Automated order and delivery system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for processing merchandise sale transactions for customers in a point of sale and warehouse facility, the apparatus comprising:
- a main processor including a database for storing customer identification information and merchandise information and including program instructions for processing a sale transaction record for each customer;
a point of sale system coupled with said main processor, said point of sale system including a controller coupled to said main processor, and at least one portable computer coupled to said controller via radio frequency transmissions, and including program instructions responsive to entry of a customer identification number for accessing said database to display customer identification information and for generating said sale transaction record;
said point of sale system including item entry means responsive to entry of a merchandise item identification number for accessing said database to display merchandise information pertaining to said item to the customer and for selecting said item for addition to said sale transaction record;
said point of sale system including delivery method entry means for displaying merchandise delivery method information to the customer and for selecting delivery method instructions for addition to said sale transaction record; and
said point of sale system including total command means for indicating acceptance of said sale transaction record by the customer and for transmitting said sale transaction record to said main processor to effectuate warehouse delivery of said selected merchandise items to the customer according to said selected delivery method instructions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for processing merchandise sale transactions for customers in a point of sale and warehouse facility. A main processor has a database for storing customer identification information and merchandise information and processes sale transaction records for customers. A point of sale system coupled to the processor has a controller and at least one pen-based computer in communication with the controller via RF transmissions. Program instructions respond to entry on the computer of a customer number and to entry of merchandise identification numbers to build a sale transaction record of selected items for purchase. The program instructions display item information and enable selection of items for addition to the sale transaction record, display delivery method instructions and enable their selection for addition to the sale transaction record, and transmit the transaction record to the processor to effectuate warehouse delivery of the selected items according to the selected delivery instructions. The system integrates point of sale and warehouse processing functions to enable delivery of merchandise to customers in the shortest possible time.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus for processing merchandise sale transactions for customers in a point of sale and warehouse facility, the apparatus comprising:
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a main processor including a database for storing customer identification information and merchandise information and including program instructions for processing a sale transaction record for each customer; a point of sale system coupled with said main processor, said point of sale system including a controller coupled to said main processor, and at least one portable computer coupled to said controller via radio frequency transmissions, and including program instructions responsive to entry of a customer identification number for accessing said database to display customer identification information and for generating said sale transaction record; said point of sale system including item entry means responsive to entry of a merchandise item identification number for accessing said database to display merchandise information pertaining to said item to the customer and for selecting said item for addition to said sale transaction record; said point of sale system including delivery method entry means for displaying merchandise delivery method information to the customer and for selecting delivery method instructions for addition to said sale transaction record; and said point of sale system including total command means for indicating acceptance of said sale transaction record by the customer and for transmitting said sale transaction record to said main processor to effectuate warehouse delivery of said selected merchandise items to the customer according to said selected delivery method instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for processing merchandise sale transactions for customers in a point of sale and warehouse facility, the apparatus comprising:
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a main processor including a database for storing customer identification information and merchandise information and including program instructions for processing a sale transaction record for each customer; a point of sale system coupled with said main processor, said point of sale system including program instructions responsive to entry of a customer identification number for accessing said database to display customer identification information and for generating said sale transaction record; said point of sale system including item entry means responsive to entry of a merchandise item identification number for accessing said database to display merchandise information pertaining to said item to the customer and for selecting said item for addition to said sale transaction record; said point of sale system including delivery method entry means for displaying merchandise delivery method information to the customer and for selecting delivery method instructions for addition to said sale transaction record; said point of sale system including total command means for indicating acceptance of said sale transaction record by the customer and for transmitting said sale transaction record to said main processor to effectuate warehouse delivery of said selected merchandise items to the customer according to said selected delivery method instructions; a warehouse system coupled with said main processor, said warehouse system including program instructions responsive to said acceptance indication of said sale transaction record from said command means for generating a merchandise pick request in said warehouse to locate said selected merchandise and initiate delivery of said merchandise according to said selected delivery method instructions; and a check-out system coupled with said point of sale system, said check-out system including program instructions responsive to entry of said customer identification number for accessing said sale transaction record and accepting payment for said selected merchandise items. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for processing merchandise sale transactions for customers in a point of sale and warehouse facility, the method comprising:
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storing customer identification information, merchandise information and a sale transaction record for each customer in a database; entering a customer identification number to access said database for display of the customer'"'"'s identification information and to generate said sale transaction record; entering a merchandise item identification number for accessing said database to display merchandise information pertaining to said item and for selecting said item for addition to said sale transaction record; displaying merchandise delivery method information to the customer for selecting delivery method instructions and for adding said instructions to said sale transaction record; and indicating acceptance of said sale transaction record by the customer to effectuate warehouse delivery of said selected merchandise items to the customer according to said selected delivery method instructions. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification