Method and apparatus for optimizing seller selection in a multi-seller environment

Abstract

A method for selecting a seller in a multi-seller environment in which multiple sellers are offering for sale one or more goods desired by the buyer. A criterion for selecting a seller may be specified by the buyer or an intermediary. After identifying a seller offering the desired good(s) for sale, a seller is selected which best satisfies the criterion. More than one criterion may be specified. If the buyer desires to purchase multiple good, a seller offering one or more of the multiple goods may be selected or a seller solution including a combination of sellers may be selected. A computer-implemented method and apparatus for carrying out the computer-implemented method is also provided.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first selection from a user, the first selection identifying a first good that is at least quasi-fungible and offered for sale by a plurality of sellers;   receiving a second selection from the user, the second selection identifying a second good that is at least quasi-fungible and offered for sale by a seller of the plurality of sellers;   identifying, using one or more processors, the seller of the plurality of sellers offering the first good for sale and the second good for sale; and facilitating a sale of the first good from the seller to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first selection comprises a Universal Product Code (UPC) received from the user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a Universal Product Code from the seller, the Universal Product Code corresponding to the first good. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying another seller of the plurality of sellers offering the first good for sale and the second good for sale and automatically selecting the seller based on criteria received from the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the criteria is selected from at least one of a condition of the first good, a lowest price for the first good, a lowest cost to transport the first good to the user, a lowest combined price for the for the first good and the second good, a past transaction between the user and the seller, and a seller rating of the seller. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating the sale further comprises facilitating the sale of the second good from the seller to the user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first selection includes an indication of a condition of the first good. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first selection comprises an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) received from the user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) from the seller, the ISBN corresponding to the first good. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a memory to store a first record associated with a first seller, the first record including an indication that the first seller is offering a first good and a second good for sale; and
 a processor to:
 receive a first selection from a user, the first selection identifying the first good, 
 receive a second selection from the user, the second selection identifying the second good; 
 identify the first seller as offering the first good for sale and the second good for sale; and 
 facilitate a sale of the first good from the first seller to the user. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first selection comprises a Universal Product Code (UPC) received from the user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further to receive a Universal Product Code from the first seller, the Universal Product Code corresponding to the first good. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further to identify a second seller offering the first good for sale and the second good for sale and automatically selecting the first seller based on criteria received from the user. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the criteria comprises one or more of a condition of the first good, a lowest price for the first good, a lowest cost to transport the first good to the user, a lowest combined price for the for the first good and the second good, a past transaction between the user and the first seller, and a seller rating of the first seller. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further to facilitate the sale of the second good from the first seller to the user. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first selection includes an indication of a condition of the first good. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first selection comprises an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) received from the user. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further to receive an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) from the first seller, the ISBN corresponding to the first good. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions embodied thereon, the instructions executable by one or more processors for performing a method to identify a seller, the method comprising:
 receiving a first selection from a user, the first selection identifying a first good that is at least quasi-fungible and offered for sale by a plurality of sellers;   receiving a second selection from the user, the second selection identifying a second good that is at least quasi-fungible and offered for sale by a seller of the plurality of sellers;   identifying, using one or more processors, the seller of the plurality of sellers offering the first good for sale and the second good for sale; and facilitating a sale of the first good from the seller to the user.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the first selection comprises a Universal Product Code (UPC) received from the user.