Method and system for online sales and purchase

Abstract

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, presetting 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 . A method of computer assisted procurement of products sought to be purchased by a purchaser comprising: 
 (a) providing an internet website,    (b) establishing classifications of users entitling users to varying degrees of access to information and activities available through the website,    (c) providing a publicly available registration page at the website,    (d) issuing at least one of a login number, login word, and password at a user request on the registration page,    (e) using the at least one number or word and password of a user at a login by the user to verify the user's identity and status,    (f) upon successful verification of the user's identity and status, placing a cookie on the user's computer, the cookie comprising an identification of the user, and    (g) thereafter based on the information in the user's cookie, 
 (i) determining the user's classification, and  
 (ii) affording the user access to information and activities on the website to a degree consistent with that user's classification.  
   
     
     
         32 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 31 , wherein each cookie identifies the particular user's time zone, the method further comprising identifying timed events to a user in the user's local time by converting from the time of an event occurring outside the user's time zone.  
     
     
         33 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 31 , further comprising, providing at the website a plurality of different home pages, each home page being associated with a particular user classification and each home page being accessible to a user having the associated classification.  
     
     
         34 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 33 , wherein one of said classifications is administrator, and further comprising providing each user classified as administrator access to all of said home pages.  
     
     
         35 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 33 , wherein one of said classifications is that of a responding buyer or seller entitled to quote at an event, the method further comprising restricting access of a user classified as a responding buyer or seller to event information, including providing a page on the website with competitive quote information without identification of competitive responding buyers or sellers making competitive quotes.  
     
     
         36 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 34 , wherein another of said classifications is that of a responding buyer or seller entitled to quote at an event, the method further comprising: 
 (i) providing a homepage at the website for each user classified as a responding buyer or seller and limiting access to that homepage to that responding buyer or seller and to users classified as administrators,    (i) providing a program details page at the website with competitive quote information from each user classified as a responding buyer or seller and without identification of the users classified as responding buyer or seller, and permitting access to the program details page by users classified as responding buyer or seller and users classified as administrator.    
     
     
         37 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 36 , wherein the program details page provides for the entry of information about a scheduled event including: 
 identification of all items being offered for purchase,    item quantity,    item descriptions,    item price quotes, and    shipping information.    
     
     
         38 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 37 , wherein the details page further provides for the entry of a market price.  
     
     
         39 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 38 , wherein the details page further provides for a quote increment, said quote increment setting increments in price above or below the market price by which quotes must be made.  
     
     
         40 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 31 , wherein providing an internet website comprises providing a plurality of pages at said website, and affording user access to information and activity on the website to a degree consistent with that user's classification comprises, as a user seeks to move from page to page among said pages, authenticating the user by determining whether the user is authorized to have access to each page sought by the user.  
     
     
         41 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 40 , wherein authenticating includes determining whether the user is logged in and validated, and determining whether the user is authorized includes event participation authentication including determining whether the user is a valid event participant and that the user has permission to use event related pages.  
     
     
         42 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 41 , wherein the step of authenticating includes inspecting the content of the cookie on the user's computer.  
     
     
         43 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 40 , wherein affording the user access includes providing event authorization comprising: 
 retrieving information concerning an event and determining whether the event has been disabled,    if the event has not been disabled, determining whether a user seeking access to the event has been disabled, and    if the user has not been disabled, determining if the user has responded to an invitation to the event, and    if the user has responded to an invitation to the event, affording the user access to a page at which the user can enter a quote.    
     
     
         44 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 31 , wherein the step of affording a user access further comprises identifying a user as qualified to organize an event.  
     
     
         45 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 44 , further comprising providing event organization web page for use by a user qualified to organize an event.  
     
     
         46 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 44 , further comprising providing a user qualified to organize an event with the authority to select event respondents.  
     
     
         47 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 45 , further comprising enabling a user qualified to organize an event access to quotes and quoter identities during the course of an event.  
     
     
         48 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 44 , further comprising enabling a user qualified to organize an event to set an event market price with respect to which price quotations must be made by respondent.  
     
     
         49 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 44 , further comprising enabling a user qualified to organize an event to set a price quote increment of which all price quotations must be a multiple.  
     
     
         50 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 44 , further comprising enabling a user qualified to organize an event to determine that the event is either an auction or a reverse auction.  
     
     
         51 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 44 , further comprising enabling a user qualified to organize an event to set a minimum or a maximum price quote.  
     
     
         52 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 44 , further comprising enabling a user qualified to organize an event to establish the time and duration of an event.  
     
     
         53 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 44 , further comprising enabling a user qualified to establish an event to identify quoters whose quotes have been accepted.  
     
     
         54 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 44 , further comprising enabling a user qualified to establish an event to alter terms of an event during the course of an event.  
     
     
         55 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 44 , wherein enabling a user qualified to establish an event to alter terms of an event during the course of an event includes enabling the setting of price points at which quantities of items sought to be purchased change automatically.  
     
     
         56 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 44 , further comprising enabling a user qualified to establish an event to negotiate terms of a quote subsequent to the close of an event.  
     
     
         57 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 49 , further comprising automatically converting an incremental bid to market price at a web page accessible to a user qualified to establish an event.  
     
     
         58 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 52 , further comprising setting an extension of time of an event to occur upon receipt of a quote within a predetermined time of the scheduled close of an event.  
     
     
         59 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 52 , further comprising disabling any quoter that has not submitted a quote during a predetermined time period in the course of the running of an event.  
     
     
         60 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 52 , further providing a participant award website page to which a quoter whose quote has succeeded in the award of a sale is given access for completion of details of the award.  
     
     
         61 . The method of computer assisted procurement of products according to  claim 60 , further comprising the step of communicating to a successful quoter a link to the participant award website page.  
     
     
         62 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising affording a buyer a web page for the listing of a list of items regularly needing replenishment, affording participating sellers the ability to quote on items on the list at any time, affording the buyer the ability to award a purchase to a participating seller on the basis of a current quote.  
     
     
         63 . The method according to  claim 62  wherein affording participating sellers the ability to quote comprises, designating participating sellers and permitting designated participating sellers the ability to quote repeatedly without redesignation.  
     
     
         64 . A method of computer assisted procurement of products sought to be purchased comprising: 
 (a) providing an internet website,    (b) affording a participating buyer the ability to list on a page at the website a list of items requiring recurrent replenishment,    (c) qualifying participating sellers to quote on items in the list of items,    (d) affording qualified participating sellers the ability to award one or more sales to one of said qualified participating sellers based on that seller's quote on an item or items on the list, and    (e) enabling the qualified participating sellers to quote on a recurring basis on items on the list absent the need for requalification.    
     
     
         65 . The method according to  claim 64 , wherein step (e) includes scheduling recurrent events during which quotes on listed items can be received.  
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 64  wherein step (e) includes maintaining a price list of items on the list continuously open for receipt of quotes on listed items.  
     
     
         67 . A method of 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) malting 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 . A method of negotiated contract implementation comprising: 
 (a) providing an internet website for facilitating negotiation between a first party seeking a contract proposal and at least one second party responding with a proposal,    (b) providing at least one page at the website adapted to permit the first party to create an event by placing a contract out for bid,    (c) providing at least one page at the website adapted to permit the at least one second party to submit a proposal, and    (d) providing at least one further page facilitating analysis by the first party of each proposal from the at least one second party.    
     
     
         69 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 68 , further comprising requiring the at least one second party to accept at least one of event details and event terms and conditions by the first party before permitting the at least one second party to submit a proposal.  
     
     
         70 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 68 , further comprising enabling the first party to further negotiate terms with the at least one second party, including permitting the at least one second party to revive a previously submitted term in response to negotiation with the first party.  
     
     
         71 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 70 , wherein enabling the first party to further negotiate includes enabling the first party to reveal to the at least one second party one or more terms of competitive proposals of other second parties for comparison by the at least one second party of the at least one second party's proposals for said one or more terms with the one or more terms proposed by the other second parties.  
     
