System and methods for matching electronic proposals to electronic requests

Abstract

A system for receiving bid requests and bid proposals sent thereto over a data-packet-network (DPN) and for matching the bid proposals to the bid requests includes at least one input/output port for receiving the bid requests and the bid proposals, at least one memory utility for storing the bid requests and bid proposals, and a set of machine readable instructions for enabling matching of the stored bid proposals to the stored bid requests.

1 . A system for receiving bid requests and bid proposals sent thereto over a data-packet-network (DPN) and for matching the bid proposals to the bid requests comprising:
 at least one input/output port for receiving the bid requests and the bid proposals;   at least one memory utility for storing the bid requests and bid proposals; and   a set of machine-readable instructions for enabling matching of the stored bid proposals to the stored bid requests.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  implemented as a physical server machine enabled for session initiation protocol (SIP). 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  implemented as software on an SIP enabled communication device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the DPN is an Internet network. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the DPN is a sub-network connected to the Internet network. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of machine-readable instructions is implemented as a software application. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of machine-readable instructions is implemented as a firmware. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further including:
 a first client interface for generating and submitting bid requests and for displaying results of matching; and   a second client interface for generating and submitting bid proposals and for displaying results of matching.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second client interfaces are deployed on SIP enabled computing devices that are remote to the location of matching, the computing devices having network access to the DPN. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the computing devices are one of a desktop computer, a Laptop computer, a cellular telephone, or a hand-held computer. 
     
     
         11 . A proxy server for receiving bid requests and bid proposals sent thereto over a data-packet-network (DPN) and for matching the bid proposals to the bid requests comprising:
 at least one input/output port for receiving the bid requests and the bid proposals;   at least one memory utility for storing the bid requests and bid proposals; and   a set of machine-readable instructions for enabling matching of the stored bid proposals to the stored bid requests;   characterized in that the proxy server is SIP enabled and may initiate communication sessions by proxy on behalf of bidders and requestors.   
     
     
         12 . The proxy server of  claim 11  further including:
 a database containing data and rules for aiding the matching process. 
 
     
     
         13 . The proxy server of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory utility includes a memory queue for storing bid requests and a memory queue for storing bid proposals. 
     
     
         14 . The proxy server of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory utility is implemented as a volatile memory. 
     
     
         15 . The proxy server of  claim 14 , wherein the volatile memory is random access memory (RAM). 
     
     
         16 . The proxy server of  claim 11 , wherein the machine-readable instructions also enable screening of bid proposals relative to requirements of a bid request. 
     
     
         17 . A method for brokering an electronic bidding process in progress over a DPN comprising steps for:
 (a) providing a memory utility connectable to the network for storing bid requests and bid proposals;   (b) receiving bid requests and bid proposals and storing them on the memory utility;   (c) matching stored bid proposals to bid requests based on enterprise rules and machine-readable instruction; and   (d) conveying data about the result of the matching process to the source devices originating the bid requests and the bid proposals.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the DPN is the Internet network. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the DPN is a sub-network connected to the Internet network. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein in step (a) the memory utility is server cache memory. 
     
     
         21 - 24 . (canceled)