Automated on-line purchasing system

Abstract

An Internet-based purchasing system and associated method, including: (i) a remote terminal for use by a consumer; (ii) an on-line purchasing system, wherein the system further includes a system database in communication with the remote terminal for storing both consumer information and ticket and merchandise information; (iii) a user interface between the remote terminal and the on-line purchasing system for allowing the exchange of information and commands between the remote terminal and the on-line purchasing system; (iv) at least one source system in communication with the on-line purchasing system for allowing vendors of tickets or merchandise to sell items on-line, wherein the source system further includes a source database for storing current ticket and merchandise information; (v) a communication interface between the on-line purchasing system and the source system for allowing data exchange between the systems; (vi) software means for allowing the on-line purchasing system to monitor the source system for current ticket or merchandise information and communicate the information back to the on-line purchasing system; (vii) software means for allowing the on-line purchasing system to execute the purchase of tickets or merchandise from the source system based on the current information; and (viii) software means for allowing the source system to communicate with the remote terminal to indicate the completion of the purchase to the consumer.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . An Internet-based system for purchasing items on-line, comprising: 
 (a) a remote terminal for use by a consumer;    (b) an on-line purchasing system, wherein said system further comprises a system database in communication with said remote terminal for storing both consumer information and ticket and merchandise information;    (c) a user interface between said remote terminal and said on-line purchasing system for allowing the exchange of information and commands between said remote terminal and said on-line purchasing system;    (d) at least one source system in communication with said on-line purchasing system for allowing vendors of tickets or merchandise to sell items on-line, wherein said source system further comprises a source database for storing current ticket and merchandise information;    (e) a communication interface between said on-line purchasing system and said source system for allowing data exchange between said systems;    (f) software means for allowing said on-line purchasing system to monitor said source system for current ticket or merchandise information and communicate said information back to said on-line purchasing system;    (g) software means for allowing said on-line purchasing system to execute the purchase of tickets or merchandise from said source system based on said current information; and    (h) software means for allowing said source system to communicate with said remote terminal to indicate the completion of said purchase to said consumer.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising software means for allowing said on-line purchasing system and said source system to communicate with a financial institution for the purpose of completing a credit card transaction.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said software means for allowing said on-line purchasing system to monitor said source system for ticket or merchandise information and communicate said information back to said system database is a “BOT”.  
     
     
         4 . A method for executing consumer transactions using the Internet, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) using a remote terminal to access an on-line purchasing system, wherein said purchasing system further comprises a system database, and wherein said database further includes information concerning tickets and merchandise, and wherein said system database is in communication with at least one vendor source system, and wherein said source system further includes a source database containing current information concerning the purchase of tickets and merchandise;    (b) entering customer information into said on-line purchasing system from said remote terminal;    (c) selecting desired tickets or merchandise from said system database using said remote terminal;    (d) using software means within said on-line purchasing system to monitor said at least one source system for current information concerning the purchase of said tickets or merchandise;    (e) using software means within said on-line purchasing system to purchase said tickets or merchandise from said vendor source system based on said current information; and    (f) using software means within said vendor source system to send notification to said remote terminal indicating that a transaction has been completed.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of using software means within said systems to allow said on-line purchasing system and said source system to communicate with a financial institution for the purpose of completing a credit card transaction.