Interactive search process for product inquiries
First Claim
1. A method of processing an inquiry from a customer for environment and use specific parts, the method comprising:
- (a) storing information relating to environment specific parts and use specific parts in a part database, where part identifiers are without an inherent indication of specific environment or specific use, the information including any upgrades, supercessions, and replacements, and the information including parts suitable for implementation into nuclear plants, wherein parts suitable for implementation into one nuclear plant are not necessarily suitable for another nuclear plant, even of the same type;
(b) receiving a customer inquiry concerning a part including a customer indication of anticipated part use including at least atmospheric environment;
(c) searching the part database for the information relevant to the part by searching the part database based on the anticipated part use; and
(d) outputting the information for customer display, wherein uncovered functionally suitable parts that do not satisfy the anticipated part use are omitted from the output information.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A business process utilizes computer software and electronic customer/supplier connections to supply information, receive requests for quotation, supply quotations, receive purchase orders, and perform commercial and technical functions associated with delivery of such purchase orders or quotations with respect to environment and use specific products. Such products require customer or plant application unique technical evaluation and/or commercial processing to ensure applicability to a specific customer application. The system provides a vehicle to search for parts requiring such technical review encompassing anticipated product use.
63 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of processing an inquiry from a customer for environment and use specific parts, the method comprising:
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(a) storing information relating to environment specific parts and use specific parts in a part database, where part identifiers are without an inherent indication of specific environment or specific use, the information including any upgrades, supercessions, and replacements, and the information including parts suitable for implementation into nuclear plants, wherein parts suitable for implementation into one nuclear plant are not necessarily suitable for another nuclear plant, even of the same type;
(b) receiving a customer inquiry concerning a part including a customer indication of anticipated part use including at least atmospheric environment;
(c) searching the part database for the information relevant to the part by searching the part database based on the anticipated part use; and
(d) outputting the information for customer display, wherein uncovered functionally suitable parts that do not satisfy the anticipated part use are omitted from the output information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of processing an inquiry from a customer, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving a product inquiry from a customer, the inquiry including anticipated use information comprising at least atmospheric environment;
(b) storing a database of products where product identifiers are without an inherent indication of specific environment or specific use, the database of products including parts suitable for implementation into nuclear plants, wherein parts suitable for implementation into one nuclear plant are not necessarily suitable for another nuclear plant, even of the same type;
(c) searching a the database of products based on the product inquiry; and
(d) outputting a search result, wherein uncovered functionally suitable parts that do not satisfy the anticipated use information are omitted from the output search result. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification