A method for creating and managing anonymous end user electronic catalogs comprising:
- a. receiving at a catalog server system over a computer network catalog data from a plurality of different vendor organizations;
- b. storing said catalog data by said catalog server into a domain-independent catalog database, wherein the catalog data represents a minimal data set used to uniquely identify information about a product residing in one or more databases among a plurality of independent electronic network domains, wherein schema mapping based on each said catalog data creates a catalog profile template, said catalog profile template comprising a list of multi-tiered attributes derived from supply chain values, said catalog profile template being interrelated based on relationship rules established by said plurality of different vendor organizations, wherein a pre-sales digital receipt as initiated by a cataloging action is created by said catalog server system based on a stored catalog profile template, and said pre-sale digital receipt being stored therein to said domain-independent catalog database, wherein said domain-independent catalog database is latent in that said catalog profile templates are not presented in a generic, publicly accessible catalog directly to end users but are used by said catalog server system to create one or more anonymous end user electronic catalogs through one or more said pre-sale digital receipts by end users that are accessible through end user accounts;
- c. establishing said end user accounts at said catalog server system, each end user account accessible by an end user, wherein said end user account is anonymous to said plurality of different vendor organizations;
- d. initiating cataloging actions by said end user or through a web service application through said end user account, thereby creating one or more anonymous end user electronic catalogs, said cataloging actions comprising (1) creating a personalized profile instance through said cataloging action using multi-channel reference identifiers and storing said personalized profile instance as a pre-sale digital receipt through said anonymous end user account into said one or more anonymous end user electronic catalogs, (2) modifying a value of an attribute for a personalized profile instance, (3) organizing a personalized profile instance into a classification scheme based on said multi-channel affiliate reference identifiers associated with said personalized profile instance, (4) linking one or more personalized profile instances with one or more anonymous purchase transactions, (5) linking one or more personalized profile instances with a commerce profile that defines a channel and mode of commerce in which a personalized profile instance can be tracked and purchased, (6) associating a personalized profile instance with a contextual web service application, (7) interrelating a plurality of personalized profile instances for compliance based on interoperable attribute values, and (8) sharing by said end user through mutual agreement permissions one or more personalized profile instances with one or more peer users in communication with said catalog server system using said computer network, wherein said one or more peers each have said end user account managed by said catalog server system;
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- e. receiving a request at said catalog server system by said end user to anonymously track said cataloging actions and tracking said cataloging actions.