JP2002530782A - Universal shopping cart system - Google Patents

Abstract

  (57) [Summary] Multi-site shopping carts and collaborative sales systems provide two or more web sites that allow end users to participate in collaborative sales relationships that add value through the multi-site shopping cart. The present invention provides for online shoppers to select and purchase items through a network of unrelated merchant websites, starting from the lead website and without re-entering relevant information. To provide a parsing proxy server (PPS) and an application server (APS) located on computers distributed and arranged via a network. The PPS acts as an intermediary between the user and the merchant, either by parsing the page presented by the merchant to the customer, or by redirecting a Universal Resource Locator (URL) in the merchant page returned to the PPS. I do. The PPS can thus track, manage and monitor the customer's shopping interactions with the merchant. The PPS extracts relevant information by parsing the page through wrapper code that allows for customizing the interaction with each particular merchant. Alternatively, the PPS can be inserted into the page by the merchant and gather relevant information by performing a search for predefined tags. The PPS sends relevant information to the APS. The history of the multi-site shopping cart is built with the APS on the lead web site. The APS collects the customer's shopping cart information from the PPS, reconstructs this information into a shopping cart located on the lead web site, and displays it to the customer. When the customer decides to terminate the purchase, the APS will execute the purchase on various cooperating merchant sites, either in the completed form or through a software bot on the PPS. Customers use the multi-site shopping cart system on the Lead Web site to build wish lists for items, purchase and redeem universal gift certificates, build a pool of funds to purchase gifts, and Can build and post suggestion lists from partner sites.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to electronic commerce in a computer environment. More particularly, it relates to providing a single shopping cart solution among a number of merchants in a computer environment, and allowing each merchant to present its web site to customers.

2. Description of the Related Art One of the business relationship models prevailing on the Internet involves two or more web sites participating in electronic commerce. These relationships are commonly referred to as "inquiry (
Referrals "and" Superstores ".

Until recently, the only form of cooperation between web sites was inquiry. One site contains links to other sites in its pages. Sites reward each other based on the number and nature of referrals. One example of query usage is Yahoo, one of various search engines on the web.
When a customer searches for "Patagonia Clothing", Yahoo presents a page with a link to the Patagonia website. Patagonia pays Yahoo a fixed fee for each Surfer that Yahoo referred to Patagonia. When a customer purchases something from the Patagonia site, Patagonia
Pay a commission based on the sales scale to o.

In this model, authority and control are heavily biased towards merchants. The merchant determines the type of fee he or she wants to pay to the referrer or "affiliate".
The merchant also manages the end user's shopping history. End users typically move from one web site to another while creating a discontinuous history. The information left on the portal site is not passed on to the merchant, and the information left on the merchant site, for example, selection of a product in a shopping cart, exists only on the merchant's site.

[0005] In recent years, some portals, such as Excite and Yahoo, have guided models in the opposite direction from related parties. These portal sites are full-featured shopping destinations. These shopping sites correspond to a "superstore" model, where all products are available in one place under one retailer brand. When an order is placed, the portal site uses an online merchant to fulfill the order.

[0006] Administration and authority have shifted completely from merchants to portals. This shift benefits end users. End users can purchase items from different merchants using a single shopping cart at a superstore site. End users can also save information at the superstore site to avoid the inconvenience of re-filling the form each time they want to purchase from a new merchant.

[0007] However, this approach has drawbacks. Superstores are responsible for the display of merchant products and information, i.e., superstores must rebuild each merchant's website, or end users will have poor online shopping history. Must be provided.

[0008] A universal shopping cart that balances authority between portals and merchants and allows merchants to present their web site to end users without rebuilding the web site into a portal site.・ System (univers
It would be advantageous to provide an al shopping cart system. It would be further advantageous to provide a universal shopping cart system that presents a single shopping cart interface to end users.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a multi-site shopping cart system (Multi) in which a portal and a merchant can form a cooperative sales relationship via a computer network.
i-Site shopping cart system is provided. The present invention provides a system that presents a customer with a single shopping cart interface that allows the customer to purchase items from multiple different merchants at one location with a single mouse click.

In addition, the system allows the merchant to maintain control of the customer's shopping history by allowing the merchant access to the merchant's actual web site. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides two components. It is an application server (APS) that manages the contents of the multi-site cart and stores user information, and a passing proxy that acts as an intermediary between the user and the merchant when the user browses the merchant website.・ Server (PPS)
It is.

At the beginning of a user's shopping session, the APS presents a page with a link to a merchant website. These links are routed via PPS as follows. The user's browser requests a page from the PPS, which requests the page from the merchant site, processes the page, and presents it to the browser. The minimum level of processing by the PPS is to find links on the merchant's HTML page, modify all of these links, and route through the PPS. That is, when the user clicks a link on a page, all of the browser requests
It is sent to S.

