Granted Patent B1

US 7,099,840 · App. 09/565,374 · Granted Aug 29, 2006

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. A computer implemented method comprising the steps of:

receiving at a server computer system first signals containing a conditional acceptance of an offer in association with an identification of a first entity conditionally accepting said offer, said offer containing a price;

checking signals received by said server computer system during a period from said date of conditional acceptance of said offer to determine if said signals contain an identification of said offer in association with an identification of a second entity and a contribution by said second entity to said price; and

debiting accounts for the entity or the entities contributing to said price.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining that signals received by said server computer system during a period from said date of conditional acceptance of said offer by said first entity contain an identification of said offer in association with an identification of a second entity and a contribution by said second entity to said price.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a condition of said conditional acceptance by said first entity is a contribution to said price by said second entity.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a condition of said conditional acceptance by said first entity is an elapsing of said period from said date of conditional acceptance.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a condition of said conditional acceptance by said first entity is accepting by said server computer system contributions to said price for said offer during said period by an entity other than said first entity.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a condition of said conditional acceptance is a contribution to said price by an entity other than said first entity.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a condition of said conditional acceptance by said first entity is contribution by entities other than said first entity equaling or exceeding said price.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting from a server computer system signals containing information providing said offer.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said offer comprises an offer for sale at least one of a good and a service.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of crediting an account for said at least one of a good and a service.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting additional signals to a second address associated with a first address associated with said first signals, said additional signals identifying said offer, and soliciting a contribution by said second entity to said price.

12. A computer server system comprising:

means for receiving at a server computer system first signals containing a conditional acceptance of an offer in association with an identification of a first entity conditionally accepting said offer, said offer containing a price;

means for checking signals received by said server computer system during a period from said date of conditional acceptance of said offer to determine if said signals contain an identification of said offer in association with an identification of a second entity and a contribution by said second entity to said price; and

means for debiting accounts for the entity or the entities contributing to said price.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for determining that signals received by said server computer system during a period from said date of conditional acceptance of said offer by said first entity contain an identification of said offer in association with an identification of a second entity and a contribution by said second entity to said price.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein a condition of said conditional acceptance by said first entity is a contribution to said price by said second entity.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein a condition of said conditional acceptance by said first entity is an elapsing of said period from said date of conditional acceptance.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein a condition of said conditional acceptance by said first entity is accepting by said server computer system contributions to said price for said offer during said period by an entity other than said first entity.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein a condition of said conditional acceptance is a contribution to said price by an entity other than said first entity.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein a condition of said conditional acceptance by said first entity is contribution by entities other than said first entity equaling or exceeding said price.

19. The system of claim 12 further comprising means for transmitting from said server computer system signals containing information providing said offer.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein said offer comprises an offer for sale at least one of a good and a service.

21. The system of claim 12 further comprising means for crediting an account for said at least one of a good and a service.

22. The system of claim 12 further comprising means for transmitting additional signals to a second addresses associated with a first address associated with said first signals, said additional signals identifying said offer, and soliciting a contribution by said second entity to said price.

23. A computer program product storing instructions for programming a computer to perform the steps of:

receiving at a server computer system first signals containing a conditional acceptance of an offer in association with an identification of a first entity conditionally accepting said offer, said offer containing a price;

checking signals received by said server computer system during a period from said date of conditional acceptance of said offer to determine if said signals contain an identification of said offer in association with an identification of a second entity and a contribution by said second entity to said price; and

debiting accounts for the entity or the entities contributing to said price.

Assignments (7)