Guided buying decision support in an electronic marketplace environment
US6980966B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 25, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/08
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system (10) for providing guided buying decision support within an electronic marketplace environment includes a server (42) that interacts with buyers (12) to receive procurement parameters for items. An option generator (50) receives procurement parameters for a particular item needed by a particular buyer (12), determines one or more acceptable item-supplier combinations consistent with the procurement parameters for the item, and generates one or more recommended options for communication to the buyer (12), each recommended option specifying a service through which it is possible to procure the item consistent with the procurement parameters. The server (42) further interacts with the buyer (12) to receive a selection of a particular recommended option. A manager application (46) automatically initiates the service specified in the selected recommended option in an attempt to procure the item consistent with the procurement parameters.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.