If the merchant page contains information about the item selected by the user, P
The PS extracts this information and sends it to the APS using the HTTP protocol. If the page to be presented is a merchant's shopping cart page, the PPS will be APS
APS redirects the APS to a multi-site shopping cart page with the item just selected on the merchant site.

When the user is ready to make a purchase, the user can select a subset of his shopping cart. The user can then click the "Buy" button. The APS instructs the PPS to rebuild the shopping cart corresponding to the item selected at the merchant site and places an order using the user's billing and shipping information. This interaction can either simulate a click on the user's merchant site or use the merchant's own API, if available,
It is executed by a bot, a component of the PPS. Alternatively, the user can go to the merchant's website via the PPS and perform a manual checkout process performed by the merchant. In this case, P
The PS assists the user by filling out forms using the user's information.

The multi-site shopping cart system can also be applied to a number of innovative features that add value and functionality to the entire shopping history of the user. These features include wish list compilation, universal online gift certificate redemption, hosting and fulfilling group gift purchases, partner web
Includes a multi-site shopping cart system employed to compile and purchase items from the site's proposed list.

[0015] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is embodied in a universal shopping cart system in a computer environment. The system according to the present invention provides portals and merchants with a collaborative sales relationship via a computer network that allows the merchant to maintain control of the customer's shopping history. Further, the present invention provides a system that presents a single shopping cart interface to a customer that includes all participating merchants.

The present invention provides an online service that allows portals (destinations on a web with heavy traffic) and merchants to cooperate seamlessly in e-commerce and provide great added value to end users. The following description and figures do not treat portals and merchant websites as monolithic entities. These are treated as consisting of the following components: P-ref: Portal inquiry. Traditionally, portals display links to other sites. Assume that some parts of the portal continue to do this, even if the other part of the portal is a superstore. P-stf: Portal storefront. This is a new portal action where the portal offers a superstore. The customer indicates the type of item to be purchased, and the portal generates a list of merchants with that item, along with price and other information. The customer purchases goods from the portal, and the portal forwards the relevant information to the appropriate merchant. The customer does not see the pages provided by the merchant / web / server. M-stf: Merchant storefront. Merchant website. This is what customers see when they access the merchant's web site directly. In the new model according to the present invention, customers do not see this site. M-cat: merchant catalog. List of products sold by the merchant. Includes price and availability.
In conventional models, this catalog is seamlessly blended into the merchant's storefront. In the new model according to the invention, the catalog can also be accessed as a standalone data source. The portal superstore uses this data source to obtain related product information. M-ofl: Merchant order fulfillment. Ordering mechanism. This conventionally includes some sort of shopping cart, credit card processing and addressing. In the traditional model, order fulfillment is also seamlessly blended into the merchant storefront. In the new model according to the invention, order fulfillment is also used as a stand-alone service that can be used by other agents (such as Yahoo) to place orders.

Two types of prior art Internet business relationship models are described below: Query and Superstore. Inquiry Program Model Until recently, the only form of cooperation between web sites was inquiring. One site contains links to other sites in its pages. Sites reward each other based on the number and nature of referrals.

Described here is Yahoo, one of various search engine portals on the web.
Is an example of a query model related to. The customer enters the Yahoo portal and searches for “Patagonia Clothing”. Yahoo processes the request and presents a page containing a link to the Patagonia website. Patagonia pays Yahoo a fixed fee for each Surfer referred to it from Yahoo. When a customer purchases something from the Patagonia site, Patagonia pays Yahoo a commission based on sales volume.

In this model, authority and control are heavily biased towards merchants. Determine the type of commission that the merchant wants to pay to the referrer or “related party”. The merchant also manages the end user's shopping history. End users typically move from one web site to another to create a discontinuous history. The information left on the portal site is not passed on to the merchant, and the information left on the merchant site, for example, selection of a product in a shopping cart, exists only on the merchant's site. Also, if the end user purchases something at the merchant site, the end user's billing and shipping information is stored only at that same site.

FIG. 1 shows a typical form of an existing query relationship. Merchant 101 is related party 10
Sign up for other websites as # 2. Each affiliate 102 includes a link to merchant site 101 on its web site. The merchant 101 pays the related parties 102 based on the number of queries and the types of actions performed by the queried customer 103 while surfing the merchant site 101.

The interactions between the customer 103, the affiliate site 102, and the merchant site 101 are as follows: Customer 103 downloads page 104 from affiliate site 102. This page contains a hyperlink to the merchant site 101. 2. Customer 103 selects link 105 to merchant site 101. The corresponding page is downloaded 105 from the merchant site 101. The page includes a link to another page in the merchant site 101. 3. Customer 103 downloads one or more additional pages 106 from merchant site 101. The customer 103 can also purchase something from the merchant site 101.
A sales commission or fixed amount will be paid by the merchant to the affiliate every time an inquiry or sale is issued from the affiliate site 102. Inquiry Relationship Analysis End User Benefit: Customers have access to merchant stores. Customers are assured that they are buying from a trusted brand and website.

