Method of Direct-to-Consumer Reverse Logistics
First Claim
1. A method of auctioning one or more items directly to purchasers from a retail store, comprising:
- a. Providing store shelves in said retail store and products for purchase on said store shelves;
b. Providing a communications multi-network in said retail store, havingi. At least one logic engine;
ii. At least one star communication network through which non-location data is transferred to said logic engine; and
iii. At least one mesh communication network through which location data is transferred to said logic engine;
c. Locating said products for purchase on said store shelves of said retail store eligible to be auctioned, said products for purchase eligible to be auctioned being auctionable products;
d. Scanning a product code of each said auctionable product with a scanning device, said scanning producing auctionable product data;
e. Tracking said scanning device in said retail store, said scanning device producing location data at each said scan of said product code of each said auctionable product and transmitting said location data through said mesh communication network to said logic engine;
f. Transmitting said auctionable product data through said star communication network;
g. Sorting said auctionable products into at least one bundled lot for sale in said retail store;
h. Producing a unique identifier'"'"' for each said bundled lot, said unique identifier having machine readable indicium;
i. Initiating a direct-to-consumer auction for the sale of each said bundled lot directly to said one or more purchasers; and
j. Auctioning each said bundled lot in said auction to said one or more purchasers whereby each said one or more purchasers is selected from the group consisting of a highest bidder in said auction from said retail store and a best bidder in said auction from said retail store.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of reverse logistics using an auction to sell products directly to consumers from a store instead of using a third party reclamation company. One or more methods of auctioning one or more typically unsalable items directly to purchasers from a retail store including the steps of providing a communications multi-network having at least one logic engine, at least one star communication network through which non-location data is transferred to said logic engine, and at least one mesh communication network through which location data is transferred to said logic engine. The method further includes the steps of locating products for purchase that are eligible to be auctioned, the scanning of product codes of each auctionable product, tracking the scanning device in the store, transmitting auctionable product data through the star communication network, sorting auctionable products into at least one bundled lot for sale, producing a unique identifier for each bundled lot, initiating a direct-to-consumer auction for the sale of each bundled lot, and auctioning each bundled lot to a best bidder in the auction.
48 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of auctioning one or more items directly to purchasers from a retail store, comprising:
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a. Providing store shelves in said retail store and products for purchase on said store shelves; b. Providing a communications multi-network in said retail store, having i. At least one logic engine; ii. At least one star communication network through which non-location data is transferred to said logic engine; and iii. At least one mesh communication network through which location data is transferred to said logic engine; c. Locating said products for purchase on said store shelves of said retail store eligible to be auctioned, said products for purchase eligible to be auctioned being auctionable products; d. Scanning a product code of each said auctionable product with a scanning device, said scanning producing auctionable product data; e. Tracking said scanning device in said retail store, said scanning device producing location data at each said scan of said product code of each said auctionable product and transmitting said location data through said mesh communication network to said logic engine; f. Transmitting said auctionable product data through said star communication network; g. Sorting said auctionable products into at least one bundled lot for sale in said retail store; h. Producing a unique identifier'"'"' for each said bundled lot, said unique identifier having machine readable indicium; i. Initiating a direct-to-consumer auction for the sale of each said bundled lot directly to said one or more purchasers; and j. Auctioning each said bundled lot in said auction to said one or more purchasers whereby each said one or more purchasers is selected from the group consisting of a highest bidder in said auction from said retail store and a best bidder in said auction from said retail store. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of selling one or more auctionable products in a store directly to one or more consumers comprising the steps of:
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a. Providing one or more items for purchase in said store, each said one or more items for purchase having a due date for retail sale; b. Identifying one or more items in said store close to or beyond the due date for retail sale for each said item as one or more auctionable products; c. Collecting said one or more auctionable products into a bundled lot; d. Assigning each said bundled lot a unique identifier; e. Creating a direct-to-consumer auction for the sale of each said bundled lot directly to said one or more consumers; and f. Auctioning each said lot in said direct-to-consumer auction to said one or more consumers whereby a highest bidder in said direct-to-consumer auction wins the direct-to-consumer auction. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of auctioning one or more items directly to purchasers from a retail store, comprising:
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a. Providing store shelves in said retail store and products for purchase on said store shelves; b. Providing a wireless communication network in said retail store; c. Providing at least one logic engine wherein said logic engine is operatively connected to said wireless communication network; d. Locating said products for purchase on said store shelves of said retail store eligible to be auctioned, said products for purchase eligible to be auctioned being auctionable products; e. Scanning a product code of each said auctionable product with a scanning device, said scanning producing auctionable product data and auctionable product location data; f. Transmitting said auctionable product data through said wireless communication network; g. Sorting said auctionable products into at least one bundled lot for sale in said retail store; h. Producing a unique identifier for each said bundled lot, said unique identifier having machine readable indicium; i. Initiating a direct-to-consumer auction for the sale of each said bundled lot directly to said one or more purchasers; and j. Auctioning each said bundled lot in said auction to said one or more purchasers whereby each said one or more purchasers is selected from the group consisting of a highest bidder in said auction from said retail store and a best bidder in said auction from said retail store. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification