METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR BROKERING TRANSACTIONS

摘要

Method and apparatus are described for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and one of a plurality of sellers via the Internet. Product information relating to a plurality of products (Figure 19) meeting product criteria specified by the buyer is presented via the Internet. One of the plurality of sellers is associated with each of the products. A first bid from the buyer (210) for a first one of the plurality of products is made available via the Internet to a first seller associated with the first product. A first bid response (214) is presented via the Internet to the buyer according to response criteria specified by the first seller. Where the first bid response is an acceptance of the first bid, consummation of the transaction is facilitated (220). Where the first bid response is a counteroffer, further negotiation via the Internet between the buyer and the first seller is enabled (258).