Placing a Purchase Order Using One of Multiple Procurement Options

Abstract

A method and system for placing an order to purchase an item via the Internet. The order is placed by a user at a client system and received by a server system. The client system can display information identifying the item and, for each of multiple procurement options having information related to ordering the identified item, can display an indication of the procurement option such that selection of the displayed indication represents an ordering of the identified item using the information of the procurement option. In response to selection of a displayed indication, the client system can send to a server computer a request to order the identified item using the information of the procurement option for the selected indication.

1 . A method for assisting a user in ordering an item using a client system, the method comprising:
 providing for display information identifying the item;   for each of multiple procurement options defined for the user, providing for display at the client system a distinct combination of payment information and delivery information for ordering the item; and   in response to receiving an indication of selection of one of the multiple procurement options as a single action to order the identified item, sending to a server system a request to order the identified item using the information of the selected procurement option such that the payment information associated with the selected procurement option will be used to pay for the identified item and such that the delivery information associated with the selected procurement option will be used for delivery of the identified item.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of selection includes clicking a mouse button when a cursor is positioned over the procurement option to be selected. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , including providing for display at the client system an add item indication to add the identified item to a collection of items for later ordering. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , including:
 providing for display at the client system with the multiple procurement options a new procurement option such that selection of the new procurement option orders the identified item by receiving information identifying a delivery address for the new procurement option and sending to the server system a request to order the identified item such that the identified item is to be sent to the identified delivery address.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , including creating the new procurement option with the identified delivery address as part of the new procurement option. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the received information identifying the delivery address is information indicating an identity other than the user, and including retrieving address information for the identity to be used as the identified delivery address. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , including receiving payment information prior to the selection of the new procurement option, and wherein the sent request to order the identified item specifies that the item is to be paid for by the received payment information. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information about the multiple procurement options is received from the server system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each procurement option includes a moniker identifying the procurement option. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing an identification to be provided to the server system to identify a user of the client system so that the user does not need to enter identification information when ordering the identified item. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable medium storing executable computer instructions, the instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to:
 provide for display information identifying the item;   for each of multiple procurement options, providing for display at the client system one of the multiple procurement options, each procurement option comprising information related to ordering that includes at least delivery information and information regarding payment; and   send to a server system, in response to receiving an indication of selection of one of the multiple procurement options as a single action to order the identified item, a request to order the identified item using the information of the selected procurement option such that the information regarding payment associated with the selected procurement option will be used to pay for the identified item and such that the delivery information associated with the selected procurement option will be used for delivery of the identified item.   
     
     
         12 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the delivery information of the selected procurement option further comprises shipping instructions. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the selected procurement option further comprises instructions for wrapping the item. 
     
     
         14 . A client system for ordering an item comprising:
 a display component for displaying information identifying the item and able to display, for each of multiple procurement options having information that includes at least payment information and delivery information, one of the multiple procurement options; and   an item ordering component configured to, in response to receiving an indication of selection of one of the multiple procurement options as a single action to order the identified item, send to a server system a request to order the identified item using the information of the selected procurement option such that the payment information associated with the selected procurement option will be used to pay for the identified item and such that the delivery information associated with the selected procurement option will be used for delivery of the identified item.