End User Disadvantages: End users typically move from one web site to another while creating a discontinuous history. The information left on the portal site is not passed on to the merchant, and the information left on the merchant, for example, selection of a product in a shopping cart, exists only on the merchant's site. This results in duplication of tasks performed by the user, such as refilling the cart with destination addresses, credit card information, and items previously selected for purchase.

In a simple query relationship, the two sites remain completely independent of each other. In the above example, once the customer starts receiving pages from the merchant / server, the associate does not play any further role in the customer's purchase or shopping history. Such a loss of control makes it impossible for related parties to keep track of various inquiries, and merchants need to do so. [Superstore Model] In recent years, some portals such as Exite and Yahoo have led the model in the opposite direction, focusing on the shopping experience of the user from the merchant site as the portal itself, or just as an associate in previous models. It has only moved to the entity that was acting. These portal sites will be full-featured shopping destinations, creating a shopping environment compatible with the "Superstore" model. In the superstore model, all products are available in one place. Portals, formerly "inquirers", do not actually refer customers to merchant sites. Instead, "inquirers" are superstores. This provides a point of sale where many merchandise products are available. The customer has access to the merchant's products, but the customer does not interact directly with the merchant's website. Instead, customers place orders at the portal site. When an order is received, the portal site fills the order using an online merchant.

In the superstore model, the balance between administration and authority has shifted completely from merchants to portals. This shift benefits end users. End users can purchase items from different merchants using a single shopping cart at a superstore site. End users can also save information at the superstore site to avoid the inconvenience of re-filling every purchase from a new merchant.

However, this approach has drawbacks. Superstores are responsible for the display of merchant products and information; that is, they must rebuild each merchant's website, and if this is not done correctly, poor online access to end users・ It will provide shopping history. There are several variations on superstore themes. Referring to FIG. 2, an example of Yahoo's superstore approach is shown. The following are the steps that occur during a typical transaction. 1. (This step need not necessarily occur.) The customer 201 enters the portal (Ya)
hoo) make some kind of inquiry to identify the item to buy in 2022
06. This can be an iterative process. Finally, the user 201 decides what he wants to buy. In our example, we assume the book "Gone with the wind". 2. The customer 201 requests 207 to visit a Yahoo storefront. The Yahoo 202 presents 207 the corresponding page. The customer 201 indicates an item that he / she wants to purchase. 3. Yahoo 202 consults the relevant merchant's catalog to determine price and availability 211,212,213. Access to merchant catalogs is generally Y
Based on a copy that is stored on the ahoo site 202 and updated regularly, the Commerce One Market site (Commerce One Market)
Large systems like Site) have real-time capabilities. 4. Yahoo 202 presents the page containing the relevant information to customer 201.
8. This page contains information about specific merchants 203, 204, 205 and their offerings, but all the links that customer 201 sees are links to Yahoo 202, and links to merchants 203, 204, 205 Absent. 5. The customer 201 selects a link 209 from which merchant 205 he wants to buy a book. Yahoo 202 indicates the corresponding page to execute order information capture 209. The customer 201 confirms 209 the purchase decision. 6. Yahoo 202 shows an order completion page 210. 7. The Yahoo 202 sends the minimum order fulfillment information 214 to the merchant 205. [Analysis of the superstore model] End-user benefits: Customers get the convenience of one-stop shopping. In addition, superstores generally provide a comprehensive list of possible merchants for a product, allowing customers to make thorough price comparisons. While customers can purchase items from different merchants using a single shopping cart, storing their information in a superstore eliminates the need to fill out a form for each merchant.

End User Disadvantage: Customers often lose the advantage of browsing merchants' stores where valuable information is displayed. For example, Amazon displays book suggestions in the book section to help customers select a more satisfying purchase. This added value is lost in the superstore model. The customer may also establish a relationship with the merchant based on certain services provided by the merchant, but this will not be transferred to the portal site. For example, because a customer likes the quality of after-sales service and knows that the shipping date of eToys is reliable, eToy
You may want to buy toys from s. This relationship is lost in the superstore model.

The superstore model is attractive for portals because it can manage data and the user's shopping history. The portal brand is utilized and strengthened through this relationship. Superstore models, on the other hand, are not attractive to merchants. The merchant eventually gets the user's data (to fulfill the order), but cannot affect the user's history and loses the opportunity to use and build his brand. In essence, merchants fall primarily into competing wholesalers in price, availability and delivery terms. Therefore, merchants may not like to enter into relationships based on the superstore model.

