Method and apparatus for meta-shopping and dynamic setup of B2B eCommerce

• US 20020138370A1
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nquyen, Thao N., Dan, Asit, Shaikh, Hidayatullah H., Dias, Daniel Manuel, Schumacher, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,085,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for generating a customized catalog for an entity or organization. Items from a base catalog are presented to a user located at a remote data processing system. One or more items are selected by a user through a process of “meta-shopping”. The selected items are placed in a set, also referred to as a “meta-shopping cart”, used to generate the customized catalog. Terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog are associated with the customized catalog. Further, a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog may be established, and the customized catalog is then placed on a Web site.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for establishing a customized catalog, the method comprising:

placing items in a meta-shopping cart in response to a selection of the items by a user; and

generating the customized catalog using items in the meta-shopping cart in response to a request to generate the customized catalog; and

placing the catalog on a Web site.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

allowing purchases from the catalog on the Web site by a selected buyer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selected buyer is the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is one of an individual, a business, and a government entity.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

processing orders to purchase items from the customized catalog.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

establishing terms for purchasing an item from the customized catalog.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of establishing terms for purchasing an item from the catalog comprises:

presenting a set of default terms to the user; and

negotiating a final set of terms from the set of default terms to form the terms for purchasing an item from the customized catalog.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the terms includes at least one of purchases prices for the items, minimum quantities of items to be purchased, order cancellation policies, shipping prices, delivery times, locations allowed to purchase from the customized catalog, and payment methods.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the items to the user in response to the request to generate the customized catalog.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the items are converted into an extensible markup language format.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the web site is located at a user location.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

negotiating terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

establishing a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

establishing operational items.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

placing the catalog on a Web site.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the placing step includes:

establishing the Web site.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the protocol provides for buyers purchase items by connecting to a Web site provided by a seller of the catalog.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the protocol is at least one of an Ariba'"'"'s punch out, Open Buying on the Internet protocol, and an Open Catalog Interface.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending the customized catalog to a user location.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein browsing and ordering from the catalog occurs locally at the user location.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein browsing and ordering occurs when the user location is disconnected from a network.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

establishing operational items.

26. The data processing system of claim 25 further comprising:

allowing means for allowing purchases from the catalog on the Web site by a selected buyer.

27. The data processing system of claim 26, wherein the selected buyer is the user.

28. The data processing system of claim 25, wherein the user is one of an individual, a business, and a government entity.

29. The data processing system of claim 25 further comprising:

processing means for processing orders to purchase items from the customized catalog.

30. The data processing system of claim 25 further comprising:

establishing means for establishing terms for purchasing an item from the catalog.

31. The data processing system of claim 30, wherein the establishing means comprises:

presenting means for presenting a set of default terms to the user; and

negotiating means for negotiating a final set of terms from the set of default terms to form the terms for purchasing an item form the catalog.

32. The data processing system of claim 30, wherein the terms includes at least one of purchases prices for the items, minimum quantities of items to be purchased, order cancellation policies, shipping prices, delivery times, locations allowed to purchase from the catalog, and payment methods.

33. The data processing system of claim 25, further comprising:

sending means for sending the items to the user in response to the request to generate the customized catalog.

34. The data processing system of claim 33, wherein the items are converted into an extensible markup language format.

35. The data processing system of claim 25, wherein the web site is located at a user location.

37. The data processing system of claim 36 further comprising:

negotiating means for negotiating terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog.

38. The data processing system of claim 36 further comprising:

establishing means for establishing a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog.

39. The data processing system of claim 36 further comprising:

establishing means for establishing operational items.

40. The data processing system of claim 36 further comprising:

placing means for placing the catalog on a Web site.

41. The data processing system of claim 40, wherein the placing means includes:

establishing means the Web site.

42. The data processing system of claim 38, wherein the protocol provides for buyers purchase items by connecting to a Web site provided by a seller of the catalog.

43. The data processing system of claim 38, wherein the protocol is at least one of an Ariba'"'"'s punch out, Open Buying on the Internet protocol, and a SAP punchout process.

44. The data processing system of claim 36, further comprising sending the customized catalog to a user location.

45. The data processing system of claim 44, wherein browsing and ordering from the catalog occurs locally at the user location.

46. The data processing system of claim 44, wherein browsing and ordering occurs when the user location is disconnected from a network.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the establishing means is a first establishing means and further comprising:

second establishing means for establishing operational items.

50. The data processing system of claim 49, wherein the bus system includes a primary bus and a secondary bus.

51. The data processing system of claim 49, wherein the processor unit includes a single processor.

52. The data processing system of claim 49, wherein the processor unit includes a plurality of processors.

53. The data processing system of claim 49, wherein the communications unit is an Ethernet adapter.

54. The data processing system of claim 49 wherein the processor unit further executes the set of instructions to establish terms for purchasing an item from the customized catalog.

55. The data processing system of claim 54, wherein the processor unit further executes the set of instructions to present a set of default terms to the user, and negotiate a final set of terms from the set of default terms to form the terms for purchasing an item from the customized catalog.

56. The data processing system of claim 54, wherein the terms includes at least one of purchases prices for the items, minimum quantities of items to be purchased, order cancellation policies, shipping prices, delivery times, locations allowed to purchase from the customized catalog, and payment methods.

57. The data processing system of claim 49, wherein the processor unit further executes the set of instructions to send the items to the user in response to the request to generate the customized catalog.

58. The data processing system of claim 57, wherein the items are converted into an extensible markup language format.

59. The data processing system of claim 49, wherein the web site is located at a user location.

12. A method in a first data processing system for generating a customized catalog, the method comprising:

presenting a plurality of items to a user located at a second data processing system;

placing an item from the plurality of items in a set in response to a selection of the item by the user; and

generating the customized catalog in response to a request indicating that that the set is complete.

23. A method in a first data processing system for generating a customized catalog, the method comprising:

presenting a plurality of items to a user located at a second data processing system;

placing an item from the set of items in a set in response to a selection of the item by the user;

generating the customized catalog in response to a request indicating that that the set is complete;

negotiating terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog;

establishing a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog; and

placing the customized catalog on a Web site.

25. A data processing system for establishing a catalog, the data processing system comprising:

first, placing means for placing items in a meta-shopping cart in response to a selection of the items by the user; and

generating means for generating the customized catalog using items in the meta-shopping cart in response to a request to generate the customized catalog; and

second, placing means for placing the catalog on a Web site.

36. A data processing system in a first data processing system for generating a customized catalog, the data processing system comprising:

presenting means for presenting a plurality of items to a user located at a second data processing system;

placing means for placing an item from the plurality of items in a set in response to a selection of the item by the user; and

generating means for generating the customized catalog in response to a request indicating that that the set is complete.

47. A data processing system in a first data processing system for generating an customized catalog, the data processing system comprising:

presenting means for presenting a plurality of items to a user located at a second data processing system;

placing means for placing an item from the set of items in a set in response to a selection of the item by the user;

generating means for generating the customized catalog in response to a request indicating that that the set is complete;

negotiating means for negotiating terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog;

establishing means for establishing a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog; and

placing means for placing the customized catalog on a Web site.

49. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus, wherein data is sent and received using the communications unit;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein a set of instructions are located in the memory; and

a processor unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processor unit executes the set of instructions to place items in a meta-shopping cart in response to a selection of the items by a user, generate the customized catalog using items in the meta-shopping cart in response to a request to generate the customized catalog, and place the catalog on a Web site.

60. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus, wherein data is sent and received using the communications unit;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein a set of instructions are located in the memory; and

a processor unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processor unit executes the set of instructions to present a plurality of items to a user located at a second data processing system, place an item from the plurality of items in a set in response to a selection of the item by the user, and generate the customized catalog in response to a request indicating that that the set is complete.

61. The data processing system of claim 60, wherein the processor unit further executes the set of instructions to negotiate terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog.

62. The data processing system of claim 60, wherein the processor unit further executes instructions to establish a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog.

63. The data processing system of claim 60, wherein the processor unit further executes the set of instructions to establish operational items.

64. The data processing system of claim 60, wherein the processor unit further executes instructions to place the catalog on a Web site.

65. The data processing system of claim 64, wherein the processor unit further executes instructions to establish the Web site.

66. The data processing system of claim 62, wherein the protocol provides for buyers purchase items by connecting to a Web site provided by a seller of the catalog.

