Electronic procurement system and method for trading partners
US5970475A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/0641
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An Electronic Commerce system enables corporate purchasers and suppliers to electronically transact for the purchase and supply of goods/services. The system includes three major hardware and software components: buyer, supplier and bank/administration. To enable suppliers to supply goods and services online and process electronic orders, several software components are used for operating a supplier processor server and a supplier catalog server. To enable corporate purchasers to purchase products and services online, preferably over the Internet, from suppliers, software is used for operating a customer server to which multiple users may log-on and access the supplier server. An Automated Clearing House (ACH) server may be used to interface with a bank's (ACH) systems. A service bureau that supplies the hardware and/or software components and assists to administer the system includes a transaction counter, which records transactions and charges the buyers and/or suppliers based on the number of purchase orders and/or invoices issued. Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations, modifications and other uses …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.