Diamond retailer, wholesaler and consumer finder, tracker and sales system

• US 20060265288A1
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Payless Certified Diamonds.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Payless Certified Diamonds.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Aronson, Avrille Friedman
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy

Abstract

The method for electronically vertically integrating a consumer, retailer and wholesaler of diamonds (or jewelry) includes maintaining a diamond inventory database which lists common characteristics, wholesale price and retail price. In the retail facility or space, the consumer electronically searches the diamond database and is presented with record displays of diamonds within the scope of the search and the retail price. A retailer'"'"'s computer can mimic the consumer search and display the wholesale price. This tracking and a sales alarm trigger facilitates a face-to-face sale of the diamond. An alarm issues when the consumer'"'"'s search exceeds certain predetermined parameters. A computer readable medium and an information processing system are included.

Claims

1. A method for electronically vertically integrating a consumer interested in buying a diamond, a retailer of said diamond and a wholesaler selling a plurality of diamonds comprising:

maintaining a diamond inventory data base compilation of said plurality of diamonds, said data base listing each diamond of said plurality of diamonds at least by common characteristics and by wholesale price and by retail price;

in a retail facility under the control of said retailer;

permitting said consumer to electronically search said inventory data base with search criteria relative to said common characteristics and said retail price and displaying, to said consumer, for any diamond within the scope of said search, said common characteristics and said retail price;

displaying, to said retailer, for any diamond found by said consumer within the scope of said search, and said common characteristics and said retail price and said wholesale price of said diamond found by said consumer, and facilitating a face to face sale of any diamond between said consumer and said retailer.

2. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of displaying to said retailer said wholesale price does not include displaying said wholesale price to said consumer.

3. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 including maintaining said diamond inventory data base at said retail facility.

4. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 including maintaining said diamond inventory data base at a remote facility.

5. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 4 wherein said diamond inventory data base is maintained at a facility under the control of said wholesaler.

6. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 wherein said retail facility under the control of said retailer is a retail establishment owned or controlled by said retailer.

7. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 wherein said common characteristics include color, weight in carats, cut and clarity.

8. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of maintaining includes maintaining a certification certificate for at least some of said plurality of diamonds in said diamond inventory data base and the step of displaying to consumer includes displaying the certificate associated said diamond found by said consumer within the scope of said search if such certificate is associated therewith.

9. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of maintaining includes an electronic transfer of data relative to said diamond data base between said retailer and said wholesaler.

10. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 including a plurality of consumers and including the step of permitting a plurality of consumer searches and a plurality of consumer displays.

11. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 including maintaining said diamond data base with data representing diamonds from a plurality of wholesalers.

12. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of permitting said consumer search includes using an interactive touch screen display.

13. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 including multilingual electronic interactions with said consumer.

14. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 including displaying educational data relative to the purchase of diamonds to said consumer.

15. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 including tracking said consumer searches and, based upon predetermined parameters, issuing an alarm to said retailer to initiate said face to face sale.

16. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 15 wherein said alarm is an alarm from the group consisting of an audio alarm, a visual alarm, a combination audio-visual alarm and an electronic alarm.

17. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of facilitating said face to face sale includes the step of selling said diamond found by said consumer.

18. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 2 including maintaining said diamond inventory data base either at said retail facility or at a remote facility under the control of said wholesaler.

19. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 18 wherein said retail facility under the control of said retailer is a retail establishment owned or controlled by said retailer.

20. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 19 wherein said common characteristics include color, weight in carats, cut and clarity.

21. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 20 wherein the step of maintaining includes maintaining a certification certificate for at least some of said plurality of diamonds in said diamond inventory data base and the step of displaying to consumer includes displaying the certificate associated said diamond found by said consumer within the scope of said search if such certificate is associated therewith.

22. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 21 wherein the step of maintaining includes an electronic transfer of data relative to said diamond data base between said retailer and said wholesaler.

23. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 22 including a plurality of consumers and including the step of permitting a plurality of consumer searches and a plurality of consumer displays.

24. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 23 including maintaining said diamond data base with data representing diamonds from a plurality of wholesalers.

25. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 24 wherein the step of permitting said consumer search includes using an interactive touch screen display.

26. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 25 including multilingual electronic interactions with said consumer.

27. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 26 including displaying educational data relative to the purchase of diamonds to said consumer.

28. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 27 including tracking said consumer searches and, based upon predetermined parameters, issuing an alarm to said retailer to initiate said face to face sale.

29. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 28 wherein said alarm is an alarm from the group consisting of an audio alarm, a visual alarm, a combination audio-visual alarm and an electronic alarm.

30. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 29 wherein the step of facilitating said face to face sale includes the step of selling said diamond found by said consumer.

31. An electronic sales methodology, to facilitate a face to face sale of a diamond between a consumer and a retailer in a retail facility under the control of said retailer, and for electronically vertically integrating said consumer, said retailer and a wholesaler selling a plurality of diamonds comprising:

maintaining an electronic compilation of said plurality of diamonds which lists each diamond by common characteristics and by wholesale price and by retail price;

at said retail facility, permitting said consumer to search said electronic compilation of diamonds;

displaying to said consumer at said facility, common characteristics and retail price of one or more diamonds within the scope of said search; and

displaying, to said retailer at said facility, said common characteristics and said retail price and said wholesale price of said one or more diamonds displayed by said consumer to facilitate said face to face sale.

32. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 31 wherein the step of displaying to said retailer said wholesale price does not include displaying said wholesale price to said consumer.

33. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 31 including maintaining said electronic compilation of diamonds either at said retail facility, at a remote facility under the control of a third party or at a remote facility under the control of said wholesaler.

34. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 31 wherein said common characteristics include color, weight in carats, cut and clarity.

35. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 31 wherein the step of maintaining includes maintaining a certification certificate for at least some of said plurality of diamonds and the step of displaying to consumer includes displaying the certificate associated said diamond found by said consumer within the scope of said search if such certificate is associated therewith.

36. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 31 wherein the step of maintaining includes an electronic transfer of data relative to said diamond data base between said retailer and said wholesaler.

37. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 31 including a plurality of consumers and including the step of permitting a plurality of consumer searches and a plurality of consumer displays.

38. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 31 including maintaining said electronic compilation of diamonds with data representing diamonds from a plurality of wholesalers.

39. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 31 wherein the step of permitting said consumer search includes using an interactive touch screen display.

40. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 31 including multilingual electronic interactions with said consumer.

41. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 31 including displaying educational data relative to the purchase of diamonds to said consumer.

42. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 31 including tracking said consumer searches and, based upon predetermined parameters, issuing an alarm to said retailer to initiate said face to face sale.

43. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 42 wherein said alarm is an alarm from the group consisting of an audio alarm, a visual alarm, a combination audio-visual alarm and an electronic alarm.

44. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 32 including maintaining said electronic compilation of diamonds either at said retail facility, at a remote facility under the control of a third party or at a remote facility under the control of said wholesaler.

45. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 44 wherein said common characteristics include color, weight in carats, cut and clarity.

46. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 45 wherein the step of maintaining includes maintaining a certification certificate for at least some of said plurality of diamonds in said diamond inventory data base and the step of displaying to consumer includes displaying the certificate associated said diamond found by said consumer within the scope of said search if such certificate is associated therewith.

47. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the step of maintaining includes an electronic transfer of data relative to said electronic compilation of diamonds between said retailer and said wholesaler.

48. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 47 including a plurality of consumers and including the step of permitting a plurality of consumer searches and a plurality of consumer displays.

49. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 48 including maintaining said electronic compilation of diamonds with data representing diamonds from a plurality of wholesalers.

50. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 49 wherein the step of permitting said consumer search includes using an interactive touch screen display.

51. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 50 including multilingual electronic interactions with said consumer.

52. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 51 including displaying educational data relative to the purchase of diamonds to said consumer.

53. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 52 including tracking said consumer searches and, based upon predetermined parameters, issuing an alarm to said retailer to initiate said face to face sale.

