Systems and methods for outsourcing service orders

• US 20050144895A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 1-800 Concrete, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 1-800 Concrete, Inc.
• Inventors: Caler, Michael Allan, Pittard, Robert Charles, Bryant, Jon Packard, Grimes, Frederic Calvin, Bryant, Robert Packard
• Granted Patent: US 7,457,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/741.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Included herein is a service outsourcing system for providing at least one purchaser with concrete. The system may include at least one central server comprising at least one central database and an interactive electronic ordering guide configured to allow the purchaser to place at least one concrete order. The concrete order may include a job site location. The outsourcing system may be configured to receive at least one concrete order and provide the purchaser with the ability to select at least one selected concrete supplier from at least one potential concrete supplier. In addition, the service outsourcing system is further configured to access the at least one central database. Finally, the service outsourcing system may be further configured to outsource the concrete order with the selected concrete supplier.

Claims

1. A service outsourcing system for providing at least one purchaser with concrete, comprising:

at least one central server comprising at least one central database;

an interactive electronic ordering guide configured to allow the purchaser to place at least one concrete order, the concrete order comprising a job site location;

wherein the outsourcing system is configured to receive at least one concrete order and provide the purchaser with the ability to select at least one selected concrete supplier from at least one potential concrete supplier,

wherein the service outsourcing system is further configured to access the at least one central database,

wherein the service outsourcing system is further configured to outsource the concrete order with the selected concrete supplier.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the service outsourcing system is further configured to communicate data via the Internet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the service outsourcing system is further configured to access the central database utilizing at least one of a Common Gateway Interface (CGI), an Application Service Provider (ASP), and JAVA®

.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the service outsourcing system is further configured to provide at least one interactive menu screen for verifying whether a purchaser is registered with the service outsourcing system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the service outsourcing system is further configured to provide at least one interactive menu screen for creating at least one concrete order estimate.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the concrete order estimate is determined based on at least one of location, amount of concrete desired, date of service, and concrete supplier.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the service outsourcing system is further configured to outsource the concrete order with the concrete supplier based on the concrete order'"'"'s job site location.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the service outsourcing system is further configured to outsource the concrete order with the concrete supplier, wherein the concrete supplier comprises at least one of a concrete producing company, a pump company, a lumber company, a construction materials company, and a general contractor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the service outsourcing system is further configured provide the purchaser with at least one interactive menu screen for calculating the approximate volume of concrete desired.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein service outsourcing system is further configured to provide the purchaser with at least one interactive menu screen that allows the purchaser to determine at least one of concrete supplier, job site location, order type, truck type, concrete type, mix information, additives, color, equipment, supplies, and date of service.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the service outsourcing system is further configured provide electronic payment capabilities for the purchaser.

4. The system of claim 4, wherein the service outsourcing system comprises at least one of discrete logic circuitry, Application Specific Integrated Circuitry (ASIC), a Programmable Gate Array (PGA), and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).

13. A method for providing at least one purchaser with concrete, comprising:

receiving at least one concrete order, wherein the concrete order comprises order data, wherein the order data comprises a job site location;

determining at least one potential concrete supplier based on the order data;

receiving data from the purchaser indicating at least one selected concrete supplier from a list of at least one potential concrete supplier; and

outsourcing the concrete order to the selected concrete supplier.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing at least one concrete order estimate based on the order data.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising prioritizing the potential concrete supplier.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the order data further comprises at least one of a concrete supplier, an order type, a truck type, a concrete type, mix information, additives, concrete color, equipment, supplies, and date of service.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising associating at least one potential concrete supplier to at least one geographical area.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising presenting the purchaser with the potential concrete supplier associated with the geographical area corresponding to the job site location.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving payment from the purchaser.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving payment from the purchaser comprises electronically receiving payment from the purchaser.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving payment from the concrete supplier.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising calculating an approximate volume of concrete desired.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising verifying whether the purchaser is a registered user.

24. A computer readable medium for providing at least one purchaser with concrete, comprising:

logic receiving at least one concrete order from the purchaser, wherein the concrete order comprises order data, wherein the order data comprises a job site location;

logic determining at least one potential concrete supplier based on the order data;

logic receiving data from the purchaser indicating at least one selected concrete supplier from a list of at least one potential concrete supplier; and

logic outsourcing the concrete order with the selected concrete supplier.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, further comprising logic providing at least one concrete order estimate based on the order data.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 24, further comprising logic prioritizing the potential concrete supplier.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the order data further comprises at least one of a concrete supplier, an order type, a truck type, a concrete type, mix information, additives, concrete color, equipment, supplies, and date of service.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 24, further comprising logic designating at least one concrete supplier to at least one geographical area.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28, further comprising logic presenting the purchaser with the at least one concrete supplier designated to the geographical area corresponding to the job site location.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 24, further comprising logic receiving payment from the purchaser.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein logic receiving payment from the purchaser comprises logic electronically receiving payment from the purchaser.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 24, further comprising logic receiving payment from the concrete supplier.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 24, further comprising logic calculating an approximate volume of concrete desired.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 24, further comprising logic verifying whether the purchaser is a registered user.