WO2001033475A2

WO2001033475A2 - Intercommunicating computer calendar-based marketing and sales

Info

Publication number: WO2001033475A2
Application number: PCT/US2000/041869
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Wiltshire; Kevin T. Scheier
Original assignee: Onedayfree, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-11-04
Filing date: 2000-11-03
Publication date: 2001-05-10
Also published as: WO2001033475A8; AU3267701A

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for a selling business (or any other seller) to market and sell surplus products (or any other products or services) to prospective buyers. In a preferred embodiment, the selling business advertises the availability of the products or services for sale, at prices specified with reference to a calendar (or clock). The advertised prices can decrease each day, from an initial price, by a fixed amount, until the products or services are actually offered for free. On any specific date and time, a prospective buyer can purchase any remaining surplus product at the price posted for that date and time. Prospective buyers can obtain information on an available amount of particular products or services, and on the present and future prices of those products or services. Those prospective buyers who desire the products or services immediately can purchase them at the presently available price. Thus, prospective buyers who are looking for bargains can wait for the price to reach a lower price at a known future date.

Description

INTERCOMMUNICATING COMPUTER CALENDAR-BASED MARKETING

AND SALES

Background of the Invention

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the marketing and sales of products and services, such as in an Internet communications environment.

2. Related Art

Businesses with excess or surplus products or services often have difficulty disposing of their surplus at reasonable prices. The market for surplus products is quite fragmented, so the cost of communicating with prospective buyers can be a substantial fraction of, or even more than, a reasonable selling price for the product itself. This problem is particularly exacerbated when the surplus product includes a relatively large number of similar items, so that it is unlikely a single buyer would be interested in purchasing all of them.

A first known method used by some businesses is to sell their surplus products to a reseller, typically at a deep discount from the original price. The reseller offers these surplus products for sale at prices below ordinary retail prices, but still substantially above prices paid to the selling business. The reseller thus reaps a substantial profit from the lack of connection between the selling business and the buying public.

Although this first known method generally achieves the result of disposing of surplus products, it is subject to several drawbacks. First, the selling business obtains a lower price (sometimes much, much lower) for the surplus products than would be a fair market price. Second, the buying public pays a higher price for the surplus products than might be obtained by dealing directly with the selling business. Third, the fragmented nature of the market for surplus products makes it difficult for prospective buyers to identify surplus products of interest for purchase, and makes it difficult for selling businesses to determine a fair market value for the surplus products.

A second known method is to sell the surplus products at auction. The auction could be conducted either in person, or at an auction web site. In this known method, when the auction is at a web site, the selling business posts a notice at the auction web site, indicating the surplus products for sale (and perhaps additional information such as a suggested retail price). Over a period of time allowed for submission of bids, prospective buyers each submit bids for the surplus products, with the highest bid winning the auction. There are many types of known models for conducting auctions, but not all have been applied to auctions of surplus goods.

Although this second known method also generally achieves a result of disposing of surplus products, it is also subject to several drawbacks. First, each prospective buyer has no guarantee of actually purchasing any individual surplus product. Second, each prospective buyer must wait for the auction to finish before it is determined which prospective buyer had the winning bid. Third, the uncertain nature of the auction process makes it difficult for selling businesses to determine at what price the surplus product are likely to sell. Fourth, this second known method is not well suited to selling multiple fungible items to differing prospective buyers.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a technique for a selling business to dispose of surplus products at a price closer to a fair market price, while simultaneously allowing the buying public to relatively easily identify surplus products that are for sale, without any requirement for giving up a substantial fee to a reseller. Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a method and system for a selling business (or any other seller) to market and sell surplus products (or any other products or services) to prospective buyers. In a preferred embodiment, the selling business advertises or posts the availability of the products or services for sale, at prices specified with reference to a calendar (or clock), with the availability of surplus products and the future prices open to prospective buyers. The advertised prices can be fixed to decrease each day, from an initial price, by a fixed amount, until the products or services are actually offered for free. On any specific date and time, a prospective buyer can purchase any remaining surplus product at the price posted for that date and time. The combination of fixed prices and a calendar metaphor obviates the disadvantages of known methods. Moreover, the prospect that the surplus products will eventually become available for free makes it extremely likely that they will be sold, and provides a powerful incentive for prospective buyers to consider immediate purchase.

