Systems and methods for purchasing, invoicing and distributing items
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method to facilitate supplying of items into a plurality of dispensing units, the method comprising:
- receiving at a server computer restocking information from a plurality of dispensing units, wherein the restocking information includes at least one of stock level or transaction information for items to be restocked into the dispensing units;
generating ordering information for the items to be restocked using the server computer based on the restocking information;
electronically sending the ordering information from the server computer to one or more supplier computers to permit restock items to be ordered;
transmitting advanced shipping notice information from the server computer to the dispensing units to apprise the dispensing units of the items and quantities to be shipped for restocking into the dispensing units; and
restocking the shipped items into one of the dispensing units, wherein the restocking step comprises placing the dispensing unit into restocking mode, placing the shipped items into the dispensing unit and touching item buttons corresponding to the items placed into the dispensing unit to compare the record of restocked items with the advanced shipping notice, to acknowledge the quantity restocked is equal to the quantity represented in the advance shipping notice, and to produce a record of restocked items.
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Abstract
A method for supplying items to dispensing units that hold at least one type of item and a record of inventory levels comprises periodically sending restocking information from the dispensing units over a network to a server computer. Ordering information is generated for the items to be restocked based on the restocking information. The ordering information is electronically sent to one or more supplier computers to order items to be restocked into the dispensing units.
23 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method to facilitate supplying of items into a plurality of dispensing units, the method comprising:
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receiving at a server computer restocking information from a plurality of dispensing units, wherein the restocking information includes at least one of stock level or transaction information for items to be restocked into the dispensing units; generating ordering information for the items to be restocked using the server computer based on the restocking information; electronically sending the ordering information from the server computer to one or more supplier computers to permit restock items to be ordered; transmitting advanced shipping notice information from the server computer to the dispensing units to apprise the dispensing units of the items and quantities to be shipped for restocking into the dispensing units; and restocking the shipped items into one of the dispensing units, wherein the restocking step comprises placing the dispensing unit into restocking mode, placing the shipped items into the dispensing unit and touching item buttons corresponding to the items placed into the dispensing unit to compare the record of restocked items with the advanced shipping notice, to acknowledge the quantity restocked is equal to the quantity represented in the advance shipping notice, and to produce a record of restocked items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for supplying items to a plurality of dispensing units, the system comprising:
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a plurality of dispensing units that each hold a plurality of at least one type of item, wherein the units have a processor and a memory for storing a record of inventory levels of each item; a server computer that is connectable to the dispensing units over a network to permit restocking information to be transmitted from the dispensing units to the server computer, wherein the restocking information includes at least one of stock level or transaction information for each item, wherein the server computer further includes code to generate ordering information for the items to be restocked based on the restocking information, and code to electronically send the ordering information to one or more supplier computers to order items to be restocked into the dispensing units; wherein the server computer includes code to electronically send advanced shipping notice information to the dispensing units to apprise the dispensing units of the items and quantities to be shipped for restocking into the dispensing units; wherein restocking the dispensing units comprises placing the dispensing unit into restocking mode, placing the shipped items into the dispensing unit and touching item buttons corresponding to the items placed into the dispensing unit to compare the record of restocked items with the advanced shipping notice, to acknowledge the quantity restocked is equal to the quantity represented in the advance shipping notice, and to produce a record of restocked items. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification