaging Coordinator (PMC,
described in PIC patent application), which provides aggregation,
filtering, and routing of client's data from the client's
service-specific accounts to the active terminal; [0122] (c)
dashboard UI application on the client terminal, which: [0123] (1)
connects with the server-side PMC and alerts the client to any
important messages and events; [0124] (2) allows the client to set
his/her status, location, and other real-time data for authorized
parties; [0125] (d) client-side and server-side Simple Security
Framework (SSF) for: [0126] (1) authenticating provisioned client's
terminals; [0127] (2) providing optional 2-factor security for the
provisioned client's terminals; [0128] (3) providing optional
secure Terminal Tracking and User Status and Location services
(TTUSL services, described in PIC patent application) for the
client; [0129] (4) providing optional client-side and server-side
Single Sign-On (SSO) for the client.
[0130] PIC patent application described server-side and client-side
Security Frameworks (SF). In order to provide low-cost IHS, an IHS
provider can limit his goals to a subset of PIC SF goals. The main
goal of a low-cost IHS SSF is authenticating provisioned client's
terminals. There are many ways to provision a client's terminal
using low-cost methods.
[0131] In the first example, the HIS server can provision the
client's terminal by issuing a client's Web browser certificate to
the client as follows: the client logs on IHS server by providing
his secret logon credentials and an additional PIN for extra secure
authentication. The server submits the client-side certificate to
the client's Web browser through Web forms or any other means known
in the art (e.g. the OpenSSL Library).
[0132] In the second example, IHS server can issue a cookie to the
client-side terminal in response to the client provisioning this
terminal. This cookie can contain the encrypted data from the IHS
server which certify that the client has provisioned his terminal
through the IHS server.
[0133] In the third example, the client-side SSF can be implemented
as a proprietary security solution which can be installed on the
client's terminal. For example, client-side SSF on Microsoft
Windows-like OS can be implemented as the following set of
integrated proprietary components:
(a) kernel-mode SSF driver for secure manipulation of secret data;
(b) client-side Dashboard UI application for: [0134] (1) terminal
authentication; [0135] (2) allowing the client to set the client's
status and location; [0136] (3) alerting the client with new
filtered aggregated data from the server-side IHS.
Provisioning of Client's Terminal:
[0137] A client provisions his terminal by connecting with the
server-side IHS through the Web browser using his secret logon,
password, and PIN (for extra secure authentication). Server-side
IHS transmits to the client's terminal the client-side SSF
installation package, which contains the Dashboard UI application
and the SSF driver. The SSF driver contains the terminal secret key
which is created by the server-side IHS in order to identify the
client's terminal, and to optionally use this terminal secret key
for encryption of the communications between the terminal and the
server-side IHS. The client runs the installation package, and the
client-side SSF is configured.
Client-Side Authentication:
[0138] FIG. 1 shows block diagram 20 corresponding to the third
example of SSF client-side authentication. Each time the client
activates his Dashboard UI program 24, the Dashboard UI program 24
automatically connects with the server-side IHS 30. The server-side
Authenticator 32 challenges the client-side Dashboard UI program 24
to prove that the client-side Dashboard UI program 24 has access to
the terminal secret key 42. This challenge 38 can be based on the
challenge-response protocols known in the art. For example, the
server-side Authenticator 32 challenges the client-side Dashboard
UI program 24 with a random value. The Dashboard UI program 24
requests the SSF driver 28 to compute a response 40, which is based
on the terminal secret key 42 and the challenge 38, and returns the
computed response 40 to the server-side Authenticator 32. The
server-side Authenticator 32 positively authenticates the terminal
22 if the returned client-side response 40 matches the expected
value of the response, which server-side Authenticator 32 computes
based on its knowledge of the terminal secret key 42 kept in
Client's Provisioned Terminals Registry 34.
[0139] It should be appreciated that there are many possible
arrangements for any of the following: the structure of SSF 20, the
division of responsibility between SSF 20 components, and the
choice of secure protocols. The provided examples are for
illustration purposes only. These examples point to the simple
low-cost solutions for SSF 20 based on one of the following:
Operating System platform 26, browser platform, or proprietary
solution.
[0140] Because the IHS server 30 authenticates the provisioned
terminal 22, it automatically provides 2-factor security for the
clients by authenticating both: the client, and the client's
terminal 22. There are many ways of providing third-party partners
with 2-factor authentication for the common individual clients. One
low-cost way is to use IHS cookies which certify the fact of the
client logging on IHS server 30 at a specified time. The
third-party will be able to access this cookie, and verify its
content using the public key of IHS server 30. This is similar to
the Microsoft Passport cookie-based authentication model; however
IHS 30 provides enhanced 2-factor security vs. one-factor security
in the Passport's model.
[0141] Another low-cost way is to use the IHS-based terminal
digital certificate, signed by IHS 30, and available to the
partnering third parties.
[0142] Yet another more secure way is to establish private
communications between IHS server 30 and the third party in order
for the IHS server 30 to confirm explicitly to the partnering
third-party the fact of the client's authentication by IHS server
30.
[0143] The terminal secret key 42 can be utilized for encrypting
TTUSL communications between the client's terminal and the IHS
server 30.
[0144] The client-side SSF can include an SSO program. The
client-side SSO can utilize the terminal secret key in order to
encrypt the secure store with the client's secret credentials,
which are used for accessing the provisioned sites, as described in
the PIC patent application.
[0145] Because IRS already hosts its client's data and
authenticates the client and provisioned terminals, IHS is trusted
by its clients. Therefore, IHS may include the Certification and
Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service, which serves
as the foundation of Trusted Net described below.
[0146] The business strategy for IHS as opposed to the existing
hosting services (MSN, AOL, Yahoo, etc.) is to sell intelligence,
not the bandwidth to the client. One-time cost of implementation of
intelligence (client-side and server-side IHS software, server-side
IHS CPU and memory) is much lower than the recurring costs of
network bandwidth. Therefore, IHS will provide many novel important
features at a low cost to its clients.
Persistent Search
[0147] Persistent Search for commodities and services was
introduced in the PIC patent application. Server, client, and mixed
modes of operations of Persistent Search were extensively described
in the PIC patent application. Many consumer Internet services,
which are presented in this patent application, take advantage of
the Persistent Search functionality.
[0148] PIC patent application discussed several consumer Internet
businesses: persistent search for travel tickets, hotels, car
rentals, and other services and commodities. Persistent Search
Service (or PSS hereafter) is a pro-consumer service because it is
meant to find the best price, offer the best selection of products,
and provide a great user experience to consumers.
[0149] Some inefficient online vendors and service providers may
not be happy with PSS because it would reveal the inefficiencies of
their service and would lessen the appeal of their service to
customers. Many online vendors and service providers try to
constrain their clients to their limited closed systems. However,
there is an inherent conflict in their business model: on one hand,
they need to retain existing clients and attract new ones; on the
other hand, they try to limit consumer's knowledge of the entire
market by locking their clients into a single set of services,
information, and partners. It is not a viable business option for
such online vendors and service providers to completely close their
system from consumers, and therefore, it is only a matter of time
until the proposed PSS prevails.
[0150] The proposed PSS will implement the following business
strategy: it will educate consumers about the advantages of open,
global, low-cost, automated and convenient PSS vs. closed, limited,
high-cost and substantially less automated and less convenient
competitive services. PSS will partner with efficient low-cost
online businesses which will appreciate customer traffic generated
by PSS.
[0151] It is expected that less efficient providers of goods and
services will have the following options in their relationship with
the proposed PSS: [0152] (a) extensive partnership with all
PSS-supported modes: server, client, and mixed; [0153] (b)
partnership with server-mode PSS with the condition that the real
identity of the PSS client is revealed by PSS to the providers of
goods and services in PSS server-based search request; [0154] (c)
negotiated partnership agreement with server-mode PSS which will:
[0155] (1) limit the periodicity of the persistent search by PSS;
[0156] (2) limit the distribution of the search results by PSS.
[0157] (d) hostile position and blocking of PSS server-mode
search.
[0158] PSS will welcome the options (a), (b), and (c) above. PSS
will provide client-mode and mixed-mode persistent search services
to its clients in the option (d) above. Hostile online vendor or
service provider cannot argue against the consumers who utilize the
PSS client-mode and mixed-mode services because of the following
reasons: [0159] (a) online vendor or service provider cannot deny a
valid request regarding their services from a valid consumer;
[0160] (b) the consumer and PSS do not distribute the data which
they receive from the online vendor or service provider.
Details of Mixed Mode of PSS
[0161] FIG. 2 shows mixed-mode of PSS 50 in greater detail. PSS
Server system 62 facilitates mixed-mode of persistent search for
PSS clients as follows. Client A's computer 60, Client B's computer
64, Other Clients' Computers 66, Server system 62, Online Vendor 1
52, Online Vendor 2 54, and Other Online Vendors 56 are connected
to the Internet 58.
[0162] Clients' computers 60, 64, and 66 receive Client-side
Program for Mixed Mode 70 and Client-side Data for Mixed Mode 72
from the Server system 62 as described in the PIC patent
application. Server system 62 hosts Server-side Program for Mixed
Mode 76 and Server-side Data for Mixed Mode 78 as described in the
PIC patent application. Clients' computers 60, 64, and 66 cache
some results of the client-side persistent search in Client-side
Cache 68, managed by Client-side Program for Mixed Mode 70. Server
system 62 caches some results of the persistent search performed by
the server system and the client systems in Server-side Cache 74,
managed by Server-side Program for Mixed Mode 76.
[0163] There are two major types of Online Vendors 52, 54, and
56:
(a) online vendors which are partnering with PSS 50; (b) online
vendors which are hostile to PSS 50.
[0164] For the partnering vendors (a), depending on the client's
choice, PSS 50 will utilize either the Server system 62 or the
client system (60, 64, and 66) for issuing the client's search
request to the partnering vendors (52, 54, and 56).
[0165] For the hostile vendors (b), PSS 50 will utilize Client-side
Program for Mixed Mode 70 of the client system (60, 64, and 66) for
issuing the client's search request to the hostile vendors (52, 54,
and 56).
[0166] Client-side Program for Mixed Mode 70 may utilize
Client-side Cache 68 in order to store the search results. In one
example, when PSS 50 is utilized for persistent search for the best
price of a commodity or of a service, Client-side Program for Mixed
Mode 70 may store the search results in Client-side Cache 68 for
the following functions: [0167] (a) for presentation to its client,
[0168] (b) for making a scheduling decision on the timing of the
next search iteration based on the accumulated price trends.
[0169] In another example, when PSS 50 is utilized for persistent
search for a matching data or a matching partner (e.g., matching
for a dating partner), Client-side Program for Mixed Mode 70 may
store the search results in Client-side Cache 68 for the following
functions: [0170] (a) for presentation to its client, [0171] (b)
for making a scheduling decision on the timing of the next search
iteration based on the accumulated matching trends, [0172] (c) for
keeping track of the client's review of accumulated data: selected,
rejected, and new data.
[0173] Depending on the partnering agreements between the provider
of PSS 50 and online vendors 52, 54, and 56, server system 62 can
be programmed to receive search results from the client systems 60,
64, and 66 in order to cache them in Server-side Cache 74.
Server-side Cache 74 can be implemented as a database. Server
system 62 caches the search results in order to utilize them for
the following functions: [0174] (a) making adaptive scheduling
decisions regarding the next search iteration, which may depend on
the analysis of the accumulated search results across all of the
server and client systems; [0175] (b) selecting of the best vendors
based on their price and quality trends; [0176] (c) advising PSS
clients on the best trading strategy with online vendors (when to
trade, and at what price, etc.)
[0177] The following is one simple example of the superior service
provided by PSS 50. Client A requests a persistent search for
Seattle-New York roundtrip at the limit price $300. Client B
requests a persistent search for Seattle-New York roundtrip at the
limit price $310 for the same dates as client A. PSS 50 schedules
mixed-mode persistent search for Seattle-New York roundtrip using
client's B computer 64. When client B's Client-side Program for
Mixed Mode 70 finds an offer from one of the online vendors (for
example, vendor 54 offers a roundtrip fare for $299), Client-side
Program for Mixed Mode 70 updates Server system 62. Server system
62 sends an alert to client A regarding a possible opportunity with
vendor 54. This alert can be done through communication between
Server-side Program for Mixed Mode 76 and client's A Client-side
Program for Mixed Mode 70, or by Server system 62 alerting client A
through Instant Messaging, phone, or email.
[0178] PSS 50 can be implemented as a single computer-based system
or as a distributed system. All of is the following computer system
topologies will be supported by PSS 50: [0179] (a) client-side
computer system (60, 64, 66, etc.); [0180] (b) server-side computer
system 62; [0181] (c) client-server system which includes one
client-side computer system (for example, system 60) and
server-side computer system 62; [0182] (d) peer-to-peer system
which includes at least two of the client-side computer systems
(for example, 60 and 64); [0183] (e) multiclient-server system
which includes at least two of the client-side computer systems and
server-side computer system 62.
[0184] PSS 50 will support the following search execution
modes:
(a) real-time interactive mode; (b) persistent search mode.
[0185] In the real-time interactive mode the client will start a
search and will see search results in real time at the client's
terminal. The client will be able to modify his/her search request,
start/stop the search, view the search results, select and approve
the desired transaction.
[0186] In the persistent search mode the search will be repeated
periodically until the acceptable search result, which matches the
client's search request, is found or until the client stops the
search.
[0187] PSS 50 will support the following search notification modes
regarding the search results: [0188] (a) alert on the client
computer; [0189] (b) email notification; [0190] (c) Short Messaging
Service (SMS) notification; [0191] (d) Instant Messaging (IM)
notification; [0192] (e) telephone voice message notification;
[0193] (f) any other multimedia notification including any
combination of the above types of notifications.
[0194] PSS 50 will also allow the client to preview search results,
to select and approve any desired transaction from any client's
terminal which is connected to the Internet, PSTN, or any other
network.
[0195] For example, the client may utilize PSS 50 in persistent
search mode of multiclient-server system, which includes the
following systems:
(a) the client's personal computer (PC) 60 which performs the
search; (b) the server system 62; (c) the client's mobile IP phone
which the client always carries with him.
[0196] The client sets his search goals using the search user
interface of PSS 50 on. PC 60, and he requests an SMS notification
regarding search results to be sent to his mobile IP phone by
specifying the SMS address of his mobile IP phone in the search
user interface of PSS 50.
[0197] After performing one or more periodic searches, the search
program on the client's PC 60 finds the acceptable search result.
In one embodiment, PC 60 sends a digital message containing the
search result to the server system 62. The server system 62
performs the following functions: [0198] stores the context of the
search result; [0199] prepares a Web page with the HTML user
interface which shows the search results and allows the client to
select and approve the desired transaction by providing the
"Approve" HTML button (or any other similar HTML control element);
[0200] prepares a URL which points to the prepared Web page above;
[0201] sends an SMS notification with the prepared URL above to the
client's mobile IP phone.
[0202] The client receives the SMS notification on his mobile IP
phone. By clicking on the URL indicated in the SMS message, he
connects to the URL, which is managed by the server system 62,
through his mobile IP phone's Internet browser. The browser
displays the Web page identified by this URL with detailed search
results and the HTML "Approve" button. If the client is satisfied
with the proposed transaction, he approves the transaction by
pressing this HTML "Approve" button. The server system 62 gets the
corresponding command from the client's mobile IP phone's Internet
browser and completes the transaction. The transaction could be
completed by either the server system 62 or the client's PC 60. For
example, the server system 62 can connect to the corresponding
online vendor (e.g. 52) and complete the transaction, or the server
system 62 can request the client's PC 60 to connect to the
corresponding online vendor (e.g. 52) and complete the transaction.
This example also demonstrates how the client can use a constrained
device, such as his mobile IP phone, in order to remotely control
PSS 50. The client's mobile IP phone has much less processing
power, memory, and network bandwidth than the server system 62 and
the client PC 60, but it allows the client to get real-time
notification regarding successful search results and to complete
the transaction from any location.
[0203] Depending on the type of search application and the security
preferences of the client, the client may prefer different security
settings for different devices and services. For example, the
client may prefer to have a single sign on (SSO) system on his/her
trusted terminals, such as home PC, and the client may also prefer
to have strict authentication requirements for his/her mobile phone
which could be lost or stolen. Therefore, in the above example of
using the mobile IP phone for remotely controlling PSS 50, the
client may want to require strict personal authentication in order
to view the search results and/or to complete the transaction. One
way to achieve such strict personal authentication is for the
server system 62 to request the client to provide his/her user name
and password in order to access the URL with the search results and
"Approve" button above.
[0204] The selection of search execution mode and notification mode
will depend on the following factors: [0205] (a) location of the
client; [0206] (b) amount of required data processing resources and
network resources for the search application; [0207] (c) fees paid
for the offered search and notification modes of a particular
search application; [0208] (d) the client's preferences.
[0209] The server-based (e.g., server-side, client-server,
multiclient-server) search and notification modes could be
desirable due to the following factors: [0210] (a) Server system 62
can keep a global profile of the client and client's search
contexts, which allows the client to utilize PSS 50 from any
device; [0211] (b) Server-based search can utilize significant
amount of data processing, storage, caching, and network resources
of the server system 62; [0212] (c) Server system 62 can support
parallel search operations based on multiple computer systems, fast
network access, and large cache of accumulated search results,
which can reduce the search time; [0213] (d) Server system 62 can
support multiple transports: email, voice gateways, IM gateways,
etc., which provides the best connectivity with the client.
[0214] The client-based (client-side, peer-to-peer, client-server,
multiclient-server) search and notification modes could be
desirable due to the following factors: [0215] (a) the fees paid
for the client-based search service could be less than the fees
paid for the server-based search service because the client-based
search service will cost less to the provider of PSS 50; [0216] (b)
client-based search service can not be blocked by online vendors
52, 54, and 56.
[0217] All of the presented modes of persistent search, and the
presented PSS business models are applicable to the following
proposed services: REPS, CPS, CLPS, PSP, DPS, SIMPS, CPIOS, and
RSCPS.
Technical Details of Web Programming Interfaces
[0218] There are many ways to implement a persistent search
computer program. PIC patent application broadly described possible
implementations. Below are some additional technical details
regarding Web services interface for the server-mode, client-mode
and mixed-mode of PSS. The persistent search computer program needs
to interface with multiple online vendors in order to submit its
search requests to the online vendors' servers. The online vendors
provide Web server services, and they support standard Web browser
connections from the search requestor's side. The persistent search
computer program automates the user's Web-based interaction with
each online vendor by implementing the following actions:
(a) requesting the predefined Web page from the online vendor's
server; (b) filling out the requested Web form and submitting it to
the online vendor's server.
[0219] The actions listed above can be implemented in many ways.
The persistent search computer program can utilize the following
well-known technologies for interacting with the online vendor's
server-side system:
(a) HTTP interface; (b) Web browser controls; (c) sockets
interface; (d) any other programmatic client-server techniques.
[0220] Persistent search computer program can be implemented on
Java platform, provided by Sun Microsystems. Java.net package
provides powerful and flexible infrastructure for networking. It
provides the URL class which supports simple interface to any local
or remote URL object. At a higher level, the URLConnection object
can be obtained from the URL object. HttpURLConnection class is the
specialization of the URLConnection which supports the HTTP
interface.
[0221] For example, the following Java code can be utilized by the
persistent search program to automatically fill out the requested
form with values Value1 and Value2, and to submit this form to the
online vendor's service-side URL http://www.online_server_url using
the HTTP POST method:
HttpConnection conn=(HttpConnection)
Connector.open("http://www.online_server_url"); byte [ ]
data="TextField1=Value1&TextField2=Value2&Submit=Submit".getBytes
( ) conn.setMethod (HttpConnection.POST);
conn.setRequestProperty("User-Agent", "Profile/MIDP-1.0
Configuration/CLDC-1.0");
conn.setRequestProperty("Content-Language", "en-US");
conn.setRequestProperty("Content-Type",
"application/x-www-form-urlencoded"); OutputStream
ostream=conn.openOutputStream ( ); ostream.write (data);
ostream.close ( ); conn.close ( );
[0222] Persistent search computer program can also be implemented
on the Windows platforms, provided by Microsoft. Windows SDK
(Software Development Kit) supports the client-server Web services
on every level: sockets, HTTP, Web browser controls, etc.
[0223] For example, the following C++ code can be utilized by the
persistent search computer program to create the instance of the
Web browser, and to control the Web browser using the
IWebBrowserApp interface, provided by Microsoft: [0224] HRESULT hr;
[0225] BSTR bstrURL; [0226] VARIANT vFlags, vTargetFrameName,
vPostData, vHeaders; [0227] IWebBrowserApp* pWBApp=NULL; [0228]
hr=CoCreateInstance(CLSID_InternetExplorer, NULL, CLSCTX_SERVER,
IID_IWebBrowserApp, (LPVOID*)&pWBApp)); [0229]
hr=pWBApp->Navigate(bstrURL, &vFlags, &vTargetFrameName,
&vPostData, &vHeaders);
[0230] The Navigate method of the IWebBrowserApp interface above is
used to navigate the Web browser to the bstrURL location and to
optionally submit the Web form data to the Web server by filling
out the parameters of the Navigate method.
[0231] The above examples were provided for illustration purposes
only, and changes may be made in detail, yet remain within the
broad principles of the presented invention. For example, PSS can
utilize the following techniques: [0232] (a) PSS can direct any
available consenting client's computer system to perform persistent
search on behalf of a different client; [0233] (b) PSS can
distribute persistent search processing across any available
consenting client's computer systems in order to speed up the
search, and to balance the work load; [0234] (c) PSS can encrypt
communications between PSS server-side and client-side computer
programs in order to protect the following: PSS implementation
details, private data of PSS clients, and pricing data of online
vendors; [0235] (d) PSS can implement a wide range of service
payment methods: from subscription to transaction-based payment. In
the transaction-based payment, PSS can request its client to pay
for the persistent search results after the client has previewed a
subset of the data in the search results, and before the client
gets all the details of the found search results, etc.
Real Estate Portal
[0236] The proposed Real Estate Portal Service (REPS) offers the
following benefits to its customers:
(a) single point of access to all relevant real estate services and
data for the buyers; (b) single point of access to all relevant
real estate services and data for the sellers; (c) money-saving and
time-saving services for all types of buyers and sellers: [0237]
(1) connecting buyers and sellers directly, which is desired by the
buyers and sellers who prefer to save money on real estate
commissions; [0238] (2) providing buyers with novel Persistent
Search for Real Estate Properties in order to find a matching
property based on the buyer's search parameters, and automatically
notifying buyers when a matching property is listed by a seller;
[0239] (3) providing sellers with novel Persistent Search for
Buyers in order to find the registered buyers who have a matching
property search profile, and automatically notifying sellers when a
matching property profile is listed by a buyer; [0240] (4)
providing buyers with a novel Aggregated Search for Real Estate
Properties service, which: [0241] i. saves buyers' time by
searching for matching properties through online real estate
properties listings of multiple service providers, and [0242] ii.
saves buyer's money by searching for real estate properties
listings in the following order: "for sale by owner" listings,
low-commissions real estate listings, standard commissions
listings; [0243] (5) providing sellers with a novel Aggregated
Search for Buyer Listings service, which: [0244] i. saves sellers'
time by searching for matching wanted properties profiles through
the online real estate buyer listings of multiple service
providers, and [0245] ii. saves sellers' money by searching for
wanted real estate properties profiles in the following order:
"direct buy" listings, low-commissions real estate listings,
standard commissions listings; [0246] (6) providing proprietary
low-cost directories for real estate buyers and sellers; [0247] (7)
referring prescreened sale agents to the sellers who want the
assistance of an agent in selling their property; [0248] (8)
referring prescreened buyer agents to the buyers who want the
assistance of a buyer agent; [0249] (9) providing optional novel
prescreening for buyers and sellers on demand, in order to create a
safe trading environment for consumers; [0250] (10) providing
powerful visualization tools for the following functions:
describing properties, comparing the selected properties, providing
photographs and virtual tours of properties, providing other
relevant data, including utility bills data, previous home
inspections reports, etc.
[0251] FIG. 3 shows the block diagram of REPS 80. REPS 80 consists
of the following services:
[0252] Web UI 88, Persistent Search for Real Estate Properties 86,
Persistent Search for Buyers 90, Aggregated Search for Real Estate
Properties 92, Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings 94, Proprietary
Real Estate Properties Listing Service 104, Proprietary Real Estate
Buyer Listing Service 110, Certification and Prescreening of
Individuals and Organizations 98, Referral Services for prescreened
real estate agents 100, Referral Services for prescreened
inspectors, lawyers, and other professionals 102, Other Parties'
Real Estate Properties Listing Services 106, and Other Parties'
Real Estate Buyer Listing Services 108.
[0253] Clients can use REPS services 80 in the following ways:
[0254] (a) buyers and sellers can utilize Web UI 88 to manually
search for each other, to find prescreened buyers and sellers
agents, to search for mortgage loans, to apply for prescreening,
evaluate properties, to find prescreened home inspectors, and to
perform all other relevant real estate trading functions; [0255]
(b) buyers can utilize Persistent Search for Real Estate Properties
86; [0256] (c) sellers can utilize Persistent Search for Buyers
90.
[0257] REPS Proprietary Real Estate Properties Listing Service 104
and Proprietary Real Estate Buyer Listing Service 110 are designed
to promote direct real estate sale between individuals. Clients
will pay a fee to be listed with REPS 80. Buyers will be able to
buy properties at lower prices, if they buy directly from
sellers.
[0258] REPS 80 will offer a wide range of services for buyers. REPS
Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties service 92 allows
buyers to view all of the properties listed by MLS (Multiple
Listing Service), by REPS Proprietary Real Estate Properties
Listings 104, and by numerous other real estate sale directories
106. The client will direct REPS 80 regarding the client's goal,
which can range from buying directly from an owner to connecting
with a full service agent.
[0259] For buyers who want to save money on real estate
commissions, Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties service
92 will give preference to the listings of providers which promote
direct sale by owner, such as REPS Proprietary Real Estate
Properties Listings 104. If none of the direct sale providers has a
matching listing, then REPS Aggregated Search for Real Estate
Properties service 92 will look at all other listings, including
MLS, which will require paying agent's commissions. Therefore, the
Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties service 92 provides
not only a novel aggregated persistent search function, but it also
provides a novel ordered search function: from the direct "sale by
owner" real estate listings to the low-commissions real estate
listings to the standard-commissions real estate listings.
[0260] REPS Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties service 92
will save time for buyers by performing automatic periodic search
through multiple service providers' listings, as opposed to manual
multiple searches of service providers' listings performed
today.
[0261] REPS 80 will offer a wide range of services for the sellers.
REPS Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 94 allows the
sellers to view all of the wanted properties profiles listed by
numerous real estate buyers' directories 110, 108. The client will
direct REPS 80 regarding the client's goal, which can range from
selling directly by an owner to connecting with a full service
agent.
[0262] For sellers who want to save money on the estate
commissions, Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 94 will
give preference to the listings of providers which promote "direct
buy" from owner, such as REPS Proprietary Real Estate Buyer
Listings 110. If none of the "direct buy" providers has a matching
listing, then REPS Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 94
will look at all other listings which will require paying agent's
commissions. Therefore, the Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings
service 94 provides not only a novel aggregated persistent search
function, but it also provides a novel ordered search function:
from the "direct buy from owner" real estate buyer listings to the
low-commissions real estate buyer listings to the
standard-commissions real estate buyer listings.
[0263] REPS Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 94 will
save time for sellers by performing automatic periodic search
through multiple service providers' buyer listings, as opposed to
manual multiple searches of service providers' buyer listings
performed today.
[0264] Many real estate sellers are concerned with personal safety
and property protection when selling their real estate. They are
concerned about showing their property to a stranger. Some real
estate buyers are concerned about visiting a property, owned by a
stranger without an accompanying third party, such as an agent.
REPS 80 understands these issues, and it offers the Certification
and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service (CPIOS)
98 to its clients. Sellers can request that prospective buyers
undergo a prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on
one or more of the following factors: [0265] (a) pre-approved home
loan by a bank, which indicates good credit history of the buyer;
[0266] (b) no criminal record of the buyer; [0267] (c) good credit
history of the buyer; [0268] (d) good employment record of the
buyer; [0269] (e) personal references of the buyer; [0270] (f)
feedback of individuals and organizations knowing the buyer through
any of the integrated PIC services.
[0271] Buyers can request that prospective sellers undergo a
prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on one or more
of the following factors: [0272] (a) no criminal record of the
seller; [0273] (b) verification of the seller's claim to ownership
of the property; [0274] (c) good employment record of the seller;
[0275] (d) personal references of the seller; [0276] (e) feedback
of individuals and organizations knowing the seller through any of
the integrated PIC services.
[0277] Many buyers and sellers who have the time to engage in a
process of direct sale by the owner, and who currently hire a real
estate agent to handle the showing of the property because they are
concerned with personal safety, will appreciate the proposed CPIOS
98. In addition to prescreening, the proposed CPIOS 98 will provide
on-demand service for its clients allowing them to register the
date, time, and place of a scheduled meeting with a trading partner
in order to discourage anyone with ill intentions from using REPS
80.
[0278] There are several online real estate trading services for
consumers. However, these services do not provide the desired
money-saving, time-saving, security, and convenience to their
clients, as discussed below.
REPS Vs. Forsalebyowner.com
[0279] Forsalebyowner.com promotes direct sale of real estate by
owner. REPS 80 offers the following advantages over
Forsalebyowner.com: [0280] (a) Persistent Search for Real Estate
Properties 86; [0281] (b) Persistent Search for Buyers 90; [0282]
(c) Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties 92; [0283] (d)
Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings 94; [0284] (e) Certification
and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations 98; [0285] (f)
One-stop portal 80 for all types of buyers and sellers which
provides direct trade services to those interested in saving on
commissions, as well as referrals for all types of prescreened
agent services to those who need any amount of professional real
estate assistance. REPS vs. Ziprealty.com
[0286] Ziprealty.com promotes efficient buyer-driven real estate
trading method through its real estate agents. REPS 80 offers the
following advantages over Ziprealty.com: [0287] (a) Direct sale of
real estate by owner through Proprietary Real Estate Properties
Listing Service 104, Proprietary Real Estate Buyer Listing Service
110, Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties 92, and
Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings 94; [0288] (b) Persistent
Search for Buyers 90; [0289] (c) Certification and Prescreening of
Individuals and Organizations 98; [0290] (d) One-stop portal 80 for
all types of buyers and sellers beyond the real estate agent-based
services. REPS Vs. Homegain.com
[0291] Homegain.com promotes itself as a real estate portal.
However, Homegain.com does not support the most important
money-saving method--direct sale of real estate by owner. REPS 80
offers the following advantages over Homegain.com: [0292] (a)
Direct sale of real estate by owner through Proprietary Real Estate
Properties Listing Service 104, Proprietary Real Estate Buyer
Listing Service 110, Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties
92, and Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings 94; [0293] (b)
Persistent Search for Buyers 90; [0294] (c) Persistent Search for
Real Estate Properties 86; [0295] (d) Certification and
Prescreening of individuals and organizations 98; [0296] (e)
One-stop portal 80 for all types of buyers and sellers beyond the
real estate agent-based services.
[0297] The integrated portal concept of REPS 80 will bring together
sellers and buyers through REPS 80, because REPS 80 will provide a
one-stop integrated real estate service designed to save time and
money, and to provide security and convenience to its clients. REPS
80 provides built-in intelligence by automating the search process,
by aggregating search results of multiple providers of buyers and
sellers listings, by directing the search according to the
client-specific goal, and by providing a complete spectrum of
services from direct sale by owner to on-demand selected
professional services (e.g. lawyers, appraisers, advisors,
inspectors) to full-service agent-based real estate sale.
Cars Portal
[0298] The proposed Cars Portal Service (or CPS hereafter) offers
the following benefits for its customers:
(a) a single point of access to all relevant car sale ads,
services, and data for the buyers; (b) a single point of access to
all relevant car search ads, services, and data for the sellers;
(c) money-saving and time-saving services for all types of buyers
and sellers: [0299] (1) connecting buyers and sellers directly,
which is desired by the buyers and sellers who prefer to save money
on dealer's commissions; [0300] (2) providing buyers with novel
Persistent Search for Cars in order to find a matching car based on
the buyers' search parameters, and automatically notifying buyers
when a matching car is listed by a seller; [0301] (3) providing
sellers with a novel Persistent Search for Buyers in order to find
the registered buyers who have a matching car search profile, and
automatically notifying sellers when a matching car profile is
listed by a buyer; [0302] (4) providing buyers with a novel
Aggregated Search for Cars service, which: [0303] i. saves buyers'
time by searching for matching cars through online car listings of
multiple service providers, and [0304] ii. saves buyer's money by
searching for the car listings in the following order: "for sale by
owner" listings, car dealer sale listings; [0305] (5) providing
sellers with a novel Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service,
which: [0306] i. saves sellers' time by searching for matching
"wanted cars" profiles through the online car buyer listings of
multiple service providers, and [0307] ii. saves sellers' money by
searching for the "wanted cars" listings in the following order:
"direct buy from owner" listings, low-commissions car dealer buy
listings, standard commissions car dealer buy listings; [0308] (6)
providing proprietary low-cost directories for car buyers and
sellers; [0309] (7) providing optional novel prescreening for
buyers and sellers on demand, in order to create a safe trading
environment for consumers; [0310] (8) referring the prescreened
dealers, inspectors, loan providers, etc., to the clients who want
professional assistance; [0311] (9) providing powerful
visualization tools for the following functions: describing cars,
comparing the selected cars, providing photographs and virtual
tours of cars, providing gas mileage information, available
maintenance records, and any other relevant market data.
[0312] FIG. 4 shows the block diagram of CPS 140. CPS 140 consists
of the following services: Web UI 148, Persistent Search for Cars
146, Persistent Search for Buyers 150, Aggregated Search for Cars
152, Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings 154, Proprietary Car Sale
Listing Service 164, Proprietary Car Buyer Listing Service 170,
Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations 98,
Referral Services for prescreened dealers 160, Referral Services
for prescreened inspectors, loan providers, and other professionals
162, Other Parties' Car Sale Listing Services 166, and Other
Parties' Car Buyer Listing Services 168.
[0313] Clients can use CPS services 140 as follows: [0314] (a)
buyers and sellers can utilize Web UI 148 to manually search for
car sale and wanted ads, to find prescreened dealers, to search for
financing, to apply for prescreening, to evaluate the cars, and to
perform all other relevant car trading functions; [0315] (b) buyers
can utilize Persistent Search for Cars 146; [0316] (c) sellers can
utilize Persistent Search for Buyers 150.
[0317] CPS Proprietary Car Sale Listing Service 164 and Proprietary
Car Buyer Listing Service 170 are designed to promote direct car
sale between the individuals. Clients will pay a fee to be listed
with CPS 140. Buyers will be able to purchase cars at lower prices
if they buy directly from the sellers.
[0318] CPS 140 will offer a wide range of services for buyers. CPS
Aggregated Search for Cars service 152 allows the buyers to view
all of the cars listed by multiple service providers 164, 166. The
client will direct CPS 140 regarding the client's goal, which can
range from buying directly from an owner to connecting with a full
service dealer.
[0319] For buyers who want to save money on car dealer markup,
Aggregated Search for Cars service 152 will give preference to the
listings of providers which promote direct sale by owner, such as
CPS Proprietary Car Sale Listings 164. If none of the direct sale
providers has a matching listing, then Aggregated Search for Cars
service 152 will look at all other listings which will include the
car dealer's listings. Therefore, the Aggregated Search for Cars
service 152 provides not only a novel aggregated persistent search
function, but it also provides a novel ordered search function:
from the direct "sale by owner" car listings to the car dealer's
listings.
[0320] CPS Aggregated Search for Cars service 152 will save buyer's
time by performing automatic periodic search through multiple
providers of car sale listings, as opposed to multiple manual
searches of multiple providers of car sale listings performed
today.
