Title: Merchandising system method, and program product utilizing an intermittent network connection
Abstract: A business application integrates a company's internal business systems with an e-commerce web site, so that company personnel can manage their business with a business application that seamlessly exports relevant, up-to-date data to a web site designed to interact with customers across the Web. The business application provides business functions for manipulating merchandising data stored in a merchandising database. In addition, to accommodate an intermittent connection to the Internet or otherwise to the web hosting server, the business application supports the generation of a replica, from the merchandising database, that can be exported to a web hosting server. A web application executing at the web hosting server generates web pages based on merchandising data stored in the partial replica. The customer can provide feedback, possibly representing purchase orders or customer information changes, for example, that can be automatically entered into the company's business system. Alternatively, the customer can download a client replica, generated from the partial replica at the web hosting server, for use during periods of disconnection from the web hosting server. Thereafter, the client replica and the partial replica can be synchronized to update each other with modified data. Furthermore, the partial replica and the merchandising database can also be synchronized.
Patent Number: 6,901,380 Issued on 05/31/2005 to Bremers
| Inventors:
|
Bremers; Robert C. (Louisville, CO)
|
| Assignee:
|
Dataforce, Inc. (Louisville, CO)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
658286 |
| Filed:
|
September 8, 2000 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
705/27; 707/100 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
| Field of Search: |
705/27,26
707/120,100
|
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|
Primary Examiner: Smith; Jeffrey A.
Assistant Examiner: Chang; Sabrina
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hensley Kim & Edgington, LLC
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No. 60/153,410 entitled "A MERCHANDISING SYSTEM TO ACCEPT AND RELAY PURCHASE ORDERS
ONLINE WITH METHODS FOR MAINTAINING THE DATABASE UTILIZING AN INTERMITTENT CONNECTION"
and filed Sep. 10, 1999, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/189,755,
entitled "MERCHANDISING SYSTEM UTILIZING A CLIENT REPLICA FOR ACCEPTING AND RELAYING
ORDERS" and filed Mar. 16, 2000, both of which are incorporated herein by reference
for all that they disclose and teach.
Claims
1. A merchandising system for processing a customer order in association with
a web hosting computer, a client computer, and a business application computer,
the web hosting computer and the business application computer being intermittently
connected by a communications link, the merchandising system comprising:
a merchandising database containing merchandising data including order data pertaining
to customer orders for merchandise, the merchandising system managing merchandising
data received from a plurality of vendors;
a web host interface establishing a communications link between the business
application computer and the web hosting computer;
a replica generator executing on the business application computer to filter
out at least the order data from the merchandising database to create a replica
of the merchandise database containing the merchandising data without the order
data for transmission to the web hosting computer across the intermittently connected
communications link;
a web application executing on the web hosting computer and generating an order
guide that displays the merchandising data from the replica on the client computer;
and
a synchronization module synchronizing the replica with the merchandising database
to cause only modifications made to the merchandising database to be updated in
the replica.
2. The merchandising system of claim 1 further comprising:
an order processing module that processes an email order received from the web
application, based on an order placed by a consumer through the order guide.
3. The merchandising system of claim 1 further comprising:
a business function module executing on the business application computer to
manage the merchandising database.
4. The merchandising system of claim 2 wherein the business function module provides
access to product data stored in the merchandising database.
5. The merchandising system of claim 2 wherein the business function module provides
access to vendor data stored in the merchandising database.
6. The merchandising system of claim 2 wherein the business function module provides
access to customer data stored in the merchandising database.
7. The merchandising system of claim 2 wherein the business function module provides
access to order data stored in the merchandising database.
8. The merchandising system of claim 1 further comprising:
a client replica generator executing on the web hosting computer to create a
client replica for transmission to the client computer across an intermittent connection
between the client computer and the web hosting computer.
9. The merchandising system of claim 7 wherein the client replica remains stored
at the client computer after the intermittent connection between the client computer
and the web hosting computer is terminated to provide a consumer with access to
merchandising data stored in the client replica.
10. A merchandising system for processing a customer order in association with
a web hosting computer, a client computer, and a business application computer,
the web hosting computer and the business application computer being intermittently
connected by a communications link, the merchandising system comprising:
a merchandising database containing merchandising data including order data pertaining
to customer orders for merchandise and display characteristic parameters, the merchandising
system managing merchandising data received from a plurality of vendors;
a replica generator executing on the business application computer to filter
out at least the order data from the merchandising database to create a replica
of the merchandising database containing the merchandising data without the order
data for transmission to the web hosting computer across the intermittently connected
communications link between the business application computer and the web hosting
computer, the replica including the display characteristic parameters;
a web application receiving the replica at the web hosting computer from across
the intermittently connected communications link and generating an order guide
for displaying the merchandising data from the replica on the client computer,
the order guide having display characteristics configured in accordance with the
display characteristic parameters recorded in the replica; and
a synchronization module synchronizing the replica with the merchandising database
to cause only modifications made to the merchandising database to be updated in
the replica.
11. The merchandising system of claim 9 further comprising:
a replica generator executing on the web hosting computer to create a client
replica for transmission to the client computer across an intermittent connection
between the client computer and the web hosting computer.
12. The merchandising system of claim 10 wherein the client replica remains stored
at the client computer after the intermittent connection between the client computer
and the web hosting computer is terminated to provide a consumer with access to
the merchandising data stored in the client replica.
13. A computer program product encoding a computer program for executing on a
business application computer system a computer process for processing orders for
a plurality of vendors using a merchandising database storing merchandising data
including order data, the orders being generated responsive to at least one selection
entered at a client computer coupled to a web hosting computer, the computer process comprising:
generating a replica containing a subset of the merchandising data from the merchandising
database by filtering out the order data pertaining to customer orders for merchandise;
establishing a communications link between the business application computer
system and the web hosting computer;
transmitting the replica of the merchandising database to the web hosting computer
for display in a web page on a client computer;
disconnecting the communications link between the business application computer
system and the web hosting computer, responsive to the operation of transmitting
the replica;
receiving an order from a customer based on the replica originating at the client
computer, the order being received after the disconnecting operation via an independent
communications link;
modifying the merchandising database in accordance with the order;
reconnecting the business application computer system to the web hosting computer;
synchronizing the replica with the merchandising database to cause only modifications
associated with the modifying operation on the merchandising database to be updated
in the replica, when the business application computer system is disconnected from
the web hosting computer; and
disconnecting the business application computer system from the web hosting computer.
14. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the computer process further comprises:
detecting a conflict between the replica and the merchandising database;
presenting the conflict to a user; and
resolving the conflict based on user input.
15. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the computer process further comprises:
adding one or more display characteristic parameters to the replica, the display
characteristic parameters specifying display characteristics of an order guide.
16. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the computer process further comprises:
using the display characteristic parameters from the replica to dynamically generate
the order guide.
17. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the computer process further comprises:
detecting a variance in the order based on an expected value;
presenting the variance to a user for resolution; and
resolving the variance based on user input.
18. A method of processing orders for a plurality of vendors using a merchandising
database storing merchandising data including order data, the orders being generated
responsive to at least one selection entered at a client computer coupled to a
web hosting computer, the method comprising:
generating a replica at a business application computer containing a subset of
the merchandising data from the merchandising database by filtering out the order
data pertaining to customer orders for merchandise;
establishing a communications link between the business application computer
and the web hosting computer,
transmitting the replica of the merchandising database to the web hosting computer
for display in a web page on a client computer;
disconnecting the communication link between the business application computer
and the web hosting computer, responsive to the operation of transmitting the replica;
receiving an order based on the replica from a customer originating at the client
computer, the order being received after the disconnecting operation via an independent
communications link;
modifying the merchandising database in accordance with the order;
reconnecting the business application computer system to the web hosting computer;
synchronizing the replica with the merchandising database to cause only modifications
associated with the modifying operation on the merchandising database to be updated
in the replica, when the business application computer is disconnected from the
web hosing computer; and
disconnecting the business application computer system from the web hosting computer.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:
reconnecting the business application computer system to the Web hosting computer;
synchronizing the replica with the merchandising database to cause only modifications
associated with the modifying operation on the merchandising database to be updated
in the replica, when the business application computer system is disconnected from
the Web hosting computer; and
disconnecting the business application computer system from the Web hosting computer.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein the generating operation comprises:
adding one or more display characteristic parameters to the replica, the display
character parameters specifying display characteristics of an order guide.
21. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
using the display characteristic parameters from the replica to dynamically generate
the order guide.
22. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
manipulating data in the merchandising database via the business application
computer.
23. A merchandising system for managing merchandising data received from a plurality
of vendors in association with a web hosting computer and a business application
computer, the web hosting computer and the business application computer being
communicatively coupled by an intermittently connected by a communications link,
the merchandising system comprising:
a merchandising database containing merchandising data including order data pertaining
to customer orders for merchandise and being managed by the business application
computer;
a replica generator executing on the business application computer to filter
out at least the order data from the merchandising database to create a replica
of the merchandising database containing the merchandising data without the order
data for transmission to the web hosting computer across the intermittently connected
communications link for display on a web page of a client computer; and
a synchronization module synchronizing the replica with the merchandising database
to cause only modifications made to the merchandising database to be updated in
the replica.
24. A method of managing merchandising data received from a plurality of vendors
in association with a web hosting computer and a business application computer,
the web hosting computer and the business application computer being communicatively
coupled by an intermittently connected communications link, the method comprising:
maintaining a merchandising database containing the merchandising data and being
managed by the business application computer, the merchandising data in the merchandising
database including order data pertaining to consumer orders for the merchandise;
filtering out at least the order data from the merchandising database to create
a replica of the merchandising database containing the merchandising data without
the order data;
transmitting the replica to the web hosting computer across the intermittently
connected communications link; and
synchronizing the replica with the merchandising database to cause only modifications
made to the merchandising database to be updated in the replica.
25. A computer program product encoding a computer program for executing a computer
process for managing merchandising data received from a plurality of vendors in
association with a web hosting computer and a business application computer, the
web hosting computer and the business application computer being communicatively
coupled by an intermittently connected communications link, the computer process comprising:
maintaining a merchandising database containing the merchandising data and being
managed by the business application computer, the merchandising data in the merchandising
database including order data pertaining to customer orders for merchandise;
filtering out at least the order data from the merchandising database to create
a replica of the merchandising database containing the merchandising data without
the order data;
transmitting the replica to the web hosting computer across the intermittently
connected communications link for display in a web page on a client computer;
synchronizing the replica with the merchandising database to cause only modifications
made to the merchandising database to be updated in the replica.
26. A merchandising system for managing merchandising data received from a plurality
of vendors in association with a web hosting computer, a client computer, and a
business application computer, the web hosting computer and the business application
computer being communicatively coupled by an intermittently connected communications
link, the merchandising system comprising:
a merchandising database containing the merchandising data including order data
pertaining to customer orders for merchandise and display characteristic parameters
and being managed by the business application computer;
a replica generator executing on the business application computer to generate
a replica, said replica comprising a subset of the merchandising data from the
merchandising database by filtering out at least the order data for transmission
to the web hosting computer from across the intermittently connected communications
link to allow generation of an order guide for displaying the merchandising data
from the replica in a web page on the client computer, the order guide having display
characteristics configured in accordance with the display characteristic parameters
recorded in the replica; and
a synchronization module synchronizing the replica with the merchandising database
to cause only modifications made to the merchandising database to be updated in
the replica.
