Method and system for transactions between persons not sharing a common language, currency, and/or country

Abstract

A method and system for enabling person-to-person transactions between persons not sharing a native language, currency, and/or country, is provided. Person-to-person commerce is facilitated by providing sellers with the ability to input condition information, product attribute information, and by providing buyers with the ability to input seller transaction performance rating information, in each case through a standardized structured form that assigns coded designators to the information so that it can be selectively displayed to a buyer in a different language from the language in which the information was input. When the seller lists an item for sale, he completes a survey form specific to that product, describing the condition and any special attributes of the item. This information is then stored in the system as a series of numeric codes, which can then be used to display the information in different languages. The cost of shipping an item between any two places is automatically calculated using shipping tables maintained by the operator of the system and a catalog of data on products containing information such as the weight, dimensions, and the tax type of the product. The tax applicable to the sale and on shipping is also automatically calculated, taking into account the locations and tax status of the buyer and seller, and the type of product being sold. Automatic conversion between different currencies allows buyers to pay in a currency different from the currency in which the seller will be reimbursed. Automated, standardized, rules-based communications between buyer and seller in their respective languages are used to facilitate communications about transactions, reduce the requirements for customer service intervention, and resolve disputes. When the buyer completes a transaction, he completes a survey form (generic or specific to that transaction type), describing the aspects of the transaction performance by the seller. This information is then stored in the system as a series of numeric codes, which can then be used to display the information in different languages.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.