System and method for facilitating aggregate shopping

• US 6,876,983 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2000
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Opher Goddard
• Original Assignee: Opher Goddard
• Inventors: Goddard, Opher
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S.
• Application Number:
  US09/487,719
• Time in Patent Office: 1,903 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A system for facilitating aggregate shopping is disclosed. The system comprises (a) a database server system being for maintaining at least one shoppers group, the at least one shoppers group being characterized by a designated product and conditions for purchasing the designated product; and (b) a plurality of user clients, being at a disposal of a plurality of users and being capable of communicating with the database server system, each of the plurality of user clients being for enabling a respective user thereof to join the at least one shoppers group, such that a user of the plurality of users is entitled to purchase the designated product under the conditions for purchasing the designated product upon joining the at least one shoppers group.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating aggregate purchasing of products, in the form of designated goods or services, the system comprising:

a plurality of user client devices for use by potential purchasers of said products;

a plurality of supplier client devices for use by potential sellers of said products; and

a database server system communicating with said plurality of user client devices and said plurality of supplier client devices;

said database server system being designed and programmed;

(a) to maintain a catalog of products, and to make said catalog available to potential purchasers via their respective client devices;

(b) to enable potential purchasers to use their respective user client devices to become members of at least one purchasers group of potential purchasers of designated products by assuming an obligation to purchase a said product at a price no higher than a specified maximum price said specified maximum price is set by said system;

(c) to formulate a bid request for a designated quantity of a designated product for purchase by said purchasers group at a price no higher than the specified maximum price only after said purchasing group has been finalized;

(d) to present said bid request to a plurality of potential sellers via their respective supplier client devices;

(e) to enable potential sellers to use their respective supplier client devices to tender offers regarding purchase conditions for the sale of the designated quantity of the designated product in the formulated bid request;

(f) to determine the best selling conditions offered by said potential sellers; and

(g) to make an award to the potential seller offering the best selling conditions for the sale of the designated quantity of the designated product.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said database service system is programmed to make an award to the potential seller offering the lowest price for the sale of the designated quantity of the designated product.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said designated product is a specifically identified goods or service.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said designated product is any one of several specifically identified goods or services.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said designated product is identified by a specification.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said designated product is an option for a specifically identified goods or service.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said designated product is a group of specifically identified goods or services bundled together as a single product package.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said database server system is programmed to enable potential purchasers to use their respective user client devices within a specified time period to become members of a said purchasers group.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said database server system is programmed to enable potential sellers to use their respective supplier client devices within a specified time period to tender a said offer.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said database server system is programmed to enable a plurality of potential sellers to use their respective supplier client devices to tender a joint offer regarding the designated quantity of the designated product in a formulated bid request.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said database server system is programmed to enable potential purchasers to use their respective user client devices to become members of any one of a plurality of said purchasers groups.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said user client devices and supplier client devices is a computer, and said database server system is in communication therewith via the World Wide Web.