[0321] CPS 140 will offer a wide range of services for sellers. CPS
Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 154 allows the sellers
to view all of the wanted cars profiles listed in multiple car
buyers' directories 168, 170. The client will direct REPS 80
regarding the client's goal, which can range from selling directly
by owner to connecting with a full service dealer.
[0322] For sellers who want to save money on car dealer
commissions, Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 154 will
give preference to the listings of providers which promote "direct
buy" from the owner, such as CPS Proprietary Car Buyer Listings
170. If none of the "direct buy" providers has a matching listing,
then CPS Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 154 will look
at all other listings which will require paying dealer's
commissions. Therefore, the Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings
service 154 provides not only a novel aggregated persistent search
function, but it also provides a novel ordered search function:
from the "direct buy from owner" car buyer listings to the
low-commissions car buyer listings to the standard-commissions car
dealer buyer listings.
[0323] CPS Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 154 will
save time for sellers by performing automatic periodic search
through multiple service providers' buyer listings, as opposed to
manual multiple searches of service providers' buyer listings
performed today.
[0324] Many car sellers are concerned with their personal safety
and car protection when selling their cars. They are concerned
about showing their car to a stranger. Some car buyers are
concerned about meeting a stranger who claims to own a car. CPS 140
understands these issues, and it offers the Certification and
Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service 98 to its
clients. Sellers can request that prospective buyers undergo a
prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on one or more
of the following factors: [0325] (a) pre-approved car loan by a
bank, which indicates good credit history of the buyer; [0326] (b)
no criminal record of the buyer; [0327] (c) good credit history of
the buyer; [0328] (d) good employment record of the buyer; [0329]
(e) personal references of the buyer; [0330] (f) feedback of
individuals and organizations knowing the buyer through any of the
integrated PIC services.
[0331] Buyers can request that prospective sellers undergo a
prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on one or more
of the following factors: [0332] (a) no criminal record of the
seller; [0333] (b) verification of seller's title on the car;
[0334] (c) good employment record of the seller; [0335] (d)
personal references of the seller; [0336] (e) feedback of
individuals and organizations knowing the seller through any of the
integrated PIC services.
[0337] Many buyers and sellers who have the time to engage in a
process of direct sale by owner, and who currently hire a dealer to
handle the showing of the car because they are concerned with
personal safety and car protection, will appreciate the proposed
CPIOS 98. In addition to prescreening, CPIOS 98 will provide
on-demand service for its clients to register the date, time and
place of a scheduled meeting with a trading partner in order to
discourage anyone with ill intentions from using CPS 140.
[0338] There are several online car trading services for consumers.
However, these services do not provide the desired money-saving,
time-saving, security, and convenience to their clients, as
discussed below.
REPS vs. Autobytel.com
[0339] Autobytel.com promotes buying cars through dealers. CPS 140
offers direct sale of cars by owner through Proprietary Car Sale
Listing Service 164, Proprietary Car Buyer Listing Service 170,
Aggregated Search for Cars 152, and Aggregated Search for Buyer
Listings 154.
REPS vs. CarsDirect.com or eBay Motors
[0340] CarsDirect.com and eBay Motors offer direct sale by owner.
However, CPS 140 offers the following advantages over these
services: [0341] (a) Persistent Search for Buyers 150; [0342] (b)
Certification and Prescreening of buyers and sellers 98; [0343] (c)
Aggregated Search for Cars 152; [0344] (d) Aggregated Search for
Buyer Listings 154; [0345] (e) One-stop portal 140 for all types of
buyers and sellers beyond the direct sale of cars by owner,
including referrals of prescreened dealers.
[0346] The integrated portal concept of CPS 140 will bring together
sellers and buyers through CPS 140, because CPS 140 will provide a
one-stop integrated car trading service designed to save time and
money, and to provide security and convenience to its clients. CPS
140 provides built-in intelligence by automating search process, by
aggregating the search results of multiple providers of buyers and
sellers listings, by directing the search according to the
client-specific goal, and by providing a complete spectrum of
services from direct sale by owner to on-demand selected
professional services (e.g. appraisers, lenders, and inspectors) to
full-service dealers.
Classifieds Portal
[0347] The proposed Classifieds Portal Service (or CLPS hereafter)
offers the following benefits to its customers:
(a) a single point of access to all relevant ads for clients
performing the search; (b) money-saving and time-saving services
for all users of classified services: [0348] (1) providing novel
Persistent Search services for buyers and renters in order to find
ads for the desired item based on the buyer's or renter's search
parameters, and automatically notifying the buyer or the renter
when a matching ad is found; [0349] (2) providing novel Persistent
Search services for sellers or lessors in order to find the to
listed buyers or renters who are looking for the item offered by
the seller or lessor, and automatically notifying the seller or
lessor when a matching ad is found; [0350] (3) providing novel
Persistent Search services for the prospective roommates in order
to find the matching ads for room sharing based on the search
parameters of each potential roommate, and automatically notifying
the search initiator when a matching ad is found; [0351] (4)
providing novel Aggregated Search services which search for the
matching ads through numerous online listings of multiple providers
of classifieds; [0352] (5) providing optional novel prescreening
for buyers, sellers, renters, lessors, and roommates on demand in
order to create a safe trading environment for consumers; [0353]
(6) providing powerful visualization tools for the following
functions: describing the advertised items, comparing the selected
advertised items, providing photographs and virtual tours of
advertised items, providing any other relevant market data.
[0354] FIG. 5 shows the block diagram of CLPS 210. CLPS 210
consists of the following services: Web UI 214, Persistent Search
for Sellers 216, Persistent Search for Buyers 218, Certification
and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations 98, Aggregated
Search for Classifieds Listings 222, Proprietary Classifieds
Listing Service for Sellers and Buyers 224, Proprietary Referral
Service 230, and Other Providers Classifieds Listings Services 226.
For the sake of clarity, FIG. 5 does not show separate blocks for
Persistent Search for renters, lessors, or roommates. However, it
should be understood that persistent search for renters is
implemented similarly to the Persistent Search for Buyers 218;
persistent search for lessors is implemented similarly to the
Persistent Search for Sellers 216; and persistent search for
roommates is implemented similarly to both, Persistent Search for
Sellers 216 and Persistent Search for Buyers 218.
[0355] Clients can use CLPS services 210 as follows: [0356] (a)
buyers, sellers, renters, lessors, and prospective roommates can
utilize Web UI 214 to manually search for the desired classifieds,
to apply for prescreening, to evaluate the advertised items, and to
perform all other relevant classifieds functions; [0357] (b)
buyers, renters, and prospective roommates can utilize Persistent
Search 216 to automatically find matching "for sale", "for rent"
and "room for sharing" ads; [0358] (c) sellers, lessors, and
individuals offering to share a room can utilize Persistent Search
218 to automatically locate "wanted" ads placed by matching buyers,
and renters.
[0359] CLPS Proprietary Classifieds Listing Service for Sellers and
Buyers 224 are designed to promote low-cost direct trade between
the individuals. Clients will pay a fee to be listed with CLPS 210.
CLPS Aggregated Search for Classifieds Listings service 222 will
save clients' time by performing automatic periodic search through
listings of multiple providers of classifieds, as opposed to
multiple manual searches of multiple providers of classifieds
performed today. Aggregated Search for Classifieds Listings service
222 will save money for clients by trying to find a match in CLPS
Proprietary Classifieds Listings 224 and in the listings of other
providers which promote direct sale by owner.
[0360] Many sellers and lessors are concerned with personal safety
and property protection when selling their possessions, leasing
their property, or advertising room sharing to strangers. Many
buyers, renters, and prospective roommates are concerned about
meeting a stranger who claims to own the desired item or a property
without an accompanying third party. CLPS 210 understands these
issues, and it offers the Certification and Prescreening of
Individuals and Organizations service 98 to its clients. Sellers,
lessors, and individuals offering rooms to share can request that
prospective buyers, renters or prospective roommates undergo a
prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on one or more
of the following factors: [0361] (a) no criminal record of the
buyer, renter, or prospective roommate; [0362] (b) good credit
history of the buyer, renter, or prospective roommate; [0363] (c)
good employment record of the buyer, renter, or prospective
roommate; [0364] (d) personal references of the buyer, renter, or
prospective roommate; [0365] (e) feedback of individuals and
organizations knowing the buyer, renter, or prospective roommate
through any of the integrated PIC services.
[0366] Buyers, renters, or prospective roommates can request that
prospective sellers, lessors or individuals offering room sharing
undergo a prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on
one or more of the following factors: [0367] (a) no criminal record
of the seller, lessor or individual offering room sharing; [0368]
(b) verification of the seller's title on the sold or rented item
when applicable; [0369] (c) good employment record of the seller,
lessor or individual offering room sharing; [0370] (d) personal
references of the seller, lessor or individual offering room
sharing; [0371] (e) feedback of individuals and organizations
knowing the seller, lessor or individual offering room sharing
through any of the integrated PIC services.
[0372] In addition to prescreening, the proposed CPIOS 98 will
provide on-demand service for its clients allowing them to register
the date, time and place of a scheduled meeting with the trading
partner in order to prevent any potential crime.
[0373] Proprietary Referral Service 230 refers CLPS clients 212 to
the partnering providers of services in the category, which
corresponds to the classified category of client's search. It
provides the clients 212 with useful additional data and services,
and it creates an additional revenue opportunity for CLPS 210 by
charging the partnering providers of services the referral and/or
advertisement fees.
[0374] There are several online classifieds services for consumers.
However, these services do not provide the desired money-saving,
time-saving, security, and convenience to their clients, as
discussed below.
REPS vs. Newspaper Classifieds
[0375] Newspaper classifieds are very popular, and many of them
have Internet presence. CLPS 210 offers the following advantages
over these services:
(a) Persistent Search for Sellers, lessors, and prospective
roommates 216; (b) Persistent Search for Buyers and renters 218;
(c) Certification and Prescreening of buyers, sellers, renters,
lessors, and roommates 98;
(d) Aggregated Search for Classifieds Listings 222.
[0376] REPS vs. Yahoo Classifieds
[0377] Yahoo classifieds are also very popular. CLPS 210 offers the
following advantages over Yahoo classifieds:
(a) Aggregated Search for Classifieds Listings 222;
[0378] (b) Certification and Prescreening of buyers, sellers,
renters, lessors, and roommates 98.
Professional Services Portal
[0379] The proposed Professional Services Portal (or PSP hereafter)
offers the following benefits for its customers: [0380] (a) a
single point of access to all relevant service providers for buyers
of professional services; [0381] (b) providing all relevant project
and buyers data to professional service providers; [0382] (c)
providing money-saving and time-saving services for all types of
buyers and professional service providers: [0383] (1) providing
buyers with novel Persistent Search for Service Providers in order
to find service providers based on the buyers' search parameters;
[0384] (2) providing alerts for service providers when a buyer
posts a new project which matches the service provider's profile;
[0385] (3) providing buyers with novel Aggregated Search for
Service Providers Listings which looks for matching service
providers through multiple online listings of multiple professional
service providers directories; [0386] (4) providing service
providers with novel Persistent Search for Projects Service in
order to find posted projects based on the service providers'
search parameters; [0387] (5) providing service providers with
novel Aggregated Search for Projects Service Listings which
searches for matching projects and buyers through multiple online
listings of multiple professional projects directories; [0388] (6)
providing optional novel prescreening for buyers and service
providers on demand, in order to create a safe trading environment
for clients; [0389] (7) providing a proprietary low-cost directory
of service providers; [0390] (8) providing a proprietary low-cost
(or free) directory of buyers of professional services; [0391] (9)
providing a proprietary low-cost (or free) directory of
professional projects; [0392] (10) providing proprietary bidding
system hosting for buyers; [0393] (11) providing proprietary
bidding system software for the buyers who prefer to host the
bidding process themselves; [0394] (12) providing powerful tools
for the following functions: describing buyers, service providers,
and projects; comparing between selected service providers;
comparing between selected buyers; comparing between selected
projects; providing any other relevant market data.
