Integrated business-to-business Web commerce and business automation system
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An automated end-to-end business process for product sales that uses a relational database management system, the process comprising the steps of:
- a first user inputting a sales record to the database for an order of a customer;
automatically generating a customer invoice;
a second user inputting a customer payment record to the database, wherein system privileges of the first user and the second user are at least partially mutually exclusive;
automatically determining a status of the customer payment as reconciled or not reconciled; and
during each of the foregoing inputting steps, qualifying user inputs using experiential constraints, based on the then-current state of the database as a whole.
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Abstract
A software system business-to-business Web commerce (Web business, or e-business) and automates to the greatest degree possible, in a unified and synergistic fashion and using best proven business practices, the various aspects of running a successful and profitable business. Web business and business automation are both greatly facilitated using a computing model based on a single integrated database management system (DBMS) that is either Web-enabled or provided with a Web front-end. The Web provides a window into a "seamless" end-to-end internal business process. The effect of such integration on the business cycle is profound, allowing the sale of virtually anything in a transactional context (goods, services, insurance, subscriptions, etc.) to be drastically streamlined.
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Citations
85 Claims
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1. An automated end-to-end business process for product sales that uses a relational database management system, the process comprising the steps of:
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a first user inputting a sales record to the database for an order of a customer; automatically generating a customer invoice; a second user inputting a customer payment record to the database, wherein system privileges of the first user and the second user are at least partially mutually exclusive; automatically determining a status of the customer payment as reconciled or not reconciled; and during each of the foregoing inputting steps, qualifying user inputs using experiential constraints, based on the then-current state of the database as a whole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of integrating business automation across multiple business domains and automatically reflecting automated business activities of one business domain within another business domain, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a Web-enabled, client/server relational database management system storing a database described by a single database schema including files belonging to each of a first business domain dealing with products and a second business domain dealing with payments; and a user making modifications to a record within a file belonging to the first business domain, the database management system in response thereto automatically reflecting said modifications within files belonging to the second business domain. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of business-to-business Web commerce between a first business acting as supplier and a second business acting as purchaser, using a computer net including a relational database server, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing user privileges for a plurality of user authorized by the purchaser to act on its behalf; authenticating and determining a privilege level of a user; the user entering product parameters; identifying products in accordance with the product parameters and displaying product information for the products; the user selecting at least one product from the displayed product information and requesting a price quote for the product; producing and displaying a price quote for the product, the price quote including a quote number; and storing the price quote within the database for future reference. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. In a system for business-to-business Web commerce system between a first business acting as supplier and a second business acting as purchaser, using a computer net including a relational database server, a method of maintaining and updating a multi-vendor product list, comprising the steps of:
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a user selecting a baseline vendor; electronically retrieving product information from the baseline vendor; electronically retrieving product information from at least one additional vendor; comparing product information from said additional vendor with product information from the baseline vendor; and if an identical product is offered by both the baseline vendor and said additional vendor, consolidating information from both the baseline vendor and the additional vendor into a common record for display. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of business-to-business Web commerce between a first business acting as supplier and a second business acting as purchaser, using a computer net including a relational database server, the method providing for merchandise returns, comprising the steps of:
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storing in the database a record for each item sold; authenticating a user; using a flexible product identification procedure, the user entering information identifying at least one item of merchandise to be returned for which a record is stored in the database; using the record stored in the database, creating a return record and notifying a representative authorized by the supplier to approve returns; approving the return and assigning a Return Merchandise Authorization number to the return record; and communicating to the user the Return Merchandise Authorization number. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53)
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54. In a system for business-to-business Web commerce system between a first business acting as supplier and a second business acting as purchaser, using a computer net including a relational database server, a method of tracking financial information on a real-time basis and automatically generating a general ledger of accounts, the method comprising the steps of:
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automatically posting transactions by making corresponding general ledger entries continuously or at programmed intervals; and automatically posting adjusting entries when records pertaining to transactions that have already been posted are modified. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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56. In a system for business-to-business Web commerce system between a first business acting as supplier and a second business acting as purchaser, using a computer net including a relational database server, a method of processing accounts, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing in the database customer invoices and vendor invoices; identifying open vendor invoices; applying a set of rules to the open vendor invoices and related records, including classifying and grouping the open vendor invoices in accordance with a hierarchy of experiential classifications; and forming a determination based on the set of rules whether or not a group of open invoices should be paid. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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58. In a system for business-to-business Web commerce system between a first business acting as supplier and a second business acting as purchaser, using a computer net including a relational database server, a method of employee evaluation comprising the steps of:
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collecting activity information as activities occur and storing it in the database; determining a computer-generated, data-based performance norm for an individual or entity; and automatically producing an electronic evaluation report based on the activity information and the data-based norm. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. In a relational database system, a method of displaying information, comprising the steps of:
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for each of a plurality of base tables, identifying at least one related table; providing a related switch GUI control displayed in conjunction with display of each of said plurality of base tables, for selecting a related table; displaying records of one of said plurality of base tables; a user selecting at least one record; using said GUI control, said user selecting a related table; performing a search to identify records in the related table that are related to said at least one record; and displaying records of said related table identified by said search.
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64. In a relational database business automation system, a method of displaying information so as to facilitate user manipulation and interaction, comprising the steps of:
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producing a workscope/workflow structured display of complex database records each comprising multiple lines of text and pertaining to both a first party to a business transaction and a second party to the business transaction, the structured display constituting an integrated decision-making environment for a particular business function; and providing a GUI control displayed in conjunctions with said workscope/workflow structured display of complex database records; a user selecting at least one of said complex database records; and the user activating the GUI control, wherein activation of the GUI control has at least one of the following effects;
taking a prescribed action in relation to the selected record and changing at least one field of said record within said database;
changing the display to a functionally-related display; and
bringing up a pop-up screen through which data may be entered, changing at least one field of said record within said database, the pop-up screen only partially obscuring said workscope/workflow structured display.
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65. A method of order fulfillment using a relational database system in which customer order information and vendor order information are stored, comprising the steps of:
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displaying customer order items for which vendor orders have not been placed; enabling a user to, in accordance with a user command, sort customer order items by the following categories;
item sold, vendor and availability;grouping a plurality of customer order items; placing a single vendor order corresponding to a group of customer order items; and refreshing the display so as to remove one or more groups of items from the display. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A method of handling sales returns over a global computer network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a Return Merchandise Authorization request via a global computer network, the request specifying return type; evaluating the request based on a plurality of stored criteria in accordance with the return type; and if the applicable criteria are met, automatically assigning, and communicating to a user via the global computer network, a return authorization number.
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75. In a business-to-business automated Web commerce system, a method of specifying complex installation instruction regarding a plurality of purchase items using a graphical user interface, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a first primary item; selecting one or more secondary items to be installed with said first primary item; selecting a second primary item; and selecting one or more secondary items to be installed with said second primary item. - View Dependent Claims (76)
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77. An automated business process for product sales that uses a Web-enabled relational database management system to automate an integrated supply chain including a seller and a plurality of vendors, the process comprising the steps of:
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a seller placing vendor orders and entering order information into the database, the orders being communicated to the vendors through a global computer network; the seller receiving the orders in whole or in part and entering receiving information into the database; the vendors accessing receiving information through the global computer network to ensure prompt receipt of orders; the seller requesting return of selected order items; and the vendors accessing return information through the global computer network and in response thereto communicating return merchandise authorization numbers to the seller through the global computer network. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80)
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81. A method of order fulfillment, comprising the steps of:
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placing an order for a part; entering the order within a Web-enabled relational database system; tracking each significant event in the order fulfillment process within the relational database system; and communicating the order status to at least one party via the Web. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83)
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84. A method of automating an end-to-end business process using a software program running on a relational database system, comprising the steps of:
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as data is entered into the relational database system, qualifying data entries in accordance with a stored knowledge base; producing a workscope/workflow structured display of complex database records, the structured display constituting a decision-making environment for a particular business function, and displaying data together with GUI controls in such as way as to allow a user to readily change the status of a record within the relational database system in way determined by the stored knowledge base; and based on the experience of users using the software program, altering the stored knowledge base so as to increase the stored knowledge base. - View Dependent Claims (85)
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Specification