Interactive search process for product inquiries
First Claim
1. A method of processing an inquiry from a customer for environment and use specific parts, the method comprising:
- (a) storing information relating to environment and use specific parts, including upgrades, supercessions, and replacements in a part database;
(b) receiving a customer inquiry concerning a part;
(c) searching the part database for the information relevant to the part; and
(d) outputting the information for customer display.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A business process utilizes computer software and electronic customer/supplier connections to supply information, receive requests for quotation, supply quotations, receive purchase orders, and perform commercial and technical functions associated with delivery of such purchase orders or quotations with respect to environment and use specific products. Such products require customer or plant application unique technical evaluation and/or commercial processing to ensure applicability to a specific customer application. The system provides a vehicle to search for parts requiring such technical review encompassing anticipated product use.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of processing an inquiry from a customer for environment and use specific parts, the method comprising:
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(a) storing information relating to environment and use specific parts, including upgrades, supercessions, and replacements in a part database;
(b) receiving a customer inquiry concerning a part;
(c) searching the part database for the information relevant to the part; and
(d) outputting the information for customer display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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12. A method of processing an inquiry from a customer, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving a product inquiry from a customer, the inquiry including anticipated use information;
(b) searching a database of products based on the product inquiry; and
(c) outputting a search result.
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21. A computer system for processing an inquiry from a customer for environment and use specific parts, the computer system comprising:
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at least one user computer running a computer program that requests information according to an input product inquiry, including anticipated use information;
a system server running a server program, the at least one user computer and the system server being interconnected by a computer network, the system server searching a database of products according to the input product inquiry and sending the requested information via the computer network.
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22. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for processing an inquiry from a customer for environment and use specific parts, the computer program comprising:
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means for receiving a product inquiry from a customer, the inquiry including anticipated use information;
means for searching a database of products based on the product inquiry; and
means for outputting a search result.
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Specification