[0029] The lack of a standard for information formats further hinders the adoption of this model. Merchants and portals need to agree on a format for flowing product information in one direction and order information in the other direction. Since many such e-commerce systems are ad hoc, it is unlikely that there will be many standards. Yahoo has defined a data exchange standard and can impose this on merchants. Other portals and merchants do not have this type of influence. [New Model: Cooperative Sales] Embodiments of the present invention provide a new electronic trading relationship model of cooperative sales.
In this model, portals and merchants or merchants work together seamlessly,
Enhance end-user history and close e-commerce. This new model will be implemented using the Collaborative Sales Architecture (COSA).

In the collaborative sales model, a customer initiates a shopping history on a portal site, then navigates to one or more merchant sites, selects items to purchase on those sites, and selects items on the portal site. Make a final payment for everything. Two merchants can cooperate and cross-sell their products with actual purchases at one site. In addition, cross sales promotions can be inserted and spread from one site to another and included in the final purchase.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the collaborative sales model 301, one of the portals or merchants takes the leadership and “Lead Web Si
te) "302. Other merchants cooperate and say, "Coop Merch.
channels.) 303. The collaborative sales model 301 rebalances the rights between the parties towards the center, where merchants and portal sites share rights. As I mentioned before,
Query model 305 shifts authority to merchants while superstore model 3
04 shifts authority towards the portal in the opposite direction.

Referring to FIG. 4, the present invention consists of the following two sets of components: Application server 4 all connected to main database 404
05. 2. Each has its own data propagators, which are high-speed in-memory databases
Parsing Proxy Server (Parsing Proxy Se) Connected to Data Propagation Server 402
verts) 401.

The two sets of components exchange data over a network. [Application Server] The application server (APS) 405 is a read web site 40.
3 manages and stores user data while handling the user interface. When user 407 decides to shop at cooperating merchant website 406, APS 405 provides parsing proxy server 401 with the user's relevant information. On the other hand, the APS 405 previously stores merchant information such as shopping cart and product information and user contact information (destination address and the like) from the parsing proxy server 401, such as a pre-filled form. Receive both user information. [Pursing Proxy Server] The Purging Proxy Server (PPS) 401 is an HT to the user's merchant.
Handles all TP / HTTPS connections. It performs the following five functions: Submit a request to the merchant site as an intermediary for the user (by bypassing the link in DPS 402 and managing cookies). 2. Log user activity in log files, allowing statistics for multiple merchants. 3. Parse the script or HTML page and take the indicated action at the appropriate time (ie, redirect user 407 to read web site 403 when needed). 4. Pull information from the merchant page (ie, product description, shopping cart content, etc.) and push the information to the page returned to the user (ie, fill in form with email address, etc.). 5. Interact automatically with merchant website 406 to perform automated tasks, such as automatic login / signup or one-click checkout. This interaction may be performed by simulating a user click or by using the merchant's own API, if any.

The PPS 401 requests information from the APS 405 to fulfill its obligations and sends the relevant customer data back to the APS 405 when needed. To bridge the differences in merchant web site behavior and layout, each cooperating merchant web site is assigned a code called a "wrapper". This wrapper is for automatic interaction with the merchant (5) and
Responsible for data pull and data push functions (4) for details of 2, 3 and 4.

An alternative to the wrapper is to insert HTML comment tags within certain pages of the merchant site 406. These tags help the PPS 401 identify the information needed on the merchant page to rebuild the user's shopping cart at the lead web site 403. Tags also help PPS 401 locate merchant pages where customer information must be entered. [Data Propagation Server] The PPS 401 manages all data in a repository called a data propagation server (DPS) 402. DPS 402 handles all data, whether merchant-specific or user-specific.

The user-specific data is organized into meta-sessions, which are user sessions of the PPS 401 and are themselves subdivided into several merchant sessions, one for each merchant. One is visited by the user 407. Each merchant session includes a merchant shopping cart and the cookies and session information needed to request data from the merchant and continue to present the data to the merchant.

