Demand aggregation system

• US 7,747,473 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valentine Communications LLC
• Original Assignee: Ewinwin Incorporated
• Inventors: Mesaros, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen, Nicholas D
• Application Number:
  US11/556,604
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/26, 705/27, 705/14.1, 705/14.11, 705/14.16, 705/14.25, 705/14.39, 705/14.49, 705/14.51
• US Class Current: 705/26.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

The demand aggregation system includes buyer sponsored DealRooms, seller sponsored DealRooms, and multiple buyer and multiple seller sponsored DealRooms. Moreover, the demand aggregation system includes a customer relations management (CRM) package. In the CRM package, information on buyer and prospective buyers are loaded into a database that can include information such as: individual name; company name and address; email address; phone number; cell number; products purchased; volumes; time of purchase. Further the CRM package can be integrated with the demand aggregation system as well as a customer resource planning system (e.g., MRP, ERP).

Claims

1. A computer-implemented business transaction system, comprising:

at least one processor coupled with memory that executes the following computer executable components;

a production component that identifies an optimal production run;

a demand aggregation component that offers at least a portion of the production run for sale in at least one deal room with a price curve that varies in accordance with the quantity of a product ordered; and

a component that interfaces to an order entry component, wherein the order entry component automatically populates a production schedule with quantity orders provided from the at least one deal room, and wherein the order entry component acquires quantity orders from outside the at least one deal room.

2. The system of claim 1, the at least a portion of the production run is the difference between the optimal run and a current amount scheduled for production.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a customer relations management component that notifies potential buyers of the deal room offer based on an associated profile.

4. The system of claim 3, the demand aggregation component generates disparate price curves for different buyers or groups of buyers.

5. The system of claim 4, the demand aggregation component alters the price curve as a function of time.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an order entry component that receives orders from outside deal rooms and updates a quantity available in the at least one deal room.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a customer relations management component that collects customer data from the order entry component.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a dashboard component that enables a single customer support person to interact with the one or more deal rooms.

9. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the computer-executable components of claim 1.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a component that facilitates interaction with an external supplier customer relations management (CRM) system to assist at least one seller in offering products for sale.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the production component interacts with an external supplier enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, wherein the external ERP system is associated with at least one seller.

12. A computer-implemented business transaction method, comprising:

employing at least one processor to execute computer executable instructions stored in memory to perform the following acts;

determining an optimal production run for a product;

ascertaining potential buyers based at least upon buyer profiles stored on at least one electronic storage device;

electronically offering at least a portion of the optimal production run for a product for sale in a deal room to the potential buyers in accordance with a price schedule, the price schedule setting a price for the product which varies in accordance with a quantity of the product ordered;

populating a production schedule automatically with orders placed by buyers in the deal room; and

interfacing to an order entry system that facilitates acquisition of the orders from outside the deal room and updates the quantity of the product ordered.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising modifying the price schedule so as to motivate a plurality of buyers to purchase the product.

14. The method of claim 13, modifying the price schedule as a function of one or more of time or a number of orders placed by buyers.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing different price schedules to different sets of buyers.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing order information to a buyer profile.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating a notification when the at least a portion of the optimal production run is ordered.

18. An Internet business transaction system, comprising:

A computer that hosts a commercial transaction over the Internet, the computer providing access to at least one buyer and at least one seller to carry out the commercial transaction, wherein the at least one seller configures an offer in an electronic forum for a product in accordance with a price schedule that varies as a function of a quantity of the product ordered based on a profile of the at least one buyer, the offer is displayed to the at least one buyer, the computer interacts with a production scheduling component, a customer relations management component, and an order entry component that facilitates acquisition of the orders from outside the electronic forum and updates the quantity of the product ordered.