US 9,805,404 B2 · System and process for hierarchical multi-level segmentation and estimate reuse request

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns the hierarchical splitting of large datasets by multi-level segmentation and providing a system and method for enabling requests of reuse of the values of previously estimated nodes of said hierarchy. This is applied in making connections between different suppliers in a complex hierarchical multi-level chain of purchase items, facilitating the communication of request for quotes and respective responses. The disclosure allows higher level bidders to traverse dense hierarchical multi-level chains of purchasing data, re-using existing estimates and quotes, allowing quicker processes and more efficient use of resources. The system comprises a Request for Quote module (RFQ Module), an estimate module (Estimate Module) and a Request for Quote reply module (RFQ Reply Module), and a module for storing and/or communicating existing estimates and quotes (Rides Module) across hierarchical levels in the purchase process.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method performed by a computer configured by the execution of instructions in one or more programs stored in a non-transitory storage medium for hierarchical multi-level segmentation and estimate reuse request for a bidding system, the method comprising:

performing by the computer a process for controlling access to data in the bidding system when:
(i) a buyer request for quote A that is associated with buyer dossier A items being put up for quotation is received, (ii) a first bid, from a first bidder on a first-level, for quote A1 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A1 items which are a subset of the buyer dossier A is received, (iii) a second request, from a second bidder on the first-level, for quote A2 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A2 items which are another subset of the buyer dossier A items is received and (iv) a bidder response from a third bidder on a second-level which is a response to the request for quote A1 is received, and controlling access by the second bidder to the bidder response sent to the first bidder, the process including
determining, by the second bidder referencing a database to which the bidder response from the third bidder on the second-level is sent, whether the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items,
automatically or manually transmitting, to the second bidder, a copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder in a case that the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, in response to a request of the second bidder to have access to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder,
determining whether specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are met,
preventing, in the automatic transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level when it is determined that the specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are not met, and
preventing, in the manual transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level, when the third bidder on the second-level determines, upon review of the request for access from the second bidder on the first-level, to block the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level.

4 more elements

performing by the computer a process for controlling access to data in the bidding system when:
(i) a buyer request for quote A that is associated with buyer dossier A items being put up for quotation is received,
(ii) a first bid, from a first bidder on a first-level, for quote A1 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A1 items which are a subset of the buyer dossier A items is received, (iii) a bidder response which is a response from a third bidder on a second level to the request for quote A1 is received, (iv) a second request for quote A2 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A2 items which are another subset of the buyer dossier A items is transmitted by a second bidder on the first-level;
and controlling access by the second bidder to the bidder response sent to the first bidder, the process including
determining, by the second bidder referencing a database to which the bidder response from the third bidder on the second-level is sent, whether the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items,
automatically or manually transmitting, to the second bidder, a copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder in a case that the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, in response to a request of the second bidder to have access to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder,
determining whether specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are met,
preventing, in the automatic transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level when it is determined that the specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are not met, and
preventing, in the manual transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level, when the third bidder on the second-level determines, upon review of the request for access from the second bidder on the first-level, to block the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level.

6 more elements

A data processing system configured by the execution of instructions in one or more programs stored in a non-transitory storage medium for hierarchical multi-level segmentation and estimate reuse request in a bidding system, comprising:

a quote request module configured to request (a) quotes that are associated with buyer dossier items set, from a buyer and (b) quotes that are associated with bidder dossier items sets that are a subsets of the buyer dossier items set, from one or more bidders;
an estimate module configured to receive bidder responses from a third bidder on a second-level which are responses to the quote requests;
an estimate storage module configured to store bidder responses received by the estimate module;
and
a quote reply module configured to transmit the bidder responses to corresponding quote requests,
wherein the quote reply module is configured to perform a process for controlling access by a second bidder of a first level to the bidder response sent by the third bidder to a first bidder of the first level, the process including
determining, by the second bidder referencing a database to which the bidder response from the third bidder on the second-level is sent, whether specific bidder dossier items set corresponding to a quote request by a specific bidder is duplicative of one or more bidder dossier items set corresponding to quote requests by other bidders, and
automatically or manually transmitting a copy of a bidder response sent to the first bidder, to the second bidder on the first level or other bidders on the first level who have made quote requests that are associated with bidder dossier items sets that are duplicative of the specific bidder dossier items set, in response to a request of the second bidder to have access to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder,
determining whether specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are met,
preventing, in the automatic transmission, the access by the second bidder or other bidders on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level when it is determined that the specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are not met, the third bidder controlling the quote reply module, and
preventing, in the manual transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level, when the third bidder on the second-level determines, upon review of the request for access from the second bidder on the first-level, to block the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level.

8 more elements

A data processing system for hierarchical multi-level segmentation and estimate reuse request comprising a processor configured by the execution of instructions in one or more programs stored in a non-transitory storage medium to perform a method including:

performing a process for controlling access to data in the bidding system including when:
(i) a buyer request for quote A that is associated with buyer dossier A items being put up for quotation is received, (ii) a first bid, from a first bidder on a first-level, for quote A1 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A1 items which are a subset of the buyer dossier A is received, (iii) a second request from a second bidder on the first-level, for quote A2 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A2 items which are another subset of the buyer dossier A items is received, (iv) a bidder response which is a response from a third bidder on a second level to the request for quote A1 is received, and controlling access by the second bidder to the bidder response sent to the first bidder, the process including
determining, by the second bidder referencing a database to which the bidder response from the third bidder on the second-level is sent, whether the bidder dossier A2 items are substantially the same as the bidder dossier A1 items, and
automatically or manually transmitting to the second bidder, a copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder in a case that the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, in response to a request of the second bidder to have access to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder,
determining whether specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are met,
preventing, in the automatic transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level when it is determined that the specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are not met, and
preventing, in the manual transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level, when the third bidder on the second-level determines, upon review of the request for access from the second bidder on the first-level, to block the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level.

4 more elements

performing a process for controlling access to data in the bidding system including when:
(i) a buyer request for quote A that is associated with buyer dossier A items being put up for quotation is received (ii) a first bid, from a first bidder on a first-level, for quote A1 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A1 items which are a subset of the buyer dossier A items is received, (iii) a second request from a second bidder on the first-level, for quote A2 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A2 items which are another subset of the buyer dossier A items is received, (iv) a bidder response which is a response from a third bidder on a second-level to the request for quote A1 is received, controlling access by the second bidder to the bidder response sent to the first bidder, the process including
determining, by the second bidder referencing a database to which the bidder response from the third bidder on the second-level is sent, whether the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, and
automatically or manually transmitting to the second bidder, a copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder in a case that the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, in response to a request of the second bidder to have access to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder,
determining whether specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are met,
preventing, in the automatic transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level when it is determined that the specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are not met,
preventing, in the manual transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level, when the third bidder on the second-level determines, upon review of the request for access from the second bidder on the first-level, to block the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level;
and
storing in the database the bidder response, for subsequent consultation and transmission to other bidders on the first-level.

6 more elements

performing a process for controlling access to data in the bidding system when:
(i) a buyer request for quote A that is associated with buyer dossier A items being put up for quotation is received, (ii) a first bid, from a first bidder on a first-level, for quote A1 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A1 items which are a subset of the buyer dossier A items is received, (iii) a bidder response which is a response from a third bidder on a second-level to the request for quote A1 is received, (iv) a second request for quote A2 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A2 items which are another subset of the buyer dossier A items is transmitted by a second bidder on the first level, and controlling access by the second bidder to the bidder response sent to the first bidder, including
determining, by the second bidder referencing a database to which the bidder response from the third bidder on the second-level is sent, whether the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, and
automatically or manually transmitting to the second bidder, a copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder in a case that the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, in response to a request of the second bidder to have access to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder,
determining whether specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are met,
preventing, in the automatic transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level when it is determined that the specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are not met, and
preventing, in the manual transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level, when the third bidder on the second-level determines, upon review of the request for access from the second bidder on the first-level, to block the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level.

4 more elements

performing a process for controlling access to data in the bidding system when:
(i) a buyer request for quote A that is associated with buyer dossier A items being put up for quotation is received, (ii) a first bid, from a first bidder on a first-level, for quote A1 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A1 items which are a subset of the buyer dossier A items is received, (iii) a bidder response which is a response from a third bidder on a second-level to the request for quote A1 is received, (iv) a second request for quote A2 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A2 items which are another subset of the buyer dossier A items is transmitted to a second bidder on the first level, and controlling access by the second bidder to the bidder response sent to the first bidder, the process including
determining, by the second bidder referencing a database to which the bidder response from the third bidder on the second-level is sent, whether the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, and
automatically or manually transmitting to the second bidder, a copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder in a case that the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, in response to a request of the second bidder to have access to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder,
preventing, in the automatic transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level when it is determined that the specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are not met,
preventing, in the manual transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level, when the third bidder on the second-level determines, upon review of the request for access from the second bidder on the first-level, to block the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level;
and
storing in the database the bidder response, for subsequent consultation and transmission to other bidders on the first-level.

5 more elements

A non-transitory storage medium including program instructions for implementing a data-processing system of hierarchical multi-level segmentation and estimate reuse request, the program instructions stored in the storage medium being executable by a processor to perform a method including:

controlling access to data in the bidding system including when:
(i) a buyer request for quote A that is associated with buyer dossier A items being put up for quotation is received,
(ii) a first bid, from a first bidder on a first-level, for quote A1 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A1 items which are a subset of the buyer dossier A items is received (iii) a second request from a second bidder on the first-level, a second request for quote A2 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A2 items which are another subset of the buyer dossier A items is received, (iv) a bidder response which is a response from a third bidder on a second-level to the request for quote A1 is received, and controlling access by the second bidder to the bidder response sent to the first bidder, the process including
determining, by the second bidder referencing a database to which the bidder response from the third bidder on the second-level is sent, whether the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, and
automatically or manually transmitting to the second bidder, a copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder in a case that the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, in response to a request of the second bidder to have access to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder,
determining whether specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are met,
preventing, in the automatic transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level when it is determined that the specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are not met, and
preventing, in the manual transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level, when the third bidder on the second-level determines, upon review of the request for access from the second bidder on the first-level, to block the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level.

5 more elements

performing a process for controlling access to data in the bidding system including when:
(i) a buyer request for quote A that is associated with buyer dossier A items being put up for quotation is received (ii) a first bid, from a first bidder on a first-level, for quote A1 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A1 items which are a subset of the buyer dossier A items is received, (iii) a second request from a second bidder on the first-level, a second request for quote A2 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A2 items which are another subset of the buyer dossier A items is received, (iv) a bidder response which is a response from a third bidder on a second-level to the request for quote A1;
and controlling access by the second bidder to the bidder response sent to the first bidder, the process including
determining, by the second bidder referencing a database to which the bidder response from the third bidder on the second-level is sent, whether the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, and
automatically or manually transmitting to the second bidder, a copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder in a case that the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, in response to a request of the second bidder to have access to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder,
determining whether specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are met,
preventing, in the automatic transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level when it is determined that the specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are not met, and
preventing, in the manual transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level, when the third bidder on the second-level determines, upon review of the request for access from the second bidder on the first-level, to block the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level;
and
storing in the database the bidder response, for subsequent consultation and transmission to other bidders on the first-level.

7 more elements

performing a process for controlling access to data in the bidding system when:
(i) a buyer request for quote A that is associated with buyer dossier A items being put up for quotation is received,
(ii) a first bid, from a first bidder on a first-level, a for quote A1 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A1 items which are a subset of the buyer dossier A items is received, (iv) a bidder response which is a response from a third bidder on a second-level to the request for quote A1 is received, transmitting to a second bidder on the first level a second request for quote A2 that includes a quote associated with bidder dossier A2 items which are another subset of the buyer dossier A items;
and controlling access by the second bidder to the bidder response sent to the first bidder, the process including
determining, by the second bidder referencing a database to which the bidder response from the third bidder on the second-level is sent, whether the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, and
automatically or manually transmitting to the second bidder, a copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder in a case that the bidder dossier A2 items are duplicative of the bidder dossier A1 items, in response to a request of the second bidder to have access to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder
determining whether specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are met,
preventing, in the automatic transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level when it is determined that the specific conditions imposed by the third bidder on the second-level are not met, and
preventing, in the manual transmission, the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level, when the third bidder on the second-level determines, upon review of the request for access from the second bidder on the first-level, to block the access by the second bidder on the first-level to the copy of the bidder response sent to the first bidder on the first-level.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and process for hierarchical multi-level segmentation and estimate reuse request

Life of this patent

System and process for hierarchical multi-level segmentation and estimate reuse request

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17