Integrated electronic shopping cart system and method

Abstract

Integrated shopping cart functionality is provided on a first website so that products/services from different affiliated websites can be integrated into the shopping cart at the first website and the e-commerce functionality of the first website can be utilized to purchase the selected products/services. A framework for integrating this functionality enables the first website to integrate with affiliated websites so that an increased number of users may access the first website since the proprietor of the first website may offer various products/services from a multitude of different affiliated websites, for example by providing URL links to the affiliated websites that a user may access in order to select items from the affiliated websites. These items can be integrated into the shopping cart at the first website and purchased with a single transaction. Increased user traffic is expected at the first website since a user's shopping interests can be fulfilled at a single website. Additionally, affiliated websites are benefited by this integrated shopping cart functionality since the e-commerce functionality of the integrated shopping cart is performed by a server that is associated with the first website. Therefore, affiliated websites need not include their own e-commerce functionality. Instead, they may take advantage of the e-commerce functionality of the first website and still receive the benefits of the sale of their offered products/services to the user. Maintenance costs and overhead costs with respect to including an e-commerce software engine are therefore reduced and often eliminated as a result.

1 . An electronic shopping cart system integrated with a computer network connecting a plurality of servers together, the computer network being accessible by a user, comprising: 
 a first server associated with a first website, the first server including a shopping cart application configured to maintain a shopping cart order of items selected by a user from a plurality of affiliated websites, and a catalog application adapted to receive item information relating to the items that can be selected by the user from the plurality of affiliated websites, the first server being configured to process the shopping cart order and to provide order fulfillment information to the affiliated websites from which the items were selected by the user; and    a plurality of affiliated servers associated with the plurality of affiliated websites, each of the affiliated servers including a respective catalog of item information relating to the items that can be selected from the respective affiliated websites, the plurality of affiliated servers being adapted to provide the respective catalogs of item information to the first server and to receive and process the order fulfillment information from the first server.    
     
     
         2 . The integrated shopping cart system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer network is the World Wide Web.  
     
     
         3 . The integrated shopping cart system of  claim 1 , wherein the items include products and services.  
     
     
         4 . The integrated shopping cart system of  claim 1 , wherein the item information includes any of item identification information, cost information, and description information.  
     
     
         5 . The integrated shopping cart system of  claim 1 , wherein the order fulfillment information includes any of item identification information and shipping information.  
     
     
         6 . An electronic shopping cart system integrated with a computer network connecting a plurality of servers together, the computer network being accessible by a user, comprising: 
 a server associated with a first website, the server including a shopping cart application configured to maintain a shopping cart order of items selected by a user from a plurality of affiliated websites, and a catalog application adapted to receive item information relating to the items that can be selected by the user from the plurality of affiliated websites, the server being configured to process the shopping cart order and to provide order fulfillment information to the affiliated websites from which the items were selected by the user.    
     
     
         7 . The integrated shopping cart system of  claim 6 , wherein the computer network is the World Wide Web.  
     
     
         8 . The integrated electronic shopping cart system of  claim 6 , wherein the items include products and services.  
     
     
         9 . The integrated electronic shopping cart system of  claim 6 , wherein the item information includes any of item identification information, cost information, and description information.  
     
     
         10 . The integrated shopping cart system of  claim 6 , wherein the order fulfillment information includes any of item identification information and shipping information.  
     
     
         11 . An electronic shopping cart system integrated with a computer network connecting a plurality of servers together, the computer network being accessible by a user, comprising: 
 a plurality of affiliated servers associated with a like plurality of affiliated websites, each of the affiliated servers including a respective catalog of item information relating to items that can be selected from the respective affiliated websites, the plurality of affiliated servers being adapted to provide the respective catalogs of item information to a first website, each of the affiliated servers being configured to receive order fulfillment information from the first website and to process the order fulfillment information.    
     
     
         12 . The integrated shopping cart system of  claim 11 , wherein the computer network is the World Wide Web.  
     
     
         13 . The integrated electronic shopping cart system of  claim 11 , wherein the items include products and services.  
     
