WO2002037306A2 - Commodities exchange market and information system - Google Patents

Description

COMMODITIES EXCHANGE MARKET AND INFORMATION SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present application relates to an internet or intranet based commodities exchange market and information system and more particularly to an internet or intranet based system in which entities interested in commodities can conduct research, obtain information, compare sources and markets for a variety of commodities and ultimately allow the trading of commodities via a linked market/trading system over the internet or intranet . 2. Background of the Invention

Commodities, as generally discussed herein, include agricultural products, chemical products, minerals, petrochemicals, and similar raw materials, as well as finished and partly finished goods and fungible products or goods. Historically, commodities have been grown, fabricated, mined, extracted or processed in a raw form near the point of origin, transported, purchased and sold a number of times prior to eventual receipt and utilization by an end user. Different entities, from local farmers to international petrochemical companies, have been engaged at the point of inception, while a number of intermediaries may be involved in every intermediate step of the process of getting the commodities to an end user and ultimately, after processing or consumption, to a consumer. The inherent inefficiencies of having multiple tiers and entities involved in the process has evolved in part by a need for specialization and in part due to the geographic separation between points of origin and points of ultimate consumption. Naturally, each exchange of goods within the distribution chain through intermediary parties has an associated increase in the ultimate costs to the consumer. The advent of an international marketplace in which commodities can be readily identified, compared, researched, asset allocated, purchased and sold was not historically possible as it would require an international exchange of information utilizing a common system to allow ready access to the flow of information to and from the points of origin for the various commodities as well as to and from the points of utilization and consumption. The establishment of a widely distributed computer network, the internet, has made possible a truly world-wide electronic commodities market. However, the explosive growth of the utilization of the internet as a tool for research, communication and data exchange has heretofore not been adequately applied to the commercialization and exchange of commodities.

The present invention thus seeks to overcome the inherent limitations of outdated modes of handling and exchanging commodities to provide an internet, intranet or distributed linked information data system to allow an exchange of information, coordinate purchases and/or sales and arrange for auxiliary services for commodities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an internet, or optionally an intranet or distributed linked information data based commodities information and exchange system. The program for controlling the system, called herein Planet Commodities, comprises a programmed database and method of utilization of the database so as to allow research, comparative analysis, resource allocation, purchasing and sales of a wide variety of commodities on an international scale. The programmed database system is designed to be principally navigated by the use of keywords identifying the particular commodity of interest. Based upon a commodity keyword selected upon entry into the system, the system customizes the search and link parameters for the particular commodity. Information concerning a selected commodity, for example, consumption and production in various portions of the world, sales information, cost estimates, quotes for shipping, insurance and auxiliary services, can thus be accessed and compiled within a single database and/or within a distributed database without overwhelming the user with information on unrelated commodities.

As an example, entering the system using as the keyword "potato" the system is capable of providing data on all of the countries, regions or sub- areas for production of the selected crop commodity potatoes, historical data concerning production of potatoes, prior sales or bids for potatoes at the point of origin, freight and insurance costs for getting potatoes to a customer or user, as well as information concerning annual consumption in various portions of the world, prices paid, and other relevant information with respect to finished potato based goods. Similar information is available by keyword searching other crop commodities such as corn, soybeans, wheat, sugar cane, oranges, grapefruits etc. as well as chemical products, minerals and petrochemicals. Entry to and navigation of the system, and the access to the commodity specific database, is thus tied to the commodity specific keyword.

The system utilizes data compiled or acquired from private and public resources as well as data voluntarily submitted by end users and/or suppliers within the commodity exchange chain of commerce. As an integral part of the system, it is contemplated that there will be an online trade fair, market, auction or bid soliciting process in effect a real time on-line commodities exchange wherein, for example, a fabricator or a point of origin producer of a commodity can list the commodities for purchase and the commodity can be remotely bid on and purchased by a consumer utilizing the information exchange system. In the event that a user has an interest in a particular commodity, the system provides additional options including arranging for freight, insurance, letters of credit and similar requirements, data concerning all of which are easily assessed and incorporated into the transaction through the commodities exchange market and information system. ^' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 depicts a basic block diagram of the commodities exchange market and information system and its application within and through the internet or an intranet; Figure 2 is a basic block diagram of the central server of the commodities exchange market and information system;

Figure 3 is a basic block diagram of the program for controlling the central server;

Figure 4 is a screenshot of an opening window for the information exchange system;

Figure 5 is a screenshot of a window opened by entering the chemical products sub-routine;

Figure 6 is a screenshot of a geographical search window; Figure 7 is a screen shot illustrating the types of detailed information available within the geographical search subfield;

Figure 8 is a screenshot of a window from within a selected geographical search identifying particular suppliers of commodities;

Figure 9 is a screenshot similar to that of Figure 8 further including drop down text box opened as a link triggered by the Planet mail box accessing a Planet mail directory;

Figure 10 is a screenshot of a window depicting an expanded profile within the media window;

Figure 11 is a screenshot of a freight window with a drop down text box; Figure 12 is a screenshot for the insurance window with a drop down text box;

Figure 13 is a screenshot of the bank window drop down text box; Figure 14 is a screenshot of the register window drop down text box; Figure 15 is a screenshot of the market window.

Figure 16 is a diagram illustrating the flow paths allowed in the system to and between the various windows and sub-routines; and

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following description is provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will become apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein to provide persons skilled in the art with an understanding of the commodities exchange market and information system.

Figure 1 depicts the basic application of the commodities exchange market and information system 50 of the present invention. The system 50 utilizes the resources of a computer network such as an intranet or the internet 52 to be the distribution system allowing interconnection of a commodity server system 54 with multiple content provider computer systems 56, point of origin computer systems 58 and researcher/customer computer systems 60. Generally, the commodities server system 54 incorporates a computer system having ample memory to assimilate data on and related to various commodities. The initially installed data may be augmented and/or originally entered by multiple content provider computer systems 56. The information is input through the computer network 52 and thereby into the commodity server system 54 and the memory (not shown) thereof.

Within the commodity server system 54, all input data is categorized by specific commodity keywords, cross-referenced and index so that the data can subsequently be searched and displayed. The principal search mechanism is the assigned keyword for the particular product or commodity. Alternatively, a unique number or code may be assigned to each commodity, and the assigned code could be the keyword. Accordingly, the product or commodity is preferably determined as precisely as possible so that a readily understandable and unique keyword can be assigned to the product or commodity. Notably, all of the data entered into the system 50, including for example the consumption of all products within each country, the producers of all products within each country, the number of consumers in each country and the number of employees and financial viability will receive a code enabling the system to conduct and provide a multi dimensional search to establish the best use and visibility of products, companies and markets.

The point of origin computer system 58 may also serve as a content provider to the commodity server system, as can the research/customer computer system 60. Specifically, both the point of origin computer system 58 and a researcher/customer computer system 60 may be utilized to input additional data, post availability of product and requests for products or provide bids for the purchase or sale of products as well as post infoπnation from the researcher/customer utilizing the researcher/customer computer system 60 input into the commodities server system 54.

A basic block diagram of the commodity server system 54 is depicted in Figure 2. The commodity server system 54 as depicted includes a processor sub-system 70, input devices 72, output devices 74, a communication interface 76, permanent information storage 78 and working memory 80. The communication interface 76 is capable of being interconnected to the computer network of Fig. 1, such as the internet 52. Notably, the processor 70, input device 72, output device 74, communication interface 76, permanent storage memory 78 and working memory 80 are all interconnected in order to share information with and receive instructions from the processor 70. Figure 3 depicts the basic program structure in a block diagram for the commodity server system 54. The program includes a server engine 100 and associated server data 102. The server engine 100 integrates and provides access to all of the other engines within the program structure. Additional engines include a commodity keyword engine 104 and associated commodity data 106, a content provider engine 108 and associated content provider data 110, a user engine 112 and user data 114.

The commodity keyword engine 104 is the engine by which the system identifies and organizes information and displays information based upon keywords representing specific commodities. It is preferentially linked to obtain input from the content provider engine 108 whose purpose is to gather information and organize that information in the content provider data 110 so that the data is accessible by the commodity keyword engine 104. Similarly, the user engine 112 is principally tasked with receiving and interfacing with the user computer systems including both the Point of Origin Computer Systems 58 and the Researcher/Customer Computer Systems 60 of Figure 1.

The program also includes a transaction engine 116 and associated transaction data 118 as well as a Planet mail engine 120 and associated Planet mail data 122. The transaction engine 116 is principally tasked with monitoring and tracking all data exchanged with the commodity server system 54 for both historical records and statistical analysis. By comparison, the Planet mail engine 120 is tasked with providing all users, content providers and researchers with email address information and the capability to send emails to singular recipients, multiple recipients, area-wide recipients or countrywide recipients, etc., thereby allowing users, researchers and customers access to an email marketing or resource data acquisition mechanism which can be tailored to any desired commodity or for any desired research parameter.

The program also includes a number of task-specific engines and data sets. The task-specific engines include the media engine 124 and associated media data 126, the freight engine 128 and associated freight data 130, the insurance engine 132 and associated insurance data 134, a bank engine 136 and associated bank data 138, a register engine 140 and associated register data 142, a market engine 144 and associated market data 146, and an exchange engine 148 and associated exchange data 150. These task-specific engines are utilized once the corresponding screen within the system is accessed by a user. Functions of these respective engines will become more apparent in connection with the following discussions of the various screen prints. Figure 4 is a screen print of a window which would appear upon access or login to the commodities exchange system. The screen includes four representative categories of commodities: crops, chemical products, minerals, and petrochemicals. These four fields represent various commodity sectors which will be included in the database. Notably, the types of commodities are not necessarily limited to these four rather general categories. Instead, these categories are being provided and illustrated within the screen as being representative of the capabilities of the system. Each of the depicted classes of commodities provides a link to a particular database utilized by the server engine 100 to transfer the functions of the server to specific classes of commodities and initiate the commodity keyword engine 104. Once activated, the commodity keyword engine 104 will identify a particular commodity and the associated information or data concerning that commodity which is available on the Commodities Server System 54.

Figure 5 shows a representative example of a screen print for a chemical product accessed through or link by clicking on the chemical products box shown in Fig. 4. Once opened, an alphabetical listing of various chemicals appears in a text box on the left side of the screen. Once a particular chemical is identified from within the text box, a description and other stored information concerning that particular chemical appears in a box on the right side of the screen. The text box providing information about the particular commodity can have information including, for example, a description, applications, keyword search parameters, a search link for producers, a search link for users, and a search for hypertext or links for searching information about historical markets for the particular product or commodity.

An alternative search function is depicted in the screen print of Figure 6, whereby a geographical search is depicted. The geographical search alphabetically lists countries, geographically lists countries, or list countries by capacity for a particular keyword searched commodity. The representative sample of the screen print illustrated in Figure 6 depicts a screen link to Bolivia to both identify Bolivia as the location and illustrate where on a world map Bolivia is located. Once Bolivia is selected, information pertinent to Bolivia is illustrated, for example, in the screen print of Figure 7. The screen print of Figure 7 provides specific information about the selected country, i.e. Bolivia, including a map of the country, key information about the country including, for example, its geographic location, capital, surface area, population, spoken language, currency, historical consumption information for selected commodities and other product-specific information including the number of companies or suppliers, tax issues, legal issues, and contact information.

One link further into the information list for Bolivia is illustrated in the screen print of Figure 8. Therein, within an alphabetical list of companies in Bolivia, Primo-chemica has been selected as a result of a link obtained via a drop down box. Information retrieved from the system's memory concerning the selected company appears in a text box on the right side of the screen. The information can include legal information such as the address, historical data, stated capital, consumption, number of employees and legal entity status information. Additional information can include a profile text box and a contacts or correspondence text box which provides specific information on how to contact the company. As discussed above, a particularly beneficial way of obtaining such information on new companies would be to have the selected company have a Point of Origin Computer System 58 (Fig. 1) whereby information is submitted into the Commodities Server System 54 about the respective company. Once the submitted information is received it is coded and indexed so that it is searchable and it can be accessed from the Commodities Server System 54.

Proceeding further into the program as shown in the screen print of Fig. 9, by selecting the Planet mail box from the set of labeled link boxes underneath the header, a user can access the Planet mail engine 120 (Fig. 3) and thereby allow email communication through the system with the selected company. Alternatively, the email address of the selected company can be added to a Planet mail list to be used within the system. Other options may include adding all email addresses linked to a keyword from within a selected country to a Planet mail list to be used within the system, or designate that all system email addresses for a continent or the entire planet be contacted about a particular commodity or on behalf of a particular company. In this way, via the Planet mail organization function and associated email communication process, a user entity having needs for a specific commodity originating from one or more selected companies can contact that company or companies, or alternatively, the company can solicit its needs with respect to commodities from any other company, area or geographic region via the Planet mail engine 120 (of Fig. 3).

Having illustrated the linked system within the Commodities Server System 54 of Figure 1 which allows a user to access specific types of information, the links in the remaining labeled link boxes beneath the header information will now be described. In the screen print of Figure 10, the link boxes underneath a header 200 all include a label. The first box 202 is labeled Planet mail, the second box 204 Media, the third box 206 Freight, the fourth box 208 Insurance, the fifth box 210 Bank, and the sixth box 212 is Register. Additional link boxes are contemplated as the system matures, including for example a box labeled "Market" which is to be incorporated into the system to allow for online interactive bidding, selling and trading of commodities as discussed below, once the information resident in the system compiles sufficient information and users. A desirable feature of the present invention resides in the keyword classification and access concept, whereby a user must select a particular commodity by its keyword in order to access the various specific function links available in the system. In effect, the system automatically updates and configures an output to a specific user based upon the entry of the keyword, and the instantaneous status of the database. Access to specific functions within the system may be obtained by links accessed via the labeled link boxes noted above to provide specific interactions. However, a user must first select a desired commodity and then either a "users" listing or "producers" listing in order to activate the Planet mail icon and enable Planet mail communication with a "buy" or "sell" on a particular commodity. By clicking on the Planet mail box 202, the Planet mail drop down box according to Figure 9, will appear. Utilizing the Planet mail link as discussed above, a user can send or broadcast emails to one or a number of producers or users of a particular commodity individually, all such producers or users within a particular geographic region or for the entire world.

The screen print of Figure 10 illustrates the drop down text for the second box 204 which is the Media box which allows linking through the media engine 124 to the media data 126 of Figure 3. The media data 126 obtainable from the drop down box, as shown in the screen print of Fig. 10, includes news, publications, studies, polls, agendas, and specialized web press information. Accessing any of these drop down text sub-boxes provides a link to more specific and detailed information which is keyword compiled and maintained in the media data 126 of Figure 3.

Figure 11 depicts a screen print of the drop down text box activated by accessing the Freight box 206. The links provided via the Freight box 206 provide the user access to various information via the freight engine 128, including access to the freight data 130. Utilizing the freight information links, the user can receive or request information about freight requirements for a particular commodity by inputting the expected date of shipment, port of shipment, port of arrival, product packaging and conditioning. In response, , various freight companies or freight forwarder entities provide responsive information to allow a user to detennine ultimate freight costs and ultimately contract for freight services in the event that a commodity is purchased. Notably, the data from the freight services providers can be placed on the systems and stored in the Freight Data 130 (Fig. 3). Alternatively, as soon as a request is made via the system, an email broadcast of the services required is sent to participating freight services providers who can then provide responses or bids which the system will then compile and display to the original requestor. Figure 12 depicts the drop down text box for the insurance link which allows the user access to the insurance engine 132 and the insurance data 134 associated therewith. By entry of the required data information into the insurance text questionnaire (information similar to that responsive of the freight information which may simply be dragged over), a user can request information and quotes for insurance of the particular commodity in transit. Notably, there may also be additional data fields which need to be included, for example, the declared value and type of insurance which is sought. Entry of the information in the insurance text questionnaire allows the insurance engine to broadcast (via an email) the request for insurance quotes to various insurance entities which will be users of the system so that insurance quotes for insuring the transportation of the commodities can be obtained, compiled and displayed to the requestor.

In order to provide a full service system, the screen print of Figure 13 illustrates the application of the fifth box 210, the Bank box, for the system to access the bank engine 136 and bank data 138. By clicking on the Bank box, the screen print of Figure 13 is accessed and the user can make an application to various banks or request quotes from various banks for various types of secured transaction financing via commercial paper including, for example, letters of credit. Again, once the information necessary to process a request for transaction financing is inputed by a requestor, an email is sent to participating financial institutions which process the requestors information and provide a response back through the system. All such responses are compiled and displayed to the requestor who can then select the financial institution. The sixth box 212 within the principal screen is illustrated in a screen print of Figure 14 as a drop down box to allow Registration of particular users. This drop down box is utilized both by point of origin suppliers and researchers/customers in order to augment the database of the system in the event that a particular entity has not previously been represented. In addition, the Register box allows for easy registration of freight services providers, insurance services providers and financial institutions within the system so that for service providers who qualify, requests for services can be processed and submitted, and responses compiled, as discussed above. Further, the Register Box also allows anyone who wishes to become active within the system, not someone simply using the system to acquire information or research, to become a registered user and obtain a user password. Only registered users will be allowed to activated specific services, such as the Planet mail, Freight, Insurance, Bank and ultimately Market services within the system." All of the information which is gathered through the Register is classified, keyword indexed, and placed within the associated data storage elements in which it will be utilized. Accordingly, utilizing the drop down box and the text responses under the. Register box, a user or company can insert information about whether it is a user, consumer or producer of a particular commodity, what the commodity is, the user or company's address, specific information about the legal status of the company, a profile and various contact information in the event that it is not in the database at the outset. All of this data or information is then indexed and becomes accessible within the respective search engines.

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the Commodities Server System and the Commodity Information Exchange System according to the present invention will provide an incredible resource for utilization by both users and producers to directly benefit consumers of commodities. It will allow such parties to be able to quickly access raw data and basic information about potential suppliers, contracts, freight costs, insurance costs, and availability of credit instruments to obtain commodities on a direct purchase system. Accordingly, the system also contemplates utilization as a commodities exchange market as illustrated, for example, by the screen print of Figure 15. By clicking on the "Market" box 214 a user can enter an online commodities exchange market through accesses to the market engine 144 and exchange engine 148 of Fig. 3. Accessing the Market box 214 will allow users access to commodities bid and auction proceedings. Therein, a consumer can request bids for particular commodities and simultaneously make requests for all of the freight, insurance, letters of credit, etc., instruments which would be necessary for the requestor to receive the commodities. The requests can be posted and accessed by all or a selected set of providers having access to the system through Point of Origin Computer Systems 58 of Figure 1. Such users can then bid on providing the requested commodity and the user may then have access to multiple bids from which to select in order to obtain the commodities. Alternatively, by using the Market engine 144 and exchange engine

148 of Figure 3, a point of origin supplier or company having excess capacity for its requirements can post information about the availability of a particular commodity. Users having a need for that commodity can then access the posted information and, by utilizing the various drop down boxes discussed above, obtain additional information concerning the freight charges, insurance charges, bank note accessibility, etc. in order to allow a potential consumer to purchase the commodities and associated services through an auction hosted and processed by the system. The Market engine 144 and exchange engine 148 are linked in a manner such that the exchange engine can ultimately operate as an online commodities exchange system wherein buy and sell orders may be posted and completed with a direct linking of the purchaser and seller.

Within the system as described above, it is particularly noteworthy that the system relies upon the identification of and utilization of the keyword associated with a particular commodity to quickly direct the user through to the point where they can obtain valuable information. Accordingly, the system provides an advanced mechanism for allowing entities having an interest in any particular commodity to keep focused on that specific commodity during a search and obtain information concerning the market, consumption, geographic specific information and transaction information.

Figure 16 depicts a logic tree for a preferred embodiment as presently contemplated to allow a user to navigate the commodities exchange market and information system 50 of the present invention. As illustrated, the logic tree begins with an opening screen which will be accessible via the internet, an intranet or a distributed linked information or data system. When a new user accesses the system, the user who wishes to be active on the system will be required to proceed to a Register screen (shown in the screenpoint of Fig. 14) and enter sufficient information to obtain a password in order to proceed. Once the user is registered, the user can bypass the registration step and proceed into the system upon input of an assigned registration identification code provided during an initial registration. Requiring each new user to register, however, provides enhanced integrity to the system as virtually all users will have the ability to conduct a series of inquiries within the system and the system will record any transactions or transaction offers.

is Proceeding from the opening screen as illustrated at the top of Fig. 16 down through the flow chart, the first screen that a user will encounter is the screen reproduced in Fig. 4, wherein the user is required to select from one or several categories of commodities. Once a particular category is selected, the system will proceed to the various subcategories within the general category as illustrated for example in the screen of Fig. 5. At the screen of Fig. 5, a user must select a particular commodity which will then function as the keyword for all subsequent activities within the program. Following selection of the desired commodity and thus the keyword, the system configures itself to process all further requests and responses to the particular selected commodity. Accordingly, the selected commodity becomes the key to accessing all of the information available on the system. From the screen of Fig. 5 in the flow chart of Fig. 16, the user may proceed to the media screen of Fig. 10, the Freight screen of Fig. 11, the Insurance screen of Fig. 12, the Bank screen of Fig. 13, and from each of these screens back to the keyword screen in the event that the user has selected the wrong commodity keyword or wishes to change the selected commodity and thus requires a new keyword. Notably, the user may also go directly from any of screens of Figs. 10 through 14 to any of the other screens within this category, simply by clicking on the appropriate link box found at the top of the screen.

The user is also allowed to go from the alphabetical commodities selection screen of Fig. 5 directly to the geographic or region screens of Fig. 6, as shown in the flow chart of Fig. 16. Notably, the user can also exit back to the commodities keyword selection box at any point in time, to select a new commodity, and then proceed through the system in a similar matter for the new commodity. If a new keyword is selected, the system reconfigures itself to provide data in responses with respect to the newly selected commodity keyword and the displayed information is configured to correspond to the new keyword. By controlling the users access to the system and transitions between the respective screens according to a specific commodity keyword, the system is better able to manage the data and control the recordation of specific transactions for specific commodities. Accordingly, in the embodiment of the invention wherein a Market link is incorporated, the system will be able to manage and record all of the transactions which occur within the commodities market including, for example, all offers and accepted offers for the purchase exchange of commodities. In this matter, the database will continue to grow as it records all of the information about prior sales into the database illustrated in Fig. 3 and all such information will become available to requestors who access the system and require specific information about the historic sales and offers for sale of particular commodities.

It may also be appreciated that the Planet mail function of the present invention provides a unique opportunity for a user to correspond with variety of types of potential consumers or producers as well as service providers. The information which is transmitted to each such entity does not necessarily have to be the same, indeed it is contemplated that the system will tailor the respective information and send it to the desired recipients based on the respective needs of the requestor and the potential respondents including the service providers. For example, a requestor seeking quantity and pricing information for the purchase of a commodity to be shipped into the United States from any country in South America can send an email to each of the entities registered in the system which provide the particular commodity and which are located in South America without having to specifically go through and identify each such recipient. Further, the system will forward requests as necessary to freight services providers, insurance services providers and financial institutions who have indicated a capacity or capability of providing services for each and/or all of the respective countries in South America from which the commodity is being requested, so that when the responses are assimilated by the system for display to the requestor the requestor will have access to all of the information necessary for it to issue an order and conclude a transaction without having to specifically go through and identify each potential services provider which could provide necessary or requested services. Thus, the Planet mail function of the system provides an expeditious way to conduct business over an internet or intranet system which has not heretofore been available.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that should not be taken as limiting the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat Is Claimed Is

1. A commodities exchange market and information system interactive to and through a distributed computer network or internet, the exchange system being based on a commodities server system comprising: interconnected processor, input devices, output devices, permanent storage memory, working memory, and communication interface components operating as a computer system; and a program instruction resident in said processor permanent memory, storage memory and working memory of said computer system operable to control said server system and to acquire, organize, index, make searchable and retrievable, information based upon keywords assigned to predetermined commodities.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication interface of said computer system further comprises means for interconnecting said computer system to a distributed computer network and thereby allow acquisition by and dissemination of information from said computer system.

3. The system of Claim 2 wherein said program instruction of said server system further comprises: a server engine and associated server data, said server engine integrating and providing access to one or more task specific engines within said program.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said program instruction for said server system further comprises: a commodity keyword engine and associated commodity data; a content provider engine and associated content provider data; and a user engine and associated user data.

5. The system of Claim 2 wherein said program instruction of said service system further comprises a media engine and associated media data allowing categorization of information specific to a defined list of commodities organized by reference to a commodity keyword.

6. The system of Claim 2 wherein said program instruction of said server further comprises: at least one service provider engine and associated service provider data file to provided accessible data keyed to defined commodity keywords for one or more types of services providers including one or more selected from the group consisting of freight services, insurance services and financial services.

7. The commodities exchange market and information system of Claim 1 further comprising a market engine and associated market data allowing commodities transactions to be consummated through the commodities exchange market and information system.

8. A commodities exchange market and information system comprising: a commodity server system having an interconnected processor, input and output devices, memory, and interface components operating as a computer system; software resident in said commodity server system to control the operation thereof and allow processing of requests for data based on assigned keywords defined by specific commodities; and a data acquisition and distribution system interconnecting said commodities server system and a plurality of users, said system capable of corresponding with said users via an electronic mail interconnection accessed according to said commodities keywords.

9. A commodities exchange market and information system comprising: a computer system including an interconnected processor, input and output devices, memory and communication interface components; and a data communication computer program installed in said computer system to control the operation of said computer system and acquire, organize, index, make searchable and display information on specific commodities based upon keywords assigned to said specific commodities.

10. The commodities exchange market and information system of Claim 9 wherein said computer program further comprises: an electronic communication and distribution engine capable of generating a list of emails corresponding to each of a set of given parameters and sending an email to each identified email address on the compiled list.