PRODUCT QUOTATION PREPARATION SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
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1. A method of using a computer system for determining a product model permitted by a vendor, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving information into the computer system from a remote terminal connected to the computer system via a communication network, said information including;
Information about at least one requested product configuration and/or at least one requested product application, andInformation for determining an availability of the product in its requested configuration(s) and/or for the requested application(s) for a requested sales structure;
storing a plurality of business rules in said computer system, whereinat least one of said business rules is comprised of a general rule and at least one exception, and whereinat least two of said business rules are hierarchically arranged with respect to each other such that one of said hierarchically arranged rules takes precedence over the other(s) of said hierarchically arranged rules;
applying, using said computer system, said plurality of business rules to the information to generate at least one product report as a result of said applying said plurality of business rules, such that said product report provides information indicating an assessment of;
(1) whether said requested product configuration is or is not a permitted product configuration and/or whether said product is or is not permitted for the requested product application, and(2) whether the desired sales structure is or is not a permitted sales structure; and
providing, using said computer system, said product report to said remote terminal via said computer network.
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Abstract
A method and an apparatus (system) for support in performing the method is provided to configure products and/or services in support of preparing quotations, orders, and fulfillment requests in support of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and method. More specifically, a method and an apparatus (system) is provided for supporting the quotation, ordering, and fulfillment of products and services by aiding in the configuration of products and/or services in an automated and efficient fashion.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of using a computer system for determining a product model permitted by a vendor, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving information into the computer system from a remote terminal connected to the computer system via a communication network, said information including; Information about at least one requested product configuration and/or at least one requested product application, and Information for determining an availability of the product in its requested configuration(s) and/or for the requested application(s) for a requested sales structure; storing a plurality of business rules in said computer system, wherein at least one of said business rules is comprised of a general rule and at least one exception, and wherein at least two of said business rules are hierarchically arranged with respect to each other such that one of said hierarchically arranged rules takes precedence over the other(s) of said hierarchically arranged rules; applying, using said computer system, said plurality of business rules to the information to generate at least one product report as a result of said applying said plurality of business rules, such that said product report provides information indicating an assessment of; (1) whether said requested product configuration is or is not a permitted product configuration and/or whether said product is or is not permitted for the requested product application, and (2) whether the desired sales structure is or is not a permitted sales structure; and providing, using said computer system, said product report to said remote terminal via said computer network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of using a computer system for determining a product model permitted by a vendor, said method comprising the steps of:
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Inputting a plurality of business rules for storing in said system, wherein said business rules include the syntax of; a subject, an object, and a verb, wherein said business rules include a subset of compatibility rules such that, for each one of said compatibility rules, the respective subject represents a particular aspect of the product, the respective object represents some other aspect of the product, its options, another product, or a product application, and the respective verb represents some action between them, and wherein said business rules also include a subset of availability rules such that, for each one of said availability rules, the respective subject represents the product, the respective object represents a selling domain, and the respective verb represents some action between them, and wherein at least some of said business rules are hierarchically arranged with respect to each other such that the hierarchically arranged rules takes precedence over each other based on their position in the hierarchy; receiving information into the computer system from a remote terminal connected to the computer system via a communication network, said information including; Information about at least one requested product configuration and/or at least one requested product application, and Information for determining an availability of the product in its requested configuration(s) and/or for the requested application(s) for a requested sales structure; applying, using said computer system, said compatibility rules to said information to determine whether said requested product configuration is or is not a permitted product configuration and/or whether said product is or is not permitted for the requested product application; applying, using said computer system, said availability rules to said information to determine whether the desired sales structure is or is not a permitted sales structure; and providing, using said computer system, a product report to said remote terminal via said computer network to report results from said applying steps. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for determining a product model permitted by a vendor, comprising:
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a web server for serving data to, and receiving information from, a user computer, wherein said received information includes; information about at least one requested product configuration and/or at least one requested product application, and Information for determining an availability of the product in its requested configuration(s) and/or for the requested application(s) for a requested sales structure; an application server for executing included software for implementing business logic for producing data that is formatted into a report by the web server for transmission to the remote computer, wherein said business logic includes a plurality of business rules such that; at least one of said business rules is comprised of a general rule and at least one exception, and wherein at least two of said business rules are hierarchically arranged with respect to each other such that one of said hierarchically arranged rules takes precedence over the other(s) of said hierarchically arranged rules, and wherein said business logic applies said plurality of business rules to the received information to generate at least one product report as a result of said applying said plurality of business rules, such that said product report provides information indicating an assessment of; (1) whether said requested product configuration is or is not a permitted product configuration and/or whether said product is or is not permitted for the requested product application, and (2) whether the desired sales structure is or is not a permitted sales structure; and providing, using said web server, said product report to said user computer.
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Specification