Smart multi-search method and system

• US 7,480,628 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netcomponents, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netcomponents, Inc.
• Inventors: McGee, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Champagne; Luna
• Application Number:
  US10/059,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20030144924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,548 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/28, 705/29, 235/375, 235/383, 235/385, 707/1, 707/3, 707/4, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 705/26.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

The present invention is a searchable product/service database software system enabling complex multiple-product/service item query searching of databases, providing, in response to a single search query, search results for multiple products/services that are grouped and ranked by supplier based on which supplier(s) have inventory with respect to the greatest number of the queried products/services. The user can identify which vendor can best fill the entire order, simplifying the buying process. A single query can be entered by a user covering their entire required bill of materials list. The system is preferably implemented via a website server using known methods of Internet communication. The search results can be customized further to categorize suppliers by geographic location, supplier type, pricing or other criteria. Also disclosed and claimed is a method for providing complex multiple product/service item query searching with search results grouped and ranked by supplier based on which suppliers have inventory with respect to the greatest number of queried products/services.

Claims

1. A system for conducting multiple-item search queries in a system for engaging in electronic commerce, comprising:

one or more central processing units;

storage means communicating with said one or more central processing units containing one or more databases with information regarding suppliers and supplier inventories of products/services available for purchase;

one or more servers providing for Internet-based access and use of said system;

one or more software applications enabling buyers of products/services seeking to complete a purchase including multiple different types and quantities of products/services via electronic commerce to enter a single search query including each of said types of said multiple products/services sought to be purchased and then run a series of individual product/service searches for each of said multiple products/services in said query on said information regarding suppliers and supplier inventories of products/services available for purchasing, and render as search results a ranked listing of one or more suppliers that have inventory for the greatest number of said types of said multiple products/services sought to be purchased, and the ranked listing of one or more suppliers indicating the types and quantities of said products/services in the inventory of each of said one or more suppliers.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for buyers to transmit requests for quotation to said system, means for said system to transmit requests for quotation to selected suppliers, means for suppliers to transmit quotations to buyers in response to requests for same.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for buyers to purchase goods/services by linking directly to supplier ordering systems.

4. In a computerized system for electronic commerce comprising one or more central processing units, system software for controlling said one or more central processing units and storage means containing one or more databases with information regarding suppliers and products/services available:

one or more software applications integrated thereto for use by system users to submit search queries to said system for multiple different types and quantities of products/services sought to be purchased via electronic commerce, said search queries being in the form of a single query including each of said multiple types of products/services sought to be purchased in said order, and receive as search results in response to said multiple product/service query a ranked listing of one or more suppliers that have inventory for the most types of said multiple products/services and the ranked listing of one or more suppliers indicating the types and quantities of said products/services in the inventory of each of said one or more suppliers.