Virtual shelf with single-product choice and automatic multiple-vendor selection
US8630923B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jan 14, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 11, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/0641
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A retail front-end experience for the user with a multi-seller back-end. A product is displayed on a webpage, and if the user views it, the software automatically selects at least one best supplier for each item and condition (new, used, etc.) for that user, and then displays the one specific price from only those vendors. The price includes the shipping costs from that vendor's location to the user's location. Thus, the back end is hidden from the user—the user is not forced to choose from a list of vendors. The software selects the best vendor based on a variety of criteria, such as item selection (condition, price and version), the geographic closeness of the vendor (reduced shipping costs and/or reduced shipping speed), the reliability rating of the vendor (responsiveness, product description accuracy, etc.).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.