Electronic brokerage system and methods of performing the same
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method of determining a supplier list for a user using a web based server-client computer system, the method comprising:
- under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,(a) receiving a query from a user through a web portal, said query having information for one or more goods requested by the user;
(b) assigning a policy to said query, the policy having one or more search methods and one or more evaluation methods, said one or more search methods configured to perform a correlation operation on a partitioned database comprising data relating to suppliers and goods provided by the suppliers, the correlation operation determining one or more probability values for one or more suppliers to have the one or more goods, the partitioned database maintaining a separate data structure for each search method, wherein said one or more search methods further comprise a mathematical operation used to determine probabilities between variables;
(c) executing said one or more search methods to produce a correlation list between said one or more goods and said one or more suppliers based on the determined one or more probability values;
(d) evaluating said correlation list based on one or more predetermined evaluation criteria using said one or more evaluation methods;
(e) based on the correlation list evaluation, producing an optimized supplier list, wherein said optimized supplier list is returned to said user through said web portal; and
(f) obtaining valid quotes from the one or more suppliers identified on said optimized supplier list,wherein the producing the correlation list includes computing a probability of obtaining a valid quote from the one or more suppliers based on prior iterations of the one or more search methods, andproducing the optimized supplier list includes computing a probability of obtaining a desired number of quotes based on removal of one or more of the identified suppliers, and if the probability of obtaining a desired number of quotes remains above a threshold set in the policy, then removing said one or more of the identified suppliers from the optimized supplier list.
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Abstract
A method of determining an optimized supplier list for a consumer using a web based client-server system is described. The method provides for receiving a query from a user and assigning a policy to the query. A search step and an evaluation step are then performed. Additional optional operational steps are provided to enhance the users buying efficiency.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of determining a supplier list for a user using a web based server-client computer system, the method comprising:
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under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions, (a) receiving a query from a user through a web portal, said query having information for one or more goods requested by the user; (b) assigning a policy to said query, the policy having one or more search methods and one or more evaluation methods, said one or more search methods configured to perform a correlation operation on a partitioned database comprising data relating to suppliers and goods provided by the suppliers, the correlation operation determining one or more probability values for one or more suppliers to have the one or more goods, the partitioned database maintaining a separate data structure for each search method, wherein said one or more search methods further comprise a mathematical operation used to determine probabilities between variables; (c) executing said one or more search methods to produce a correlation list between said one or more goods and said one or more suppliers based on the determined one or more probability values; (d) evaluating said correlation list based on one or more predetermined evaluation criteria using said one or more evaluation methods; (e) based on the correlation list evaluation, producing an optimized supplier list, wherein said optimized supplier list is returned to said user through said web portal; and (f) obtaining valid quotes from the one or more suppliers identified on said optimized supplier list, wherein the producing the correlation list includes computing a probability of obtaining a valid quote from the one or more suppliers based on prior iterations of the one or more search methods, and producing the optimized supplier list includes computing a probability of obtaining a desired number of quotes based on removal of one or more of the identified suppliers, and if the probability of obtaining a desired number of quotes remains above a threshold set in the policy, then removing said one or more of the identified suppliers from the optimized supplier list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing instructions for producing a supplier list that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
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(a) receive a query from a user through a web portal, said query having information for one or more goods requested by the user; (b) assign a policy to said query, the policy having one or more search methods and one or more evaluation methods, said one or more search methods configured to perform a correlation operation on a partitioned database comprising data relating to suppliers and goods provided by the suppliers, the correlation operation determining one or more probability values for one or more suppliers to have the one or more goods, the partitioned database maintaining a separate data structure for each search method, wherein said one or more search methods further comprise a mathematical operation used to determine probabilities between variables; (c) execute said one or more search methods to produce a correlation list between said one or more goods and one or more suppliers based on the determined one or more probability values; (d) evaluate said correlation list based on one or more predetermined evaluation criteria using said one or more evaluation methods; (e) based on the correlation list evaluation, producing an optimized supplier list, wherein said optimized supplier list is returned to said user through said web portal; and (f) obtain valid quotes from the one or more suppliers identified on said optimized supplier list, wherein the producing the correlation list includes computing a probability of obtaining a valid quote from the one or more suppliers based on prior iterations of the one or more search methods, and produce the optimized supplier list includes computing a probability of obtaining a desired number of quotes based on removal of one or more of the identified suppliers, and if the probability of obtaining a desired number of quotes remains above a threshold set in the policy, then removing said one or more of the identified suppliers from the optimized supplier list. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification