Internet business transaction processor
DCFirst Claim
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1. An internet-centric electronic transaction system for facilitating automated retail sale of products from vendors to customers via a network, the system comprising:
- a database having stored therein product data for a plurality of products and customer data, the product data comprising data electronically transmitted from a plurality of vendors of the plurality of products, the data corresponding to similar products for sale by more than one of the vendors, and the customer data comprising personal information about customers;
a catalog builder for generating electronic catalogs having user-specific product offerings for the plurality of products, the catalog builder dynamically placing the user-specific product offerings in electronic catalogs, wherein the user-specific product offerings are selected based on at least in part the personal information;
a communication interface for permitting customers to place purchase orders for one or more of the user-specific product offerings;
a payment authorization processor for determining whether to accept the purchase orders for fulfillment based on at least in part information stored in the database;
a distributor authorization processor for authorizing delivery of the one or more products according to the purchase orders provided the purchase orders deemed accepted by the payment authorization processor; and
a customer service sub-system for sending automated messages to the one or more customers with information about the accepted purchase orders.
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Abstract
Targeted products are offered over a communications network. Product data for a plurality of products from a plurality of distributors for the products is received. Customer data from a plurality of customers comprising personal information about customers is received. Using the data, at least one user-specific product offering from the plurality of products is generated. Automated messages comprising the at least one user-specific product offering to the one or more customers are then sent.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. An internet-centric electronic transaction system for facilitating automated retail sale of products from vendors to customers via a network, the system comprising:
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a database having stored therein product data for a plurality of products and customer data, the product data comprising data electronically transmitted from a plurality of vendors of the plurality of products, the data corresponding to similar products for sale by more than one of the vendors, and the customer data comprising personal information about customers; a catalog builder for generating electronic catalogs having user-specific product offerings for the plurality of products, the catalog builder dynamically placing the user-specific product offerings in electronic catalogs, wherein the user-specific product offerings are selected based on at least in part the personal information; a communication interface for permitting customers to place purchase orders for one or more of the user-specific product offerings; a payment authorization processor for determining whether to accept the purchase orders for fulfillment based on at least in part information stored in the database; a distributor authorization processor for authorizing delivery of the one or more products according to the purchase orders provided the purchase orders deemed accepted by the payment authorization processor; and a customer service sub-system for sending automated messages to the one or more customers with information about the accepted purchase orders. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method in an internet-centric electronic transaction system for facilitating automated retail sale of products from vendors to customers via a network, the method comprising:
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receiving product data for a plurality of products from a plurality of vendors for the products via a communications network, the product data comprising data corresponding to substantially similar products for sale by more than one of the vendors; receiving customer data from a plurality of customers, the customer data comprising personal information about customers; selecting, based on at least in part from the personal information, user-specific product offerings for the plurality of products; generating electronic catalogs having the user-specific product offerings; permitting the customers to place purchase orders for one or more of the user-specific product offerings via the communications network; determining whether to accept the purchase orders for fulfillment based on at least in part information stored in the database; authorizing delivery of the one or more products to according to the purchase orders provided the purchase orders are deemed acceptable; and sending automated messages to the one or more customers with information about the accepted purchase orders. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing an internet-centric electronic transaction computer program product for, when executed by a processor, performing a method in an internet-centric electronic transaction system for facilitating automated retail sale of products from vendors to customers via a network, the method comprising:
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receiving product data for a plurality of products from a plurality of vendors for the products via a communications network, the product data comprising data corresponding to substantially similar products for sale by more than one of the vendors; receiving customer data from a plurality of customers, the customer data comprising personal information about customers; selecting, based on at least in part from the personal information, user-specific product offerings for the plurality of products generating electronic catalogs having the user-specific product offerings; permitting the customers to access the electronic catalog, to view the user-specific offerings, and to place purchase orders for one or more of the products via the communications network; determining whether to accept the purchase orders for fulfillment based on at least in part information stored in the database; authorizing delivery of the one or more products to according to the purchase orders provided the purchase orders are deemed acceptable; and sending automated messages to the one or more customers with information about the accepted purchase orders. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification