Patent ID: 6546374
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
An apparatus for providing real-time notification of purchaser requirements in a heterogeneous network environment, said heterogeneous network environment comprising a first network and a second network, said first network in communication with a plurality of client computers, said second network being a wireless network in communication with a plurality of wireless terminals, said apparatus comprising:at least one vendor computer, said vendor computer comprising a product database having information about a plurality of products; wherein said client computers and said vendor computer being interconnected by said first network such that one of said client computer is operatively disposed to present to a user a plurality of product options and services from which said user can make a selection and thereupon, responsive to a user input indicating a particular product, provide product information retrieved from said product database, and thereupon to receive from said user a selection and to prompt said user for user specific information, and thereupon to cause a purchase request to be transmitted to said vendor computer over said first network; wherein said at least one vendor computer is operatively disposed to analyze said purchase request to determine product and proximity information of said user; wherein said at least one vendor computer is operatively disposed, based upon said proximity information, to select from said product database a plurality of selected vendors, each of said vendors being proximate to said user; and wherein said at least one vendor computer is operatively disposed to transmit a message into said wireless network in order to provide said real-time notification of purchaser requirements to said plurality of selected vendors.