27. A method of managing merchandising data received from a plurality of vendors
in association with a web hosting computer, a client computer, and a business application
computer, the web hosting computer and the business application computer being
communicatively coupled by an intermittently connected communications link, the
method comprising:
maintaining a merchandising database containing merchandising data that is managed
by the business application computer, the merchandising data in the merchandising
database including order data pertaining to customer orders for merchandise and
display characteristic parameters;
accessing the merchandising database and generating a replica of a subset of
the merchandising data from the merchandising database by filtering out at least
the order data, the replica including the display characteristic parameters; and
transmitting the replica to the web hosting computer from across the intermittently
connected communications link to allow generation of an order guide for displaying
the merchandising data from the replica in a web page on the client computer, the
order guide having display characteristics configured in accordance with the display
characteristic parameters recorded in the replica; and
synchronizing the replica with the merchandising database to cause only modifications
made to the merchandising database to be updated in the replica.
28. A computer program product encoding a computer program for executing a computer
process for managing merchandising data received from a plurality of vendors in
association with a web hosting computer, a client computer, and a business application
computer, the web hosting computer and the business application computer being
communicatively coupled by an intermittently connected communications link, the
computer process comprising:
maintaining a merchandising database containing the merchandising data and being
managed by the business application computer, the merchandising data in the merchandising
database including order data pertaining to customer orders for merchandise and
display characteristic parameters;
accessing the merchandising database and generating a replica of a subset of
the merchandising data from the merchandising database by filtering out at least
the order data, the replica including the display characteristic parameters; and
transmitting the replica to the web hosting computer from across the intermittently
connected communications link to allow generation of an order guide for displaying
the merchandising data from the replica in a web page on the client computer, the
order guide having display characteristics configured in accordance with the display
characteristic parameters recorded in the replica;
synchronizing the replica with the merchandising database to cause only modifications
made to the merchandising database to be updated in the replica.
29. A merchandising system for processing a customer order in association with
a web hosting computer, a client computer, and a business application computer,
the web hosting computer and the business application computer being communicatively
coupled by an intermittently connected communications link, the merchandising system comprising:
a merchandising database containing the merchandising data including order data
pertaining to customer orders for the merchandise, the merchandising system managing
merchandising data received from a plurality of vendors;
a web host interface establishing the communications link with the web hosting
computer;
a replica generator executing on the business application computer to filter
out at least the order data form the merchandising database to create a replica
containing the merchandising data without the order data for transmission to the
web hosting computer across the intermittently connected communications link;
a web application executing on the web hosting computer and generating an order
guide that displays at least a portion of the merchandising data from the replica
on the client computer; and
a synchronization module synchronizing the merchandising database and the replica.
30. A computer program product encoding a computer program for executing on a
business application computer system a computer process for processing orders for
a plurality of vendors using a merchandising database storing merchandising data
including vendor data received from a plurality of vendors describing merchandise
offered for sale by the vendors and order data pertaining to consumer orders for
the merchandise, the orders being generated responsive to at least one selection
entered at the client computer coupled to a web hosting computer, the computer
process comprising:
generating a replica containing a subset of the merchandising data from the merchandising
database by filtering out the order data pertaining to customer orders for merchandise;
establishing a communications link between the business application computer
system and the web hosting computer;
transmitting the replica of the merchandising database to the web hosting computer
for display in a web page on a client computer;
disconnecting the communications link between the business application computer
system and the web hosting computer, responsive to the operation of transmitting
the replica;
receiving an order from a customer based on the replica and originating at the
client computer, the order being received after the disconnecting operation via
an independent communications link;
modifying the merchandising database in accordance with the order;
reconnecting the business application computer system to the web hosting computer;
and
synchronizing the replica and the merchandising database.
31. A method of processing orders for a plurality of vendors using a merchandising
database storing merchandising data including vendor data received from a plurality
of vendors describing merchandise offered for sale by the vendors, the orders being
generated responsive to at least one selection entered at a client computer coupled
to a web hosting computer, the computer process comprising
generating a replica at a business application computer containing the a subset
of the merchandising data from the merchandising database by filtering out the
order data pertaining to customer orders for merchandise;
establishing a communications link between the business application computer
and the web hosting computer;
transmitting the replica of the merchandising database to the web hosting computer
for display in a web page on a client computer;
disconnecting the communication link between the business application computer
system from the web hosting computer, responsive to the operation of transmitting
the replica;
receiving an order based from a customer on the replica, originating at the client
computer, the order being received after the disconnecting operation via an independent
communications link; and
modifying the merchandising database in accordance with the order; and
synchronizing the merchandising database with the replica.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates generally to electronic commerce systems, and more particularly
to a merchandising system utilizing an intermittent network connection.
BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART
Electronic commerce ("e-commerce") is relevant to many segments of the
economy. For many years, companies have used Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
technology to communicate data, such as purchase orders, invoices, and electronic
payments, via a communication network with other companies. Because EDI relies
on contractually established procedures and interfaces, EDI primarily addresses
a predetermined set of company-to-company transactions. Furthermore, setup and
maintenance of EDI systems can be an expensive prospect, often precluding its use
by smaller companies.
In the past, the communications connections between companies have included dial-up
access and direct connections between the companies' networks. Furthermore, the
technical sophistication that is required to support an EDI system is significant.
With the advent of the Internet, more companies have easy access to the Web sites
and extranets of other companies, promising to lower the costs of EDI for the foreseeable
future. Nevertheless, cost and technical requirements remain significant obstacles
preventing some companies from employing EDI.
Another more recently developing segment of e-commerce involves retailers
and customers. In the retailing segment of e-commerce, a customer can go online
to access a retailer's e-commerce web site to conduct business, such as researching
and purchasing products and services, managing their financial assets, and obtaining
technical support. The web site provides an interface to data, such as customer
data, product data, and transaction data, and applications, such as a purchase
application or a credit card processing application. It is said that most retailers
must now have an Internet presence to be competitive players in their markets.
However, the costs and technical complexity of developing and maintaining an e-commerce
web site also prevent some retailers from doing business on the Web.
A third segment of e-commerce relates to wholesale transactions between vendors
and retailers. For example, a grocery store may order a shipment of cheese from
a cheese vendor, such as KRAFT or a small specialty cheese supplier/distributor.
For some vendors, particularly smaller vendors, the grocer places such orders through
a wholesale broker, who represents multiple vendors. Typically, such orders are
placed via telephone calls or faxes between the grocer and the broker, who calls
or faxes the vendor to place the order. While a large vendor may have the resources
to maintain an e-commerce web site for such orders, smaller vendors and brokers
tend to be left out of the e-commerce world because of cost and technical complexity issues.
Typically, an e-commerce website is hosted on a web server computer. Some
companies internally maintain the web server and develop the software executing
on the web server. Alternatively, many companies exist to provide such Web hosting
services to a wide variety of businesses. Likewise, the development of web pages
and application executed on the web server can also be contracted out to web development
companies. However, to smaller companies, the costs and/or technical sophistication
required to establish and maintain a web presence, even with the assistance of
these Web hosting and development companies, may prevent their participation in
the e-commerce revolution. Often, the economies of scale that would initially allow
such a larger company to invest the resources into developing and maintaining an
e-commerce solution are not available to a smaller company. Even approaches that
allow a company to access and maintain its e-commerce web site (on another company's
web hosting server) through a browser interface present financial obstacles (e.g.,
significant storage, connection, and bandwidth charges) and technical obstacles
(e.g., the time and substantial technical understanding to make customizations
through an interface that is not the same as the company's standard business application's
interface). Accordingly, another approach for providing an easy, low-cost e-commerce
solution is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other problems are solved by a system that integrates a company's
internal business systems with an e-commerce web site, so that company personnel
can manage their business with a business system that seamlessly imports and/or
exports relevant, up-to-date data to a web site designed to interact with customers
across the Web. Furthermore, an embodiment of such a system may provide feedback,
possibly representing purchase orders or customer information changes, for example,
that can be automatically entered into the company's business system.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a user can maintain the web site
data
and display characteristics (e.g., web site fonts, layout, images, etc.), as well
as process consumer and vendor transactions, without having to maintain the data
and operation via an alternative user interface. For example, the business application
can provide the exclusive interface to the merchandising data, web site display
characteristics, and order processing. In such an embodiment, no intermediary or
translation module is required to map data (more particularly, data in given tables,
rows, and fields) into alternative data configuration for use on the web site.
Instead, the databases associated with the business application and the replica
used by a web application at the web site may be consistent (and still need not
be identical) so as to facilitate rapid synchronization. For example, in one embodiment,
only marked differences between the merchandising database and the replica are
synchronized, thereby reducing the time and bandwidth required for synchronization,
although the present invention is by no means limited to this particular embodiment.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a merchandising system for processing
a customer order in association with a Web hosting computer, a client computer,
and a business application computer is provided. The Web hosting computer and the
business application computer are intermittently connected by a communications
link. A merchandising database contains order data. A web host interface establishes
the communications link with the web hosting computer. A replica generator executes
on the business application computer to filter out at least the order data from
the merchandising database, to create a replica, and to transmit the replica to
the web hosting computer across the intermittent connection. A web application
executes on the web hosting computer to generate an order guide that displays data
from the replica on the client computer system.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a merchandising system for processing
a customer order in association with a Web hosting computer, a client computer,
and a business application computer is provided. The Web hosting computer and the
business application computer are intermittently connected by a communications
link. A merchandising database contains order data and display characteristic parameters.
A business application accesses the merchandising database and generates a replica
of at least a portion of the merchandising database. A web application receives
the replica at the Web hosting computer and generates an order guide displaying
data from the replica on the client computer system. The order guide includes display
characteristics configured in accordance with display characteristic parameters
recorded in the replica.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of processing orders
using a merchandising database storing merchandising data is provided. The orders
are generated responsive to at least one selection entered at a client computer
coupled to a Web hosting computer. A replica is generated containing at least some
of the merchandising data from the merchandising database. A communications link
is established between a business application computer system executing a business
application and the Web hosting computer. The replica of the merchandising database
is transmitted to the Web hosting computer for display in a web page on a client
computer. The communications link is disconnected between the business application
computer system and the Web hosting computer, responsive to the operation of transmitting
the replica. An order based on the replica and originating at the client computer
is received after the disconnecting operation via an independent communications
link. The merchandising database is modified in accordance with the order.
In other implementations of the present invention, articles of manufacture are
provided as computer program products. One embodiment of a computer program product
provides a computer program storage medium readable by a computer system and encoding
a computer program for executing a computer process for processing orders using
a merchandising database storing merchandising data. Another embodiment of a computer
program product may be provided in computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave
by a computing system and encoding the computer program for processing orders using
a merchandising database storing merchandising data. The computer program product
encodes a computer program for executing on a computer system a computer process
for processing orders using a merchandising database storing merchandising data.
The orders are generated responsive to at least one selection entered at a client
computer coupled to a Web hosting computer. A replica is generated containing at
least some of the merchandising data from the merchandising database. A communications
link is established between a business application computer system executing a
business application and the Web hosting computer. The replica of the merchandising
database is transmitted to the Web hosting computer for display in a web page on
a client computer. The communications link is disconnected between the business
application computer system and the Web hosting computer, responsive to the operation
of transmitting the replica. An order based on the replica and originating at the
client computer is received after the disconnecting operation via an independent
communications link. The merchandising database is modified in accordance with
the order.
These and various other features as well as other advantages, which characterize
the present invention, will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed
description and a review of the associated drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a merchandising system in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates more details of a merchandising system in an embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 3A-3K illustrate an exemplary database schema of a merchandising database
in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates components of a business application in an embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 5 depicts a business application screenshot of a "Parent" window in an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 depicts a business application screenshot of a "Customer" window in an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 depicts a business application screenshot of a "Vendor" window in an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 depicts a business application screenshot of a "Contact" window in an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 depicts a business application screenshot of a "Product" window in an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 depicts a business application screenshot of an "Order" window in an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 depicts a business application screenshot of an "EDI" window in an embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 12 depicts a business application screenshot of a "Representative" window
in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 depicts a screenshot of an "Order" web page in an embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 14 depicts screenshot of an "Order" web page populated with selected products
in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 depicts a screenshot of an "Order Review" web page in an embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 16 depicts an exemplary computer system that can be useful in an embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 17 depicts a screenshot of order processing by a business application in
an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18 depicts a screenshot of a dialog box indicating that an email order
has been located in the inbox of the business user in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 19 depicts a message box indicating a date variance in an embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 20 depicts operations for processing orders using a merchandising database
in an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a merchandising system in an embodiment of the present invention.
An exemplary business application
100 assists a user in performing important
business functions, such as taking orders, tracking commissions, managing a product
catalog, and managing customer relationships. For example, a user may be an employee
of a broker agency, having one or more independent sales representatives who represent
vendors in wholesale transactions in a given geographic or demographic market.
Although an independent sales representative (or "broker") is discussed in association
with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, other users are contemplated
with the scope of the present invention, including without limitation manufacturers,
distributors, and retailers. In addition, some specific users and consumers of
embodiments of the present invention may include without limitation retailers providing
web-based shopping list, recipe, or bridal registry support, rack jobbers, construction
project managers, hardware stores helping home owners with organizing home repair
or improvement projects, adventure outfitters organizing and outfitting an outing,
and travel vendors or travel integrators providing a complete solution for travelers.
For clarification of the exemplary embodiment involving the broker agency, it
should be understood that a broker agency typically employees for contracts with
one or more independent sales representatives. Another term for a broker, provided
by the U.S. Department of Labor, is a "manufacturer's agent", wherein a broker
agency is a "manufacturer's agency". Each sales representative represents a set
of manufacturers, distributors, or service providers to other entities in a supply
chain. In a concrete example, a representative may represent a specialized tea
vendor in wholesale transactions with a regional retailer (e.g., grocery store
or tea shop). The retailer would contact the representative and place an order
for a given tea. The representative would then contact the vendor to place the
order and have the tea shipped to the retailer. Each of the parties to the transaction
(i.e., the retailer, the representative, and the vendor) gain benefit from this
relationship. For example, the retailer can contact a representative to order a
variety of products from multiple vendors, rather than contacting each vendor individually.
The vendors receive marketing and customer contact services through the brokerage
in exchange for a commission provided to the brokerage and the representatives
for each order.
Continuing with the example of a broker agency, the business application
100 provides the broker agency with an interface to the agency's business,
such as data relating to vendors, customers, orders, products, prices, commissions,
and individual agents/representatives employed by the agency. Such data may be
stored in a merchandising database
116 of storage medium
102, which
is coupled to the business application
100. The business application
100
also provides important business functionality, such as conditions tracking, order
processing, reporting, and automated pricing. The business function capabilities
of an exemplary business application are discussed in more detail relative to other
Figures in this description.
The business application
100 may also include a communications link
110
for communicating with the computer systems of one or more vendors. The communications
link
110 represents a logical or physical data link between two or more
entities. In embodiments of the present invention, a communications link may include
without limitation the Internet, the WAN, a LAN, a broadband network, a satellite
or otherwise wireless communications link (e.g., such as wireless link supporting
WAP, the Wireless Application Protocol), a dial-up connection, and other known
communications links. Through the communications link
110, the business
application
100 may receive relevant merchandising data from each vendor
the agency represents. Exemplary merchandising data may include without limitation
product and service catalogs, invoices, price lists, status of orders, payment
terms, shipping terms, and communications from the vendor. The merchandising data
communicated by communications link
110 may be stored by the business application
100 in the merchandising database
116 along with other business and
merchandising data generated by or collected from other sources.
In addition, the business application
100 also allows the agency to export
a relevant portion (i.e., a filtered replica
114) of its merchandising database
116 to a storage medium
108 of a Web hosting server
104 to
support an e-commerce application
106, which executes on the server
104.
