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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A method of conducting a commercial transaction that includes a transfer
of digitally transferable goods from a provider to a shopper through a
globally accessible computer network, comprising:
providing in the globally accessible computer network a storage and
distribution region for storage of an inventory of digitally transferable
goods, the storage and distribution region including multiple provider
areas assigned to corresponding multiple remotely located providers for
storage of digitally transferable goods uploaded by the multiple remotely
located providers;
establishing common administrative control of uploading of digitally
transferable goods from any of the multiple remotely located providers to
the corresponding assigned provider area;
establishing in response to a request by any of the multiple remotely
located providers and in operative association with the common
administrative control a digitally transferable goods transfer
communication link within the globally accessible computer network, the
goods transfer communication link providing a pathway by which the
remotely located provider can upload a set of digitally transferable goods
to and store the set of digitally transferable goods in the corresponding
assigned provider area of the storage and distribution region;
establishing within the globally accessible computer network a network
connection to the storage and distribution system in response to a request
by a shopper for product information about a member item of the set of
digitally transferable goods uploaded by one or more of the multiple
remotely located providers;
causing in response to a purchase order made by the shopper a transfer of
an ordered member item of the set of digitally transferable goods by
downloading to the shopper the ordered member item by way of the globally
accessible computer network from the storage and distribution region; and
providing for the remotely located provider whose member item was ordered
and transferred an accounting record of the transfer of the ordered member
item.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing through the
globally accessible computer network a provider session during which the
remotely located provider, in cooperation with the common administrative
control, self-manages the provider's inventory by accessing the
corresponding assigned provider area of the storage and distribution
region to modify the stored set of digitally transferable goods.
3. The method of claim 2, in which the remotely located provider modifies
the stored set of digitally transferable goods by entering the
corresponding assigned provider area and uploading new digitally
transferable goods.
4. The method of claim 2, in which the remotely located provider modifies
the stored set of digitally transferable goods by entering the
corresponding assigned area to remove selected digitally transferable
goods.
5. The method of claim 1, in which the common administrative control of
uploading digitally transferable goods includes validation of each of the
multiple remotely located providers to restrict access to the
corresponding assigned provider area, the validation comprising for each
of the multiple remotely located providers:
establishing a provider account and assigning to the provider at least one
of provider account identification data and a provider password;
collecting from the provider at least one of an electronic mail address,
financial information, and identification information;
verifying at least one of the financial information and the identification
information; and
transmitting, to the electronic mail address collected from the provider,
at least one of the provider account identification data and the provider
password.
6. The method of claim 1, in which product marketing and sales information
pertaining to a remotely located provider is stored in the storage and
distribution region, and further comprising establishing through the
globally accessible computer network a provider session during which the
remotely located provider, in cooperation with the common administrative
control, accesses at least one of the marketing and sales information
pertaining to the set of digitally transferable goods of the remotely
located provider.
7. The method of claim 1, in which:
the product information about a member item of the set of digitally
transferable goods is stored on the globally accessible computer network
in a searchable database of product information of the products uploaded
by the remotely located providers; and
the request by a shopper for product information about a member item
enables the shopper to search the searchable database for the product
information.
8. The method of claim 1, in which the shopper has an electronic mail
address and the purchase order includes shopper financial information, and
further comprising in response to the purchase order made by the shopper:
verifying the shopper financial information;
generating at least one of purchase order identification data and a
purchase order password; and
confirming the purchase order by transferring at least one of the purchase
order identification data and the purchase order password to the
electronic mail address of the shopper and requiring shopper confirmation
of receipt thereof.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
logging at least one of the shopper electronic mail address, the shopper
financial information, and a date/time/network address corresponding to
the purchase order made by the shopper; and
storing as sales information at least one of the purchase order information
data, electronic mail address of the shopper, the date/time/network
address, and the shopper financial information.
10. The method of claim 1, in which the transfer of an ordered member item
by downloading the ordered member item to the shopper comprises:
establishing an order storage area in the storage and distribution region
for storing the ordered member item and from which the ordered member item
may be downloaded to the shopper;
transferring at least one of purchase order identification data and a
purchase order password to an electronic mail address of the shopper, at
least one of the purchase order identification data and purchase order
password being generated in response to the purchase order made by the
shopper;
requiring confirmation by the shopper of receipt of at least one of the
purchase order identification data and the purchase order password; and
placing the ordered member item in the order storage area.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising submission by the shopper of
at least one of the purchase order identification data and the purchase
order password to cause the transfer of the ordered member item.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising submission by the shopper of
at least one of the purchase order identification data and the purchase
order password to enable a return of the ordered member item.
