Patent ID: 7376599

Claim:
A network-based parts distribution system comprising: a plurality of buyer computers for operation by at least one of a plurality of system participants desiring to obtain one or more parts; a plurality of seller computers for operation by at least one of a plurality of system participants desiring to sell one or more parts; at least one server computer, wherein said buyer computers, said seller computers and said server computer are interconnected as a computer network, said server computer being programmed to receive part related data from said seller computers and use said data to maintain a database of all available parts and to receive part requests from said buyer computers, said at least one server computer is programmed to determine whether a part requested from a requesting computer of said buyer computers is available within said database, if said requested part is available, said server computer is programmed to select one or more parts from said database in response to said part request and send a message to said requesting buyer computer, if said requested part is unavailable, said server computer is programmed to end a selection process, wherein said parts in said database are sorted into a plurality of inventory categories, and wherein said parts in at least one of said inventory categories are further sorted into a plurality of sub-inventory categories based upon part condition; a master agreement that each of said system participants is required to sign to initiate their participation in the system, said master agreement controlling participation in the system and regulating terms of transactions made within the system; and said server computer configured to relay a purchase order consistent with said transaction aspects determined by said master agreement wherein each of said system participants is able to buy and sell parts.