Importance

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Abstract

A method is described of providing dealer authorization information to a remote processing system. A local processing system receives information from a manufacturer for updating a database of authorized dealers. The local processing system then receives a validation request from the remote processing system via a network. In response to receiving the validation request, the local processing system queries the database and transmits information to the remote processing system, including an indication of whether a particular dealer is an authorized dealer for one or more manufacturers. The validation request is generated in response to the remote processing system's having identified a predetermined HTML tag in a dealer World Wide Web page. Capability to recognize the tag and transmit a validation request in response thereto is provided by a Web browser plug-in downloaded to the remote processing system. The local processing system may also include a number of order processing units for electronic commerce. Each order processing unit is customized for a specific manufacturer and a specific dealer and provides a customized user interface for ordering products only from the one specific manufacturer and dealer. A customer using a remote processing system accesses an order processing unit by first accessing a manufacturer Web site, which provides a hypertext link to one of the processing units.

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First Claim