13. A system for conducting a commercial transaction that includes a
transfer of digitally transferable goods from a provider to a shopper
through a globally accessible computer network, comprising:
a storage and distribution region provided in the globally accessible
computer network for storage of an inventory of digitally transferable
goods, the storage and distribution region including multiple provider
areas assigned to corresponding multiple remotely located providers, for
storage of digitally transferable goods uploaded by the multiple remotely
located providers;
an administrative control sub-system for establishing common administrative
control of uploading of digitally transferable goods from any of the
multiple remotely located providers to the corresponding assigned provider
area;
a digitally transferable goods transfer communication link, established
within the globally accessible computer network in response to a request
by any of the multiple remotely located providers and in operative
association with the administrative control sub-system, the goods transfer
communication link providing a pathway by which the remotely located
provider can upload a set of digitally transferable goods to and store the
set of digitally transferable goods in the corresponding assigned provider
area of the storage and distribution region;
a network connection to the storage and distribution system established
within the globally accessible computer network in response to a request
by a shopper for product information about a member item of the set of
digitally transferable goods uploaded by one or more of the multiple
remotely located providers;
a digitally transferable goods download communication link, established
within the globally accessible computer network in response to a purchase
order made by the shopper, for transferring an ordered member item of the
set of digitally transferable goods to the shopper from the storage and
distribution region; and
an accounting sub-system for providing for the remotely located provider
whose member item was ordered and transferred an accounting record of the
transfer of the ordered member item.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the administrative control sub-system
is programmed to enable the remotely located provider to establish,
through the globally accessible computer network, a provider session
during which the remotely located provider self-manages the provider's
inventory by accessing the corresponding assigned provider area of the
storage and distribution region to modify the stored set of digitally
transferable goods.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the administrative control sub-system
is programmed to enable the remotely located provider to modify the stored
set of digitally transferable goods by entering the corresponding assigned
provider area and uploading new digitally transferable goods.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the administrative control sub-system
is programmed to enable the remotely located provider to modify the stored
set of digitally transferable goods by entering the corresponding assigned
area to remove selected digitally transferable goods.
17. The system of claim 13, in which the administrative control sub-system
includes a provider validation sub-system for validating each of the
multiple remotely located providers to restrict access to the
corresponding assigned provider area, the provider validation subsystem
being programmed for:
establishing for each of the multiple remotely located providers a provider
account and assigning to the provider at least one of provider account
identification data and a provider password;
collecting from the provider at least one of an electronic mail address,
financial information, and identification information;
verifying at least one of the financial information and the identification
information; and
transmitting, to the electronic mail address collected from the provider,
at least one of the provider account identification data and the provider
password.
18. The system of claim 13, in which product marketing and sales
information pertaining to a remotely located provider is stored in the
storage and distribution region, and the administrative control sub-system
is programmed to enable the remotely located provider to access, during a
provider session established through the globally accessible computer
network and in cooperation with the common administrative control
sub-system, at least one of the marketing and sales information pertaining
to the set of digitally transferable goods of the remotely located
provider.
19. The system of claim 13, in which:
the product information about a member item of the set of digitally
transferable goods is stored on the globally accessible computer network
in a searchable database of product information of the products uploaded
by the remotely located providers; and
the administrative sub-system is programmed to enable, in response to a
request by a shopper for product information about a member item, the
shopper to search the searchable database for the product information.
20. The system of claim 13, in which the administrative control sub-system
includes a purchase order sub-system for receiving the purchase order, the
purchase order including at least one of a shopper electronic mail address
and shopper financial information, and the purchase order sub-system being
programmed for, in response to the purchase order made by the shopper:
verifying the shopper financial information;
generating at least one of purchase order identification data and a
purchase order password; and
confirming the purchase order by transferring at least one of the purchase
order identification data and the purchase order password to the
electronic mail address of the shopper and requiring shopper confirmation
of receipt thereof.
21. The system of claim 20, in which the purchase order sub-system is
further programmed for:
logging at least one of the shopper electronic mail address, the shopper
financial information, and a date/time/network address corresponding to
the purchase order made by the shopper; and
storing as sales information at least one of the purchase order information
data, electronic mail address of the shopper, the date/time/network
address, and the shopper financial information.
