Patent ID: 8527366

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of multi-user item configuration based on validation rules, the method comprising: receiving a selection, by a primary user, of an item that the primary user desires to be configured prior to at least one of: (i) the primary user specifying to purchase the configured item and (ii) the primary user specifying the configured item as being available for at least one other user to purchase, wherein the item is selected from a product and a service; receiving an indication of one or more configurable parameters of the selected item; receiving one or more validation rules specifying valid configurations of the selected item; receiving a selection, by the primary user, of a plurality of secondary users from a personal network of the primary user, to participate in configuring the selected item, wherein the personal network is, at least in part, provided by at least one of a social networking application, a blogging application, and a personal information manager, wherein each secondary user in the plurality of secondary users has a respective, distinct role of a plurality of roles, the plurality of rules including a first role defined by the primary user and a second role defined by an administrative user different from the primary user; requesting at least one secondary user of the plurality of secondary users to provide input pertaining to the one or more configurable parameters of the selected item; and programmatically determining one or more configurations for the selected item, by operation of one or more computer processors and based on the received one or more validation rules and the input provided by the at least one secondary user responsive to the request.