[0395] FIG. 6 shows the block diagram of PSP 270. PSP 270 consists
of the following services: Web UI 276, Persistent Search for
Service Providers 278, Persistent Search for Projects 280,
Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations 98,
Aggregated Search for Service Providers Listings 282, Aggregated
Search for Projects Listings 286, Proprietary Service Providers
Listing Service 292, Proprietary Projects and Buyers Listing
Service 300, Proprietary Bidding System Hosting 288, Proprietary
Bidding Software 290, Other Parties Service Providers Listing
Services 294, Other Parties Projects and Buyers Listing Services
298, and Other Parties Professional Services Directories 296.
[0396] Clients can use PSP services 270 as follows: [0397] (a)
buyers 272 and professional service providers 274 can utilize Web
UI 276 to manually search for each other, to apply for
prescreening, and to perform all other relevant professional
services trading functions; [0398] (b) buyers 272 can utilize
Persistent Search for Service Providers 278 to search for the
desired professional service providers; [0399] (c) service
providers 274 can utilize Persistent Search for Projects 280 to
search for the desired projects and for buyers of professional
services.
[0400] PSP Proprietary Service Providers Listing Service 292 and
PSP Proprietary Projects and Buyers Listing Service 300 are
designed to promote direct trade between buyers and professional
service providers. Service providers will pay a fee to be listed
with PSP 270. Buyers can describe the type of project they are
offering, and PSP 270 will try to find matching service
providers.
[0401] PSP 270 will offer a wide range of services to buyers.
Buyers can utilize PSP Proprietary Service Providers Listing
Service 292 to locate any listed service provider, to get all the
data about the service provider including its claimed and verified
credentials, the type of projects done by the service provider,
feedback from other parties, etc. Buyers can communicate with
listed service providers directly, make an offer, and negotiate a
deal.
[0402] A buyer may want to save money by soliciting multiple bids
from the selected service providers. PSP 270 will host a
Proprietary Bidding System service 288, which will allow real-time
bidding by multiple service providers.
[0403] In case a buyer wants to host the bidding process, PSP 270
will license Proprietary Bidding Software 290 to such buyer.
[0404] It is expected that for simple projects, such as plumbing,
babysitting, etc., buyers will request PSP 270 to locate the
service provider based on the buyers' search criteria. For complex
and expensive projects, the buyer may want to utilize the
Proprietary Bidding System Hosting service 288 or Proprietary
Bidding Software 290.
[0405] PSP Aggregated Search for Service Providers Listings service
282 allows the buyers to view all of the service providers listed
by PSP Proprietary Service Providers Listing Service 292 and by
other sites and directories 294, 296. Aggregated Search for Service
Providers Listings service 282 will save money for buyers by
finding matches in PSP Proprietary Service Providers Listings 292
and in other directories containing low-cost reliable service
providers.
[0406] PSP Aggregated Search for Service Providers Listings service
282 will save time for buyers by performing automatic periodic
search through multiple directories, as opposed to multiple manual
searches of multiple directories performed today.
[0407] PSP 270 will offer a wide range of services for service
providers. A service provider can utilize PSP Proprietary Projects
and Buyers Listing Service 300 to locate any listed project, to get
all the data about the buyer including its claimed and verified
credentials, feedback from other parties, etc. Service providers
may bid for posted projects.
[0408] PSP Aggregated Search for Projects Listings service 286
allows service providers to view all of the projects listed by PSP
Proprietary Projects and Buyers Listing Service 300 and by other
sites and directories 298, 296. The Aggregated Search for Projects
Listings service 286 will make money for the service providers by
finding attractive projects in PSP Proprietary Service Providers
Listings 300 and in the other directories containing projects from
reliable buyers. PSP Aggregated Search for Projects Listings
service 286 will save time for service providers by performing
automatic periodic search through multiple directories, as opposed
to multiple manual searches of multiple directories performed
today.
[0409] Many buyers are concerned about dealing with a relatively
unknown service provider. Many service providers are concerned
about dealing with a relatively unknown buyer. PSP 270 understands
these issues, and it offers the Certification and Prescreening of
Individuals and Organizations service 98 to its clients, described
below.
[0410] PSP 270 offers the best price/performance among the online
professional services portals, because it addresses the key
interests of both: the buyers and the service providers. The buyers
have the following key goals: [0411] (a) the widest selection of
service providers; [0412] (b) utilization of bidding system for
complex or expensive projects; [0413] (c) low-cost of the
professional services portal even if the service provider pays the
fee (because the service provider which pays a lower portal fee
will be able to lower its bid); [0414] (d) trusted trading
environment.
[0415] PSP 270 will satisfy the buyer's goals by:
(a) providing an aggregated persistent search in multiple service
providers directories; (b) facilitating bidding; (c) providing a
flexible low-cost portal; (d) providing necessary prescreening and
security.
[0416] The service providers have the following key goals:
(a) the widest selection of buyers; (b) low-cost of the
professional services portal; (c) direct relationship with the
buyer; (d) trusted trading environment.
[0417] PSP 270 will satisfy the service provider's goals by: [0418]
(a) providing the best low-cost (or free) service for buyers, which
will attract a large number of buyers; [0419] (b) providing
aggregated persistent search in multiple projects directories;
[0420] (c) providing a flexible low-cost portal; [0421] (d)
providing direct relationship between the buyer and the service
provider; [0422] (e) providing the necessary prescreening and
security.
[0423] There are several online professional services. However,
these services do not provide the desired money savings, time
savings, security, and convenience to their clients, as discussed
below.
PSP vs. eLance.com
[0424] eLance.com is one of the top online freelance services. PSP
270 offers the following advantages over eLance.com: [0425] (a)
Aggregated Search for Service Providers Listings 282; [0426] (b)
Aggregated Search for Projects Listings services 286; [0427] (c) a
wide range of services: from directory-based search for
professional service providers to hosting of bidding services;
[0428] (d) inclusion of low-tech service providers, such as:
plumbers, painters, babysitters, etc. [0429] (e) one-stop portal
270 for all types of services: from simple low-tech local services
to complex high-tech global services.
[0430] eLance.com charges its service provider clients a steep fee:
at least $120 per quarter and 8.75% commissions from every project.
It is unreasonable for the service provider to pay the commissions
on every transaction on top of the listing fee. PSP 270 will be a
much more efficient provider, because it will charge only for the
actual functionality which is desired by the client. PSP 270 will
offer the most basic components: directory, bidding system,
aggregation, security, and persistent search. Depending on the
client's request, PSP 270 will integrate the above listed
components into a minimal sufficient service set, and it will bill
the client for this minimal service set of utilized components. For
example, in many cases the service provider only needs to be listed
in a service provider's directory. In these cases only the listing
fee will be charged by PSP 270.
Dating Portal
[0431] The proposed Dating Portal Service (or DPS hereafter) offers
the following benefits to its customers: [0432] (a) a single point
of access to all relevant dating data and services for the clients;
[0433] (b) money-saving and time-saving services for all clients:
[0434] (1) substantially increasing the probability of finding a
match by providing novel aggregated search services, which
automatically search for the matching partner through multiple
online listings of numerous dating service providers; [0435] (2)
substantially increasing the probability of finding a match and
saving client's time by performing novel Persistent Two-way Search
across numerous providers of dating services; [0436] (3) providing
the best price/performance dating service for the clients by
performing the novel search for a partner in the following order:
[0437] i. searching DPS proprietary low-cost database of clients;
[0438] ii. searching DPS-partners low-cost databases; [0439] iii.
searching other databases; [0440] (4) optional novel prescreening
for the clients on demand, in order to create a safe dating
environment, which: [0441] i. verifies the identity and personal
data of the clients; [0442] ii. optionally restricts access to the
client's data only to the members of the dating service, whose
verified profiles match the client's search profile for desired
partners; [0443] (5) integrating Aggregated Persistent Two-way
Search for Dating Listings with Proprietary Referral Service which
refers the clients to the partnering providers of dating services
which are selected based on the client's criteria;
[0444] (6) providing powerful visualization tools for the following
functions: describing the client; comparing between selected
partners; providing photographs, audio, and video recordings of the
clients; providing profiles questions and proprietary matching
based on scientific research; providing other relevant data,
including entertainment, travel, and research links.
[0445] FIG. 7 shows the block diagram of DPS 400. DPS 400 consists
of the following services: Web UI 404, Persistent Two-way Search
for Partners 406, Proprietary Referral Service 403, Certification
and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations 98, Aggregated
Search for Dating Listings 410, Proprietary Dating Listing Service
412, and Other Providers Dating Listing Services 414.
[0446] Clients can use DPS 400 services as follows: [0447] (a)
clients can utilize Web UI 404 to manually search for partners, to
apply for prescreening, to evaluate potential partners, and to
perform all other relevant dating functions; [0448] (b) clients can
utilize Two-way Persistent Search for partners 406 in order to
automate the search process, to keep track of potential matches
with new members joining dating services and to save time.
[0449] DPS Aggregated Search for Dating Listings service 410 allows
the clients to see all of the individuals listed by multiple dating
service providers. In one embodiment, Aggregated Search for Dating
Listings service 410 will save money for clients by trying to find
a match in DPS Proprietary Dating Listings 412 and in the listings
of other low-cost providers first. If none of the low-cost
providers has a matching partner, then DPS Aggregated Search for
Dating Listings service 410 will look at all other listings.
[0450] DPS Aggregated Search for Dating Listings service 410 will
save time for clients by performing automatic persistent two-way
search through listings of multiple dating service providers, as
opposed to multiple manual searches of numerous dating service
providers performed today. Two-way search will work as follows: in
the first step, all the potential partners are selected based on
the DPS client's search criteria from the participating service
provider sites. In the second step, the selected potential partners
are filtered based on their own stated matching criteria against
the DPS client. As a result of this two-way search for a mutual
match, only the potential partners which are desired by DPS client,
and which desire the DPS client, will be selected.
[0451] Many individuals are concerned with personal safety when
meeting strangers. DPS 400 understands these issues, and it offers
the Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations
Service 98 to its clients. Clients can request that prospective
partners undergo a prescreening process. The prescreening can be
based on one or more of the following factors: [0452] (a) no
criminal record of the partner; [0453] (b) good credit history of
the partner; [0454] (c) good employment record of the partner;
[0455] (d) personal references of the partner; [0456] (e) feedback
of individuals and organizations knowing the partner through any of
the integrated PIC services.
[0457] In addition to prescreening, the proposed Certification and
Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service 98 will allow
DPS clients on demand to register the date, time and place of a
scheduled date in order to discourage any individuals with ill
intentions from using DPS service 400. CPIOS 98 also provides an
enhanced privacy option for DPS clients by restricting access to
the DPS client's data only to the prescreened individuals whose
profiles match the desired partner profile of the DPS client.
[0458] There are several online dating services. However, these
services do not provide the desired money savings, time savings,
security, and convenience to their clients, as discussed below.
DPS vs. Match.com or Yahoo Personals
[0459] Match.com and Yahoo Personals are the top Internet dating
services. DPS 400 offers the following advantages over Match.com
and Yahoo Personals: [0460] (a) Aggregated Search for Dating
Listings 410; [0461] (b) Persistent Two-way Search for partners
406; [0462] (c) Certification and Prescreening of individuals and
organizations 98; [0463] (d) Optional restricted access to the
client's data only for the prescreened individuals whose profiles
match the desired partner profile of the DPS client. DPS vs.
DateWatch.com
[0464] DateWatch.com provides prescreening service for its clients.
DPS 400 offers the following advantages over DateWatch.com: [0465]
(a) Aggregated Search for Dating Listings 410; [0466] (b)
Persistent two-way Search for partners 406; [0467] (c) Optional
restricted access to the client's data only for the prescreened
individuals whose profiles match the desired partner profile of the
DPS client.
Business Models for DPS
[0468] There are several potential business models for DPS 400. In
the first DPS model, DPS 400 provides its own proprietary Dating
Listing Service 412 and DPS 400 competes with other service
providers 414 for the paying clients. If some of the service
providers limit the DPS server-mode search, then DPS 400 will still
be able to use client-mode and mixed-mode of persistent search, as
described in the Persistent Search section of the PIC patent
application and in the Persistent Search section of this patent
application.
[0469] DPS 400 will attract new dating clients to its service by
pointing out the fundamental problem with the existing dating
services 414, which do the matching only inside their own client
database. The client A, who is paying to Match.com, will not be
matched with the potential partner B, who is a paying client of
Yahoo, by either Match.com or by Yahoo. As a result, both A and B
are suffering because: [0470] (a) they won't be automatically
matched by their respective dating service providers, and they will
likely miss this matching opportunity; [0471] (b) even if either A
or B performs a manual search in the other provider's database,
he/she will have to subscribe to the other provider in order to
connect with a partner.
[0472] DPS 400 will solve these problems as described above, and
therefore, DPS 400 will offer the best price/performance dating
portal.
[0473] Clients of existing dating services will be targeted by DPS
marketing, which will offer them to register with DPS 400 in order
to overcome the above mentioned matching limitations of their
service providers. Incentives, such as the free subscription for
the first 10,000 clients, can be utilized by DPS 400 in order to
quickly populate its own Proprietary Dating Listing database 412.
It is expected that the "network effect" of the satisfied clients
will quickly move many people from other expensive closed dating
services into DPS low-cost, open, and safe dating service.
[0474] In the second DPS model, DPS 400 does not provide its own
proprietary Dating Listing Service 412, nor does it compete with
other dating services. DPS 400 partners with other dating services
by matching the DPS individual clients with the clients in the
partnering dating services based on the client's specified
selection criteria. This selection criteria may include any of the
following: the client's own profile, the desired partner profile,
maximum allowed matching fee, the desired level of security and
privacy expected from the service provider (e.g. prescreening of
individuals; use of real names vs. use of aliases; use of "by
invitation only" club vs. the "open network" of people, etc.) DPS
400 will consider its client's selection criteria in deciding which
set of dating service providers it will use for a particular
client. DPS 400 will utilize its persistent two-way search 406 (or
any other negotiated search interface) in this selected set of
dating service providers in order to find the best match for its
client. After taking into consideration the specific objectives and
constraints of each particular client, DPS 400 will advise its
client regarding the best dating service provider, and it will
collect a referral fee from the service provider. In this model,
DPS 400 provides important value for both: its individual clients
and its service provider partners.
[0475] It is expected that the top dating service providers will
have to respond to the competitive pressure from DPS 400.
[0476] In the third DPS business model, service providers,
including DPS 400, will cooperate with the selected service
providers-partners by providing matching services across the group
of cooperating service providers. For example, if the service
provider S1 partners with the service provider S2, then S1 and S2
will try to match their respective clients A and B. In this case,
clients A and B will be satisfied, because they will have been
matched without having to pay extra fees to join the other
partner's service provider. S1 and S2 will still be able to
maintain their business model, because they will provide the
necessary hosting, security, and aggregated search services to
their paying clients.
[0477] The present patent application claims all three above
mentioned business models of DPS 400.
Social Interests Matching Portal
[0478] The proposed Social Interests Matching Portal Service (or
SIMPS hereafter) offers the following benefits to its customers:
[0479] (a) a single point of access to all relevant social
interests matching data and services for the clients; [0480] (b)
providing to all clients money-saving and time-saving services
designed to achieve the following objectives: [0481] (1)
substantially increasing the probability of finding a match by
providing novel aggregated search services, which search for
matching partners through multiple online listings of numerous
social matching service providers; [0482] (2) substantially
increasing the probability of finding a match and saving client's
time by performing novel Persistent Two-way Search across numerous
providers of social matching services; [0483] (3) providing the
best price/performance social matching service for the clients by
performing the novel search for partners in the following order:
[0484] i. searching SIMPS proprietary low-cost database of clients;
[0485] ii. searching low-cost databases of SIMPS partners; [0486]
iii. searching other databases; [0487] (4) optional prescreening
for clients on demand, in order to create a safe social interaction
environment, which: [0488] i. verifies the identity and personal
data of the clients, [0489] ii. optionally restricts access to the
client's data only to the members of the matching service, whose
verified profiles match the client's search profile for desired
partners, [0490] iii. providing optional "by invitation only"
online club functionality; [0491] (5) integrating Aggregated
Persistent Two-way Search for Social Matching Listings with
Proprietary Referral Service which refers the clients to the
partnering providers of social matching services which are selected
based on the client's criteria; [0492] (6) providing powerful
visualization tools for the following functions: describing the
client; comparing between the selected partners; providing
photographs, audio, and video recordings of clients; using profile
questions and proprietary matching based on scientific research;
providing other relevant data, including entertainment, travel, and
research links.
[0493] FIG. 8 shows the block diagram of SIMPS 450. SIMPS 450
consists of the following services: Web UI 454, Persistent Two-way
Search for Partners 456, Proprietary Referral Service 453,
Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations 98,
Aggregated Search for Social Matching Listings 460, Proprietary
Social Matching Listing Service 462, and Other Provider's Social
Matching Listing Services 464.
[0494] Clients can use SIMPS services 450 as follows: [0495] (a)
clients can utilize Web UI 454 to manually search for partners, to
apply for prescreening, to evaluate the potential partners, and to
perform all other relevant social matching functions; [0496] (b)
clients can utilize Two-way Persistent Search for partners 456.
[0497] SIMPS Aggregated Search for Social Matching Listings service
460 allows the clients to view all of the individuals listed by
multiple social matching service providers 462 and 464. In one
embodiment, Aggregated Search for Social Matching Listings service
460 will save money for clients by trying to find a match in SIMPS
Proprietary Social Matching Listings 462 and in the listings of
other low-cost social matching providers. If none of the low-cost
social matching providers has a matching partner, then SIMPS
Aggregated Search for Social Matching Listings service 460 will
look at all other listings.
[0498] SIMPS Aggregated Search for Social Matching Listings service
460 will save time for clients by performing automatic persistent
two-way search through the listings of multiple social matching
service providers, as opposed to multiple manual searches of
numerous social matching service providers performed today. Two-way
search will work as follows: in the first step, based on the SIMPS
client's search criteria, all of the potential partners are
selected from the participating service provider sites. In the
second step, the selected potential partners are filtered based on
their own stated matching criteria against the SIMPS client. As a
result of this two-way search, only the potential partners which
are desired by SIMPS client, and which desire the SIMPS client,
will be selected.
[0499] Many individuals are concerned with personal safety when
connecting with strangers. SIMPS 450 understands these issues, and
it offers the Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and
Organizations Service 98 to its clients. Clients can request that
prospective partners undergo a prescreening process. The
prescreening can be based on one or more of the following factors:
[0500] (a) no criminal record of the partner; [0501] (b) good
credit history of the partner; [0502] (c) good employment record of
the partner; [0503] (d) personal references of the partner; [0504]
(e) feedback of individuals and organizations knowing the partner
through any of the integrated PIC services.
[0505] In addition to prescreening, the proposed CPIOS 98 will
allow its clients to register on-demand the date, time, and place
of a scheduled meeting in order to discourage anyone with ill
intentions from participating in SIMPS 450. CPIOS 98 also provides
an enhanced privacy option for SIMPS client by restricting the
access to the SIMPS client's data only for the prescreened
individuals whose profiles match the desired partner profile of the
SIMPS client.
[0506] One important way of social networking is "by invitation
only" online club. Such a club has the advantage of careful
prescreening of its members, and protecting the privacy of the
club. "By invitation only" club model can be selected for the
following social interactions: business networking for the business
elite or for confidential business discussions; social network of
close friends; private network for referring friends seeking a
dating partner; etc.
[0507] SIMPS 450 will utilize proprietary tools in order to create
virtual communities of the like-minded people based on their common
background, or common values, or common goals. Like-minded people
will enjoy the benefits of discussing their business and social
issues across the globe. For example, clients of SIMPS 450 will
value the opportunity of receiving advice from the like-minded
partners regarding possible relocations, selection of jobs, finding
friends and dates, referral of professional services, selection of
schools and colleges, travel advisory, finding friends for children
based on children's interests, exchange of political opinions,
etc.
[0508] SIMPS 450 will also target mass applications of social
matching: business networking, dating, searching for a travel
partner, etc.
[0509] There are several online social matching services. However,
these services do not provide the desired money-saving,
time-saving, security, and convenience to their clients, as
discussed below.
SIMPS vs. eMode
[0510] eMode is one of the most popular social matching services.
SIMPS 450 offers the following advantages over eMode: [0511] (a)
Aggregated Search for social Matching Listings 460; [0512] (b)
Persistent Two-way Search for partners 456; [0513] (c)
Certification and Prescreening of individuals and organizations 98;
[0514] (d) Optional restricted access to the client's data only for
the prescreened individuals whose profiles match the desired
partner profile of the SIMPS client; [0515] (e) "By invitation
only" service.
Business Models for SIMPS
[0516] There are several potential business models for SIMPS 450.
In the first SIMPS model, SIMPS 450 provides its own Proprietary
Social Matching Listing Service 462, and SIMPS 450 competes with
other service providers for paying clients. If some of the service
providers limit SIMPS server-mode search, then SIMPS 450 can still
use client-mode and mixed-mode of persistent search for the
partners as described in the Persistent Search section of the PIC
patent application and in the Persistent Search section of this
patent application.
[0517] SIMPS 450 will attract new clients to its service by
pointing out the fundamental problem with the existing social
matching services, which do the matching only inside their own
database of clients. Client A, who is paying to the service
provider SA, will not be matched with the potential partner B, who
is a paying client of the service provider SB, either by SA or by
SB. As a result, both A and B are suffering because: [0518] (a)
they won't be automatically matched by their respective social
matching service providers, and they will likely miss the matching
opportunity; [0519] (b) even if either A or B performs manual
search in the other provider's database, he/she will have to
subscribe to the other provider in order to connect with the
partner.
[0520] By solving these problems as described above, SIMPS 450 will
offer the best price/performance social matching portal and will
provide a safe interaction environment for its clients.
[0521] The clients of existing social matching services will be
targeted by SIMPS marketing, which will offer them to register with
SIMPS 450 in order to overcome the above stated matching
limitations of their service providers. Incentives, such as free
subscription for the first 10,000 clients, can be utilized by SIMPS
450 in order to quickly populate its own Social Matching Listing
database 462. It is expected that the "network effect" of the
satisfied clients will quickly move many individuals from other
expensive closed social matching services into SIMPS 450 low-cost,
open, and safe social matching service.
[0522] In the second SIMPS model, SIMPS 450 does not provide its
own Proprietary Social Matching Listing Service 462, nor does it
compete with other social matching services. SIMPS 450 partners
with other social matching services by matching SIMPS individual
clients with the corresponding social matching service based on the
client's specified selection criteria. This selection criteria may
include any of the following items: client's profile, the desired
partner profile, maximum allowed matching fee, the desired level of
security and privacy expected from the service provider (e.g.
prescreening of individuals; use of real names vs. use of aliases;
use of "by invitation only" club vs. "open network" of people,
etc.). SIMPS 450 will consider its client's selection criteria in
deciding which set of social matching service providers it will use
for the particular client. SIMPS 450 will utilize its persistent
two-way search in this selected set of social matching service
providers in order to find the best match for its client. SIMPS 450
will advise its client regarding the best social matching service
provider, and it will collect a referral fee from the service
provider. In this model, SIMPS 450 provides an important value for
both: its individual clients and its service provider partners.
[0523] It is expected that the top social matching service
providers will have to respond to the competitive pressure from
SIMPS 450. In the third SIMPS business model, the service
providers, including SIMPS 450, will cooperate with partnering
service providers by providing social matching services across the
group of cooperating service providers. For example, if service
provider S1 partners with service provider S2, then S1 and S2 will
try to match their respective clients A and B. In this case,
clients A and B will be satisfied, because they will have been
matched without having to pay extra fees to join the other
partner's service. S1 and S2 will still be able to maintain their
business model, because they will provide the necessary hosting,
security, and aggregated search services to their paying
clients.
[0524] The present patent application claims all three of the
above-mentioned business models of SIMPS 450.
Trusted Net
[0525] This patent application presents the method and the system
for connecting individuals and small businesses in a Trusted Net in
order to facilitate trusted communications, e-commerce, and social
interactions between the Trusted Net participants.
[0526] Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and
Organizations Service (or CPIOS) 98 is one example of Internet
services for facilitating Trusted Net. CPIOS 98 can certify the
following:
(a) personal criminal records; (b) personal credit history; (c)
personal residence and contact information; (d) personal driving
records; (e) professional credentials and licensing; (f)
educational credentials: diplomas, courses, degrees, etc.; (g)
employment records; (h) personal references provided by the client;
(i) feedback from other parties; (j) any other personal data and
records.
[0527] By verifying and certifying the claims or credentials of its
clients to authorized parties CPIOS 98 can assist its clients in
the following activities:
(a) offering of part-time and full-time professional services by
the client; (b) dating; (c) car-pool matching; (d) renting or
leasing property for residence or vacation; (e) finding roommates;
(f) buying or selling property; (g) trading expensive items with
individuals: used cars, boats, furniture, arts, etc.; (h) social
networking, travel companion search, etc; (i) any other business
transactions and social connections.
[0528] CPIOS 98 will provide several methods of client's
certification to the authorized parties.
[0529] An individual client of CPIOS 98 will specify a subset of
personal information he/she wants to make public and a subset of
confidential private information he/she wants to restrict to the
specific parties. For example, the following public data could be
authorized by the client to be shown to anyone:
(a) client name; (b) client contact address (e.g. email address, or
URL, etc.); (c) a statement by CPIOS 98 certifying one or more of
the following facts: [0530] 1) date of the membership in CPIOS 98;
[0531] 2) no criminal record of the client; [0532] 3) good credit
rating of the client (e.g. no bankruptcy, etc.); [0533] 4) client's
membership in public organizations; [0534] 5) professional
credentials and licensing; [0535] 6) educational credentials:
diplomas, courses, degrees, etc.
[0536] The following private data could be selected by the client
to be shown to the authorized parties only: [0537] (a) client's
residence; [0538] (b) client's phone number and contact addresses:
email, voicemail, URL, etc; [0539] (c) the name of the client's
employer; [0540] (d) client's criminal record; [0541] (e) client's
credit record; [0542] (f) client's driving record; [0543] (g)
client's professional credentials and licensing; [0544] (h)
client's educational credentials: diplomas, courses, degrees, etc;
[0545] (i) client's employment records; [0546] (j) personal
references provided by the client; [0547] (k) feedback from other
parties aggregated by CPIOS 98 from multiple authorized sources
which conduct business with the client.
[0548] FIG. 9 shows the block diagram of CPIOS 98 operations in one
embodiment. CPIOS 98 will provide a Web server 530-based Web
interface and a Messaging server 532-based messaging interface for
the client 520 and his/her individual and business partners, shown
as visitors 548. The client 520 can utilize Web browser 522 to
connect with Web server 530. The client 520 can utilize Messaging
Application 524 to exchange data with Messaging Server 532.
[0549] Visitors 548 can utilize Web browser 550 to connect with Web
server 530. Visitors 548 can utilize Messaging Application 552 to
exchange data with Messaging Server 532.
[0550] These servers 530 and 532 will allow the client's partners
548 to see the subset of the client's data 534, which is authorized
by the client 520 for each specific partner or category of partners
548. For example, all visitors 548 to the client-specific URL
hosted by CPIOS 98 will be able to see the client's public data
538. These data 538 will give some confidence to the visitors 548
that the client 520 is the one he/she claims to be. In order to see
the private data 536 of the client 520, the visitor 548 of the
CPIOS Web service 530 will have to get the authorization of the
client 520. There are several methods for implementing the
authorization procedure, as follows: [0551] (a) a visitor 548 may
obtain a password from the client 520, and CPIOS Web service 530
will request the password from the visitor 548 in order to grant
the visitor 548 access rights to the requested data 534; [0552] (b)
a visitor 548 may request the client's authorization through the
CPIOS Web server 530-based Web interface or through the CPIOS
Messaging server 532-based messaging interface. The visitor 548 may
request either all available private data 536, or any subset of the
private data 536 of the client 520. The client 520 may authorize
the visitor 548 to see all requested data 536, or any subset of the
requested data 536. The visitor 548 may use the predefined request
form which will identify the requestor 548, and which will specify
the requested data. This request form will be available as a Web
browser form, or as an e-mail form. CPIOS 98 will pass this
completed request form to the client 520. The client 520 will
authorize the release of the selected subset of the client's
private data 536 to the requestor 548 by checking the corresponding
fields of the request form. CPIOS 98 will make the authorized
subset of the client's private data 536 available to the requestor
548 through the Web server 530-based Web interface or through the
Messaging server 532-based messaging interface. For example, CPIOS
98 can send an email message to the requestor 548 which will
include a URL to the CPIOS Web server 530 that will contain the
requested data. This specific URL can be created in response to the
corresponding request, and it can be destroyed after the requested
party 548 utilizes the requested data. As a different authorization
mechanism, the client 520 can supply a password to the authorized
visitor 548 after the client 520 receives the visitor's 548
request. [0553] (c) each subset of confidential personal
information 536 can be encrypted with the client's private key, or
with the authorized party's 548 public key, or with a
password-derived key and forwarded to the requestor 548 as an
encrypted digital message.
[0554] There are several methods of managing access to the client's
public data 538 as follows: [0555] (a) CPIOS 98 can provide a
digital certificate to its clients 520, which will contain public
information about the client 520. For example, CPIOS 98 can provide
"Trusted by CPIOS" digital certificate and a corresponding graphic
image to its client 520. The digital certificate can contain the
client's name, a set of public information about the client 520,
the certification time stamp, and the CPIOS 98 signature. The
digital certificate is digitally signed by CPIOS 98 to prove the
CPIOS identity. [0556] (b) CPIOS 98 can provide the client 520 with
HTML code, which needs to be included into the desired Web pages
owned by the client 520. This HTML code will point to the CPIOS Web
service 530 which will present the authorized visitor 548 with the
client's verified credentials. This HTML code may contain a
customizable "Trusted by CPIOS" graphic image.
[0557] Unlike the existing certification services which provide
only a set of data regarding the client from one source (e.g. eBay
provides a trading history of its clients; Amazon provides a
merchant history of its clients; etc.), CPIOS 98 will aggregate the
client's data from multiple sources, selected by the client 520.
CPIOS 98 includes Aggregation of Clients Data service 540 which
collects the client's data from Government 542, Credit Company 544,
and Other Sources of Client's Data 546. In addition to the publicly
available criminal history, driving, court, and credit records,
CPIOS 98 will gather client's data from multiple online trading and
social interaction sources. For example, CPIOS 98 will gather the
following data with the client's authorization: feedback on the
client's professional services, feedback on the client's trading
activities, feedback on the client's social activities, etc.
[0558] Unlike the existing services which collect the consumer
data, such as credit report services, CPIOS 98 puts the consumer
520 firmly in control of his/her data. CPIOS clients 520 make the
following decisions: [0559] (a) selection of their private data
536; [0560] (b) selection of their public data 538; [0561] (c)
authorization for specific party 548 to access the specific subset
of client's data; [0562] (d) authorization for CPIOS 98 to collect
the client's data from specific sources 542, 544, and 546.
[0563] CPIOS 98 will generate reports for the client 520 regarding
the history of collection and distribution of the client's data.
The client 520 can utilize Client's Personal Data Management
service 526 in order to correct any errors and submit personal
comments regarding the client's data to the authorized parties.
[0564] It is expected that by providing certification and
pre-screening to the individuals, CPIOS 98 will significantly
contribute to the growth of Trusted Net, e-commerce, social
matching services, and communications based on Trusted Net.
[0565] There are several existing certification services for small
businesses and individuals. CPIOS 98 provides novel useful services
as follows.
CPIOS vs. SquareTrade
[0566] SquareTrade provides certification of small businesses.
CPIOS 98 will have the following advantages over SquareTrade:
(a) CPIOS 98 allows authorized parties to view private data 536 of
CPIOS clients 520; (b) CPIOS 98 allows its clients 520 to select
subsets of personal data 534 to be viewed by the authorized
parties; (c) CPIOS 98 aggregates client's data from multiple
sources: government 542, credit companies 544, banks, online
e-commerce providers, and other sources 546.
Car-Pool Service
[0567] Real-time secure car-pool service was described in the PIC
patent application. Present patent application expands on the
integration of Real-time Secure Car-Pool Service (or RSCPS) with
other Internet consumer services.
[0568] The proposed RSCPS will have the following features: [0569]
(a) novel prescreening of car-pool members; [0570] (b) novel
matching of car-pool partners based on the following factors:
route, personal interests, method of transportation, and price;
[0571] (c) novel real-time ride bidding; [0572] (d) novel
Aggregated Search for car-pool partners across multiple car-pool
directories.
[0573] FIG. 10 shows one example of RSCPS 600. It includes the
following services: Web UI 604, Proprietary Car-pool Social
Matching Service 606, Aggregated Search for Car-pool Partners 608,
Proprietary Car-pool Directory 610, Other Car-pool Directories 612,
Real-time Ride Bidding System Hosting Service 614, Proprietary
Referral Service 618, and CPIOS 98.
[0574] In order to provide car-pool matching services, personal
information will be collected by RSCPS 600 with the client's
consent. Personal information includes one or more of the
following: name, address, phone numbers, criminal record, driving
record, age, sex, personal interests, preferences for a partner,
type of car, preferred method of transportation, and preferred
method and amount of payment. Preferences for a partner may include
one or more of the following: age, sex, smoking habits, personal
interests, etc.
[0575] Proprietary Car-pool Social Matching Service 606 will match
partners based on the provided information. RSCPS 600 will release
to the potential partners only the subset of personal data which is
authorized by the client. RSCPS 600 will mark the data which have
been verified by RSCPS 600 in order to provide security for the
car-pool members 602. In the preferred embodiment, the client's
directory is not provided to every client 602. Only the matching
client's data will be available to another matching client. This
restriction will help in limiting unwanted contact with RSCPS
clients.
[0576] In order to provide the best value for the RSCPS clients 602
and for the community, RSCPS 600 will provide Aggregated Search for
Car-pool Partners 608 across car-pool matching directories of its
partners 612, including the government-sponsored directories. This
will allow RSCPS 600 to leverage existing public and private
investments in organizing car-pools, and to take advantage of the
innovative social interests matching, trust, and real-time ride
bidding features of RSCPS 600. RSCPS 600 will also provide
Proprietary Car-pool Directory for its clients 610.
[0577] RSCPS 600 will provide Real-time Ride Bidding system Hosting
Service 614 for matching drivers and passengers in real-time.
Passengers can make an offer to pay a specified amount for a
specified ride at specified time. Drivers can make an offer to
provide a specified ride at specified time interval for a specified
payment. Both passengers and drivers can request that their partner
be prescreened by RSCPS 600. Such an arrangement will save money
for passengers because the ride will cost less than the taxi ride,
it will provide additional income for the drivers, and it will
reduce the traffic.
[0578] RSCPS 600 will also provide van-pool services and event-pool
services for sports events, political and social gatherings,
etc.
[0579] The proposed RSCPS 600 will provide an important value for
the community by reducing traffic, lowering pollution, and building
social connections. RSCPS 600 offers a combination of enjoyable
social time and contribution to the society. For example,
individuals can select the desired social partners for car-pooling;
drivers can help elderly people by taking them to doctors,
shopping, and entertainment. Security of RSCPS 600 will facilitate
formation of safe car-pools for children who attend numerous
activities every day, as well as for other safety-minded
individuals.
[0580] Driver's motivation to car-pool is based on the following
factors:
(a) making some money to offset the costs of keeping the car, gas,
parking, tolls, etc; (b) using HOV lanes; (c) matching with an
interesting partner; (d) contributing to society.
[0581] Passenger's motivation to car-pool is based on the following
factors:
(a) saving money on keeping the car, gas, parking, tolls, etc.; (b)
using HOV lanes; (c) matching with an interesting partner; (d)
contributing to society.
[0582] Proprietary Referral Service 618 refers RSCPS clients 602 to
the partnering providers of related transportation services. It
provides the clients 602 with useful additional data and services,
and it creates an additional revenue opportunity for RSCPS 600 by
charging the partnering providers of related transportation
services the referral and/or advertisement fees.
