U.S. patent application number 12/844678 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-18 for method and apparatus for optimizing seller selection in a multi-seller environment.
Invention is credited to Srinivas Balijepalli, Joshua M. Kopelman.
Application Number | 20100293070 12/844678 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42536629 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100293070 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kopelman; Joshua M. ; et
al. |
November 18, 2010 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZING SELLER SELECTION IN A
MULTI-SELLER ENVIRONMENT
Abstract
A method for selecting a seller in a multi-seller environment in
which multiple sellers are offering for sale one or more goods
desired by the buyer. A criterion for selecting a seller may be
specified by the buyer or an intermediary. After identifying a
seller offering the desired good(s) for sale, a seller is selected
which best satisfies the criterion. More than one criterion may be
specified. If the buyer desires to purchase multiple good, a seller
offering one or more of the multiple goods may be selected or a
seller solution including a combination of sellers may be selected.
A computer-implemented method and apparatus for carrying out the
computer-implemented method is also provided.
Inventors: |
Kopelman; Joshua M.;
(Wynnewood, PA) ; Balijepalli; Srinivas; (Devon,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHWEGMAN, LUNDBERG & WOESSNER/EBAY
P.O. BOX 2938
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
42536629 |
Appl. No.: |
12/844678 |
Filed: |
July 27, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09428150 |
Oct 27, 1999 |
7774234 |
|
|
12844678 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.1 ;
705/26.61 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20130101;
G06Q 40/04 20130101; G06Q 30/0601 20130101; G06Q 30/0623
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/26 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20060101
G06Q030/00 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: receiving a first selection from a user,
the first selection identifying a first good that is at least
quasi-fungible and offered for sale by a plurality of sellers;
receiving a second selection from the user, the second selection
identifying a second good that is at least quasi-fungible and
offered for sale by a seller of the plurality of sellers;
identifying, using one or more processors, the seller of the
plurality of sellers offering the first good for sale and the
second good for sale; and facilitating a sale of the first good
from the seller to the user.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first selection comprises a
Universal Product Code (UPC) received from the user.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a Universal
Product Code from the seller, the Universal Product Code
corresponding to the first good.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying another
seller of the plurality of sellers offering the first good for sale
and the second good for sale and automatically selecting the seller
based on criteria received from the user.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the criteria is selected from at
least one of a condition of the first good, a lowest price for the
first good, a lowest cost to transport the first good to the user,
a lowest combined price for the for the first good and the second
good, a past transaction between the user and the seller, and a
seller rating of the seller.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating the sale further
comprises facilitating the sale of the second good from the seller
to the user.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first selection includes an
indication of a condition of the first good.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first selection comprises an
International Standard Book Number (ISBN) received from the
user.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an
International Standard Book Number (ISBN) from the seller, the ISBN
corresponding to the first good.
10. A system comprising: a memory to store a first record
associated with a first seller, the first record including an
indication that the first seller is offering a first good and a
second good for sale; and a processor to: receive a first selection
from a user, the first selection identifying the first good,
receive a second selection from the user, the second selection
identifying the second good; identify the first seller as offering
the first good for sale and the second good for sale; and
facilitate a sale of the first good from the first seller to the
user.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first selection comprises a
Universal Product Code (UPC) received from the user.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further to
receive a Universal Product Code from the first seller, the
Universal Product Code corresponding to the first good.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further to
identify a second seller offering the first good for sale and the
second good for sale and automatically selecting the first seller
based on criteria received from the user.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the criteria comprises one or
more of a condition of the first good, a lowest price for the first
good, a lowest cost to transport the first good to the user, a
lowest combined price for the for the first good and the second
good, a past transaction between the user and the first seller, and
a seller rating of the first seller.
15. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further to
facilitate the sale of the second good from the first seller to the
user.
16. The system of claim 10, wherein the first selection includes an
indication of a condition of the first good.
17. The system of claim 10, wherein the first selection comprises
an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) received from the
user.
18. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further to
receive an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) from the first
seller, the ISBN corresponding to the first good.
19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions
embodied thereon, the instructions executable by one or more
processors for performing a method to identify a seller, the method
comprising: receiving a first selection from a user, the first
selection identifying a first good that is at least quasi-fungible
and offered for sale by a plurality of sellers; receiving a second
selection from the user, the second selection identifying a second
good that is at least quasi-fungible and offered for sale by a
seller of the plurality of sellers; identifying, using one or more
processors, the seller of the plurality of sellers offering the
first good for sale and the second good for sale; and facilitating
a sale of the first good from the seller to the user.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19,
wherein the first selection comprises a Universal Product Code
(UPC) received from the user.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 09/428,150, filed Oct. 27, 1999 (issuing as U.S. Pat. No.
7,774,234 on Aug. 10, 2010), which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to the field of sales of
goods and particularly to a method and apparatus for optimizing
selection of a seller of a good in an environment in which multiple
sellers offer the same or comparable goods for sale, particularly
in electronic commerce applications using communications
networks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The industrial age has given rise to a global economy of
factories engaged in mass production of various goods. An enormous
amount of commerce is transacted in the buying and selling of such
goods. While some such goods lose their value with use, e.g., food
products, many such goods retain a substantial portion of their
value even after use or ownership by another. Such goods are
referred to herein as "durable". A considerable amount of commerce
is transacted in the buying and selling of durable goods.
[0004] Almost all durable goods are readily identifiable by a
standard unique identification code ("ID code"), such as a
Universal Product Code (UPC), particularly those that are mass
produced. Some goods may have more than one type of ID code
although any one of them is sufficient to uniquely identify the
good.
[0005] Many durable and readily identifiable goods are fungible
items that derive their value substantially from their common
characteristics. For example, a single signed copy of Michael
Jackson's album titled "Thriller" and recorded on a compact disc
("CD") derives much of its value because it is signed by the
performance artist. Such a CD is unique and therefore is not a
fungible good. In contrast, an unsigned copy of Michael Jackson's
"Thriller" CD derives substantially all of its value because of the
songs recorded thereon. Therefore, all such CD's have substantially
the same value to consumers. Such CD's are therefore fungible. Some
goods are quasi-fungible. For example, a certain book may be
considered fungible in that all such books contains certain text.
However, the fact that some such books may be in better condition
than others means that the books may be considered
quasi-fungible.
[0006] In a retail sales environment a single seller offers goods
for sale to a buyer in a marketplace, e.g., the seller's store.
Such a store is a single seller environment. In an auction
environment, numerous sellers present goods for sale in a single
marketplace but it is unlikely that multiple sellers would offer
the same goods. In addition, a traditional auction format includes
presentation for sale of a single good of a single seller at any
one time. Traditionally, the buyer has been presented with, at
most, multiple single seller environments, e.g., a shopping mall,
and the buyer has selected a seller. In other words, these
environments are single seller environments because only one seller
is involved at the time the buyer is expressing interest in
purchasing a good.
[0007] A known multi-seller environment involves a marketeer for
presenting goods of others for sale. Like an auctioneer, the
marketeer presents goods for sale in a marketplace under his
control. The seller or a buyer may set a price. For example, a
marketeer may have a website presenting for sale goods of
individual retail sellers. A buyer may search for a single good and
be presented with a list of sellers. The buyer may then select a
seller. One such example may be found on the world wide web at
www.mysimon.com, the website of mySimon Inc. of Santa Clara,
Calif.. The marketeer's marketplace is a multiseller environment
because multiple sellers are available to the buyer to complete the
sale.
[0008] Until now, there has been no acceptable way to select a
seller from a multiple seller environment where multiple sellers
are available to the buyer.
[0009] Until now, there has been no acceptable way to select a
seller from a multiple seller environment where multiple sellers
are available to the buyer.
[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a method for optimizing seller selection in a multiple
seller environment.
[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
method for optimizing seller selection for a multiple good
purchase.
[0012] It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide a computer-implemented method for optimizing seller
selection.
[0013] It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus for practicing the computer-implemented
method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The invention provides a method for selecting a seller in a
multi-seller environment. In accordance with the present invention,
a buyer expresses an interest in purchasing a good and a criterion
is established for selecting a seller. For example, a buyer may
establish the criterion. Sellers of the good are then identified
and ratings of the sellers are determined to reflect the relative
degrees by which the sellers satisfy the criterion. A seller is
then selected as a function of the ratings. Multiple criteria may
be specified, e.g. condition of the good, price, transportation
cost, geographical proximity, etc. The method may be computer
implemented. Optionally, the buyer may be presented with one or
more selected sellers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram providing an example of a
transaction in accordance with the present invention in which a
buyer is interested in purchasing a single good.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an optimization controller in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram providing an example of a
transaction in accordance with the present invention in which a
buyer is interested in purchasing multiple goods.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The present invention provides a method and apparatus for
optimizing selection of a seller in a multiple seller environment.
An example of a multiple seller environment is a marketplace
controlled by a marketeer for presenting goods for sale by multiple
independent sellers. U.S. application Ser. No. ______, attorney
docket number P23305 USA, filed concurrently herewith, now U.S.
Pat. No. ______, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference, describes an advantageous method and apparatus by which
a marketeer may facilitate pricing and sales of goods owned by
independent parties. As described in detail in U.S. application
Ser. No. ______, the marketeer may, for example, maintain a website
for presenting goods for sale by multiple independent sellers. The
marketeer may operate a marketeer controller, which is a computer
connected to a communications network. The marketeer controller
stores specialized computer programs for receiving from sellers
information identifying goods and for pricing the goods.
[0019] For example, a buyer visiting the marketeer's website may
browse an electronic storefront of goods. Electronic storefronts
and their indexing and searching capabilities are well known in the
art. If the buyer expresses an interest in purchasing a good, for
example a used copy of Sue Grafton's book titled "A is for Alibi",
the marketeer determines whether an independent seller has
registered that book for sale with the marketeer. In one
embodiment, the marketeer controller determines another vendor's
price for a comparable good, for example, a new copy of the book,
and derives a sale price of the used copy from the other vendor's
price for the new copy. The marketeer then presents to the buyer
the book for sale by the seller at the sale price. For example, if
a vendor is selling a new copy of the book for $10 at the time of
the buyer's inquiry, the buyer may be given the opportunity to
purchase a used copy of the book for $5 using the marketeer's
website to identify a seller of the used book. If the buyer
indicates that he wants to buy the book at the sale price, the
marketeer facilitates sale of the good from the seller to the
buyer. This may be achieved, for example, by identifying the seller
to the buyer and the buyer to the seller so that they may perform
the sale transaction. The present invention may advantageously be
combined with the teachings of U.S. application Ser. No.
______.
[0020] In accordance with the present invention, a method and
apparatus is provided for optimizing selection of a seller in such
a multiple seller environment. In many circumstances, a buyer's
desire to purchase a good could be satisfied by completing the sale
with any one of many sellers offering the good for sale,
particularly when the good is fungible. The seller is selected to
satisfy a criterion or criteria (collectively, "criterion"). The
criterion could be established by the buyer or by an intermediary,
such as the marketeer. By way of example, the invention will be
discussed below in the context of sale of a copy of a paperback
book. This example assumes that the marketeer operates a website
for presenting goods for sale and that the buyer establishes a
criterion for selecting a seller as a lowest combined price for the
book and shipping of the book to the buyer. This example also
assumes that all books are fungible, i.e., there is no distinction
between new and used books or between used books, for example, to
account for their condition.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram providing an example of a
transaction in accordance with the present invention in which
example of FIG. 1, a buyer is interested in purchasing a single
good, namely, Sue Grafton's book titled "A is for Alibi". FIG. 3
provides an example of a transaction in accordance with the present
invention in which the buyer is interested in purchasing multiple
goods, e.g., Sue Grafton's book titled "A is for Alibi" ("book")
and Michael Jackson's "Thriller" CD.
[0022] In the example of FIG. 1, buyers and sellers use their home
computers to browse and interact with the marketeer's website via
the Internet. Software, including web server and web browser
software, for doing so is well known in the art. As shown in the
example of FIG. 1, a marketeer first receives information from a
first seller desiring to offer Sue Grafton's book for sale, as
shown at step 20. The first seller can identify the book to the
marketeer by inputting a standard identification code such as an
International Standard Book under ("ISBN") or Universal Product
Code (UPC) into an electronic form displayed on a video monitor of
the seller's computer by the marketeer. As described in detail in
U.S. application Ser. No. ______, the marketeer stores data
identifying the book and the identify of the first seller.
Optionally the buyer may enter additional information, e.g.,
information describing the condition of the book. This registers
the book with the marketeer for sale by the first seller.
[0023] A second seller then transmits the ISBN, UPC or other code
of Sue Grafton's book titled "A is for Alibi" to register the
second seller's copy of the book with the marketeer for sale by the
second seller, as shown at step 24. The second seller may also be
asked to enter additional information, e.g., information describing
the condition of the book. At this point, the book is registered
with the marketeer for sale by both the first seller and the second
seller. Since the books are considered fungible goods, a buyer
wishing to purchase a copy of Sue Grafton's book titled "A is for
Alibi" would be satisfied with the copy of the book sold by either
the first seller or the second seller. However, using one seller
rather than the other may better satisfy a buyer for reasons
discussed further below. The present invention provides for
selection of a seller to best satisfy the buyer.
[0024] A buyer then browses the marketeer's website using his
computer to communicate via the Internet, as is well known in the
art. In this example, the marketeer has a database of information
relating to all books published by all publishers. Accordingly, the
buyer is able to browse goods that have never been or are not
currently registered for sale by a seller. The buyer may search by
title, author, genre, etc. and once the buyer selects a good, he
expresses his interest in the good, for example, by selecting an
image of the cover of the book. Assuming the buyer is interested in
Sue Grafton's book titled "A is for Alibi", the marketeer receives
the buyer's expression of interest in purchasing the book, as shown
at step 28.
[0025] A criterion is established for selecting a seller. In this
example, the buyer establishes the criterion for selecting a
seller, as shown at step 32. This may be achieved, for example, by
selecting a criterion from a menu or clicking a checkbox associated
with a criterion. A criterion may include several factors, for
example, a lowest combined price including a sale price of the book
and a cost to transport the book to the buyer.
[0026] The marketeer then identifies sellers offering the book for
sale as shown at step 36. In this computer-implemented example,
this may be performed by a marketeer controller having software for
checking a UPC code associated with the book desired by the buyer
against a database of UPC codes of goods registered for sale by
various sellers and stored on the marketeer controller. Methods and
software for matching a request to a database of records are well
known in the art. In this example, the marketeer would identify the
first seller in step 36. The marketeer then determines whether
there are any other sellers offering the book for sale and
continues searching the database to identify other sellers of the
book, as shown at steps 40 and 36.
[0027] If there is another seller of the book, the marketeer
determines a rating of the first seller for satisfying the
criterion, as shown at step 44. In other words, the marketeer
determines a rating assuming that the buyer were to purchase the
book from the first seller. In this example, the criterion
established by the buyer in step 32 is a lowest combined price
including the sale price of the good and the cost of shipping a
package to the buyer. The rating in this example is the combined
price. This example assumes that the first and second sellers are
selling the book for $9, and $10, respectively and that the cost of
shipping the book to the buyer from the first seller is $5 and the
cost of shipping the book to the buyer from the second seller is
$3. Accordingly, the ratings established in step 44 are $14 for the
first seller and $13 for the second seller.
[0028] If no other seller is offering the book for sale, the
marketeer compares the ratings of sellers identified in step 36, as
shown at step 48. In this example, the first seller's rating of $14
is compared to the second seller's rating of $13 in step 48. The
marketeer then selects a seller having a best rating for best
satisfying the criterion, as shown at step 52. Since the criterion
is a lowest combined price, the second seller's rating of $13 best
satisfies the criterion and the second seller is selected in step
52.
[0029] The marketeer then presents to the buyer the book as offered
for sale by the second seller, as shown at step 54. For example,
the buyer may be presented with a combined price for the good and
shipping of $13. Optionally, the buyer may be presented with
information that the good is also for sale for $14. If the buyer
chooses to purchase the book at $13, the marketeer facilitates sale
of the good from the second seller to the buyer, as shown at step
58. This could be achieved, for example, by identifying the buyer
to the second seller and the second seller to the buyer so that the
buyer and the second seller can complete the sale transaction.
[0030] In this example, the method is computer-implemented and the
marketeer selects a seller using an optimization controller. A
block diagram of an optimization controller for implementing the
method is shown in FIG. 2. The optimization controller 80 has a
clocked central processing unit (CPU) 82 for executing computer
programs. The optimization controller also includes a memory or
"storage device" 84 for storing at least some of the programs that
are to be executed by the CPU. The storage device 84 may include a
read only memory ("ROM"), a random access memory ("RAM") and/or a
hard disk drive for storage of data. Use of a clocked CPU in
conjunction with a storage device is well known in the art of
CPU-based electronic circuit design.
[0031] The optimization controller also includes a communication
port ("COMM PORT") 86 which enables the CPU to communicate with
devices external to the controller, e.g., a network interface
device 88. In this manner, information received via the network
interface device 88 can be processed by the CPU and the CPU can
send information to the communications network via the network
interface device 88. In this example, the network interface device
90 includes a modem. The optimization controller is configured for
communication with a buyer interface, e.g., a buyer's computer
running standard web browser software, as is well known in the
art.
[0032] The optimization controller stores in its memory a first
program for receiving data indicating a buyer's desire to purchase
a good, a second program for identifying a group of sellers
offering the good for sale, a third program for determining a
rating of each seller of the group of sellers for satisfying a
criterion, and a fourth program for selecting a seller as a
function of the ratings. In this example, the optimization
controller also stores in its memory a fifth program for receiving
data from the buyer. The controller also stores a sixth program for
presenting to the buyer a price for the good for sale by the seller
selected by the fourth program. The price could be a sale price for
the good or a price which best satisfies the criterion; for
example, a combined price including both a sale price of the good
and shipping costs. The controller also stores a seventh program
for facilitating sale of the good from the seller selected by the
fourth program to the buyer.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram providing an example of a
transaction in accordance with the present invention in which the
buyer is interested in purchasing multiple goods, namely, Sue
Grafton's book titled "A is for Alibi" ("book") and Michael
Jackson's "Thriller" CD. As in FIG. 1, the marketeer controls a
website for offering independent sellers' goods for sale. In this
example, it is assumed that the marketeer performs a
computer-implemented version of the inventive method for selecting
a seller in a multi-seller environment.
[0034] As shown in the example of FIG. 3, a first seller registers
the book for sale with the marketeer by transmitting a UPC code
identifying the book, as shown at step 100. A second seller
registers the CD for sale with the marketeer by transmitting a UPC
code identifying the CD, as shown at step 104. Also, it is assumed
that a third seller transmits UPC codes for the book and the CD to
the marketeer to register the book and the CD for sale by the third
seller, as shown at step 108. At this point, the book is registered
with the marketeer for sale by both the first seller and the third
seller and the CD is registered with the marketeer for sale by both
the second seller and the third seller.
[0035] A buyer then browses the marketeer's website and selects
goods he wishes to buy. In this example, the marketeer receives an
expression of a buyer's interest in purchasing the book and the CD,
as shown at step 112. Since more than one seller is offering each
good for sale, the marketeer could facilitate sales of the book and
the CD to the buyer in several ways. In other words, the marketeer
could match either the first seller or the third seller with the
buyer for sale of the book and either the second seller or the
third seller with the buyer for sale of the CD. A seller or
combination of sellers ("seller solution") must be selected. In
accordance with the present invention, a seller solution is
selected which best satisfies a criterion. In this example, the
buyer specifies the criterion for selecting a seller, as shown at
step 116 and discussed above.
[0036] The marketeer searches a database of goods registered for
sale to identify sellers of the desired book and CD. In this
example, the marketeer (through use of the optimization controller)
first searches the database for sellers of the book, as shown at
steps 120 and 124. In the example, the first and third sellers are
identified as sellers of the book. The marketeer then searches its
database to identify sellers offering the CD for sale, as shown at
steps 128 and 132. In the example, the second and third sellers are
identified as sellers of the CD.
