Method and apparatus for an interactive computerized catalog system

• US 5,721,832 A
• Filed: 05/12/1995
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Furnace Brook LLC
• Original Assignee: Regal Greetings & Gifts, Inc.
• Inventors: Lyons, John Bernard, Martin, Bruce Edward, Westrope, Robert John
• Primary Examiner(s): SIPOS, JOHN
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Albert K.
• Application Number:
  US08/439,595
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 346/401, 346/403, 346/406, 380/25, 235/383, 235/385, 235/375, 235/380, 395/227, 395/210, 348/13, 348/55, 379/92
• US Class Current: 705/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for an interactive, computerized catalog system in which a customer can selectively access video and audio catalog data from a computerized catalog memory that permits a customer to peruse an entire catalog of products or services or select specific portions from specific catalogs or services and if desired place an order which is processed electronically and from which customer profile marketing data is selectively generated.

Claims

1. An improved interactive computerized catalog process comprising the steps of:

storing digitized graphic catalog data in a selectively addressable computer system memory,

generating a menu of catalog products and services comprising catalog data available for selective viewing at any user'"'"'s telephone associated terminal screen,

establishing a selective communication link initiated by a user between said user'"'"'s telephone terminal and said computer system,

transmitting said menu of catalog products and services data to a user'"'"'s telephone terminal in response to a user'"'"'s initial request,

transmitting from said computer system such catalog data which corresponds to said user'"'"'s product and services request signal,

requesting user authorization to include data regarding an order transaction in a customer profile marketing data file,

initiating an order processing sequence, including a user initiated financial payment authorization process, to permit a user to enter from a user telephone terminal an order to be processed and delivered in response to said user'"'"'s order, and

enabling a user when placing an order to selectively elect to be included in or to be excluded from said customer profile marketing data file created as part of a completed catalog product or services order transaction.

2. The improved computerized catalog process of claim 1 including the additional step of generating a customer user profile marketing data file for all users electing to be included in such data file.

3. The improved computerized catalog process of claim 2 including the additional step of separating the data in said customer profile marketing data file by type of products or services ordered and by the types of catalog data requested.

4. The improved computerized catalog process of claim 1 including the additional steps of:

generating a customer profile marketing data file which is subdivided by the type of product ordered and the types of catalogs requested, and

generating a list of customer names and addresses by a predetermined geographic breakdown.

5. An improved interactive computerized catalog system comprising:

central data processor means for storing and selectively addressing digitized graphic catalog data,

a plurality of customer terminal means for displaying alphanumeric data during interactive communications between the terminal and central data processor means,

switchable communication means activated by individual ones of said plurality of customer terminal means for selectively interconnecting ones of said plurality of customer terminal means with said central data processing means,

order entry processing means responsive to order request data and payment authorization data entered from one of said plurality of customer terminal means for initiating an order entry process,

prompter means for requesting user authorization to include data relating to the order in a marketing, data file, and

customer profile data processor means responsive to said prompter means and authorization commands entered via ones of said plurality of customer terminal means for selectively generating a marketing data file as authorized by a particular customer as part of orders processed by said order entry processor means.

6. The improved interactive computerized catalog system of claim 5 wherein said central data processor means further includes data entry means for selectively entering audio and graphic advertisement data relating to particular catalog products or services available for order on said catalog system.

7. The improved interactive computer catalog system of claim 5 wherein said customer terminal means comprise display means for displaying alphanumeric and graphic data and further including data entry means including a key pad for entering alphanumeric data for transmission to said central data processor means.

8. An improved computerized interactive computer system catalog process comprising the steps of:

recording a plurality of individual retail catalog product data in selectively addressable computer memory means of said computer system,

selectively connecting ones of a plurality of geographically dispersed customer terminals means to said computer system in response to a request from an activated customer terminal means,

generating a menu of catalogs, catalog products and services available through said interactive catalog system for viewing at individual ones of said customer terminal means,

accessing said catalog data in response to a customer terminal means request,

sending to a requesting customer terminal means catalog data selected from said catalog data corresponding to a customer'"'"'s request.

processing ordered products or services selected by a customer'"'"'s order sequence and customer financial payment authorization data transmitted from a customer terminal means to said computer memory means,

enabling a user when placing an order to selectively elect to be included in or to be excluded from a customer profile marketing data file created as part of completed catalog product or service order transactions,

identifying the originating site or region for each customer terminal means ordering products or services on said system, and

generating an accounting record of products or services orders and commissions due for each order originating site or region for such product or service orders.

9. The improved computer catalog process of claim 8 additionally including the step of selectively generating a customer profile market data file based upon the types of catalog data requested by each customer provided such customer has authorized such data be utilized in a customer profile market data file as part of the order entry process.

10. The improved computerized catalog process of claim 8 additionally including the steps of:

permitting the customer to selectively elect to be included in or excluded from the customer marketing data file each time an order is placed, and

generating a list of customers names and addresses for each order processed provided such customer has elected and authorized such customer profile market data file.