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Method and apparatus for optimizing seller selection in a multi-seller environment

a multi-seller and seller technology, applied in the field of goods sales, can solve the problems of no acceptable way to select a seller, unique cd and therefore not a fungible good, and books may be considered quasi-fungible,

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-11-18
EBAY INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a way to select a seller when there are multiple options. A buyer sets a criteria for what they need and the sellers are ranked based on how well they meet that criteria. The buyer can then choose the seller based on those rankings. The method can be computerized and the buyer can be presented with options.

Problems solved by technology

Such a CD is unique and therefore is not a fungible good.
However, the fact that some such books may be in better condition than others means that the books may be considered quasi-fungible.
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.
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.

Method used

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  • Method and apparatus for optimizing seller selection in a multi-seller environment
  • Method and apparatus for optimizing seller selection in a multi-seller environment
  • Method and apparatus for optimizing seller selection in a multi-seller environment

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[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 identify...

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PUM

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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.

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 ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G06Q30/00
CPCG06Q30/06G06Q40/04G06Q30/0623G06Q30/0601
Inventor KOPELMAN, JOSHUA M.BALIJEPALLI, SRINIVAS
Owner EBAY INC