AU2013100155A4 - Computer-implemented, customer-initiated group purchase system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a computer-implemented group purchase system comprising a customer user interface for enabling the customer to interact therewith, a product database comprising a plurality of products, a request module for enabling the customer to request supplier(s) of a 5 selected product for a reduced group price, a communication module for receiving group deal(s) in response to the group price request wherein, a group deal comprises a group price for the product, a minimum number of product units of the selected product to be purchased, and the time frame within which, the minimum number of product units are to be purchased, a deal selection module for selecting one group deal and a deal publication module for displaying the 0 selected group deal. The selected group deal display comprises the minimum number of units and the time pertaining to the time frame displayed in a countdown format. RECEIVE THE REQUEST 110STR FOR GROUP PRICE} I RECEIVE AN INDICATION OF 100-1 A PRODUCT SELECTION THE GROUP DEAL YES LEAD TO THE SELECTED ALREADY EXIST FOR 0 PRODUCT'S GROUP THE SELECTED PURCHASE DEAL PRODUCT? 210 if RECEIVE THE PAYMENT COMMUNICATE THE -- TOWARDS THE GROUP PRICE REQUEST 120 SELECTED PRODUCT TO THE SUPPLIER(S) RECEIVE GROUP DEAL 130 180 FORM(S) IN RESPONSE 130 TRANSFER THE PAYMENT SELECT A GROUP TO THE INTERIM BANK DEAL FORM 140 ACCOUNT PUBLISH THE SELECTED PRODUCT GROUP 150 PURCHASE DEAL COMMUNICATE THE GROUP Is PURCHASE DEAL 160 NO THE GROUP PUBLICATION TO THE PURCHASE DEAL CUSTOMER SUCCESSFUL? TRANSFER THE PAYMENT 200 YES BACK TO THE CUSTOMER'S ACCOUNT TRANSFER THE PAYMENT 190 TO THE SELECTED END :SUPPLIER'S ACCOUNT

Description

Editorial Note 2013100155 There are 12 pages of Description COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED, CUSTOMER-INITIATED GROUP PURCHASE SYSTEM AND METHOD BACKGROUND The present invention relates to group purchase systems and methods, which enable customers to avail products (and services) at reduced prices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a customer-initiated or driven group purchase system and method, where a customer himself/herself helps in setting up a group purchase deal for a product (or service) of his/her choice. An online group purchase deal, where a sale item comprising either a product or a service is made possible to be availed by a customer at a greatly reduced price, is now a common feature in almost every e-commerce website. Group purchase deals are feasible due to the cost advantages that are associated with economies of scale. Generally, group purchase deals are conditional in nature, where customers are required to purchase a predetermined minimum number of product units within a limited time window. Added to the aforesaid conditions, the products that feature in the group purchase deals are chosen by suppliers, merchants, or administrators of the e-commerce websites, whereon the group purchase deals are hosted. Customers, generally, do not have a say in what product they want to see featured in those deals, even though the customers are the ones who actually pay to purchase the featured products.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a computer-implemented, customer-initiated group purchase system, where the customer is enabled to choose the product of his/her choice to be featured for group purchase deals. An e-commerce website is provided that includes various products (or services) wherein, a product is supplied by one or more suppliers (or merchants) registered therewith. A customer can simply select a product of his/her choice and send a request to the suppliers of the selected product to set up the selected product for a group purchase deal. Responses are received from suppliers in the form of filled out group deal forms wherein, a group deal form includes the reduced group price of the selected product, the minimum product units that are to be sold, and the time window within which, the minimum product units are to be sold so as to avail the selected product at the group price. The best group deal is chosen and published (or hosted) in the website and the customer or customers, who has requested for the selected product, are notified of the same so that, the customers may visit and avail the selected product at the group price within the time window. Other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the group purchase system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exemplary screenshot of a product page according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary group deal form according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exemplary screenshot of group purchase deal page according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the payment module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting the group purchasing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGURES - REFERENCE NUMERALS 10 ...... Group Purchase System 12 ...... Customer User Interface 14 ...... Computing Device 16 ...... The Internet 18 ...... Product Database 20 ...... Product Selection Module 22 ...... Product Page 24 ...... Product Title 26 ...... Product Image 28 ...... Product Price 30 ...... Product Description 32 ...... Request Module 34 ...... First Communication Module 36 ...... "Request Group Price" Button 38 ...... Group Deal Form 40 ...... "Group Price" Field 42 ...... "Minimum Product Units" Field 44 ...... "Time Frame" Field 46 ...... Second Communication Module 48 ...... Deal Selection Module 50 ...... Deal Publication Module 52 ...... "Group Purchase Deal" Webpage 54 ...... Group Price 56 ...... "Minimum Product Units" Countdown Panel 58 ...... "Time Left" Countdown Panel 60 ...... Payment Module 62 ...... Payment Interface 64 ...... Interim Module 66 ...... Final Module 68 ...... Interim Bank Account 70 ...... Supplier's Bank Account 72 ...... Customer's Bank Account DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense. The present invention comprises a computer-implemented, customer-initiated group purchase system and method for enabling customers to avail sale items at reduced prices based on cost advantages associated with economies of scale wherein, a sale item may comprise a product or a service. The group purchase system is basically a third party provider that brings together customers, who purchase sale items, and suppliers (or merchants), who supply the sale items. Referring to FIG. 1, the group purchase system 10 of the present invention comprises a customer user interface 12, which is a graphical user interface, for enabling a customer to interact therewith. More particularly, the customer user interface 12 is accessed via a website, which, in turn, is accessed via a computing device 14 over a wide area network - the Internet 16 wherein, a computing device may be in the form of a desktop PC, tablet PC, or a smartphone. In one embodiment, the customer user interface 12 is accessed via smartphone application instead of a website. The group purchase system further comprises a product database 18 comprising a plurality of product entries wherein, each product entry represents a product unit, or simply, a product (or service). Each product entry is associated with a plurality of product attributive entries comprising product title (or name), product type, product category, product image(s), product description, product brand (or make), product model, product retail price, product color(s), total number of stock, and the number of suppliers (or merchants) that supply the product. Referring to FIG. 1, the group purchase system 10 further comprises a product selection module 20 associated with the product database 18 for enabling a customer to select a product or two via the customer user interface 12. More particularly, the product selection module 20 may include a conventional search bar (or field) wherein a customer inputs keywords. The customer may browse through the resulting keyword results to zero-in on the product of his/her choice. The product selection module 20 may also include a product categorization system, where products are categorized based on hyperlinked product attributes including product type, product category, price range, brand, color, etc, whereby, a customer can narrow down on a product(s) by selecting (and de-selecting) product categories. Once a product is selected by the customer via the customer user interface 12 by selecting (clicking on) on the hyperlink thereof, the customer is lead to a product page pertaining to the selected product. An exemplary screenshot of a product page 22 is shown in FIG. 2. The product page 22 may comprise the attributes of the selected product including, product title 24, the product image(s) 26, product retail price 28, product description 30, the total stock of the product, and etc. Referring back to FIG. 1, the group purchase system further comprises a request module 32 associated with each product entry for enabling a customer to request for a reduced group price for the selected product. The request module 32 comprises a "Request Group Price" button (or link) 36 on product page 22. Once the "Request Group Price" button 36 is clicked, the customer request for group price (group price request) for the selected product is sent to the supplier(s) of the selected product as enabled by a first communication module 34, which, in one embodiment, comprises a typical email service. More particularly, the group price request is sent in the form of a group deal form (38, FIG. 3), which comprises a "Group Price" field 40 for inputting the group price of the selected product, "Minimum Product Units" field 42 for inputting the minimum number of product units that have to be purchased for the customer to avail the selected product at the group price, and a "Time Frame" field 44 for inputting the number of hours (or days) within which, the minimum number of products have to be purchased in order for the customer to avail the selected product at the group price. For example, a supplier might sell the selected product at a group price, which is 20% lesser than the retail price thereof, provided a minimum stock of 25 product units are cleared within 48 hours. Again referring to FIG. 1, the group purchase system 10 further comprises a second communication module 46 and a deal selection module 48, which are configured to be in communication with each other. The filled out group deal forms (38, FIG. 3) from the suppliers are sent to the deal selection module 48 as enabled by the second communication module 46 as a response to the group price request. In one embodiment, the first and second communication modules 34 and 46 are one and the same. Once the group deal forms reach the deal selection module 48, one group deal form is selected based on deal criteria. For example, the selection of a group deal form, and thereby the supplier thereof, is based on the sum of the group prices of the minimum number of products, while keeping the time frame constant. However, if there is only one supplier and therefore, only one group deal form is received, the received group deal form is selected by default. In one embodiment, a group deal form is manually selected by the administrator (hereinafter "admin") of the group purchase system 10. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a group deal form selected by the deal selection module 48 is communicated to a deal publication module 50 for publishing (or hosting) the same as a group purchase deal on the customer user interface 12. Once the group purchase deal is published, the customer (and fellow customers), who has requested for the group price are notified, for example, via an email. In case a group purchase deal of a product is already published prior to the customer unknowingly requesting for group price on the same product, he/she is lead to the group purchase deal webpage that features the requested product. A "Group Purchase Deal" webpage 52, whereon the group purchase deal is published comprises the selected product represented by the product image and product title 24 and 26 thereof. The group and retail prices 28 and 54 of the selected item are quoted or displayed along with the difference of the prices (not shown) thereof. In one embodiment, the difference in prices is shown in percentage value. The features of minimum number of product units to be purchased 56 and the time frame (or "time left") 58 are shown in a live countdown panel format so that, when a selected product unit is purchased by a customer within the time frame, the minimum number of product units 56 is deducted accordingly. Referring to FIG. 5, the group purchase system 10 further comprises a payment module 60, which in turn comprises a payment interface 62, an interim module 64, and a final module 66. The payment details, such as the credit or debit card details are received within data input fields within the payment interface 62. Once received, the interim module 64 ensures that the payment is tentatively transferred to an interim bank account 68 wherein, the interim bank account 68, in one embodiment, comprises the admin's bank account. The payment is held in the interim account 68 until the time frame for the group deal expires. If the minimum number of product units are sold out, then a final module 66 ensures that the payment is transferred from the interim account 68 to the selected supplier's bank account 70. However, if the demand for the minimum number product units is not met by fellow customers, the final module 66 ensures that the payment is transferred back into the customer's bank account 72. Once the group deal is success, i.e., if the minimum number of product units are sold, the same is communicated to the customer, preferably via a 'deal successful' email. The group purchase system further comprises a sharing module for enabling the customer to share his/her shopping experience with his/her contacts. More particularly, the sharing module comprises a hyperlink integrated with the email, which when selected to the customer, lands him in a login page, where the customer is prompted to enter the login details of a social networking site such as Facebook, Twitter, and the like. Once the customer is logged in, a message indicating the customer's purchase is shared with some or all of his/her contacts. Referring to FIG. 6, the computer-implemented group purchase method of the present invention is initiated with receiving an indication of a product selection by a customer via the customer user interface (step 100). Upon product selection, the customer is lead to a product page, which may comprise the attributes of the selected product including, product title, the product image(s), product retail price, product description, the total stock of the product, and etc. Along with the product details, a hyperlink "Request Group Price" is provided. When the customer selects (or clicks on) the "Request Group Price" hyperlink (step 110), the group price request is sent to the supplier(s) of the product (step 120). However, if the group price of the product is already listed, the customer is directed to the webpage whereon the product is featured with group price (step 210). Still referring to FIG. 6, the supplier(s) fill out a group deal form in response to group price request (step 130). A group deal form comprises a "Group Price" field for inputting the group price of the selected product, "Minimum Product Units" field for inputting the minimum number of product units that have to be purchased for the customer to avail the selected product at the group price, and a "Time Frame" field for inputting the number of hours (or days) within which, the minimum number of products have to be purchased in order for the customer to avail the selected product at the group price. Out of the group deal forms that are sent, one is selected based on deal criteria (step 140). For example, the selection of a group deal form, and thereby the supplier thereof, is based on the sum of the group prices of the minimum number of products, while keeping the time frame constant. However, if there is only one supplier and therefore, only one group deal form is received, the one group deal form is selected by default. Still referring to FIG. 6, the selected group deal form is published (step 150) and the customer(s), who has requested for group price, is notified (step 160) of the same, preferably via an email that includes a URL to the group purchase deal webpage whereon, the customer can avail the selected product. A "Group Purchase Deal" webpage, whereon the group purchase deal is published comprises the selected product represented by the product image and product title and thereof. The group and retail prices and of the selected item are quoted or displayed along with the difference of the prices (not shown) thereof. The features of minimum number of product units to be purchased and the time frame (or "time left") are shown in a live countdown format so that, when a selected product unit is purchased by a customer within the time frame, the minimum number of product units is deducted accordingly. Still referring to FIG. 6, upon purchase, the payment towards the product is received (step 170) and payment amount is tentatively transferred to an interim bank account (step 180), where the amount is held till the time frame (or window) expires. If the minimum product units are sold within the specified time frame (or, in other words, if the group purchase deal is successful), then amount is transferred from the interim account to the selected supplier's bank account (step 190). However, if the requirement of the purchase of minimum product units is not met within the time frame, the amount is transferred back to the customer's bank account (step 200). The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. For example, the strainer embodiment of the present invention can easily be adapted for other types of sinks, such as a bathroom sink. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the invention with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims.

Claims (5)

1. A computer-implemented, customer-initiated group purchase system comprising: (a) a customer user interface for enabling a customer to interact therewith, the customer user interface accessible through an electronic communication device over a wide area network; (b) a product database comprising a plurality of product entries wherein, a product entry represents a product, each product entry associated with a plurality of product attributive entries comprising product retail price, total stock, product brand or make, product model, and number of suppliers wherein, the product attributive entries in the aforesaid order represent the retail price of the product, the total stock of the product, the brand of the product, the model number or code of the product, and the number of suppliers that supply the product respectively; (c) a product selection module associated with the product database for enabling a customer to browse and select a product via the customer user interface, the product selection module comprising conventional search bar; (d) a request module for enabling the customer to request the supplier(s) of the selected product for a reduced group price via the customer user interface, the request module comprising a request hyperlink on a product page wherein, when the request hyperlink is selected, a request is sent to the supplier(s); (e) a first communication module for communicating the group price request to the supplier(s); (f) a second communication module for receiving group deal form(s) from the supplier(s) in response to the group price request, a group deal form comprising a group price for the product, minimum product units of the selected product to be purchased in order for the customer to avail the selected product at the group price, and the time frame within which, the minimum number of product units are to be purchased in order in order for the customer to avail the selected product at the group price; (g) a deal selection module for selecting one group deal form in case of the group deal(s) being more than one, the selected group deal pertaining to a selected supplier; and (h) a deal publication module for displaying the group purchase deal pertaining to the selected group deal form via the customer user interface, the selected group deal display comprising an image of the selected product accompanied by the group price thereof, the minimum number of product units to be purchased within the time frame, the minimum number of units and the time pertaining to the time frame displayed in a countdown format whereby, when a product is purchased by a customer within the time frame, the minimum number of units are deducted accordingly.

2. The group purchase system of claim 1 further comprising a payment module comprising: (a) a payment interface for receiving the payment details from the customer towards the payment of the selected product featured in the group purchase deal; (b) an interim module for transferring the payment amount to an interim account, the payment amount in the interim account kept in hold until the time frame expires; and (c) a final module for transferring the payment amount from the interim account to the selected supplier's bank account in case the group deal comes through; or transferring the payment amount from the interim account the customer's bank account in case the group deal does not come through.

3. The group purchase system of claim 1 further comprising a sharing module comprising: (a) a share post comprising the details of the group purchase deal including the product details, the retail and group prices thereof, and the detail of the customer having availed the group purchase deal, the share post automatically generated upon the purchase of the selected product in the group purchase deal; and (b) a share hyperlink leading to the login page of a social networking website; wherein, when the customer logs into the social networking website through share hyperlink, the share post is automatically shared with the contacts of the customer in the social network website.

4. A computer-implemented, customer-initiated group purchase method comprising: (a) providing a customer user interface for enabling a customer to interact therewith, the customer user interface accessible through an electronic communication device over a wide area network; (b) listing a plurality of product entries within a product database wherein, a product entry represents a product, each product entry associated with a plurality of product attributive entries comprising product retail price, total stock, product brand or make, product model, and number of suppliers wherein, the product attributive entries in the aforesaid order represent the retail price of the product, the total stock of the product, the brand of the product, the model number or code of the product, and the number of suppliers that supply the product respectively; (c) providing a product selection module associated with the product database for enabling a customer to browse and select a product via the customer user interface, the product selection module comprising conventional search bar; (d) providing a request module for enabling the customer to request the supplier(s) of the selected product for a reduced group price via the customer user interface, the request module comprising a request hyperlink on a product page wherein, when the request hyperlink is selected, a request is sent to the supplier(s); (e) communicating the group price request to the supplier(s); (f) receiving group deal form(s) from the supplier(s) in response to the group price request, a group deal form comprising a group price for the product, minimum product units of the selected product to be purchased in order for the customer to avail the selected product at the group price, and the time frame within which, the minimum number of product units are to be purchased in order in order for the customer to avail the selected product at the group price; (g) selecting one group deal form in case of the group deal(s) being more than one, the selected group deal pertaining to a selected supplier; and (h) displaying the group purchase deal pertaining to the selected group deal form via the customer user interface, the selected group deal display comprising an image of the selected product accompanied by the group price thereof, the minimum number of product units to be purchased within the time frame, the minimum number of units and the time pertaining to the time frame displayed in a countdown format whereby, when a product is purchased by a customer within the time frame, the minimum number of units are deducted accordingly.

5. The group purchase method of claim 4 further comprising: (a) receiving the payment details from the customer towards the payment of the selected product featured in the group purchase deal; (b) tentatively transferring the payment amount to an interim account, the payment amount in the interim account kept in hold until the time frame expires; and (c) transferring the payment amount from the interim account to the selected supplier's bank account in case the group deal comes through; or transferring the payment amount from the interim account the customer's bank account in case the group deal does not come through.