Abstract: A commerce system has a plurality of retailers offering products for sale. Product information associated with the products is collected and stored in a central database. A consumer uses a website to create a shopping list with weighted preferences for product attributes. An individualized discount is generated by a consumer service provider for products on the shopping list directed to the consumer. The shopping list with all products aggregated for one retailer is optimized based on the product information in the database, the weighted preferences for the product attributes, and the individualized discounts. The consumer uses the optimized shopping list to assist with purchasing decisions. An incremental profit can be determined based on an aggregation of the products on the optimized shopping list. Purchasing decisions within the commerce system are controlled by enabling the consumer to select the products for purchase from the retailer.

Abstract: A commerce system has a virtual marketplace. A personal shopping agent is connected to the virtual marketplace. A sales agent is connected to the virtual marketplace. An intent to buy is received through the personal shopping agent. The intent to buy is satisfied with a product selected by a negotiation between the personal shopping agent and the sales agent. A consideration set is provided. The intent to buy is satisfied with a product from the consideration set. An API is provided for connecting to the sales agent. A retailer or manufacturer control system is connected to the sales agent through the API. The control system controls the negotiation using the control system. Configuration data is received through the personal shopping agent. The product is selected to satisfy the configuration data. A database including transactional log data is used during the negotiation.

Abstract: A commerce system is controlled by providing a shopping agent. A first data is transmitted to the shopping agent using a mobile device connected to the shopping agent by an application programming interface. An intent to buy for a plurality of products is determined based on the first data. A consideration set is generated based on the intent to buy, or the first data is a consideration set. Specific products are ranked within the consideration set. A rating is applied to the intent to buy. An action is performed based on the rating. The rating is modified based on a second data. The shopping agent, first data, and second data are used to manage inventory. A subscription of a product satisfying the intent to buy is recommended. The first data is generated by voice recognition or scanning a bar code or Quick Response code.

Abstract: Product information associated with products is stored in a database. A website is provided. An interface is provided on the website for generating a shopping list including product attributes. An interface is provided on the website for adding product attributes to the shopping list by searching the product information in the database by product category or keyword phrase. An interface is provided on the website for adding product attributes to the shopping list using natural language descriptions. A list of recommended products is generated based on the product attributes. A price for each of the recommended products between retailers is compared. The purchasing decisions within the commerce system are controlled by generating a shopping option based on the price for each recommended product between retailers. An interface is provided on the website to substitute one of the recommended products with an alternate product.

Abstract: A commerce system has a plurality of retailers offering products for sale. Product information associated with the products is collected and stored in a central database. A consumer uses a website to create a shopping list with weighted preferences for product attributes. An individualized discount is generated by a consumer service provider for products on the shopping list directed to the consumer. The shopping list is optimized based on the product information in the database, the weighted preferences for the product attributes, and the individualized discount. An incremental profit for the product is determined based on the individualized discount. The incremental profit is shared between the retailer and consumer service provider. The consumer uses the optimized shopping list to assist with purchasing decisions. Purchasing decisions within the commerce system are controlled by enabling the consumer to select the products for purchase based on the optimized shopping list.

Abstract: A method of competitive shopping comprises generating a list of products to be audited at a retailer. The list of products is optimized to minimize price uncertainty. The list of products is transmitted to a mobile device of an auditor. The auditor is prompted to enter a price charged by the retailer for a product from the list of products using the mobile device. An entered price for the product is compared to an expected price range for the product. The expected price range of the product is calculated based on known pricing strategies of the retailer. The entered price is stored in a database if the entered price is within the expected price range. The auditor is prompted to verify the entered price for the product if the entered price is outside of the expected price.

Abstract: A commerce system has retailers offering products for sale to consumers. A database is provided including product information corresponding to a plurality of products. A shopping list is provided including a set of the products. The shopping list is evaluated to determine a difference between a budget and a total price of the shopping list. An interface is provided to alter the shopping list or total price of the shopping list based on the difference between the budget and the total price of the shopping list. The commerce system is controlled by displaying the budget and total price with the shopping list to influence purchasing decisions. An individualized offer is presented to reduce the total price of the shopping list. An alternate product is presented to add to the shopping list. A warning is provided to signify that the total price of the shopping list exceeds the budget.

Abstract: A commerce system has retailers offering products for sale to consumers. Product information is collected associated with a plurality of products. Products of interest are presented to a first consumer based on the product information. The products of interest are selected based on a prior product selection by the first consumer, product selections by a second consumer, or retailer promoted products. The products of interest include comparative product information from a plurality of retailers. A shopping list is generated including one or more selected products of interest as determined by the first consumer. The shopping list including the selected products of interest is made available to the first consumer to assist with a purchasing decision. The purchasing decision within the commerce system is controlled by enabling the first consumer to select products for purchase based on the shopping list including the selected products of interest.

Abstract: A commerce system has a virtual marketplace. A personal shopping agent is connected to the virtual marketplace. A sales agent is connected to the virtual marketplace. An intent to buy is received through the personal shopping agent. The intent to buy is satisfied with a product selected by a negotiation between the personal shopping agent and the sales agent. A consideration set is provided. The intent to buy is satisfied with a product from the consideration set. An API is provided for connecting to the sales agent. A retailer or manufacturer control system is connected to the sales agent through the API. The control system controls the negotiation using the control system. Configuration data is received through the personal shopping agent. The product is selected to satisfy the configuration data. A database including transactional log data is used during the negotiation.

Abstract: A commerce system is controlled by a shopping agent and a manufacturer agent. A retailer provides the manufacturer agent. An intent to buy is generated using a camera of a mobile device. The intent to buy is received with the shopping agent. The intent to buy is transmitted to the manufacturer agent. The intent to buy is read from the manufacturer agent using an application programming interface. A negotiation is performed between the shopping agent and manufacturer agent to generate a personalized offer for a specific product satisfying the intent to buy. The specific product is selected from a consideration set. The specific product is purchased at the retailer. The personalized offer is redeemed by scanning a loyalty card at a point-of-sale station of the retailer. A commission is paid to the retailer to load the personalized offer on the loyalty card.

Abstract: A commerce system is controlled by providing a shopping agent. A first data is transmitted to the shopping agent using a mobile device connected to the shopping agent by an application programming interface. An intent to buy for a plurality of products is determined based on the first data. A consideration set is generated based on the intent to buy, or the first data is a consideration set. Specific products are ranked within the consideration set. A rating is applied to the intent to buy. An action is performed based on the rating. The rating is modified based on a second data. The shopping agent, first data, and second data are used to manage inventory. A subscription of a product satisfying the intent to buy is recommended. The first data is generated by voice recognition or scanning a bar code or Quick Response code.

Abstract: A commerce system has a virtual marketplace. A personal shopping agent is connected to the virtual marketplace. A sales agent is connected to the virtual marketplace. An intent to buy is received through the personal shopping agent. The intent to buy is satisfied with a product selected by a negotiation between the personal shopping agent and the sales agent. A consideration set is provided. The intent to buy is satisfied with a product from the consideration set. An API is provided for connecting to the sales agent. A retailer or manufacturer control system is connected to the sales agent through the API. The control system controls the negotiation using the control system. Configuration data is received through the personal shopping agent. The product is selected to satisfy the configuration data. A database including transactional log data is used during the negotiation.

Abstract: A commerce system is controlled by a shopping agent including an application programming interface. A publisher receives information from the shopping agent via the API. Content is published based on the information received from the shopping agent. The content includes a histogram. The content includes a recipe. The content is published on a website or in a printed newspaper or magazine. A portion of the content is optically scanned using a mobile device. The optically scanned portion of the content includes a Quick Response code. The mobile device adds a plurality of products to a shopping list maintained by the shopping agent in response to the optically scanned portion of the content. The product is selected from a consideration set. A personalized offer for the product is redeemed at a retailer using the mobile device. An affiliate fee is paid to the publisher after the personalized offer is redeemed.

Abstract: A method of retail engagement controls a commerce system. A text string on a webpage is identified that relates to a product or product preference. The text string is identified by a web browser plugin. The text string is matched to a product available for purchase at a retailer. Information about the product is displayed adjacent to the text string. A hyperlink is established to add the product to a shopping list. The product is added to the shopping list by clicking the hyperlink. A plugin adds the product to the shopping list. The hyperlink is established in a popup menu or within the webpage. A deal is negotiated for the product at a retailer. A list of affinity products is displayed. A list of substitutable products is displayed. An affiliate fee is paid to the owner of the webpage.

Abstract: A commerce system has retailers offering products for sale to consumers. A list including an item is provided. A set of products interchangeable with the item is determined. A product is selected from the set of products to maximize a value to a consumer. An activity within the commerce system is controlled in response to a consumer decision to purchase the selected product. A first attribute of the item is compared to a second attribute of an interchangeable product when determining the set of products. Data associated with a plurality of interchangeable products is accessed via an intelligent personal agent when determining the set of products. The selection of the product is based on a preference or a requirement defined by the consumer. The selection of the product is based on a discount associated with the product. A local retailer selling the selected product is identified when selecting the product.

Abstract: A commerce system has retailers offering products for sale to consumers. A consideration set including a plurality of products is provided. An interface is provided to submit a profit share corresponding to each of the products. The products are evaluated to determine a discount for each of the products. A first product is selected from the products including a largest profit share. The commerce system is controlled by distributing the largest profit share, an incremental profit corresponding to the first product, and a shopping list including the first product. A value of each of the products is determined to identify a maximum value. The discount is determined for each of the products to increase the value of each of the products to the maximum value. The set of products is accessed to provide a price per use for each of the products.

Abstract: A commerce system has retailers offering products for sale to consumers. A database is provided including product information corresponding to a plurality of products. A shopping list is provided including a set of the products. The shopping list is evaluated to determine a difference between a budget and a total price of the shopping list. An interface is provided to alter the shopping list or total price of the shopping list based on the difference between the budget and the total price of the shopping list. The commerce system is controlled by displaying the budget and total price with the shopping list to influence purchasing decisions. An individualized offer is presented to reduce the total price of the shopping list. An alternate product is presented to add to the shopping list. A warning is provided to signify that the total price of the shopping list exceeds the budget.

Abstract: A commerce system involves transactions between manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers. Product information for a plurality of products is collected and stored in a database. A website is provided for a consumer to create a shopping list with weighted product attributes. A baseline product value is determined for each of the products. A consumer weighted product value is determined based on the baseline product value and the weighted product attributes. A discounted offer is generated for the consumer. A product score is determined based on the consumer weighted product value and retailer product value. The shopping list is optimized based on the product score. The optimized shopping list is provided to the consumer to assist with purchasing decisions. Purchasing decisions within the commerce system are controlled by enabling the consumer to select the products for purchase based on the optimized shopping list.

Abstract: A commerce system has retailers offering products for sale to consumers. A plurality of bids for a search criteria are accepted. A winning bid for the search criteria is selected from the plurality of bids. Value message content related to the winning bid for the search criteria is accepted. An interface to submit a search query corresponding to the search criteria is provided. Search results corresponding to the search query are collected. The commerce system is controlled by displaying the search results and value message content to influence purchasing decisions. A market segment is applied to a scope of the bids. The search criteria is accepted with the bids. The winning bid is selected based on a value of the bids. A database containing product information is provided. The search results corresponding to the search query are collected from the database.

Abstract: A commerce system involves transactions between manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers. Product information for a plurality of products is collected and stored in a database. A website is provided for a consumer to create a shopping list with weighted product attributes. A baseline product value is determined for each of the products. A consumer weighted product value is determined based on the baseline product value and the weighted product attributes. A discounted offer is generated for the consumer. A product score is determined based on the consumer weighted product value and retailer product value. The shopping list is optimized based on the product score. The optimized shopping list is provided to the consumer to assist with purchasing decisions. Purchasing decisions within the commerce system are controlled by enabling the consumer to select the products for purchase based on the optimized shopping list.