Method for handling an electronic request with the aid of an intermediary entity

A method for handling an electronic request between two entities with the aid of an intermediary entity comprising the steps of:

• vi a first entity using a communication device of the first entity for sending a request intended for a second entity via an open, first communication network to an intermediary entity;
• vii the intermediary entity forwarding the request as a first text message via a secure, second communication network to a communication device of the second entity;
• viii subsequent to the communication device of the second entity receiving said first text message, the second entity either using the communication device of the second entity for indicating acceptance of the request by sending a second text message back to the intermediary entity via the second communication network, or rejecting the request by sending a rejection message or by not responding;
• ix the intermediary entity either confirming that the request has been accepted by providing an acknowledgement of the acceptance by the second entity to at least the communication device of the first entity or another communication device of the first entity if the second text message is received within a maximum response time after sending of the first text message, or indicating that the request has been rejected by the second entity by providing an acknowledgement of the rejection to at least the communication device of the first entity or the other communication device of the first entity, if the rejection message has been received or no second message is received within the maximum response time after sending of the first text message;
• and
• a device of the intermediary entity logging a result concerning at least the preceding step in an activity log, wherein the first entity and the second entity have registered for service with the intermediary entity prior to step i, the corresponding registration process comprising the steps of:
• the entity seeking registration using the communication device of the entity for accessing a primary website via the first communication network and providing at least a call number associated with a text message service enabled device operable within the second communication network and/or an e-mail address, respectively;
• the intermediary entity sending a verification message as a text message via the second communication network and/or an e-mail via the first communication network, respectively, to the communication device of the entity seeking registration;
• the entity seeking registration using the communication device for acknowledging receipt of the verification message by sending an acknowledgement message as text message via the second communication network and/or as an e-mail via the first communication, respectively, back to the intermediary entity;
• the intermediary entity accepting registration upon receiving the acknowledgement message.

A method for handling an electronic request between two entities with the aid of an intermediary entity comprising the steps of:

• x a first entity using a communication device of the first entity for sending a request intended for a second entity via an open, first communication network to an intermediary entity;
• xi the intermediary entity forwarding the request as a first text message via a secure, second communication network to a communication device of the second entity;
• xii subsequent to the communication device of the second entity receiving said first text message, the second entity either using the communication device of the second entity for indicating acceptance of the request by sending a second text message back to the intermediary entity via the second communication network, or rejecting the request by sending a rejection message or by not responding;
• xiii the intermediary entity either confirming that the request has been accepted by providing an acknowledgement of the acceptance by the second entity to at least the communication device of the first entity or another communication device of the first entity if the second text message is received within a maximum response time after sending of the first text message, or indicating that the request has been rejected by the second entity by providing an acknowledgement of the rejection to at least the communication device of the first entity or the other communication device of the first entity, if the rejection message has been received or no second message is received within the maximum response time after sending of the first text message;
• and
• a device of the intermediary entity logging a result concerning at least the preceding step in an activity log, wherein
• the acknowledgement of acceptance is sent to the communication devices of the first and second entity, respectively, as a first and second e-mail, respectively, via the first communication network, and the acknowledgement of rejection is sent to the communication devices of the first and second entity, respectively, as a first and second e-mail, respectively, via the first communication network.

A method for handling an electronic request between two entities with the aid of an intermediary entity comprising the steps of:

• a first entity using a communication device of the first entity for sending a request intended for a second entity via an open, first communication network to an intermediary entity;
• the intermediary entity forwarding the request as a first text message via a secure, second communication network to a communication device of the second entity;
• subsequent to the communication device of the second entity receiving said first text message, the second entity either using the communication device of the second entity for indicating acceptance of the request by sending a second text message back to the intermediary entity via the second communication network, or rejecting the request by sending a rejection message or by not responding;
• the intermediary entity either confirming that the request has been accepted by providing an acknowledgement of the acceptance by the second entity to at least the communication device of the first entity or another communication device of the first entity if the second text message is received within a maximum response time after sending of the first text message, or indicating that the request has been rejected by the second entity by providing an acknowledgement of the rejection to at least the communication device of the first entity or the other communication device of the first entity, if the rejection message has been received or no second message is received within the maximum response time after sending of the first text message;
• a device of the intermediary entity logging a result concerning at least the preceding step in an activity log, and
• establishing a binding legal agreement between the first entity and second entity concerning the offer requested by the first entity and provided by the second entity, initiation and acceptance or rejection of which offer is verifiable with the aid of the activity log maintained by the intermediary entity.