In a preferred embodiment, prospective buyers can obtain information on an available amount of particular products or services, and on the present and future prices of those products or services. Those prospective buyers who desire the products or services immediately can purchase them at the presently available price. Thus, prospective buyers who are looking for bargains can wait for the price to reach a lower price at a known future date. In alternatives to or variants of the preferred embodiment, prospective buyers can use open information and the calendar metaphor to enhance the service provided by the buyer/seller exchange. Such alternatives or variants can include (1) options or reservations for purchase of surplus products at selected times in the future, (2) variant pricing for variant forms of the surplus products, for variant forms of delivery or payment, or for other variant forms of the buyer/seller agreement, (3) upward-bidding periods during selected calendar periods, such as before or after the prices specified with reference to the calendar, (4) other known variations on auction techniques. The invention provides an enabling technology for a wide variety of applications for marketing and selling surplus products or services to prospective buyers, so as to obtain substantial advantages and capabilities that are novel and non- obvious in view of the known art. Examples described below primarily relate to suφlus products, but the invention is broadly applicable to many different types of presentation and to feedback thereto. The invention has general applicability to both business-to-business and business-to-consumer contexts, and to products and services that are either fungible or unique.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a system for calendar-based marketing and sales of products and services.

Figure 2 shows a diagram of a web page including product marketing and sales calendar in a system for operating a system for calendar-based marketing and sales of products and services.

Figure 3 shows a data flow diagram in a system for operating a system for calendar-based marketing and sales of products and services.

Figure 4 shows a process flow diagram of a method for operating a system for calendar-based marketing and sales of products and services.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

In the following description, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described with regard to preferred process steps and data structures. Embodiments of the invention can be implemented using general puφose processors or special puφose processors operating under program control, or other circuits, adapted to particular process steps and data structures described herein. Implementation of the process steps and data structures described herein would not require undue experimentation or further invention.

Lexicography

The following terms refer or relate to aspects of the invention as described below. The descriptions of general meanings of these terms are not intended to be limiting, only illustrative.

selling business — A business desiring to sell suφlus products. More generally, a "selling business" can include any entity having the intent of allocating or distributing products or services, either for money or otherwise, to a set of prospective buyers.

Although in a preferred embodiment, a selling business comprises an operating business entity, there is no particular requirement that the selling business must comprise an actual business entity. For example, in alternative embodiments, a selling business may include an individual, a charitable organization, a government agency, a labor union, an unincoφorated association, or some combination or mixture thereof.

• prospective buyer — A business desiring to buy suφlus products. More generally, similar to a selling business, a "prospective buyer" can include any entity having the intent of receiving products or services, either for money or otherwise, from one or more selling businesses. Also similar to a selling business, a prospective buyer can include any type of legal entity, or some combination or mixture thereof.

• surplus products — A set of products marketable by at least one selling business and purchasable by at least one prospective buyer. Although in a preferred embodiment, suφlus products comprise physical goods that can be delivered from the selling business to the prospective buyer, there is no particular requirement that the suφlus products must comprise physical goods or any other tangible commodity.

For example, in first alternative embodiments, suφlus products can include one or more units of a service to be supplied in the future, such as airline tickets for travel, professional services, or otherwise. In second alternative embodiments, suφlus products can include one or more inchoate or intangible legal rights, such as financial instruments, franchise rights, rights in real estate, software licenses, or otherwise.

Moreover, there's no particular requirement that the suφlus products must actually be suφlus for the selling business. For example, the selling business may choose the techniques described herein as a regular mode of distribution, as a supplement to a regular mode of distribution, or otherwise.

• fair market price — A price normally paid by a willing buyer to a willing seller in ordinary market conditions. It is contemplated herein that a fair market price is a price that would be paid if the seller was able to obtain sufficient information regarding prospective buyers, and the buyer was able to obtain sufficient information regarding suφlus products available for sale.

• buying public — A set of prospective buyers, not necessarily limited to any individual or any restricted set of individuals. Although in a preferred embodiment, the buying public comprises all those perspective buyers willing to consider making bids on suφlus products, there is no particular requirement that the buying public must be opened to the public at large. For example, in alternative embodiments, the buying public might be restricted to those entities meeting certain criteria such as professional licensees, "qualified investors", residency requirements, or other entities approved by a market maker or the selling business.

• market maker — An entity performing one or more techniques described herein, in which selling businesses are able to offer suφlus products to prospective buyers.

Although in a preferred embodiment, the market maker takes no part of any transaction between a selling business and a prospective buyer (except possibly collecting a commission or fee), there is no particular requirement that the market maker must be neutral with regard to selling businesses or prospective buyers. For example, in alternative embodiments, a market maker may attempt to assure orderly pricing, to insure performance of agreements, or to promote other market advantages.

• client and server - these terms refer to a relationship between two devices, particularly to their relationship as client and server, not necessarily to any particular physical devices.

For example, but without limitation, a particular client device in a first relationship with a first server device, can serve as a server device in a second relationship with a second client device. In a preferred embodiment, there are generally a relatively small number of server devices servicing a relatively larger number of client devices.

• client device and server device - these terms refer to devices taking on the role of a client device or a server device in a client-server relationship (such as an HTTP web client and web server). There is no particular requirement that any client devices or server devices must be individual physical devices. They can each be a single device, a set of cooperating devices, a portion of a device, or some combination thereof. For example, but without limitation, the client device and the server device in a client-server relation can actually be the same physical device, with a first set of software elements serving to perform client functions and a second set of software elements serving to perform server functions.

As noted above, these descriptions of general meanings of these terms are not intended to be limiting, only illustrative. Other and further applications of the invention, including extensions of these terms and concepts, would be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art after perusing this application. These other and further applications are part of the scope and spirit of the invention, and would be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art, without further invention or undue experimentation.

System Elements

A system 100 includes a seller computer workstation 110 associated with the selling business, a buyer computer workstation 120 associated with a prospective buyer, a communication link 130, and a market site web server 140. As used herein, the term "computer" is intended in its broadest sense, and includes any device having a programmable processor or otherwise falling within the generalized Turing machine paradigm.

The seller computer workstation 110 includes a processor, computer program and data memory, mass storage, and a set of suφlus product information 1 1 1 for marketing and sales of suφlus product to prospective buyers. In a preferred embodiment, the suφlus product information 1 1 1 is included in the program and data memory, in the mass storage, or in some combination thereof. The mass storage can include any device for storing relatively large amounts of information, such as magnetic disks or tapes, optical devices, magneto-optical devices, or other types of mass storage.

The buyer computer workstation 120, similar to the seller computer workstation 1 10, includes a processor, program and data memory, mass storage, the set of suφlus product information 111 , a presentation element 122, and an input element 123. Similar to the presentation server 110, in a preferred embodiment, the suφlus product information 1 11 is included in the program and data memory, in the mass storage, or in some combination thereof. Although the buyer workstation 120 is described herein as separate from the seller workstation 1 10, there is no particular requirement in any embodiment of the invention that these must be separate devices.

The communication link 130 includes any technique for sending information between the seller workstation 110 and the buyer workstation 120. In a preferred embodiment, the communication link 130 includes a computer network, such as an Internet, intranet, extranet, or a virtual private network. In alternative embodiments, the communication link 130 can include a direct communication line, a switched network such as a telephone network, or some combination thereof.

The market site web server 140, similar to the seller workstation 1 10, includes a processor, programming data memory, and mass storage. The market site web server 140 operates under control of operating system and application software for processing suφlus product information 1 1 1 and related information, as described herein. Although the market site web server 140 is described herein as separate from the seller workstation 1 10 and the buyer workstation 120, there is no particular requirement in any embodiment of the invention that these must be separate devices.

The market site web server 140 includes a suφlus product database 141 including the suφlus product information 1 1 1 and related information as described herein, a set of calendars 142 each having a sequence of fixed prices for a set of related suφlus products, and a set of web pages 143 and associated objects embedded therein. Operation of the market site web server is further described with regard to Figure 2, Figure 3, and Figure 4.

Marketing and Sales Calendar

A web page 200 includes, among other things, a market site identifier

201, a graphic presentation 202 of the calendar 142, one or more advertising presentations 203, and one or more hyperlinks 204. The market site identifier 201 includes a graphic or textual representation 211, indicating that the seller workstation 110 or the buyer workstation 120 is connected to the market site web server 140. In a preferred embodiment, the market site identifier 201 includes the phrase "One Day Free"™, a trademark for services provided by Onedayfree.com.

The graphic presentation 202 of the calendar 142 includes an indicator of a start date 221, an indicator of the current date 222, an indicator of a starting inventory value 223, an indicator of a current inventory value 224, a descriptor 225 of the suφlus products, an indicator of a selectable "BUY NOW" hyperlink 226 for purchasing one or more of the suφlus products, and a graphic presentation 227 of the relationship between time and price presented by the calendar 142.

In a preferred embodiment, each calendar 142 includes one or more of the following settable parameters:

• The start date 221 , which is the date from which the calendar 142 begins to count prices from an initial fixed value down to zero. In alternative embodiments described below, the start date 221 can be preceded by a period of activity during which prices may be bid up from an initial fixed price. Similarly, in alternative embodiments described hereafter, the final date for the calendar 142 can be followed by a period of activity during which prices can be set by other means.

• The starting inventory value 223, which is the amount of suφlus products originally available for sale. In a preferred embodiment, the suφlus products include actual physical products, and the amount of suφlus products represent separate units that can be individually distributed to buyers. In alternative embodiments described hereafter, the suφlus products can include any other products or services, such as (a) an arbitrarily large number of products distributed by a manufacturer or other distributor to the buying public; (b) a fixed number of the slots of available services, or times for services, such as airline tickets or other travel documents; (c) an arbitrarily large number of units of services provided by a service provider, such as a professional service provider or an organization disposed to provide services. In those alternative embodiments in which there are an arbitrarily large number of smplus products or services available for sale, the starting inventory value 223 can indicate an infinite value.

• The current inventory value 224, which is the amount of suφlus products c rently available for sale. Similarly, in those alternative embodiments in which there are an arbitrarily large number of suφlus products or services available for sale, the cuπent inventory value 224 can indicate an infinite value.

• The descriptor 225 of the suφlus products, which is a text description (possibly including a graphical supplement) of the nature of the smplus products. Where there are a plurality of suφlus products available for sale, and those suφlus products are fungible, the text description relates to an individual one of those suφlus products, while the starting inventory value 223 and the current inventory value 224 indicate the available number of those suφlus products available for sale. Where there are plurality of suφlus products available for sale, and the suφlus products are individually distinct, the text description relates to a general description of the individual suφlus products, while the starting inventory value 223 and the current inventory value 224 indicate the available number of individual suφlus products available for sale (notwithstanding that those individual suφlus product might not be identical).

In a preferred embodiment, the descriptor 225 includes information that is informative for a prospective buyer to determine whether or not they have interest in those suφlus products. In alternative embodiments, the descriptor 225 can include a hyperlink to further description of the suφlus products, such as a specification sheet, a hyperlink to a manufacturer or vendor of the suφlus products, one or more reviews of the suφlus products, or other supplementary information.

Where there are a plurality of suφlus products available for sale, and those suφlus products are not identical, the descriptor 225 can include information that is informative for a prospective buyer to determine which individual suφlus products that interest in buying, or the degree of variance to be expected between individual suφlus products in a lot thereof.

A relationship between the time and price presented by the calendar 142. In a preferred embodiment, the relationship between the time and price presented by the calendar 142 includes a linear decrease in price, from an original starting price, by a fixed decrement, down to an ultimate possible price of zero (that is, ultimately the smplus products are offered to prospective buyers for free). In a preferred embodiment, each individual day (or each individual fraction of the day or selected time increment), is separately presented to the prospective buyer with an indicator of the price at which the suφlus product will be available on that day. If the prospective buyer is satisfied with the price at which the suφlus products are available on the current day, the prospective buyer can use the "BUY NOW" hyperlink 226 to immediately purchase the suφlus products. If the prospective buyer would like a lower price than the price at which the suφlus products are available on the current day, the prospective buyer can return to the market site web server 140 on a later date, hoping that at least some of the suφlus products will still be available at the lower price indicated for the future.

