Unified Purchase Management System for Multi-Merchant Checkout Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Online purchasing from multiple merchants is tedious for users due to the need to visit multiple websites, fill multiple shopping carts, and initiate multiple checkout processes, which are time-consuming and involve repetitive operations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allow users to select and purchase multiple items from multiple merchants in a single transaction by invoking virtual machines for each merchant, aggregating purchase transactions, and providing a unified checkout process without requiring merchant integration, using a purchase management system that automates the purchase process and communicates purchase confirmations to the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users purchase multiple items from multiple merchants using traditional methods, then each merchant can be accessed independently, but the purchasing process becomes time-consuming and repetitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate checkout processes into a single unified checkout process. The system aggregates items from multiple merchants into one transaction, allowing users to complete purchases from different merchants simultaneously through one consolidated checkout interface, thereby eliminating repetitive checkout operations and reducing total purchasing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-aggregating items from multiple merchants before the user initiates checkout. The platform automatically collects item information, merchant details, and pricing data in advance, so that when the user requests purchase, all necessary information is already prepared and organized, eliminating the need for users to repeatedly input data during each checkout process.
2Ease of operation
If users visit multiple merchant websites to purchase items, then each merchant's platform can be accessed directly, but the operation becomes tedious and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary platform that acts as a mediator between users and multiple merchants. This platform consolidates access to multiple merchant inventories through a single interface, allowing users to search, select, and purchase items from different merchants without visiting each merchant's website separately. The intermediary handles all interactions with individual merchants, simplifying the user experience while maintaining access to multiple sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal purchasing platform that performs multiple functions: it serves as a search engine for items across different merchants, a shopping cart aggregator, a unified checkout system, and an order management interface. This multi-functional platform replaces the need for users to navigate multiple separate merchant websites, each with its own interface and process, thereby significantly improving ease of operation.
3Productivity
If multiple separate transactions are initiated for items from different merchants, then each transaction can be processed independently, but the overall process involves many repetitive operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple independent transaction processes into a single consolidated transaction. Instead of requiring users to initiate separate purchase requests for each merchant, the platform aggregates all selected items into one unified transaction that processes all purchases simultaneously. This eliminates repetitive operations such as repeated login, cart review, and checkout steps, while maintaining independent processing capabilities for each merchant's inventory and pricing.
Data Source
AI summary
Example purchasing systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method identifies a purchase request that includes a first item to purchase from a first merchant and a second item to purchase from a second merchant. A first virtual machine is invoked and executes an instance of a browser application to purchase the first item from the first merchant. A second virtual machine is invoked and executes another instance of the browser application to purchase the second item from the second merchant. The method receives a first purchase confirmation from the first merchant and receives a second purchase confirmation from the second merchant.