Referring to FIG. 5, an example of a COSA model is shown. The following steps occur in a typical transaction. 1. The user 502 moves to the read web site 503 and logs in if necessary. Application server 505 presents the HTML page that the user receives. 2. The user 502 selects the cooperating merchant store 501 and clicks on its link. The link created by the application server 505 passes through the PPS 506. The PPS 506 immediately sends information about this customer to the application server 50.
5 and save it in its DPS 506. The PPS 506 then sends this request to the target cooperating merchant server 501, receives the response, and parses it (in cooperation with DPS 506). The result of the parsing is sent back to the user's browser. All links are bypassed through PPS 506. All cookies are stored directly in the DPS 506 and are not returned directly to the user's browser. 3. User 502 surfs the merchant website and decides to add a product to his cart. The PPS 506 detects this behavior, parses the product data or shopping cart page (depending on the merchant website structure), and returns the data to the application server 505. The returned data contains all the information necessary to rebuild the cooperating merchant cart later, if needed. The PPS 506 then redirects the user 502 to a multi-site shopping cart page on the application server 505. 4. The application server 505 presents this page to the user 502 and returns it. User 502 can choose to continue shopping (step 2). Alternatively, one can: 4.1. Change the quantity of your universal cart. The application server 505 instructs the PPS 506 to change the corresponding item quantity of the cooperating merchant web server 501. 4.2. Email your Universal Cart to a friend. When the friend accepts the item sent by email, application server 505 causes PPS 506 to rebuild the shopping cart corresponding to cooperating merchant site 501. 4.3. Buy items in your cart or a subset of these items with one click checkout. Application server 505 is PP
In S506, one-click checkout is started, and the PPS automatically contacts the cooperating merchant web server 501 and checks out the shopping cart with the user's information. 4.4. Purchase items in your cart at "Manual Checkout". The application server 505 redirects the user to the cooperating merchant website via the PPS 506. PPS 506 receives the order form,
After filling in the user's data, it is sent to the user 502. The pre-filled form page is displayed to the user 502.

If the user 502 modifies information pre-filled in the form or adds new information (eg, a new destination address or a new credit card number), the PPS 5
06 sends this new information back to application server 505 for storage. The user 502 can later reuse it with the automatic form filling function. [Analysis of co-marketing model] End-user benefits: • Customers have access to all their preferred vendors and can go to the actual site to explore their stores. • Customers can be confident that they are buying from a merchant they trust. Customers can record all items of interest by storing them in a multi-site shopping cart. Customers can check out all desired items with one click from one place. There is no need to enter information into each cooperating merchant site that purchases, and the PPS software bot does it instead.

In addition to these advantages, the disadvantages of both the query and superstore models have been removed. The present invention provides a solution to a power imbalance between merchants and portals in both the query and superstore models. With the approach of the present invention, a new relationship can be created between the portal and the merchant, which can be described as a "cooperative sales" model.

In the cooperative selling model, the merchant is no longer treated as a merchant wholesaler to a more powerful portal, and the portal also does not completely lose access to users who pass to the merchant site. Because portals often have heavy traffic for reasons other than online shopping, commercialization (commoditizatio
It is often the merchants that are greatly affected as a result of n). For these merchants, the cooperative sales scenario is a much better situation than in a superstore model with a powerful portal such as Yahoo. [Additional Functions Allowed by Cooperative Sales Architecture] [Wish List] Referring to FIG. Merchant site (
"Cooperating merchants") 604, 605, 606 can be browsed to select a favorite item. Multi-site shopping cart is PPS601
Get product information from each merchant by passing through. And these items are APS60
9, and is stored in the read web site 603. The user does not return to the cooperating merchant sites 604, 605, 606,
By deleting items or changing their quantity in step 3, the wish list can be edited.

When satisfied with the selection, the user posts his list into a template and posts it on the web. And the place (url) of my wish list is set to friend 60
E-mail to 7,608. The user's friends 607, 608 open the e-mailed link to url on the lead web site 603 and view the friend's wish list. Alternatively, they can find the location by searching the wish list feature on the lead web site 603.

The friends 607 and 608 select an item to be purchased for the user, and
09 and a purchase transaction can be made on the lead web site via the PPS 601. The PPS 601 can order for them in one-click checkout mode or track purchases if they decide to go in manual checkout mode. The PPS 601 then reads the purchase information from the lead web
Pass to site 603. Reed Web Site 603 processes this information,
Purchased items are removed from the wish list displayed on the lead web site 603 or marked as purchased. [Suggestion List of Other Web Sites] Referring to FIG. 7, the suggestion list is a tool provided by APS 708 and PPS 701 so that the lead web site 704 can partner with other web sites. It is to be. The partner web site 702 provides a list of products they offer or recommend to users from cooperating merchants 705, 706, 707. Links to these products go through PPS 701 and the P
The product and order information can be relayed via the PS 701. The product can then be purchased on the lead web site 704 with a single click.

Web surfers 703 arriving at partner sites 702 see this suggestion list. They can select the product they are interested in from this list and click the "Buy" button to start the purchasing process. This action allows them to go to the lead web site 704, where they already have an account or sign up and log in if they are new to the site. The lead web site 704 stores the customer 703's credit card, billing and destination information. Using the PPS checkout bot 701, the customer 703
Buys selected products from the lead web site with one click.

In this case, the “author” of the partner web site 702 or suggestion list acts as an authority by offering the product to its end users. Proposal list authors need only insert the code into their site 702. Two methods, "manual" and "support", are used to construct the proposal list.

Using the manual method, the author finds the product url at the merchant site. Instead of using a url that links to a product at the merchant site, the author adds a prefix to this url so that the link goes through the PPS 701. In the support method, the author uses a multi-site shopping cart provided by the lead web site 704. The author is a cooperating merchant site 705, 706,
Browse 707 and select the item you want to put in your suggestion list.
The author can edit his list by deleting items or changing the quantity on the lead web site 704 without having to return to the cooperating merchant sites 705, 706, 707.

When satisfied with his choices, the author puts his list into a template and posts it to the partner web site 702. Universal Gift Certificate Referring to FIG. 8, a customer 803 can purchase an online gift certificate and send it to someone else. This universal gift certificate can be redeemed at cooperating merchant sites 805, 806, or a subset of these merchants, as determined by the gift certificate purchaser 803.

To purchase a universal gift certificate, the customer 803 selects the amount of the gift certificate and enters his credit card and billing address into the lead web site 804. Then, the lead web site 804 debits the purchaser's credit card by the amount selected for the gift certificate by the purchaser. The purchaser 803 sends a gift certificate to a friend 802 via an e-mail generated by the APS (part of the COSA system) 804. Then, the recipient 802 browses the cooperating merchant sites 805 and 806 permitted by the customer 803 using the multi-site shopping cart system, and selects an item to be purchased using the gift certificate.

At checkout, the recipient 802 can use the value of the gift certificate to pay for the item of his choice. Therefore, the PPS checkout bot 801
Uses a 804 credit card from the Reed Web site (or other payment method accepted by cooperating merchants) instead of using the customer's 803 credit card. If the purchase price is greater than the gift certificate, the lead web site 804 asks the gift certificate recipient 802 for the difference. If less, that amount can be used for another purchase. Group Gift Purchasing Referring again to FIG. 6, multiple people can pool their resources to purchase items to a common friend, a "group gift." One of the friends acts as "organizer" 602, and cooperating merchant site 6
Browsing 04, 605 and 606 to select a gift. Using a multi-site shopping cart enabled by the PPS 601 and APS 609 interactions, the organizer 602 can compose multiple items,
"Gift" can be selected, but this could be from several different merchants.

The host 602 can read his friends 607 and 608 on the lead web site 603.
Can be assigned a purchase burden level. For example, four friends can divide the total amount of the gift evenly, each paying a quarter of the amount. APS
609 sends e-mail to friends 607, 608, asking them to pay their share by coming to Reed Web Site 604 and entering their credit card information. When all the money has been collected, the lead web site 603
Send an email to to complete the purchase with the funds available to the organizer.

In the case of a co-purchase, such as an “office pool” environment, the organizer 602 can choose another option for friends 607, 608, where each friend has to pay each contribution personally. , That is, the burden amount is “open”. An e-mail is sent to friends 607 and 608 in the same manner as described above. Then, the friends 607 and 608 go to the lead web site 603 and pay their share. At this time, anyone can see and check the total amount paid. Alternatively, the organizer 602 can "blind" the burden, i.e., make everyone invisible or view only the burden. When a certain period has elapsed or the set amount has been reached, the lead web site 603 sends an e-mail to the organizer 602. Then
The organizer 602 completes the purchase of the selected gift, or purchases another gift using the available funds if the collected burden exceeds or is less than the cost of the originally selected gift.

While the invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other applications can be substituted for the description herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art query Internet business relationship model in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a prior art superstore internet business relationship model in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram relating to the balance of authority provided by the collaborative sales business model of the present invention according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating components of a collaborative sales architecture in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the relationship between a lead web site, a cooperating merchant, a customer, and a server of the present invention in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of participant interaction of the wish list and group purchase functions of the present invention according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of participant interaction with respect to the suggestion list function of the present invention according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the universal gift certificate function of the present invention according to the present invention.

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Claims (50)