54. An electronic sales method as claimed in claim 53 wherein said alarm is an alarm from the group consisting of an audio alarm, a visual alarm, a combination audio-visual alarm and an electronic alarm.

55. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions for an electronic sales methodology, to facilitate a face to face sale of a diamond between a consumer and a retailer in a retail facility under the control of said retailer, and for electronically vertically integrating said consumer, said retailer and a wholesaler selling a plurality of diamonds, the programming instructions comprising:

maintaining an electronic compilation of said plurality of diamonds which lists each diamond by common characteristics and by wholesale price and by retail price;

at said retail facility, permitting said consumer to search said electronic compilation of diamonds;

displaying to said consumer at said facility, common characteristics and retail price of one or more diamonds within the scope of said search; and

displaying, to said retailer at said facility, said common characteristics and said retail price and said wholesale price of said one or more diamonds displayed by said consumer to facilitate said face to face sale.

56. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 55 wherein the program for displaying to said retailer said wholesale price does not include displaying said wholesale price to said consumer.

57. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 55 wherein said electronic compilation is a diamond inventory database and including maintaining said diamond inventory data base either at said retail facility, at a remote facility under the control of a third party or at a remote facility under the control of said wholesaler.

58. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 55 wherein said common characteristics include color, weight in carats, cut and clarity.

59. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 55 wherein said electronic compilation is a diamond inventory data base which includes data representing a certification certificate for at least some of said plurality of diamonds in said diamond inventory data base and the instruction of displaying to consumer includes displaying the certificate associated said diamond found by said consumer within the scope of said search if such certificate is associated therewith.

60. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 55 wherein the electronic compilation is a diamond data base and the program includes an electronic transfer of data relative to said diamond data base between said retailer and said wholesaler.

61. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 55 including permitting a plurality of consumer searches and a plurality of consumer displays.

62. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 55 wherein said electronic compilation is a diamond data base and the program includes maintaining said diamond data base with data representing diamonds from a plurality of wholesalers.

63. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 55 wherein the program permits said consumer search with an interactive touch screen display.

64. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 55 including multilingual electronic interactions with said consumer.

65. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 55 including displaying educational data relative to the purchase of diamonds to said consumer.

66. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 55 including tracking said consumer searches and, based upon predetermined parameters, issuing an alarm to said retailer to initiate said face to face sale.

67. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 66 wherein said alarm is an alarm from the group consisting of an audio alarm, a visual alarm, a combination audio-visual alarm and an electronic alarm.

68. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 56 wherein said electronic compilation is a diamond inventory data base and the program includes maintaining said diamond inventory data base either at said retail facility, at a remote facility under the control of a third party or at a remote facility under the control of said wholesaler.

69. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 68 wherein said common characteristics include color, weight in carats, cut and clarity.

70. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 69 wherein the program maintains a certification certificate for at least some of said plurality of diamonds in said diamond inventory database and the instruction of displaying to consumer includes displaying the certificate associated said diamond found by said consumer within the scope of said search if such certificate is associated therewith.

71. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 70 wherein the program includes an electronic transfer of data relative to said diamond data base between said retailer and said wholesaler.

72. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 71 including permitting a plurality of consumer searches and a plurality of consumer displays.

73. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 72 including maintaining said diamond data base with data representing diamonds from a plurality of wholesalers.

74. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 73 wherein the program permits said consumer search with an interactive touch screen display.

75. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 74 including multilingual electronic interactions with said consumer.

76. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 75 including displaying educational data relative to the purchase of diamonds to said consumer.

77. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 76 including tracking said consumer searches and, based upon predetermined parameters, issuing an alarm to said retailer to initiate said face to face sale.

78. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions as claimed in claim 77 wherein said alarm is an alarm from the group consisting of an audio alarm, a visual alarm, a combination audio-visual alarm and an electronic alarm.

79. An information processing system to facilitate a face to face sale of a diamond between a consumer and a retailer in a retail facility under the control of said retailer and for electronically vertically integrating a consumer interested in buying a diamond, a retailer of said diamond and a wholesaler selling a plurality of diamonds, said system comprising:

a diamond inventory data base being a compilation of data representing said plurality of diamonds, said data base listing, for each diamond, common characteristics and wholesale price and retail price;

a search engine at said retail facility permitting said consumer to electronically search said inventory data base with search criteria relative to said common characteristics and said retail price;

a first display at said retail facility viewable by said consumer which shows, said common characteristics and said retail price for diamonds within the scope of said search;

a second display at said retail facility viewable by said retailer but not viewable by consumer which shows said common characteristics of diamonds within the scope of said search and the wholesale prices thereof to facilitate said face to face sale.

80. An information processing system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said first display does not include a display of said wholesale price to said consumer.

81. An information processing system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said diamond inventory data base is located either at said retail facility, at a remote facility under the control of a third party or at a remote facility under the control of said wholesaler.

82. An information processing system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said common characteristics include color, weight in carats, cut and clarity.

83. An information processing system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said diamond inventory data base which includes data representing a certification certificate for at least some of said plurality of diamonds in said diamond inventory data base and said first display to consumer includes a selectable display of the certificate associated said diamond found by said consumer within the scope of said search if such certificate is associated therewith.

84. An information processing system as claimed in claim 79 including an electronic transfer communications link between said diamond data base located at said retailer and said wholesaler.

85. An information processing system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said search engine permits a plurality of consumer searches into said diamond data base and said first display is a plurality of consumer displays.

86. An information processing system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said diamond data base includes data representing diamonds from a plurality of wholesalers.

87. An information processing system as claimed in claim 79 said search engine is operative with an interactive touch screen display.

88. An information processing system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said first display includes means for providing multilingual electronic interactions with said consumer.

89. An information processing system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said first display includes means for providing the display of educational data relative to the purchase of diamonds to said consumer.

90. An information processing system as claimed in claim 79 a search result tracker, coupled to said search engine, and an alarm monitor which issues an alarm to said retailer to initiate said face to face sale based upon predetermined parameters obtained from said search tracker.

91. An information processing system as claimed in claim 90 wherein said alarm is an alarm from the group consisting of an audio alarm, a visual alarm, a combination audio-visual alarm and an electronic alarm.

92. An information processing system as claimed in claim 81 wherein said diamond inventory data base is located either at said retail facility, at a remote facility under the control of a third party or at a remote facility under the control of said wholesaler.

93. An information processing system as claimed in claim 92 wherein said common characteristics include color, weight in carats, cut and clarity.

94. An information processing system as claimed in claim 93 wherein said diamond inventory data base which includes data representing a certification certificate for at least some of said plurality of diamonds in said diamond inventory data base and said first display to consumer includes a selectable display of the certificate associated said diamond found by said consumer within the scope of said search if such certificate is associated therewith.

95. An information processing system as claimed in claim 94 including an electronic transfer communications link between said diamond data base located at said retailer and said wholesaler.

96. An information processing system as claimed in claim 95 wherein said search engine permits a plurality of consumer searches into said diamond data base and said first display is a plurality of consumer displays.

97. An information processing system as claimed in claim 96 wherein said diamond data base includes data representing diamonds from a plurality of wholesalers.

98. An information processing system as claimed in claim 97 said search engine is operative with an interactive touch screen display.

99. An information processing system as claimed in claim 98 wherein said first display includes means for providing multilingual electronic interactions with said consumer.

100. An information processing system as claimed in claim 99 wherein said first display includes means for providing the display of educational data relative to the purchase of diamonds to said consumer.

101. An information processing system as claimed in claim 100 a search result tracker, coupled to said search engine, and an alarm monitor which issues an alarm to said retailer to initiate said face to face sale based upon predetermined parameters obtained from said search tracker.

102. An information processing system as claimed in claim 101 wherein said alarm is an alarm from the group consisting of an audio alarm, a visual alarm, a combination audio-visual alarm and an electronic alarm.

