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  Method and apparatus for meta-shopping and dynamic setup of b2b ecommerceUSPTO Application #: 20060212368Title: Method and apparatus for meta-shopping and dynamic setup of b2b ecommerce Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for generating a customized catalog for an entity or organization. Items from a base catalog are presented to a user located at a remote data processing system. One or more items are selected by a user through a process of “meta-shopping”. The selected items are placed in a set, also referred to as a “meta-shopping cart”, used to generate the customized catalog. Terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog are associated with the customized catalog. Further, a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog may be established, and the customized catalog is then placed on a Web site. (end of abstract)
Agent: Duke. W. Yee - Dallas, TX, US Inventors: Asit Dan, Daniel Manuel Dias, Thao N. Nguyen, John F. Schumacher, Hidayatullah H. Shaikh USPTO Applicaton #: 20060212368 - Class: 705027000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, Management, Or Cost/price Determination, Automated Electrical Financial Or Business Practice Or Management Arrangement, Electronic Shopping (e.g., Remote Ordering), Presentation Of Image Or Description Of Sales Item (e.g., Electronic Catalog Browsing) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060212368. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Technical Field [0002] The present invention provides an improved data processing system, in particular a method and apparatus for setting up a customized catalog. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for setting up a customized catalog for use in a business-to-business relationship. [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004] The Internet, also referred to as an "internetwork", is a set of computer networks, possibly dissimilar, joined together by means of gateways that handle data transfer and the conversion of messages from the sending network to the protocols used by the receiving network (with packets if necessary). When capitalized, the term "Internet" refers to the collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols. [0005] The Internet has become a cultural fixture as a source of both information and entertainment. Many businesses are creating Internet sites as an integral part of their marketing efforts, informing consumers of the products or services offered by the business or providing other information seeking to engender brand loyalty. Many federal, state, and local government agencies are also employing Internet sites for informational purposes, particularly agencies, which must interact with virtually all segments of society such as the Internal Revenue Service and secretaries of state. Providing informational guides and/or searchable databases of online public records may reduce operating costs. Further, the Internet is becoming increasingly popular as a medium for commercial transactions. [0006] Currently, the most commonly employed method of transferring data over the Internet is to employ the World Wide Web environment, also called simply "the Web". Other Internet resources exist for transferring information, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Gopher, but have not achieved the popularity of the Web. In the Web environment, servers and clients effect data transactions using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a known protocol for handling the transfer of various data files (e.g., text, still graphic images, audio, motion video, etc.). The information in various data files is formatted for presentation to a user by a standard page description language, the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). In addition to basic presentation formatting, HTML allows developers to specify "links" to other Web resources identified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). A URL is a special syntax identifier defining a communications path to specific information. Each logical block of information accessible to a client, called a "page" or a "Web page", is identified by a URL. The URL provides a universal, consistent method for finding and accessing this information, not necessarily for the user, but mostly for the user's Web "browser". A browser is a program capable of submitting a request for information identified by an identifier, such as, for example, a URL. A user may enter a domain name through a graphical user interface (GUI) for the browser to access a source of content. The domain name is automatically converted to the Internet Protocol (IP) address by a domain name system (DNS), which is a service that translates the symbolic name entered by the user into an IP address by looking up the domain name in a database. [0007] The Internet also is widely used to transfer applications to users using browsers. With respect to commerce on the Web, individual consumers and businesses use the Web to purchase various goods and services. In offering goods and services, some companies offer goods and services solely on the Web while others use the Web to extend their reach. [0008] With respect to these commercial activities and others, businesses and other content providers go through a highly manual process to set up mechanisms to facilitate business-to-business commerce. For example, in setting up customized catalogs for use between businesses, the items in the catalog are currently set up through telephonic communications. A customized catalog is also referred to as a "catalog". Manual configuration of the catalog as well as various terms and operating conditions also are discussed telephonically. After agreement is reached, then the catalog is configured and placed on a Web site. Other times, the catalog may be set up through face-to-face meetings between representatives of the different businesses. Such a mechanism takes time and manpower. [0009] Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved method and apparatus for setting up a business-to-business commerce relationship. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for generating a customized catalog for an entity or organization. Items from a base catalog are presented to a user located at a remote data processing system. One or more items are selected by a user through a process of "meta-shopping". The selected items are placed in a set, also referred to as a "meta-shopping cart", used to generate the customized catalog. Terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog are associated with the customized catalog. Further, a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog may be established, and the customized catalog is then placed on a Web site. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0012] FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a network of data processing systems in which the present invention may be implemented; [0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a server cluster in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a data processing system that may be implemented as a server in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0015] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating components used in a web commerce server in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0016] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process used for setting up a catalog for business-to-business transaction in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0017] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process used for creating a customized catalog in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and [0018] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process used for negotiating terms and conditions for the business-to-business relationship in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0019] With reference now to the figures, FIG. 1 depicts a pictorial representation of a network of data processing systems in which the present invention may be implemented. Network data processing system 100 is a network of computers in which the present invention may be implemented. Network data processing system 100 contains a network 102, which is the medium used to provide communications links between various devices and computers connected together within network data processing system 100. Network 102 may include connections, such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables. [0020] In the depicted example, a server 104 is connected to network 102 along with storage unit 106. Further, network data processing system 100 also includes server cluster 108 as well as a server 110. In this example, server 110 is connected to network 102 through local area network (LAN) 112. In addition, clients 114, 116, and 118 also are connected to network 102. These clients 114, 116, and 118 may be, for example, personal computers or network computers. In the depicted example, server 104, server cluster 108, and server 110 provide a distributed web commerce server system for processing requests from clients 114-118. In the depicted examples, server 104, server cluster 108 and server 110 may be located in multiple, geographically distributed sites. The servers are presented to users, such as those at clients 114-118, as a single website. Additionally, one of the server, such as server 104 may act as a load balancer to receive and direct requests from the clients to the appropriate servers within the system. Network data processing system 100 may include additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown. Continue reading... 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