Method and apparatus for efficiently generating electronic requests for quote
First Claim
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1. A method of permitting a merchant to automatically respond to an electronic RFQ via a network of interconnected computers, comprising:
- receiving said electronic RFQ via said network, said electronic RFQ having a plurality of fields, at least one of said plurality of fields comprising a product identifier;
accessing price information of a product corresponding to said product identifier;
preparing a response to said electronic RFQ, said response comprising a bid price responsive to said price information, said response further comprising merchant information; and
electronically delivering said response to a predetermined address, wherein said method is performed on at least one of said interconnected computers.
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Abstract
A system and method for efficiently responding to electronic requests for quote (“RFQ”). Through use, a user, such as a merchant, can automatically create and deliver an electronic RFQ response, without need for any interaction by the merchant. The merchant may establish certain criteria in order to allow the system and method to automatically respond to electronic RFQ'"'"'s received by the merchant.
193 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of permitting a merchant to automatically respond to an electronic RFQ via a network of interconnected computers, comprising:
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receiving said electronic RFQ via said network, said electronic RFQ having a plurality of fields, at least one of said plurality of fields comprising a product identifier;
accessing price information of a product corresponding to said product identifier;
preparing a response to said electronic RFQ, said response comprising a bid price responsive to said price information, said response further comprising merchant information; and
electronically delivering said response to a predetermined address, wherein said method is performed on at least one of said interconnected computers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 32)
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14. A method of permitting a merchant to configure a computing means to automatically respond to an electronic RFQ, comprising:
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providing a user interface for said merchant to input desired information;
obtaining said desired information from said merchant via said user interface, said desired information comprising;
identification information regarding said merchant;
a threshold price range, said threshold price range indicating a range for which said merchant desires to automatically respond; and
at least one source from which to obtain pricing information relating to a product contained in said electronic RFQ; and
storing said desired information in a file correlating to said merchant.
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21. A machine-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for causing a computer connected to a network of interconnected computers to automatically generate a response to an electronic RFQ according to the following:
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analyzing said electronic RFQ for a product identifier;
accessing at least one database to ascertain a cost of a product corresponding to said product identifier;
calculating a bid price for said product, said bid price comprising a preselected margin relative to said cost;
preparing a response to said electronic RFQ, said response comprising said bid price, said response further comprising merchant information; and
delivering said response to a predetermined address. - View Dependent Claims (22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31)
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23. A system for automatically responding to an electronic RFQ via a network of interconnected computers, comprising:
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a first computer system connected to said network;
at least one database coupled to said first computer system, said at least one database comprising product information;
said first computer system configured to receive said electronic RFQ;
analyze said electronic RFQ for a product identifier;
access said at least one database to obtain product information for a product corresponding to said product identifier;
calculate a bid price for said product;
prepare a response to said electronic RFQ, said response comprising said bid price, said response further comprising merchant information; and
electronically deliver said response to a predetermined address.
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28. A system for automatically responding to an electronic RFQ over a network, comprising:
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server means for receiving said electronic RFQ and automatically responding to said electronic RFQ;
at least one remote computing means connected via said network to said server means, said at least one remote computing means configured to create and deliver said electronic RFQ to said server means; and
said server means configured to automatically respond to said electronic RFQ by accessing a merchant profile having a plurality of preference fields and responding to said electronic RFQ using said plurality of preferences.
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Specification