Patent ID: 6119152
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A method of hosting an on-line shopping system in which products from a plurality of remote service providers may be purchased by a plurality of remote subscribers, comprising:storing service maps for service providers in a host computer, with each service provider being capable of customizing its associated service map, and said service maps including products that may be selected for purchase by the plurality of remote subscribers, wherein the types of products are specified by the remote service providers as part of the customization of the associated service map;receiving a request from at least one of said remote subscribers for the service map of at least one of said remote service providers;transmitting said requested service map from said host computer to said subscriber over a communications link;in response to the selection of one of said products by said subscriber, receiving at said host computer a code from said subscriber identifying the selected product; andtransmitting data associated with the selected product from said host computer to said subscriber.