     
         14 . The integrated electronic shopping cart system of  claim 11 , wherein the item information includes any of item identification information, cost information, and description information.  
     
     
         15 . The integrated electronic shopping cart system of  claim 11 , wherein the order fulfillment information includes any of item identification information and shipping information.  
     
     
         16 . An integrated shopping cart software application, comprising: 
 a session initiation software module for establishing a communication session between a first server associated with a first website and an affiliated server associated with an affiliated website within a computer network so that a catalog of item information relating to items that can be selected from the affiliated website that is maintained by the affiliated server is accessible by the first server permitting the selecting of an item from the affiliated website;    an add item software module for informing the first server of the selecting of an item from the affiliated website so that a shopping cart order maintained by the first server is updated to include the selected item from the affiliated website;    an order fulfillment software module for transmitting order fulfillment information to the affiliated server and requesting the affiliated server to process the transmitted order fulfillment information to fulfill a portion of the shopping cart order; and    an error determination software module for managing error information occurring in the communication session between the first server and the affiliated server.    
     
     
         17 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , wherein the session initiation software module permits the first server to transmit request information to the additional server system.  
     
     
         18 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 17 , wherein the request information is transmitted by a communication protocol.  
     
     
         19 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 18 , wherein the communication protocol includes any of FTP, e-mail, HTTP and HTTPS communication protocols.  
     
     
         20 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 17 , wherein the request information includes any of vendor identifier information for identifying the first server, product identifier information for identifying an item from the catalog of item information and session identifier information for maintaining communication session information between the first server and the affiliated server.  
     
     
         21 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , wherein the add item software module permits the additional server system to transmit item information relating to a particular item selected from the catalog of item information to the first server so that the selected item is added to the shopping cart order maintained by the first server.  
     
     
         22 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 21 , wherein the item information is transmitted as an XML message.  
     
     
         23 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 21 , wherein the item information includes any of reference parameter information for identifying the selected item, line item number information for indicating a location in the shopping cart order at which the selected item is located, the quantity of the item selected, the weight of the selected item, inventory number information relating to the selected item, line item description information for associating a description of the selected item, price information of the selected item, session identifier information, and user identifier information.  
     
     
         24 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 21 , wherein an acknowledgement message is transmitted from the first server to the affiliated server upon the first server receiving the item information from the affiliated server.  
     
     
         25 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , wherein the order fulfillment software module permits the first server to transmit request information to the affiliated server so that the affiliated server can fulfill a portion of the shopping cart order.  
     
     
         26 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 25 , wherein the request information is transmitted as an XML message.  
     
     
         27 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 25 , wherein the request information includes any of shipping information, vendor identifier information, reference parameter information, line item information and session identifier information.  
     
     
         28 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 27 , wherein the request information further includes any of tax information, distribution information, payment information, and cost center information.  
     
     
         29 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 27 , wherein the shipping information includes any of shipping address information, contact information, shipping company information and shipping method information.  
     
     
         30 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 25 , wherein an acknowledgement message is transmitted from the affiliated server to the first server upon the affiliated server receiving the request information from the first server.  
     
     
         31 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , further comprising a shipping price software module for informing the first server of the shipping price of the item selected from the affiliated website.  
     
     
         32 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 31 , wherein the shipping price software module permits the first server to transmit shipping price request information to the affiliated server.  
     
     
         33 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 32 , wherein the request information is transmitted as an XML message.  
     
     
         34 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 32 , wherein the shipping price request information includes any of item information and shipping information.  
     
     
         35 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 32 , wherein an acknowledgement message is transmitted from the affiliated server to the first server upon the affiliated server receiving the request information from the first server.  
     
     
         36 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , wherein order fulfillment notification information is transmitted as an XML message.  
     
     
         37 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 36 , wherein order fulfillment notification information includes any of line item information, reference parameter information, tracking information relating to a shipped item and session identifier information.  
     
     
         38 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 36 , wherein an acknowledgement message is transmitted from the first server to the affiliated server upon the first server receiving the notification information from the affiliated server.  
     
     
         39 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , wherein the error determination software module permits the transmission of an error message to the first server.  
     
     
         40 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , further comprising a ship notification software module for informing the first server of the fulfillment of a portion of the shopping cart order.  
     
     
         41 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , further comprising a select-another-item software module for informing the first server of selecting another item from the affiliated website so that the selected item from the affiliated website can be added to the shopping cart order maintained by the first server.  
     
     
         42 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 41 , wherein the select-another-item software module permits the first server system to transmit request information to the additional server system.  
     
     
         43 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 42 , wherein the request information is by a communication protocol.  
     
     
         44 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 43 , wherein the communication protocol includes any of HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and e-mail.  
     
     
         45 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 41 , wherein the request information includes any of vendor identifier information, reference parameter information, action information, session identifier information and line item number information.  
     
     
         46 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , further comprising a modify item software module for informing the affiliated server system of a request to modify a selected item indicated in the shopping cart order maintained by the first server.  
     
     
         47 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 45 , wherein the request information is transmitted by a communication protocol.  
     
     
         48 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 47 , wherein the communication protocol includes any of HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and e-mail.  
     
     
         49 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 45 , wherein the request information includes any of vendor identifier information, line item number information and session identifier information.  
     
     
         50 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , further comprising a reorder software module for informing the first server of selecting a previously selected item from the affiliated website so that the previously selected item can be added to the shopping cart order maintained by the first server.  
     
     
         51 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 50 , wherein the reorder software module permits the first server to transmit request information to the affiliated server.  
     
     
         52 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 51 , wherein the request information is transmitted by a communication protocol.  
     
     
         53 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 52 , wherein the communication protocol includes any of HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and e-mail.  
     
     
         54 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 51 , wherein the request information includes any of vendor identifier information, reference parameter information, line item number information and session identifier information.  
     
     
         55 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , further comprising a view design software module for viewing an image of a design item created at the affiliated website.  
     
     
         56 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 55 , wherein the view design software module permits the first server to transmit request information to the affiliated server.  
     
     
         57 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 55 , wherein the request information is transmitted by a communication protocol.  
     
     
         58 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 57 , wherein the communication protocol includes any of HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and e-mail.  
     
     
         59 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 56 , wherein the request information includes any of vendor identifier information, reference parameter information, line item number information, zoom factor information and session identifier information.  
     
     
         60 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , further comprising a create another product software module for informing the affiliated server of creating a custom design item.  
     
     
         61 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 60 , wherein the create another product software module permits the first server to transmit request information to the affiliated server.  
     
     
         62 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 61 , wherein the request information is transmitted by a communication protocol.  
     
     
         63 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 62 , wherein the communication protocol includes any of HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and e-mail.  
     
     
         64 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 61 , wherein the request information includes any of vendor identifier information, reference parameter information, line item number information, product identifier information for indicating a particular design item template to provide to facilitate the creating of another product, and session identifier information.  
     
     
         65 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , further comprising a save design software module for informing the first server of a saved design item on the affiliated server.  
     
     
         66 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 65 , wherein the saved design item includes any of custom design items, non-custom design items, and non-printable items.  
     
     
         67 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 65 , wherein the save design software module permits the affiliated server to transmit request information to the first server.  
     
     
         68 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 67 , wherein the request information is transmitted as an XML message.  
     
     
         69 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 67 , wherein the request information includes any of reference parameter information, line item information and item description information.  
     
     
         70 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 67 , wherein an acknowledgement message is transmitted from the first server to the affiliated server upon the first server receiving the saved design notification information from the affiliated server.  
     
     
         71 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , further comprising an order placement software module for informing the affiliated server to fulfill an order for an item selected from a different affiliated website.  
     
     
         72 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 71 , wherein the order placement software module permits the first server to transmit request information to the affiliated server.  
     
     
         73 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 72 , wherein the request information is transmitted as an XML message.  
     
     
         74 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 72 , wherein the request information includes any of vendor identifier information, reference parameter information, line item information and shipping information.  
     
     
         75 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 16 , further comprising a reorder fulfillment software module for informing the affiliated server of the fulfilling of an item in the shopping cart order that was previously fulfilled by the affiliated server.  
     
     
         76 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 75 , wherein the reorder fulfillment software module permits the first server to transmit request information to the affiliated server.  
     
     
         77 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 76 , wherein the request information is transmitted as an XML message.  
     
     
         78 . The integrated shopping cart software application of  claim 76 , wherein the request information includes any of shipping information, vendor identifier information, reference parameter information, and line item information.  
     
     
         79 . A method for incorporating integrated shopping cart functionality in a computer network, comprising the steps of: 
 installing an integrated shopping cart testing software toolkit, having a plurality of test modules incorporated therein, on an affiliated server associated with an affiliated website;    accessing the affiliated server by a first server and activating the integrated shopping cart testing software toolkit to test the functionality of the plurality of test modules incorporated therein;    testing the functionality of the plurality of test modules by transmitting parameter information from the first server to the affiliated server;    indicating the status of transmitting the parameter information to reflect the result of a communication between the first server and the affiliated server; and    in the event of a failed communication between the first server and the affiliated server, re-configuring the affiliated server and re-testing the functionality of the plurality of test modules until each of the test modules are successfully tested.    
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the plurality of test modules includes a respective test module associated with a respective module of an integrated shopping cart software application.  
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the parameter information is transmitted by any of the HTTPS, HTTP, FTP and e-mail communication protocols.  
     
     
         82 . An integrated electronic shopping cart system, comprising: 
 a first server system connected with a computer network including at least one client computer system, the first server system being associated with a first website and including a shopping cart application configured to maintain a shopping cart order of items selected by a user from an affiliated website, and a catalog application adapted to receive item information relating to the items that can be selected by the user from the affiliated website, the first server system being configured to process the shopping cart order and to provide order fulfillment information to the affiliated website;    an affiliated server system associated with the affiliated website and including a respective catalog of item information relating to the items that can be selected from the affiliated website, the affiliated server system being adapted to provide the catalog of item information to the first server system and to receive and process the order fulfillment information from the first server system, the affiliated server system further including 
 at least one server system configured to communicate with at least one client system;  
 at least one image server system configured to receive custom print information, including custom print design item information, from the client system and to provide the custom print design item information to the at least one server system so that the custom print design item information can be dynamically displayed to the at least one client system to indicate any modification to the custom print design item information;  
 at least one file server system configured to store the custom print information; and  
 at least one process server system configured to format the custom print information and to generate a print order;  
 each of the at least one server system, at least one image server system, at least one file server system and at least one process server system being in communication with each other so that custom print information can be provided between them; and  
   at least one printing facility in communication with the affiliated server, the at least one printing facility configured to receive the formatted custom print information from the affiliated server and to process the print order in accordance with the custom print information.    
     
     
         83 . The integrated electronic shopping cart system of  claim 82 , wherein the custom print information includes any of graphical information, audio-visual information, image information and textual information.  
     
     
         84 . The integrated electronic shopping cart system of  claim 82 , wherein the custom print information is provided from a client system in communication with the affiliated server system.  
     
     
         85 . The integrated electronic shopping cart system of  claim 82 , wherein the custom print information is included in at least one design file that describes the layout of a custom print design item associated with the custom print information.  
     
     
         86 . The integrated electronic shopping cart system of  claim 85 , wherein the at least one design file further describes non-print items associated with the custom print information.  
     
     
         87 . The integrated electronic shopping cart system of  claim 85 , wherein the layout of the custom print design item described in the design file is updated to indicate any modification to the custom print design item information.  
     
     
         88 . The integrated electronic shopping cart system of  Claim 87 , wherein the modified custom print design item information is displayed in real-time.  
     
     
         89 . The integrated electronic shopping cart system of  claim 82 , wherein the custom print design item information is modified in accordance with a predetermined ruleset for a selected print medium.  
     
     
         90 . The electronic shopping cart system of  claim 82 , wherein the custom print information is formatted into a format that is recognizable by the at least one printing facility.