Electronic Procurement system
First Claim
1. A computer system for the ordering of items from an intermediary by a customer, the items or parts for the items being supplied to the intermediary by a supplier, the computer system comprising:
- a data store for storing data comprising an item identifier, a corresponding indication of a level of stock of the item or a part for the item held by the supplier, and an indication of at least one order for the item by said customer;
a program store storing programming code implementable by a processor; and
a processor, coupled to the data store for accessing the stored data and to the program store for implementing code in the program store, the programming code implementing processing comprising;
providing a customer interface to the data store to receive a request for an item from the customer, to output offer data for making an offer to supply the requested item to the customer based upon the stock level of the item or a part for the item held by the supplier, and to receive from the customer and store in the data store order data for the requested item; and
providing a supplier interface to the data store to receive from the supplier and store in the data store an indication of a level of stock of an item or a part for the item held by the supplier, and to output customer order data for the item to the supplier.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems for the acquisition, supply and management of goods and/or parts for goods are disclosed. A computer system includes a database for storing parts-related data. The database is arranged for providing a first table comprising a part identifier and a corresponding indication of a level of stock of the identified part held by a supplier, and a second table comprising the part identifier and a corresponding indication of at least one order for the identified part from a customer. The system further includes a processor coupled to the database for accessing the stored parts-related data, and communication means. The system software includes a first interface application for accessing the first table to make an offer to supply the identified part to the requester; an order receiving application for receiving an order to supply the identified part to the requester in response to the offer, and for storing the order in the data store; and a second interface application to co-operate with the communication means to provide access for the supplier to the second table.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A computer system for the ordering of items from an intermediary by a customer, the items or parts for the items being supplied to the intermediary by a supplier, the computer system comprising:
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a data store for storing data comprising an item identifier, a corresponding indication of a level of stock of the item or a part for the item held by the supplier, and an indication of at least one order for the item by said customer;
a program store storing programming code implementable by a processor; and
a processor, coupled to the data store for accessing the stored data and to the program store for implementing code in the program store, the programming code implementing processing comprising;
providing a customer interface to the data store to receive a request for an item from the customer, to output offer data for making an offer to supply the requested item to the customer based upon the stock level of the item or a part for the item held by the supplier, and to receive from the customer and store in the data store order data for the requested item; and
providing a supplier interface to the data store to receive from the supplier and store in the data store an indication of a level of stock of an item or a part for the item held by the supplier, and to output customer order data for the item to the supplier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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15. A supply system terminal for notifying a supplier of items or parts of items of demand for the items or parts, the terminal comprising:
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a data store for storing data;
a program store storing programming code implementable by a processor; and
a processor, coupled to the data store for accessing the stored data and to the program store for implementing code in the program store, the programming code implementing processing comprising;
inputting a stock level comprising an item or part identifier and a corresponding indication of a level of stock of the identified item or part held by the supplier;
transmitting the item or part identifier and corresponding stock level indication to a remote system;
receiving from the remote system a demand schedule comprising an item or part identifier and a corresponding indication of at least one order for the identified item or part; and
outputting the received demand schedule to the supplier.
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22. A procurement system terminal for informing a supplier of requests for supply of items, the terminal comprising:
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a data store for storing data;
a program store storing programming code implementable by a processor; and
a processor, coupled to the data store for accessing the stored data and to the program store for implementing code in the program store, the programming code implementing processing comprising;
entering data relating to a level of supplier stock of items supplied by the supplier;
transmitting the supplier stock data to a remote system;
receiving an item request schedule from the remote system; and
outputting the received request schedule to the supplier, wherein the request schedule comprises at least one request for items which have been promised for supply based upon said level of supplier stock. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32)
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25. An ordering terminal for a customer to order items from a manufacturer and/or distributor, the terminal comprising:
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a data store for storing data;
a program store storing programming code implementable by a processor; and
a processor, coupled to the data store for accessing the stored data and to the program store for implementing code in the program store, the programming code implementing processing comprising;
inputting a request for an item and a date by which the item is desired;
transmitting the request to a remote computer system;
receiving from the manufacturer/distributor offer data comprising a determination of whether the item can be supplied by the desired date; and
outputting the offer data to the customer.
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29. An ordering terminal for a customer to order items from a manufacturer or distributor, the terminal comprising:
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a data store for storing data;
a program store storing programming code implementable by a processor; and
a processor, coupled to the data store for accessing the stored data and to the program store for implementing code in the program store, the programming code implementing processing comprising;
inputting a request for an item;
transmitting the request to a remote computer system;
receiving from the manufacturer or distributor offer data including a data by which the items can be supplied; and
outputting the offer data to the customer.
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Specification