Electronic procurement

• US 20020156695A1
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globalserve Computer Services, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Globalserve Computer Services, Ltd.
• Inventors: Edwards, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation

Abstract

An electronic procurement session is conducted between a host and a user needing to procure products or services on behalf of an organization. An established contract for the purchase and sales of products/services between a supplier and the organization is the basis for constructing a set of pre-priced items that may be supplied to the organization. A bi-directional electronic communication interface using protocols of the World Wide Web is established between the host and the user and provides the user with access to web-pages which are displayed on the user'"'"'s computer using a standard Web browser. In response to user information, a subset of the set of pre-priced items is displayed on web-pages and served by the host to the user. Orders for user-selected items from the displayed web-pages are forwarded to a vendor for order fulfillment. The fulfilling vendor and the host have established in advance of the order forwarding that the order will be fulfilled by the vendor in accordance with the terms of the established contract.

Claims

1. A method of providing electronic procurement to a purchasing entity comprising:

accessing a database containing variable elements of an on-line catalog, the elements including items suppliable by a vendor;

constructing an electronic catalog having one or more pages by selecting elements to be included in the pages, and providing commercial terms applicable to the included elements, where the selecting and providing steps are performed consistent with contract terms between the purchasing entity and the vendor;

providing electronic access to the catalog to users authorized by the purchasing entity; and

providing a selected page of the catalog to the user in response to user input.

2. An host architecture for an electronic procurement site comprising:

an access interface to access and read from a database containing variable elements of an on-line catalog, the elements including items suppliable by a vendor;

a plurality of web documents stored on electronic media forming pages of an electronic catalog, the web documents generated from elements selected in accordance with contract terms between a purchasing entity and the vendor, and at least one web document containing commercial terms applicable to the selected elements;

a web server for providing electronic access to the catalog to users authorized by the purchasing entity.

3. A method of providing electronic procurement to a purchasing entity comprising:

accessing a database containing dynamic elements of an on-line catalog, the elements including items suppliable by a vendor;

constructing an electronic catalog having one or more pages by selecting elements to be included in the pages, and generating commercial terms applicable to the included elements;

where the selecting and generating steps are performed in accordance with contract terms between the purchasing entity and the vendor;

providing electronic access to the catalog to users authorized by the purchasing entity;

accepting browsing commands from the user to display catalog pages selected by the user;

providing an electronic shopping basket function configured to hold the identification of items chosen by the user from the displayed catalog pages;

sending contents of the electronic shopping basket to a vendor for fulfillment of the identified items to the purchasing entity in accordance with the contract terms; and

collecting a fee from the purchasing entity that is based on the value of the contents of the electronic shopping basket.

4. A method of hosting an electronic procurement site (“

e-procurement”

) by a host, the method comprising;

providing an web-based interface for a user to access the e-procurement site;

identifying the user'"'"'s level of authorization when accessing the site to thereby engage in an e-procurement session with the host;

generating a plurality of web pages to form a user-specific catalog which includes a set of deliverables that may be supplied by a supplier to a purchasing entity, wherein items contained in the set of deliverables and commercial terms for the supply of the deliverables are determined between the supplier and the purchasing entity in advance of the e-procurement session; and

connecting the user through the web-based interface to catalog pages selected in response to the authorization level.

5. A method of fulfilling electronic orders, the method comprising:

providing a user electronic access to a catalog of deliverables that may be ordered by the user where the catalog is constructed according to terms of a contract for purchase and sale of deliverables between a purchasing entity and a supplier;

accepting browsing commands from the user to display catalog pages selected by the user;

providing an electronic shopping basket function configured to hold the identification of items chosen by the user from the displayed catalog pages; and

sending contents of the electronic shopping basket to a vendor for fulfillment of the identified items to the purchasing entity in accordance with the contract terms.

6. A method of hosting an electronic procurement site (“

e-procurement”

) by a host comprising;

providing an web-based interface for a user to access the e-procurement site to thereby engage in an e-procurement session with the host;

receiving user information when accessing the site;

generating one or more web-page listing items and prices associated with the listed items suppliable by an OEM to a purchasing entity, where the listed items and prices are determined between the OEM and the purchasing entity in advance of the e-procurement session;

connecting the user through the web-based interface to selected ones of the user-specific web-page where the selection is performed in response to the user information;

accepting an order for a listed item at the associated price from the user;

forwarding the order to a VAR for fulfillment of the ordered listed item at the associated price to the purchasing entity;

tracking the ordered on demand from the user; and

reporting the status of the tracked order on demand from the user.

7. A method of providing electronic procurement from a host to a user within an organization comprising:

constructing a set of purchasable items incorporating a pre-established standard of the organization;

providing an electronic interface between the host and the user;

determining a subset of items for display to the user, and associated data for each of the displayed items, consistent with the pre-established standard; and

forwarding an order for selected ones of the displayed items selected by the user to a vendor where the vendor and host and agreed in advance of the forwarding that the order will be fulfilled in accordance with the pre-established standard.

8. A method of providing automated procurement from a host to a user within an organization comprising:

constructing a set of items purchasable by the organization in accordance with terms of a pre-established contract between an original equipment manufacturer and the organization;

providing an web-based interface between the host for user access to displayable web-pages;

determining, in response to user request for access, a subset of items for display on web-pages and associated pricing for each item in the subset consistent with the contract; and

forwarding an order for user-selected ones of the items in the subset to a value added reseller where the value added reseller and host and agree in advance of the forwarding that the order will be fulfilled in accordance with the terms of the contract.

9. A system for enabling automated procurement between a host and a user within an organization comprising:

a database containing a set of items purchasable by the organization in accordance with pre-established terms of a contract between an original equipment manufacturer and the organization and further containing decision rules derived from the contract terms;

a web-based interface for electronic communication between the host and the user;

a decision-engine coupled to the database for determining a subset of items for display on web-pages at the user'"'"'s location and associated pricing for each item in the subset in accordance with the rules and user instructions received through the interface; and

a communications portal coupled to the decision-engine for forwarding an order for user-selected ones of the items in the subset to a value added reseller where the value added reseller and host and agree in advance of the forwarding that the order will be fulfilled in accordance with the terms of the pre-established contract.

10. A method of providing web-based procurement from a host to a user within an organization comprising:

constructing a set of items purchasable by the organization in accordance with pre-established terms of a contract between an original equipment manufacturer and the organization;

providing an web-based interface between the host and the user;

in response to user instructions received through the interface, determining a subset of items for display on web-pages and associated pricing for each item in the subset consistent with the contract;

sending the subset of items and associated pricing for display on web-pages, the currency for the displayed associated pricing being selectable by the user;

accepting an order for user-selected ones of the items in the subset where the user-selecting function and total monetary value of the order is subject to limits authorized by the organization.

forwarding the accepted order to a value added reseller where the value added reseller and host and agree in advance of the forwarding that the order will be fulfilled in accordance with the terms of the contract.

11. A method of fulfilling electronic ordering comprising:

constructing a catalog of a set of deliverables, members included within the set and prices associated with each member are established between a purchasing entity and a supplier prior to the electronic ordering;

making the constructed catalog available on-line to users authorized by the purchasing entity;

receiving orders for the deliverables from the authorized users; and

generating, from the received orders, purchase orders to a vendor to initiate fulfillment of the ordered deliverables to a location designated by the user or purchasing entity in accordance with the established terms.