SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INVENTORY AND SALE OF DISTRIBUTED BOOKS

摘要

A used book inventory and sales system and method provides a database of used books, and a network to link used bookstores to a central location, in effect creating a virtual bookstore having a centralized database of book holdings, but with the used books distributed over many locations. The database follows a hierarchical scheme that ensures consistent classification of used books by title authority and title instance while at the same time allowing each used book to be described separately (466). The database is maintained based on entries from the used bookstores (468), and is maintained up to date in near real time. The database includes special features such as cool books and topical books to help promote books of special interest.