Method and computer medium for facilitating a buyer-initiated feature within a business transaction
First Claim
1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium that facilitates a buyer-initiated feature within a business transaction, the medium having embodied thereon instructions executable by a processor to:
- construct a virtual forum based upon a request for bids associated with an offer for purchase of a product or service;
receive a response to the request, wherein the response includes a price with a price per unit for the product or service specified as a function of volume;
configure the virtual forum to display in real time at least a current low price per unit at a plurality of volume tiers; and
identify a set of minimum inputs based upon information received from a class of suppliers, wherein the set of minimum inputs is specific to the product or service and selectable as buyer criteria by a potential buyer in connection with the request for bids.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for conducting electronic business between buyers and sellers is provided. The system and method disclose a means for at least one buyer to request and receive online bids from one or more sellers of a particular product according to a price curve or price schedule. A price schedule or curve for a product defining a product'"'"'s unit price as a function of the volume of product ordered. Upon receipt of a plurality of bids from sellers, a buyer can then select a seller-supplier based at least in part on the price schedule.
267 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium that facilitates a buyer-initiated feature within a business transaction, the medium having embodied thereon instructions executable by a processor to:
-
construct a virtual forum based upon a request for bids associated with an offer for purchase of a product or service; receive a response to the request, wherein the response includes a price with a price per unit for the product or service specified as a function of volume; configure the virtual forum to display in real time at least a current low price per unit at a plurality of volume tiers; and identify a set of minimum inputs based upon information received from a class of suppliers, wherein the set of minimum inputs is specific to the product or service and selectable as buyer criteria by a potential buyer in connection with the request for bids. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for facilitating a buyer-initiated feature within a business transaction, comprising:
-
configuring a virtual forum for receiving, at a server, from a potential buyer a request for bids in connection with a purchase offer for a product or service; electronically receiving at the server, by way of the virtual forum, at least one bid from a set of bidding suppliers; updating the virtual forum in real time to present at least a lowest price per unit at a plurality of volume tiers based upon information included in the at least one bid at the server, wherein the information includes a price with a price per unit for the good or service specified as a function of volume; and identifying a set of minimum inputs based upon information received from a class of suppliers, wherein the set of minimum inputs is specific to the product or service and selectable as buyer criteria by the potential buyer in connection with the request for bids. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for facilitating a buyer-initiated feature within a business transaction, comprising:
-
configuring a virtual forum for receiving a request for bids in connection with a purchase offer for a product or service; electronically receiving by way of the virtual forum, at least one bid from a set of bidding sellers of the product or service; populating, by a server, the virtual forum in real time with at least a lowest price per unit at a plurality of volume tiers from data included in the at least one bid, wherein the data includes a price with a price per unit for the good or service specified as a function of volume; and establishing a set of minimum inputs based upon information received from a class of suppliers, wherein the set of minimum inputs is specific to the product or service and is selectable as buyer criteria in the request for bids. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
Specification