[Claims] 1. A process for a multi-site shopping cart that provides a portal and merchant with a cooperative sales relationship over a computer network and enables the merchant to manage a customer's shopping history in a computer environment. Providing a parsing proxy server, wherein a portal or merchant can be designated as a lead web site, wherein the customer initiates shopping through the lead web site; A server receives a request for a merchant page from the customer via a link located on the lead web site, the proxy server forwards the request to an appropriate merchant, and the proxy server Receiving the page, the proxy server making the request The page before presenting it to the customer,
Redirecting the appropriate Universal Resource Locator (URL) of the requested page to the proxy server. 2. The proxy server uses a wrapper specific to the merchant, the wrapper recognizing a URL of a page presented by the merchant, and searching for relevant information on the requested page. The process of claim 1. 3. The wrapper of the proxy server receives customer information from an application server and places it on the requested page.
The process described in. 4. The proxy server has a URL of a page presented by a merchant.
The process of claim 1, wherein a tag inserted into a page's HTML template by a merchant is used to retrieve the relevant information of the requested page. 5. The process of claim 4, wherein said tag also indicates a script executed by said proxy server. 6. An application resident on said read web site.
Providing a server, the proxy server sending relevant information from the requested page to the application server, the application server collecting the relevant information, and
The process of claim 1, wherein building and displaying a shopping cart. 7. The proxy server receives customer information from the application server and places the requested page location indicated by a tag inserted by the merchant in an HTML template of the requested page. The process of claim 6, wherein customer information is placed. 8. The application server enables the customer to purchase an item in the multi-site shopping cart by clicking a single button, and the application server is configured to execute the software of the proxy server. Instructing the wear robot to rebuild each shopping cart to each merchant listed in the multi-site shopping cart, and using the customer information to check out procedures at the merchant site on behalf of the customer 7. The process according to claim 6, which simulates 9. The process of claim 1, wherein said proxy server manages cookies sent by merchant sites. 10. The process of claim 1, wherein the proxy server records the customer's shopping behavior in a database. 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the customer to build a wish list on the lead web site, wherein the customer browses the customer's favorite merchant site and is interested in the customer. Constructing the wish list by selecting an item and placing the item in the multi-site shopping cart at the site of the lead web site, wherein the customer does not need to return to another merchant site, 2. The wish list can be edited by deleting an item or changing a quantity on a lead web site.
The process described in. 12. The customer's friend looks at the wish list on the lead web site, and the friend selects an item that he wants to purchase for the customer through the multi-site shopping cart. The process described in. 13. The process of claim 12, wherein the purchases are tracked, and purchased items are automatically removed from the wish list. 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: author authoring a suggestion list for the partner site, said author placing said suggestion list in a template and posting it to a partner web site; Visits the suggestion list and selects from the suggestion list by clicking on a link a product of interest to the customer, thereby directing the customer to the merchant site through the proxy server, The process of claim 1, wherein items selected at a merchant site are added to the multi-site shopping cart at the lead web site. 15. The application server of the lead web site stores the customer's credit card and billing and shipping information and allows the customer to load the multi-site shopping cart with a single button click. 15. The process of claim 14, wherein the selection is made available for purchase. 16. The author of the suggestion list browses a merchant site, and the author may be interested in building a suggestion list using the multi-site shopping cart at the site of the lead web site. Selecting an item to have, the author can edit the suggestion list by deleting items or changing the quantity on the lead web site without having to return to another merchant site; 15. The process of claim 14, wherein the suggestion list can be posted to a site. 17. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of allowing a customer to purchase an online universal gift certificate at the site of the lead web site, wherein the customer selects an amount of the gift certificate and assigns the value to the universal gift certificate. Enter the credit card to be paid and billing information, the lead web site debits the customer's credit card and escrows the amount, allowing the customer to send an online universal gift certificate to the recipient, the universal The process of claim 1, wherein the gift certificate is redeemable at any of the cooperating merchant sites authorized by the customer. 18. The recipient may browse a merchant site authorized by the customer and select items to purchase using the multi-site shopping cart at a site of the lead web site. The process described in. 19. If the purchase price is greater than the universal gift certificate value, the lead web site asks the recipient for the difference, and if the purchase price is less than the universal gift certificate value, the corresponding credit is given to another universal gift certificate value. 19. The process of claim 18, making it available for purchase. 20. The method further comprising the step of allowing an organizer to browse merchant sites and select gifts to purchase by pooling resources, wherein the gifts are selected on the site of the lead web site. A multi-site shopping cart can be used to compose a plurality of items from a plurality of merchants, wherein the organizer assigns a purchase burden participation level to a set of participants at the site of the lead web site. 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the participant is emailed to the participant asking them to pay a share by coming to the site of the lead web site and entering their credit card information. 21. When the full amount is received, the lead web site sends an e-mail to the organizer, and the organizer completes the purchase with available funds.
0. Process according to 0. 22. The process of claim 21, wherein the organizer allows each participant to pay any amount by designating the purchase amount to be open. 23. The process of claim 22, wherein anyone can view and check the total amount paid. 24. The organizer makes the burden “blind” so that no one can see the burden of each person, or allows only the organizer to see the burden. 23. The process according to claim 22, wherein the process can be selected. 25. After a certain period of time has elapsed or the set amount has been reached, the lead web site sends an e-mail to the organizer, and the organizer completes the purchase of the selected gift, or 23. The process according to claim 22, wherein in the event of over- or under-burden, another gift is purchased using the available funds. 26. An apparatus for a multi-site shopping cart that provides a portal and a merchant with a cooperative sales relationship over a computer network and allows the merchant to manage a customer's shopping history in a computer environment. A portal or merchant can be designated as a lead web site, the customer starts shopping through the lead web site, and the proxy server is the lead web site. Receiving a merchant page request from the customer via a link located on the site, the proxy server forwarding the request to an appropriate merchant, the proxy server receiving the requested page, the proxy server Presents the requested page to the customer To,
