Patent ID: 6405176
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A method for managing electronic commerce in a virtual mall having a plurality of virtual stores which can be accessed by electronic commerce shoppers, comprising the steps of:assigning to each said electronic commerce shopper an electronic shopping basket for use while shopping selected virtual stores in said virtual mall; placing each said electronic commerce shopper into at least one of said virtual stores within said virtual mall; collecting purchase data for each store item selected for purchase by each said electronic commerce shopper while each said electronic commerce shopper shops in individual virtual stores in said virtual mall, said collected purchase data including information associating each said virtual store item with said individual virtual store in said virtual mall from which said item was selected for purchase; processing payment in said virtual mall for all said store items selected for purchase in said individual virtual stores by each said electronic commerce shopper in a single transaction; and, supplying said purchase data collected for each said store item selected for purchase by each said electronic commerce shopper to said respective individual virtual stores in said virtual mall from which said associated store items were selected for purchase, whereby said electronic commerce shoppers are provided with the convenience of said single payment transaction for all shopping in said virtual mall and said virtual stores can receive purchase data to update respective point of sale systems.