Patent ID: 7949571
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. An electronic commerce supporting apparatus connected via a communications network to a first apparatus retaining a structured document file, which has a document structure for specifying the position at which sales item data is described in a document by attaching a sales annotator, formed as a certain character string, to sales item data including an intended sales item and the sales condition, the electronic commerce supporting apparatus comprising: a sales item element gathering unit for gathering a sales item element, which is a set of a sales annotator and sales item data, from a plurality of structured document files in the first apparatus using the sales annotator as a search key; a signature data receiving unit for receiving, from the first apparatus, signature data for validating a sales item element; a digital signature certification unit for determining the validity of the sales item element gathered, according to the signature data received from the first apparatus originating the element; a sales item list creation unit for listing a sales item element validated so as to create a sales item list file; and a sales item list transmitting unit for transmitting a sales item list file to an external apparatus, and connected via a communications network also to a second apparatus retaining a structured document file, which has a document structure for specifying the position at which purchase item data is described in a document by attaching a purchase annotator, formed as a certain character string, to purchase item data including an intended purchase item and the purchase condition, the electronic commerce supporting apparatus further comprising: a purchase item element gathering unit for gathering a purchase item element, which is a set of a purchase annotator and purchase item data, from a plurality of structured document files in the second apparatus using the purchase annotator as a search key; a purchase item list creation unit for listing a purchase item element gathered so as to create a purchase item list file; and a purchase item list transmitting unit for transmitting a purchase item list file to an external apparatus, wherein: the signature data receiving unit receives, from the second apparatus, signature data for validating a purchase item element; the digital signature certification unit determines the validity of the purchase item element gathered, according to the signature data received from the second apparatus originating the element; and the purchase item list creation unit lists a purchase item element validated so as to create a purchase item list file.