Patent ID: 7054880
Filing Date: 2006-05-30
Classification: G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for creating an electronic marketplace, comprising: receiving from a first client a first request to create an electronic marketplace; receiving information about a product associated with the electronic marketplace, the information comprising at least one of first product information, a first reference to second product information in a repository, and a second reference to third product information at a remote location; creating a configuration file associated with the electronic marketplace; creating a marketplace metacatalog using a template; storing the first product information in the marketplace metacatalog if the information about the product includes the first product information; storing the first reference to the second product information in the marketplace metacatalog if the information about the product includes the first reference; creating a catalog binder, storing the second reference to the third product information in the catalog binder, and storing a third reference to the catalog binder in the marketplace metacatalog if the information about the product includes the second reference; storing a location of the marketplace metacatalog and any catalog binder in the configuration file; identifying a participant interested in the product using a participant profile associated with the participant; communicating an invitation to a second client associated with the interested participant; receiving from the second client a second request to access the electronic marketplace; retrieving the location of the marketplace metacatalog and the location of any catalog binder associated with the electronic marketplace using the configuration file; facilitating completion of a transaction involving the second client using the marketplace metacatalog and any catalog binder; and retiring the electronic marketplace after occurrence of a defined event.