초록 ▼

A system and method to enable and facilitate networked, automated, brokered auctioning of document services. A plurality of processes are executed, including a customer process representing a customer, a supplier process representing a supplier, and a broker process capable of serving as an intermed

A system and method to enable and facilitate networked, automated, brokered auctioning of document services. A plurality of processes are executed, including a customer process representing a customer, a supplier process representing a supplier, and a broker process capable of serving as an intermediary between the customer and supplier processes. The broker process is provided with a description of a document service. Responsively to the description thus provided, an auction for the document service is conducted, as follows: A customer or supplier process submits a bid for the document service. The broker process receives bidding information including the submitted bid. The broker process attempts to establish a price for the document service responsively to the received bidding information and, if a price can be established, establishes the price. If a price is established, the broker process proposes a transaction wherein the document service is to be provided at the established price. If the proposed transaction is accepted, it can proceed automatically.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [20.] In a system comprising at least one processor, a method for providing access to a document service over a computer network, said method comprising the steps of:executing in the system a plurality of processes includinga first participant process, the first participant pr

[ What is claimed is:] [20.] In a system comprising at least one processor, a method for providing access to a document service over a computer network, said method comprising the steps of:executing in the system a plurality of processes includinga first participant process, the first participant process being a customer process representing a customer,a second participant process, the second participant process being a supplier process representing a supplier, anda broker process capable of serving as an intermediary between the customer and supplier processes;providing to the broker process a description of a document service; andresponsively to the description thus provided, conducting an auction for the document service, the auction including the steps ofsubmitting a bid for the document service from a participant process,receiving bidding information in the broker process, the received bidding information including the submitted bid,attempting with the broker process to automatically establish a price determined by the broker process for the document service responsively to the received bidding information, andif said price can be established by the broker process for the document service upon completion of the attempting step, establishing said price for the document service with the broker process;said supplier bidding said established price initiating the performance of said document service over said computer network.