Method and system for communicating between supplier and customer devices

• US 6,578,013 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: McMahan, Robert L., Pate, John, Davis, Rose King
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAKETIC, BRYAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/441,982
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 705/22, 705/26, 705/27, 705/28, 705/29
• US Class Current: 705/26.35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A system includes a computing device for storing criteria under which a customer is authorized to purchase a physical item. The computing device receives a request from the customer. In response to the request satisfying the stored criteria, the computing device outputs a signal for purchasing the physical item. The stored criteria may include a monetary budget for purchasing the physical item. The computing device is for modifying the stored criteria to reduce the monetary budget in response to the signal.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first computing device for;

storing criteria under which a customer is authorized to purchase a physical item;

receiving a request from a second computing device of the customer, the request being output from the second computing device in response to the second computing device determining an absence of the physical item in the second computing device; and

in response to the request satisfying the stored criteria, outputting a signal for purchasing the physical item for installation in the second computing device of the customer.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the stored criteria includes a type of physical item.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the stored criteria includes a monetary budget for purchasing the physical item.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first computing device is for modifying the stored criteria.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the first computing device is for modifying the stored criteria in response to the signal.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the stored criteria includes a monetary budget for purchasing the physical item, and wherein the first computing device is for modifying the stored criteria to reduce the monetary budget in response to the signal.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the customer is a human user.

8. A system, comprising:

a first computing device for;

from a second computing device, receiving a first signal indicating occurrence of an event resulting from an absence of a physical item in the second computing device, the first signal being output from the second computing device in response to the second computing device determining the absence; and

in response to the first signal, outputting a second signal for purchasing the physical item for installation in the second computing device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the event is one of multiple events resulting from the absence of the physical item in the second computing device, and wherein the first computing device is for:

counting the multiple events; and

outputting the second signal in response to a number of the multiple events reaching a predetermined amount.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the first computing device is for modifying the predetermined amount.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the first computing device is for modifying the predetermined amount in response to a command from a human.

12. A method performed by a computing system, the method comprising:

storing criteria under which a customer is authorized to purchase a physical item;

receiving a request from a computing device of the customer, the request being output from the computing device in response to the computing device determining an absence of the physical item in the computing device; and

in response to the request satisfying the stored criteria, outputting a signal for purchasing the physical item for installation in the computing device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the storing comprises:

storing criteria including a type of physical item.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the storing comprises:

storing criteria including a monetary budget for purchasing the physical item.

15. The method of claim 12 and comprising:

modifying the stored criteria.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the modifying comprises:

modifying the/stored criteria in response to the signal.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the storing comprises storing criteria including a monetary budget for purchasing the physical item, and wherein the modifying comprises modifying the stored criteria to reduce the monetary budget in response to the signal.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the receiving comprises:

receiving the request from the customer, the customer being a human user.

19. A method performed by a first computing device, the method comprising:

from a second computing device, receiving a first signal indicating occurrence of an event resulting from an absence of a physical item in the second computing device, the first signal being output from the second computing device in response to the second computing device determining the absence; and

in response to the first signal, outputting a second signal for purchasing the physical item for installation in the second computing device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the event is one of multiple events resulting from the absence of the physical item in the second computing device, and comprising:

counting the multiple events, wherein the outputting comprises outputting the second signal in response to a number of the multiple events reaching a predetermined amount.

21. The method of claim 20 and comprising:

modifying the predetermined amount.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the modifying comprises:

modifying the predetermined amount in response to a command from a human.

23. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer program processable by a computing system for causing the computing system to;

store criteria under which a customer is authorized to purchase a physical item;

receive a request from a computing device of the customer, the request being output from the computing device in response to the computing device determining an absence of the physical item in the computing device; and

in response to the request satisfying the stored criteria, output a signal for purchasing the physical item for installation in the computing device; and

apparatus from which the computer program is accessible by the computing system.

24. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein the stored criteria includes a type of physical item.

25. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein the stored criteria includes a monetary budget for purchasing the physical item.

26. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein the computer program is processable by the computing system for causing the computing system to modify the stored criteria.

27. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the computer program is processable by the computing system for causing the computing system to modify the stored criteria in response to the signal.

28. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the stored criteria includes a monetary budget for purchasing the physical item, and wherein the computer program is processable by the computing system for causing the computing system to modify the stored criteria to reduce the monetary budget in response to the signal.

29. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein the customer is a human user.

30. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer program processable by a computing system for causing the computing system to;

from a computing device, receive a first signal indicating occurrence of an event resulting from an absence of a physical item in the computing device, the first signal being output from the computing device in response to the computing device determining the absence; and

in response to the first signal, output a second signal for purchasing the physical item for installation in the computing device; and

apparatus from which the computer program is accessible by the computing system.

31. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein the event is one of multiple events resulting from the absence of the physical item in the computing device, and wherein the computer program is processable by the computing system for causing the computing system to:

count the multiple events; and

output the second signal in response to a number of the multiple events reaching a predetermined amount.

32. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the computer program is processable by the computing system for causing the computing system to modify the predetermined amount.

33. The computer program product of claim 32 wherein the computer program is processable by the computing system for causing the computing system to modify the predetermined amount in response to a command from a human.

34. A system, comprising:

a first computing device for;

determining an absence of a physical item in the first computing device; and

in response to determining the absence, outputting a signal to a second computing device for purchasing the physical item for installation in the first computing device.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the signal indicates occurrence of an event resulting from the absence, wherein the event is one of multiple events resulting from the absence, and wherein the first computing device is for:

counting the multiple events; and

outputting the signal to the second computing device in response to a number of the multiple events reaching a predetermined amount.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the first computing device is for modifying the predetermined amount.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the first computing device is for modifying the predetermined amount in response to a command from a human.

38. A method performed by a first computing device, the method comprising:

determining an absence of a physical item in the first computing device; and

in response to determining the absence, outputting a signal to a second computing device for purchasing the physical item for installation in the first computing device.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the signal indicates occurrence of an event resulting from the absence, wherein the event is one of multiple events resulting from the absence, and comprising:

counting the multiple events, wherein the outputting comprises outputting the signal to the second computing device in response to a number of the multiple events reaching a predetermined amount.

40. The method of claim 39 and comprising:

modifying the predetermined amount.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the modifying comprises:

modifying the predetermined amount in response to a command from a human.

42. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer program processable by a computing system for causing the computing system to;

determine an absence of a physical item in a first computing device; and

in response to determining the absence, outputting a signal to a second computing device for purchasing the physical item for installation in the first computing device; and

apparatus from which the computer program is accessible by the computing system.

43. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein the signal indicates occurrence of an event resulting from the absence, wherein the event is one of multiple events resulting from the absence, and wherein the computer program is processable by the computing system for causing the computing system to:

count the multiple events; and

output the signal to the second computing device in response to a number of the multiple events reaching a predetermined amount.

44. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the computer program is processable by the computing system for causing the computing system to modify the predetermined amount.

45. The computer program product of claim 44 wherein the computer program is processable by the computing system for causing the computing system to modify the predetermined amount in response to a command from a human.