Method, system and computer readable medium for brokering the purchase and sale of glass cullet
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for brokering the purchase and/or sale of mixed-color glass and/or cullet, optionally over a computer network. In one embodiment, the broker facilitates the purchase and/or sale of three color mixed cullet between beneficiators, MRFs and/or glass plants, in order to supply, for example, glass plants with and/or allow glass plants to purchase desired quantity and/or quality (e.g., cleanliness) of cullet.
1. A computer implemented and user-assisted method of brokering a purchase and sale of glass cullet, comprising the steps of:
storing, with a broker, cullet data accessible by a first computer comprising at least one of a quantity and price of cullet for sale from a plurality of sellers;
receiving, from a buyer using a second computer, a query at the first computer pertaining to a purchase of a quantity and price of cullet within a specified distance of a buyer specified address;
querying a data repository associated with the first computer to determine if a stored quantity, purchase price, and location of cullet satisfies the query;
generating by the first computer, responsive to the query, at least one name of a seller that can provide a quantity and price of cullet in accordance with the query;
receiving by the broker payment for the purchase of the seller provided cullet; and
determining by the first computer a least cost shipping route from a location of the seller provided cullet to the buyer specified address.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the quantity of cullet for sale comprises a range.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the price of cullet for sale comprises a range.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the buyer inquiry comprises a cullet price range.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the buyer inquiry comprises a cullet quantity range.
6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of the broker providing the seller name to the buyer.
7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of making payment to the seller.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the payment is made from the broker to the seller.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data repository comprises data comprising at least one of a buyer's name, address, and telephone number.
10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
determining if the buyer is registered; and
if the buyer is not registered, storing buyer data comprising at least one of buyer name and address.
11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying, responsive to the querying step, cullet data purchase results that do not exactly match the query.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the displayed cullet data further comprises at least one of a price per ton, a seller name, a seller location, a quantity in tons, a percent flint, a delivery date, and a pickup date.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cullet data further comprises at least one of a price per ton, a seller name, a seller location, a quantity in tons, a percent flint, a delivery date, and a pickup date.
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cullet comprises at least two colored mixed cullet.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the cullet comprises green glass and amber glass.
16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the cullet comprises green glass and flint glass.
17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the cullet comprises flint glass and amber glass.
18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cullet comprises green glass, amber glass, and flint glass.
19. A system for brokering a purchase and sale of glass cullet over a computer network, comprising:
a first computer for storing, with a broker, data pertaining to available cullet for sale from a plurality of sellers;
the first computer receiving a cullet purchase inquiry from a buyer, comprising a quantity and price of cullet within a specified distance of a buyer specified address;
the first computer generating, using the stored cullet data and responsive to the received cullet purchase inquiry, at least one name of a seller that can provide a quantity and price of cullet within the specified distance that satisfies the received cullet purchase inquiry;
the first computer receiving, with the broker, payment for the purchase of the seller provided cullet; and
the first computer determining a least cost shipping route from a location of the seller provided cullet within the specified distance to the buyer specified address.
20. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the quantity of cullet for sale comprises a range.
21. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the price of cullet for sale comprises a range.
22. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the buyer inquiry comprises a cullet price range.
23. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the buyer inquiry comprises a cullet quantity range.
24. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the first computer causes displaying, responsive to querying a data repository, on a second computer, cullet data that closely matches the inquiry.
25. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the first computer causes displaying, responsive to querying a data repository, on a second computer, cullet data that matches the inquiry.
26. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:
store, with a broker, data pertaining to a quantity and price of cullet for sale from a plurality of sellers;
query a data repository to determine if a stored quantity and price of cullet satisfies a buyer inquiry pertaining to a purchase of a quantity and price of cullet within a specified distance of a buyer specified address that satisfies the buyer inquiry;
generate, responsive to the inquiry, at least one name of a seller that can provide a quantity and price of cullet within the specified distance that satisfies the buyer inquiry;
receive, by a broker, payment for the purchase of the seller provided cullet; and
determine a least cost shipping route from a location of the seller provided cullet to the buyer specified address.
27. The computer program product according to claim 26 , wherein the quantity of cullet for sale comprises a range.
28. The computer program product according to claim 26 , wherein the price of cullet for sale comprises a range.
29. The computer program product according to claim 26 , wherein the buyer query comprises a cullet price range.
30. The computer program product according to claim 26 , wherein the buyer inquiry comprises a cullet quantity range.
31. The computer program product according to claim 26 , further comprising instructions for causing a computer to:
receive at least one of payment and payment data from the buyer; and
transmit at least one of payment and payment data to the seller.
32. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a seller location having available cullet for sale that is closest to a buyer location for receiving cullet.
33. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first computer is further configured to determine a seller location having available cullet for sale that is closest to a buyer location for receiving cullet.
34. The computer program product of claim 26 , further comprising instructions for causing a computer to determine a seller location having available cullet for sale that is closest to a buyer location for receiving cullet.