Method for assisting a customer in building a build-to-order medical device

• US 7,054,836 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Christensen, Thomas Kragh, Buhl, Carl Kristen
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US09/996,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,644 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/28, 705/29
• US Class Current: 705/26.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

A method and system for configuring a product assembled from a plurality of components, where each component may be available in several variants; the method comprises the steps of presenting to a user, via a user interface, a first plurality of available variants of a first one of said plurality of components; receiving from a user an indication of a first variant selected from the first plurality of variants; receiving inventory data from an inventory management system, the inventory data indicating an available subset of the first plurality of available variants as being in stock; indicating to the user, via the user interface, the first subset of the first plurality of available variants as being selectable.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a customer in building a build-to-order medical device, the method comprising the steps of:

a. establishing communication between a customer'"'"'s computer device and a web server;

b. providing a list of a plurality of variants for a first component for the medical device on the customer'"'"'s computer device;

c. receiving from the customer a choice of one of the plurality of variants for the first component;

d. providing a second list of a plurality of variants for a second component for the medical device;

e. receiving from the customer a choice of one of the plurality of variants for the second component;

f. checking an inventory database to determine the availability of the customer'"'"'s choices for the first and second components;

g. checking a compatability data base to determine whether the customer'"'"'s choices for the first and second components are compatable with each other;

h. displaying on the customer'"'"'s computer device a graphical representation of the build-to-order medical device as it will appear when assembled;

i. graphically animating a method of assemblying the build-to-order medical device with sufficient clarity and detail so as to enable the customer without need for further instructions to assemble the build-to-order medical device from the customer'"'"'s choice of components.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of graphically animating the appropriate medical use for the build-to-order medical device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying on the customer'"'"'s computer a price for the build-to-order medical device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving payment from the customer via the customer'"'"'s computer device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising shipping the components necessary to assemble the build-to-order medical device to the customer.

6. A method for assisting a customer in building a build-to-order medical device, the method comprising the steps of:

a. establishing communication between a customer'"'"'s computer device and a web server;

b. providing a list of a plurality of variants for a first component for the medical device on the customer'"'"'s computer device;

c. receiving from the customer a choice of one of the plurality of variants for the first component;

d. providing a second list of a plurality of variants for a second component for the medical device;

e. receiving from the customer a choice of one of the plurality of variants for the second component;

f. checking an inventory data base to determine the availability of the customer'"'"'s choices for the first and second components;

g. checking a compatability data base to determine whether the customer'"'"'s choices for the first and second components are compatable with each other;

h. checking an inventory to determine if the customer'"'"'s components are or are not available;

i. executing a computer program, said computer program comprising instructions for receiving the determination that the customer'"'"'s components are or are not available, and instructions for, if they are available and only if they are available;

(i) displaying on the customer'"'"'s computer device a graphical representation of the build-to-order medical device as it will appear when assembled, and

(ii) graphically animating a method of assembling the build to order medical device with sufficient clarity and detail so as to enable the customer without need for further instructions to assemble the build-to-order medical device from the customer'"'"'s choice of components.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises the step of graphically animating the appropriate medical use for the build-to-order medical device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying on the customer'"'"'s computer a price for the build-to-order medical device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving payment from the customer via the customer'"'"'s computer device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising shipping the components necessary to assemble the build-to-order medical device to the customer.