Commerce System and Method of Controlling Commerce System Using Share Grabber to Leverage Shopping List

Abstract

A commerce system has a plurality of retailers offering products for sale. Product information associated with the products is collected and stored in a central database. A consumer uses a website to create a shopping list with weighted preferences for product attributes. An individualized discount is generated by a consumer service provider for products on the shopping list directed to the consumer. The shopping list with all products aggregated for one retailer is optimized based on the product information in the database, the weighted preferences for the product attributes, and the individualized discounts. The consumer uses the optimized shopping list to assist with purchasing decisions. An incremental profit can be determined based on an aggregation of the products on the optimized shopping list. Purchasing decisions within the commerce system are controlled by enabling the consumer to select the products for purchase from the retailer.

1 . A method of controlling a commerce system including a plurality of retailers offering products for sale, comprising:
 collecting product information associated with the products;   storing the product information in a database;   providing a website for a consumer to create a shopping list with weighted preferences for product attributes;   generating an individualized discount for products on the shopping list directed to the consumer;   optimizing the shopping list with all products aggregated for one retailer based on the product information in the database, the weighted preferences for the product attributes, and the individualized discounts;   providing the optimized shopping list to the consumer to assist with purchasing decisions; and   controlling the purchasing decisions within the commerce system by enabling the consumer to select the products for purchase from the one retailer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including setting the individualized discount to a value less than cost for some products on the optimized shopping list. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including setting the individualized discount based on an aggregate value of the optimized shopping list. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including providing an aggregate savings for the optimized shopping list. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the aggregate savings is based on a save up to value. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further including determining an incremental profit based on an aggregation of the products on the optimized shopping list. 
     
     
         7 . A method of controlling a commerce system including a plurality of retailers offering products for sale, comprising:
 collecting product information;   storing the product information in a database;   generating a shopping list with weighted preferences for product attributes;   generating a discount for products on the shopping list;   optimizing the shopping list with all products aggregated for a predetermined number of retailers based on the product information in the database, the weighted preferences for the product attributes, and the discount; and   utilizing the optimized shopping list to control purchasing decisions within the commerce system by enabling a consumer to select the products for purchase from the retailers.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further including providing a website for the consumer to create the shopping list with the weighted preferences for the product attributes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further including:
 generating a plurality of optimized shopping lists each with all products aggregated for one retailer; and   selecting one of the optimized shopping lists to patronize based on consumer preference.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further including setting the discount based on an aggregate value of the optimized shopping list. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the aggregate savings is based on a save up to value. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further including determining a net value to the consumer based on an aggregation of the products on the optimized shopping list. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further including determining an incremental profit based on an aggregation of the products on the optimized shopping list. 
     
     
         14 . A method of controlling a commerce system, comprising:
 generating a shopping list from product information with weighted preferences for product attributes;   generating a discount for products on the shopping list;   optimizing the shopping list with all products aggregated for a retailer based on the product information, the weighted preferences for the product attributes, and the discount; and   controlling purchasing decisions within the commerce system by enabling a consumer to select the products for purchase based from the retailer on the optimized shopping list.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further including providing a website for the consumer to create the shopping list with the weighted preferences for the product attributes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further including:
 generating a plurality of optimized shopping lists each with all products aggregated for one retailer; and   selecting one of the optimized shopping lists to patronize based on consumer preference.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further including setting the discount based on an aggregate value of the optimized shopping list. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further including determining a net value to the consumer based on an aggregation of the products on the optimized shopping list. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further including determining an incremental profit based on an aggregation of the products on the optimized shopping list. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product usable with a programmable computer processor having a computer readable program code embodied in a computer usable medium for controlling a commerce system including a plurality of retailers offering products for sale, comprising:
 generating a shopping list from product information with weighted preferences for product attributes;   generating a discount for products on the shopping list;   optimizing the shopping list with all products aggregated for a retailer based on the product information in the database, the weighted preferences for the product attributes, and the discount; and   controlling purchasing decisions within the commerce system by enabling a consumer to select the products for purchase based from the retailer on the optimized shopping list.   
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , further including providing a website for the consumer to create the shopping list with the weighted preferences for the product attributes. 
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , further including:
 generating a plurality of optimized shopping lists each with all products aggregated for one retailer; and   selecting one of the optimized shopping lists to patronize based on consumer preference.   
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , further including setting the discount based on an aggregate value of the optimized shopping list. 
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , further including determining a net value to the consumer based on an aggregation of the products on the optimized shopping list. 
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , further including determining an incremental profit based on an aggregation of the products on the optimized shopping list. 
     
     
         26 . A method of controlling a commerce system, comprising:
 providing a database containing product information;   generating a shopping list for a consumer based on the product information;   aggregating products on the shopping list to a retailer with a discount for a portion of the products on the shopping list; and   controlling purchasing decisions within the commerce system by enabling the consumer to select the products for purchase based from the retailer on the shopping list.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further including providing a website for the consumer to create the shopping list with weighted preferences for product attributes. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further including setting the discount based on an aggregate value of the shopping list. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , further including aggregating the products on the shopping list to a retailer based on the product information. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the consumer determines the discount for the products on the shopping list. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , further including clearing and settling the discount after a transaction between the consumer and retailer.