Method and computer program product for managing an internet trading network
First Claim
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1. A method for defining, implementing, and operating a plurality of trading networks, comprising the steps of:
- negotiating supplier offerings of commodities and services with each of a plurality of trading network suppliers on behalf of each of said plurality of trading networks;
building in an electronic storage device for each of said plurality of trading networks a trading network entity, said trading network entity having supplier memberships of trading network suppliers providing offerings of said commodities and services to said trading network, with each said trading network supplier defined in a supplier member entity of said storage device with respect to attributes including start and end dates, sets of services and products offered to said trading network, and payment flow for trading network supplier offerings;
said trading network entity linked to a plurality of customer membership entities, each said customer membership entity defining customer benefits, with customers providing higher volume commitments selectively receiving higher benefits, with each said customer defined in a customer membership entity of said storage device;
said trading network offering at least one trading network package, each said trading network package defined in a trading network package entity of said storage device as a grouping selectively of contracts and catalogs that have been negotiated with a trading network supplier prior to receiving purchase requests from a customer by a trading network with a trading network supplier and to which a customer can request access;
selectively defining each said trading network package as including a trading network value-add service offering offered by said trading network to said customers for a fee, a managed package, and an unmanaged package, said managed package being a package for which a customer provides a volume commitment and for which actual purchases are tracked against said commitment, and said unmanaged package being a package for which no volume commitment is required from said customer;
managing trading network supplier and customer membership including ongoing benefit package development including committing levels of demand to trading network suppliers who commit corresponding price discount levels; and
managing accounts for trading network value-add services rendered.
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Abstract
An Internet trading network is operated by establishing supplier memberships of suppliers providing offerings to the trading network; establishing customer memberships of customers providing volume commitments; consolidating all volume commitments for a particular commodity or service when negotiating an offering with the supplier; managing memberships and their accounts.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for defining, implementing, and operating a plurality of trading networks, comprising the steps of:
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negotiating supplier offerings of commodities and services with each of a plurality of trading network suppliers on behalf of each of said plurality of trading networks; building in an electronic storage device for each of said plurality of trading networks a trading network entity, said trading network entity having supplier memberships of trading network suppliers providing offerings of said commodities and services to said trading network, with each said trading network supplier defined in a supplier member entity of said storage device with respect to attributes including start and end dates, sets of services and products offered to said trading network, and payment flow for trading network supplier offerings; said trading network entity linked to a plurality of customer membership entities, each said customer membership entity defining customer benefits, with customers providing higher volume commitments selectively receiving higher benefits, with each said customer defined in a customer membership entity of said storage device; said trading network offering at least one trading network package, each said trading network package defined in a trading network package entity of said storage device as a grouping selectively of contracts and catalogs that have been negotiated with a trading network supplier prior to receiving purchase requests from a customer by a trading network with a trading network supplier and to which a customer can request access; selectively defining each said trading network package as including a trading network value-add service offering offered by said trading network to said customers for a fee, a managed package, and an unmanaged package, said managed package being a package for which a customer provides a volume commitment and for which actual purchases are tracked against said commitment, and said unmanaged package being a package for which no volume commitment is required from said customer; managing trading network supplier and customer membership including ongoing benefit package development including committing levels of demand to trading network suppliers who commit corresponding price discount levels; and managing accounts for trading network value-add services rendered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for defining, implementing, and operating a plurality of trading networks, comprising:
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a computer readable storage device; first program instructions for recording to said computer readable storage device supplier offerings of commodities and services pre-negotiated with each of a plurality of trading network suppliers on behalf of each of said plurality of trading networks; second program instructions for building in said electronic storage device for each of said plurality of trading networks a trading network entity, said trading network entity having supplier memberships of suppliers providing offerings of said commodities and services to said trading network, with each said supplier defined in a supplier membership entity of said storage device with respect to attributes including start and end dates, sets of services and products offered, and payment flow; third program instructions for linking said trading network entity to a plurality of customer membership entities, each said customer membership entity defining customer benefits, with customers providing higher volume commitments selectively receiving higher benefits, with each said customer defined in a customer membership entity of said storage device; fourth program instructions for defining at least one trading network package offered by said trading network, each said trading network package defined in a trading network package entity of said storage device as a grouping selectively of contracts and catalogs that have been prenegotiated by a trading network with a supplier and to which a customer can request access; fifth program instructions for selectively defining each said trading network package as selectively including a trading network value-add service offering offered by said trading network to said customers for a fee, a managed package and an unmanaged package, said managed package being a package for which a customer provides a volume commitment and for which actual purchases are tracked against said commitment, and said unmanaged package being a package for which no volume commitment is required from said customer; sixth program instructions for managing supplier and customer membership including ongoing benefit package development; and
thereafterseventh program instructions for managing accounts for trading network services rendered; and
whereinsaid first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are recorded on said computer readable storage device.
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Specification