Method for ordering and consigning items

• US 7,028,004 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Rosenbaum, Walter, Reich, Karlheinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischer, Andrew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/235,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20030120556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 700/216, 700/219, 700/220, 700/221, 700/222, 700/223, 700/224, 700/226, 700/227, 705/22, 705/28
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method for processing on-line orders wherein the on-seller is liberated from having to maintain cumbersome or uneconomical warehouse stocks. Herein, after an order is received from a customer, the on-line seller subcontracts for the item sought by the customer and sends out a printing order. Both subcontract and printing order include an identification key which is later used to associate printed materials and item, so as to facilitate special packing of the item with special materials associated with the on-line seller, and the forwarding of the finally packaged item to the customer.

Claims

1. A method for processing an on-line order, comprising:

receiving an order for an item at a first on-line seller;

placing a printing order for a printed product with a second printing center, said printing order and printed product functionally related to said item;

conveying said printed product from said second printing center to a third service center;

supplying said item at a fourth supplier and directing said item from said fourth supplier to said third service center;

associating said printed product and said item and repackaging said item using said printing product at said third service center;

forwarding repackaged item from said third service center to a customer; and

wherein said first on-line seller, said second printing center, said fourth supplier and said third service center are unrelated separate legal entities.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating an identification key at said first on-line seller, said identification key associated with said item;

forwarding said identification key from said first on-line seller to said second printing center and said third supplier; and

forwarding said identification key from said second printing center to said fourth service center and from said third supplier to said fourth service center.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said identification key is human readable indicia.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said printing order further comprises a cover letter from said on-line seller to said customer and informationals regarding said seller.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said seller data includes at least one of:

seller name and address;

seller cover letter to customer;

seller iuformation such as advertisements;

company logo; and

company color.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said customer data includes at least one of:

customer name ad address; and

customer special requests.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said item data includes at least one of item identification;

item special assembly; and

item special handling.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said packaging requirements includes at least one of:

special wrapping specific to on-line seller, customer, item, or situation;

special handling specific to the handling of the item, delivery, on-line seller, or customer;

special assemble of the item, or package; and

special routing for the package.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein said identification code is humanly readable.