A device for redirecting an appropriate Universal Resource Locator (URL) of the requested page to the proxy server. 27. The proxy server using a wrapper specific to the merchant, the wrapper recognizing a URL of a page presented by the merchant and searching the requested page for relevant information. The device according to claim 26. 28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the wrapper of the proxy server receives customer information from an application server and places it on the requested page. 29. The proxy server according to claim 26, wherein a UR of a page presented by the merchant is provided.
28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein a tag inserted by a merchant into an HTML template of the page to recognize L is used to retrieve relevant information of the requested page. 30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the tag also indicates a script executed by the proxy server. 31. The system further comprising an application server resident at the read web site, wherein the proxy server sends relevant information from the requested page to the application server, and wherein the application server comprises the application server. Gathering information, the multi-site
27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the apparatus builds and displays a shopping cart. 32. The proxy server receives customer information from the application server and places the customer information at the location of the requested page as indicated by a tag inserted by a merchant into an HTML template of the requested page. 32. The device of claim 31 for storing information. 33. The application server enables the customer to purchase an item in the multi-site shopping cart by clicking a single button, and the application server includes software of the proxy server. Instructing the wear robot to rebuild each shopping cart to each merchant listed in the multi-site shopping cart, and using the customer information to check out procedures at the merchant site on behalf of the customer 32. The apparatus of claim 31 simulating 34. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said proxy server manages cookies sent by merchant sites. 35. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the proxy server records the customer's shopping behavior in a database. 36. A module for enabling the customer to build a wish list on the site of the lead web site, wherein the customer browses the customer's favorite merchant site, Builds the wish list by selecting an item with and placing the item in the multi-site shopping cart at the site of the lead web site, without requiring the customer to return to another merchant site. 3. The wish list can be edited by deleting an item or changing a quantity on the lead web site.
7. The apparatus according to 6. 37. The customer's friend views the wish list on the lead web site, and the friend selects an item that he or she wants to purchase for the customer through the multi-site shopping cart. An apparatus according to claim 1. 38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the purchase is tracked and purchased items are automatically removed from the wish list. 39. A module for allowing an author to build a suggestion list for a partner site, the author placing the suggestion list in a template, posting it to a partner web site, A customer visiting a partner site sees the suggestion list and selects from the suggestion list by clicking on a link the product of interest to the customer, thereby bringing the customer to the merchant through the proxy server. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, directing to a site and adding items selected at a merchant site to the multi-site shopping cart at the lead web site. 40. The application server of the lead web site stores the customer's credit card and billing and shipping information and allows the customer to load the multi-site shopping cart with a single button click. 40. The device of claim 39, wherein the selection is made available for purchase. 41. The author of the suggestion list browses a merchant site and is of interest to the author to build a suggestion list using the multi-site shopping cart on the site of the lead web site. Selecting an item to have, the author can edit the suggestion list by deleting items or changing the quantity on the lead web site without having to return to another merchant site; 40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the suggestion list can be posted to a site. 42. A module for enabling a customer to purchase an online universal gift certificate at the site of the lead web site, wherein the customer selects the amount of the gift certificate and assigns a value to the universal gift certificate. Enter the credit card to pay and billing information, the lead web site debits the customer's credit card and escrows the amount so that the customer can send an online universal gift certificate to the recipient, 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the gift certificate is redeemable at any of the cooperating merchant sites authorized by the customer. 43. The recipient browses merchant sites authorized by the customer and selects items to purchase at the site of the lead web site using the multi-site shopping cart. An apparatus according to claim 1. 44. If the purchase price is greater than the universal gift voucher amount, the lead web site asks the recipient for the difference. 44. The device of claim 43, wherein the device is made available for purchase. 45. The system further comprises a module that allows an organizer to browse merchant sites and select gifts to purchase by pooling resources, wherein the gifts are at the site of the lead web site. A multi-site shopping cart can be used to compose a plurality of items from a plurality of merchants, wherein the organizer assigns a purchase burden participation level to a set of participants at the site of the lead web site. 44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein an e-mail is sent to the participant, asking them to pay a share by coming to the site of the lead web site and entering their credit card information. 46. When the full amount has been received, the lead web site sends an email to the organizer, and the organizer completes the purchase with available funds.
An apparatus according to claim 5. 47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the organizer allows each participant to pay any amount by designating the purchase amount to be open. 48. Apparatus according to claim 47, wherein anyone can view and check the total amount paid. 49. The organizer makes the burden “blind” so that no one can see the burden of each person, or allows only the organizer to see the burden. 48. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said device can be selected. 50. After a certain period of time has elapsed or the set amount has been reached, the lead web site sends an e-mail to the organizer, and the organizer completes the purchase of the selected gift or pays the participant. 49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein in the event of excess or shortage, another gift is purchased using the available funds.