In alternative embodiments, the prospective buyer may make a bid at a price that is part way between the fixed prices indicated for future days, as specified by the calendar 142. When the date or time arrives as indicated by the calendar 142 for a fixed price for the suφlus products which is less than the bid made by that the prospective buyer, the suφlus products are sold to that prospective buyer (or to the prospective buyer making the highest such intermediate bid).

In a preferred embodiment, each individual day (or each individual fraction of the day), is separately presented to the prospective buyer with an indicator of the amount of available suφlus products on that day or that were purchased on that day. If the prospective buyer predicts that availability of the suφlus products is not likely to be adequate at some specified time in the future, the prospective buyer can use that information to select the desired date or time to purchase the suφlus products according to the calendar 142.

In alternative embodiments, each calendar 142 may also include a number of alternatives and variants of the forms described above, such as one or more of, or some combination of, the following: • In first alternative embodiments, a buyer at the buyer workstation 120 may make a reservation for purchase of suφlus products at selected times in the future. For example, a buyer at the buyer workstation 120 might submit a bid with a price value in between daily posted prices on the calendar 142 (thus, if the price decrease for the suφlus products is $100 per day resulting in a decrement from $1,500 on Monday to $1,400 on Tuesday, the buyer could submit a bid for $1,450). If no other buyer purchased the product for $1,500 on Monday, the buyer submitting a bid for $1,450 would obtain the product on Tuesday in priority over any other buyer attempting to purchase the product for less.

Similarly, a buyer at the buyer workstation 120 may purchase an option to purchase the suφlus products at selected times in the future, the option giving the buyer the right to purchase those suφlus products at those times, but not the obligation to do so. In the example shown just above, a buyer at the buyer workstation 120 might purchase an option on Monday to have priority for purchasing the suφlus products on Tuesday. Thus, if the buyer exercises the option, the buyer would have priority over all other buyers attempting to purchase the suφlus products at Tuesday's price. The market site web server

140 may charge an additional premium price for the option, such as 3-5% of the target price.

• In second alternative embodiments, confirmation of purchase by a buyer in the buyer workstation 120 may be delayed a short period of time (such as 1 hour), so as to prefer certain classes of buyers. Preferred classes of buyers might include (a) bulk buyers being preferred over individual piece buyers; (b) retail buyers being preferred over wholesale buyers; (c) better-credit buyers being preferred over worse-credit buyers; (d) charitable organization buyers or government buyers being preferred over non-charitable organization buyers or non-government buyers. Similarly, preference for certain classes of buyers could be applied to reservations or options as described in the first alternative embodiments. Preferences may be implemented by either simply choosing a preferred buyer over non-preferred buyer when prices are otherwise equal, or by getting a fixed percentage preference (such as 3-5% of the bid price).

In third alternative embodiments, the designated fixed prices shown on the calendar 142 can be varied to account for differentiated forms of the transaction between seller and buyer. For first examples, the designated fixed prices can be adjusted for one or more of, or some combination of, the following: variant forms of the suφlus products (such as a distinction between suφlus products which are factory-new and suφlus products which are refurbished), for variant forms of delivery or payment (such as a distinction between payment by cash and payment by credit card), or for other variant forms of the buyer/seller agreement (such as a distinction between merchant- to-merchant transactions and merchant-to-user transactions).

For further examples, the designated fixed prices shown on the calendar 142 can be adjusted to account for one or more of, or some combination of, the following: discounts for better-credit buyers, discounts for bulk purchases, discounts for charitable organizations or other preferred buyers, discounts for "frequent buyers", or discounts for a purchaser of a first one of a set of suφlus products or a last one of the set of suφlus products.

