Demand aggregation and distribution system
First Claim
1. A method for aggregating and satisfying demands from different users for at least one item, the method comprising the steps performed by a data processing system of:
- electronically aggregating information reflecting demand for an item based on input requests from different users for the item, each request having been received from a different user and including user identification information associated with the different user, wherein said aggregating step aggregates requests from different users for the item and the information for each different user is aggregated independent of a commitment by the different users to purchase the item;
providing aggregated information to a plurality of suppliers, each capable of supplying the item without also providing the different user'"'"'s user identification information from the request;
receiving at least one proposed response from at least one of the suppliers, including a proposal for providing the item to the different users; and
providing the proposed response to each of the different users based on the user identification information associated with each different user, wherein the different users can determine whether to commit to purchasing the item.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention use a data processing system to aggregate information reflecting demand for an item based on input requests associated with the item, each request having been received from a remote user and including remote user identification information, provide the aggregated information to a plurality of suppliers, each capable of supplying the item, receives at least one proposed response from at least one of the suppliers, including a proposal for providing the item to the remote users, and provides the proposed response to the remote users based on the remote user identification information. Aggregated information is provided without the remote user identification information associated the requests.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method for aggregating and satisfying demands from different users for at least one item, the method comprising the steps performed by a data processing system of:
-
electronically aggregating information reflecting demand for an item based on input requests from different users for the item, each request having been received from a different user and including user identification information associated with the different user, wherein said aggregating step aggregates requests from different users for the item and the information for each different user is aggregated independent of a commitment by the different users to purchase the item; providing aggregated information to a plurality of suppliers, each capable of supplying the item without also providing the different user'"'"'s user identification information from the request; receiving at least one proposed response from at least one of the suppliers, including a proposal for providing the item to the different users; and providing the proposed response to each of the different users based on the user identification information associated with each different user, wherein the different users can determine whether to commit to purchasing the item. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
-
2. A method for aggregating and satisfying demands from different users for travel products, the method comprising the steps performed by a data processing system of:
-
electronically aggregating information reflecting demand for a set of travel products based on input requests from different users, each request having been received from a different user and including user identification information, wherein said aggregating step aggregates requests from different users for the item and the information for each different user is aggregated independent of a commitment by the different users to purchase the item; selecting a proposed group travel product based on the aggregated in formation; and providing information reflecting the proposed group travel product to each of the different users based on the user identification information, wherein the different users can determine whether to commit to purchasing the item. - View Dependent Claims (3)
-
-
4. A system for aggregating and satisfying demands from different users for at least one item, comprising:
-
a processor for executing programs; and a memory for storing a program executable by the processor, the stored program including instructions for (i) aggregating information reflecting demand for an item based on input requests from different users for the item, each request having been received from a different user and including user identification information, wherein said aggregating step aggregates requests from different users for the item and the information for each different user is aggregated independent of a commitment by the different user to purchase the item, (ii) providing aggregated information to a plurality of suppliers, each capable of supplying the item without also providing user identification information from the requests, (iii) receiving at least one proposed response from at least one of the suppliers, including a proposal for providing the item to the different users, and (iv) providing the proposed response to the different users based on the remote user identification information, wherein the different users can determine whether to commit to purchasing the item. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
-
5. A system for aggregating and satisfying demands from different users for travel products, comprising:
-
a processor for executing programs; and memory for storing a program executable by the processor, the stored program including instructions for (i) aggregating information reflecting demand for a set of travel products based on input requests from different users, each request having been received from a different user and including user identification information, wherein said aggregating step aggregates requests from different users for the item and the information for each different user is aggregated independent of a commitment by the different user to purchase the travel products, (ii) selecting a proposed group travel product based on the aggregated information, and (iii) providing information reflecting the proposed group navel product to the different users based on the user identification information, wherein the different users can determine whether to commit to purchasing the travel products. - View Dependent Claims (6)
-
-
7. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for aggregating and satisfying demands from different users for at least one item, the method comprising:
-
aggregating information reflecting demand for an item based on input requests from different users for the item, each request having been received from a different user and including different user identification information, wherein said aggregating step aggregates requests from different users for the item and the information for each different user is aggregated independent of a commitment by the different user to purchase the item; providing aggregated information to a plurality of suppliers, each capable of supplying the item without also providing user identification information from the request; receiving at least one proposed response from at least one of the suppliers, including a proposal for providing the item to the different users; and providing the proposed response to the different users based on the user identification information, whereby the different users can determine whether to commit to purchasing the item. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
-
8. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for aggregating and satisfying demands from different users for travel products, the method comprising:
-
aggregating information reflecting demand for a set of travel products based on input requests from different users, each request having been received from a different user and including user identification information, wherein said providing step provides the information independent of a commitment by the users to purchase the travel products; selecting a proposed group travel product based on the aggregated information; and providing information reflecting the proposed group travel product to the different users based on the user identification information, whereby the different users can determine whether to commit to purchasing the travel products. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
-
16. A method for aggregating and satisfying demands from different users for at least one item, the method comprising the steps performed by a data processing system of:
-
electronically aggregating information reflecting demand for an item based on input requests from different users for the item, each request having been received from a different user and including user identification information associated with the different user; providing aggregated information to a plurality of suppliers, each capable of supplying the item without also providing user identification information from the request; receiving at least two proposed responses from one or more of the suppliers, where each response includes a proposal for providing the item to the different users; and providing the at least two proposed responses to the different users based on the user identification information, to thereby allow the different users to evaluate the at least two proposed responses.
