Platform-independent systems and methods for enabling parties to rapidly negotiate terms for a service to be provided by one party to another party, and to effect payment between parties upon completion thereof

摘要

The invention provides platform-independent non-proprietary systems and methods to enable parties to utilize one or more conventional communication applications/systems, in one or more mediums, to easily negotiate one or more aspects of a provision of a desired service by one of the parties, and to effect the appropriate compensation, after the service is provided, to the appropriate party, and, optionally, to the party enabling the service procurement process. In another embodiment of the invention, the systems and methods enable a party to readily locate a desired service from a service information database or directory (by browsing and/or searching), to select a desired service and corresponding prospective provider, to communicate therewith to readily and flexibly negotiate the cost of the service and/or one or more non-financial aspects of the service provision, and to effect compensation for the service after provision thereof. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the systems and methods are utilized to add one or more of the service procurement, negotiation, provision, and compensation features to an existing application and/or data processing infrastructure, such that the various communication and other features thereof may be advantageously utilized in conjunction with the systems and methods described herein.