For further examples, the designated fixed prices shown on the calendar 142 can be adjusted to account for one or more of, or some combination of, the following: discounts for distinct delivery situations, such as different prices for different types of shipping or different delivery location; discounts for linked purchases; price adjustments for purchases on credit. • In still further alternative embodiments, the designated fixed prices shown on the calendar 142 can be varied to account for upward-bidding periods during selected time periods, such as (a) before the fixed prices on the calendar 142 are designated to be decremented; (b) near when the time period for the calendar 142 ends, such as in the final few days before events; or (c) after a threshold number of suφlus products remain or have been sold. For a first example, the seller might desire to encourage upward-bidding prior to designating the fixed prices on the calendar 142. For a second example, where the suφlus products are services (such as tickets for a concert or other event), the seller might desire to encourage upward-bidding in the final few days before the event occurs, when publicity for the event is likely to be at a maximum. For a third example, the seller might desire to encourage a "run" on the final few individual units of smplus products by designating an upward- bidding period after a few units have been sold or when there are only a few units left to be sold.

• In other embodiments, the designated fixed prices shown on the calendar 142 can include negative prices (thus, the seller actually pays the buyer for taking the suφlus products). For a first example, this technique might be useful for giving away suφlus products that would otherwise cost the seller to dispose of, such as where there are substantial moving charges or disposal charges (as of hazardous waste). For a second example, this technique might be useful for acquiring suφlus products, such as for use in charitable event auctions.

In other and further alternative embodiments, or in variants of the preferred embodiment, sellers and prospective buyers can use the open view of suφlus product information 111 and the open view of fixed prices at designated times on the calendar 142 to make use of enhanced services. These enhanced services can be provided by the seller workstation 110, the buyer workstation 120, or the market site web server 140. Such other and further alternative embodiments, or variants of the preferred embodiment, would be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art, after perusal of this application.

System Operation

Figure 3 shows a system data flow diagram for operating a calendar- based marketing and sales of products and services system. A data flow diagram 300 includes a representation of the seller workstation 110, a representation of the buyer workstation 120, and a representation of the market site web server 140. The data flow diagram 300 also includes a set of information flow paths 310, each indicating a message or sequence of messages between entities in the system 100.

The information flow paths 310 include a first information flow path 311 sending information from the seller workstation 110 to the market site web server 140. The information sent on the first information flow path 311 includes suφlus product information 11 1 regarding the suφlus products and calendar information regarding a calendar 142 to be associated with those suφlus products.

A second information flow path 312 includes sending information from the market site web server 140 to its suφlus product database 141. The market site web server 140 records the smplus product information 11 1 and the calendar information regarding the calendar 142 associated with those suφlus products in the suφlus product database 141. In a preferred embodiment, suφlus product information 1 11 is searchable at the market site web server 140 with regard to name of product, type of product, product manufacturer or distributor, price range, calendar duration, time the smplus products have been available for sale, and possibly other data fields.

A third information flow path 313 includes sending information from the suφlus product database 141 back to the market site web server 140, such as in response to a request from a buyer workstation 120. Such information from the suφlus product database 141 can include a set of suφlus products responsive to a database query, a set of calendars 142 responsive to a database query, supplemental information regarding suφlus products as described above, or other information pertinent to embodiments of the invention.

A fourth information flow path 314 includes sending information from the buyer workstation 120 to the market site web server 140, such as a request message using the HTTP protocol (hypertext transfer protocol).

A fifth information flow path 315 includes sending information from the market site web server 140 to the buyer workstation 120, such as a response message using the HTTP protocol. The response passage can include a web page and associated objects, for presentation at the buyer workstation 120. Web pages and associated objects are known in the art of the World Wide Web.

The fourth information flow path 314 and the fifth information flow path 315 combine in regular operation, so that a buyer at the buyer workstation 120 can request and receive information from the market site web server 140 (and to its suφlus product database 141). In a preferred embodiment, the fourth information flow path 314 and the fifth information flow path 315 combine in regular operation, so that a buyer at the buyer workstation 120 can peruse suφlus product information 111 and associated calendars 142, so as to make buying decisions in response thereto.

