Internet business transaction processor
AssigneeDivan Industries, LLC
InventorRobert S. ALVIN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Targeted products are offered over a communications network. Product data for a plurality of products from a plurality of distributors for the products is received. Customer data from a plurality of customers comprising personal information about customers is received. Using the data, at least one user-specific product offering from the plurality of products is generated. Automated messages comprising the at least one user-specific product offering to the one or more customers are then sent.
Claims19
An internet-centric electronic transaction system for facilitating automated retail sale of products from vendors to customers via a network, the system comprising:
- a database having stored therein product data for a plurality of products and customer data, the product data comprising data electronically transmitted from a plurality of vendors of the plurality of products, the data corresponding to a plurality of products for sale by more than one of the vendors, and the customer data comprising personal information about customers;
- a catalog builder for generating electronic catalogs having user-specific product offerings for the plurality of products, the catalog builder dynamically placing the user-specific product offerings in electronic catalogs, wherein the user-specific product offerings are selected based on at least in part the personal information, the electronic catalogs further comprising user-specific advertisements selected based on at least in part the personal information;
- a communication interface for permitting customers to place purchase orders for one or more of the user-specific product offerings;
- a payment authorization processor for determining whether to accept the purchase orders for fulfillment based on at least in part information stored in the database;
- a shipment authorization processor for authorizing delivery of the one or more products according to the purchase orders provided the purchase orders deemed accepted by the payment authorization processor;
- and
- a customer service sub-system for sending automated messages to one or more of the customers with information about the accepted purchase orders.
A method in an internet-centric electronic transaction system for facilitating automated retail sale of products from vendors to customers via a network, the method comprising:
- receiving product data for a plurality of products from a plurality of vendors for the products via a communications network, the product data comprising data corresponding to a plurality of products for sale by more than one of the vendors;
- receiving customer data from a plurality of customers, the customer data comprising personal information about customers;
- selecting, based on at least in part from the personal information, user-specific product offerings for the plurality of products;
- selecting, based on at least in part from the personal information, user-specific advertisements;
- generating electronic catalogs having the user-specific product offerings and the user-specific advertisements;
- permitting the customers to place purchase orders for one or more of the user-specific product offerings via the communications network;
- determining whether to accept the purchase orders for fulfillment based on at least in part information stored in the database;
- authorizing delivery of the one or more products to according to the purchase orders provided the purchase orders are deemed acceptable;
- and
- sending automated messages to one or more of the customers with information about the accepted purchase orders.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing an internet-centric electronic transaction computer program product for, when executed by a processor, performing a method in an internet-centric electronic transaction system for facilitating automated retail sale of products from vendors to customers via a network, the method comprising:
- receiving product data for a plurality of products from a plurality of vendors for the products via a communications network, the product data comprising data corresponding to a plurality of products for sale by more than one of the vendors;
- receiving customer data from a plurality of customers, the customer data comprising personal information about customers;
- selecting, based on at least in part from the personal information, user-specific product offerings for the plurality of products;
- selecting, based on at least in part from the personal information, user-specific advertisements;
- generating electronic catalogs having the user-specific product offerings and the user-specific advertisements;
- permitting the customers to access the electronic catalog, to view the user-specific offerings, and to place purchase orders for one or more of the products via the communications network;
- determining whether to accept the purchase orders for fulfillment based on at least in part information stored in the database;
- authorizing delivery of the one or more products to according to the purchase orders provided the purchase orders are deemed acceptable;
- and
- sending automated messages to one or more of the customers with information about the accepted purchase orders.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.