The filtered or partial replica
110 is a subset of the merchandising database
116 and may also be considered another merchandising database in its own
right. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the replica is used to support
a consumer's placement of orders. As such, historical order details are not required
through an e-commerce application
106 and may be filtered out when the replica
is generated. Replicas may contain a unique identifier to assist in determining
the level of trust associated with the replica and its user. Such an identifier
may be encrypted, signed, or authenticated by certificate. In addition, although
a partial replica is associated with the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 1, it should
be understood that some embodiments of the present invention may employ a full
replica (i.e., including all data from the merchandising database
116) at
the web hosting server
104, depending on the configuration of the merchandising
database and the operational requirements of the e-commerce application or the
structural requirements of a client replica
126.
The e-commerce application
106 provides the agency with the capability
of marketing products for the agency-represented vendors to a larger market (i.e.,
potentially unrestricted by geographical limitations). In addition, the e-commerce
application
106 presents the agency with the opportunity to market products
and process orders more efficiently than via the traditional telephone and fax
communication channels.
When the business application
100 exports the filtered replica
114
to the Web hosting server
104 via a communications link
120, the
application
100 preferably connects with the server
104 via an intermittent
connection (i.e., the connection is established during the transfer of data between
the business application
100 and the Web hosting server
104, and
thereafter terminated). Alternatively, the connection may remain in place while
communications over the connection are intermittent. By maintaining intermittent
connections or communications, the agency may save communication charges and preserve
resources by updating the filtered replica
114 periodically, rather than
continuously. For example, the filtered replica
114 can represent a "snapshot"
of a relevant subset of the business and merchandising data exported from the merchandizing
database
116.
It should be understood that a connection between a business application computer
system and a Web hosting computer may be logical in nature and does not imply a
physical connection. Indeed, wireless communications are also contemplated within
the scope of the present invention. In contrast to a physical connection, a logical
connection can be established between two computers on the basis of various communication
protocols in which the sender and the receiver are identified in accordance with
a predefined scheme. For example, TCP/IP ("Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol") connections employ an addressing scheme in which a communications link
is established between a sender and a receiver on the basis of unique address assigned
to both. As such, the sender can transmit a message addressed to the receiver into
the Internet. Within the Internet, routers direct the message to the appropriate
receiver based on the message's destination address.
An alternative communications link can be established by email, in which addressing
is based on an email address of a receiver. Although some email systems may be
based on TCP/IP addressing at one level of the communications protocol stack (e.g.,
the email addresses of the sender and receiver may sometimes be resolved to individual
TCP/IP addresses), email itself is based on a different type of addressing (e.g.,
"receiving@destination.com"). In fact, email origins and destinations, and indeed
some forms of email itself, need not be based on TCP/IP addressing. As such, the
TCP/IP connection between the Web hosting computer and the business application
computer is deemed to be an independent communications link to that established
by email. In addition, individual logical connections, separated by one or more
intermittent disconnections, are deemed to be independent communications links.
Alternative communications links may also be employed, including without limitation
telephone communications, fax communications, dial-up connections, wireless communications
including wireless Internet connections and satellite links, and postal mail.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a retailer or other purchasing entity
(e.g., a "customer" or a customer's representative) may use a browser
112
on client system
128 to access via a communications link
122 a web
page generated or otherwise provided by the e-commerce application
106.
Through this web page interface, the customer may browse product information, place
or modify orders, and communicate with the agency or vendors associated with the
merchandising information (e.g., product numbers, descriptions, available quantities,
lead times, back orders, inventory characteristics, etc.) of the partial replica
114 stored in the storage media
108.
In an alternative embodiment, another replica
126 may be exported from
the replica
114 and stored on client storage medium
124. This embodiment
allows a customer to take advantage of an intermediate connection with the host
104. The replica
126 may be full or partial, depending on the given
application of the system. Once exported to the client system, the replica
126
can be accessed by a client-based application
130. Such an applicati