A sixth information flow path 316 includes sending information from the buyer workstation 120 to the market site web server 140, indicating a bid or purchase by a buyer at the buyer workstation 120. As described above, in a preferred embodiment, the buyer workstation 120 can direct purchase of selected suφlus products, according to their associated calendars 142, at the fixed prices at which those suφlus products are offered for sale at the time of purchase. A seventh information flow path 317 includes sending information from the market site web server 140 to the buyer workstation 120, indicating acceptance of the bid or purchase by the market site web server 140. As described above, in a preferred embodiment, the market site web server 140 always accepts it purchase of selected suφlus products, according to their associated calendars 142, at the fixed prices at which those suφlus products are offered for sale at the time of purchase.

An eighth information flow path 318 includes sending information from the market site web server 140 to the seller workstation 110, indicating sale of the suφlus products to the buyer at the buyer workstation 120.

The ninth information flow path 319 indicates sending information between the seller workstation 110 and the buyer workstation 120, to complete the transaction between the seller and the buyer. Completion of the transaction can include one or more of, or some combination of, the following:

• exchanging credit information or other purchase information, so as to allow the seller to charge the buyer for the purchase;

• exchanging shipping information or other delivery information, so as to allow the seller to deliver the suφlus products to the buyer; or

• exchanging other information between the seller and the buyer pertinent to the transaction.

When the transaction is completed, the seller workstation 1 10, the buyer workstation 120, and the market site web server 140 all update their respective information about the suφlus products. Method of Operation

Figure 4 shows a process flow diagram of a method 400 for operating a system for calendar-based marketing and sales of products and services. The method 400 is performed by the system 100. Although the method 400 is described serially, the steps of the method 400 can be performed by separate elements in conjunction or in parallel, whether asynchronously, in a pipelined manner, or otherwise. There is no particular requirement that the method 400 be performed in the same order in which this description lists the steps, except where so indicated.

At a flow point 410, the system 100 is ready to commence a calendar marketing and sale process.

At a step 411, at least one seller workstation 110 sends smplus product information 111 and associated calendars 142 to the market site web server 140.

At a step 412, the market site web server 140 records that information in the suφlus product database 141.

At a step 413, the market site web server 140 receives at least one request for suφlus product information 1 1 1 and associated calendars 142 from at least one buyer workstation 120.

At a step 414, the market site web server 140 responds to the at least one request, thus providing smplus product information 1 1 1 or associated calendars 142 to at least one buyer workstation 120. As part of this step, the market site web server 140 might search the smplus product database 141 in response to the request from the at least one buyer workstation 120.

At a step 415, the buyer workstation 120 sends at least one bid for (or purchase of) suφlus products to the market site web server 140, in response to the suφlus product information 111 and associated calendars 142. As part of this step, the market site web server 140 records information regarding the bid in the suφlus product database 141.

At a step 416, the market site web server 140 sends to the buyer workstation 120 at least one acceptance or confirmation of the bid for (or purchase of) suφlus products.

At a step 417, the market site web server 140 sends to the seller workstation 110 transaction information regarding the purchase of suφlus products by a buyer at the buyer workstation 120.

At a step 418, the seller workstation 110 and the buyer workstation 120 exchange further transaction information to complete the transaction between the seller and the buyer.

At a flow point 420, one transaction between the seller workstation 110 and the buyer workstation 120 has been completed. The market site web server 140 updates its suφlus product database 111.

The method 400, including the steps associated with the flow point 410 and the flow point 420, can be performed a single time, or can be repeated periodically or continually.

Generality of the Invention

The invention has general applicability to various fields of use, not necessarily related to the services described above. For example, these fields of use can include one or more of, or some combination of, the following: • In addition to general applicability to marketing and sale of suφlus products in an Internet environment, the invention also has broad applicability to marketing and sale of suφlus products in non-computer environments. For example, the invention has brought applicability to publication of suφlus product information 111 and associated calendars 142 in printed matter or other hard copy, such as magazine advertisements and "blow-in cards".

• In addition to general applicability to marketing and sale of suφlus products in an Internet environment, the invention also has broad applicability to product promotions, such as "give-aways", (free) reservations, and for services subject to cancellation.

