Patent Application
20140297481
The present application relates broadly to the field of electronic commerce and, more specifically, to facilitating the pre-ordering of an offering (e.g., goods and services), via an automated transaction facility.
A potential buyer, when accessing an electronic commerce facility (e.g., an online auction facility, exchange or the like) may often be unwilling to conclude a transaction relating to current offerings (e.g., goods or services) provided via the electronic commerce facility for a number of reasons. For example, the potential buyer may be unable to locate an offering that satisfies the exact requirements of the potential buyer. The potential buyer may be unwilling or unable to establish a transaction under the terms and conditions of a current offering, but may be willing to conclude that the transaction if the terms and conditions of that offering are modified, or if an alternative offering having different terms and conditions becomes available via the electronic commerce facility.
In order to monitor an electronic commerce facility for modifications in the terms and conditions of an offering, or to locate an alternative offering that satisfies the requirements of potential buyer, the potential buyer may be required to continually monitor the electronic commerce facility. This continual monitoring of electronic commerce facility is inconvenient and time-consuming.
The above-identified problem is particularly prevalent in the person-to-person electronic commerce environment, where different instances of a specific item (e.g., a book or a compact disc) can vary dramatically in the sale price, condition, format, color etc. Further, the reputations of sellers in such person-to-person environments play an important part in the decision of a buyer to purchase a particular item from a particular seller.
According to a first aspect of the present application, there is provided a method to facilitate a transaction via a network-based transaction facility. For example, a pre-order relating to an item is recorded in a database. A plurality of offers to sell the item is received. A matching operation to detect a correspondence between the pre-order and the plurality of offers is automatically performed using processor-implemented logic. The pre-order is set to a reserve state in the database based on at least one offer of the plurality of offers matching the preorder, in which the reserve state reserves the at least one offer pending establishment of a transaction for the at least one offer.
According to a second aspect of the present application, there is provided a system to facilitate a transaction via a network-based transaction facility. For example, the system may include first means for recording a pre-order relating to an item in a database; second means for receiving a plurality of offers to sell the item; and third means for automatically performing a matching operation to detect a correspondence between the pre-order and the plurality of offers using processor-implemented logic. The pre-order is set to a reserve state in the database based on at least one offer of the plurality of offers matching the preorder, in which the reserve state reserves the at least one offer pending establishment of a transaction for the at least one offer.
According to a third aspect of the present application, there is provided a machine-readable medium storing a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method of facilitating a transaction via a network-based transaction facility as stated above.
Other features of the present application will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.
The present application is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
A method and system to facilitate pre-ordering via an electronic commerce facility, and automatically to facilitate the satisfying of a pre-order upon listing of an appropriate offer via the electronic commerce facility, are described. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present application. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present application may be practiced without these specific details.
Terminology
For the purposes of the present specification, the term “transaction” shall be taken to include any communications between two or more entities and shall be construed to include, but not be limited to, commercial transactions including fixed-price sale and purchase transactions, auctions and the like.
Architecture-Transaction Facility
The commerce facility 10 includes a number of types of front-end servers and back-end servers. The front-end servers include an e-mail server 12 that receives and transmits e-mail communications on behalf of the commerce facility 10. The e-mail server 12 may provide, inter alia, automated e-mail communications to users of the commerce facility 10.
The front-end servers further include a Web/application server 14 that includes the application and business logic modules. The Web/application server 14 may incorporate a number of modules of application logic that support various functions provided by the commerce facility 10.
The back-end servers include a back-end processing server 16, a credit card authorization server 18, and a database engine 20 including database logic 22 that accesses a collection of database tables 24.
The commerce facility 10 may interact with a client program 30, such as a browser (e.g., the Internet Explorer distributed by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond Wash.) that executes on a client machine 32 (e.g., a personal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, or other mobile device). The client machine 32 accesses the commerce facility 10 via a network such as, for example, the Internet 34. Other examples of networks that a client machine 32 may utilize to access the commerce facility 10 include a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless network (e.g., a cellular network), or a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
Database Structure and Application Logic
As illustrated, the database tables 24 may include an items table 26 that includes a record for each item (or offering) that is available for purchase via the commerce facility 10. To this end, each of the records within the items table 26 may include an item identifier, an item description, an item price, a seller identifier etc.
A pre-order table 28 includes a record for each pre-order for an item (or offering) that may become available via the commerce facility 10 under certain terms and conditions. A description of the fields that may be included within an exemplary embodiment of the pre-order table 28 are provided immediately below:
A pre-order log table 33 is utilize to track authorization to satisfy a pre-order utilizing an offering, as will be described in further detail below, once a match between a pre-order and an offering is detected. A description of the fields that may be included within an exemplary embodiment of a pre-order log table 33 is provided immediately below:
A pre-order event table 31 is utilized to track pre-order events. A description of the fields that may be included within an exemplary pre-order event table 31 is provided immediately below:
A pre-order state table 35 is utilized to track the respective states of pre-orders for which records exist within the pre-order table 28. A description of exemplary states is provided below. A description of the fields that may be included within a record of the pre-order state table 35 is provided immediately below:
The set_pre-order database procedure 42 is invoked by a front-end call with information supplied by a potential buyer, including login information, to create or update a pre-order within the pre-order table 28. Variables utilized by the procedure 42, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application, are listed immediately below:
The sell_now database procedure 44 is invoked by a front-end call with information supplied by a seller, including login information, to satisfy a pre-order within the pre-order table 28 with an offer received from the seller. Variables utilized by the procedure 44, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application, are listed immediately below:
The matching logic 46 operates in a manner to be described in further detail below to invoke the procedure 44 when a match is detected between a pre-order record within the pre-order table 28 and information regarding an offer from a potential seller via the commerce facility 10.
Methodology-Recording a Pre-Order for an Offering
At block 54 of
At block 58, the commerce facility 10 generates and communicates to the potential buyer one or more navigation user interfaces so as to allow the potential buyer to navigate a Web site operated by the commerce facility 10. In one embodiment, the navigation user interfaces may provide the potential buyer with the options of (1) navigating the Web site utilizing search keywords to identify offerings provided for sale by the commerce facility 10 and of (2) navigating the Web site utilizing category listings of offerings provided for sale via the commerce facility 10.
At block 60, the potential buyer actively utilizes the navigation user interfaces to navigate to a listing user interface that provides specific details regarding a particular item (or offering) that is available for purchase via the commerce facility 10. This navigation information is communicated back to the commerce facility 10 from the client machine 32 operated by the potential buyer.
At block 62, the commerce facility 10 generates a listing user interface 84 that provides offering attribute information that specifies the attributes of, and provides further details regarding, a particular item (or offering).
Returning to
At block 66, the commerce facility 10 then detects the selection of the pre-order indicia, and proceeds to generate and communicate a sequence of pre-order user interfaces to the client machine 32 accessed by the potential buyer. The pre-order user interfaces are designed to solicit from the potential buyer pre-order attribute information specifying the pre-order.
In one embodiment, a seller rating is automatically established by the commerce facility 10 based on a trading history of a seller. This automatic establishment of a seller rating may be performed based on metrics that are monitored and determined by the commerce facility 10 (e.g., a speed of delivery, quality of products, a number of transactions obligation defaults etc.). Alternatively, the seller rating may be based, at least in part, on input received by the commerce facility 10 from other users that have transacted with the relevant seller. For example, upon conclusion of the transaction with the seller, a buyer may be prompted to provide a rating on a specified scale. This rating may be an overall rating, or the user may be asked to rate the seller on each of a number of characteristics, attributes or criteria.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the pre-order attribute information may specify a number criteria that should be at a minimum satisfied or exceeded in order for the pre-order as a whole to be satisfied. The pre-order attribute information may furthermore specify other characteristics regarding the pre-order (e.g., expiration).
The fields 94, 96 and 98, in the exemplary embodiment, are populated from drop-down menus associated with these fields. The pre-order user interface 90 also displays item description information (e.g., an image of the item). Certain of the fields within the pre-order user interface 90 may also be pre-populated with default inputs in order to increase the user friendliness of the interface 90. For example, the expiration field 98 may be presented with a default input of “four weeks”.
Returning again to
At block 74, the commerce facility 10 proceeds to create (or update) a pre-order utilizing the received pre-order attribute information. More specifically, the pre-order logic 41 calls the set_pre-order database procedure 42 with the pre-order attribute information provided by the potential buyer, including appropriate login information. The set_pre-order database procedure 42 then executes to create an appropriate record within the pre-order table 28.
Methodology-Facilitating a Transaction by Detecting Correspondence Between a Pre-Order and an Offer
The method commences at block 122, with the generation and presentation of sales navigation and offering identification user interfaces.
At block 124, the seller then navigates the navigation user interfaces, and inputs an offering identifier (e.g., a UPC or ISBN code) into an offering identification user interface. At block 126, the offering identifier is received at the commerce facility 10. At block 128, the commerce facility 10 then generates and presents a condition and notes user interface to solicit, from the seller, offer attribute information that specifies an offer. For example, the offer attribute information may specify the terms and conditions of the offer, as well as provide a description of a product or service that is being offered and certain criteria pertaining to the offer.
At block 130 the seller then provides offer attribute information, in the form of offering condition and notes information, via the condition and notes user interface. The offering condition and notes information is then received at the commerce facility 10 at block 132.
At block 134 a determination is made by the commerce facility 10 whether a seller account has been established with the commerce facility 10. If not, at block 136, a series of account setup user interfaces are generated and presented to the seller.
At decision block 142, the matching logic 46 determines if any matching pre-orders are recorded within the pre-order table 28 for the offer being presented by the seller. It will be noted that this matching operation is performed prior to the offer being published by the commerce facility 10.
An exemplary query that may be issued by the matching logic 46 at decision block 142 to locate a pre-order within the pre-order table 28 that will be filled (or satisfied) by an offer from the seller is provided below:
It will be noted that the above query attempts to perform a match based on three criteria, namely an offering identifier (e.g., a product identifier such as UPC or an ISBN code, a minimum condition criteria, and a minimum seller rating. The product identifier information and the condition information for the offer are received at blocks 126 and 132 of the method 120 shown in
If matching pre-orders are located at decision block 142, the method 120 proceeds to block 144 shown in
It will be noted that the price user interface 214 also includes a price field 222 into which the seller may input price information, and also communicates comparative price information 224 to the seller. For example the comparative price information may include a recommended price (which is also inserted as a default price into the price field 222), a last sold price for the relevant item, an average listed price for similar items in a similar condition, a current highest price for similar items in a similar condition, a current lowest price for similar items in a similar condition, and a minimum listing price for the relevant item. The presentation of the comparative price information assists the seller in assessing whether the pre-order communicated in the pre-order box 216 is an attractive option, or alternatively helps the seller formulate a price to be inputted into the price field 222.
Moving on to block 146 of the method 120, the seller then inputs a price into the price field 222 of the price user interface 214 or alternatively selects the “sell now” indicia 220 within the price user interface 214.
At decision block 148, the commerce facility 10 makes a determination as to whether the seller has agreed to fill (or satisfy) the offer with the pre-order by selection, for example, of the “sell now” indicia 220, or has alternatively selected to list and publish the offer via the commerce facility 10. If it is determined at decision block 148 that the seller has selected to satisfy the order utilizing the pre-order, at block 150, the pre-order logic 41 invokes the above-described sell_now database procedure 44 to satisfy the pre-order. Specifically, the selected pre-order is set in a reserved state.
At block 152, the commerce facility 10 generates and presents a confirmation interface. An authorization of the credit card details of the buyer, who is the owner of the match pre-order, is performed at block 154. If it is determined that the credit card details are successfully authorized at decision block 156, at block 158 the pre-order is filled by the offer at block 158, and a “thank you” confirmation user interface is generated and presented at block 160. On the other hand, if the authorization of the credit cards details is determined to have failed at decision block 156, the pre-order is rejected at block 170.
Progressing now to
In one embodiment of the present application, where multiple matching pre-orders are located at decision block 142, only pre-order attribute information for the highest-priced pre-order will be displayed within the price user interface generated at block 144. In an alternative embodiment, only the oldest existing and active pre-order for which a match is detected will be included within the user interface generated at block 144. In yet a further alternative embodiment, a list of all active matched pre-orders may be displayed, so as enable the seller to choose between pre-orders to be filled by the order.
Upon conclusion of the method 120, the seller may be presented with a “thank you” user interface that provides shipping and confirmation information. Further, an email job may send emails to both the buyer and the seller confirming establishment of the transaction.
The method 120 described above seeks to fill a pre-order upon entry of an order by a seller, and prior to publication of the commerce facility 10. The method 120 automatically presents the seller, during an order specification process, with the option of filling the pre-order.
The provision of offer attribute information to the commerce facility 10 via user interfaces generated and presented by the commerce facility 10 is one way which the offer attribute information may communicated to the commerce facility 10. Another popular manner in which offer attribute information is presented to the commerce facility 10 is utilizing listing client programs that are executed on a client machine 32 to enable a seller to specify offer attribute information for multiple offers “offline” from the commerce facility 10. This offer attribute information is then download in a batch process from the client machine 32 to the commerce facility 10 via a network, such as the Internet 34. In this scenario it will be appreciated that it may be inconvenient to interrupt the batch process to provide pre-order information to the seller. Accordingly, in an alternative embodiment of the present application, a “batch filling” method may be employed to fill pre-orders utilizing orders that are specified in a batch form.
The method 240 commences at block 242 with a seller creating and communicating batch offers to the commerce facility 10 utilizing a bulk-listing seller toil (e.g., the Mister Lister seller tool provided by eBay, Inc.).
At decision block 244, the matching logic 46 determines, in the manner described above, whether any pre-orders match the offers in the batch. The matching operation performed at decision block 244 may differ from that performed at decision block 142 in that, at decision block 244, an exact match between offer attributes and pre-order attributes is required for a match to be detected. This is because, within the method 240, the seller is not presented with the option of filling a pre-order that does not exactly meet the offer attributes and criteria.
An exemplary query that may be issued by the matching logic 46 at decision block 244 to find a pre-order within the pre-order table 28 that will be filled (or satisfied) by an offer within a batch of offers from the seller is provided below:
If one or more active pre-orders that may be filled by offers within the batch are located decision block 244, at block 246 the matching pre-orders are set into a reserved state. If the order is confirmed at decision block 248 (e.g., after authorization of credit card details as described above), the establishment of the transaction is communicated to both the buyer and seller by the email job at block 252. Alternatively, if the order is not confirmed the relevant pre-orders are then reactivated at block 250.
Returning to decision block 244, in the event that no pre-orders are located that may be filled by the orders included within the batch, at block 254, the offers within the batch are then listed by the commerce facility 10.
In summary, the methods 120 and 240 differ with respect to a transaction facilitating operation that is performed upon detecting a pre-order that may potentially be filled by an offer. Specifically, within the method 120, a minimum overall correspondence between offer and pre-order attribute information is detected, and the seller is them prompted to either accept or reject a pre-order that may or may not deviate from the full set of attribute information for the relevant offer. Within the method 240, on the other hand, a high degree of correspondence between the offer and pre-order attribute information is required, as a transaction may summarily and automatically be establish upon the detection of a pre-order with a predetermined degree of correspondence (e.g., the pre-order may only be filled by the offer if there is an exact correspondence between all attribute information of the pre-order and the offer). In short, the present application contemplates that various degrees of correspondence may be utilized to detect a match between a pre-order and an offer, these varying degrees of correspondence including an exact correspondence, a correspondence below a maximum threshold, a correspondence above a minimum threshold, and a correspondence within a predetermined range. Further, the above-described attributes may be specifying at least one criterion, and the correspondence may be detected by determining whether that particular criterion is met, or exceeded.
Computer System
The computer system 300 includes a processor 302, a main memory 304 and a static memory 306, which communicate with each other via a bus 308. The computer system 300 may further include a video display unit 310 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 300 also includes an alphanumeric input device 312 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 314 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 316, a signal generation device 18 (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device 320
The disk drive unit 316 includes a machine-readable medium 324 on which is stored a set of instructions (i.e., software) 326 embodying any one, or all, of the methodologies described above. The software 326 is also shown to reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 304 and/or within the processor 302. The software 326 may further be transmitted or received via the network interface device 320. For the purposes of this specification, the term “machine-readable medium” shall be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing or encoding a sequence of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one of the methodologies of the present application. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to included, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic disks, and carrier wave signals.
Thus, a method and system to facilitate pre-ordering via an electronic commerce facility, and automatically to facilitate the satisfying of a pre-order upon listing of an appropriate offer via the electronic commerce facility, have been described. Although the present application has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the application. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/026,066, filed Feb. 11, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/920,573, filed Jul. 31, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13026066 | Feb 2011 | US |
| Child | 14229749 | US | |
| Parent | 09920573 | Jul 2001 | US |
| Child | 13026066 | US |
