WO2001050374A1

WO2001050374A1 - Method and system for releasing shipments from a complex order over a computer network

Info

Publication number: WO2001050374A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/033399
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard S. Mcconnell, Jr.; Mark C. Rohrwasser; Ramkin Shetty; Aaron M. Linz
Original assignee: General Electric Company
Priority date: 1999-12-30
Filing date: 2000-12-08
Publication date: 2001-07-12
Also published as: AU2078501A

Abstract

A method and system for enabling a commercial web site customer to perform specific monitoring and manipulating functions with respect to established orders with the supplier. A customer can log in to a supplier's web site (200, 202), review the terms of previously established complex orders (212-216), and request a release of products from a selected complex order (222-234). Complex orders include standing orders and blanket orders wherein the supplier has agreed to make available a predetermined quantity of material and the customer has agreed to purchase this quantity of material within a predetermined period of time.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RELEASING SHIPMENTS FROM A COMPLEX ORDER OVER A COMPUTER NETWORK

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Serial No. 60/173,796 filed December 30, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to conducting electronic commercial transactions over a computer network. More particularly, the present invention relates to complex ordering methods in an online environment.

Electronic commerce systems for conducting commercial transactions over a distributed computer network, such as the Internet, are shown and described in numerous U.S. Patents, including U.S. Patents 5,285,383 and 5,063,507 to Lindsey et al., U.S. Patent 5,963,915 to Kirsch et al., U.S. Patent 5,319,542 to King, Jr. et al., and U.S. Patent 5,774,873 to Berent et al.

U.S. Patent 5,963,915 to Kirsch et al. disclost s a system and method for performing Internet transactions between a client browser and a merchant server. The method includes establishing a coded identifier (i.e., a cookie) on the browser which corresponds to an account record stored on the server; providing a web page including a URL identifying an item for sale to the browser; receiving the URL, with a reference to the coded identifier, at the merchant server; validating the coded identifier; and recording the identity of the corresponding item. The method is intended to avoid redundant user input, to provide for secure transactions, and to increase transaction efficiencies. The patent further discloses techniques for providing additional levels of authentication and security, restrictions on shipping destination, and e-mail confirmation of orders. The determination of when to send a confirmation can be made subject to the dollar amount of the purchase, user's purchase history, or other criteria selected by the vendor server. U.S. Patent 5,319,542 to King, Jr. et al. discloses a system for ordering items from a supplier. The system includes an electronic catalogue and an electronic requisition facility. The catalogue includes a public-access portion, stored on a publicly- accessible database for access by customers, and a private portion, stored on a cus- tomer's computer system. The private portion contains unique pricing data based on pricing agreements. Customers use the electronic requisition facility to create purchase requisitions based on the information in the electronic catalogue. The requisitions are routed through an appropriate approval process, processed through the customer's procurement system, and transmitted to the supplier.

Electronic commercial transactions such as those described in King, Jr. et al. commonly take place over the World Wide Web. The World Wide Web is a collection of servers connected to the Internet that utilize the Hypertext Transfer Protocol ("HTTP"). This protocol permits documents (commonly referred to as web pages) written in a standard mark-up language (e.g., html) to be transmitted across the Inter- net from remote server computers to client computers, even where such remote and client computers share different operating systems or platforms. A browser application running on the client computer then translates the commonly formatted documents and displays them to the user. Groups of commonly owned and related web pages are referred to as web sites and provide online customers \ ith the ability to se- lect the individual content they wish to view without necessarily viewing all the content published by the site owner.

Although systems for implementing electronic commercial transactions, such as those described in King Jr., et al. are known in the art, these systems are typically focused toward the retail environment in which individual purchasers order products from an online retailer on an "as needed" basis. Conversely, in the realm of bulk material purchases and business-to-business commercial transactions, it is common for purchasers to order large quantities of materials, based upon a usage forecast or consumption schedule. In fulfillment of such business needs, a supplier may offer the purchaser a variety of ordering methods including conventional one-time orders as well as complex ordering methods such as standing and blanket orders. A conventional one-time order is simply an order by a purchaser for a particular quantity of product to be wholly delivered at a particular place and time. This is substantially analogous to the "as-needed" retail model discussed above. A standing order, conversely, is an order by a purchaser for a particular quantity of material to be delivered at regular intervals (e.g., 1000 lbs. per month, every month). Typically, standing orders include a defined ending date, however, this date may be extended through mutual agreement of the supplier and purchaser. A blanket order is an agreement between the purchaser and the supplier wherein the purchaser agrees to take a certain quantity of a product within a predetermined time period and the sup- plier agrees to reserve that quantity of product for the purchaser, thereby guaranteeing both the sale to the supplier as well as the availability to the purchaser. Standing and blanket orders are suitable for large businesses that require regular deliveries of materials, but who do not wish to inventory the materials on site. Further, these types of orders alleviate the need for purchasers to place repeated orders for identical materi- als, when their needs may be adequately predetermined. Based upon the needs of a particular purchaser, different ordering methods are more appropriate than others.

