METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC FACE-TO-FACE BUSINESS AND RETAIL BROKERAGE

摘要

Methods, systems and apparatus allowing anyone to take advantage of the global shopping and price competitiveness available via the Internet. The shopper approaches a videoconferencing unit (17, 18) and interacts with a remote broker (11) appearing on the unit's monitor. The shopper's video image may also appear on the broker's monitor (12), but a privacy shutter can render the shopper's face unrecognizable. The broker operates from a broker-controlled unit (10) fitted with one or more video monitors (12) and data displays to interact with several shoppers. In a face-to-face dialog, the shopper expresses an interest to purchase a product/service. The broker proposes to show the shopper a multimedia advertisement relating to the product/service and to search all available online sources (10) for the most cost competitive price. The broker, being very adept with the Internet and computer technology formulates expert online searches and connects relevant multimedia streams to the shopper's videoconferencing unit. While the shopper watches the advertising, the broker may formulate electronic queries regarding price and availability and may cause the results to be displayed on the shopper's monitor. The shopper may then confirm his or her content to purchase the product/service.