Patent ID: 8775255

Claim:
An internet-centric electronic transaction system for facilitating automated retail sale of products from vendors to customers via a network, the system comprising: a database having stored therein product data for a plurality of products and customer data, the product data comprising data electronically transmitted from a plurality of vendors of the plurality of products, the data corresponding to similar products for sale by more than one of the vendors, and the customer data comprising personal information about customers; a catalog builder for generating electronic catalogs having user-specific product offerings for the plurality of products, the catalog builder dynamically placing the user-specific product offerings in electronic catalogs, wherein the user-specific product offerings are selected based on at least in part the personal information; a communication interface for permitting customers to place purchase orders for one or more of the user-specific product offerings; a payment authorization processor for determining whether to accept the purchase orders for fulfillment based on at least in part information stored in the database; a distributor authorization processor for authorizing delivery of the one or more products according to the purchase orders provided the purchase orders deemed accepted by the payment authorization processor; and a customer service sub-system for sending automated messages to the one or more customers with information about the accepted purchase orders.