Electronic pen catalog ordering system and method of using the catalog to stimulate electronic pen use
First Claim
1. A system for filling orders for items listed in a catalog and requested by customers using a code reading wand to scan item identifying indicia in said catalog, the catalog including items from plural suppliers and the wand generating a wand identifying code, the system comprising:
- a processor receiving an indication of the items to be ordered by the customer through interaction of a code reading wand used as a catalog order transmitter with item defining indicia, the code reading wand outputting order particular information identifying the item or items to be ordered, the order particular information being received over a communication channel from the code reading wand;
a data base located remotely from at least some of said plural suppliers, the data base containing supplier specific information concerning each of the plural suppliers advertising products in the catalog, said system using the data base to convert the order particular information received by said processor into supplier specific order information identifying the supplier to supply each of the items to be ordered by the order, said data base providing routing information enabling the supplier specific order information to be routed to the said supplier selling those items;
said processor causing the routing of the supplier specific order information to one or more of said plural suppliers associated with said order particular information, the transmitted supplier specific order information including information identifying the items from the catalog order to be shipped by that supplier as well as customer specific information related to the order, the supplier specific order information allowing the supplier to ship the order directly to the customer.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system employs a code reading wand or digital pen to order items from a catalog employing item-identifying indicia which are preferably position-indicating indicia. The catalog includes items provided by plural suppliers. A single catalog order may be issued and distributed to plural suppliers by access to supplier information in a database. The catalog may be distributed with the code reading wand to promote initial use of the code reading wand and thereby aid in establishment of the technological infrastructure through immediate use of the wand. The catalog may include additional services to encourage the use of the catalog, thereby increasing catalog orders. The catalog service may be funded by charging suppliers a per order or inquiry, or periodic fee, based upon orders placed.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A system for filling orders for items listed in a catalog and requested by customers using a code reading wand to scan item identifying indicia in said catalog, the catalog including items from plural suppliers and the wand generating a wand identifying code, the system comprising:
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a processor receiving an indication of the items to be ordered by the customer through interaction of a code reading wand used as a catalog order transmitter with item defining indicia, the code reading wand outputting order particular information identifying the item or items to be ordered, the order particular information being received over a communication channel from the code reading wand;
a data base located remotely from at least some of said plural suppliers, the data base containing supplier specific information concerning each of the plural suppliers advertising products in the catalog, said system using the data base to convert the order particular information received by said processor into supplier specific order information identifying the supplier to supply each of the items to be ordered by the order, said data base providing routing information enabling the supplier specific order information to be routed to the said supplier selling those items;
said processor causing the routing of the supplier specific order information to one or more of said plural suppliers associated with said order particular information, the transmitted supplier specific order information including information identifying the items from the catalog order to be shipped by that supplier as well as customer specific information related to the order, the supplier specific order information allowing the supplier to ship the order directly to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of promoting the use of code reading wands comprising:
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a) advertising items offered by plural suppliers in a catalog having order boxes encoded with item identifying indicia imprinted in the catalog and identifying each of the offered items;
b) selling a code reading wand and services associated therewith, the code reading wand having the capability of reading said item identifying indicia and selecting items offered in the catalog as well as performing other functions, the wand being capable of transmitting a wand identification code as well as order particular information identifying one or more items to be ordered or inquired about;
the catalog orders providing initial functionality to the code reading wand, the code reading wand having functionality which may increase with increasing public wand purchase and use;
c) distributing the catalog in association with sale of the code reading wand to provide an initial use for the code reading wand and encourage wand use by the customer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of promoting the use of code reading wands comprising:
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a) distributing a catalog to a relevant market, the catalog being usable by reading item identifying indicia uniquely identifying items offered in the catalog, the item identifying indicia being intended to be scanned by a code reading wand, the code reading wand facilitating the generation of catalog order or inquiry information as well as being capable of performing other non-catalog order or inquiry functions, the wand transmitting a wand identification code as well as indicia specific information;
b) advertising various fee based good and/or service items in a catalog having order boxes encoded with item identifying indicia permanently imprinted on the catalog and identifying each of the offered items;
the catalog orders providing initial functionality to the code reading wand; and
c) including additional services in the catalog, these services also having order boxes encoded with item identifying indicia permanently imprinted on the catalog and identifying each of the additional services, the additional services being free to the user apart from the wand use services, the additional services encouraging the retention and review of the catalog, thereby increasing handling of the catalog and likelihood of ordering or inquiring about fee based items advertised therein. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of promoting the use of code reading wands comprising:
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a) distributing a catalog to a relevant market, the catalog being usable by reading item identifying indicia permanently printed therein and uniquely identifying items offered in the catalog, the item identifying indicia being intended to be scanned by a code reading wand, the code reading wand facilitating the generation of catalog order or inquiry information as well as being capable of performing other non-catalog order functions, the wand transmitting a wand identification code as well as indicia specific information, the catalog promoting the use of the wand;
b) advertising various fee based good and/or service items available from plural suppliers in the catalog, the indicia permanently imprinted in the catalog identifying each of the offered items;
the catalog orders providing initial functionality to the code reading wand; and
c) charging the plural suppliers with a per response fee for each order or inquiry generated by interaction of the code reading wand with the catalog. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method of ordering services comprising:
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a) advertising items offered by plural suppliers in a catalog having order boxes encoded with item identifying indicia imprinted in the catalog and identifying each of the offered items;
b) receiving a signal produced by the scanning of item identifying indicia with a code reading wand employed by a customer as a catalog order transmitter and transmitting order particular information identifying the item or items to be ordered;
c) using a data base located remotely from at least some of said plural suppliers for converting the catalog order received in step b) into supplier specific order information representative of orders to be routed to one or more of said plural suppliers and customer specific information, said data base containing contact information allowing the supplier specific order information to be transmitted to each selected supplier;
d) transmitting supplier specific order information produced in step c) to one or more of said plural suppliers associated with said order particular information received in said step b), the transmitted supplier specific order information including information identifying the items from the catalog order to be shipped by that supplier as well as customer specific information related to the order, the supplier specific order information allowing the supplier to ship the order directly to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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Specification