APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ORDERING SUPPLIES FOR A MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE

• US 20100191617A1
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: ULINSKI, JOHN STANLEY
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

What is disclosed is a novel apparatus and method for effectuating the ordering of supplies via a wireless handset device. In one embodiment, the handset is pre-loaded with a plurality of folders each representing a multifunction device. A user navigates the hierarchy of folders and selects a folder. The user then selects at least one graphical widget contained therein representing a particular supply commodity available for order from a supplier. In response to a user selection thereof, a part number identified by the selected graphical widget and a supplier profile are retrieved from memory. The profile contains the ordering method and contact information. An order message is prepared according to the ordering method prescribed by the profile and is sent to the supplier to place an order for that supply commodity. The process repeats until no more supplies are to be ordered. Additional features, enhancements, and embodiments have been provided.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating the ordering of supplies for a multifunction device via a wireless handset device over a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of device-specific representations retained in a memory of a wireless handset, each of said device-specific representations being associated with a multifunction device and pointing to at least one graphical widget representing a supply commodity for said multifunction device, each of said graphical widgets being associated with a profile of a supplier of said supply commodity, said profile containing at least in part contact information about said supplier;

selecting one of said graphical widgets pointed to by said selected device-specific representation, said selected graphical widget representing a supply commodity desired to be ordered;

retrieving from said memory of said wireless handset said supplier profile associated with said selected graphical widget;

assembling an order message for said selected supply commodity according to said retrieved profile; and

using said wireless handset to send said order message to said supplier identified by said contact information to order said selected supply commodity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a barcode of said supply commodity into said wireless handset; and

using said wireless handset to decode said received barcode to identify said graphical widget representing said supply commodity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

entering a number for a quantity of said supply commodity to be ordered; and

sending said order message to said supplier to order said quantity of said supply commodity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said order message comprises any of a text message, an audio message, and a video message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving into said wireless handset device a message which directs said user to a particular graphical widget.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a plurality of graphical widgets for supply commodities to be ordered; and

sending a single order message to each supplier for said selected supply commodities having a common supplier.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving updates into said wireless handset involving any of said device-specific representations, said graphical widgets, profile, sales information, and new supply commodities being offered.

8. An apparatus for ordering supplies for a multifunction device over a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a transmitter and a receiver for two-way wireless communication with a computer system over a wireless communication network; and

a processor in communication with said memory and each of said wireless transmitter and receiver, said processor executing machine readable instructions to perform the method of;

selecting one of a plurality of device-specific representations retained in a memory of a wireless handset, each of said device-specific representations being associated with a multifunction device and pointing to at least one graphical widget representing a supply commodity for said multifunction device, each of said graphical widgets being associated with a profile of a supplier of said supply commodity, said profile containing at least in part contact information about said supplier;

selecting one of said graphical widgets pointed to by said selected device-specific representation, said selected graphical widget representing a supply commodity desired to be ordered;

retrieving from said memory of said wireless handset said supplier profile associated with said selected graphical widget;

assembling an order message for said selected supply commodity according to said retrieved profile; and

using said wireless handset to send said order message to said supplier identified by said contact information to order said selected supply commodity.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a barcode of said supply commodity into said wireless handset; and

using said wireless handset to decode said received barcode to identify said graphical widget representing said supply commodity.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

entering a number for a quantity of said supply commodity to be ordered; and

sending said order message to said supplier to order said quantity of said supply commodity.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said order message comprises any of a text message, an audio message, and a video message.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising receiving into said wireless handset device a message which directs said user to a particular graphical widget.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

selecting a plurality of graphical widgets for supply commodities to be ordered; and

sending a single order message to each supplier for said selected supply commodities having a common supplier.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising receiving updates into said wireless handset involving any of said device-specific representations, said graphical widgets, profile, sales information, and new supply commodities being offered.

15. A computer program product for facilitating the ordering of supplies for a multifunction device via a wireless handset device over a wireless communication network, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-usable data carrier storing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising;

selecting one of a plurality of device-specific representations retained in a memory of a wireless handset, each of said device-specific representations being associated with a multifunction device and pointing to at least one graphical widget representing a supply commodity for said multifunction device, each of said graphical widgets being associated with a profile of a supplier of said supply commodity, said profile containing at least in part contact information about said supplier;

selecting one of said graphical widgets pointed to by said selected device-specific representation, said selected graphical widget representing a supply commodity desired to be ordered;

retrieving from said memory of said wireless handset said supplier profile associated with said selected graphical widget;

assembling an order message for said selected supply commodity according to said retrieved profile; and

using said wireless handset to send said order message to said supplier identified by said contact information to order said selected supply commodity.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a barcode of said supply commodity into said wireless handset; and

using said wireless handset to decode said received barcode to identify said graphical widget representing said supply commodity.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

entering a number for a quantity of said supply commodity to be ordered; and

sending said order message to said supplier to order said quantity of said supply commodity.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said order message comprises any of a text message, an audio message, and a video message.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising receiving into said wireless handset device a message which directs said user to a particular graphical widget.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

selecting a plurality of graphical widgets for supply commodities to be ordered; and

sending a single order message to each supplier for said selected supply commodities having a common supplier.