Multiple supplier system and method for transacting business
AssigneeeWinWin, Inc.
InventorGregory J. Mesaros
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for conducting electronic business between buyers and sellers is provided. The system and method disclose a means for at least one buyer to request and receive online bids from one or more sellers of a particular product according to a price curve or price schedule. A price schedule or curve for a product defining a product's unit price as a function of the volume of product ordered. Upon receipt of a plurality of bids from sellers, a buyer can then select a seller-supplier based at least in part on the price schedule.
Claims28
An electronic multiple supplier system for transacting business comprising:
- a central connection component that provides a virtual forum to facilitate electronic communication between buyers and suppliers;
- and
- at least one remote computer connected to the central connection component via a network, at least one buyer employs the at least one computer to request, retrieve, and accept online bids that include a price curve for a product from bidding suppliers, the price curve specifying a unit price in tiers based on the total volume purchased,
- the virtual forum displays in real time current low bids at each tier as the bids are retrieved.
A method of conducting electronic commerce comprising:
- employing at least one processor to execute computer executable instructions stored in memory to perform the following acts:
- requesting an online bid from a plurality of suppliers;
- receiving bids from bidding suppliers, each bid specifies a price for which the associated bidding supplier will sell a product at particular price points varying as a function of a quantity of the product;
- displaying in real time a lowest price bid at a respective price point as bids are received;
- and
- accepting a bid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.