Patent ID: 7295989
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A system for buyers and sellers of goods/services to engage in commerce, comprising one or more central processing units, system software for controlling said one or more central processing units, system storage means containing one or more system databases with information regarding buyers and sellers and the goods/services available, one or more servers providing for Internet-based access and use of said system by sellers to upload their goods inventory data and respond to requests for quotation, means for buyers of goods/services to select, from a single point of purchase, between at least one direct sales channel, wherein said buyers purchase-goods/services by interacting directly with said sellers, and at least one indirect sales channel, wherein said buyers can purchase-goods/services without direct interaction with said sellers, via an intermediary that acquires said goods/services from said sellers and resells said goods/services to said buyers, means for providing, at said single point of purchase, information regarding terms of purchase via said at least one direct sales channel and regarding terms of purchase via said at least one indirect sales channel for said buyers to compare and evaluate which of said sales channels provides better purchase terms for the same goods/services, means for buyers to transmit requests for quotation to said system, means for said system to transmit requests for quotation to selected sellers, means for sellers to transmit quotations to buyers in response to requests for same.