Patent ID: 6876983

Claim:
A system for facilitating aggregate purchasing of products, in the form of designated goods or services, the system comprising: a plurality of user client devices for use by potential purchasers of said products; a plurality of supplier client devices for use by potential sellers of said products; and a database server system communicating with said plurality of user client devices and said plurality of supplier client devices; said database server system being designed and programmed: (a) to maintain a catalog of products, and to make said catalog available to potential purchasers via their respective client devices; (b) to enable potential purchasers to use their respective user client devices to become members of at least one purchasers group of potential purchasers of designated products by assuming an obligation to purchase a said product at a price no higher than a specified maximum price said specified maximum price is set by said system; (c) to formulate a bid request for a designated quantity of a designated product for purchase by said purchasers group at a price no higher than the specified maximum price only after said purchasing group has been finalized; (d) to present said bid request to a plurality of potential sellers via their respective supplier client devices; (e) to enable potential sellers to use their respective supplier client devices to tender offers regarding purchase conditions for the sale of the designated quantity of the designated product in the formulated bid request; (f) to determine the best selling conditions offered by said potential sellers; and (g) to make an award to the potential seller offering the best selling conditions for the sale of the designated quantity of the designated product.