Consumer products distribution system
First Claim
1. A computer-assisted method of managing an inventory associated with product distribution and facilitating a transfer of purchases to each of a plurality of consumers, the method comprising:
- on a computer system, for said each of a plurality of consumers;
associating a plurality of items with each other, wherein each of the associated plurality of items is ordered by said each of the plurality of consumers from a different one of a plurality of merchants;
identifying a temporary storage facility proximate to said each of a plurality of consumers, from which the associated plurality of items can be transferred to said each of a plurality of consumers;
identifying a date and time for transferring the associated plurality of items to said each of a plurality of consumers;
on the computer system, for said each of a different one of a plurality of merchants;
estimating a transportation time for said each of the associated plurality of items ordered by said each of a plurality of consumers from said each of a different one of a plurality of merchants to be transported to the identified temporary storage facility;
based at least on the estimated transportation time and the identified date and time, synchronizing a shipment of said each of the associated plurality of items from the point of origin to the identified temporary storage facility in accordance with a just-in-time schedule compliant with the identified date and time for transferring the associated plurality of items to said each of a plurality of consumers; and
for said each of a plurality of consumers;
receiving said associated plurality of items at the identified temporary storage facility;
based at least on the association of the items on the computer system, physically aggregating the associated plurality of items at the identified temporary storage facility; and
transferring the physically aggregated associated plurality of items to said each of a plurality of consumers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A real-time transaction processing Consumer Products Distribution System (PDMS) reduces distribution costs, facilitates the distribution of products to consumers and makes online shopping practical. The PDMS integrates Collaborative Inventory Sharing, Order Aggregation, Consumer Predictive Purchasing, Product Transport Support Service, Display Shops, Uniform Consumer Preference Codes, Integrated Virtual Technical Support Centers, and other convenient features. Consumers purchase products through web sites of local and remotely located retailers preferably using Predictive Purchasing. The items purchased from multiple retailers are aggregated at a consumer selected Order Aggregation Site (OAS) based upon a consumer specified schedule. The consumer can pick up the aggregated orders at the selected OAS or have the aggregated orders delivered to a residence. Commercial carriers process consumer parcels at OASs where they are combined with Aggregated Orders for pickup or delivery. Consumers are given incentive discounts to promote the use of Predictive Purchasing, which significantly improves supply chain productivity.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A computer-assisted method of managing an inventory associated with product distribution and facilitating a transfer of purchases to each of a plurality of consumers, the method comprising:
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on a computer system, for said each of a plurality of consumers; associating a plurality of items with each other, wherein each of the associated plurality of items is ordered by said each of the plurality of consumers from a different one of a plurality of merchants; identifying a temporary storage facility proximate to said each of a plurality of consumers, from which the associated plurality of items can be transferred to said each of a plurality of consumers; identifying a date and time for transferring the associated plurality of items to said each of a plurality of consumers; on the computer system, for said each of a different one of a plurality of merchants; estimating a transportation time for said each of the associated plurality of items ordered by said each of a plurality of consumers from said each of a different one of a plurality of merchants to be transported to the identified temporary storage facility; based at least on the estimated transportation time and the identified date and time, synchronizing a shipment of said each of the associated plurality of items from the point of origin to the identified temporary storage facility in accordance with a just-in-time schedule compliant with the identified date and time for transferring the associated plurality of items to said each of a plurality of consumers; and for said each of a plurality of consumers; receiving said associated plurality of items at the identified temporary storage facility; based at least on the association of the items on the computer system, physically aggregating the associated plurality of items at the identified temporary storage facility; and transferring the physically aggregated associated plurality of items to said each of a plurality of consumers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification