System and method for allocating resources of a retailer among multiple wholesalers

Claim 1

A method comprising: (A) automatically obtaining, via operation of a first computer operated by an orderer for a retailer and electronically linked to further computers of remote warehouses, price information about each of a plurality of distinct items from the further computers of at least two of said warehouses, wherein each of said warehouses has available each of said items; (B) automatically evaluating, via said first computer, on an item-by-item basis, and based on a predetermined price-based criterion, said price information received from said further computers: (C) automatically selecting, via said first computer, and on an item-by-item basis, one of said at least two warehouses to deliver each of said items based on said evaluating step; and (D) transmitting, via said first computer, an order for each of said items to the further computer of the warehouse selected for the delivery of that item, wherein said step (C) further comprises determining an initial allocation of monetary resources as a result of said automatic selection, and wherein said warehouses comprise a primary warehouse and at least one secondary warehouse, further comprising the steps of determining whether a designated ordering criterion for said primary warehouse is met and, if said designated ordering criterion is not met, determining a revised allocation of monetary resources which meets said designated ordering criterion for said primary warehouse.

Claim 2

A method comprising: (A) automatically obtaining, via operation of a first computer operated by an orderer for a retailer and electronically linked to further computers of remote warehouses, price information about each of a plurality of distinct items from the further computers of at least two of said warehouses, wherein each of said warehouses has available each of said items; (B) automatically evaluating, via said first computer, on an item-by-item basis, and based on a predetermined price-based criterion, said price information received from said further computers: (C) automatically selecting, via said first computer, and on an item-by-item basis, one of said at least two warehouses to deliver each of said items based on said evaluating step; and (D) transmitting, via said first computer, an order for each of said items to the further computer of the warehouse selected for the delivery of that item, wherein said step (C) further comprises determining an initial allocation of monetary resources as a result of said automatic selection, and wherein said warehouses comprise a primary warehouse and at least one secondary warehouse, further comprising the steps of determining whether a designated ordering criterion for said primary warehouse is met and, if said designated ordering criterion is not met, determining a revised allocation of monetary resources which meets said designated ordering criterion for said primary warehouse.

Claim 3

A method wherein an orderer for a retailer operates a first computer which is electronically linked to further computers of remote warehouses including a primary warehouse and at least one secondary warehouse, wherein each of said warehouses has available each of a plurality of distinct items, said method comprising: (A) automatically obtaining price information about each of said items from said further computers; (B) automatically evaluating, via said first computer, based on a predetermined price-based criterion, and on an item-by-item basis, said price information received from said further computers; (C) automatically selecting, via said first computer, and on an item-by-item basis, one of said primary warehouse and said at least one secondary warehouse to deliver each of said items based on said evaluating step; and (D) transmitting an order for each of said items to the further computer containing price information about items offered by the warehouse selected for delivery of that item, wherein said step (B) includes creating a secondary warehouse comparison file listing only those items offered by a secondary warehouse at a cost which is preferred to that offered by said primary warehouse, and wherein said step (C) includes selecting a particular item to be searched, searching said secondary warehouse comparison file for said selected item, and ordering said selected item from a secondary warehouse only if said selected item is found in said secondary warehouse comparison file.

Claim 4

A method wherein an orderer for a retailer operates a first computer which is electronically linked to further computers of remote warehouses including a primary warehouse and at least one secondary warehouse, wherein each of said warehouses has available each of a plurality of distinct items, said method comprising: (A) automatically obtaining price information about each of said items from said further computers; (B) automatically evaluating, via said first computer, based on a predetermined price-based criterion, and on an item-by-item basis, said price information received from said further computers; (C) automatically selecting, via said first computer, and on an item-by-item basis, one of said primary warehouse and said at least one secondary warehouse to deliver each of said items based on said evaluating step; and (D) transmitting an order for each of said items to the further computer containing price information about items offered by the warehouse selected for delivery of that item, wherein said step (B) includes creating a secondary warehouse comparison file listing only those items offered by a secondary warehouse at a cost which is preferred to that offered by said primary warehouse, and wherein said step (C) includes selecting a particular item to be searched, searching said secondary warehouse comparison file for said selected item, and ordering said selected item from a secondary warehouse only if said selected item is found in said secondary warehouse comparison file.