Computerized quotation system and method

Abstract

A computerized system for forming a computer based communications network of network members inclusive of network buyers and or network vendors for processing requests for quotation for goods and services through at least one central processing unit including operating system software for controlling the central processing unit, storage means containing the identification of network members, means for network buyers to generate request for quotation for goods and / or services, means for transmitting said request for quotation to said central processing unit, filter means for selecting appropriate network members to receive said request for quotation based on filter conditions defined by the buyer in said request for quotation and / or by the vendor and / or by the central processing unit, means for broadcasting said request for quotation to the network members selected by said filter means and means for responding to the generator of said request for quotation with either a response to said request for quotation or with a list of said selected network members. Filter conditions may define the class of vendors in terms of geographical location, quantity, language spoken, currency, special conditions of sale, and the like.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of Reissue application Ser. No. 09 / 703,549, filed May 1, 2000, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08 / 603,906 filed Feb. 22, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,328.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates generally to a computerized system forming a computer based communications network of buyer and vendor members for processing requests for quotation for goods and / or services from network members or their representatives and for linking buyers to sellers through the computer based communications network of network members having means for selectively controlling the linkage between network members in accordance with filter conditions of the buyers and / or sellers as well as filter conditions established by the computerized system. The filter conditions determine which of the network sellers will receive a buyer's request for quotation. More particularly this invention relates to a com...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention is a computerized system forming a computer based communications network for processing requests for quotation for goods and/or services by broadcasting such requests to network members of the computerized system over any conventional transmitting medium, such as the Internet, to which the computerized system may be connected. No central database of goods, prices, etc. is involved. Instead, buyers formulate requests for quotation and transmit them to

Problems solved by technology

Buyers in need of goods and services often spend considerable time locating an appropriate vendor.

If the type of vendor needed is in a foreign country, the problem compounds.

This is a time consuming process and companies typically rely on experienced purchasing staff to accomplish it.

These processes are costly and time consuming for most businesses.

It is not feasible for such systems to provide access to all standard goods and services and all suppliers world wide.

It simply is not feasible for central database systems to satisfy the need of buyers to receive timely quotes on an enormous variety of goods and services from vendors anywhere in the world.

These systems necessarily restrict a buyer's choice of vendors.

These systems have no capacity to offer an unlimited number of goods and services from any number of vendors who wish to become members of the system.

This would require an unrealistically large central database containing information about products, services and vendors.

Accordingly, existing systems are very specialized electronic buying services with a limited selection of goods, services, and vendors.

In addition, buyers wishing to sell surplus inventory from time to time cannot use these systems for that purpose.

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