Systems and methods for managing an inventory of products purchased by customers from a retailer
First Claim
1. A system of managing an inventory of products purchased by a customer from a retailer, the system comprising:
- an order processing server of the retailer configured to process a purchase order by a customer for a plurality of products, wherein the customer does not take possession of the plurality of products or cause delivery of the plurality of products at the time of the purchase order;
wherein the order processing server is configured to;
generate a graphical interface configured to permit the customer to select at least one storage location of the retailer for storing the plurality of products being purchased by the customer, duration of storage of the plurality of products being purchased by the customer at the selected at least one storage location of the retailer, and storage conditions for storing the plurality of products being purchased by the customer at the selected at least one storage location of the retailer; and
display in the graphical interface, a price for the plurality of products based on the at least one storage location, duration of storage, and storage conditions selected by the customer;
an inventory management database configured to;
store electronic data associated with the plurality of products purchased by the customer, the plurality of products purchased by the customer at the price generated by the order processing server being marked in the inventory management database of the retailer as being purchased by the customer, the plurality of products marked as being purchased by the customer being stored at the at least one storage location of the retailer selected by the customer, for the storage duration selected by the customer, and at the storage conditions selected by the customer until subsequent delivery to the customer or pickup by the customer;
store electronic data indicating a real-time inventory of all storage space at the at least one storage location; and
store electronic data representing a real-time listing of all available storage space at the at least one storage location;
an electronic inventory management device including a programmable processor and configured, prior to the order processing server permitting the customer to select the at least one storage location of the retailer for storing the plurality of products being purchased by the customer and prior to the order processing server displaying the price in the graphical interface, to;
receive a product storage request of the customer from the order processing server;
transmit a query to the inventory management database to obtain from the inventory management database the real-time listing of all of the available storage space at the at least one storage location;
analyze the real-time listing of all of the available storage space at the at least one storage location obtained from the inventory management database to identify the at least one storage location that matches the duration of storage and the storage conditions selected by the customer; and
based on the identified at least one storage location that matches the duration of storage and the storage conditions selected by the customer, generate the price for the products to be stored at the identified at least one storage location, and transmit the generated price to the order processing server for displaying in the graphical interface; and
a customer access interface including a plurality of input fields configured to allow the customer to define one or both of;
a delivery time period and a delivery destination for delivery of at least a portion of the plurality of products; and
a pickup location; and
a pickup time period for at least a portion of the plurality of products.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that permit a customer to purchase one or more products but not take possession of the products or cause delivery of the products at the time of the purchase order. The products are then stored at one or more product storage locations of the retailer while being marked as purchased by the customer in an inventory management database of the retailer. The customer is provided with a customer interface including a plurality of input fields configured to allow the customer to define one or both of: a delivery time period and a delivery destination for delivery of at least a portion of the products purchased by the customer; and a pickup location and a pickup time period for at least a portion of the products purchased by the customer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system of managing an inventory of products purchased by a customer from a retailer, the system comprising:
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an order processing server of the retailer configured to process a purchase order by a customer for a plurality of products, wherein the customer does not take possession of the plurality of products or cause delivery of the plurality of products at the time of the purchase order; wherein the order processing server is configured to; generate a graphical interface configured to permit the customer to select at least one storage location of the retailer for storing the plurality of products being purchased by the customer, duration of storage of the plurality of products being purchased by the customer at the selected at least one storage location of the retailer, and storage conditions for storing the plurality of products being purchased by the customer at the selected at least one storage location of the retailer; and display in the graphical interface, a price for the plurality of products based on the at least one storage location, duration of storage, and storage conditions selected by the customer; an inventory management database configured to; store electronic data associated with the plurality of products purchased by the customer, the plurality of products purchased by the customer at the price generated by the order processing server being marked in the inventory management database of the retailer as being purchased by the customer, the plurality of products marked as being purchased by the customer being stored at the at least one storage location of the retailer selected by the customer, for the storage duration selected by the customer, and at the storage conditions selected by the customer until subsequent delivery to the customer or pickup by the customer; store electronic data indicating a real-time inventory of all storage space at the at least one storage location; and store electronic data representing a real-time listing of all available storage space at the at least one storage location; an electronic inventory management device including a programmable processor and configured, prior to the order processing server permitting the customer to select the at least one storage location of the retailer for storing the plurality of products being purchased by the customer and prior to the order processing server displaying the price in the graphical interface, to; receive a product storage request of the customer from the order processing server; transmit a query to the inventory management database to obtain from the inventory management database the real-time listing of all of the available storage space at the at least one storage location; analyze the real-time listing of all of the available storage space at the at least one storage location obtained from the inventory management database to identify the at least one storage location that matches the duration of storage and the storage conditions selected by the customer; and based on the identified at least one storage location that matches the duration of storage and the storage conditions selected by the customer, generate the price for the products to be stored at the identified at least one storage location, and transmit the generated price to the order processing server for displaying in the graphical interface; and a customer access interface including a plurality of input fields configured to allow the customer to define one or both of; a delivery time period and a delivery destination for delivery of at least a portion of the plurality of products; and
a pickup location; anda pickup time period for at least a portion of the plurality of products. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of managing an inventory of products purchased by a customer from a retailer, the method comprising:
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processing, at an order processing server of the retailer, a purchase order by a customer for a plurality of products, wherein the customer does not take possession of the plurality of products or cause delivery of the plurality of products at the time of the purchase order; generating, via the order processing server, a graphical interface configured to permit the customer to select at least one storage location of the retailer for storing the plurality of products being purchased by the customer, duration of storage of the plurality of products being purchased by the customer at the selected at least one storage location of the retailer, and storage conditions for storing the plurality of products being purchased by the customer at the selected at least one storage location of the retailer; displaying, via the order processing server and in the graphical interface, a price for the plurality of products based on the at least one storage location, duration of storage, and storage conditions selected by the customer; marking, in an inventory management database of the retailer, the plurality of products as being purchased by the customer at the price generated via the order processing server, the plurality of products marked as being purchased by the customer being stored at the at least one storage location of the retailer selected by the customer, for the storage duration selected by the customer, and at the storage conditions selected by the customer until subsequent delivery to the customer or pickup by the customer; storing, in the inventory management database, electronic data indicating a real-time inventory of all storage space at the at least one storage location and electronic data representing a real-time listing of all available storage space at the at least one storage location; providing an electronic inventory management device including a programmable processor; prior to the order processing server permitting the customer to select the at least one storage location of the retailer for storing the plurality of products being purchased by the customer and prior to the order processing server displaying the price in the graphical interface; receiving, at the inventory management device, a product storage request of the customer from the order processing server; transmitting, from the inventory management device, a query to the inventory management database to obtain from the inventory management database the real-time listing of all of the available storage space at the at least one storage location; analyzing, via the processor of the inventory management device, the real-time listing of all of the available storage space at the at least one storage location obtained from the inventory management database to identify the at least one storage location that matches the duration of storage and the storage conditions selected by the customer; and based on the identified at least one storage location that matches the duration of storage and the storage conditions selected by the customer, generating, via the processor of the inventory management device, the price for the products to be stored at the identified at least one storage location, and transmitting the generated price from the inventory management device to the order processing server for displaying in the graphical interface; and providing a customer interface including a plurality of input fields configured to allow the customer to define one or both of; a delivery time period and a delivery destination for delivery of at least a portion of the plurality of products; and a pickup location and a pickup time period for at least a portion of the plurality of products. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification