Patent ID: 8738428
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for managing a promotion event over a data network between a retailer and a vendor each having an associated computer in communication with the data network, the promotion event providing a scheme for rewarding the retailer for offering designated items supplied through the vendor for sale to consumers on behalf of the vendor, the method comprising the steps of: defining the promotion event to include terms, the terms including an event description, a category, and a designated items description, the terms situated in fields of a promotion event record; matching the designated items description to a list of items stored in an item table, the list of items authorized for sale by the retailer; validating, utilizing a computer, the fields in the promotion event record as conforming to requirements of a deal sheet associated with the retailer, wherein the validating also includes ensuring the vendor completes all required fields of the deal sheet, and performing calculations to automatically complete at least one field of the deal sheet; sending, when the fields in the promotion event record do not conform to the deal sheet requirements, an edit message to the vendor computer over the data network, the edit message requesting editing of the terms in the promotion event record; storing, within a deal transaction database, when the fields in the promotion event record conform to the deal sheet requirements, the promotion event record as a deal in a deal transaction storage medium, the deal being designated as having a submitted status; providing, when the deal has the submitted status, read access to the stored deal for the retailer computer over the data network; receiving a deal negotiation message from the retailer computer over the data network; designating, responsive to receiving the deal negotiation message, the stored deal as having a negotiate status; enabling viewing of the negotiate status of the stored deal, by the vendor computer over the data network; and providing, responsive to receiving the deal negotiation message, access to the vendor computer to edit the stored deal over the data network.