Pooled transaction system

Abstract

A method of transacting sales over a computerized network defines a first product desired to be purchased by a first purchaser; correlates in a first database record the first product and the first purchaser; further correlates in respective ones of a plurality of first database records the first product and respective ones of a plurality of second purchasers; issues an offer to a vendor to purchase the first product at a first offer price in a quantity responsive to the plurality of first database records; and consummates a transaction between the vendor and the first and second purchasers. Prior to performing the step of issuing an offer there is further provided the step of calculating a first commitment price, in response to a rate of performing the step of further correlating. Alternatively, the first commitment price may be responsive to historical sales performance of the first product; a price trend of an article similar to the first article; or a price trend of the first article itself over a predetermined period of time. A second product desired to be purchased by a first purchaser is defined. An offer is then made to a vendor to purchase the second product at a second offer price in a quantity responsive to the plurality of second database records. A first consolidated report is issued in certain embodiments for presentation to the first purchaser in response to the first and second offer prices, and may include information from the first and second database records.

1 . A method of transacting sales over a computerized network, the method comprising the steps of: 
 defining a first product desired to be purchased by a first purchaser;    correlating in a first database record the first product and the first purchaser;    further correlating in respective ones of a plurality of first database records the first product and respective ones of a plurality of second purchasers;    issuing an offer to a vendor to purchase the first product at a first offer price in a quantity responsive to the plurality of first database records; and    consummating a transaction between the vendor and the first and second purchasers.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein prior to performing said step of issuing an offer there is further provided the step of calculating a first commitment price.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said step of calculating a first commitment price is responsive to a rate of performing said step of further correlating.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said step of calculating a first commitment price is responsive to historical sales performance of the first product.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said step of calculating a first commitment price is responsive to a price trend of an article similar to the first article.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said step of calculating a first commitment price is responsive to a price trend of the first article.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein there are further provided the steps of: 
 defining a second product desired to be purchased by a first purchaser; and    correlating in the second database record the second product and the first purchaser.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein there is further provided the step of further correlating in respective ones of a plurality of second database records the second product and respective ones of a plurality of third purchasers.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein there is further provided the step of issuing a further offer to a vendor to purchase the second product at a second offer price in a quantity responsive to the plurality of second database records.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein there is further provided the step of formulating a first consolidated report for presentation to the first purchaser responsive to the first and second offer prices.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein there is further provided the step of formulating a first consolidated report for presentation to the first purchaser responsive to the first and second database records.  
     
     
         12 . A method of transacting sales over a computerized network, the method comprising the steps of: 
 defining a first product desired to be purchased by a first purchaser;    enabling the first purchaser to search a product database for a pre-existing database record associated with a product having a relationship to the first product acceptable to the first purchaser;    correlating in a first database record the first product and the first purchaser;    further correlating in respective ones of a plurality of first database records the first product and respective ones of a plurality of second purchasers; and    enabling a vendor of products having a predetermined similarity to the first product to search the product database.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein there is further provided the step of consummating a transaction between the vendor and at least some of the first and second purchasers.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein, prior to performing said step of consummating a transaction there is provided the further step of consummating a transaction between at least one vendor for a quantity of the first product responsive to a predetermined portion of the total number of first database records.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein, prior to performing said step of consummating a transaction there is provided the further step of consummating a transaction between at least one vendor for a quantity of the first product responsive to the total number of first database records.  
     
     
         16 . A method of including a prospective purchaser in a pool in a computerized network transaction system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 defining pool parameters responsive to a purchase desired to be made by the purchaser;    active searching an active pools database for an active pool having a pool characteristic resembling the pool parameters;    active presenting a matching active pool discovered in response to said step of active searching to the prospective purchaser; and    active installing the prospective purchaser in the matching active pool in response to said step of active presenting.    
     
     
         17 . A method of including a prospective purchaser in a pool in a computerized network transaction system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 defining pool parameters responsive to a purchase desired to be made by the purchaser;    inactive searching an inactive pools database for an inactive pool having a pool characteristic resembling the pool parameters;    inactive presenting a first matching inactive pool discovered in response to said step of inactive searching; and    forming a new pool having new pool parameters similar to the first matching inactive pool.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein there is further provided the step of commitment price calculating a new pool commitment price.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein there are further provided the steps of: 
 obtaining a commitment by the purchaser to purchase a product defined by the new pool parameters at the new pool commitment price; and    installing the purchaser in the new pool.