1. A method of servicing a plurality of customers or potential customers andor builders andor potential builders among a plurality of builders or other product offerers by a third-party website provider to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customers or potential customers at respective building sites of the customers or potential customers, such method comprising:
providing a first website by the third-party website provider for use by the plurality of customers or potential customers in viewing and selecting product options or product offerings available from or through the plurality of builders or other product offerers, where an information content of at least some customers or potential customers of the plurality of customers or potential customers within said first website is password protected by a respective password of the at least some customers or potential customers of the plurality of customers or potential customers;
providing a variety of specifically related forms related to product options of product offerings to be filled out through the first web site;
providing a second website associated with the first website by the third-party website provider for entry of information related to customers or potential customers information and the respective building sites of the real estate;
receiving through the first website a selection of an option of the options provided by the builder, potential builder or product offerer;
incorporating the selected option, and a content of the specifically related forms into an offer to enter into a real estate contract or a modification of an existing contract;
in response to the offer a builder or potential builder of the plurality of builders or potential builder or other product offerer entering into a contract to build or rehabilitate real estate for a customer or potential customer at the building site of the real estate of the customer, said contract forming a new contract or a modification or amendment of a pre-existing contract; and
collecting a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by and selections made by the customer.
2. The method of servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing related forms further comprises supplying change orders, product information, real estate contracts, mortgage financing, deed or real estate closing forms.
3. The method of servicing a customer or potential customer of a builder as in claim 1 further comprising the website offering purchase and pre-purchase information, promoting a buyers’ group service for a plurality of builders or customers or potential customers for volume discounts or advertising.
4. The method of servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing the first website further comprises providing an online payment reservation or deposit system for payment by the customer of all or a portion of the selected product offering.
5. The method of servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 4 wherein the step of providing the online payment reservation or deposit system further comprises placing the payment in escrow.
6. The method of servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 4 further comprising purchasing extras using the online deposit system, paying for a portion of the purchased extras and holding such payment of deposit in an escrow by the third party.
7. The method of servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing a website further comprises providing order verification and tracking of the product offering, selection, payment or deposits, secondary selections or availability or installation to the real estate site.
8. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 further comprising collecting data concerning buying trends of a plurality of customers or potential customers and builders or potential builders or other offerers.
9. The method for servicing a customer or potential customer of a builder or potential builder as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing the website further comprises collecting data from a plurality of builders or potential builders or customers and potential customers to create a third website or report allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, or vendors to pre-view potential orders, groups of orders, or customer product viewings.
10. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 further comprising providing web on-line communications tools to the builder, sub-contractors, suppliers or manufacturers to communicate with the customer andor builder regarding option selections.
11. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 10 further comprising defining the web and communication tools as at least one of the group consisting of e-mail, real-time chat, calendars, escrow services, e-business services, job-site reports of the real estate building site, notices, attendance tracking, buyer satisfaction ratings, next day activity lists, job-site logs, messaging, post-its, products, and threaded discussion groups.
12. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 further comprising collecting up-front access or click-to-view fees or commissions, semi-custom web design fees or commissions, and data service fees or commissions from the builder or other providers or third-party advertisers, manufacturers or suppliers, or builders.
13. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing the first website further comprises allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, or suppliers to display or advertise their products through the websites.
14. An apparatus for servicing a plurality of customers or potential customers among a plurality of builders by a third-party website provider, such apparatus comprising:
means for providing a first website by the third-party website provider for use by the plurality of customers or potential customers in viewing and selecting product options of product offerings available from the plurality of builders or the third party web site provider or posted to the websites of the third party provider by other product offerers, an information content of at least some customers of the plurality of customers within said first website being password protected by a respective password of the at least some customers;
means for establishing andor maintaining the terms of a contract between a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders or other product offerers to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract forming a new contract or a modification or amendment of a pre-existing contract;
means for providing a variety of related forms to be filled out by the customer through the first website;
means for providing a second website associated with the first website by the third-party website provider for entry of information related by the customer to the builder said second website being password protected by a password of the builder or customer or both or other product offerer;
means for receiving from the customer through the first website a selection of an option of the options provided by the builder or the third party or other product offerer;
means for incorporating the selected options and content of the filled in forms into an offer to enter into or a modification of the contract; and
means for collecting a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by or selections made by the customer.
15. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 14 wherein the means for providing related forms further comprises means for filtering and generating contract, change orders, mortgage financing, closing, deed, bill of sale and forms.
16. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 14 further comprising means for offering purchase and pre-purchase information or data reports.
17. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 14 further comprising means for offering purchase and pre-purchase information or data reports, servicing or promoting a buyers’ group service for a plurality of builders for volume discounts or advertising, facilitating lending, closing, title, inspection, appraisal, warrantee, or change-of-address information services, or providing post-closing warrantee and product information, or customer service or sales support.
18. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 14 wherein the means for providing the first website further comprises means for offering an online payment reservation or deposit system for payment by the customer of all or a portion of the selected product offerings.
19. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 18 wherein the means for offering an online payment reservation or deposit system for payment further comprises means for placing the payment in escrow.
20. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 18 wherein the means for offering the online deposit system further comprises means for purchasing extras and for payment by the customer of a portion of the product offering being selected or holding such reservation or deposit in escrow by the third party.
21. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder of plurality of builders as in claim 14 wherein the means for providing the first website further comprises means for providing order verification and tracking of the product offering, selection, payment or deposits, secondary selections, availability or installation into the real estate building site.
22. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder of the plurality of builders as in claim 14 further comprising means for collecting data concerning buying trends among a plurality of customers or potential customers or the plurality of builders.
23. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder of the plurality of builders as in claim 14 wherein the means for providing the first website further comprises means for allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, or vendors to pre-view potential orders, groups of orders, or customer or builder’s product offerings or orders.
24. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder of the plurality of builders as in claim 14 further comprising means for providing web or online communications tools to the builder, sub-contractors, suppliers or manufacturers.
25. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder of the plurality of builders as in claim 24 wherein the web and communication tools further comprise at least one of the group consisting of e-mail, real-time chat, calendars, escrow services, e-business services, job-site reports, notices, job-site attendance tracking, buyer satisfaction ratings, activity lists, job-site logs, messaging, post-its, sample request-taking system, or threaded discussion groups.
26. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 14 further comprising means for collecting up-front access fees, semi-custom web site design, or data service fees or commissions from the builders or potential builders.
27. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 14 wherein the means of providing the first website further comprises means for allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, and suppliers to advertise their products through the system.
28. An apparatus for servicing a plurality of customers or potential customers andor builders andor potential builders among a plurality of builders or other product offerers by a third-party website provider to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customers or potential customers at respective building sites of the customers or potential customers, such method comprising the steps of:
a first website provided by the third-party website provider on a processor for use by the plurality of customers or potential customers in viewing and selecting product options or product offerings available from or through the plurality of builders or other product offerers, where an information content of at least some customers or potential customers of the plurality of customers or potential customers within said first website is password protected by a respective password of the at least some customers or potential customers of the plurality of customers or potential customers;
a variety of specifically related forms related to product options of product offerings to be filled out through the processor of the first web site;
a second website associated with the first website provided by the third-party website provider operating on a processor for entry of information related to customers or potential customers information and the respective building sites of the real estate;
a selection of an option of the options provided by the builder, potential builder or product offerer received through the processor of the first website;
a contract establishment processor that incorporates the selected options, and a content of the specifically related forms into an offer to enter into a real estate contract or a modification of an existing contract to build or rehabilitate real estate;
a contract between a customer or potential customer of the plurality of customers or potential customers and a builder or potential builder of the plurality of builders or potential builder or other product offerer where the contract is based upon the offer to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer or potential customer at the building site of the real estate, said contract forming a new contract or a modification or amendment of a pre-existing contract; and
a commission processor that collects a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by and selections made by the customer.
29. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 28 wherein the related forms further comprise product information, contract, mortgage financing, closing, deed, bill or sale and forms.
30. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 28 wherein the first website further comprises an online payment reservation deposit system for payment by the customer of all or a portion of the selected product offering.
31. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 30 wherein the online deposit system further comprises a credit source for the purchase of extras.
32. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 28 wherein the first website further comprises an order verification and tracking system.
33. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 28 further comprising a system for collecting data concerning buying trends among a plurality of customers or the plurality of builders.
34. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 28 wherein the first website further comprises a system for allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, and vendors to pre-view potential orders, groups of orders, and customer product viewings.
35. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 28 further comprising web and communications tools available to the builder, sub-contractors, and suppliers.
36. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 35 wherein the web and communication tools further comprise at least one of the group consisting of e-mail, real-time chat, calendars, escrow services, e-business services, job-site reports, notices, job-site attendance tracking, buyer satisfaction ratings, next day activity lists, job-site logs, messaging, post-its, sample request-taking system, and threaded discussion groups.
37. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 28 wherein the first website further comprises a system for allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, and suppliers to advertise their products.
38. A method of offering or servicing a plurality of customers andor a plurality of builders, including actual or prospective buyers or renters of real estate, among a plurality, consortium or conglomeration of builders, including actual or prospective sellers or lessors of residential or commercial real estate andor a plurality of contractors or sub-contractors for construction services on real estate andor a plurality, consortium or conglomeration of product manufacturers, sellers or distributors of a plurality of products andor services for installation into real estate or buildings of the respective customers through a third-party website provider, such method comprising the steps of:
the plurality of builders providing a plurality of product offerings, including multiple and varied physical products from a plurality of product manufacturers or suppliers to be installed at a building site into real estate andor construction services to build andor install such products or combinations of products which, taken together can constitute a product offering, grouping or class of product offering, or a plurality of product offerings through a first website provided by the third-party website provider;
a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders presenting for sale andor entering into a contract to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract modifying a pre-existing contract for real estate or providing a separate contract for product offerings related to real estate andor to incorporated into real estate;
the customer viewing and selecting a product offering or a product option of product offerings available from or through the builder, builders, prospective builder or prospective builders through the first website
receiving from the customer through the first website a selection of an option or product offering of the options and product offerings provided by the builder, builders, prospective builder or prospective builders;
incorporating the selected product offering or options into a modification, rider or amendment of the pre-existing contract for real estate or forming a new contract for product offerings related to the pre-existing or new contract for the real estate; and
the third-party website provider collecting a fee or commission based upon the product offering or offerings viewed by andor product offering, offerings selection or selections made by the customer.
39. The method of servicing the plurality of customers andor the plurality of builders as in claim 38 further comprising the third-party website collecting a fee or commission based upon the activity generated by the use of the third-party web-site by the plurality of customers and builders, and the viewing andor selecting among the plurality of product offerings viewed by and or product offerings or selections made by the plurality of customers andor the plurality of product offerings offered by the builders or a plurality of product offerings suggested by the third-party web-site to be offered or incorporated into a contract for real estate or building.
40. The method of servicing the plurality of customers andor plurality of builders as in claim 39 further comprising the third-party web-site collecting a fee or commission based upon an analysis of data from activity generated by use of the third-party website including a plurality of related or unrelated data obtained from activity of the third-party website and analysis of said activity and data and relational or statistical trends to evaluate andor focus the product offerings made to a customer of the plurality of customers of the third party web-site among the plurality of product offerings.
41. The method of servicing the plurality of customers as in claim 40 further comprising the third-party web-site further focusing use and deployment of product offerings with marketing and sales strategies targeted to a plurality of future users of the third-party website or based upon the analysis of data from the activity generated by past use of the third-party website including the plurality of related or unrelated data obtained by the activity of the third-party website and the analysis of said activity and data and relational or statistical trends to evaluate andor focus the product offerings made to a user of the plurality of users of the third party web-site among the plurality of product offerings suggested by the third-party web-site to be offered to related or incorporated with a contract for real estate or building.
