Electronic merchant system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for facilitating the on-line ordering and purchasing of items to be later collected at a store, said apparatus providing the customer with pricing data for ordered items at the time of ordering and at the later time of collection, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a first server accessible from a remote customer terminal for verifying customer identity, indicating item availability, and accepting a customer order;
b) a second server having resident therein inventory and pricing data for items at the store and customer account data therein, said server communicating with the first server to receive customer order data;
c) a third server communicating with the second server and having current inventory and current pricing data therein;
d) a display device located at the store and communicating with the second server and providing a confirmation of an initial customer order;
e) a point-of-sale terminal communicating with the second and third servers for verifying current price and quantity data of collected items, comparing said data with the initial order and refiguring the current cost to the customer; and
f) an update terminal communicating with the second and third servers for adjusting inventory data in said servers to reflect current inventory levels at the store.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for the on-line ordering of goods followed by the pickup of the goods from the store. A web server is used to conduct the transaction with a database resident on a database server. Each store in the system has a local server that maintains a local inventory and price schedule. The purchaser is provided with a printed list having the ordered items set out in a manner which describes a preferred pathway through the store. Price changes and rebates between the time or ordering and pick up along with location data are resident in the database server.
30 Citations
15 Claims
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1. Apparatus for facilitating the on-line ordering and purchasing of items to be later collected at a store, said apparatus providing the customer with pricing data for ordered items at the time of ordering and at the later time of collection, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a first server accessible from a remote customer terminal for verifying customer identity, indicating item availability, and accepting a customer order;
b) a second server having resident therein inventory and pricing data for items at the store and customer account data therein, said server communicating with the first server to receive customer order data;
c) a third server communicating with the second server and having current inventory and current pricing data therein;
d) a display device located at the store and communicating with the second server and providing a confirmation of an initial customer order;
e) a point-of-sale terminal communicating with the second and third servers for verifying current price and quantity data of collected items, comparing said data with the initial order and refiguring the current cost to the customer; and
f) an update terminal communicating with the second and third servers for adjusting inventory data in said servers to reflect current inventory levels at the store. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method facilitating the on-line acquisition of selected items for later collection from a distribution center which comprises the following steps:
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1. coding the location of said items within the distribution center;
2. generating a database containing price, quantity and location information for each item at the center;
3. displaying a description and on-line price of each said item from the database at a remote terminal to enable a customer to enter an indication of purchase;
4. accepting a customer request to purchase and payment therefor and further providing the coded location of each selected item in each request;
5. comparing the identity, quantity and price of items at the time of collection of said items at a distribution center with the items of the initial customer request to purchase and;
6. utilizing the database to develop the total sum due for the selected items. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification