Web-based point-of sale system

• US 20040181454A1
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Manno
• Original Assignee: Michael Manno
• Inventors: Manno, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/386,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181454A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

A network or web-based point of sale (WPOS) system employs a store server and point-of-sale client computers that are connected over a store LAN or over the Internet to the server. The server provides all necessary operating drivers for cash drawer, scanners, and other point-of-sale peripherals via the web browser of the client computers. An instant kiosk retail solution can involve a remote computer terminal installed via the Internet, and will support peripheral POS devices. The web-based system permits management to obtain store performance reports remotely, and permits customers to schedule and reschedule appointments and delivery times. Servers at two or more store sites can communicate with one another and with a headquarters mainframe. The WPOS can be implemented as an integrated suite for collaboration between store locations.

Claims

1. Network based point-of-sale system comprising a network permitting communication between devices connected to the network;

at least one point-of-sale terminal which includes a computer, the computer including means for entering and processing data, means for connecting to said network, one or more ports to which a POS device may be connected, and software including a web browser; and

one or more POS devices to be operated by the computer in connection with a sales transaction of merchandise or service at said terminal; and

a server including a suitably programmed computer including means for connecting with said network, and software for accepting POS sales transaction data from each said terminal, and supplying modules over said network to each of said terminals such that all data entered at each said into said terminal concerning any sales transaction is controlled through the terminal computer web browser, and each said POS device connected at said terminal is operated through the terminal computer web browser.

2. Point-of-sale system according to claim 1 wherein said POS devices include one or more of a cash drawer, a credit/debit card reader, a bar code scanner, a pole display, and receipt printer.

3. Point-of-sale system according to claim 1 wherein said server stores sales receipt and warranty information for each customer transaction, and said server software including means permitting each customer can access the customer'"'"'s own receipt and warranty information by the customer connecting to said network.

4. Point-of-sale system according to claim 1 wherein said server includes means for notifying a customer of a scheduled delivery or installation of merchandise or service purchased by said customer, by automatic e-mail communication with said customer.

5. Point-of-sale system according to claim 1 wherein said server includes means for notifying a customer of a scheduled delivery or installation of merchandise or service purchased by said customer by automatic phone communication with said customer.

6. A multiple store point-of-sale system comprising

a main central computer,

a network permitting communication between devices on the network, and, at each store location,

at least one point-of-sale terminal which includes a computer, the computer including means for entering and processing data, means for connecting to said network, one or more I/O ports to which a POS device may be connected, and software including a web browser;

and one or more POS devices to be operated by the computer in connection with a sales transaction of merchandise or service at said terminal; and

a server including a suitably programmed computer including means for connecting with said network, and software for accepting POS sales transaction data from each said terminal, and supplying data modules over said network to each of the associated point-of-sale terminals such that all data entered into each said terminal concerning any sales transaction is controlled through the terminal computer web browser, and each said POS device connected at said terminal is operated through the terminal computer web browser; and

means communicating between the servers at the respective store locations and said main central computer for collecting sales and inventory data from each of the store locations and sharing said data with the other said store locations.

7. Multiple store point-of-sale system according to claim 6 wherein said main computer includes manager access software permitting an authorized management user to access said sales and inventory data over the Internet.

8. Multiple store point-of-sale system according to claim 6 wherein main computer includes customer access software permitting customer access over said network to schedule and re-schedule information concerning a scheduled sale or installation of merchandise or service purchased by said customer.

9. Multiple store point-of-sale system according to claim 8 wherein said customer access software permits the customer to change the time and date of a scheduled delivery or installation of the merchandise or service purchased by said customer.

10. Multiple store point-of-sale system according to claim 6 at least one of said store locations including a customer access computer coupled to said network which permits a customer at said store location to access inventory and price data.

11. Multiple store point-of-sale system according to claim 10 wherein a bar code scanner is provided associated with said customer access computer permitting a customer to scan in-store merchandise items, said server provides the customer access computer with information concerning the merchandise item so scanned, and said customer access computer displays said information for the customer.

12. Multiple store point-of-sale system according to claim 6 further comprising means at each said store location for updating inventory data on the associated server when a shipment of merchandise is received, and communicating the updated inventory data over said network to said main central computer.

13. Network based point-of-sale system permitting individual merchants to employ web-enabled computers as point-of-sale terminals, and in which a network permits communication between such computers and a server connected to the network;

wherein each said point-of-sale terminal comprises a computer, the computer including means for entering and processing data, means for connecting to said network, one or more ports to which a POS device may be connected, and software including a web browser; and

one or more POS devices to be operated by the computer in connection with a sales transaction of merchandise or service at the associated point-of-sale terminal; and

said server including a suitably programmed computer including means for connecting with said network, and software for accepting POS sales transaction data from each said point-of-sale terminal, and supplying modules over said network to each of said terminals such that all data entered at each said into said terminal concerning any sales transaction is controlled through the terminal computer web browser, and each said POS device connected at said terminal is operated through the associated point-of-sale terminal computer web browser.

14. The network-based point-of-sale system according to claim 13, wherein said server is partitioned so that sales data for each point-of-sale terminal are segregated and not shared with the remaining point-of-sale terminals.

15. The network-based point-of-sale system according to claim 14, wherein said partitioned server is configured to permit a plurality of merchants to access respective areas of the server independently on a subscription basis.

16. The network-based point-of-sale system according to claim 13, wherein said server includes means to permit customers to log into the server to purchase event or transportation tickets and means providing machine readable indicia to be printed out by the consumer and which can be scanned to admit the customer at the transportation or event.

17. The network-based point-of-sale system according to claim 13, further comprising means permitting a customer to access that customer'"'"'s purchase data on the server remotely, and to modify purchases or reschedule deliveries without intervention of store personnel.