Typically, product orders, as well as any additions and modifications to the orders, are placed in writing or over the telephone, and are often accompanied by additional ancillary determinations such as a determination regarding the credit worthi- ness of the purchaser or a determination regarding the payment method being utilized. There remains a clear need in the realm of business-to-business electronic commercial transactions to provide for increased convenience in modifying these types of complex orders.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems noted above, and provides ad- ditional advantages, by providing a method and system for enabling commercial web site users to conveniently and quickly establish releases of quantities of products included in complex purchase orders over the Internet. A method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention is performed by providing, through a web site on the World Wide Web, a means for determining the identity of a user. Upon identification of the user, the user may select a complex order option, which results in a listing of all of the user's previously established complex orders. A web site interface then allows the user to set up releases of products included in the particular complex order.

Methods, systems and programs in accordance with the present invention greatly increase the efficiency and convenience of complex ordering bulk materials, such as chemicals, over a computer network, by reducing or eliminating the need to interact, either orally or in writing, with a customer service representative.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be understood more completely by reading the fol- lowing Detailed Description of exemplary embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer network suitable for implementing a method according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart describing a process for enabling commercial web site users to establish releases of quantities of products included in a complex purchase order over the network of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A computer system 10 connected to a computer network such as the Internet is generally illustrated in FIG. 1. A conventional client computer system 12 (hereinafter "client") owner by a customer, executes a client browser application that supports the HTTP protocol, (e.g., Internet Explorer™, available from Microsoft Corporation). The client 12 is typically connected through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to the Internet 14. A supplier owned server computer system 16 (hereinafter "server") is also coupled typically through an Internet Service Provider to the Internet 14. The server 16, controlled by a local console 18, executes a web server application and also hosts at least one web page for distribution over the Internet. The client 12 requests a web page by issuing a URL request through the Internet 14 to the server system 16. A URL consistent with the present invention may be a simple URL of the form:

<protocol_identifier>://<server_path>/<web_page_path>

A " protocol_identifier" of "http" specifies the conventional hyper-text transfer protocol. A URL request for a secure Internet transaction typically utilizes the secure protocol identifier "https," assuming that the client browser and web server are presumed to support and implement the secure sockets layer (SSL). The "server_path" is typically of the form "prefix.domain," where the prefix is typically "www" to desig- nate a web server and the "domain" is the standard Internet sub-domain.top-level- domain of the server 16. The optional "web_page_path" is provided to specifically identify a particular hyper-text page maintained by the web server.

In response to a received URL identifying an existing web page, the server 16 returns the web page, subject to the HTTP protocol, to the client 12. This web page typically incorporates both textural and graphical information including embedded hyper-text links (hereinafter "hyperlink") that permit the client user to readily select a next URL for issuance to the Internet 14.

The URL issued from the client 12 may also be of a complex form that identifies a common gateway interface (CGI) program on server 16. Such a HTML hyper- link reference is typically of the form:

A hyperlink of this form directs the execution of the logon.cgi program on an HTTP server in response to a client side selection of a hyperlink. A logon form supported by a logon CGI program is typically used to obtain a client user login name and pass- word to initiate an authenticated session between the client browser and Web server for purposes of supporting, for example, a secure purchase transaction.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a flow chart describing one embodiment of a method for enabling commercial web site users to conveniently and quickly release quantities of complex purchase orders over the Internet. This method can be implemented by a software program resident in one or more servers associated with the supplier.

In step 200, the server 14 receives a request by the client 12 to access the web site. Once the request is received by the server 14, the process continues to step 202 in which the server 14 interacts with the client 12, in a conventional manner, to determine the identity of the particular customer operating the client 12. One conventional method of determining identity is the logon form briefly described above, although any suitable method for identifying a particular customer user may be utilized. Upon identification of the particular customer, the server displays to the customer, in step 204, a main web site page including a menu of possible web site options, including a complex order option. In step 206, the server receives a request by the customer to display the complex order option. In step 208, upon selection of the complex order option, the server accesses a database including customer information and determines whether the particular customer has previously established at least one complex order with the supplier. If it is determined that the particular customer does not have any previously established complex orders, the server displays, in step 210, a message informing the customer that no complex orders are established and directs the customer to contact a customer service representative (he..πnafter "CSR").

If, however, it is determined that the particular customer does have at least one previously established complex order, the server displays, in step 212, a web page listing of all such orders. The customer may then request that the server display the order details for a particular complex order in step 214. Such a request may be accomplished by any suitable method, including hyperlinks, forms, etc. Upon receiving a request to view the details of a particular complex order, the server displays, in step

216, a web page including a detailed description of the terms of the selected complex order. Such details preferably include: the order number, the item number for the product ordered, the unit price of the product, the start date of the order, the expiration date of the order (if any), the initial quantity of the order, the remaining quantity of the order, the shipping address, the quantity of the most recent release, the delivery date of the most recent release, and the status of the most recent release (e.g., open, shipped, pending review, or canceled). Also included in the display of detailed information are options to add a release, return to the complex order listing web page, or return to the main web site page.

The customer may then review the information displayed by the server in step 216 and determine, in step 217, whether they wish to release an order from the available quantity of products remaining in the complex order. If the customer does not wish to add a release, they may request, in step 218, that the server return them to the complex order listing page. Alternatively, the customer may request, in step 220, that the server return them to the main web site page.

If the customer desires to add a release, they request access to a release adding web page in step 222. Upon receiving such a request, the server determines whether the complex order is expired in step 224. If it is determined that the order is expired, a message is displayed to the customer, in step 226, that the order has expired and to contact their CSR. If it is determined that the order is not expired, the server displays the release adding web page in step 228. The release adding web page includes a suitable interface for permitting the customer to indicate the quantity and delivery date of the new release. The release adding web page also includes options to cancel the release, and add the release to the complex order. The customer enters, in step 230, desired quantity and delivery date values. At this point, the customer may choose to cancel the release or submit the release. Upon receipt of a request to cancel the release in step 232, the server returns the customer to the complex order listing web page.

Upon receipt of a request to add the release to the complex order in step 234, the server determines, in step 236 whether either the quantity value or the delivery date value entered by the customer exceed the remaining terms of the complex order.

If it is determined, that the quantity or delivery date value received in the request to add the release exceeds the quantity remaining in the complex order or the expiration date of the complex order, a message indicating such is displayed to the user in step 238. The customer is then returned to the release adding web page. If it is deter- mined that neither the quantity nor the delivery date values exceed the remaining terms of the complex order, the release is submitted to the server, in step 240, for processing in accordance with the submitted release.

While the foregoing description includes many details and specificities, it is to be understood that these have been included for purposes of explanation only, and are not to be interpreted as limitations of the present invention. Many modifications to the embodiments described above can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as is intended to be encompassed by the following claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for enabling commercial web site users to establish releases of quantities of products included in a complex purchase order, comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a web site server (12) associated with a supplier, a request for access to the web site, by a client (16) associated with a customer (200),

determining an identity of the customer (202),

retrieving, using the determined identity, information regarding at least one established complex order from a database associated with the server (208), wherein a complex order is an agreement between the supplier and the customer to, respectively, make available and purchase, a predetermined quantity of material in a predetermined period of time,

displaying, to the customer, a listing of the at least one established complex order (212), and

receiving, at the server, a request to release a customer-selected quantity of product having a customer-selected delivery date as part of the complex order (234).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said complex order comprises a standing order, wherein the standing order does not expire.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said complex order comprises a blanket order, wherein the blanket order has a predetermined expiration date.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of the customer (202) includes the step of receiving a login form from the customer, wherein the login form includes a username and password unique to the customer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of retrieving information regarding at least one established complex order comprises retrieving information regarding all previously established complex orders (212).

6. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

displaying, to the customer, a main web page having a complex order option (204),

receiving, at the server, upon selection of the complex order option by the customer, a request to view a complex order listing page (206),

displaying, to the customer, the complex order listing page provided the customer has at least one established complex order (208, 212), and

displaying, to the customer, an error message provided the customer does not have at least one established complex order (210).

7. The method of claim 6, further including the steps of:

receiving, at the server, a request to view a complex order details page for a selected complex order listed on the complex order listing page (214),

displaying, to the customer, the complex order details page for the selected complex order (216),

receiving, at the server, a request to view a release adding page (222),

displaying, to the customer, the release adding page (228), and

receiving, at the server, a request to establish a release from the selected complex order (234), wherein the request includes release quantity and delivery date information.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

after the step of receiving a request to view a release adding page, determining whether the selected complex order has expired (224),

if the selected complex order has expired, displaying, to the customer, an error message indicating such expiration (226), and if the selected complex order has not expired, proceeding to the step of displaying, to the customer, the release adding page (228).

