Method and system for only sales and purchases
Internet-based commercial network connects multiple qualified participant buyers and sellers. Items are made available for defined periods of time, referred to as an event ( 139 ). Event terms and conditions include item types, price, quantity, volume or units, discount, shipping terms ( 138 ). Reiterative offer and counteroffers permit negotiation of terms for an event. Participants may view anonymous competitive quotes for comparison and analysis. Pooled purchases and auctions are envisioned. Participants may create web presences and are subject to restrictions on access ( 141 ) and purchase ( 142 ) authority. Central system maintains participant data.
1 . A method of computer assisted procurement of products comprising:
(a) providing an internet website for listing products sought to be purchased by a purchaser,
(b) establishing an event at which qualified sellers may visit the website to offer terms for the sale of the products to the purchaser by:
(i) making the website available for the posting of quotes during an identified time period, and
(ii) inviting qualified sellers to offer terms of sale by posting those terms of sale on the website during the identified time period.
2 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 1 , further comprising making available on the website during the identified time period to qualified sellers participating in the event at least one of the terms offered by the other qualified seller or sellers participating in the event.
3 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the terms is price.
4 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 1 , wherein step (a) comprises:
providing on the website a location for indicating an offer of price for each listed product, and
providing on the website a further location for indicating an offer of at least one term other than price by any qualified seller participating in the event.
5 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one other term includes at least one of advertising contribution, shipping terms, payment terms, schedule of delivery, quality, and quantity discount.
6 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 1 , further comprising revealing to each qualified seller participating in the event the terms offered by each other qualified seller participating in the event, and concealing from each qualified seller participating in the event the identity of each other qualified seller participating in the event.
7 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 6 , further comprising:
(c) affording the purchaser the ability to designate accepted quotes for a period of time after the close of the event, including:
(i) affording the purchaser the ability to designate selected winning quotes item by item, and
(ii) affording the purchaser the ability to designate winning quotes by designating acceptance of a totality of quotes from a particular seller.
8 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 1 , further comprising establishing the event as a market price event in which each item listed for purchase has a set market price, and each quote received is required to be in terms of a variance from the market price.
9 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 8 , further comprising automatically by computer converting each quoted variance into a full price for each listed item based on the sum of the market price and the variance quoted.
10 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 1 , further comprising establishing the event as an event in which the listed items do not have a set market price, and requiring quotes to be the actual price intended on an item by item basis.
11 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing the purchaser information concerning the cost of money over time in reference to non-price terms of a particular sellers quote.
12 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 1 , further comprising providing the purchaser with information assisting the purchaser to compare quotes of branded products differing in brand.
13 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 1 , further comprising accepting quotes in differing units of measure, and converting at least one of the quotes in differing units of measure to quotes based on a single unit of measure, whereby the purchaser can readily compare competitive quotes.
14 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 1 , wherein the quotes of each seller are made known to the other sellers, and the identity of each seller is not made known to the other sellers.
15 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 1 , further comprising constraining an event to goods of a particular kind.
16 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 1 , further comprising enabling the purchaser to alter the volume of goods being sought during an event.
17 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 16 , wherein enabling the purchaser to alter the volume of goods comprises, presenting price points at which automatically the volume of goods being sought will be reset.
18 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 17 , further comprising automatically extending the time period of the event where the volume of goods being sought is reset to give sellers an opportunity to respond.
19 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to claim 1 , further comprising setting a period of time during which sellers may change their prior quotes.
20 . The method of computer assisted procurement according to claim 1 , further comprising step of recognizing quotes in a quoter's quantity unit of measure other than a quantity unit of measure specified by an event administrator, and automatically converting the quoter's quantity unit of measure and a quoter's quote to the specified quantity unit of measure, whereby quotes from all quoters are readily compared.
21 . The method of computer assisted procurement according to claim 20 , further comprising the step of calculating total quote for each quoter for comparison based on quotes from quoters in disparate quantity units of measure.
22 . The method of computer assisted procurement according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving as a part of a quote an additional funds or terms portion of a quote in addition to a price.
23 . The method of computer assisted procurement according to claim 22 further comprising calculating the additional value of the additional funds or terms portion of a quote and summing the additional value with a price portion of the quote.
24 . The method of computer assisted procurement according to claim 22 , wherein the step of receiving as part of a quote an additional funds or terms portions comprises receiving at least one of a quantity based discount, contributed advertising dollars, shipping terms, payment terms, quality of goods, and scheduling of deliveries.
25 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of user authentication comprising:
(i) determining the existence of a cookie on a user's computer,
(ii) determining from the user's cookie the user's permitted level of access: and
(iii) permitting the user to an event at the level of access determined.
26 . The method according to claim 25 , further comprising determining whether an event to which the user seeks access is still open, before proceeding with steps (i) and (ii).
27 . The method according to claim 26 , further comprising, before proceeding with steps (iii), determining whether the event has been disabled, and if the event has not been disabled, determining whether the user has been disabled.
28 . The method according to claim 25 , wherein prior to steps (ii) and (iii), the method further comprises the steps of determining whether the user has responded to an invitation to an event in which the user seeks participation.
29 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein step (b) further comprises setting a recurrent period during which quotes may be posted by qualified sellers.
30 . The method according to claim 29 , wherein step (b) comprises establishing a list of items regularly needing replenishing and permitting qualified sellers to quote each recurrent period without repeated invitation.
31 - 66 . (canceled)
67 . A method or computer assisted sales or procurement comprising:
(a) providing an internet website for listing products to be sold or to be purchased,
(b) establishing an event at which qualified buyers or sellers may visit the website to quote terms for the purchase or sale of the products listed, by:
(i) mailing, the website available for the posting of quotes during an identified time period, and
(ii) inviting qualified buyers or sellers to offer terms of purchase or sale by posting those terms on the website during the identified time period.
68 - 89 . (canceled)
90 . A system for computer assisted procurement of products including:
(a) a web server,
(b) programming to:
(i) produce an internet website for listing products sought to be purchased by a purchaser;
(iii) establish an event at which qualified sellers may visit the website to offer terms for the sale of the products to the purchaser, and
(iv) make the website available for the posting of offers during an identified time period for the event.
91 . The Computer programming for computer assisted sales or procurement including:
(a) website programming establishing an interactive website having:
(ii) first web page programming responsive to a first user establishing at least one event for buying and selling a plurality of items,
(iii) second web page programming responsive to input by a plurality of second users quoting proposed terms of purchase and sale of one or more of the identified items to present said terms on the one or more pages of interactive website; and
(iv) third web page programming presenting said second users' proposed terms for review by the first user and responsive to inputs from the first user to communicate selection and award to at least one of the second users.
92 . The programming according claim 91 , wherein the first web page programming includes event scheduling programming operative to open response, the second web page programming during a period of time defined by inputs from the first user.
93 . The programming according claim 92 , wherein said website programming further comprises:
(iv) fourth web page programming responsive to the selection and award, by the first user to enable the at least one second user to accept the selection and award.