67. The data processing system of claim 62, wherein the protocol is at least one of an Ariba'"'"'s punch out, Open Buying on the Internet protocol, and a SAP punchout process.

68. The data processing system of claim 60, wherein the processor unit further executes the set of instructions to send the customized catalog to a user location.

69. The data processing system of claim 68, wherein browsing and ordering from the catalog occurs locally at the user location.

70. The data processing system of claim 68, wherein browsing and ordering occurs when the user location is disconnected from a network.

71. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus, wherein data is sent and received using the communications unit;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein a set of instructions are located in the memory; and

a processor unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processor unit executes the set of instructions to present a plurality of items to a user located at a second data processing system, place an item from the set of items in a set in response to a selection of the item by the user, generate the customized catalog in response to a request indicating that that the set is complete, negotiate terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog, establish a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog, and place the customized catalog on a Web site.

72. The data processing system of claim 71, wherein the processor unit further executes the set of instructions to establish operational items.

73. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for establishing a catalog, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for placing items in a meta-shopping cart in response to a selection of the items by a user;

second instructions for generating the customized catalog using items in the meta-shopping cart in response to a request to generate the customized catalog; and

third instructions for placing the catalog on a Web site.

74. The computer program product of claim 73 further comprising:

fourth instructions for allowing purchases from the catalog on the Web site by a selected buyer.

75. The computer program product of claim 74, wherein the selected buyer is the user.

76. The computer program product of claim 73, wherein the user is one of an individual, a business, and a government entity.

77. The computer program product of claim 73 further comprising:

fourth instructions for processing orders to purchase items from the customized catalog.

78. The computer program product of claim 73 further comprising:

fourth instructions for establishing terms for purchasing an item from the catalog.

79. The computer program product of claim 78, wherein the fourth instruction comprises:

first sub-instructions for presenting a set of default terms to the user; and

second sub-instructions for negotiating a final set of terms from the set of default terms to form the terms for purchasing an item form the catalog.

80. The computer program product of claim 78, wherein the terms includes at least one of purchases prices for the items, minimum quantities of items to be purchased, order cancellation policies, shipping prices, delivery times, locations allowed to purchase from the catalog, and payment methods.

81. The computer program product of claim 73, further comprising:

fourth instructions for sending the items to the user in response to the request to generate the customized catalog.

82. The computer program product of claim 81, wherein the items are converted into an extensible markup language format.

83. The computer program product of claim 73, wherein the web site is located at a user location.

84. A computer program product in a computer readable medium in a first data processing system for generating a customized catalog, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for presenting a plurality of items to a user located at a second data processing system;

second instructions for placing an item from the plurality of items in a set in response to a selection of the item by the user; and

third instructions for generating the customized catalog in response to a request indicating that that the set is complete.

85. The computer program product of claim 84 further comprising:

fourth instructions for negotiating terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog.

86. The computer program product of claim 84 further comprising:

fourth instructions for establishing a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog.

87. The computer program product of claim 84 further comprising:

fourth instructions for establishing operational items.

88. The computer program product of claim 84 further comprising:

fourth instructions for placing the catalog on a Web site.

89. The computer program product of claim 88, wherein the fourth instruction includes:

instructions for establishing the Web site.

90. The computer program product of claim 86, wherein the protocol provides for buyers purchase items by connecting to a Web site provided by a seller of the catalog.

91. The computer program product of claim 86, wherein the protocol is at least one of an Ariba'"'"'s punch out, Open Buying on the Internet protocol, and a SAP punchout process.

92. The computer program product of claim 84, further comprising:

fourth instructions for sending the customized catalog to a user location.

93. The computer program product of claim 92, wherein browsing and ordering from the catalog occurs locally at the user location.

94. The computer program product of claim 92, wherein browsing and ordering occurs when the user location is disconnected from the network.

95. A computer program product in a computer readable medium in a first data processing system for generating a customized catalog, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for presenting a plurality of items to a user located at a second data processing system;

second instructions for placing an item from the set of items in a set in response to a selection of the item by the user;

third instructions for generating the customized catalog in response to a request indicating that that the set is complete;

fourth instructions for negotiating terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog;

fifth instructions for establishing a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog; and

sixth instructions for placing the customized catalog on a Web site.

96. The computer program product of claim 95 further comprising:

sixth instructions for establishing operational items.