Method and system for providing a document service over a computer network using an automated brokered auction
First Claim
1. In a system comprising at least one processor, a method for providing access to a document service over a computer network, said method comprising the steps of:
- executing in the system a plurality of processes includinga first participant process, the first participant process being a customer process representing a customer,a second participant process, the second participant process being a supplier process representing a supplier, anda broker process capable of serving as an intermediary between the customer and supplier processes;
providing to the broker process a description of a commercial document service; and
responsively to the description thus provided, conducting an auction for the document service, the auction including the steps ofsubmitting a bid for the document service from a participant process,receiving bidding information in the broker process, the received bidding information including the submitted bid,attempting with the broker process to automatically establish a price determined by the broker process for the document service responsively to the received bidding information,establishing said price for the document service with the broker process if said price can be established for the document service upon completion of the attempting step, andif said price is established for the document service, proposing with the broker process a transaction wherein the document service is to be provided at the established price;
if said proposed transaction is accepted, said supplier initiating the performance of said document service over said computer network.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method to enable and facilitate networked, automated, brokered auctioning of document services. A plurality of processes are executed, including a customer process representing a customer, a supplier process representing a supplier, and a broker process capable of serving as an intermediary between the customer and supplier processes. The broker process is provided with a description of a document service. Responsively to the description thus provided, an auction for the document service is conducted, as follows: A customer or supplier process submits a bid for the document service. The broker process receives bidding information including the submitted bid. The broker process attempts to establish a price for the document service responsively to the received bidding information and, if a price can be established, establishes the price. If a price is established, the broker process proposes a transaction wherein the document service is to be provided at the established price. If the proposed transaction is accepted, it can proceed automatically.
479 Citations
21 Claims
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1. In a system comprising at least one processor, a method for providing access to a document service over a computer network, said method comprising the steps of:
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executing in the system a plurality of processes including a first participant process, the first participant process being a customer process representing a customer, a second participant process, the second participant process being a supplier process representing a supplier, and a broker process capable of serving as an intermediary between the customer and supplier processes; providing to the broker process a description of a commercial document service; and responsively to the description thus provided, conducting an auction for the document service, the auction including the steps of submitting a bid for the document service from a participant process, receiving bidding information in the broker process, the received bidding information including the submitted bid, attempting with the broker process to automatically establish a price determined by the broker process for the document service responsively to the received bidding information, establishing said price for the document service with the broker process if said price can be established for the document service upon completion of the attempting step, and if said price is established for the document service, proposing with the broker process a transaction wherein the document service is to be provided at the established price; if said proposed transaction is accepted, said supplier initiating the performance of said document service over said computer network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a system comprising at least one processor, a method for providing access to a document service over a computer network, said method comprising the steps of:
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executing in the system a plurality of processes including a first collection of participant processes, the processes of the first collection being customer processes, each customer process representing a customer, a second collection of participant processes, the processes of the second collection being supplier processes, each supplier process representing a supplier, and a broker process capable of serving as an intermediary among the customer and supplier processes; providing a description of a commercial document service to the broker process; responsively to the description thus provided, conducting an auction for the document service, the auction including the steps of submitting a set of bids for the document service, each bid of the set being submitted from a participant process, receiving the bids of the set in the broker process, determining in the broker process automatically and responsively to the received bids whether the bids can be reconciled to establish a price, and if the bids can be reconciled, establishing said price for the document service with the broker process; and said supplier bidding said established price initiating the performance of said document service over said computer network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. In a system comprising at least one processor, a method for providing access to a document service over a computer network, said method comprising the steps of:
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executing in the system a plurality of processes including a first participant process, the first participant process being a customer process representing a customer, a second participant process, the second participant process being a supplier process representing a supplier, and a broker process capable of serving as an intermediary between the customer and supplier processes; providing to the broker process a description of a document service; and responsively to the description thus provided, conducting an auction for the document service, the auction including the steps of submitting a bid for the document service from a participant process, receiving bidding information in the broker process, the received bidding information including the submitted bid, attempting with the broker process to automatically establish a price determined by the broker process for the document service responsively to the received bidding information, and if said price can be established by the broker process for the document service upon completion of the attempting step, establishing said price for the document service with the broker process; said supplier bidding said established price initiating the performance of said document service over said computer network. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification