Pre-Qualifying Sellers During the Matching Phase of an Electronic Commerce Transaction

Abstract

A system providing seller pre-qualification during the matching phase of an electronic commerce transaction includes a directory structure comprising multiple hierarchically organized product classes, each product class categorizing multiple products and defining one or more attributes of the products categorized in the product class. The system also includes one or more pointers for each product class, each pointer identifying a seller database in which product data enabling a product transaction is stored for products categorized in the product class. The system further includes a search interface configured to communicate a search query for product data only to one or more seller databases associated with sellers having seller attribute values matching the specified seller attribute criteria, these seller databases being identified by the one or more pointers associated with the selected product class.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of pre-qualifying sellers during a matching phase of an electronic commerce transaction, comprising:
 making accessible to at least one buyer computer a directory structure comprising a plurality of hierarchically organized product classes, each product class categorizing a plurality of products and defining one or more attributes of the products categorized in the product class, one or more pointers being provided for each product class, each pointer identifying a seller database in which product data enabling a product transaction is stored for products categorized in the product class, each seller database associated with a seller having values for one or more seller attributes; and   communicating, by the at least one buyer computer, in response to selection of a product class and specification of one or more seller attribute criteria, a search query for product data only to one or more seller databases associated with sellers having seller attribute values matching the specified seller attribute criteria.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a seller attribute is selected from the group consisting of geographic restrictions, currencies accepted, level of buyer credit required, collaboration tools accepted, types of contracts accepted, and contract terms accepted. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection of the product class is made automatically according to a buyer profile for a buyer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specification of the seller attribute criteria is made automatically according to a buyer profile for a buyer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating a search query in response to specification of one or more product attribute criteria in addition to selection of a product class and specification of one or more seller attribute criteria. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein seller attribute values for a seller are stored in the associated seller database along with product data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating, in response to at least selection of the product class, a search query for product data only to one or more seller databases associated with sellers identified in a buyer profile. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodied with software providing seller pre-qualification during a matching phase of an electronic commerce transaction, the software embodied in a computer-readable medium and when executed using one or more computers is configured to:
 make accessible to at least one buyer computer a directory structure comprising a plurality of hierarchically organized product classes, each product class categorizing a plurality of products and defining one or more attributes of the products categorized in the product class, one or more pointers being provided for each product class, each pointer identifying a seller database in which product data enabling a product transaction is stored for products categorized in the product class, each seller database associated with a seller having values for one or more seller attributes; and   communicate, in response to selection of a product class and specification of one or more seller attribute criteria, a search query for product data only to one or more seller databases associated with sellers having seller attribute values matching the specified seller attribute criteria.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein a seller attribute is selected from the group consisting of geographic restrictions, currencies accepted, level of buyer credit required, collaboration tools accepted, types of contracts accepted, and contract terms accepted. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the selection of the product class is made automatically according to a buyer profile for a buyer. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the specification of the seller attribute criteria is made automatically according to a buyer profile for a buyer. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the software is further configured to communicate a search query in response to specification of one or more product attribute criteria in addition to selection of a product class and specification of one or more seller attribute criteria. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the software is further configured to store seller attribute values for a seller in the associated seller database along with product data. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the software is further configured to communicate a search query for product data only to one or more seller databases associated with sellers identified in a buyer profile. 
     
     
         15 . A system of pre-qualifying sellers during a matching phase of an electronic commerce transaction, comprising:
 a global content directory server coupled with the one or more seller databases, the global content directory configured to:   make accessible to at least one buyer computer a directory structure comprising a plurality of hierarchically organized product classes, each product class categorizing a plurality of products and defining one or more attributes of the products categorized in the product class, one or more pointers being provided for each product class, each pointer identifying a seller database in which product data enabling a product transaction is stored for products categorized in the product class, each seller database associated with a seller having values for one or more seller attributes; and   communicate, in response to selection of a product class and specification of one or more seller attribute criteria, a search query for product data only to one or more seller databases associated with sellers having seller attribute values matching the specified seller attribute criteria.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein a seller attribute is selected from the group consisting of geographic restrictions, currencies accepted, level of buyer credit required, collaboration tools accepted, types of contracts accepted, and contract terms accepted. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the selection of the product class is made automatically according to a buyer profile for a buyer. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the specification of the seller attribute criteria is made automatically according to a buyer profile for a buyer. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the global content directory server is further configured to communicate a search query in response to specification of one or more product attribute criteria in addition to selection of a product class and specification of one or more seller attribute criteria. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the global content directory server is further configured to store seller attribute values for a seller in the associated seller database along with product data.