US 7,624,044 B2 · System for marketing goods and services utilizing computerized central and remote facilities

Abstract

A system and means for facilitating transactions between central and remote facilities utilizes electronic communications devices, and computing equipment for concurrently or nonconcurrently transmitting voice, music, audio, data, images, video, optic information, and/or signals. Such systems are used to market, sell, finance, and insure goods and/or services. A study of these systems shows that they fall short because none of them take all types of customer personalities into consideration. A system is needed which provides the customers with more latitude and fewer limitations in shopping for goods and services, or for engaging in business transactions. Such a system and means are provided herein, which meet the needs and desires of independent customers, more dependent customers, and a third, or passive, group of customers. All customer types can at anytime request help from a centrally staffed live attendant.

Claims36

Dependent claims

An apparatus to market and/or sell goods and/or services over an electronic network comprising:

a first computerized central communications facility adapted to be linked to a computerized remote facility and to a plurality of other computerized central communications facilities, each of said first or other computerized central communications facilities having information relating to goods or services stored in a database, and each of said first or other computerized central communications facilities having a processor programmed to:
receive from a customer located at said computerized remote facility a request to at least one of search, browse and access in said database at said first or other computerized central communications facility for information of interest;
enable said customer to at least one of search, browse and access said database for information of interest;
and
transmit said information of interest from the database at said computerized central communications facility to said computerized remote communications facility;
wherein at least one of said computerized central communications facilities is adapted to provide to said customer at said computerized remote facility a list of computerized central communications facilities permitting said customer to select and contact at least one other computerized central communications facility to request additional information relating to said goods or services, and;
wherein at least one of said computerized central communications facilities is further programmed to contact the customer and apprise said customer of goods or services offered or any special offerings.

4 more elements

A marketing apparatus for use with a distant communications apparatus including means for storing a digital image and a data record of a good for sale within said distant communications apparatus and a means for transmitting said digital image and data record to said marketing apparatus;

said marketing apparatus comprising:
a communication means for communicating with said distant communications apparatus;
a processor operably connected to said communications means, said processor receiving the data record of a good for sale from said distant communications apparatus, said processor receiving an identification code from said distant communications apparatus;
a storage device operably connected to said processor, said storage device adapted to receive said data record of a good for sale, said data record containing an image of said good for sale and a written description of said good for sale;
presentation software operably connected to said storage device and a communications link, said presentation software providing , via said communications link, and interface to said marketing apparatus for a customer, thereby giving the customer access to said data record written description and said image of said good for sale;
a transaction processor operably connected to said communications link and said storage device, said transaction processor adapted to enable customer to tender payment, and to approve said payment means;
and
a transaction record means operably connected to said transaction processor, said transaction record means transmitting to said customer in response to said purchase request a record of said transaction.

5 more elements

A method for running application software in a computer network environment, comprising:

providing at least one computerized remote communications facility and at least one computerized central communications facility coupled to said network environment, wherein said network environment is a hypermedia transmitted environment;
executing, at said computerized remote communications facility browsing application software that processes a first transmitted hypermedia document to identify visual and/or audio information in said hypermedia document caused to be transmitted from said computerized central communications facility for a customer at said computerized remote communications facility;
utilizing said browsing application software to display on a monitor at said computerized remote communications facility, at least a portion of a first transmitted hypermedia document received over said network from said computerized central communications facility, wherein a portion of said first hypermedia document is displayed within a first browsing application software window on said monitor at said computerized remote communications facility, wherein said computerized remote communications facility has downloaded application software from at least one of said computerized central communications facilities in a current or past session, wherein said browsing application software is operational to process information contained in said hypermedia document, and wherein said downloaded application software is operational to translate information contained in said transmitted hypermedia document in order to display in said first browsing application software window or otherwise reproduce said information at a computer for said customer at said computerized remote communications facility;
wherein at least one of said computerized central communications facilities is configured to enable said customer to select and contact another computerized central communications facility.

1 more element

A method for enabling a remote user to preview a portion of a pre recorded entertainment product from a network computerized central communications facility containing pre selected portions of different pre recorded entertainment products, using a computer, a computer display and a telecommunications link between the remote user's computer and the network computerized central communications facility, the method comprising the steps of:

a) using the remote user's computer to establish a telecommunications link to the network computerized central communications facility wherein the network computerized central communications facility comprises (i) a central computer coupled to a communications network for retrieving and transmitting the pre selected portion of the pre recorded entertainment product upon request by a remote user and (ii) a central storage device for storing pre selected portions of a plurality of different pre recorded entertainment products;
b) choosing at least one pre selected portion of the pre recorded entertainment products from said central computer;
c) receiving the chosen pre selected portion of the pre recorded products;
and
d) interactively previewing the received chosen pre selected portion of the pre recorded entertainment product.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for marketing goods and services utilizing computerized central and remote facilities

Life of this patent

System for marketing goods and services utilizing computerized central and remote facilities

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36