9. A server in communication with a computer network including a plurality of user computer terminals, the server including a memory storing machine readable computer code comprising:

one of more instructions for receiving, from a customer, a request for access to a web site (200),

one of more instructions for determining an identity of the customer (202),

one of more instructions for displaying to the customer, a listing of at least one established complex order (212), and

one of more instructions for receiving a request to release a customer-selected quantity of product having a customer-selected delivery date, for a particular complex order selected from the at least one established complex order (234).

10. The server of claim 9, wherein said complex order comprises a standing order, wherein the standing order does not expire.

11. The server of claim 9, wherein said complex order comprises a blanket order, wherein the blanket order has a predetermined expiration date.

12. The server of claim 9, wherein the one or more instructions for determining the identity of the customer (202) further include one or more instructions for receiv- ing a login form from the customer, wherein the login form includes a username and password unique to the customer.

13. The server of claim 9, wherein the one or more instructions for retrieving information regarding at least one established complex order further comprises one or more instructions for retrieving information regarding all previously established com- plex orders (212).

14. The server of claim 9, wherein the machine readable computer code further comprises:

one or more instructions for displaying, to the customer, a main web page having a complex order option (204),

one or more instructions for receiving, at the server, upon selection of the complex order option by the customer, a request to view a complex order listing page (206),

one or more instructions for displaying, to the customer, the complex order listing page provided the customer has at least one established complex order (208, 212), and

one or more instructions for displaying, to the customer, an error message provided the customer does not have at least one established complex order (210).

15. The server of claim 14, wherein the machine readable computer code further comprises:

one or more instructions for receiving, at the server, a request to view a complex order details page for a selected con .plex order listed on the complex order listing page (214),

one or more instructions for displaying, to the customer, the complex order details page for the selected complex order (2 • 6),

one or more instructions for receiving, at the server, a request to view a release adding page (222),

one or more instructions for displaying, to the customer, the release adding page (228), and

one or more instructions for receiving, at the server, a request to establish a release from the selected complex order, wherein the request includes release quantity and delivery date information (234).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the machine readable computer code further comprises:

one or more instructions for, after the step of receiving a request to view a release adding page, determining whether the selected complex order has expired (224),

one or more instructions for, if the selected complex order has expired, displaying, to the customer, an error message indicating such expiration (226), and

one or more instructions for, if the selected complex order has not expired, proceeding to the step of displaying, to the customer, the release adding page (228).

17. A system for enabling commercial web site users to establish releases of quantities of products included in a complex purchase order, comprising:

a server (12) associated with a supplier, said server hosting at least one web page,

a client (16) associated with a customer, said client being connected to the server through the computer network (14) for access to the at least one web page (200),

said server including means for identifying the . ustomer (202) ,

said server including a database for storing complex order information associated with the customer, said complex order information comprising a listing of all established complex orders placed by the customer with the supplier (212), wherein a complex order is an agreement between the supplier and the customer to, respectively, make available and purchase, a predetermined quantity of material in predetermined period of time, and

said server including means for receiving a request from the customer to release a customer-selected quantity of product having a customer-selected delivery date, for a particular complex order selected from the at least one established complex order (234).

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said server further comprises:

means for displaying, to the customer, a main web page having a complex order option (204),

means for receiving, at the server, upon selection of the complex order option by the customer, a request to view a complex order listing page (206),

means for displaying, to the customer, the complex order listing page provided the customer has at least one established complex order (208, 212), and

means for displaying, to the customer, an error message provided the customer does not have at least one established complex order (210).

19. The server of claim 17, wherein said server further comprises:

means for receiving, at the server, a request to view a complex order details page for a selected complex order listed on the complex order listing page (214),

means for displaying, to the customer, the complex order details page for the selected complex order (216),

means for receiving, at the server, a request to view a rtiease adding page

(222),

means for displaying, to the customer, the release adding page (228), and

means for receiving, at the server, a request to establish a release from the selected complex order, wherein the request includes release quantity and delivery date information (234).

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said server further comprises:

means for determining, after the step of receiving a request to view a release adding page, whether the selected complex order has expired (224), means for displaying to the customer, if the selected complex order has expired, an error message indicating such expiration (226), and

means for, if the selected complex order has not expired, proceeding to the step of displaying, to the customer, the release adding page (228).