Internet-based system and method for facilitating commercial transactions between buyers and vendors
First Claim
1. A method for use with an Internet-based, business-to-business web site, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) aggregating product information from each of a plurality of vendors into a common display format;
(b) in response to receiving identification information from an Internet-enabled computing device, the web site sending the computing device a graphical user interface showing a list of departments or product categories for which a buyer is authorized to make purchases;
(c) upon receipt of a selection of a product category or department from the computing device, the web site sending the computing device a list of vendors that have authorized products corresponding to the selected department or category; and
(d) upon receipt of a selection of a vendor, the web site sending the computing device that vendor'"'"'s list of approved products corresponding to the selected department or category.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An Internet-based, business-to-business web site which aggregates product information from each of a plurality of vendors into a common display format. In response to receiving identification information from an Internet-enabled computing device used by a buyer, the web site displays a list of departments or product categories for which the buyer is authorized to make purchases. Upon receipt of the buyer'"'"'s selection of a product category or department, the web site displays a list of vendors that have authorized products corresponding to the selected department or category. Upon receipt of the buyer'"'"'s selection of a vendor, the web site displays that vendor'"'"'s list of approved products corresponding to the selected department or category. The buyer may place an order for one or more approved products, whereupon the web site receives order parameters, such as the identity of the product and the quantity desired. The web site then forwards the order to the selected vendor for fulfillment, and optionally tracks shipment of the order from the vendor to the buyer. Pursuant to further embodiments, a mechanism is provided for electronically debiting a buyer'"'"'s bank account in response to at least one of a buyer placing an order and a buyer receiving an order. This mechanism may also be adapted to electronically credit a vendor'"'"'s bank account in response to at least one of a buyer placing an order from the vendor and the vendor shipping the order to the buyer. Pursuant to an additional embodiment, a mechanism is provided by which data pertaining to a plurality of buyer and/or vendor transactions may be acquired, aggregated, analyzed, and examined.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method for use with an Internet-based, business-to-business web site, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) aggregating product information from each of a plurality of vendors into a common display format;
(b) in response to receiving identification information from an Internet-enabled computing device, the web site sending the computing device a graphical user interface showing a list of departments or product categories for which a buyer is authorized to make purchases;
(c) upon receipt of a selection of a product category or department from the computing device, the web site sending the computing device a list of vendors that have authorized products corresponding to the selected department or category; and
(d) upon receipt of a selection of a vendor, the web site sending the computing device that vendor'"'"'s list of approved products corresponding to the selected department or category. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of doing business for use with an Internet-based, business-to-business web site, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) aggregating product information from each of a plurality of vendors into a common display format;
(b) in response to receiving identification information from a buyer, the web site sending the buyer a graphical user interface showing a list of departments or product categories for which the buyer is authorized to make purchases;
(c) upon receipt of a selection of a product category or department from the buyer, the web site sending the buyer a list of vendors that have authorized products corresponding to the selected department or category; and
(d) upon receipt of a selection of a vendor, the web site sending the buyer that vendor'"'"'s list of approved products corresponding to the selected department or category. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification