Event driven shopping method utilizing electronic e-commerce order pending
First Claim
1. A computerized method of doing business, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining transaction information from a purchaser browsing a computer network server;
storing the transaction information until an item fulfillment date arrives, wherein the fulfillment date occurs no later than a scheduled delivery date; and
dispatching the stored item information electronically as an order to a vendor able to supply the item, such that the item is sent to the recipient no later than a time that will satisfy the item scheduled delivery date.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for electronically pending orders for items that can be selected from online catalogs owned by e-vendors whose primary order entry, procurement and fulfillment systems are driven by industry standard real time and immediate order fulfillment processes. The present invention provides methods and systems for selecting items in the present for future fulfillment and delivery to a specific recipient for a specific event or occasion, but requiring no further involvement from the purchaser once the initial transaction has been created at some time prior to the desired fulfillment date. In one method, items are selected for pending, and transaction information obtained, while the purchaser is browsing from approved affiliated e-vendors'"'"' electronic catalogs. The pended transaction identifier information can be stored in an order pending database and subsequently monitored until pre-defined actions get scheduled for execution. The transaction identifier information can be used to place orders with the parent e-vendor at a time just prior to the requested delivery date as prescribed by the fulfillment criteria of that specific e-vendor to ensure timely shipment of the item as requested by the originating purchaser.
108 Citations
75 Claims
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1. A computerized method of doing business, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining transaction information from a purchaser browsing a computer network server;
storing the transaction information until an item fulfillment date arrives, wherein the fulfillment date occurs no later than a scheduled delivery date; and
dispatching the stored item information electronically as an order to a vendor able to supply the item, such that the item is sent to the recipient no later than a time that will satisfy the item scheduled delivery date. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32)
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24. In a computer network having a purchaser computer system, a order pending computer system capable of communicating with the purchaser computer system, and a vendor computer system capable of communicating with the order pending computer system, a method for placing a pending transaction for at least one item, the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining at least one transaction for pending from the purchaser system, wherein the transaction includes at least one item and a future scheduled delivery date associated with the item;
pending the transaction by storing the transaction in the order pending system;
calculating a vendor ordering date sufficiently prior to the scheduled delivery date to allow for delivery of the item by the delivery date; and
executing a pended transaction order from the order pending system to the vendor system by a defined order submission date.
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29. An executable computer program for placing pended transaction orders, the computer program executing the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining at least one item identifier from a purchasing system computer over a computer network;
obtaining a future scheduled delivery date for the item;
obtaining an recipient identifier;
storing the item identifier, scheduled delivery date, and recipient identifier in an order pending database;
waiting until the scheduled delivery date is nearer in time than the date on which the item identifier was obtained; and
dispatching the pended order to a vendor over a computer network, wherein the pended order includes sufficient information to deliver the item to the recipient no later than the scheduled delivery date.
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33. A computer program storage medium readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process in a computer system for placing item orders, the computer process comprising the steps of:
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receiving at least one item identifier from a purchasing system computer over a computer network;
receiving a future scheduled delivery date for the item;
receiving a recipient identifier;
storing the item identifier, scheduled delivery date, and recipient identifier in a order pending database;
waiting until the scheduled delivery date is nearer in time than the date on which the item identifier was received; and
dispatching the pended order to a vendor over a computer network, wherein the pended order includes sufficient information to deliver the item to the recipient no later than the scheduled delivery date. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 75)
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39. A method for doing business over a computer network comprising the steps of:
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receiving a purchaser electronic purchase transaction from at least one e-vendor computer network site, wherein the transaction includes transaction information including a requested delivery date, at least one item, and a recipient;
storing the transaction in an order pending database for a time period of at least one week; and
dispatching the stored transaction information electronically as an order on an execution date to the e-vendor for delivery no later than the transaction requested delivery date.
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53. A computerized method for doing business over the Internet comprising the steps of:
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while a purchaser is browsing an Internet web site of an e-vendor, the purchaser initiating a transaction which gathers information which includes an event or occasion date, purchaser information, a recipient profile, and at least one item from the catalogs of participating e-vendors affiliated with the order pending system or the purchaser'"'"'s personalized browse cart;
storing the transaction in an order pending system;
then dispatching the transaction and purchaser information to at least one of the affiliated e-vendors;
querying the e-vendor for status of the item and verification of availability for fulfillment at the requested point in time in the future; and
initiating an order with the e-vendor in time for the item to be shipped for delivery as requested by the originating purchaser. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. In a computer network having a purchaser computer system, an order pending computer system capable of communicating with the purchaser computer system, and a vendor computer system capable of communicating with the order pending computer system, a method for creating transactions and placing at least one order for items, the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining at least one pending transaction from the purchaser system, wherein the pending transaction includes at least one item from an available e-vendor catalog or personalized browse cart, and a future specified delivery date associated with the transaction;
storing the transaction in the order pending computer;
calculating an e-vendor order date sufficiently prior to the specified delivery date to allow for delivery of the item by the requested delivery date; and
executing an order to the e-vendor system by the required order entry date as specified by the e-vendor. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. An executable computer program for placing orders, the computer program executing the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining at least one item identifier from a purchaser'"'"'s computer over a computer network;
obtaining a future delivery date for the item at a point in the future;
obtaining a recipient identifier;
storing the item identifier, event or occasion date, and recipient identifier in a transaction profile that is stored in the order pending database;
pending the transaction until a specified time prior to the requested delivery date; and
dispatching the pended order to the parent e-vendor(s) over a computer network, wherein the pended order includes sufficient information for the parent e-vendor to fulfill the order per the directions established by the originating purchaser. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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69. A computer program storage medium readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process in a computer system for placing pended orders, the computer process comprising the steps of:
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receiving at least one item identifier from a purchaser'"'"'s computer over a computer network;
receiving a future delivery date for the item(s);
receiving a recipient identifier;
storing the item identifier, event date, and recipient identifier in a pended transaction that is stored in a order pending database for monitoring and future scheduling and dispatching;
pending the transaction until the event date is near term; and
scheduling and dispatching the pended orders to the parent e-vendor(s) in a batch mode over a computer network, wherein the order includes sufficient information for the parent e-vendor to deliver the item to the recipient no later than the requested delivery date.
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Specification