     
         72 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 70 , further comprising, after a revision of a previously submitted term by the at least one second party in response to negotiation with the first party, refreshing at least a portion of the analysis facilitated at step (d) for indicating to the first party the effect of the revision of the at least one term by the at least one second party.  
     
     
         73 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 68 , wherein the first party is a buyer and step (b) comprises: 
 (i) enabling the buyer to identify items to be purchased,    (ii) setting an event time and duration at the buyer's instructions, and    (iii) identifying at least one of contract begin date, contract duration, estimated contract volume, and discount and future rates of money at the buyer's request.    
     
     
         74 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 73 , wherein step (b) further comprises, identifying participating sellers at the buyer's request.  
     
     
         75 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 73 , further comprising requiring, at the buyer's request, sample submission.  
     
     
         76 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 75 , further comprising conveying by e-mail the buyer's invitations to sellers identified by the buyer.  
     
     
         77 . The method of negotiated contract implementation comprising  claim 68 , wherein step (c) includes, at the least one second party's instructions: 
 (i) proposing cost, and    (ii) proposing at least one of annual dollar volume, proposal duration, payment terms, annual seasonal distribution and movement.    
     
     
         78 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 77 , wherein step (c) further comprises, at the least one second party's instructions: 
 (iii) offering additional funding.    
     
     
         79 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 68 , wherein step (d) further comprise making available to the first party a side-by-side comparison of proposals from all participating second parties.  
     
     
         80 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 68 , wherein step (d) further comprises, at the instructions of the first party, categorizing each additional funds offering by a participating second party, and providing category-by-category comparison to the first party.  
     
     
         81 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 68 , wherein step (d) further comprises, providing the first party an analysis of the relationship between time and money involved in a proposal by the at least one second party.  
     
     
         82 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 68 , wherein step (d) further comprises, at the instructions of the first party, providing a contingency analysis.  
     
     
         83 . The method of negotiated contract implementation according to  claim 70 , wherein step (d) further comprises affording the first party at least one of calculation of net present value, calculation of item list cost differential, and calculation of additional profitability.  
     
     
         84 . A method of computer assisted competitive product procurement comprising: 
 (a) providing an internet website for listing branded products for which proposals for sales are sought by a buyer,    (b) listing for the buyer characteristics of a proposed program for each branded product,    (c) affording suppliers of the branded products access to the website to post terms of a proposed sale to the buyer of each branded product in response to the buyer's proposed programs, and    (d) displaying for the buyer a comparison of the suppliers' responsive proposed sale terms.    
     
     
         85 . A method of computer assisted competitive product procurement according to  claim 84 , wherein step (d) further comprises displaying the comparison on the bases of how nearly each supplier's posted terms of a proposed sale approach the buyer's proposed program characteristics.  
     
     
         86 . A method of computer assisted competitive product procurement according to  claim 85 , wherein the characteristics of the proposed program for each branded product includes the buyer's proposed gross margin on retail sales of the products, and the method further comprising: 
 (e) displaying a gross margin calculated on the basis of the terms of said each proposed sale by a supplier to the buyer of each branded product for comparison with said buyer's proposed gross margin on retail sales.    
     
     
         87 . A method of computer assisted competitive product procurement according to  claim 85 , wherein displaying the comparison on the basis of how nearly each supplier's posted terms of a proposed sale approached the buyer's proposed program characteristics includes calculating and displaying the difference in program cost between the program having the buyer's proposed program's characteristics and a program based on the supplier's terms of a proposed sale.  
     
     
         88 . A method of computer assisted competitive product procurement according to  claim 87 , wherein calculating and displaying the difference in program costs comprises calculating and displaying said difference in at least one of total monetary difference and percent difference.  
     
     
         89 . A method of computer assisted competitive product procurement according to  claim 85 , wherein displaying for the buyer a comparison includes displaying a normalized competitive comparison that compare variations of several supplier-proposed sales from the buyer's proposed program.  
     
     
         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.