22. The system of claim 13, in which:
the storage and distribution region includes an order storage area,
established in response to the purchase order, for storing the ordered
member item and from which the ordered member item may be downloaded to
the shopper; and
the administrative control sub-system is programmed for
generating at least one of purchase order identification data and a
purchase order password in response to the purchase order,
transferring at least one of the purchase order identification data and the
purchase order password to an electronic mail address of the shopper,
requiring confirmation by the shopper of receipt of at least one of the
purchase order identification data and the purchase order password, and
placing the ordered member item in the order storage area.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the administrative control sub-system
is further programmed for receiving from the shopper at least one of the
purchase order identification data and the purchase order password to
cause the transfer of the ordered member item.
24. The system of claim 22, wherein the administrative control sub-system
is further programmed for receiving from the shopper at least one of the
purchase order identification data and the purchase order password to
enable a return of the ordered member item. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of the present invention relates to commerce by digital transfer.
In particular, apparatus and methods are described herein for inventory,
sale, and delivery of digitally transferable goods.
BACKGROUND
Commerce conducted electronically, over the world-wide computer network
known as the Internet, is a relatively recent phenomenon that has
nevertheless grown into an important segment of the economy. A shopper or
buyer with network access may find information for a product, and submit
an order request over the network. The vendor then ships the item, and the
buyer pays for the merchandise by standard means (credit card, check,
invoice, debit, etc.). The ability to shop for and buy products from any
location having network access, including one's home or place of business,
has and will continue to revolutionize commerce in the coming years.
However, at present, many systems for conducting such commerce are merely
marketing and order-taking systems, with product information available for
download by a shopper or buyer, means for a buyer to digitally transmit an
order request, possibly including a credit card number or other payment
authorization. Most goods must be delivered by more traditional means, and
inventory is independent of the order-taking system. In addition, buyers
and shoppers are usually restricted to view product information and
purchase goods from one vendor (or provider) of goods at a time. For
example, an Internet site at http://www1.viaweb.com/stores/ provides
access to a variety of providers of products. By entering the area of a
provider, the shopper has access to product information from that provider
only, and may only order products from that provider. The orders are
transmitted from the network site to the provider, who actually fills the
order and receives payment. A similar procedure is used at an Internet
site at http://www.amazon.com. Books and recorded music are marketed and
sold at this site, with the order being transmitted over the Internet, and
goods are shipped and payment received. At an Internet site at
http://www.ebay.com, items are offered for auction by the public, and
information about the item is available for viewing or download. Buyers
transmit bids over the Internet, and the system at the site administers
the bidding and determines the winning bid. The winning bidder and seller
are then put into direct contact to arrange for shipping and payment.
But even items potentially deliverable digitally (stocks, bonds, tickets,
reservation) are still delivered physically, perhaps with a receipt or
order confirmation delivered electronically. A network site at
http://www.discoverbrokerage.com allows submission of "buy" and "sell"
requests for stocks and mutual funds. The network site merely processes
the requests, but does not execute the trades. Several airlines offer
electronic tickets over the Internet (i.e., e-tickets). Once again, only
the order and payment are handled by digital transfer over the network. A
receipt may be provided electronically, but the goods (in this case, a
boarding pass) must still be obtained in person at the airport.
In none of these network sites is there on-site storage of digitally
transferable inventory of goods for immediate delivery of purchased goods
over the network. In many of these systems the providers must perform
their own marketing, collect their own funds, store their own inventory,
and manage access to their network-based information.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide apparatus and methods for commerce by
digital transfer providing shopper access to products from a plurality of
providers simultaneously. It is desirable to provide apparatus and methods
for commerce by digital transfer allowing purchase of goods from a
plurality of providers in a single order. It is desirable to provide
apparatus and methods for commerce by digital transfer which allow
providers to immediately upload and store, and/or modify previously
stored, digitally transferable goods and product information pertaining
thereto, and to receive detailed marketing and sales information. It is
desirable to provide apparatus and methods for commerce by digital
transfer in which marketing, collections, inventory storage, and access
management for a plurality of providers may be handled by a single system.
It is desirable to provide apparatus and methods for commerce by digital
transfer which allow a buyer to immediately download purchased goods.
SUMMARY
Certain aspects of the present invention may overcome one or more
aforementioned drawbacks of the previous art and/or advance the
state-of-the-art of apparatus and methods for commerce by digital
transfer, and in addition may meet one or more of the following objects:
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein goods from a plurality of providers
are available from a storage and distribution means;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein a provider may establish a provider
account and may upload and/or modify goods and product information to the
storage and distribution means;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein provider access to the storage and
distribution means is provided by a network connection;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein a provider account is verified and
access thereto is restricted by provider account identification data
and/or a provider password, and the provider account identification data
and/or provider password may be transmitted to a provider electronic mail
address;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein provider activity is logged;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein a provider may access logged
marketing and/or sales information;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein a network connection to the storage
and distribution means provides shopper access to product information;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein the product information is stored in
the storage and distribution means in a searchable format, and a shopper
may simultaneously search the product information of a plurality of
providers;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein shopper identification and/or search
information is logged as marketing information;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein a network connection to the storage
and distribution means allows a buyer to upload order information;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein the buyer may purchase goods from a
plurality of providers in a single order;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein order identification information
and/or an order password are sent to a buyer electronic mail address, and
are required for buyer confirmation of the order;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein buyer identification and/or financial
information are verified prior to delivery of the purchased goods;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein a network connection to the storage
and distribution means allows a buyer to download the purchased goods;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein the purchased goods are placed in an
order location, and the order identification information and/or the order
password are required for the buyer to download the purchased goods;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein buyer identification and/or purchase
information is logged as sales information;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein a buyer may return previously
purchased goods;
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein the provider upload of goods and/or
product information, shopper search and download of product information,
buyer upload of order information, and/or buyer download of goods may be
performed in a single temporally continuous session, or in a plurality of
temporally discontinuous sessions; and
To provide apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of
digitally transferable goods wherein one or more of the foregoing
procedures may be automated.
One or more of the foregoing objects may be achieved in the present
invention by an apparatus comprising: a) a storage and distribution means;
b) an inventory upload means; c) a product information download means; d)
an order upload means; and e) a delivery download means. One or more of
the foregoing objects may be achieved in the present invention by a method
comprising the steps of: (a) digitally transferring the goods and product
information pertaining thereto from a provider of the goods to a storage
and distribution means; (b) storing the goods, product information
pertaining thereto, order information, and possibly sales information and
marketing information on the storage and distribution means; (c) digitally
transferring the product information to a shopper; (d) digitally
transferring order information from a buyer of the goods to the storage
and distribution means; and (e) digitally transferring the goods to the
buyer. The storage and distribution means may be used to store digitally
transferable goods, product information pertaining thereto, marketing
information, and sales information. The storage and distribution means may
be provided with one or more network connections, thereby allowing access
by providers, shoppers, and buyers. A provider may establish a provider
account, thereby allowing the provider access to the storage and
distribution means to: a) upload and/or modify goods and/or product
information; and/or b) access to marketing and/or sales information
pertaining to goods of the provider. Goods and product information from a
plurality of providers may be stored, preferably in a searchable form. The
product information from a plurality of providers may be searched
simultaneously by a shopper, and goods from a plurality of providers may
be ordered by and delivered to a buyer in a single order.
Identification and validation are required for both providers and buyers.
Upon establishing a provider account, a provider must supply
identification and/or financial information, preferably including an
electronic mail address. After verification of the information provided,
provider account identification data and/or a provider password may be
sent to the provider electronic mail address, and may be required for
subsequent access to the provider account. In this way the electronic mail
address of the provider is also verified. Similarly, upon placing an order
a buyer must supply identification and/or financial information,
preferably including an electronic mail address. Order identification data
and/or an order password may be sent to the buyer electronic mail address
for confirmation. Order confirmation and/or verification of the financial
information is provided, and the purchased goods are placed in an order
storage area. The order identification information and/or order password
may be required for subsequent buyer access to the order storage area and
download of the purchased goods by the buyer. In this way the electronic
mail address of the buyer may be verified. The order identification data
and/or order password may be required for later return of goods by the
buyer.
Identification data may be logged for all providers, shoppers, and buyers
that access the storage and distribution means. These identification data
may include name, physical mail address, electronic mail address, and/or
date/time/network address. Search information for shoppers may be logged
as marketing information, and order information for buyers may be logged
as sales information. Provider, shopper, and/or buyer identification data
may be used by an administrator of the apparatus to track usage and to
detect and/or prevent fraudulent access to the goods, product information,
marketing information, and/or sales information. The marketing and/or
sales information may be stored for later access by the provider of the
goods and/or product information searched, requested, downloaded, and/or
ordered, thereby allowing the provider to track interest in and demand for
goods and product information. The marketing and sales information may be
stored for later access by the buyer of the goods and/or product
information searched, requested, downloaded, and/or ordered, thereby
allowing the buyer to track searches and purchases. The sales and/or
marketing information may be stored for later access by the system
administrator.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention may become
apparent upon referring to the preferred and alternative embodiments of
the present invention as illustrated in the drawings and described in the
following written description and/or claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for inventory, sale, and
delivery of digitally transferable goods according to the present
invention.
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an inventory upload means according to the
present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a product information download means
according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows block diagram of an order upload means according to the
present invention.
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a delivery download means according to the
present invention.
FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a provider validation procedure according to
the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram of an inventory upload procedure according to
the present invention.
FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram of a product information download procedure, an
order upload procedure, and a delivery download procedure according to the
present invention.
FIG. 9 shows flow diagram of overall flow of goods, product information,
and payments according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an exemplary product information database
according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of an exemplary sales information database
according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 shows a flow diagram of product, marketing, and sales information
database queries according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS
For purposes of the present written description and/or claims, "digitally
transferable goods" shall denote any objects or data which may be
digitally encoded and transferred electronically. These may include, but
are not limited to, computer files, computer programs, executable code,
object code, source code, data, databases, images, music, sounds, 3D
models, software, text, books, sheet music, video, film, tickets (travel,
transportation, lodging, sports, entertainment, etc.), reservations
(travel, transportation, lodging, sports, entertainment, etc.), currency,
stocks, financial and/or investment instruments, services, combinations
thereof, and/or functional equivalents thereof. Sale of such digitally
transferable goods may encompass sale and transfer of a sole extant copy
of the digitally transferable material, but may also be construed as sale
of a license to use the goods. Different license terms for the same item
may be offered by a provider at differing prices. It is also intended that
"provider", "shopper", and "buyer" may refer to a plurality of each, and
the apparatus and methods disclosed herein may be accessed and/or utilized
by multiple providers, shoppers, and/or buyers simultaneously.
Alternatively stated, the apparatus and methods disclosed herein may
support a plurality of simultaneous provider, shopper, and/or user
"sessions". A single provider, shopper, and/or buyer may establish a
plurality of concurrent sessions of access and/or use of the system, and a
single entity may establish concurrent sessions of different types (for
example, concurrent provider and buyer sessions).
For purposes of the present written description and/or claims, any of the
terms "storage and distribution means", "inventory upload means", "product
information download means", "order upload means", "delivery download
means", and any other "means" described herein shall denote any apparatus,
hardware, software, and/or combination thereof capable of performing the
specified functions, including but not limited to one or more computers,
servers, server software, browser software, user interface hardware and/or
software, terminals, networked devices, the Internet, the World Wide Web,
an intranet, an extranet, modems, memory units, storage devices,
distributed computing resources, integrated circuits, ASICs, functional
equivalents thereof, and/or combinations thereof. For purposes of the
present written description and/or claims, any medium suitable for storage
of digitally encoded information, or any combination of or functional
equivalent of such media, may be utilized for any of the various storage
functions described herein. For purposes of the present written
description and/or claims, the term "network connection" shall encompass
any apparatus, hardware, software, and/or combination thereof capable of
providing any of the various connections described herein, including but
not limited to an Internet connection, an Internet service provider (ISP),
browser software, user interface hardware and/or software, a modem
hook-up, a cable, a phone line, a satellite link, a wireless link, a
microwave link, television, a BBS system, a local area network, a wide
area network, an intranet, an extranet, direct linkage of a plurality of
computers, connections between devices within a single computer, terminal
connections, program instructions, multiple user accounts on a single
computer, multiple storage areas on a single computer, combinations
thereof, functional equivalents thereof, and future systems and protocols
for performing analogous functions. Similarly, the term "electronic mail"
shall denote the currently standard manner of transmitting and receiving
text, data, and other digitally encoded material over a computer network,
but shall also be construed to encompass future systems and protocols for
performing these and/or analogous functions.
For purposes of the present written description and/or claims,
"date/time/network address" shall denote the combination of date, time,
and network address (IP address, for example) of any particular session of
provider, shopper, or buyer interaction with the apparatus and/or methods
described herein. The terms "product information", "sales information",
and "marketing information" shall include, but are not limited to, one or
more of items listed in the exemplary database structures shown in the
block diagrams of FIGS. 10 and 11.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the major components of an apparatus for
inventory, sale, and delivery of digitally transferable goods according to
the present invention, which may be alternatively designated an inventory,
sales, and delivery system, or simply "system". A storage and distribution
means 100 is shown connected to inventory upload means 200, product
information download means 300, order upload means 400, and delivery
download means 500, shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 through 5,
respectively. Storage and distribution means 100 may preferably comprise
at least one network server computer connected to network, such as the
Internet. Network connections to inventory upload means 200, product
information download means 300, order upload means 400, and delivery
download means 500 may comprise hardware and/or software, including user
interface hardware and/or software, for allowing access to the server by
providers, shoppers, and/or buyers over the network using network browser
software or other network access hardware and/or so | | |