[0037] Once the marketeer has identified sellers of the goods, the
marketeer formulates seller solutions for satisfying the buyer's
desire to purchase the book and the CD, as shown at steps 136 and
140. The marketeer preferably formulates as many seller solutions
as possible. Additionally, the marketeer determines a rating of
each seller solution for satisfying the criterion set by the buyer,
as shown in step 144. In the example, the marketeer would formulate
a first seller solution including the first seller for sale of the
book and the second seller for sale of the CD. The marketeer would
also formulate a second seller solution including the first seller
for sale of the book and the third seller for sale of the CD, a
third seller solution including the third seller for sale of the
book and the second seller for sale of the CD, and a fourth
combination including the third seller for sale of both the book
and the CD.
[0038] For this example, it is assumed that the criterion is a
lowest combined price for the book, the CD and shipping to the
buyer. It is also assumed, for simplification, that shipping of a
single package of any number of goods costs $3. However, shipping
costs may vary with size, weight, shipping distance, etc. and may
be determined for a particular package to be shipped. The first
seller is selling the book for $7, the second seller is selling the
CD for $9 and that the third seller is selling the book for $8 and
the CD for $10. It is further assumed, for simplification, that the
rating is a combined price for the book, the CD and the shipping of
the book and the CD to the buyer. The criterion and rating need not
be measured in identical units. For example, in another embodiment
in which the criterion is quick delivery or condition of a good,
the rating could be, for example, geographical distance between the
seller (in miles) or a rating from 1-5.
[0039] Accordingly, the rating for the first seller solution is $22
($7+$3+$9+$3), the rating for the second seller solution is $23
($7+$3+$10+$3), the rating for the third seller solution is $23
($8+$3+$9+$3), and the rating for the fourth seller solution is $21
($8+$10+$3). The marketeer compares these ratings in step 148 and
selects a seller solution having a rating for best satisfying the
criterion, as shown in step 152. Since the criterion is a lowest
combined price, the fourth seller solution is selected in step 152.
In this example, although the third seller is more expensive than
the first and second sellers for the book and the CD, the fourth
seller solution best satisfies the criterion. This is because the
difference in price for the goods is outweighed by the savings in
shipping costs. In other words, the buyer gets a savings in total
cost by paying for shipping from only one seller, rather than from
two sellers, by selecting a seller offering multiple goods for
sale.
[0040] The marketeer then presents the book and the CD for sale by
the selected seller solution, i.e., the fourth seller solution, as
shown at steps 156. If the buyer chooses to purchase the book and
CD, the marketeer facilitates sale of the goods from the fourth
seller solution (third seller) to the buyer, as shown at step
160.
[0041] To select a seller solution for multiple-good inquiries, in
which a buyer expresses interest in purchasing multiple goods in a
single transaction or communications session, the optimization
controller stores additional programs and/or the programs are
further configured. Accordingly, the optimization controller may
also store in its memory an eighth program for formulating a
combination of sellers offering multiple goods for sale. To handle
multiple good inquiries, the first program is further configured to
receive data indicating a buyer's desire to purchase multiple
goods. Additionally, the second program is further configured to
identify a seller solution including a combination of one or more
sellers collectively offering the multiple goods for sale. In other
words, the second program searches not only for a single seller
offering the multiple goods for sale but also considers
combinations of sellers collectively offering the multiple goods
for sale. For example, a seller solution may be considered in which
a first seller is offering a first good for sale (e.g., a book) and
a second seller is offering a second good for sale (e.g., a
CD).
[0042] Additionally, the third program is further configured to
determine a rating of each combination of sellers (seller solution)
for satisfying the criterion, and the fourth program is further
configured to select a seller or a seller solution as a function of
the ratings. In other words, the third program provides a rating
for sellers and seller solutions and the fourth program considers
both sellers and seller solutions and picks the seller or seller
solution which best meets the criterion.
[0043] It should be appreciated that the invention also applies to
more complex transactions than those provided above by way of
example. For example, the method is easily extensible to handle
numerous sellers, goods, and numerous seller combinations. In
addition, multiple criteria or a single criterion including
multiple criteria may be specified for example, lowest price and
best condition. In one embodiment, the buyer may specify a
weighting or relative importance of the several factors.
[0044] Various criteria may be specified. In one embodiment, goods
could be considered quasi-fungible goods. For example, paperback
books could be considered quasi-fungible because they all contain
the same text although they may be in various degrees of condition.
In such an embodiment, each seller may rate the condition of his
book as "excellent", "good", "fair", or "poor" and the buyer may
specify that he wishes to purchase a book in particular condition,
e.g., "good" condition. In another embodiment, the criterion could
be a lowest price for the good or a lowest cost to ship the good.
The cost could be calculated in various ways, e.g., by determining
the distance between the seller's address and the buyer's address
and/or by consulting a commercial shipper to determine shipping
costs. In another embodiment, a criterion could be selection of a
seller from whom the buyer has previously purchased a good or a
seller having a minimum specified reliability rating. For example,
the marketeer could track buyer/seller transactions and assign
reliability ratings to reflect feedback received from buyers. One
example of such a rating could be a five-star scale, five stars
indicating the highest degree of seller reliability for
satisfactorily completing the sale transaction. In another
embodiment, the criterion could be a combination of the
above-identified and/or other criteria. Although in the preferred
embodiment the buyer specifies the criterion, in an alternate
embodiment, the marketeer or another party could specify the
criterion.
[0045] Additionally, it should be appreciated that many different
types of ratings could be used. For example, the rating could be a
score on an arbitrary scale or simply a ranking Although it is
preferred that the marketeer present the buyer only with the best
seller or combination of sellers, in an alternate embodiment, a
list of sellers or seller solutions could be presented to the buyer
and the buyer could make the final selection.
[0046] It should also be noted that the buyer may express his
interest in any suitable manner, e.g., inputting a standard
identification code or a description into an electronic form
displayed on the buyer's video monitor by the marketeer, or
selecting a hyperlink associated with the good, and appearing to
the buyer as an image or text. It should also be appreciated that a
marketeer may facilitate a sale in alternate ways, for example,
referring the parties to a clearinghouse or escrow agent or acting
as a clearinghouse and to manage the sale, e.g., by accepting
credit card payments.
[0047] If the buyer wishes to purchase three or more goods, a
seller solution may include one or more sellers of multiple goods
and one or more sellers of only one good. If a selected seller
solution includes more than one seller, the marketeer may identify
the first seller to the buyer and/or the buyer to the first seller
for sale of the first good and may further identify the second
seller to the buyer and/or the buyer to the second seller for sale
of the second good.
[0048] Additionally, it should be appreciated that the optimization
controller could have numerous configurations. For example, in
other embodiments, the network interface device could include a
network card, a hard-wired connection, radio communication
equipment, optical communication equipment, or similar equipment
and could be internal to the optimization controller.
[0049] U.S. application Ser. No. ______, attorney docket number
P23306 USA, filed concurrently herewith, now U.S. Pat. No. ______,
the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference,
describes an advantageous method and apparatus for promoting resale
of goods, including resale by a marketeer. In general, the method
includes soliciting an agreement from a buyer of a good to offer
the good for resale at a future time. Since a marketeer earns
revenue when he facilitates a sale, the method gives the marketeer
an opportunity to double revenues by facilitating two sales.
Particularly, in the example of Sue Grafton's book titled "A is for
Alibi", the marketeer facilitates a first sale of the book from a
seller to a first buyer and, if the first buyer agrees to resell
the book, the marketeer has the opportunity to facilitate a second
sale of the same copy of "A is for Alibi" from the first buyer to a
second buyer. The method may be computer-implemented. The present
invention may advantageously be combined with the teachings of U.S.
application Ser. No. ______.
[0050] Having thus described particular embodiments of the
invention, various alterations, modifications, and improvements
will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations,
modifications and improvements as are made obvious by this
disclosure are intended to be part of this description though not
expressly stated herein, and are intended to be within the spirit
and scope of the invention.
[0051] Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example
only, and not limiting. The invention is limited only as defined in
the following claims and equivalents thereto.
* * * * *
References