WO2002010885A2 - Systeme et procede de gestion de commerce electronique et des stocks cote client - Google Patents

Systeme et procede de gestion de commerce electronique et des stocks cote client Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002010885A2
WO2002010885A2 PCT/US2001/024071 US0124071W WO0210885A2 WO 2002010885 A2 WO2002010885 A2 WO 2002010885A2 US 0124071 W US0124071 W US 0124071W WO 0210885 A2 WO0210885 A2 WO 0210885A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
merchant
inventory
website
computer
computer readable
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2001/024071
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2002010885A3 (fr
Inventor
Stanley M. Siegel
Darren M. Siegel
Original Assignee
Siegel Stanley M
Siegel Darren M
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/630,476 external-priority patent/US6691112B1/en
Application filed by Siegel Stanley M, Siegel Darren M filed Critical Siegel Stanley M
Priority to AU2001278103A priority Critical patent/AU2001278103A1/en
Publication of WO2002010885A2 publication Critical patent/WO2002010885A2/fr
Publication of WO2002010885A3 publication Critical patent/WO2002010885A3/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
    • G06Q10/087—Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to inventory management systems and, more particularly, to a client-side e-commerce. and inventory management system, and method, which also integrates point-of-sale and Internet operations.
  • e-commerce web servers require a traditional HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) web host that is connected to the inventory or product database through a dynamic data connectivity interface.
  • HTTP hypertext transfer protocol
  • the web pages contain either small embedded software programs (called scripts) , or they contain calls to ordinary computer programs that reside on the server.
  • Some popular implementations of this e-commerce scheme include websites that reside on web hosts such as Microsoft's Internet Information Server as the HTTP web host, and provide the database such as Microsoft Access or SQL Server, and have pages that incorporate server components such as Microsoft's Active Server Pages (ASP) , Java Server Pages (JSP) , Perl, and other technologies such as executables and .DLL's.
  • the purpose of including all of these components on the server is to allow pages that display the contents of the website as the user of the site requests them, which allows any changes to the database, such as inventory changes or pricing changes, to be reflected in real-time. As such, it can accurately reflect the current product inventory at any given moment and the database can readily be synchronized with conventional in store sales data to provide a single inventory and product management system.
  • the merchant's business critical information such as inventory, pricing, sales, customers, etc.
  • This information is not on a database that the merchant controls, the possibly of breaches of security from hackers is increased. Also, in many cases, the merchant is locked to that service. Because the merchant's website and information resides on the server provided by the solution provider, the merchant is unable to choose a different hosting provider for their website. This further contributes to the merchant's diminishing level of control over their e-commerce business .
  • the present invention addresses these problems directly by providing a system that allows the online and "bricks and mortar" sales and inventory data to be integrated without requiring a dynamic web host.
  • the present invention provides a software program which can reside on a merchant's in store personal computer that performs all of the inventory database functions of the database in the dynamic web server context, but which can also double as an in store point-of-sale terminal, and which has the ability to simultaneously generate all web pages of the merchant's static web site based on the information changes in the program's inventory database.
  • the advantage of this is that merchant does not have to write any HTML, and they can host their web site on any one of a myriad of static website hosting providers. These static hosts are far less expensive than the dynamic hosts, and the pages can be retrieved by Internet surfing customers much faster.
  • the present invention uses the data in its inventory database to generate all of the HTML pages for every product in the database, as well as index and category pages that organize the information for customers. Once the pages are generated they are transferred to the web host ("uploaded") via the Internet standard File Transfer Protocol ("FTP"). These pages contain only HTML code and scripts; they do not contain any executable program components.
  • the merchant has the ability to use a secure payment gateway, or to accept online orders via email only.
  • the secure online payment gateway server processes the transfer of funds from the customer's account to the merchant's account and sends an email to the merchant's P0P3 email server address containing the order and customer information.
  • the web site When a customer places an un-secure order on the web site, the web site sends an email to the merchant's POP3 email server address that contains the order and customer information.
  • the merchant's software retrieves the order emails (placed using either secure payment gateway or direct email) from the merchant's email address for processing and fulfillment.
  • this updated inventory information is used to generate updated information for the web site, which are uploaded.
  • the updated inventory information also simultaneously updates the merchant's in store point-of-sale system. This system keeps the website and in store inventory system synchronized in a way that is efficient, easy, and automatic.
  • the instant invention requires the merchant to establish an Internet connection only when they are uploading their website information to the third party web server, or retrieving orders from their email server.
  • Hyper-Text Markup Language HTML
  • the user may create a custom web page through a "set up wizard" to add color, backgrounds, frames, links, and sounds or use templates to add variety. Items may be photographed and displayed on the web pages and can be customized and organized for easier access.
  • the search engine is specially formatted to deal with a group of similarly created and managed electronic retail web sites.
  • the search engine gives retailers the ability to advertise and promote specific items or groups of items on a main search site to promote sales .
  • Such a search page may include banners of featured items with descriptions from different web stores within the group as well as links to those sites . Additionally a links page may be included to display a list of pertinent related sites .
  • the search engine also provides the consumer with the ability to browse possible retail sites by categories defined by the owner of the sites. Similarly items from multiple retail sites can be accessed and displayed by category with information from their associated sites.
  • the search engine is able to handle queries in multiple word forms, space delineated forms, and using Boolean operators.
  • the engine searches all existing on-line stores within the retail group for the word or phrase requested and display associated available items. Items returned by the search engine are categorized by owner's site and include hyperlinks to reach these sites. These hyperlinks lead directly to the item on the owner's website and may open up a new window of the web browser.
  • Customers visiting the website may give feedback in the form of comments and a rating system. Such comment and ratings may be viewed by the owner as well as future visitors to the site to provide a level of confidence in the site. Feedback may only be given by registered customers to protect against unprovoked or malicious responses. Such a registration includes personal information and an email address which may be used as the unique login to the system. Examples of previous electronic merchandising approaches are as follows.
  • U.S. Patent Number 5,694,551 issued on December 2, 1997 to John D. Doyle et al .
  • U.S. Patent Number 5,721,906, issued on February 24, 1998 to David M. Siefert describes a system for managing resources which can take the form of computer-compatible information, such as data files and program, non-computer-compatible information, such as data contained on microfiche, and physical objects.
  • Such resources are located at geographically different locations, and are given descriptive profiles that may be searched by a user in order to retrieve such a resource .
  • U.S. Patent Number 5,727,164 issued on March 10, 1998 to Eugene G. Kaye et al .
  • U.S. Patent Number 5,924,094, issued on July 13, 1999 to Herbert P. Sutter describes an independent distributed database system including a plurality of sites that may work offline using local data. Each stores only the data it needs while an online transaction occurs only when necessary to update or change a system.
  • U.S. Patent Number 5,940,807, issued August 17, 1999 to Daniel S. Purcell describes a method for controlling the collection, processing, and dissemination by a host regarding product or service availability. Sellers approved by the host are granted access to the system for providing inventory information. Such information is organized and cross referenced with a buyers list to provide for a purchase transaction.
  • Patent Number 5,918,227 discloses an online directory service with a plurality of databases and a processing system with a plurality of processors.
  • U.S. Patent Number 5,956,727 discloses a heterogeneous database system which includes plural database systems, wherein one of the database systems acts as a system manager.
  • a computer system which employs a globally addressable storage environment that allows a plurality of networked computers to access data by addressing even when the data is stored on a persistent storage device such as a computer hard disk and other traditionally non-addressable data storage devices .
  • Examples of web page generators include U.S. Patent Number 5,940,834, issued on August 17,1999 to Debbie Pinard et al . , which disclose a web page generator for automatic web page creation in an Internet and Intranet environment after being placed on a web server, and U.S. Patent Number 6,247,032, issued on June 12, 2001 to Richard S. Bernardo et al . , which shows a software tool for use with a computer system to simplify the creation of Web sites using pre-stored templates without the website creator having to write any HTML or other programming code, and to enable multiple collaborators to prepare the content for the website . None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a client-side e-commerce and inventory management system, and method, which also integrates point-of-sale and Internet operations and solves the aforementioned problems is desired.
  • a client-side system for e-commerce which integrates point-of-sale and Internet operations.
  • the system includes a merchant's computer having a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a computer readable medium coupled to the memory having computer readable program code means embodied therein.
  • the system has computer readable program code means for generating an e-commerce website on the merchant's computer and uploading the website to a Web server.
  • the system has computer readable program code means for maintaining a client-side database of the inventory of items offered for sale on the website and at a point-of-sale.
  • Computer readable code means are provided for updating the inventory database to reflect sales made on the website and at the point-of-sale.
  • the system also includes computer readable code means for reflecting changes on the website resulting from changes in the inventory of the items available for sale.
  • a system to integrate point- of-sale and e-commerce website operations on a merchant's computer having means to execute computer readable program codes and to communicate with a Web server.
  • the system includes a computer readable program code to construct and maintain an inventory database .
  • Computer readable program code generates an e-commerce website.
  • Computer readable program code updates inventory information in the database and on the website.
  • Computer readable program code processes point-of-sale transactions.
  • Computer readable program code processes e- commerce transactions, resulting in the data being in the same computer readable format as the point-of-sale transactions.
  • Computer readable program code transfers data about transactions and inventory information between the merchant's computer and the Web server to synchronize the inventory database and to update the website to reflect changes resulting from the processed transactions.
  • Another embodiment of the invention is a client-side program executable by a merchant's computer performing method steps for enabling an inventory management system to integrate point-of-sale and e-commerce operations on the merchant's website.
  • the program includes transferring information between the merchant's computer and a Web server linked to the merchant's website.
  • the website is queried for inventory information. Inventory information is retrieved corresponding to the query.
  • the inventory information from the website is integrated with inventory information maintained about the merchant's point-of-sale operations.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the prior art approach to e- commerce with a conventional web host and conventional dynamic web server including a database, scripting software and a regular non-specialized web server.
  • This system can be provided by a third party application service provider/web hosting provider, or is purchased by and resides on site at the merchant ' s location .
  • Fig. 2A is an overall flow diagram of all of the Internet- related communications of the invention system.
  • Fig. 2B is a technology flow diagram of e-commerce according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 3.1 is a flow diagram of the template driven process.
  • Fig. 3.2 is a flow diagram of the initial process of designing and uploading a website.
  • Fig. 3A is a screen shot showing information input fields for the website title, the email address and the domain name of the website.
  • Fig. 3B is a screen shot showing information input fields for the merchant's contact information such as address and telephone number.
  • Figs. 3C (1 through 7, inclusive) are screen shots showing information input fields for the merchant to add items to the inventory.
  • Fig. 3D is a screen shot showing a selection menu for a merchant to select a template for the merchant's website.
  • Figs. 3E (1 through 6, inclusive) are screen shots depicting screens the merchant completes for designing/ customizing a website.
  • Fig. 3F is a screen shot of the completed website being previewed from the merchant's machine browser.
  • Figs. 3G (1 through 6, inclusive) are screen shots depicting screens where the merchant establishes how to calculate, collect and report taxes for both online and in-store transactions .
  • Figs. 3H (1 and 2) are screen shots depicting screens where the merchant establishes how to calculate and collect shipping charges for both online and in-store transactions.
  • Figs. 31 are illustrations depicting screens where the merchant establishes what methods and terms of payment they will accept for both online and in-store transactions.
  • Fig. 3J is a screen shot depicting a screen where the merchant establishes "the means to accept secure payments for online transactions.
  • Figs. 3K (1 through 3, inclusive) are screen shots depicting screens where the merchant establishes their website hosting settings, and email settings for receiving email orders.
  • Figs. 3L (1 through 3, inclusive) are screen shots showing detailed employee information, including permissions granted or withheld for operating/accessing information in the system.
  • Figs. 3M (1 and 2) are screen shots of security information and controls for employees .
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an overall inventory management system which automates the entire order entry and fulfillment process in accordance with the invention through monitoring quantity levels and reorder points, supporting inventory control and Just-in-Time ordering, and employing barcode technology.
  • Fig. 4A is a screen shot showing the full featured integrated point-of-sale system integrating in-store purchases with online purchases.
  • Figs. 4B (1 through 6, inclusive) are screen shots depicting inventory control screens enabling a merchant to process online sales from the same inventory as the point-of- sale system.
  • Figs. 4C (1 through 4, inclusive) are screen shots displaying information enabling the merchant to automatically track and manage customer information, purchasing history and payments.
  • Figs. 4D (1 through 3, inclusive) are screen shots displaying information enabling the merchant to manage inventory by tracking information about vendors and the products they supply .
  • Fig. 4E is an illustration showing a site selection menu where the merchant elects to import information from or export information to other accounting software packages .
  • Figs . 5A and 5B are block diagrams of the method for indexing and managing a searchable community of HTML and non- HTML information according to the present invention using an existing search engine model .
  • Figs . 6A and 6B are block diagrams of the method for indexing and managing a searchable community of HTML and non-
  • the Internet also has gateways to networks and services that are based on other protocols .
  • the Internet connects millions of computers (hosts) worldwide.
  • the underlying protocol with which these systems communicate is called TCP/IP.
  • Any computer system directly connected to the network has a domain name (URL) and an IP (numeric) address.
  • the instant invention is used in connection with electronic commerce on the World Wide Web (Web or WWW) .
  • Web is a global, virtual-network based hypertext information system that uses the Internet as its transport mechanism to display computer screens (or Web pages) of graphical, video, textual, and even audio information.
  • a hypertext system one navigates by clicking hyperlinks, which display another document which also contains hyperlinks.
  • the next document seen could be housed on a computer next door or half-way around the world.
  • HTTP hypertext transport protocol
  • HTTP is the protocol for moving hypertext files across the Internet. It requires a HTTP client program on one end, and an HTTP server program on the other end. HTTP is the most important protocol used in the World Wide Web (WWW) .
  • Hyper Text Markup Language HTML
  • HTML Hyper Text Markup Language
  • HTML Hyper Text Markup Language
  • the Web has become a popular medium for publishing information on the Internet.
  • HTTPS secured server protocol
  • the software of the invention may be configured for use on a program storage device, a computer usable medium, or a computer system.
  • An appropriately configured program storage device readable by a machine would tangibly embody a program of instruction executable by the machine to perform method steps for enabling a user to generate, place, and move an e-commerce site anywhere on a computerized network, wherein the method steps would include communicatively connecting a client computer with a web generator web server, downloading e-commerce software from a web generator web server to a client computer, and generating an e-commerce web site on the client computer and uploading to an e-commerce web site anywhere on the computerized network.
  • An appropriately configured computer usable medium would have computer readable program code means embodied therein for generating, placing, and moving an e-commerce site anywhere on a computerized network, wherein the program code means would include computer readable program code means for generating, placing, and moving an e-commerce site anywhere on a computerized network, computer readable program code means for uploading a user's inventory, computer readable program code means for tracking company expenses, computer readable program code means for generating various reports, computer readable program code means for reordering items when quantities become low, and computer readable program code means for automatically calculating taxes and shipping charges.
  • An appropriately configured computer system would be able to generate, place, and move an e-commerce site anywhere on a computerized network
  • the computer system would include a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, registers coupled to the processor, a computer readable medium coupled to the memory, wherein the computer usable medium would have computer readable program code means embodied therein for generating, placing, and moving an e-commerce site anywhere on a computerized network
  • the program code means including computer readable program code means for generating, placing, and moving an e-commerce site anywhere on a computerized network, computer readable program code means for uploading a user's inventory, computer readable program code means for tracking company expenses, computer readable program code means for generating various reports, computer readable program code means for reordering items when quantities become low, and computer readable program code means for automatically calculating taxes and shipping charges.
  • Orders from users may be placed from the merchant's site by electronic mail, secure transaction, or a similar method.
  • Unsecure orders taken by the merchant's site using a method such as electronic mail would trigger a message to the owner containing the order and associated pertinent information including a confirmation of the successful order to the user by a similar messaging method.
  • Secured orders including but not limited to credit cards will be forwarded from the merchant's site to a secure credit card transaction processor site or similar site using a secure transaction link.
  • the credit card or similar device is checked with the provider and a message is sent to a bank transaction site so that money may be transferred to the owner in exchange for goods and services .
  • the order with the associated pertinent information is sent to the owner as well as a confirmation of the successful order to the user.
  • the merchant's web site may employ a secure transaction link that forwards a user placed order of the secure type, such as with a credit card or a similar method, to a secured credit card transactions processor or a similar site.
  • a preferred and suggested embodiment of the software as shown in the Figures is an inventory management and e-commerce system to integrate point-of-sale and Internet operations which is installed on a retailer's local computer or network to allow the merchant to easily organize, manage and combine their physical and electronic storefronts.
  • the software can be used to create and organize an electronic database of a merchant's physical inventory that may be associated with items for sale online .
  • An inventory may be entered into the electronic database manually, by electronic scanning or by a similar method.
  • the system may allow for the electronic inventory to be a mixture of pre-barcoded and non-barcoded items.
  • the non- barcoded items may be entered into the database and be given store owner defined barcodes to be easily cataloged into the system.
  • the store owner may use the software to define and create barcodes using a barcode template. All the barcoded items may then be inputted and removed from the electronic inventory using a laser barcode reader programmed and designed for the system.
  • the software with the fully defined and organized inventory database may then be used to assist in the management, categorizing, re-ordering, and upkeep of the inventory.
  • the inventory management system is configured for use on a stand alone and/or a typical distributed computer system, wherein the merchant's computers are connected via a network to server computers.
  • a server is a computer, or a software package, that provides a specific kind of service to client software running on other computers .
  • the term can refer to a particular piece of software, such as a WWW server, or to the machine on which the software is running.
  • a single server machine could have several different server software packages running on it, thus providing many different servers to clients on the network.
  • Server-side electronic commerce software dynamically creates HTML web pages from a database located on the server in accordance with pre-formatted requests from an Internet client computer web browser received via HTTP protocol.
  • the instant invention does not involve server-side software. Rather, this invention includes client-side, or non-server-side software.
  • the software runs exclusively on a client computer without dependence upon a web server for the processing of any computer instructions.
  • HTML and non-HTML Web pages are dynamically created on the client computer from a database stored on the client computer in accordance with pre-formatted rules stored on the same client computer. Created web pages and associated files are later uploaded to any web server via File Transfer (FTP) protocol as more fully described herein.
  • FTP File Transfer
  • a typical combination of resources a merchant may have include client computers that are personal computers or workstations, and a web server that is a personal computer, a workstation, a minicomputer, and/or a mainframe.
  • the network preferably comprises the Internet, although it could also comprise intranets, extranets, local area networks, wide area networks, etc.
  • a computer system which is configured for use with the inventory management system preferably includes a web server, a client computer, and inventory software, which is stored in the client computer and enables the client computer.
  • the computer system also includes a printing device electronically connected to the client computer, wherein the inventory software enables the printing device to print receipts, barcodes, and reports.
  • Each of the computers be they client or a web server, generally include, inter alia, a processor, random access memory, data storage devices, data communications devices, a monitor, user input devices, etc.
  • a processor random access memory
  • data storage devices data storage devices
  • data communications devices e.g., keyboards
  • monitor e.g., mouses
  • user input devices e.g., keyboards
  • client and web server any combination of the above components, or any number of different components, peripherals, and other devices, may be used with the client and web server.
  • Each of the computers operate under the control of an operating system, such as Windows, UNIX, etc.
  • the operating system is booted into the memory of the computer for execution when the computer is powered-on or reset.
  • the operating system then controls the execution of one or more computer programs by the computer.
  • the operating system of the client controls the execution of a web browser
  • the operating system of the merchant's or third party's web server controls the execution of the web server.
  • the web browser is typically a computer program such as Netscape, Microsoft Internet Explorer, etc.
  • the inventory management system is not limited to a single physical store or e-commerce site.
  • the system has the capability of managing multiple e-commerce sites, enabling a merchant to run different sites under multiple domain names or through a portal system. Additionally, if the merchant is a chain, there can be replicated databases synchronizing, to create a similar process over multiple physical stores.
  • the system can also be run on an Intranet such as used in kiosk or catalog store sales operations.
  • To guarantee secure interface with online customers the system is compatible with the hardware interfaces of signature card readers, barcode readers, magnetic card readers, credit card readers, and fingerprint readers for payment and access verifications .
  • the electronic store is able to keep track of the inventory so that, if elected by the merchant, customers cannot buy more items than available. Secure real time transaction can be made over the Internet as well as unsecured electronic mail purchases .
  • the system may automatically include shipping and taxes according to rules set by the merchant.
  • the system sets up a point-of-sale interface with barcode capability for product tracking and real time inventory updates based on sales . Additional equipment may be used for printing receipts and barcodes for a product mix of pre-barcoded and non-barcoded merchandise.
  • the system software is able to generate full or quick reports on expenses, profits, sales, customers, inventory and supplies. It may also manage company expenses and alert the owner to the inventory when supplies are low.
  • the software is also equipped with shipping information including charges and taxes. Several options are available including whether or not to apply tax which may be based on the customers state of residence and whether or not to charge for shipping which may be based on quantity, weight or amount spent.
  • the database also includes sections for inventory, customer, and employee information with a built in backup, repair, and restore routine.
  • the system is compatible with current accounting software for importing and exporting files and may also include an integrated schedule and daily reminder option.
  • Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of the prior art approach to e-commerce with a conventional web host and conventional dynamic web server including a database, scripting software and a non-specialized web server.
  • the inventory database is stored on the web server, each page is created fresh for each viewing based on inventory availability. With significant load the amount of time it takes to download a page from the server will become unreasonable, and potential sales are lost. Additionally because everything is done on the web server, large quantities of disk space must be leased, at ever increasing expense. The amount of available disk space must be continuously monitored to prevent the site from becoming unusable or unstable, forcing additional technical man-hours .
  • Figs. 2A and 2B show a flow diagram of the invention, enabling an Internet platform to be created from software installed and operated locally by a merchant (storefront owner) on their own computer. No third party e-commerce provider is needed. Nor is any HTML or computer programming needed. The store owner can rent available space from any web hosting provider, or Internet Service Provider (ISP) with hosting capabilities, to provide access to the Internet and run standard HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP) and File Transfer
  • ISP Internet Service Provider
  • FTP Protocol
  • the software enables the merchant to self generate a complete Internet storefront with complete e-commerce capabilities . Without having to depend on any other server applications, write HTML, scripts or program, the merchant can format the storefront, add items, and view the store locally with full functionality on its own computer.
  • Hyper-Text Markup Language HTML
  • the user may create a custom web page through a "set up wizard" to add color, backgrounds, frames, links, and sounds or use templates to add variety. Items to be sold via the online retail site may be photographed, or existing file images used, and associated with the items for display on the merchant's web site. The system creates descriptions and title fields for each
  • the application also includes a sample database to give a store owner an idea of how the system will look and act with full input.
  • the system is compatible with current accounting software for importing and exporting files and may also include an integrated schedule and daily reminder option.
  • Bar coded (or otherwise encoded) inventory can be used for both point-of-sale and Internet sales .
  • the merchant can format the online store front, add items and view a complete online store on its own computer.
  • the software Each time the merchant's web site must be updated for inventory changes, the software only sends the pages, which need to be updated, decreasing the amount of time it takes to synchronize the systems.
  • the store owner may import information to the system on these subjects from previously created information databases such as those created using other sof ware .
  • the program is integrated with the electronic database and is continuously updated due to physical or online sales, the program can create full reports on the items in a store owner's inventory according to the information in the electronic database. These reports may be specific and include information on groups of items, item details, items for sale electronically, items in the inventory, items out of stock and similar such subjects as selected by the owner. Even a quick item report may also be created giving information on a selected item.
  • Customer files stored by the program have information such as personal details, contact information, notes, transaction history, and similar information which can be viewed as either files or put into reports. Full reports can also be created to give information on all customers including statistics such as 3 ft )
  • Fig. 3F is an illustration of the completed website being previewed from the merchant's machine browser.
  • the merchant has the ability to review all changes made to their web site as they will appear on the Internet before uploading to their website.
  • Fig. 3G (1 - 6) illustrates the Tax Rules section of the invention. As merchants are required to accurately track and report various taxes, the invention provides complete automation to this otherwise time consuming and error prone responsibility.
  • the invention provides the merchant with the means to automatically calculate, collect, track and report all applicable taxes associated with each sale.
  • Tax Rules module merchants with complex taxing schedules have the flexibility to apply taxes as a fixed percentage of sale, on a state-by-state basis, or specifically designed for each item.
  • the Tax Rules Builder enables the merchant to create and implement complex taxing rules for an item or group of items, detailing ranges of transactions and their corresponding taxes, and the specific agencies collecting the tax. The module then develops reports detailing the amount of taxes required to each agency.
  • Fig. 3H (1 - 2 ) are illustrations depicting screens where the merchant establishes how to calculate and collect shipping charges for both online and in-store transactions.
  • the merchant has the ability to establish methods and charges to be applied to shipping.
  • Fig. 31 (1 - 2) are illustrations depicting screens where the merchant establishes what methods and terms of payment they will accept for both online and in-store transactions.
  • the merchant has the ability to establish the forms of payment as well as the acceptable terms of payment .
  • Fig. 3J is an illustration depicting a screen where the merchant establishes the means to accept secure payments for online transactions. From this screen, the merchant determines which methods of secure payment they wish to accept for the secure payment gateway provider.
  • Fig. 3K ' (1 - 3) are illustrations depicting screens where the merchant establishes their web site hosting settings, and to CO H H e o in o cn o in
  • This process begins with the merchant inputting and customizing the e-commerce site. After the site has been uploaded the factual data from site is retrieved ("harvested") by existing search engines. This is a continuous process. After downloading the latest information, the engines process the data and store it indexed against the engine's indices. A user logs into the Web and accesses the search engine. The user enters a search query, and if there is a match, the search engine builds page to provide links to relevant e-commerce sites. Now the user can select sites, and enter the e-commerce site to make purchases, or discern further information. When finished the user can begin another search, or look at the remaining matches .
