Computer implemented method for facilitating proscribed business operations

• US 8,460,000 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edible IP LLC
• Original Assignee: Edible Arrangements International
• Inventors: Farid, Tariq
• Primary Examiner(s): Utama, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US12/272,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20100124736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350, 434/323, 434/322, 434/219
• US Class Current: 434/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F

Abstract

In a computer implemented method for facilitating proscribed business operations, software operable with a computer having a display associated therewith includes a training module and an instruction module, each accessible by a user. The training module includes at least one training session selectable by the user, and the instruction module includes at least one instruction set selectable by the user. Upon selection of one of the training sessions step-by-step training instructions are displayed for performing one or more tasks. The software is operable to record and store information relevant to the selected training sessions in a database. Upon selection of one of the instruction sets, the software is operable to display step-by-step instructions for performing one or more tasks. The software is remotely changeable and remotely updatable.

Claims

1. A computer implemented system for administrating quality control and coordinating consistency relating to the business of franchising the sale and production of cut fruit arrangements throughout a franchise network having a central franchisor and distributed franchises comprising:

a database under the control of a cut fruit franchisor identifying selected cut fruit arrangements to be offered by franchisees;

said database including tasks affiliated with the production of said cut fruit arrangements, said tasks being specific to a cut fruit arrangement;

software operable with a computer having a display associated therewith, said software including a training module related to the production of cut fruit arrangements and an instruction module relating to the production of said cut fruit arrangements, said training module and said instruction module being accessible by a user at a user location remote from the cut fruit franchisor, said training module including at least one training session selectable by said user and said instruction module including at least one instruction set selectable by said user relating to at least one of said offered products of said cut fruit arrangements for educating a user on the required tasks related to the production of said products;

said software, said computer and said display operating to provide and display step-by-step training instructions for performing one or more tasks upon selection of one of said training sessions by said user relating to the production of one of said desired cut fruit arrangements;

upon selection of one of said instruction sets said software, said computer, and said display being operable to provide and display step-by-step instructions for performing one or more tasks associated with the preparation of a cut fruit arrangement to assist in the manufacturing of said cut fruit arrangement;

software being operable to allow for the entry of order information relating to a cut fruit arrangement; and

software for providing production relevant information relating to a cut fruit arrangement based upon said order information enabling production of product for a consumer based upon said order information and;

said production information including displaying a list of fruits and amounts needed thereof as well as the number of different cut pieces required to fulfill the orders.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a website in cooperation with said software, said website being operable to display one or more orders to be processed and wherein information may be displayed relating to operational tasks required for completing said order.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said operational tasks include the management of inventory of fruits necessary to complete the cut fruit arrangements in said orders.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said order information is uploaded to said database enabling the franchisor to monitor the operations of a particular franchisee.

5. The system of claim 1 further including tests relating to the tasks identified by said instruction module, the performance of said tests being uploaded to said database enabling the franchisor to monitor the operations of a particular franchisee.