Patent ID: 7937296

Claim:
A system for product order entry, product order visibility, and product order processing in a communications network, the system comprising: a seller communications device configured to: receive a product order from a buyer communications device; and submit the product order via an electronic interface, wherein the submitting includes selecting one or more suppliers from a plurality of suppliers to fulfill the product order; and a supplier communications device configured to: receive the product order transmitted from an order entry and visibility system; receive order fulfillment information for the product order, indicating that at least a portion of the product order has been fulfilled; provide the order fulfillment information for the product order to the order entry and visibility system; and wherein the order entry and visibility system is configured to: receive the order fulfillment information for the product order from the supplier communications device; generate an invoice for the product order in response to receiving the order fulfillment information; provide the buyer with an opportunity to dispute the invoice for the product order; resolve disputes related to the invoice and the product order; and provide shipping status information for the product order.