42. A method of servicing customers of a plurality of builders or a plurality of builders through a third-party website provider, such method comprising the steps of:
the plurality of builders providing product offerings to customers through a first website provided by the third-party website provider;
a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders entering into a contract to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract forming a pre-existing contract;
the customer viewing and selecting product options of product offerings available from or through the builder through the first website;
receiving from the customer through the first website a selection of an option of the options provided by the builder;
incorporating the selected options, into a new or modification of the pre-existing contract; and
the third-party website collecting a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by and selections made by the customer.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An etch apparatus, comprising:
an etching tank comprising an etchant, said etchant configured to perform a selective etching of a structure in the tank in contact with the etchant, wherein the structure comprises silicon nitride on a pad layer comprising silicon dioxide, wherein said selective etching is characterized by the silicon nitride on the pad layer being selectively etched by the etchant relative to an etching by the etchant of the silicon dioxide of the pad layer;
a recirculating path coupled to the tank, wherein the recirculating path comprises a dissolver, wherein the dissolver comprises a porous carbon matrix filter coated with silicon nitride, and wherein the recirculating path is configured to receive the etchant from the tank and to circulate the etchant from the tank through the recirculating path, including through the dissolver, and back into the tank;
means for dissolving the silicon nitride coated on the filter into the etchant at a controlled dissolution rate sufficient to cause the selective etching to decrease an etch rate of the silicon dioxide of the pad layer in the etchant in a controlled manner such that an etch rate of silicon nitride of the silicon nitride structure is substantially unchanged; and
means for coating the silicon nitride onto the filter to configure the coated silicon nitrate to facilitate said selective etching.
2. The etch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the silicon nitride coated on the filter has a different spatial distribution on the filter than would silicon nitride coated on the filter by being precipitated from the etchant onto the filter while the etchant is passing through the filter.
3. The etch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tank comprises a heating element for heating and adjusting a temperature of the etchant, and wherein the heater is immersed in the etchant.
4. The etch apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an etchant temperature controller adjacent said dissolver, said etchant temperature controller adjusting a temperature of the etchant flowing through said dissolver.
5. The etch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the etchant comprises a phosphoric acid solution;
6. The etch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recirculating path further comprises a chamber in contact with the tank, a filtering system, a first conduit, and a second conduit comprising the dissolver,
wherein the chamber is in direct mechanical contact with the tank,
wherein a first end of the first conduit is connected to an outlet of the chamber,
wherein an inlet of the filtering system is connected to a second end of the first conduit, wherein an outlet of the filtering system is connected to a first end of the second conduit,
wherein a second end of the second conduit is connected to the tank or the chamber,
wherein the recirculating path is configured to receive the etchant from the tank into the chamber and to flow the etchant from the chamber through the first conduit, the filtering system, the second conduit, and back into the tank.
7. The etch apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a spout for providing deionized water to the tank to adjust the concentration of the etchant in the tank, wherein the spout is directly connected to the chamber.
8. The etch apparatus of claim 6, wherein a permeable sidewall is disposed between the tank and the chamber, and wherein the etchant flows from the tank to the chamber by flowing through the permeable sidewall andor by overflowing the permeable sidewall.
9. The etch apparatus of claim 8, wherein the etchant flows from the tank to the chamber by flowing through the permeable sidewall.
10. The etch apparatus of claim 8, wherein the etchant flows from the tank to the chamber by overflowing the permeable sidewall.
11. The etch apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second end of the second conduit is connected to the chamber, and wherein the etch apparatus further includes:
a split valve within the first conduit; and
a bypass conduit external to the first conduit, wherein a first end of the bypass conduit is connected to the split valve and a second end of the bypass conduit is connected to a merge location in the first conduit, wherein the dissolver is disposed within the first conduit between the split valve and the merge location, wherein the split valve is configured to split the etchant flowing into the split valve from the first end of the first conduit into a first etchant component flowing through the filter and a second etchant component flowing through the bypass conduit, and wherein the second etchant component merges with the first etchant at the merge location into a merged etchant flowing into the second end of the first conduit and into the inlet of the filtering system.
12. The etch apparatus of claim 6, wherein the etch apparatus further includes:
a split valve within the second conduit;
a merge valve within the second conduit, wherein the dissolver is disposed within the second conduit between the split valve and the merge valve, wherein the merge valve is closer to the second end of the second conduit than is the split valve, and wherein the second end of the second conduit is connected to the tank; and
a bypass conduit connecting the split valve to the merge valve, wherein the bypass conduit is external to the second conduit, wherein the split valve is configured to split the etchant flowing into the split valve from the first end of the second conduit into a first etchant component flowing through the filter and a second etchant component flowing through the bypass conduit, and wherein the merge valve is configured to merge the first etchant component flowing through the filter and the second etchant component flowing through the bypass conduit into a merged etchant flowing into the second end of the second conduit and into the tank.