Method to create a customized e-commerce store

• US 8,407,107 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vcommerce Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Kennedy, William Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Alvarez, Raquel
• Application Number:
  US12/624,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20100138317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.81, 705/1.1, 705/28
• US Class Current: 705/26.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

An electronic commerce system includes a host with two-way communication to a plurality of distributors. Each of these distributors offers an addressable inventory of merchandise that consists of discrete items. The host sorts the discrete items according to a class designation such that members of a same class are assigned a unique tag. A store builder may electronically request at least one of the unique tags. The host then creates a customized store with a unique name, look and feel, and product selection for the store builder. This store provides a consumer with access, via said distributor, to items assigned that unique tag.

Claims

1. An electronic commerce storefront system, the system comprising:

(a) a host, configured for operation by a host owner, suitably adapted for two-way electronic communication between the host owner and a plurality of distributors, the host providing access to a plurality of products for sale electronically from a plurality of different distributors, the host adapted to transmit electronic orders to the plurality of distributors in response to purchase requests received;

(b) a store builder web site, adapted to configure an electronic store in response to input from a store owner during access to the store builder web site, to create an electronic store managed by the host for the store owner, said electronic store to provide each of a plurality of consumers the ability to purchase at least one merchandise item selected from the plurality of products, the host presenting a web page to the plurality of consumers when the electronic store is accessed, the electronic store configured to receive and transmit to the host electronic orders directly between the respective ones of the plurality of consumers and the electronic store;

wherein the creation of the electronic store, during access to the store builder website by the store owner, comprises;

receiving one or more selections from the store owner for customization of the appearance of the store;

receiving a store name from the store owner;

receiving from the store owner an identification of a plurality of products to be offered in the store; and

assigning a new URL for access to the store by each of the plurality of consumers.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the store owner is presented with a store preview via the store builder web site resembling the electronic store, prior to the creation of the electronic store.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the store owner selects categories of products that will be included in the electronic store.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein an automated process assigns product codes to the plurality of products based on keywords and an electronic characterization of the keywords.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the store owner uploads a graphic to the store builder web site and the graphic is integrated into the electronic store.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the host provides selectable URLs, and the new URL is selected from the selectable URLs.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of products to be offered in the store are selected from the plurality of products for sale electronically from a plurality of different distributors.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the store owner is one of the plurality of different distributors.

9. An electronic commerce storefront system, the system comprising:

a host providing a store builder website wherein;

the store builder website is configured to create an electronic store at the request of a store owner,

the electronic store is managed by the store owner,

the electronic store provides access to a subset of a plurality of merchandise items for sale electronically,

the plurality of merchandise items is provided by a plurality of distributors,

the electronic store receives orders for merchandise items of the plurality of merchandise items from consumers,

the orders are processed by the host electronically,

the orders are forwarded electronically by the host to one of the plurality of distributors corresponding to the merchandise items selected, and

the electronic store is provided a new URL;

the store owner being one of the plurality of distributors;

during access to the store, the owner providing a store name, selections for the customization of the electronic store, a selection of the new URL, and an identification of the subset of the plurality of merchandise items;

two-way electronic communication between the host and the plurality of distributors, wherein the host automatically generates requests and messages based on input from the store owner, consumers, and the plurality of distributors; and

electronic accounting of amounts paid to the store owner and the plurality of distributors for the orders for merchandise items.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the store owner is presented with a store preview via the store builder web site resembling the electronic store, prior to the creation of the electronic store.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the store owner selects categories of products included in the electronic store.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein an automated process assigns product codes to a subset of the plurality of merchandise items based on keywords and an electronic characterization of the keywords.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the store owner uploads a graphic to the store builder web site and the graphic is integrated into the electronic store.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the host provides selectable URLs, and the new URL is selected from the selectable URLs.