| 摘要 |
<p>A data processing system (10) and method including a host processor (12) and remote terminals (26) for facilitating transactions in precious stones such as diamonds are set forth. Sellers use remote terminal (26) to input the price and data about the stones offered for sale to a central data base (14) at a host processor (12). From remote terminals (26) buyers may view and/or make bids on the stones listed in the data base (14) of host processor (12) in the form of a matrix (22) that includes the lowest offer price (52), highest bid price (56) and the last sale price (54) for each category of the matrix (22). When a bid and offer match for a listed stone, confirmation is issued to the buyer and seller to confirm the sale. A third party escrow will receive the sold stone and payment and thereafter distribute it to the receiving party.</p> |
