Systems and methods for automatic bid solicitation during transaction process

US8160938B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Red Hat, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Timothy E. Allen · San Francisco, US
• John R. Mattox · Perkasie, US
• Darryl L. Pierce · Apex, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 29, 2008
• Grant date: Apr 17, 2012
• Expiry date: May 29, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q30/0631
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for automatic bid solicitation during a transaction process, in which a user's checkout basket is automatically transmitted to a set of vendors for potential bids based on the user's selected items. The user can select products or services for purchase from an original Web site or vendor. Upon receipt of those selections, a transaction server can identify vendors who wish to receive notification of a pending purchase of particular items. The set of selections can be transmitted to participating vendors to determine a bid on the same or related goods or services. A vendor may wish, for example, to bid to offer after-market support or supplies for a printer or other pending hardware purchase. The user can view the additional bid items in a bid dialog, make selections from those options, and incorporate options of their choosing in the finalized transaction.