Centrally coordinated communication systems with multiple broadcast data objects and response tracking
First Claim
1. A method for broadcasting a message from a sender to at least one receiver and for tracking responses from said at least one receiver to said sender, the method comprising the steps of:
- creating a message and response tracking object comprising a broadcast message that is to be sent to at least one receiver and at least one response tracking object adapted for storing information received in response to said broadcast message;
sending said broadcast message to at least one receiver;
receiving from said at least one receiver at least one response to said broadcast message; and
storing information from said at least one response into said at least one response tracking object such that said message and response tracking object forms an integrated data unit that contains both the broadcast message and information from responses to said broadcast message.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for facilitating communication between a plurality of buyers a plurality of suppliers is provided. The communication system provides for coordinated message and response tracking. Buyers and suppliers may submit information to a central database maintained by a service provider. Such information may comprise company profile and product information. Buyers may browse the database and assemble a list of suppliers who will receive a request for a bid. A broadcast message and various response tracking objects are assembled into a single message and response tracking object. The message and response tracking object serves as a central repository for all communications exchanged between the buyers and suppliers regarding the bid. The broadcast message is transferred to the suppliers on the supplier list and the suppliers respond with appropriate information. As responses are received, the information from the responses is assembled into the message and response tracking object. If necessary, reminders may be sent to suppliers that do not respond by a certain date. Information may then be extracted from the message and response tracking object and transferred to an analysis module for comparison and analysis of the responses.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for broadcasting a message from a sender to at least one receiver and for tracking responses from said at least one receiver to said sender, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating a message and response tracking object comprising a broadcast message that is to be sent to at least one receiver and at least one response tracking object adapted for storing information received in response to said broadcast message; sending said broadcast message to at least one receiver; receiving from said at least one receiver at least one response to said broadcast message; and storing information from said at least one response into said at least one response tracking object such that said message and response tracking object forms an integrated data unit that contains both the broadcast message and information from responses to said broadcast message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of sending a bid request from a buyer to at least one supplier and for tracking responses received from said at least one supplier, said method comprising the steps of:
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said buyer creating a message and response tracking object comprising a broadcast message containing a request for bid that is to be sent to at least one supplier and at least one response tracking object adapted for storing information received in response to said broadcast message; said buyer sending said broadcast message to at least one supplier; said buyer receiving from said at least one supplier at least one response to said broadcast message; and said buyer storing information from said at least one response into said at least one response tracking object such that said message and response tracking object forms an integrated data unit that contains both the broadcast message and information from responses to said broadcast message. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of sending a bid request from a buyer to at least one supplier and for tracking responses received from said at least one supplier, said method comprising the steps of:
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said buyer browsing a database containing information from a plurality of suppliers indicating the products supplied; said buyer selecting from said database a list of suppliers that said buyer wishes to request a bid from; said buyer creating a message and response tracking object comprising a broadcast message containing bid request information that is to be sent to said list of suppliers and a response tracking object for each of the suppliers on said list of suppliers, said response tracking objects adapted for storing information received in response to said broadcast message; sending said broadcast message to said list of suppliers; receiving from the suppliers of said list of suppliers at least one response to said broadcast message; and storing information from said at least one response into the response tracking object corresponding to the supplier that sent said at least one response such that said message and response tracking object forms an integrated data unit that contains both the broadcast message and information from responses to said broadcast message. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions comprising:
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means for creating a message and response tracking object comprising a broadcast message that is to be sent to at least one receiver and at least one response tracking object adapted for storing information received in response to said broadcast message; means for sending said broadcast message to at least one receiver and for receiving from said at least one receiver at least one response to said broadcast message; and means for storing information from said at least one response into said at least one response tracking object such that said message and response tracking object forms an integrated data unit that contains both the broadcast message and information from responses to said broadcast message. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable medium having a plurality of data fields stored on the medium and representing a data structure, comprising:
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a first data field representing a broadcast message that is to be sent to at least one receiver, said first data field being stored in a range of addresses in said computer-readable medium; one receiver object for each receiver that will receive said broadcast message, each of said receiver objects being stored in a separate range of addresses in said computer-readable medium, each of said receiver objects comprising; a data field adapted for storing a text response received from one of said receivers that receive said broadcast object, said first data field being stored in a range of addresses used by one of said receiver objects. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification