Anonymous Pharmacy Order Processing
First Claim
1. A method of anonymously processing pharmacy orders, the method comprising:
- generating a generic item identifier at a pharmacy computer system, the generic item identifier being associated with a pharmaceutical product;
reading at a point of sale system the generic item identifier in connection with the processing of a transaction associated with the product;
sending from the point of sale system a transaction record including a customer identity and the generic item identifier to the pharmacy computer system and to a transaction system;
sending from the pharmacy computer system an updated transaction record including an actual item identifier to the transaction system;
sending from the transaction system an inventory control record including the actual item identifier to an inventory control system; and
modifying at the inventory control system data reflecting a stock level of the product, wherein the inventory control system does not have access to the identity of any pharmacy customer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an illustrative implementation, an anonymous pharmacy order processing system includes means for protecting downstream systems from exposure to confidential identity information, thereby protecting a customer'"'"'s privacy. In a preferred embodiment, a pharmacy system can generate a generic identifier corresponding to a prescription. The pharmacy system optionally sends the generic identifier to a point of sale system. The point of sale system receives the generic identifier and sends a sale confirmation to the pharmacy system. Furthermore, the point of sale system sends transaction information, including the generic identifier to a transaction system. The pharmacy system receives the sale confirmation and sends a correction transaction with an actual item identifier to the transaction system. The transaction system propagates sales including the generic item identifier to an audit system. Furthermore, the transaction system sends an inventory correction including the actual item identifier to an inventory system.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of anonymously processing pharmacy orders, the method comprising:
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generating a generic item identifier at a pharmacy computer system, the generic item identifier being associated with a pharmaceutical product; reading at a point of sale system the generic item identifier in connection with the processing of a transaction associated with the product; sending from the point of sale system a transaction record including a customer identity and the generic item identifier to the pharmacy computer system and to a transaction system; sending from the pharmacy computer system an updated transaction record including an actual item identifier to the transaction system; sending from the transaction system an inventory control record including the actual item identifier to an inventory control system; and modifying at the inventory control system data reflecting a stock level of the product, wherein the inventory control system does not have access to the identity of any pharmacy customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for processing pharmacy orders comprising:
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a pharmacy system to track fulfillment of orders by customers of medical products and to generate generic item identifiers associated with the medical products; a point of sale system to manage purchase transactions for the medical products, to read the generic item identifiers, to send purchase confirmations including the generic item identifiers to the pharmacy system, and to send transaction records with the generic item identifiers to a transaction system, wherein the point of sale system has access to information sufficient to identify the customers but not their associated medical products; an inventory system to receive from the transaction system inventory control messages comprising actual item identifiers, wherein the inventory system has access to information sufficient to identify the medical products but not the customers who purchased the medical products; and an audit system to receive from the transaction system an auditable record comprising the generic item identifier, wherein the audit system has access to information sufficient to identify the customers but not their associated medical products. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of clearing pharmacy transactions, the method comprising:
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providing to a customer a medical product bearing a machine readable identifier at a prescription system, wherein the medical product cannot be readily identified without access to other data securely stored at the prescription system; reading, with a reading device, the machine readable identifier and completing a purchase of the medical product at a retail register system; transmitting a confirmation of the sale including data encoded in the identifier from the retail register system to the prescription system; transmitting sales information including data encoded in the identifier from the retail register system to an transaction management system; transmitting from the prescription system a record comprising an actual product key linked to the medical product, the record further comprising other data sufficient to reconcile the actual product key to the identifier; and modifying an inventory record to reflect a sale of the medical product, wherein such modification is executed without accessing data reflecting the identify of the customer who purchased the medical product. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification