Patent US6081789A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6081789A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated and independently accessible inventory information exchange system
Assignee: Cxt Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1999-01-08
•
Granted: 2000-06-27
•
Expires: 2019-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A method for exchanging information between providers and users of products and services in which an information management system is established that is computer based and has information processing and storage capabilities. The system also has electronic communication connections that permit buyers and sellers to electronically connect with the information management system for information exchange. Limited electronic access to the information management system is granted to approved sellers of products and services. After approval, each such seller is enabled to access inventory information of that seller for amendment purposes. Similarly, limited electronic access to the information management system is granted to approved buyers of products and services and are provided a searching capability to search a compilation of a plurality of seller's inventory information using criteria specified by that approved buyer. Last, a buyer's listing of products and services is compiled from the compilation of the seller's inventory information for that buyer based on that buyer's search criteria and in which duplicate inventory items are removed therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel S. Purcell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/087; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q10/0877; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0609; G06Q30/0623; G06Q30/0625; G06Q30/0641; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99937; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99942; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99948
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for exchanging information between providers and users of products and services, said method comprising the following steps: establishing an information management system, said information management system being computer based and having information processing and storage capabilities and electronic communication connections that permit buyers and sellers to electronically connect with said information management system for information exchange; granting limited electronic access to said information management system to approved sellers of products and services, each such seller, after approval, being enabled to access inventory information of that seller for amendment purposes; granting limited electronic access to said information management system to approved buyers of products and services and providing a searching capability to such an approved buyer to search a compilation of a plurality of seller's inventory information using criteria specified by that approved buyer; and compiling a buyer's listing of products and services from said compilation of said seller's inventory information for that buyer based on that buyer's search criteria and in which duplicate inventory items are removed therefrom.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for exchanging information between providers and users of products and services, said method comprising the following steps: establishing an information management system, said information management system being computer based and having information processing and storage capabilities and electronic communication connections that permit buyers and sellers to electronically connect with said information management system for information exchange; granting limited electronic access to said information management system to approved sellers of products and services, each such seller, after approval, being enabled to access inventory information of that seller for amendment purposes; granting limited electronic access to said information management system to approved buyers of products and services and providing a searching capability to such an approved buyer to search a compilation of a plurality of seller's inventory information using criteria specified by that approved buyer; and compiling a buyer's listing of products and services from said compilation of said seller's inventory information for that buyer based on that buyer's search criteria and in which duplicate inventory items are removed therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said sellers accesses said information management system remotely through an Internet access provider.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said buyers accesses said information management system remotely through an Internet access provider.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for exchanging information between providers and users of products and services, said method comprising the following steps: establishing an information management system, said information management system being computer based and having information processing and storage capabilities and electronic communication connections that permit buyers and sellers to electronically connect with said information management system for information exchange; granting limited electronic access to said information management system to approved sellers of products and services, each such seller, after approval, being enabled to access inventory information of that seller for amendment purposes; granting limited electronic access to said information management system to approved buyers of products and services and providing a searching capability to such an approved buyer to search a compilation of a plurality of seller's inventory information using criteria specified by that approved buyer; and compiling a buyer's listing of products and services from said compilation of said seller's inventory information for that buyer based on that buyer's search criteria and condensing said compiled buyer's listing so that multiple listings of similar products or services are reduced to single entries for brevity and simplification for the reviewing buyer.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for exchanging information between providers and users of products and services, said method comprising the following steps: establishing an information management system, said information management system being computer based and having information processing and storage capabilities and electronic communication connections that permit buyers and sellers to electronically connect with said information management system for information exchange; granting limited electronic access to said information management system to approved sellers of products and services, each such seller, after approval, being enabled to access inventory information of that seller for amendment purposes; granting limited electronic access to said information management system to approved buyers of products and services and providing a searching capability to such an approved buyer to search a compilation of a plurality of seller's inventory information using criteria specified by that approved buyer; and compiling a buyer's listing of products and services from said compilation of said seller's inventory information for that buyer based on that buyer's search criteria and condensing said compiled buyer's listing so that multiple listings of similar products or services are reduced to single entries for brevity and simplification for the reviewing buyer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said sellers accesses said information management system remotely through an Internet access provider.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said buyers accesses said information management system remotely through an Internet access provider.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for exchanging information between providers and users of products and services, said method comprising the following steps: establishing an information management system, said information management system being internet based and having information processing and storage capabilities and electronic access that permit buyers and sellers to electronically access said information management system for information exchange; granting electronic access to said information management system to buyers of products and services and providing a searching capability to such buyers to search a sellers' inventory information using criteria specified by the buyer; and compiling a buyer's listing of products and services from said sellers' inventory information for the buyer based on the buyer's search criteria and in which duplicate inventory items are removed therefrom.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for exchanging information between providers and users of products and services, said method comprising the following steps: establishing an information management system, said information management system being internet based and having information processing and storage capabilities and electronic access that permit buyers and sellers to electronically access said information management system for information exchange; granting electronic access to said information management system to buyers of products and services and providing a searching capability to such buyers to search a sellers' inventory information using criteria specified by the buyer; and compiling a buyer's listing of products and services from said sellers' inventory information for the buyer based on the buyer's search criteria and in which duplicate inventory items are removed therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the buyer undergoes an approval process prior to commencement of a buying transaction by the buyer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising limiting a buyer's electronic access to said information management system to reviewing the sellers' inventory information prior to authorization as an approved buyer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for exchanging information between providers and users of products and services, said method comprising the following steps: establishing an information management system, said information management system being internet based and having information processing and storage capabilities and electronic access that permit buyers and sellers to electronically access said information management system for information exchange; granting electronic access to said information management system to buyers of products and services and providing a searching capability to such buyers to search a sellers' inventory information using criteria specified by the buyer; and compiling a buyer's listing of products and services from said sellers' inventory information for the buyer based on the buyer's search criteria.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for exchanging information between providers and users of products and services, said method comprising the following steps: establishing an information management system, said information management system being internet based and having information processing and storage capabilities and electronic access that permit buyers and sellers to electronically access said information management system for information exchange; granting electronic access to said information management system to buyers of products and services and providing a searching capability to such buyers to search a sellers' inventory information using criteria specified by the buyer; and compiling a buyer's listing of products and services from said sellers' inventory information for the buyer based on the buyer's search criteria.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as recited in claim 10, further comprising removing duplicate inventory items from said sellers' inventory information prior to display to the buyer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4903201A
Cited
US4980826A
Cited
US5168446A
Cited
US5297031A
Cited
US5915209A
Cited
US5940807A
Cited
US6014643A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-27 | 2003-12-27 | 2004-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-27 | 2007-12-27 | 2008-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-27 | 2011-12-27 | 2012-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |