Online ordering system and method

• US 20050273396A1
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Tarvydas, Martin, Licardi, Courtney Ann, Aliabadi, Amir, Hammond, Jeffrey T., Frangos, Anargiros Zacharias Jr., Sutton, Becky, Dalton, Noreen
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Systems and methods for facilitating an on-line purchase of at least one item on behalf of a consumer are disclosed. A consumer may shop and request purchase of at least one item on a consolidated shopping (CS) website displaying one or more items available for purchase on one or more different merchant websites. A host computer providing the CS website may access a merchant website selling the requested item, and order the requested item on behalf of the consumer, and charging a transaction fee, listing fee, receiving a rebate and/or offering a rebate for performing such. One embodiment allows a consumer to purchase/order multiple items from multiple websites in a single purchase request to the CS website.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to facilitate an on-line purchase of at least one item on behalf of a consumer comprising:

receiving a request to purchase at least one item, wherein said request is received at a first website of a host computer;

placing an order, by said host computer, for said at least one item on at least a second website, wherein said second website sells said at least one item; and

charging a transaction fee to at least one of said second website, a wholesaler of said at least one item, a manufacturer of said at least one item, said consumer, and an issuer of a payment instrument for placing said order.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said step of charging a transaction fee comprises charging said transaction fee wherein said transaction fee is at least one of a set fee, a random fee, and a variable fee.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said step of charging a transaction fee comprises charging a set transaction fee based on at least one of a number of items purchased, a purchase amount, number of websites where said ordering occurs, type of item purchased, payment method, type of payment instrument and per transaction.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said step of charging a transaction fee comprises charging a variable transaction fee based on at least one of a number of items purchased, a purchase amount, number of websites where said ordering occurs, type of item purchased, payment method, type of payment instrument, per transaction and a percentage.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising displaying information on said first website related to said at least one item, wherein said at least one item is capable of being ordered on said second website.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising charging a listing fee from at least one of said second website, a wholesaler and a manufacturer of said at least one item.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said step of charging a transaction fee comprises charging an affiliated merchant website said transaction fee.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said step of charging a transaction fee comprises charging a non-affiliated merchant website said transaction fee, wherein said non-affiliated merchant website is solicited for said transaction fee.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of receiving and offering a rebate for placing said order.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a rebate from at least one of said second website, a wholesaler of said at least one item, a manufacturer of said at least one item and an issuer of a payment instrument.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising offering a rebate to at least one of a consumer, a school, a church, a research facility and a charitable organization.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising offering a rebate which is at least one of a set fee, a random fee, and a variable fee.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising offering a set rebate based on at least one of a number of items purchased, a purchase amount, number of websites where said ordering occurs, type of item purchased, payment method, type of payment instrument and per transaction.

14. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a processor, cause said processor to perform a method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to purchase at least one item, wherein said request is received at a first website of a host computer;

placing an order, by said host computer, for said at least one item on at least a second website, wherein said second website sells said at least one item; and

at least one of charging a transaction fee, receiving a rebate, charging a listing fee, and offering a rebate by said host computer.

15. A host computer providing a first website configured to facilitate an on-line purchase of at least one item on behalf of a consumer, said first website configured to configured to receive a request to purchase at least one item, place an order for said at least one item on at least a second website, wherein said second website sells said at least one item;

and at least one of charging a transaction fee, receiving a rebate, charging a listing fee, and offering a rebate.

16. A computer-implemented method to facilitate an on-line purchase of multiple items on behalf of a consumer comprising:

receiving a single request to purchase at least two items, wherein said request is received at a first website of a host computer;

placing a first order, by said host computer, for at least a first item on at least a second website, wherein said second website sells said at least first item;

placing a second order, by said host computer, for at least a second item on at least a third website, wherein said third website sells said at least second item, and wherein said first website, said second website, and said third website are each different websites; and

at least one of charging a transaction fee, receiving a rebate, charging a listing fee, and offering a rebate by said host computer.