AU610234B2 - A merchandise ordering arrangement - Google Patents

Description

lii! II! 11111 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1952-1969 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Form t1 Application Number Lodged Complete Application No.

Specification Lodged Published Priority: Class Int. Class 6102 34 3azL.m p or f Related art: Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT DIAL-A-GROCER PTY. LTD.

23 Barrack Street, Perth, State of Western Australia, Commonwealth of Australia TERRENCE EDWARD DAVIES Address for Service: COLLISON CO., Patent Attorneys, 117 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "A MERCHANDISE ORDERING ARRANGEMENT" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to ri X us: PA ENT, T..A;2 L'MAKS DESIGNS SUB-OFFICE -1 SEP 1988 SOUTH AUSTRALIA I i This form must be accompanied by either a provisional specification (Form 9 and true copy) or by a complete specification (Form 10 and true copy).

These sections are to be completed only where applicable..

C. J. THOMFN. Co mmonweail|h Govcrnmntn rintr 11 1 1 2 This invention relates to both a merchandise ordering terminal, an arrangemernt for effecting ordering of merchandising from a plurality of individual users, and a method of ordering merchandise.

It is now a very common procedure to distribute very broadly, catalogues illustrating goods that might be for sale.

0000 00:0 Unfortunately, it is a present problem that if a potential purchaser wishes to o oo 10 purchase such products, they must presently travel to the nearest store to complete the transaction.

o o 0 0° Whereas, remote communications have become possible through the involvement of computers, these are not sufficiently available to the general 1 o 15 public or require complex operating procedures to make them useful to most potential merchandise purchasers.

One of the objects of this invention is to propose an arrangement by which in a oo0 0 very economic manner, a device can be provided to each of a large number of potential purchasers such that these devices can be economically used by the end user to effect an ordering of merchandise by way of a central computer o ordering arrangement.

A further problem has been to provide an arrangement which can be successfully used by older persons without computer experience and further, infirm people and even children.

A further problem has been to provide a device which can either be supplied from a central supplier to each consumer at such a cost that it is economic for such supply to be achieved or that individual purchasers will be prepared to meet such cost and in such numbers as to make a broad distribution basis useful.

It will be well understood that if these criteria can be achieved, there can be then provided an economic ordering system that is useful by many people and

NOTE

No k1galhlinn or ohCer itnessc rqumrcd TO: The Commissioner.of Patents 3 that typically such ordering can be made directly from catalogues without the persons having to travel at all to any further location.

The invention in one form can be said to reside in a merchandise ordering terminal including bar code reader, a processing unit adapted to receive and store information received from the bar code reader, a modem connected to the processing unit and adapted to communicate through a telephone line to and from an external processor and transmit any stored information from the processing unit, and the external processor is adapted to enquire back to the terminal to receive confirmation of the items that are requested to be ordered.

In preference, the terminal further includes a visual display unit and there are 1 5 read only memory means which will provide prompting in the gathering of information by way of the bar code reader for transmission.

I

r~ In preference, the control system includes means to interrogate a user in respect of a password or pass number.

One of the preferred features which provides significantly more economic apparatus in this arrangement is that any information received by the bar code reader can be stored and upon an order to transmit such information, such information will then be sent without substantial reprocessing so that a central processing computer can effect the processing of the information, comparison of the information to order stocks and can re-transmit information such as the cost of each of the items of merchandise intended to be order, and can ensure confirmation that the order and final charge is also acceptable.

0 A further feature of some advantage is that substantially all of the controls in the terminal are achieved by use of the bar code reader in association with bar codes on a sheet which can be used either in association with other bar codes identifying products in a catalogue or can identify specific numbers by which products can be identified into the terminal.

01- r- 3a For a fuller understanding of this invention it will now be described with the assistance of drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal manufactured according to the first preferred embodiment, FIG. 2 is a typical bar I I S7v a i t

I

4 code sheet and FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of components within the terminal as shown in FIG. 1.

In addition to the specific pieces of hardware shown, there is a control program contained within ROM and compatible with a control program within a central processing unit remote from the terminal by which the various instructions can be achieved and the various operations pertaining to the processing will be pursued.

Referring firstly then to the hardware items, the terminal 1 which acts as a transceiver includes off and on control buttons 2, a liquid crystal visual display unit 3, a bar code reader 4 coupled by a flexible lead 5 to the box 6 of the terminal 1 and a telephone connector 7 also connected by a flexible cord 8 to the box 6 of the terminal 1.

In FIG. 2 there are shown in exemplary fashion only a plurality of spaced apart bar codes 9 each of which are appropriately identified by some underneath writing shown in purely schematic fashion as 10 and such a sheet 11 is then made available as required by which the bar code reader 4 can be caused to operate across the bar codes and effect either a control direction or a storage of information.

In FIG. 3 there is a central processing unit 12 controlled generally by read only memory (ROM) 13 and holding RAM 14 by which to temporarily store received information that is either received from a main central processing unit 15 or from the bar code reader 4.

L The bar code reader 4 is coupled through interpretive means 16.

Further included in this schematic functional block diagram are a liquid crystal visual display unit 17, a modem 18 and an interface adaptor 19.

In addition to those units shown, there is provided a back-up battery, a beeper, and of course the off/on switches 2.

r_ The apparatus is intended to provide a remote and easily operatable terminal by which all of the effective controls and functioning of the terminal can be achieved through operation of the bar code reader 4 in association with appropriate bar codes.

In addition to identification of particular items, there are a plurality of function operator codes and in this embodiment these are identifiable as "new list", S. "cancel item","send", "purchase" and "cancel transaction".

In addition for the bar codes, there are the numbers 0 to 9 and for each of these codes and numbers they are appropriately interpretable by the operating system.

The communication protocol is selected to be asynchronous, 300 board receive and send, 8 bit data, one stop bit and no parity.

Upon power up, the controlling program effects a first function comprising checking the RAM memory for any existing list of already ordered shopping goods which will be retained even though the terminal as a whole is switched off.

If an existing order list is detected then a prompt of "OK to add to list or new list" will be displayed. If "OK" is entered then the unit will prepare itself to accept new items codes or if new list is entered from the bar code. the prompt of "OK TO DELETE OLD LIST?" on the visual display unit is displayed.

If "OK" is entered then memory is cleared and unit will prepare to accept item codes for a new list. "Cancel transaction" will abort this function to power up reset. If no list is found then user prompt "SCAN NEWLIST" is displayed and unit waits for NEWLIST code. When NEWLIST is received the unit enters LOCAL EDIT MODE.

In this mode the unit is ready to accept item codes and once 1 item is stored other function codes. This ensures 1 item is stored before transmission can occur. The unit can store up to 100 item codes and recognises both short and long form of the Universal Product Code. The unit will continue to scan item 18U-P~ I 6 codes until a function code is scanned. Three functions are recognised in Local Mode:- NEWLIST which prompts to delete the present list and commence a new list.

2. CANCEL ITEM which deletes the last item entered.

3. SEND which commences process to transmit the shopping list. This process prompts the user for a PIN number. Upon receipt of the PIN the unit attempts to autodial the main computer. If the line is busy or a time out occurs two further attempts are made after which the line is 0°,o dropped and failure displayed on the LCD.

When a successful connection is made the unit enters REMOTE MODE.

O 0 00 0 In Remote Mode the unit sends an initial identifier code to which the main 0 0 computer responds with an ID request code. The unit responds with it's serial 0oo number and the user PIN number. Upon verification of the PIN number the main computer sends a request for list code whereon the unit transmits the complete list of items codes. The main computer than compiles the full shopping list with 00000°0 item names and costs and transmits to the unit the total cost or an indication that some items are out of stock. The prompt is then "SCAN OK ACKNOWLEDGE" followed by "PURCHASE TO ACCEPT OR OK TO EDIT LIST". If the PURCHASE is scanned the order is placed with the main computer and the unit will disconnect and reset to power up mode. If the OK is scanned then the 1 st item name and price is displayed. The options at this point are:- 1. OK which accepts that item and displays the next on the list.

2. CANCEL ITEM which deleted the displayed item and redisplays the new total prices and the "PURCHASE TO ACCEPT OR OK TO EDIT LIST" prompts.

3. PURCHASE places the order with the main computer and the unit then disconnects and resets to power up mode.

7 4. CANCEL TRANSACTION disconnects the line without making a purchase and resets power up mode.

It will now be seen that by use of the interaction between the main central processing unit through the telephone line connection and the relatively simple terminal device, and by providing that all of the control data is achieved through a bar code reader will provide both substantial economy and, in a further instance, will avoid substantial costs associated with providing a keyboard or at least a substantial keyboard which also has significant problems related to long term reliability.

It is to be noted that various hardware items are selected for this unit so as to provide significant advantages.

For instance, the RAM memory and also the CPU will be CMOS whereby to maintain a minimum of power use.

The modem 18 and associated circuitry which is adapted to provide for automatic telephone call out including automatically generating the signals for tone and/or pulse dialling a specified number and monitoring the responses.

The device according to the embodiment shall be relay isolated from the telephone line until commuiications with the main Central Processing Unit is required.

The Visual Display Unit is comprised of a low powered liquid crystal display containing sixteen characters on each of two lines.

One of the important features of the device includes an audio signalling device which we shall refer to as a beeper and it is a feature that this shall be activated by the program from time to time to indicate successful completion of activities or error conditions.

Typically then, upon a successful reading of a particular bar code, this will effect a resultant beep indicating a successful read.

8 It is to be clearly understccd of course that the invention is not intended to be limited to any of the specific information given describing the particular embodiment which is given as an illustration only of the type of device that would be appropriate and achieve the advantages of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. A merchandise ordering terminal including bar code reader, a processing unit adapted to receive and store information received from the bar code reader, a modem connected to the processing unit and adapted to communicate through a telephone line to and from an external processor and transmit any stored information from the processing unit, and the external processor is adapted to enquire back to the terminal to receive confirmation of the items that are requested to be ordered.

2. A merchandise ordering terminal as in claim 1 further characterised in that there is a Visual Display Unit coupled to the processing unit.

3. A merchandise ordering terminal as in either of preceding claims 1 or 2 further characterised in that there is an operating program with the terminal effective to provide that the bar code reader can be used to both control the actions of the processing unit and to receive ordering information to be transmitted to an external processor.

4. A merchandise ordering terminal as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised by a control system which includes an arrangement for effecting a communication to and from the external processor such that stored information received from the bar code reader will be processed by the external processor comprising a main central processing unit which can then revert an enquiry back to the terminal to receive confirmation of the items that are requested to be ordered and the price for which such goods are to be purchased.

A merchandise ordering terminal as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the control program includes means to effect a bar to operate the terminal unless a password or pass number is inserted upon request.

6. A merchandise ordering assembly including a plurality of terminals as characterised in any one of the preceding claims when in combination with a main Central Processing Unit adapted to receive the order and effect a processing of any such orders.

7. A merchandise ordering terminal substantially as described in this specification with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

8. A merchandise ordering assembly substantially as described in this specification with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. oooo00 0000 0 O 00 0 0 000 Po0 a o0 0 0 0 0 00 0 00 0 0O 00 2 O 03 0 0 o C a 000 00 0 0 DATED this 1st day of September, 1988. DIAL-A-GROCER PTY. LTD., By their Patent Attorneys, COLLISON CO. ~;?ALM"