DISTRIBUTED ELECTRONIC COMMERCE SYSTEM WITH CENTRALIZED POINT OF PURCHASE

摘要

An electronic commerce system includes a broker that enables customers topurchase items from merchants. A customer interacts with the merchant toidentify items to purchase, and the merchant directs the customer to thebroker in order to complete the transaction. The broker receives a descriptionof a virtual shopping cart generated by the merchant and presents the customerwith an interface allowing the customer to select shipping and other optionsfor the purchase. The broker calculates a total amount for the transactionbased on the shopping cart description and the options selected by thecustomer. The broker informs the merchant of the purchase and coordinates theshipment of the purchased items from the merchant to the customer.