System and method for pooled electronic purchasing

• US 20040148228A1
• Filed: 11/18/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cassia Group Holdings Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cassia Group Holdings Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kwei, Daniel Wah Hao
• Granted Patent: US 7,792,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A retailing method executable by a computer system, including the steps of: sending a page to a prospective purchaser in response to a request, the page being associated with a specific product; receiving a purchase proposal from the prospective purchaser for direct purchase of the product at a fixed price, the purchase proposal including identifier information of persons nominated by the prospective purchaser and purchase term information selected at least in part by the prospective purchaser, the nominated persons being nominated to contribute to purchase of the product at the fixed price.

Claims

1. A retailing method executable by a computer system, including the steps of:

sending a page to a prospective purchaser in response to a request, said page being associated with a specific product;

receiving a purchase proposal from said prospective purchaser for direct purchase of said product at a fixed price, the purchase proposal including identifier information of persons nominated by the prospective purchaser and purchase term information selected at least in part by the prospective purchaser, said nominated persons being nominated to contribute to purchase of said product at said fixed price.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

receiving respective payment information from the nominated persons;

processing said payment information to effect payment for said product at said fixed price; and

arranging delivery of said product to a location according to said purchase term information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of receiving payment information includes receiving a pre-authorisation of respective payment contributions from the nominated persons.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, further including the steps of:

receiving a price request from the prospective purchaser in response to sending said page, the price request including location information of a location to which delivery of the product is to be made and delivery mode information;

providing said fixed price of said product based at least in part on said location information and said delivery mode information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said product includes a manufactured, processed or otherwise physically existing good.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said product includes a service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase term information includes a nominated contribution scheme selected by the prospective purchaser from a plurality of contribution schemes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase terms include a contribution scheme, being one of:

a) a scheme whereby the nominated persons contribute in equal amounts;

b) a scheme whereby the nominated persons contribute in unequal amounts selected by the prospective purchaser;

or

c) a scheme whereby the nominated persons contribute in amounts selected by the nominated persons.

9. The method of claim 8, further including the steps of:

receiving contribution information relating to said selected contribution scheme from said prospective purchaser;

verifying the consistency of said contribution information with said selected contribution scheme; and

transmitting proposal information to said nominated persons according to the identifier information, said proposal information including a link to said purchase proposal.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said prospective purchaser is one of said nominated persons.

12. Computer readable storage having stored thereon program instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 11.

11. A retailing method executable by a computer system, including:

receiving a purchase proposal from a prospective purchaser for direct purchase of a specific product at a fixed price, the purchase proposal including identifier information of persons nominated by the prospective purchaser and purchase term information selected at least in part by the prospective purchaser, said nominated persons being nominated to contribute to purchase of said product at said fixed price.

13. A computer system for executing a retailing method, including:

means for sending a page to a prospective purchaser in response to a request, said page being associated with a specific product;

means for receiving a purchase proposal from said prospective purchaser for direct purchase of said product at a fixed price, the purchase proposal including identifier information of persons nominated by the prospective purchaser and purchase term information selected at least in part by the prospective purchaser, said nominated persons being nominated to contribute to purchase of said product at said fixed price.

14. A retail purchasing method executable by a computer system, including the steps of:

receiving at said computer system a page in response to a request therefor, said page being associated with a specific product;

creating a purchase proposal for direct purchase of said product at a fixed price using said computer system, the purchase proposal including identifier information of persons nominated by a prospective purchaser and purchase term information selected at least in part by the prospective purchaser, said nominated persons being nominated to contribute to purchase of said product at said fixed price; and

submitting said purchase proposal to a retailer system.