ELECTRONIC COMMERCE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS WITH MULTIPLE USER-DEFINED MARKETPLACES, CONTROLLED PRICING, AND AUTOMATED PURCHASING CAPABILITIES

摘要

A system and method for facilitating communication between a plurality of buyers (10) a plurality of suppliers (12) is provided. The communication system provides for coordinated message and response tracking within an electronic marketplace environment. Members of an electronic community, buye rs (10) and suppliers (12), may submit information to a central database (16) maintained by a service provider (14). Such information may comprise company profile and product information. A marketplace administrator may browse the database (16) and assemble a list of suppliers (12) and buyers (10) who will receive an invitation for membership in a private or public marketplace. A broadcast message (68) and various response (78) tracking objects are assembled into a single marketplace object. The marketplace object serves as a mobile repository for all commercial interaction in furtherance of completin g a purchase transaction between the buyers (10) and suppliers (12). Suppliers (12) who accept the marketplace membership invitation are allowed to attach some or all of their product information to the marketplace object.