Patent ID: 7243077

Claim:
A method for defining, implementing, and operating a plurality of trading networks, comprising the steps of: negotiating supplier offerings of commodities and services with each of a plurality of trading network suppliers on behalf of each of said plurality of trading networks; building in an electronic storage device for each of said plurality of trading networks a trading network entity, said trading network entity having supplier memberships of trading network suppliers providing offerings of said commodities and services to said trading network, with each said trading network supplier defined in a supplier member entity of said storage device with respect to attributes including start and end dates, sets of services and products offered to said trading network, and payment flow for trading network supplier offerings; said trading network entity linked to a plurality of customer membership entities, each said customer membership entity defining customer benefits, with customers providing higher volume commitments selectively receiving higher benefits, with each said customer defined in a customer membership entity of said storage device; said trading network offering at least one trading network package, each said trading network package defined in a trading network package entity of said storage device as a grouping selectively of contracts and catalogs that have been negotiated with a trading network supplier prior to receiving purchase requests from a customer by a trading network with a trading network supplier and to which a customer can request access; selectively defining each said trading network package as including a trading network value-add service offering offered by said trading network to said customers for a fee, a managed package, and an unmanaged package, said managed package being a package for which a customer provides a volume commitment and for which actual purchases are tracked against said commitment, and said unmanaged package being a package for which no volume commitment is required from said customer; managing trading network supplier and customer membership including ongoing benefit package development including committing levels of demand to trading network suppliers who commit corresponding price discount levels; and managing accounts for trading network value-add services rendered.