Method and apparatus for efficiently generating electronic requests for quote
First Claim
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1. A machine-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for causing a first computer system coupled to a network of interconnected computers to generate an electronic request for quote (RFQ) in response to an electronic RFQ generation request according to the following:
- receiving, from a user of a client computer system, one or more electronic selections of one or more products offered via one or more web pages generated by a second computer system;
receiving an electronic RFQ generation request with the first computer system from the user of the client computer system to generate said electronic RFQ, wherein the RFQ generation request includes product selection data indicating a selection of one or more products by the user and the RFQ generation request is received in response to selection by the user of an electronically selectable user interface component provided to the client computer system by the second computer system to allow the user to request generation of the electronic RFQ generation request;
receiving user profile data from the user;
accessing at least one database to obtain a file associated with said user, said file comprising RFQ fulfillment related preferences of said user for generating said electronic RFQ;
generating the electronic RFQ associated with the selected one or more products in accordance with the product selection data, the user profile data, and the user RFQ fulfillment related data;
selecting one or more merchants to receive the RFQ; and
sending said electronic RFQ to the selected one or more merchants.
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Abstract
A system and method for efficiently responding to electronic requests for quote (“RFQ”). Through use, a user, such as a merchant, can automatically create and deliver an electronic RFQ response, without need for any interaction by the merchant. The merchant may establish certain criteria in order to allow the system and method to automatically respond to electronic RFQ'"'"'s received by the merchant.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A machine-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for causing a first computer system coupled to a network of interconnected computers to generate an electronic request for quote (RFQ) in response to an electronic RFQ generation request according to the following:
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receiving, from a user of a client computer system, one or more electronic selections of one or more products offered via one or more web pages generated by a second computer system; receiving an electronic RFQ generation request with the first computer system from the user of the client computer system to generate said electronic RFQ, wherein the RFQ generation request includes product selection data indicating a selection of one or more products by the user and the RFQ generation request is received in response to selection by the user of an electronically selectable user interface component provided to the client computer system by the second computer system to allow the user to request generation of the electronic RFQ generation request; receiving user profile data from the user; accessing at least one database to obtain a file associated with said user, said file comprising RFQ fulfillment related preferences of said user for generating said electronic RFQ; generating the electronic RFQ associated with the selected one or more products in accordance with the product selection data, the user profile data, and the user RFQ fulfillment related data; selecting one or more merchants to receive the RFQ; and sending said electronic RFQ to the selected one or more merchants. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of generating an electronic request for quote (RFQ) with a first computer system, comprising:
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receiving electronic product selection data representing one or more selected products and a quantity for each selected product to be included in the electronic RFQ, wherein each of the products are offered via one or more web pages generated by a second computer system; receiving a request from a user of a client computer system, coupled to a network of interconnected systems, to generate said electronic RFQ, wherein the RFQ generation request includes product selection data indicating a selection of one or more products by the user and the RFQ generation request is received in response to selection by the user of an electronically selectable user interface component provided to the client computer system by the second computer system to allow the user to request generation of the electronic RFQ generation request; executing code in first computer system to cause the first computer system to; access at least one database at a central storage location to obtain a file associated with said user, said file comprising RFQ fulfillment related preferences of said user for generating said electronic RFQ, wherein one or more of said preferences are selected from the group comprising days until a due date of the RFQ, default service requirements from a merchant, days prior to sending the RFQ, and days until delivery after an order; populate fields of said electronic RFQ in accordance with said product selection data and preferences; select one or more merchants to receive the RFQ in accordance with the RFQ fulfillment related preferences; and sending said RFQ to at least one of the selected merchants via said network. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for a user to automatically generate an electronic request for quote (RFQ) via a client computer coupled to a first server computer and a second server computer, the method comprising:
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displaying one or more web pages received from the second server computer, wherein at least one of the one or more web pages cause the client computer to display one or more products for selection by the user and to display an electronically selectable, user interface component to allow the user to request the first server computer to automatically generate the electronic RFQ for each selected product; and receiving a user selection of at least one of the products and a user selection of the user interface component; and sending an RFQ request to the first server computer to allow the first server computer to automatically generate the electronic RFQ for each selected product based on user profile data and user preferences provided to the first server computer, identify one or more merchants to receive the electronic RFQ, and prepare the electronic RFQ for sending to each identified merchant. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for automatically generating an electronic request for quote (RFQ) via a network, comprising:
a first server system coupled to at least one remote system via the network, said first server system comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having code stored therein to cause the processor to; receive from the remote system electronic product selection data representing one or more selected products and a quantity for each selected product to be included in the RFQ, wherein each product is offered via one or more web pages generated by a second server system; receive an electronic RFQ generation request from the remote system to automatically generate said electronic RFQ, wherein the RFQ generation request includes product selection data indicating a selection of one or more products by a user of the remote system and the RFQ generation request is received in response to selection by the user of an electronically selectable user interface component provided to the remote system by the second server system to allow the user to request generation of the electronic RFQ generation request; process the product selection data; process the electronic RFQ generation request; access a database that includes user profile data and user RFQ fulfillment related preference data; automatically generate an electronic RFQ associated with the selected one or more products in accordance with the product selection data, the user profile data, and the user RFQ fulfillment related data; automatically select one or more merchants to receive the RFQ; and send the automatically generated RFQ to the selected one or more merchants. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer system for allowing a user to automatically generate an electronic request for quote (RFQ), the computer system comprising:
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a display; a processor coupled to the display, memory coupled to the processor, the memory having code stored therein to cause the processor to; receive user profile and user RFQ preference data entered into the computer system; display one or more web pages received from a first server computer system, wherein at least one of the one or more web pages causes display of one or more products for selection by the user and causes display of an electronically selectable, user interface component to allow the user to request a second server computer system to automatically generate the electronic RFQ for each selected product; receive a selection of one or more of the products and a selection of the user interface component; and sending an RFQ request to the second server computer to allow the second server computer system to automatically generate the electronic RFQ for each selected product based on user profile data and user preferences provided to the second server computer system, identify one or more merchants to receive the electronic RFQ, and prepare the electronic RFQ for sending to each identified merchant. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A method of using a first computer system to automatically generate an electronic request for quote (“
- RFQ”
) in response to an electronic RFQ generation request, the method comprising;receiving electronic product selection data representing one or more selected products and a quantity for each selected product to be included in the RFQ, wherein each of the products are offered via one or more web pages generated by a second computer system; receiving an electronic RFQ generation request with the first computer system from a user of a client computer system to automatically generate said electronic RFQ, wherein the RFQ generation request includes product selection data indicating a selection of one or more products by the user and the RFQ generation request is received in response to selection by the user of an electronically selectable user interface component provided to the client computer system by the second computer system to allow the user to request generation of the electronic RFQ generation request; and in response to the electronic RFQ generation request, executing code in the first computer system to cause the first computer system to; process the product selection data; process the electronic RFQ generation request; access a database that includes user profile data and user RFQ fulfillment related preference data; automatically generate an electronic RFQ associated with the selected one or more products in accordance with the product selection data, the user profile data, and the user RFQ fulfillment related data; automatically select one or more merchants to receive the RFQ; and sending the automatically generated RFQ to the selected one or more merchants. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
- RFQ”
Specification