Procurement information access via electronic mail

• US 20070083523A1
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Norgren Incorporated (IMI PLC)
• Original Assignee: IMI Norgren Inc. (IMI PLC)
• Inventors: Gerard, Michael, O'Dell, Byron
• Application Number:
  US11/248,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083523A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A procurement information system is provided. The system includes an electronic mail interface configured to receive an information request over a communication link, and to transfer over the communication link retrieved information relating to the information request. Also provided is a processor configured to process the information request to determine the retrieved information, and to retrieve the retrieved information from a database. The information request includes a price quote request for a first item unavailable for shipment at the time the information request is received. The retrieved information includes a price quote for a second item available for shipment at the time the information request is received.

Claims

1. A procurement information system, comprising:

a database configured to store information;

an electronic mail interface configured to receive a first information request over a communication link, and to transfer over the communication link first retrieved information relating to the first information request; and

a processor configured to process the first information request to determine the first retrieved information, and to retrieve the first retrieved information from the database;

wherein the first information request comprises a price quote request for a first item unavailable for shipment at the time the first information request is received, and

wherein the first retrieved information comprises a price quote for a second item available for shipment at the time the first information request is received.

2. The procurement information system of claim 1, wherein a first electronic mail message comprises the first information request in plain-text format.

3. The procurement information system of claim 1, wherein a second electronic mail message comprises the first retrieved information in plain-text format, rich-text format, or hypertext transfer protocol.

4. The procurement information system of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic mail interface is further configured to receive a second information request over the communication link, and to transfer over the communication link second retrieved information relating to the second information request; and

wherein the processor is configured to process the second information request to determine the second retrieved information, and to retrieve the second retrieved information from the database.

5. The procurement information system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to recognize within the second information request a partial part number for a third item.

6. The procurement information system of claim 4, wherein the second information request comprises a product information request for a third item.

7. The procurement information system of claim 6, wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a photograph, computer-aided design information, a product data sheet, and a product review for the third item.

8. The procurement information system of claim 6, wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a photograph, computer-aided design information, a product data sheet, and a product review for a substitute of the third item.

9. The procurement information system of claim 4, wherein the second information request comprises a product information request for an item category.

10. The procurement information system of claim 9, wherein the second retrieved information comprises a list of item numbers associated with the item category.

11. The procurement information system of claim 4, wherein the second information request comprises a price quote request for a third item.

12. The procurement information system of claim 11, wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a part number, a brief description, a list price, a net price, a quantity in stock, a lead time, a time and date stamp, and an expiration date for the third item.

13. The procurement information system of claim 11, wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a part number, a brief description, a list price, a net price, a quantity in stock, a lead time, a time and date stamp, and an expiration date for a substitute of the third item.

14. The procurement information system of claim 13, wherein the substitute of the third item is in stock.

15. The procurement information system of claim 4, wherein the second information request comprises a purchase order for a third item.

16. The procurement information system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to place the purchase order in the database.

17. The procurement information system of claim 15, wherein the second retrieved information comprises an acknowledgement of the purchase order, the acknowledgement comprising at least one of a purchase order number, a customer number, a net monetary amount, and a shipping date for the third item.

18. The procurement information system of claim 4, wherein the second information request comprises a status request for a purchase order for a third item.

19. The procurement information system of claim 18, wherein the second retrieved information comprises an internal order number, a point-of-sale number, an item code for the third item, a purchased quantity of the third item, a shipped quantity of the third item, a backordered quantity of the third item, a scheduled ship date, an actual ship date, a net monetary amount, and a shipment tracking number.

20. The procurement information system of claim 19, wherein the shipment tracking number comprises a link to a webpage of a carrier.

21. A method of providing procurement information, comprising:

receiving over a communication link a first electronic mail message comprising a first information request;

processing the first information request to determine first retrieved information;

retrieving the first retrieved information from a database; and

transferring over the communication link a second electronic mail message comprising the first retrieved information;

wherein the first information request comprises a price quote request for a first item unavailable for shipment when the first information request is received, and

wherein the first retrieved information comprises a price quote for a second item available for shipment when the first information request is received.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein first information request is presented in plain-text format in the first electronic mail message.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the first retrieved information is presented in plain-text format, rich-text format, or hypertext transfer protocol in the second electronic mail message.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving over the communication link a third electronic mail message comprising a second information request;

processing the second information request to determine second retrieved information;

retrieving the second retrieved information from the database; and

transferring over the communication link a fourth electronic mail message comprising the second retrieved information.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein processing the second information request comprises recognizing a partial part number for a third item.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the second information request comprises a product information request for a third item.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a photograph, computer-aided design information, a product data sheet and a product review for the third item.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a photograph, computer-aided design information, a product data sheet, and a product review for a substitute of the third item.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the second information request comprises a product information request for an item category.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the second retrieved information comprises a list of item numbers associated with the item category.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the second information request comprises a price quote request for a third item.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a part number, a brief description, a list price, a net price, a quantity in stock, a lead time, a time and date stamp, and an expiration date for the third item.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a part number, a brief description, a list price, a net price, a quantity in stock, a lead time, a time and date stamp, and an expiration date for a substitute of the third item.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the substitute of the third item is in stock.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein the second information request comprises a purchase order for a third item.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising placing the purchase order in the database.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the second retrieved information comprises an acknowledgement of the purchase order, the acknowledgement comprising at least one of a purchase order number, a customer number, a net monetary amount, and a shipping date for the third item.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein the second information request comprises a status request for a purchase order for a third item.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the second retrieved information comprises an internal order number, a point-of-sale number, an item code for the third item, a purchased quantity of the third item, a shipped quantity of the third item, a backordered quantity of the third item, a scheduled ship date, an actual ship date, a net monetary amount, and a shipment tracking number.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the shipment tracking number comprises a link to a webpage of a carrier.

41. A procurement information system, comprising:

means for storing information;

means for receiving an information request over a communication link;

means for processing the information request to determine retrieved information;

means for retrieving the retrieved information from a database; and

means for transferring over the communication link the retrieved information;

wherein the information request comprises a request for a price quote for a first item unavailable for shipment at the time the information request is received, and

wherein the retrieved information comprises a price quote for a second item available for shipment at the time the information request is received.