  • FIGs . 6A and 6B show block diagrams of the method for indexing and managing the information generated by the store owner and uploaded to a typical community website, as contemplated by the invention, using a community search engine designed to be used with the system of the invention.
  • the method for indexing and managing a searchable community of non-HTML information utilizes an electronic search engine which indexes data files used by sites created by the website generation software of the invention.
  • the indexing process of the search engine indexes HTML and non-HTML information from websites enrolled in an electronic community.
  • the non-HTML data includes a database from which enrolled websites operate. This information is downloaded over HTTP, parsed, and indexed with unique parameters into a database running on the search engine .
  • the search portion of the search engine process operates like standard search engines.
  • a user submits a request over HTTP to the search engine .
  • the search engine processes the search request and presents the results to the user in a dynamically created HTML page.
  • a feature of this portion of the process is that the links to the search results are constructed with the necessary parameters to allow the target websites to be hyperlinked, with the appropriate dynamic content being shown.
  • the method for indexing and managing a searchable electronic community of web site information is utilized in conjunction with an electronic community.
  • the "electronic commerce community” is defined as a group or groups of online businesses constructed by similar software (specifically the one disclosed herein) and administered by a main electronic commerce site.
  • the electronic community is specifically a group of electronic retail storefronts created by electronic commerce software to have similar architecture and design.
  • the electronic storefronts can have inventory available for search in real time so that items are not ordered that are out of stock.
  • the search engine provides consumers with the ability to organize items and retailers by category and search for specific merchandise.
  • the search can be conducted using multiple word forms, space delineated forms, and boolean operators. Entries returned to the customer by the engine provide information on the items and links to the storefronts where they are available. The search engine gives registered customers the option to give feedback and ratings to the storefronts which is then displayed to provide confidence in the site. The search engine is also capable of displaying banners of advertisements, sales, and specials from information given by the owners.
  • the search engine is specially formatted to deal with a group of similarly created and managed electronic commerce web sites.
  • the search engine gives merchants the ability to advertise and promote specific items or groups of items on a main search site to promote sales .
  • Such a search site may include banners of featured items with descriptions from different web stores as well as links to those sites. Additionally a links page may be included to display a list of pertinent related sites.
  • the search engine also provides consumers with the ability to browse possible retail sites by categories defined by the owner of the sites. Similarly items from multiple retail sites can be accessed and displayed by category with information from the their associated sites.
  • the search engine is able to handle queries in multiple word forms, space delineated forms, and using boolean operators.
  • the engine searches all existing on-line stores within the retail group for the word or phrase requested and displays an ⁇ ⁇ to o H H cn o in o cn O cn
  • Indexing The indexing process of the search engine indexes HTML and non-HTML information from the enrolled websites.
  • the non-HTML data consists of the database from which the websites operate. This information is downloaded over HTTP, parsed, and indexed with specified parameters into a database running on the search engine .
  • Searching The search portion of the search engine process operates like standard search engines. A user submits a request over HTTP to the search engine . The search engine processes the search request and presents the results to the user in a dynamically created HTML page . A feature of this portion of the community search process is that the links to the search results are constructed with the necessary parameters to allow the target websites to be hyperlinked, with the appropriate dynamic content being shown.
  • the viewing portion of the process allows the user to view the search results, and link to a new website.
  • This viewing process is enhanced by specified parameters passed by the search engine to the store that generates the non-HTML page.
  • search engines that searches/finds and indexes Internet store/site information that is non-HTML data, as compared to non-community indexing search engines which only index HTML information. If they search a local database of information, that information was added directly into this search database and not indexed online. This adding of information into a database is not an Internet indexing process .
  • the search engine's design actually indexes the information without any vendor submission process .
  • the community search engine truly goes out into the Internet and finds each merchant's URL and indexes the non-HTML information. Therefore, no Internet search is done on non-HTML information.
  • the preferred embodiments of the invention provide an inventory management system to integrate point-of-sale and Internet operations.
  • the system provides an organized manner in which a merchant user can conduct electronic retail commerce on one or more websites while taking into account the physical inventory in an actual store, or series of stores.
  • a safe and secure operating environment is provided for a merchant to run an electronic retail store, without the merchant's business database being uploaded to the Internet .
  • the system is integrated with point-of-sale.
  • the inventory management system does not rely on server-side software and is not hosted on a web server.
  • the system gives a merchant the flexibility to host the electronic commerce site system on the merchant's own computer, with or without a web server, or on any static server or a host provider of choice.
  • the merchant is enabled to generate web pages for a public website or websites on the merchant's client- side computer and then upload the resulting files to any
  • the system allows for an efficient manner to conduct electronic retail commerce that does not interrupt or take away from the physical storefront, and allows both point-of-sale and Internet sales to be made from a common synchronized inventory.
  • Electronic retail business owners are helped to manage their online store inventory, sales, and employees .
  • Electronic business owners are assisted in organizing themselves by generating useful reports on sales, profits, customers, inventory and expenses.
  • the system provides a business process that includes a customer search engine for use within a group of similarly created and managed online electronic storefronts .
  • the search engine lists stores or items within the group by category as defined by the user.
  • the search engine provides return information via hypertext links so as to be easily accessible by the user.
  • the system improves the level of confidence in electronic stores by allowing consumers to give feedback to be displayed on such a site .
  • the system is inexpensive, transferable, secure, and dependable. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

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Abstract

La présente invention concerne un système de gestion des stocks qui intègre des données de fonctionnement, de ventes et de stocks de points de vente en ligne et de points de vente briques et mortier, sans recourir à un fournisseur d'hébergement dynamique. Un logiciel résidant sur l'ordinateur d'un commerçant, situé en magasin, exécute toute les fonctions de base de données de stock et sert de terminal de point de vente en magasin. La marchandise est présentée en ligne, sur des pages Web personnalisées d'un site Web statique, sans que le commerçant ait besoin d'utiliser de scriptes. Des images et des informations relatives au produit peuvent faire l'objet d'une recherche par catégorie ou par utilisation d'un moteur de recherche qui indexe et gère des informations en langage HTML ou non. Le logiciel suit automatiquement les stocks à partir des ventes en ligne et en magasin et produit des pages Web du site Web du commerçant qui ont été modifiées par des changements dans la base de données de stock du programme. Il peut établir des rapports concernant les dépenses, les ventes et les profits, est compatible avec des interfaces de matériel, peut imprimer des reçus et des codes barres et peut gérer l'expédition et les taxes.
PCT/US2001/024071 2000-08-01 2001-08-01 Systeme et procede de gestion de commerce electronique et des stocks cote client WO2002010885A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2001278103A AU2001278103A1 (en) 2000-08-01 2001-08-01 Client-side e-commerce and inventory management system, and method

Applications Claiming Priority (8)

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US63047500A 2000-08-01 2000-08-01
US63059300A 2000-08-01 2000-08-01
US63086500A 2000-08-01 2000-08-01
US09/630,593 2000-08-01
US09/630,475 2000-08-01
US09/630,476 US6691112B1 (en) 2000-08-01 2000-08-01 Method for indexing and managing a searchable community of non-HTML information
US09/630,476 2000-08-01
US09/630,865 2000-08-01

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AU2013207664A1 (en) * 2012-07-12 2014-01-30 Google Llc Processing payment information for online orders at a local merchant's point of sale
US10262377B2 (en) 2013-09-13 2019-04-16 Mace Engineering Group Pty Ltd. Sales order data collection and management system
ES2807699A1 (es) * 2019-08-23 2021-02-23 Adjustica Robotics S L Dispositivo identificador de movimientos de articulos en el proceso de venta, cambio o devolucion sin interferir en este y procedimiento de identificacion con dicho dispositivo

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8195531B2 (en) 2000-08-31 2012-06-05 The Softad Group, LLC. Modular E-commerce web site development system
AU2013207664A1 (en) * 2012-07-12 2014-01-30 Google Llc Processing payment information for online orders at a local merchant's point of sale
AU2013207664B2 (en) * 2012-07-12 2014-10-09 Google Llc Processing payment information for online orders at a local merchant's point of sale
US10262377B2 (en) 2013-09-13 2019-04-16 Mace Engineering Group Pty Ltd. Sales order data collection and management system
ES2807699A1 (es) * 2019-08-23 2021-02-23 Adjustica Robotics S L Dispositivo identificador de movimientos de articulos en el proceso de venta, cambio o devolucion sin interferir en este y procedimiento de identificacion con dicho dispositivo

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WO2002010885A3 (fr) 2002-04-04

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