Real-time display of available products over the internet

• US 7,904,975 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2007
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JUNE RAY LIMITED
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Kruglikov, Andre, Nijhawan, Sandeep, Mayya, Ajit Ramachandra, Bhargava, Sunil, Lloyd, Margaret Sue, Miller, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zare, Scott A
• Application Number:
  US11/879,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/28
• US Class Current: 5/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Computer implemented methods and apparatus for determining availability information for a first one of a plurality of products for publication via a wide area network. The availability information is calculated with reference to a delivery date, an available number of units, and a reserved number of units, the delivery date having been specified by a user via the network, the available number of units having been determined with reference to inventory information, and the reserved number of units having been determined with reference to current order information.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for providing availability information for a plurality of products for publication to a plurality of customers to allow the plurality of customers to place orders to an online store via a wide area network, comprising:

calculating a first availability information regarding a product for a first customer with reference to first delivery information, a first available number of units for the product, and a first reserved number of units for the product,

wherein the calculating is performed for a first customer using a first server of a plurality of servers of the online store via the wide area network,

wherein the first availability information comprises a first quantity,

wherein the first delivery information has been specified by the first customer via the wide area network,

wherein the first available number of units for the product has been determined with reference to inventory information,

wherein the first reserved number of units for the product has been determined with reference to current order information;

providing the first availability information to the first customer through a first server of the plurality of servers of the online store via the wide area network;

allowing the first customer to place an order on the product via the wide area network;

determining a value of the order;

calculating a second availability information regarding the product for a second customer with reference to second delivery information, a second available number of units of the product, and a second reserved number of units for the product,

wherein the calculating is performed for the second customer using a second server of the plurality of servers of the online store via the wide area network,

wherein the second availability information comprises a second quantity, which can be different from the first quantity,

wherein the second availability information is capable of being provided to the second customer at the same time as the first availability information is being provided to the first customer, and

wherein the second availability information is calculated without taking into account the first availability information of the product, which has been provided to the first customer, and without taking into account whether the first customer has placed the order on the product; and

subsequent to the first availability information having been provided to the first customer and the second availability information having been provided to the second customer, synchronizing the first server and the second server with reference to availability information of the product.

2. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the first availability information is determined on a certain day, and

wherein the first available number of units is determined with reference to at least one of first items which are physically in inventory, second items which have been ordered but have not yet been shipped, third items that have been shipped on the day of determining the first availability information, and fourth items that have been scheduled to arrive.

3. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first availability information of the product depends on a number of units of the product being affected by an expiration date.

4. A computer-implemented method for providing availability information for a plurality of products to a plurality of customers to allow the plurality of customers to place orders to an online store via a network, comprising:

determining a first availability information for a product based on a reserved number of units of the product, and a number of units of the product physically in inventory;

providing the first availability information of the product to a first customer through a first server;

allowing the first customer from the plurality of customers to place an order for the product through the first server of a plurality of servers of the online store via the network,

wherein the reserved number of units depends on at least one order having at least one unit placed into an electronic shopping cart through the first server of the online store by another customer for the product and the at least one order has not yet been shipped to the another customer;

determining and providing a second availability information regarding the product to a second customer of the plurality of customers through a second server of the plurality of servers of the online store via the wide area network,

wherein the second availability information is capable of being provided to the second customer at the same time as the first availability information is being provided to the first customer,

wherein the second availability information is determined without taking into account the first availability information of the product, which has been provided to the first customer, and without taking into account whether the first customer has placed the order on the product, and

wherein the first availability information comprises a first quantity, and the second availability information comprises a second quantity, which can be different from the first quantity; and

subsequent to the first availability information having been provided to the first customer and the second availability information having been provided to the second customer, synchronizing the first server and the second server with reference to availability information of the product.

5. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4 wherein the first availability information indicates a point in time after which the product will not be available.

6. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4 wherein the first availability information indicates a point in time after which the product will be available.

7. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4 wherein the first availability information indicates the product to be available without indication of said product having a limited quantity in stock.

8. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4 wherein the first availability information indicates the product having limited availability or with only a limited quantity in stock.

9. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4 wherein the first availability information indicates that the product will be available by a certain date.

10. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4 wherein the first availability information indicates that the product will be available up until a certain date.

11. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4, wherein the first availability information is determined with respect to a production capacity for the product.

12. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first availability information is reset each day.

13. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4, wherein the first availability information of the product also depends on delivery information determined by the first customer in the order the first customer placed via the network.

14. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 13 further comprising determining the first availability information with reference to the delivery information.

15. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, wherein the first availability information is determined also with reference to a number of units of the product scheduled to arrive in inventory, and a number of units of the product affected by an expiration date.

16. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4,

wherein each of the first and the second availability information is related to at least a quota for the product, and

wherein the time to synchronize the first and the second servers depends on one of the quotas being exhausted.

17. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4, wherein synchronization of the first and the second servers occurs periodically.

18. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4 further comprising:

receiving a first delivery date regarding the order from the first customer via the network;

determining another availability information for another product in the order;

scheduling delivery of the product based on the first delivery date, the first availability information for the product indicating the product availability with respect to the first delivery date; and

enabling the customer to schedule delivery of the another product based on a second delivery date, which is subsequent to the first delivery date, the another availability information for the another product indicating the another product availability with respect to the second delivery date.

19. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 18 further comprising enabling the first customer to schedule delivery of the product and the another product based on the second delivery date.

20. A computer readable medium containing executable computer instructions stored thereon for providing availability information for a plurality of products to a plurality of customers to allow the plurality of customers to place orders to an online store via a network, by a method comprising:

determining a first availability Information for a product based on a reserved number of units of the product, and a number of units of the product physically in inventory;

providing the first availability information of the product to a first customer through a first server;

allowing the first customer of the plurality of customers to place an order using an electronic shopping cart of the online store through the first server of a plurality of servers of the online store, for the product via the network,

wherein the reserved number of units depends on at least one order having at least one unit placed into an electronic shopping cart through the first server of the online store by another customer for the product and the at least one order has not yet been shipped to the another customer;

determining and providing a second availability information regarding the product to a second customer of the plurality of customers through a second server of the plurality of servers of the online store via the wide area network,

wherein the second availability information is capable of being provided to the second customer at the same time as the first availability information is being provided to the first customer,

wherein the second availability information is determined without taking into account the first availability information of the product, which has been provided to the first customer and without taking into account whether the first customer has placed the order on the product, and

wherein the first availability information comprises a first quantity, and the second availability information comprises a second quantity, which is can be different from the first quantity; and

subsequent to the first availability information having been provided to the first customer and the second availability information having been provided to the second customer, synchronizing the first server and the second server with reference to availability information of the product.

21. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 20 wherein the first availability information indicates a point in time after which the product will not be available.

22. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 20 wherein the first availability information indicates a point in time after which the product will be available.

23. A computer implemented method for providing availability information of one or more products to a plurality of customers to allow the plurality of customers to place orders to an online store via a network, comprising:

determining a first availability information of a product based on a reserved number of units of the product and a number of units of the product physically in inventory;

providing the first availability information of the product to a first customer from a first server via the network, wherein the reserved number of units depends on at least one order having at least one unit for the product placed into an electronic shopping cart of the online store by another customer and the at least one order has not yet been shipped to the another customer;

allowing the first customer to place an order for the product using an electronic shopping cart of the online store through the first server;

determining a second availability information of the product, and providing the second availability information of the product to a second customer from a second server via the network,

wherein the second availability information is capable of being provided to the second customer at the same time as the first availability information is being provided to the first customer,

wherein the second availability information is determined without taking into account the first availability information of the product, which has been provided to the first customer, and without taking into account whether the first customer has placed the order on the product, and

wherein the first availability information comprises a first quantity, and the second availability information comprises a second quantity, which can be different from the first quantity; and

subsequent to the first availability information having been provided to the first customer and the second availability information having been provided to the second customer, changing availability information of the product from at least one of the first and the second server for the consistency of the availability information of the product from the first and the second server.

24. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 23, wherein the first availability information indicates a point in time after which the product will not be available.

25. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 23, wherein the first availability information indicates a point in time after which the product will be available.

26. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 23, wherein the first availability information indicates the product having limited availability or with only a limited quantity in stock.

27. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 23, wherein the first availability information is determined based on at least a production capacity for the product.

28. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 23, wherein the first availability information of the product also depends on delivery information specified in the order placed by the first customer.

29. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 28, wherein the first availability information is determined also with reference to a number of units of the product scheduled to arrive in inventory, and a number of units of the product affected by an expiration date.

30. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 23, wherein each of the first and the second availability information is related to at least a quota for the product, and

wherein changing availability information occurs when one of the quotas has been exhausted.

31. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 23, wherein changing availability information occurs periodically.

32. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 23 further comprising:

determining another availability information for another product in the order;

scheduling delivery of the product based on a first delivery date specified in the order; and

enabling the first customer to schedule delivery of the another product based on a second delivery date, which is subsequent to the first delivery date.

33. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 32 further comprising enabling the first customer to schedule delivery of the product and the another product, both based on the second delivery date.

34. A computer readable medium containing executable computer instructions stored thereon for providing availability information of one or more products to a plurality of customers to allow the plurality of customers to place orders to an online store via a network, by a method comprising:

determining a first availability information of a product based on a reserved number of units of the product and a number of units of the product physically in inventory;

providing the first availability information of the product to a first customer from a first server via the network, wherein the reserved number of units depends on at least one order having at least one unit for the product placed into an electronic shopping cart of the online store by another customer and the at least one order has not yet been shipped to the another customer;

allowing the first customer to place an order for the product using an electronic shopping cart of the online store through the first server;

determining a second availability information of the product, and providing the second availability information of the product to a second customer from a second server via the network,

wherein the second availability information is capable of being provided to the second customer at the same time as the first availability information is being provided to the first customer,

wherein the second availability information is determined without taking into account the first availability information of the product, which has been provided to the first customer, and without taking into account whether the first customer has placed the order on the product, and

wherein the first availability information comprises a first quantity, and the second availability information comprises a second quantity, which can be different from the first quantity; and

subsequent to the first availability information having been provided to the first customer and the second availability information having been provided to the second customer, changing availability information of the product from at least one of the first and the second server for the consistency of the availability information of the product from the first and the second server.