• In addition to general applicable of the marketing sale of suφlus product in an Internet environment, the invention also has broad applicability to non- business marketing and sales, such as charitable auctions or auctions by government agencies.

Other and further applications of the invention, in its most general form, will be clear to those skilled in the art after perusal of this application, and are within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Alternative Embodiments

Although preferred embodiments are disclosed herein, many variations are possible which remain within the concept, scope, and spirit of the invention, and these variations would become clear to those skilled in the art after perusal of this application.

Claims

1. A method including steps of determining information regarding the availability of suφlus products for sale, said information including a plurality of fixed prices, each one said fixed price being associated with a corresponding fixed time; providing said information to at least one prospective buyer, wherein said prospective buyer has access to an entire time sequence during which said suφlus products are being offered for sale; receiving at least one purchase order for said suφlus products, said purchase order being executed at the one set price associated with a fixed time at which said purchase order is received.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said fixed prices are subject to variation in response to variations of said purchase order, said variations of said purchase order including at least one of: (a) a quantity requested for purchase; (b) a form of delivery or payment requested in said purchase order; (c) a credit rating or other personalized information regarding a buyers associated with said purchase order.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said fixed prices decrease monotonically with time.

4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said fixed prices decrease until a specified fixed time, at which point said fix prices indicate that said smplus products are available for free.

5. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said prospective buyer has access to numeric information regarding said availability of suφlus products, said numeric information including a history of a number of said suφlus products available for purchase at corresponding fixed times in the past.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said suφlus products comprise defined units of services.

7. A method as in claim 1, including steps of determining a supplementary time sequence additional to said time sequence staring what said suφlus products are being offered for sale; receiving at least one bid in an upward-bidding auction format during said supplementary time sequence.

8. A method as in claim 1, including steps of receiving at least one reservation for a future purchase order for said suφlus products to be applied at a selected future time; applying said future purchase order at said selected future time.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein said steps of receiving at least one reservation include receiving a premium payment in exchange for the making of said reservation.

10. A method of doing business, said method including steps of making smplus products available for sale at a plurality of fixed prices, each one said fixed price being associated with a corresponding fixed time; advertising an entire time sequence during which said smplus products are being offered for sale, said entire time sequence being available to prospective buyers along with each one said fixed price and a history of the quantity of said suφlus products available for sale.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said suφlus products comprise defined units of services.

12. A method as in claim 10, wherein said time sequence includes at least one fixed time at which said suφlus products are available for free.

13. A method as in claim 10, including a supplementary time sequence during which said suφlus products are available to a bidder in an upward- bidding auction format.

14. An apparatus for calendar-based marketing using a computerized communications system, including at least one client device, wherein said client device comprises a first processor and a first memory and is under the control of a prospective buyer; at least one server device under the control of auction site, wherein said server device comprises a second processor and a second memory; a computer program coupled to said second memory, wherein computer program includes a set of instructions for generating and displaying at least one calendar, wherein said at least one calendar includes information regarding the changing status of one or more products; a database coupled to said second memory, wherein said database includes one or more records regarding said one or more products; and a communications system, coupled to said one or more client devices and one or more said server devices.

15. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said set of instructions includes an instruction to query a seller; an instruction to aggregate information provided by said seller concerning said one or more products; an instruction to generate said calendar; an instruction to associate said calendar with said one or more products; an instruction to associate a pricing scheme with said one or more products; and an instruction to display said pricing scheme with said calendar, wherein the price of said product incrementally decreases over time.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said pricing scheme is responsive to said information provided by said seller.

17. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said price of said product incrementally decreases until said price is zero.

18. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said one or more products includes a plurality of fungible goods.

19. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said information includes the number of said one or more products that are available and the price for each said one or more product.

20. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said one or more records includes demographic data regarding a seller of said one or more products; information regarding the available quantity of said one or more products; and information regarding the nature and quality of said one or more products.

21. An apparatus as in claim 20, wherein said one or more records also includes a record of all offers made for said one or more products; demographic data regarding a buyer of said one or more products; and information regarding the nature of a transactions between said buyer and said seller.

22. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said database also includes a set of relations between said one or more records.