Blind-supply open commerce business system

• US 7,366,684 B1
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William B. Douglas
• Original Assignee: William B. Douglas
• Inventors: Douglas, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunham, Jason B.
• Application Number:
  US09/741,665
• Time in Patent Office: 2,689 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/26.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A blind-supply open commerce business system provides a database where suppliers may upload product, product price and product delivery information. Products are offered for sale through a various systems where a potential buyer may view product information and price quotes for the same product from a plurality of suppliers wherein the identity of suppliers is not revealed. Price quotes reflect supplier cost plus margin. The system of the invention channels invoice and tracking information from a supplier to a purchaser without revealing the identity of the supplier. Suppliers ship products directly to purchasers. Purchasers may access order, shipping, and tracking information from a database of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of selling goods of suppliers through an electronic blind supply open commerce computer business system and accepting payment for said goods comprising:

receiving product information for said goods that is uploaded from said suppliers over a network to said electronic blind supply open commerce computer business system which includes product identification information and a set price specified by said suppliers for said goods;

automatically calculating a fixed sales price from said set price specified by said suppliers in said electronic blind supply open commerce business computer system;

automatically generating entries in said electronic blind supply open commerce business computer business system that include said fixed sales price and said product identification information;

posting a listing of said goods from said entries on said electronic blind supply open commerce computer business system without revealing said suppliers so that said suppliers remain anonymous to purchasers both while said goods are posted for sale on said electronic blind supply open commerce computer business system and after said goods are sold, so that said suppliers may sell said goods on said electronic blind supply open commerce computer business system without affecting a pricing structure established by said suppliers for said goods;

making said listings of said goods available to said purchasers on said electronic blind supply open commerce computer business system through a network connection to allow said purchasers to purchase said goods at said fixed sales price over said network without bidding in an auction;

accepting payment of said fixed sales price for said goods from said purchasers; and

forwarding said payment of said fixed sales price less a margin to said supplier, so that anonymity of said seller is maintained.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said process of automatically generating entries in said system comprises the process of generating a listing of goods that includes product information comprising a part number.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said product information further comprises a product description, product specifications, and product category information.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically accepting a sales order on said electronic blind supply open commerce computer business system from a qualified purchaser that includes a purchase price that satisfies said fixed sales price;

automatically generating a purchase order on said electronic blind supply open commerce computer business system in response to said sales order that includes said product information and said set price specified by said supplier for said goods;

electronically transmitting said purchase order to said supplier from said electronic blind supply open commerce computer business system;

completing the sale of said goods using said electronic blind supply open commerce computer business system.

5. A method of selling goods through an on-line blind supply computerized selling system and accepting payment for said goods comprising:

receiving product information for said goods from suppliers of said goods over a network to said on-line blind supply computerized selling system which includes product identification information and a set price specified by said suppliers for said goods;

automatically calculating a fixed sales price from said set price specified by said suppliers in said on-line blind supply computerized selling system;

automatically generating entries in said on-line blind supply computerized selling system that include said fixed sales price, a fill grade rating of said supplier and said product identification information;

posting a listing of said goods from said entries on said on-line blind supply computerized selling system without revealing said suppliers so that said suppliers remain anonymous to purchasers both while said goods are listed on said on-line blind supply computerized selling system and after said goods are sold, so that said sellers may sell said goods on said on-line blind supply computerized selling system without affecting a pricing structure established by said suppliers for said goods;

making said listings of said goods available to said purchasers on said on-line blind supply computerized selling system through a network connection to allow said purchasers to purchase said goods at said fixed sales price over said network without bidding in an auction;

accepting payment of said fixed sales price for said goods from said purchasers; and

forwarding said payment of said fixed sales price, less a margin, to said supplier of said goods, so that anonymity of said supplier is maintained.