Method and apparatus for accessing and tracking customer information and ordering product

• US 20030220848A1
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michigan Medical & Dental
• Original Assignee: Michigan Medical & Dental
• Inventors: Behrendt, Brett
• Application Number:
  US10/151,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220848A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A customer data collection system for product delivery from a supplier is provided comprising an information manager for accessing a product ordering history record and entering a purchase order, each purchase order including customer information, selected product information, and delivery information. The delivery information comprises one of an end customer location, an order placer location, and a predetermined delivery location other than the end customer location and the order placer location.

Claims

1. A customer data collection system for product delivery from a supplier, comprising:

an information manager for accessing a product ordering history record and entering a purchase order, each purchase order including customer information, selected product information, and delivery information,

wherein said delivery information comprises one of;

an end customer location;

an order placer location; and

a predetermined delivery location other than said end customer location and said order placer location.

2. The customer data collection system of claim 1, wherein said information manager comprises a portable information manager device.

3. The customer data collection system of claim 2, further comprising a server for receiving said purchase order, wherein said portable information manager device transmits purchase orders to said server.

4. The customer data collection system of claim 3, wherein said portable information manager device automatically transmits purchase orders to said server via a wireless connection.

5. The customer data collection system of claim 1, further comprising a customer database including:

a customer list;

a product catalog; and

said product ordering history record.

6. The customer data collection system of claim 5, wherein said customer list comprises a list of medical patients, said product catalog comprises a catalog of medical supplies, and said product ordering history record comprises medical supplies used in the treatment of each patient.

7. The customer data collection system of claim 5, wherein said customer list comprises a list of retail stores, said product catalog comprises a catalog of retail goods, and said product ordering history record comprises a list of retail goods stocked by each retail store.

8. The customer data collection system of claim 5, wherein a customer is taken off said customer list after a predetermined time period from a last placed order by said customer expires.

9. The customer data collection system of claim 5, wherein a new customer is added to said customer list when an order is entered for a customer not already included on said list.

10. The customer data collection system of claim 1, wherein the order placer is one of an end customer, a distributor, and a manufacturer.

11. A method of ordering product for customer delivery from a vendor using an information manager comprising the steps of:

accessing a product ordering history record;

placing a purchase order;

selecting a delivery address from one of an end customer delivery address, an order placer delivery address, and a delivery location other than said end customer location and said order placer location; and

shipping said product from said vendor to said selected delivery address.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising maintaining a customer database, said database including:

a customer list;

a product catalog; and

said product ordering history record.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein placing a purchase order includes the steps of:

entering a new customer into said database if said customer is not already on said customer list;

selecting a customer from said customer list if said customer has previously ordered product from said vendor; and

selecting a product from said product catalog.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said customer list comprises a list of medical patients, said product catalog comprises a catalog of medical supplies, and said product ordering history record comprises medical supplies used in the treatment of each patient.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said customer list comprises a list of retail stores, said product catalog comprises a catalog of retail goods, and said product ordering history record comprises a list of retail goods stocked by each retail store.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising removing a customer from said customer list after a predetermined time period from a last placed order by said customer expires.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting said purchase order from a portable information manager to a server via a wireless connection.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said order is transmitted automatically when placed.

19. A program product for causing an information manager to perform the method steps of:

accessing a product order history record;

placing a purchase order;

entering a delivery address from one of an end customer delivery address, an order placer delivery address, and a delivery location other than said end customer location and said order placer location; and

shipping said product from said vendor to said entered delivery address.

20. The program product of claim 19, further performing the method step of maintaining a customer database, said database including:

a customer list;

a product catalog; and

said product ordering history record.