103. A method for electronically vertically integrating a consumer interested in buying a piece of jewelry, a retailer selling a plurality of pieces of jewelry and a wholesaler selling a further plurality of pieces of jewelry comprising:

maintaining a jewelry inventory data base compilation representing said plurality of pieces of jewelry, said data base listing each piece of jewelry by common characteristics and by wholesale price and by retail price;

in a retail facility under the control of said retailer;

permitting said consumer to electronically search said inventory database with search criteria relative to said common characteristics and said retail price and displaying, to said consumer, for any piece of jewelry within the scope of said search, said common characteristics and said retail price;

displaying, to said retailer, for any piece of jewelry found by said consumer within the scope of said search, and said common characteristics and said retail price and said wholesale price of said piece of jewelry found by said consumer, and facilitating a face to face sale of any piece of jewelry between said consumer and said retailer.

104. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 wherein the step of displaying to said retailer said wholesale price does not include displaying said wholesale price to said consumer.

105. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 including maintaining said inventory data base at said retail facility.

106. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 including maintaining said inventory data base at a remote facility.

107. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 106 wherein said inventory data base is maintained at a facility under the control of said wholesaler.

108. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 wherein said retail facility under the control of said retailer is a retail establishment owned or controlled by said retailer.

109. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 wherein said common characteristics include type of precious metal, type of jewel, and type of jewelry.

110. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 wherein the step of maintaining includes maintaining a certification certificate for at least some of pieces of jewelry having one or more diamonds therein in said inventory data base and the step of displaying to consumer includes displaying the certificate associated said piece of jewelry found by said consumer within the scope of said search if such certificate is associated therewith.

111. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 wherein the step of maintaining includes an electronic transfer of data relative to said data base between said retailer and said wholesaler.

112. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 including a plurality of consumers and including the step of permitting a plurality of consumer searches and a plurality of consumer displays.

113. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 including maintaining said data base with data representing jewelry from a plurality of wholesalers.

114. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 wherein the step of permitting said consumer search includes using an interactive touch screen display.

115. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 including multilingual electronic interactions with said consumer.

116. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 including displaying educational data relative to the purchase of jewelry to said consumer.

117. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 including tracking said consumer searches and, based upon predetermined parameters, issuing an alarm to said retailer to initiate said face to face sale.

118. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 117 wherein said alarm is an alarm from the group consisting of an audio alarm, a visual alarm, a combination audio-visual alarm and an electronic alarm.

119. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 103 wherein the step of facilitating said face to face sale includes the step of selling said piece of jewelry found by said consumer.

120. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 104 including maintaining said inventory data base either at said retail facility or at a remote facility under the control of said wholesaler.

121. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 120 wherein said retail facility under the control of said retailer is a retail establishment owned or controlled by said retailer.

122. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 121 wherein said common characteristics include type of precious metal, type of jewel, and type of jewelry.

123. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 122 wherein the step of maintaining includes maintaining a certification certificate for at least some of pieces of jewelry having one or more diamonds therein in said inventory data base and the step of displaying to consumer includes displaying the certificate associated said piece of jewelry found by said consumer within the scope of said search if such certificate is associated therewith.

124. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 123 wherein the step of maintaining includes an electronic transfer of data relative to said data base between said retailer and said wholesaler.

125. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 124 including a plurality of consumers and including the step of permitting a plurality of consumer searches and a plurality of consumer displays.

126. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 125 including maintaining said data base with data representing piece of jewelry from a plurality of wholesalers.

127. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 126 wherein the step of permitting said consumer search includes using an interactive touch screen display.

128. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 127 including multilingual electronic interactions with said consumer.

129. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 128 including displaying educational data relative to the purchase of jewelry to said consumer.

130. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 129 including tracking said consumer searches and, based upon predetermined parameters, issuing an alarm to said retailer to initiate said face to face sale.

131. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 130 wherein said alarm is an alarm from the group consisting of an audio alarm, a visual alarm, a combination audio-visual alarm and an electronic alarm.

132. A method for electronically integrating as claimed in claim 131 wherein the step of facilitating said face to face sale includes the step of selling said piece of jewelry found by said consumer.