Direct point of presence distribution system and method

• US 20010034670A1
• Filed: 02/21/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeffery D. Blair
• Original Assignee: Jeffery D. Blair
• Inventors: Blair, Jeffery D.
• Application Number:
  US09/789,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20010034670A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

The invention discloses a method that encourages supporting local retailers (20) while offering customers (14) the convenience of purchasing goods directly from the supplier (18). One embodiment has the customer (14) purchase goods directly from the supplier (18) though a facilitator (16). The facilitator (16) collects a first set of funds and purchasing information from the customer (14). Next, the facilitator (16) transmits a second set of funds to the supplier (18) and the purchasing information to both the supplier (18) and the local retailer (20). Finally, the supplier (18) transmits a third set of funds to the local retailer (20) and the goods to the customer (14). In an alternative embodiment, the first set of funds and purchasing information are sent directly to the supplier (18). The supplier (18) forwards the third set of funds and the purchasing information to the local retailer (20). Goods can be shipped directly from the supplier (18) to the customer (14). All goods are returned for a refund to the local retailer (20).

Claims

1. A method of purchasing and selling goods electronically, said method comprising the steps of:

viewing an internet website by a customer (14),

purchasing goods electronically from the internet website,

determining a local retailer (20) having jurisdiction over the purchase,

transmitting a first set of funds for payment of the goods,

transmitting a third set of funds to the local retailer (20) in response to the purchase.

2. A method as set forth in

claim 1

wherein purchasing goods from the internet website includes transmitting the first set of funds for payment of the goods from the customer (14) to the supplier (18).

3. A method as set forth in

claim 2

wherein purchasing goods from the internet website includes transmitting the third set of funds from the supplier (18) to the local retailer (20).

4. A method as set forth in

claim 1

wherein purchasing goods from the internet website includes transmitting the first set of funds for payment of the goods from the customer (14) to a facilitator (16).

5. A method as set forth in

claim 4

including transmitting a second set of funds from the facilitator (16) to the supplier (18).

6. A method as set forth in

claim 4

wherein purchasing goods from the internet website includes transmitting the third set of funds from the facilitator (16) to the local retailer (20).

7. A method as set forth in

claim 1

wherein purchasing goods from the internet website is further defined by linking the customer (14) to a supplier (18) to purchase the goods.

8. A method as set forth in

claim 7

wherein linking to the supplier (18) includes creating an account between the supplier (18) and the local retailers (20).

9. A method as set forth in

claim 4

wherein purchasing goods from the internet website is further defined by linking the customer (14) to the facilitator (16) to purchase the goods.

10. A method as set forth in

claim 9

wherein linking to the facilitator (16) includes creating an account between the facilitator (16) and the supplier (18).

11. A method as set forth in

claim 9

wherein linking to the facilitator (16) includes creating an account between the facilitator (16) and the local retailers (20).

12. A method as set forth in

claim 1

wherein determining the local retailer (20) is further defined by matching the jurisdiction of local retailers (20) to the customer (14) supplied purchasing information and generating a list of local retailers (20) in response to said matching.

13. A method as set forth in

claim 12

wherein determining the local retailer (20) further includes selecting the local retailer (20) by the customer (14) from the generated list of matching local retailers (20).

14. A method as set forth in

claim 13

further including alerting the selected local retailer (20) of the purchase.

15. A method as set forth in

claim 2

wherein purchasing goods from the internet website includes supplying purchasing information by the customer (14) to the supplier (18).

16. A method as set forth in

claim 15

including storing customer (14) supplied purchasing information by the supplier (18) in a database.

17. A method as set forth in

claim 4

wherein purchasing goods from the internet website includes supplying purchasing information by the customer (14) to the facilitator (16).

18. A method as set forth in

claim 17

including storing customer (14) supplied purchasing information by the facilitator (16) in a database.

19. A method as set forth in

claim 1

including distributing the purchased goods to the customer (14).

20. A method as set forth in

claim 19

including returning the distributed purchased goods to the selected local retailer (20) by the customer (14) for reimbursement of the first set of funds.