METHOD FOR RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF SCHEDULE CONTROLED NETWORKABLE MERCHANT ECOMMERCE SITES

摘要

An improved computerized ecommerce method, optimized for smaller merchants such as florists who often provide seasonal perishable gifts that require local delivery, and who often desire to form cooperative networks with local merchants offering related gift services, as well as other related merchants such as other florists in more distant locations. The web server based method allows merchants to easily set up non-static (time variable) websites that automatically provide schedule driven promotions. New products can be quickly uploaded from smartphones, and sophisticated time and location aware algorithms can compute accurate delivery costs and make such costs transparent to customers. Other participating merchants can be easily added to the system to form local and distant cooperative merchant networks. The system simplifies customer use of promotional offers by cross checking customer URL versus promotion lists. Recipient gift appreciation is optimized by providing interfaces to allow customer designed gift cards and messages.

主权项

1. A method of managing at least one schedule driven dynamic layout ecommerce website for at least one merchant, said method comprising:
using at least one processor, centralized database, centralized database server, and automated website creation software to configure at least one schedule driven dynamic layout ecommerce website, said at least one ecommerce website comprising at least some web pages with dynamic sections, said at least one ecommerce website hosted by either said centralized database server or alternative ecommerce website servers; wherein at least some said dynamic sections are associated with corresponding product and product data, said product data comprising product description, product price, product shipping locations, schedule times of product availability at said product shipping locations and product inventory data at said product shipping locations; said product data additionally linked to product delivery time and location constraints relative to at least one said product shipping location; said product delivery time and location constraints comprising product delivery charge and surcharge information for certain delivery times and locations relative to said at least one product shipping location; said product data and product delivery time and location constraints being stored in said centralized database, and wherein said product data and said product delivery time and location constraints are entered or updated using a network connected computerized device running either a web browser based administrator webpage or mobile app; for each dynamic section associated with said corresponding product, using said at least one processor to examine said product data for schedule times of product availability and determine if said product is available and in inventory, and if, during said schedule times, said product is available and in inventory, then configuring said at least one ecommerce website to display at least some data from said dynamic sections associated with said corresponding ecommerce product on at least one web page of said at least one ecommerce website, and otherwise not displaying data from said dynamic sections associated with said corresponding ecommerce product; wherein in response to a product purchase request comprising a product identifier and a requested delivery location and delivery time from an ecommerce customer interacting with said at least one ecommerce website using an ecommerce computerized device running an ecommerce customer web browser or app, using said at least one processor to determine said at least one product shipping location, examine said product delivery time and location constraints relative to said at least one product shipping location, and use said requested delivery location and delivery time relative to said at least one product shipping location to compute product delivery charges and surcharges for said product, and display at least a sum of said product delivery charges or surcharges for said product on said at least one ecommerce website; wherein when said ecommerce customer purchases said product using said ecommerce website, using said at least one processor to record the sale of said product, said product shipping location, changes in product inventory data at said product shipping location, requested product delivery time and requested delivery location in said centralized database; and using said at least one processor to transmit notification of the sale of said product to said ecommerce customer, as well as to at least one computerized device associated with distribution of product from said product shipping location.