-
-
17. A system for aggregating and satisfying demands from different users for at least one item, comprising:
-
a processor for executing programs; and a memory for storing a program executable by the processor, the stored program including instructions for (i) aggregating information reflecting demand for an item based on input requests from different users for the item, each request having been received from a different user and including user identification information, (ii) providing aggregated information to a plurality of suppliers, each capable of supplying the item without also providing user identification information from the requests, (iii) receiving at least two proposed responses from one or more of the suppliers, including a proposal for providing the item to the different users, and (iv) providing the at least two proposed responses to the different users based on the user identification information, to thereby allow the different users to evaluate the at least two proposed responses.
-
-
18. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for aggregating and satisfying demands from different users for at least one item, the method comprising:
-
aggregating information reflecting demand for an item based on input requests from different users for the item, each request having been received from a different user and including user identification information associated with the different user; providing aggregated information to a plurality of suppliers, each capable of supplying the item without also providing user identification information from the request; receiving at least two proposed responses from one or more of the suppliers, where each response includes a proposal for providing the item to the different users; and providing the at least two proposed responses to the different users based on the user identification information, to thereby allow the different users to evaluate the at least two proposed responses.
-
-
19. A method for aggregating and satisfying demands from different users for at least one item, the method comprising the steps performed by a data processing system of:
-
electronically aggregating information reflecting demand for an item based on input requests from different users for the item, each request having been received from a different user and including user identification information; providing aggregated information to a plurality of suppliers, each capable of supplying the item without also providing user identification information from the request, wherein said providing step provides the aggregated information to the suppliers independent of any predetermined maximum price for the items; receiving at least one proposed response from at least one of the suppliers, including a proposal for providing the item to the different users, wherein a proposed price for the items is set by the supplier and independent of any predetermined maximum price; and providing the proposed response to the different users based on the user identification information, wherein the different users can determine whether to commit to purchasing the item based at least on the price set by the supplier.
-
-
20. A system for aggregating and satisfying demands from different users for at least one item, comprising:
-
a processor for executing programs; and a memory for storing a program executable by the processor, the stored program including instructions for (i) aggregating information reflecting demand for an item based on input requests from different users for the item, each request having been received from a different user and including user identification information associated with the different user, (ii) providing aggregated information to a plurality of suppliers, each capable of supplying the item without also providing user identification information from the requests, wherein said providing step provides the aggregated information to the suppliers independent of any predetermined maximum price for the items, (iii) receiving at least one proposed response from at least one of the suppliers, including a proposal for providing the item to the different users, wherein a proposed price for the items is set by the supplier and independent of any predetermined maximum price, and (iv) providing the proposed response to the different users based on the user identification information, wherein the different users can determine whether to commit to purchasing the item based at least on the price set by the supplier.
-
-
21. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for aggregating and satisfying demands from different users for at least one item, the method comprising:
-
aggregating information reflecting demand for an item based on input requests from different users for the item, each request having been received from a different user and including user identification information associated with the different user; providing aggregated information to a plurality of suppliers, each capable of supplying the item without also providing user identification information from the request, wherein said providing step provides the aggregated information to the suppliers independent of any predetermined maximum price for the items; receiving at least one proposed response from at least one of the suppliers, including a proposal for providing the item to the different user, wherein a proposed price for the items is set by the supplier and independent of any predetermined maximum price; and providing the proposed response to the different users based on the user identification information, wherein the different users can determine whether to commit to purchasing the item based at least on the price set by the supplier.
-
Specification