NETWORK-BASED ORDERING SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

The invention provides a network-based ordering system comprising one or more client devices connected to a server through a network, each client device operated by a user; one or more merchant devices connected to the server through a network, each merchant device associated with one or more merchants; a memory in which is stored a merchant product database, the database including a plurality of product data items representing products available from each merchant; a display configured to display to a user information identifying one or more product data items in the memory; a request processor configured to receive a user order from a user for one or more product data items; a dispatcher configured to receive the user order from the request processor, to transmit the user order to a delivery agent for delivery of the ordered goods to the user; and an inventory manager configured to receive a user order from the dispatcher and to update the merchant product database. The invention further provides a network-based ordering system for the provision of services and also related methods.