Method and apparatus for communicating order entries in a network environment

• US 20020046130A1
• Filed: 07/10/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Incorporated
• Inventors: Gittings, Dave A., Tibbs, Andrew G., Monteleone, Joseph M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,184,973 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

The order entry and visibility system according to the present invention is a combination of network technologies that make it possible for a first user, typically a purchaser, to enter product orders electronically, communicate such to a second user, typically a supplier and provide for the second user to generate completed shipping labels upon fulfillment of at least a portion of the order. The system provides advantages for both the first user, purchaser and second user, supplier. The purchasers of products are provided a means of entering product orders via a network application and have immediate access to order and shipment status via the network application. The supplier of the product accesses the network application to process the order and generate a completed shipping label upon the fulfillment of the order.

Claims

1. A method for product order receipt and product order processing in a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, via a communication device having communications network access, a product order from an order entry and visibility system that is implemented on the communications network;

fulfilling at least a portion of the product order;

statusing, on the order entry and visibility system, the fulfillment of at least a portion of the product order; and

shipping the product order using shipping labels generated by statusing, on the order entry and visibility system, the fulfillment of at least a portion of the product order.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing product order status, via the order entry and visibility system, to intended networked recipients.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing shipment related information, via the communications network, to the entity that placed the product order.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, upon shipment, billing related information, via the communications network, to the entity that placed the product order.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the billing related information includes product charges and shipping charges.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein shipping the product order using shipping labels generated by the order entry and visibility system further comprises shipping the order using completed shipping labels self-generated by the order entry and visibility system.

7. A method for product order entry, product order visibility and product order processing in a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

submitting, via a first communications device having communications network access, a product order to an order entry and visibility system that is implemented on the communications network;

communicating the product order to a supplier via the communications network;

receiving, via a second communications device having communications network access, the product order from the order entry and visibility system;

fulfilling at least a portion of the product order;

providing product order fulfillment information to the order entry and visibility system; and

generating a shipping label, via the order entry and visibility system, upon providing product order fulfillment information to the order entry and visibility system.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising communicating product order status information, via the communications network, to the entity that submitted the product order.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein communicating product order status information, via the communications network, to the entity that submitted the product order further comprises communicating via the order entry and visibility system.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising communicating shipment confirmation and tracking information, via the communications network, to the entity that submitted the product order.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising communicating, upon shipment, billing related information, via the communications network, to the entity that placed the product order.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the billing related information includes product charges and shipping charges.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein submitting, via a first communications device having communications network access, a product order to an order entry and visibility system that is implemented on the communications network further comprises entering manually on the first communications device a product order to the order entry and visibility system.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein submitting, via a first communications device having communications network access, a product order to an order entry and visibility system that is implemented on the communications network further comprises transferring, electronically, a product order from a pre-existing order entry system to an order entry and visibility system that is implemented on a first communications device having communications network access.

16. The order entry and visibility system of claim 15, wherein the first communication device further provides for the first user to receive ongoing status information related to the product order and receive confirmation that the order has shipped upon generation of the completed shipping label.

17. The order entry and visibility system of claim 15, wherein the second communication device further provides for the second user to communicate the status of the order and communicate the shipment of the order to the first user upon generation of the completed shipping label.

18. The order entry and visibility system of claim 15, wherein the second communication device further provides for the second user to communicate billing information, including shipping charges, to the first user upon generation of the completed shipping label.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the product order entry and visibility application further comprises an Internet based web-site application implemented on a compatible Internet browser.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the product order processing and visibility application further comprises an Internet based web-site application implemented on a compatible Internet Browser.

15. An order entry and visibility system for communicating product orders and order information in a communications network, the system comprising:

a first communications device having communications network access that provides for a first user to input a product order and communicate the product order to a supplier;

a second communications device having communications network access that provides for a second user to receive the product order and generate a completed shipping label for at least a portion of the product order; and

a communications network database that stores order entry and order processing status information for the purpose of providing a user of the first communication device and a user of the second communication device network access to the order entry and order processing status information.

19. A product order entry and visibility system for communicating, processing and statusing product orders in a communications network, the system comprising:

a product order entry and visibility application implemented within a communications network that provides for users to input product orders designated for a networked supplier of the product and to receive product order status information once processing of the product order has been initiated by the supplier;

a means of communicating product orders via the communications network from the order entry application to the networked supplier; and

an order processing and visibility application implemented within the communications network that provides the networked supplier access to the product order, order statusing capabilities and generates a completed shipping label for at least a portion of the product order.

22. A communications device-facilitated, product order entry and visibility system for use by purchasers of products and suppliers of said products, the system comprising:

means for enabling a purchaser to submit a product order to a supplier by inputting order information into a networked communication device via a network application;

means for enabling the supplier to access the network application via a networked communication device for the purpose of fulfilling the product order and generating a completed shipping label for the product order; and

means for enabling the product order entry and visibility system to manage the status of the product order and provide immediate product order status information to the purchaser.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for enabling the product order entry and visibility system to provide the purchaser with shipping related information upon shipment of at least a portion of the product order.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for enabling the product order entry and visibility system to provide the purchaser with billing related information, including shipping charges, upon shipment of at least a portion of the product order.

27. The program storage device of claim 26, wherein the program of instructions further comprises the step of communicating shipping status information upon fulfillment of at least a portion of the product order.

28. The program storage device of claim 26, wherein the program of instructions further comprises the step of communicating billing information upon fulfillment of at least a portion of the product order.

30. The product of claim 29, wherein the computer usable medium further comprises computer-readable program means for communicating via the communications network the shipment status of at least a portion of the product order.

31. The product of claim 29, wherein the computer usable medium further comprises computer-readable program means for communicating via the communications network billing related information, including shipping charges, upon the shipment of at least a portion of the product order.

25. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform steps for order entry, order visibility and automatic shipping label generation in a communcations network, the program of instructions comprising the steps of:

providing a product order entry application to a first communications device having communications network access;

storing product order entry information in a database in communication with the communications network;

providing a product order visibility application to a second communications device having communications network access; and

generating a completed product order shipping label upon fulfillment of at least a portion of the product order, wherein the product order shipping label comprises stored product order entry information.

29. A communication device program product, comprising:

a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein for providing order entry, order visibility and automated shipping label generation in a communications network, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer-readable program means for providing a product order entry application to a first communications device having communications network access;

computer-readable program means for storing product order information in a database in communication with the communications network;

computer-readable program means for communicating the product order to a supplier via the communications network;

computer-readable program means for providing a product order visibility application to a second communications device having communications network access; and

computer-readable program means for generating a completed product order shipping label upon fulfillment of at least a portion of the product order, wherein the product order shipping label comprises stored product order entry information.