Method and system for configurable options in enhanced network-based auctions

• US 20060004647A1
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Singh, Narinder, Zhang, Zhong, Srinivasamurthy, Guruprasad
• Granted Patent: US 7,788,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A system and method are provided for including a configurable order option in a listing on a network-based auction service. The system and method include specifying the configurable order using an auction application separate from the network-based auction service and communicating the configurable order option specified using the auction application to the network-based auction service as part of the listing. A seller may specify configurable order options during the creation of a listing that may be communicated to the network-based auction service along with the listing information. Configurable order options provide at least two possible choices for a bidder/buyer thereby allowing customization of the listing to the degree permitted by the seller. Configurable order options may include information such as, for example, the shipping method, payment method, an optional accessory purchase for a product in the listing, a warranty for a product in the listing, a color selection, and a model selection. The winning bidder/buyer'"'"'s selection for a configurable order option is communicated back to the auction application which may process the selection and send the appropriate order information to a back-end business information management system or the auction application may send the selection directly to the back-end business information management system for processing as part of the order.

Claims

1. A method for providing a configurable order option for a listing on a network-based auction service, comprising:

specifying, using an auction application separate from the network-based auction service, the configurable order option during the creation of the listing, the configurable order option providing a plurality of choices to a winning bidder or a winning buyer for the listing on the network-based auction service; and

communicating, by the auction application, the configurable order option to the network-based auction service as part of the listing.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the choices for the configurable order option include at least one of a shipping method, a payment method, an optional accessory purchase for a product in the listing, a warranty, a color selection, and a model selection.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection for the configurable order option, the selection made by a winning bidder or a winning buyer for the listing on the network-based auction service.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

communicating the selection for the configurable order option to a business information management system, the business information management system processing the selection.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the business information management system is at least one of an SAP R/3 based system and an SAP CRM based system.

6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

processing by the auction application the selection for the configurable order option; and

communicating the selection for the configurable order option to a business information management system.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the business information management system is at least one of an SAP R/3 based system and an SAP CRM based system.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the listing is at least one of an auction and a posting-for-sale.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network-based auction service is an Internet-based auction service.

10. A system for providing a configurable order option for a listing on a network-based auction service, comprising:

a program memory;

a storage device; and

a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to;

(i) specify, using an auction application separate from the network-based auction service, the configurable order option during the creation of the listing, the configurable order option providing a plurality of choices to a winning bidder or a winning buyer for the listing on the network-based auction service; and

(ii) communicate, using the auction application, the configurable order option to the network-based auction service as part of the listing.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the choices for the configurable order option include at least one of a shipping method, a payment method, an optional accessory purchase for a product in the listing, a warranty, a color selection, and a model selection.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the processor is further adapted to:

receive a selection for the configurable order option, the selection made by a winning bidder or a winning buyer for the listing on the network-based auction service.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the processor is further adapted to:

communicate the selection for the configurable order option to a business information management system, the business information management system processing the selection.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the business information management system is at least one of an SAP R/3 based system and an SAP CRM based system.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the processor is further adapted to:

process by the auction application the selection for the configurable order option; and

communicate the selection for the configurable order option to a business information management system.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the business information management system is at least one of an SAP R/3 based system and an SAP CRM based system.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein the listing is at least one of an auction and a posting-for-sale.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein the network-based auction service is an Internet-based auction service.

19. A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for providing a configurable order option for a listing on a network-based auction service, the method comprising:

specifying, using an auction application separate from the network-based auction service, the configurable order option during the creation of the listing, the configurable order option providing a plurality of choices to a winning bidder or a winning buyer for the listing on the network-based auction service; and

communicating, by the auction application, the configurable order option to the network-based auction service as part of the listing.