An online system for permitting users in a data network to manage inventories
of their collectibles (including antiques) includes a database of collectibles,
user inventory files, user information files, a database of needed items and items
available for sale, and a server-based task for managing and searching the database
of needed items and items available for sale. The database of collectibles includes
object classes indexed by primary classes and subclasses, and user inventory files
storing inventories of instances of the object classes, including instances that
each user has, instances that each user would like to sell, and instances that
each user would like to buy. Users may access their respective inventories by inspecting,
editing, and adding the instances to the user inventories; obtaining valuations
of instances in their inventories; and insuring instances in their inventories.
The server-based task finds buy-sell opportunities between the users when one user
has an instance of at least one object class that said one user would like to buy
and another user has an instance of said at least one object class that said another
user would like to sell.
