Flexible order structure

A computer program product, residing on a computer-readable medium, for use in processing an order based on order-related inputs from an ordering user, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

• create an order-related structure for an order from the user, the instructions for causing a computer to create an order-related structure including instructions for causing a computer to:
• create a plurality of order-related objects based on a plurality of order-related inputs obtained from the user, the plurality of order-related objects including
• an object of a first type representing one or more units of one or more items ordered by the user;
• and
• a plurality of objects of a second type representing different alternative mechanisms to process a first requirement of the order necessary to complete ordering and delivering of the one or more units of one or more items;
• establish a first relationship between the object of a first type and a first of the plurality of objects of a second type;
• and
• establish a second relationship between the object of a first type and a second of the plurality of objects of a second type,
• wherein the first relationship indicates that the first requirement of a first portion of the one or more units will be processed by the alternative mechanism represented by the first of the plurality of objects of a second type, and the second relationship indicates that the first requirement of a second portion of the one or more units will be processed by the alternative mechanism represented by the second of the plurality of objects of a second type, and
• wherein the first portion is determined by a property of the first relationship as defined based on said order-related inputs from the user, independent of the object of a first type or the first of the plurality of objects of a second type, and the second portion is determined by a property of the second relationship as defined based on said order-related inputs from the user, independent of the object of a first type or the second of the plurality of objects of a second type;
• and
• process the order based on the order-related structure by identifying the first portion of the one or more units to be processed by the alternative mechanism represented by the first of the plurality of objects of a second type, and identifying the second portion of the one or more units to be processed by the alternative mechanism represented by the second of the plurality of objects of a second type.

An ordering system comprising:

• a user interface permitting a user to select one or more units of one or more items to be included in an order, select a plurality of alternative destinations for delivering the one or more units of the one or more items in the order, and select a plurality of alternative payment mechanisms for paying for the order;
• and
• an order processing module programmed to:
• create an order-related structure for an order from the user including:
• create a plurality of order-related objects based on a plurality of order-related inputs obtained from the user, the plurality of order-related objects including one or more objects representing the one or more units of one or more items in an order, one or more objects representing the one or more alternative destinations to which the items are to be delivered, and one or more objects representing the one or more alternative payment mechanisms for paying for the order;
• establish relationships between portions of the objects representing the one or more units of one or more items and individual of the objects representing alternative destinations;
• and
• establish relationships between portions of the objects representing the one or more units of one or more items and individual of the objects representing alternative payment mechanisms,
• wherein each of the established relationships is independent of the objects related by the relationship;
• and
• process the order based on the order-related structure by identifying the one or more units of one or more items to be delivered to each alternative destination, and identifying the portion of the order for which each of the alternative payment mechanisms is to be used.

A method for processing an order based on order-related inputs from an ordering user, comprising the steps of:

• creating an order-related structure for an order from the user, including:
• creating a plurality of order-related objects based on a plurality of order-related inputs obtained from the user, the plurality of order related objects including
• an object of a first type representing one or more units of one or more items ordered by the user;
• and
• a plurality of objects of a second type representing different alternative mechanisms to process a first requirement of the order necessary to complete ordering and delivering of the one or more units of one or more items, the first requirement selected from a group consisting of payment method, shipment destination, and shipment method;
• establishing a first relationship between the object of a first type and a first of the plurality of objects of a second type;
• and
• establishing a second relationship between the object of a first type and a second of the plurality of objects of a second type,
• wherein the first relationship indicates that the first requirement of a first portion of the one or more units will be processed by the alternative mechanism represented by the first of the plurality of objects of a second type, and the second relationship indicates that the first requirement of a second portion of the one or more units will be processed by the alternative mechanism represented by the second of the plurality of objects of a second type, and
• wherein the first portion is determined by a property of the first relationship as defined based on said order-related inputs from the user, independent of the object of a first type or the first of the plurality of objects of a second type, and the second portion is determined by a property of the second relationship as defined based on said order-related inputs from the user, independent of the object of a first type or the second of the plurality of objects of a second type;
• and
• processing the order based on the order-related structure by identifying the first portion of the one or more units to be processed by the alternative mechanism represented by the first of the plurality of objects of a second type, and identifying the second portion of the one or more units to be processed by the alternative mechanism represented by the second of the plurality of objects of a second type.