Integration of Consumer Internet Services
[0583] FIG. 11--Integrated Consumer Portal 660 shows the links
between the common underlying principles shown as hexagons and
proposed consumer Internet services shown as rectangles.
[0584] The common underlying principles are: [0585] (a) Maximizing
client's convenience and implementation efficiency by providing
consumer-centric Integrated Portals 676; [0586] (b) Saving time and
money for the clients, and maximizing success rate of searches by
providing Aggregated Persistent Search 680 for all relevant data
from multiple online sources; [0587] (c) Saving money for the
clients by promoting Direct Trade 674 between individuals and small
businesses without middlemen; [0588] (d) Saving time and money for
the clients by promoting Direct Matching 678 of individuals; [0589]
(e) Facilitating secure personal and business networking and
electronic commerce within the Trusted Net 666 of individuals and
small businesses; [0590] (f) Saving time and money for the clients,
and offering a great user experience by providing Intelligent
Hosting 662 for individuals and small businesses.
[0591] These common principles form the foundation for integration
and cross-promotion of all of the proposed distinct consumer
services. In essence, the integrated offering can be viewed as a
new type of intelligent online marketplace with multiple entrances,
where each entrance brings in clients interested in a particular
service. The following are the virtual entrances or services
leading into the new intelligent integrated marketplace:
(a) Real Estate Portal 80;
(b) Cars Portal 140;
(c) Classifieds Portal 210;
(d) Professional Services Portal 270;
(e) Dating Portal 400;
(f) Social Interests Matching Portal 450;
(g) Real-time Secure Car-pool Service 600;
(h) Persistent Search Service 682;
(i) Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations
Service 98;
(j) Intelligent Hosting 664.
[0592] A customer enjoying the use of such features as
pre-screening or aggregated persistent search in one of the
services will naturally appreciate other services with similar
features. This will allow the implementor to steer clients from one
section of the proposed integrated intelligent marketplace to other
sections and to maximize success of each and all of the distinct
services by:
(a) marketing the entire integrated offering 660 as a consumer
portal; (b) cross-promoting all component services of Integrated
Consumer Portal 660;
[0593] The choice and the number of integrated consumer portal
services deployed simultaneously will largely depend on the amount
of initial investment, and risk/reward profile of the investors.
Any combination of the proposed services will yield substantial
savings in comparison with deployment of disconnected services as
follows: [0594] (a) marketing costs will be reduced by advertising
multiple new services simultaneously and by cross-promoting these
services, as well as by relying on network effect of "word of
mouth" marketing; [0595] (b) common technology and implementation
infrastructure will be used to facilitate authentication,
collection and maintenance of customer data, billing, technical
support and management functions.
[0596] The clients will appreciate the following benefits of
Integrated Consumer Portal 660:
(a) single authentication of the client across all integrated
consumer services; (b) uniform user interface across all integrated
consumer services; (c) single billing service for all integrated
consumer services; (d) safe trading and personal communication
environment of Trusted Net 666.
Summary of Business Models
[0597] Most of the portals and services described above can be
launched independently as the following self-contained profitable
businesses: [0598] (a) Intelligent Hosting Service revenues will
come from individual client subscriptions, advertising, and
software licensing. [0599] (b) Real Estate Portal Service will
generate its key revenues through seller listing subscriptions,
prescreening service, referrals of real estate agents, estimators,
inspectors, mortgage providers, and other referrals, and
advertising. The new aggregated persistent search, security, direct
"sale by owner" model, and visualization tools provided free of
charge to the buyers, will attract a large pool of participating
buyers. The substantial number of active buyers using REPS will
allow REPS to attract a large number of subscription-paying
sellers. Monetizing of REPS can be easily adjusted in times when
demand for real estate exceeds supply by charging subscriptions or
fees from buyers and providing free service to the sellers. A large
number of active buyers and sellers registered with REPS will also
allow REPS to monetize referrals to other real estate services and
advertisers. [0600] (c) Cars Portal Service revenues will come from
"for sale" and "wanted" car ad placements in the CPS directory,
prescreening services for individuals, prescreened dealer, loan
provider, and car mechanics referrals, and from advertising. The
new aggregated persistent search, security, direct "sale by owner"
model, and visualization tools provided free of charge will attract
a large number of individuals searching car ad directories. The
substantial number of users of CPS search service allows CPS to
attract a large number of subscription-paying ad-placing clients. A
large number of active participants in CPS will also allow CPS to
monetize referrals to other car services and advertisers. [0601]
(d) Classifieds Portal Service will generate revenues through sale
of ad placements in CLPS directories, through prescreening of
individual clients, and advertisement. The innovative and effective
free search tools will attract a large number of clients to CLPS,
which in its initial stage will generate matches largely through
use of aggregated search across classifieds listing of other
service providers. As soon as the number of search users reaches
critical mass, CLPS will be able to leverage their active
participation by attracting paying clients who will place their
classified ads in CLPS proprietary database. The substantial number
of CLPS users will also generate interest on the part of other
providers of consumer services and advertisers. [0602] (e)
Persistent Search Service will be monetized through per-transaction
or subscription-based fees. It will allow clients to search for
airline tickets, travel accommodations, car rental services, travel
packages, travel insurance, and other commodities and services
across multiple online vendors, as discussed in PIC patent
application and in this patent application. [0603] (f) Professional
Services Portal will generate revenues from sale of subscriptions
to participating professionals, from bidding service subscriptions,
from prescreening of buyers and sellers of professional services,
from sale of web hosting and design for the professionals who
choose to outsource front end operations, and from advertising. By
providing free access to a wide selection of professional services
providers aggregated from numerous professional services listings,
PSP will become very attractive for professional services buyers.
This, in turn, will make it a very desirable listing service for
subscribing professionals. After accumulating a sizable pool of
clients, PSP will be able to charge other services that match
professional services buyers and sellers for referrals and
redirection. [0604] (g) Certification and Prescreening of
Individuals and Organizations Service will produce revenues through
subscriptions to "Trusted by CPIOS" certification services, through
sales of background and credential check service, and advertising.
CPIOS will be an integral part of all of the proposed consumer
portals. It is also expected that both, partnering and
non-affiliated online businesses will subscribe to CPIOS in order
to add credibility to their claims and to generate trust among
their own clientele. [0605] (h) Real-time secure car-pool service
will be monetized through subscription to real-time carpool and
personal interests matching, through subscription or commissions
for ride matching and bidding service, and through advertising.
Large employers, institutions and local governments receive tax
incentives from the Federal Government for facilitating carpool
matches. These organizations are often compelled by regulations to
achieve certain levels of participation in ride reduction programs
among their employees, students, or constituents. In the initial
stage, the RSCPS database will be populated by partnering with
large employers, institutions, and governmental organizations. The
superior service provided by RSCPS, as compared with the mandatory
basic carpool programs, is expected to attract a large following
and to increase the popularity of carpooling. The client pool of
RSCPS will be a natural audience for cross-promoting RSCPS with
other proposed intelligent portal services as discussed below.
[0606] (i) Dating Portal Service revenues will be generated through
subscriptions to personals ads directory, by providing background
check services, through referral fees collected from partnering
dating service providers, and through advertisement. In its initial
phase of deployment, DPS will give its clients the superior new
tools for searching for a match across numerous databases of other
dating service providers. The clients who appreciate the increased
likelihood of finding a match through DPS and enhanced security
provided by DPS will want to subscribe to DPS. The accumulated
large base of registered clients will also allow DPS to monetize
redirection links to partnering dating services and advertisers.
[0607] (j) Social Interests Matching Portal Service revenues will
come from subscriptions to ad directories, from background and
credentials check services, from fee-based referrals of other
networking service providers, and from advertisement. By providing
free new search tools to its clients in a Trusted Net environment,
including aggregated search across databases of other social
interest matching services, SIMPS will attract a large number of
clients who enjoy the superior search results provided by SIMPS.
The sizable number of search users will in turn attract a large
number of paying subscribers who will place search ads within SIMPS
database. Both categories of SIMPS clients will form an attractive
captive audience that will allow SIMPS to monetize redirection
links to partnering other service providers and advertisers.
[0608] As previously mentioned, all of these individual services
will be profitable on their own, but even greater efficiencies and
profits can be generated by combining them into a single Integrated
Consumer Portal or into smaller groups of complementary services.
The Integrated Consumer Portal model was discussed above. The
following are some particularly interesting examples of service
combinations that can produce very attractive price/performance
ratios: [0609] (a) DPS and SIMPS can be launched together as a
Dating and Social Interests Matching Portal Service, where clients
can have multiple profiles intended for different types of
matching. For example, client A can be looking for a dating partner
using profile P1, for a job search connection using profile P2, and
for a tennis partner using profile P3, etc. The combination of DPS
and SIMPS will allow to quickly grow the client base and to
maximize the chance of finding the desired connection. Clients
interested in DPS and SIMPS will be offered discounts if they
subscribe to both services. [0610] (b) RSCPS and SIMPS can be
deployed together as an integrated offering. To form the initial
client base, RSCPS will be promoted to large employers,
institutions and to local governments. Both, RSCPS and SIMPS will
also be marketed to the general public in a joint marketing
campaign. Individuals interested in the social networking aspect of
RSCPS will be a natural audience for marketing SIMPS. SIMPS will
allow these clients to expand their search for new social and
business connections beyond the group of RSCPS clients whose
primary objective is to find good car-pool partners. And
conversely, the clients initially attracted to the social
networking service, will appreciate the opportunity to share a ride
with new acquaintances. The subscription to the integrated service
will be lower than the sum of separate subscriptions to RSCPS and
SIMPS. The combined offering will benefit from cross-marketing
opportunities as well as from broadening the base of potential
clients. [0611] (c) DPS and SIMPS can be combined with CLPS into an
Intelligent Classifieds and Personals Portal (ISPP). In this
combination, CLPS can serve as the initial driving force behind
quick adoption of the new services. The entity deploying ISPP can
partner with one or more large businesses, such as Internet Service
Providers (ISPs), to attract the initial base of clients. By
providing free tools for persistent search of multiple classifieds
to the partner's clients along with the subscription-based ad
placement in CLPS component of the new service, ISPP will
accumulate the initial pool of registered clients. In exchange for
facilitating marketing of CLPS, the partner will be able to
differentiate itself from competition by offering free innovative
search of classifieds. After being exposed to the benefits of the
proposed classifieds service, these clients will easily appreciate
similar features in the very profitable DPS and SIMPS components of
ISPP. It should be understood that the similarities in business
models of DPS, SIMPS, and CLPS allow to start ISPP by marketing any
of these services first or by marketing all of them simultaneously.
[0612] (d) All of the proposed services can be deployed on a
nation-wide scale. Some of these services, such as IHS, Persistent
Search, REPS, PSP, DPS and SIMPS can appeal to clients world-wide.
At the same time, certain services have strong connections to high
density population centers, and these services can be deployed as a
group in each selected metropolitan area. The local nature of
carpooling, used car trade, real estate trade, classifieds service,
social networking, and to a certain degree, dating service, make
the proposed RSCPS, CPS, REPS, CLPS, SIMPS, and DPS good candidates
for simultaneous marketing and deployment in each particular metro
area. This approach will produce substantial savings in marketing
expenses based on the following reasons: [0613] (1) it would be
possible to advertise all of these services in a single
concentrated marketing campaign (for example, direct mail
advertising within one metro area); [0614] (2) word-of-mouth
advertising works very well within each local community. [0615] The
safety features imbedded in each of the proposed services together
with the networking objectives of SIMPS and DPS will contribute to
building trust and connections within each local community. Such
trust and connections will benefit each community by promoting
interconnectedness among its members and creating a safe trading
environment. [0616] The number of metro areas targeted
simultaneously for marketing and deployment of the proposed
services depends largely on the amount of initial investment
available and on the risk/reward profile of the investors. After
achieving pre-determined financial success in the geographic areas
selected for initial deployment of the proposed services, one
possible business approach will be to deploy these services as
franchises in other locals.
[0617] There are numerous other ways of combining individual
proposed services into sets of integrated services. It should be
understood that the above mentioned examples were provided for
illustration purposes only, and that any other combinations of
these services are also claimed by the present invention.
* * * * *
References