User interface for a complex order processing system

• US 8,046,267 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sibel Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sibel Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Sandrea, Carlos Alejandro, Caballero, Richard Joseph, Lewis, Mark David
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Amee A
• Application Number:
  US12/126,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• 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 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5183 Call or contact centers with computer-telephony arrangements

Abstract

The method and apparatus of the present invention include generating a list of orders associated with an account. The list of orders comprises orders that are open. Selection of one of the orders is detected. A request to change the selected order is detected. Changes in the open and pending orders to reflect the future state of an asset are applied. A quote based on the future state of an asset is generated. A user is allowed to change the configuration of the future state of the asset, and the change is incorporated in the quote.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing orders in a computerized order processing system, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating a list of orders, wherein

the list of orders identifies a plurality of orders,

a complex order is associated with an account,

the complex order comprises the list of orders,

each of the plurality of orders is associated with the account by virtue of the complex order comprising the plurality of orders,

the list of orders comprises open orders and pending orders, and

one or more relationships exist between a plurality of the plurality of orders;

means for generating a quote, wherein

the quote is based, at least in part, on

the complex order,

a configuration change, and

a future state of an asset;

means for detecting selection of an order of the list of orders;

means for detecting a change request, wherein

the change request represents a request to change the order of the list of orders, and

a configuration change is based, at least in part, on the change request;

means for applying the configuration change to the open orders and the pending orders to reflect the future state of the asset;

means for allowing the configuration change to cause a change in configuration to the future state of the asset; and

means for incorporating the change in configuration to the future state of the asset into the quote.

2. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means for generating a list of items comprising the order;

means for determining whether each item in the list of items has been delivered;

means for detecting selection of one of the items; and

means for allowing the user to reconfigure the selected item if the selected item has not been delivered.

3. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

means for changing the status of the selected item to indicate that the selected item has been changed.

4. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means for changing the status of the order to indicate that the order has been updated.

5. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means for generating a list of accounts;

means for detecting selection of one of the accounts; and

means for generating a list of quotes associated with the selected account.

6. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means for generating a list of accounts;

means for detecting selection of one of the accounts;

means for generating a list of quotes associated with the selected account;

means for detecting selection of one of the quotes;

means for detecting a request to change the selected quote; and

means for incorporating the change in the quote.

7. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

means for generating a list of assets associated with the selected account;

means for detecting selection of one of the assets;

means for detecting a request to change the selected asset; and

means for incorporating the change to the asset in the quote.

8. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:

means for submitting the quote to the order.

9. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

means for generating a list of items comprising the selected asset;

means for detecting selection of one of the items; and

means for allowing a user to reconfigure the selected item.

10. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

means for ungrouping the selected item with a quantity of more than one to a corresponding multiple of items; and

means for allowing the user to reconfigure each item of the multiple of items individually.

11. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

means for detecting selection of an option to update potential revenue based on the price of items in the selected quote.

12. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

means for detecting selection of an option to create a quote for a new asset, wherein the quote for the new asset is associated with the selected account;

means for generating a list assets comprising products and services available;

means for detecting selection of an asset; and

means for invoking a product configurator to allow the user to configure the selected asset.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the change comprises disconnecting the asset.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the change comprises transferring the asset, the apparatus further comprising:

means for detecting selection of an option to transfer the asset;

means for copying information about the configuration of the asset to the quote; and

means for setting the status of items in the quote to indicate that the items are to be included in a service profile at a new address.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

means for copying the information about the configuration of the asset to a second quote; and

means for setting the status of items in the second quote to indicate that the items are to be disconnected in a service profile at an old address.

16. A method, comprising:

generating, using a processor, a list of orders, wherein

the list of orders identifies a plurality of orders,

a complex order is associated with an account,

the complex order comprises the list of orders,

each of the plurality of orders is associated with the account by virtue of the complex order comprising the plurality of orders,

the list of orders comprises open orders and pending orders, and

one or more relationships exist between a plurality of the plurality of orders;

generating, using the processor, a quote, wherein

the quote is based, at least in part, on

the complex order,

a configuration change, and

a future state of an asset;

detecting, using the processor, selection of an order of the list of orders;

detecting, using the processor, a change request, wherein

the change request represents a request to change the order of the list of orders, and

a configuration change is based, at least in part, on the change request;

applying, using the processor, the configuration change to the open orders and the pending orders to reflect the future state of the asset;

allowing the configuration change to cause a change in configuration to the future state of the asset; and

incorporating, using the processor, the change in configuration to the future state of the asset into the quote.

17. The method, as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

generating a list of items comprising the order;

determining whether each item in the list of items has been delivered;

detecting selection of one of the items; and

allowing the user to reconfigure the selected item if the selected item has not been delivered.

18. The method, as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

changing the status of the selected item to indicate that the selected item has been changed.

19. The method, as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

changing the status of the order to indicate that the order has been updated.

20. The method, as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

generating a list of accounts;

detecting selection of one of the accounts; and

generating a list of quotes associated with the selected account.

21. The method, as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

generating a list of accounts;

detecting selection of one of the accounts; and

generating a list of quotes associated with the selected account;

detecting selection of one of the quotes;

detecting a request to change the selected quote; and

incorporating the change in the quote.

22. The method, as set forth in claim 21, further comprising:

generating a list of assets associated with the selected account;

detecting selection of one of the assets;

detecting a request to change the selected asset; and

incorporating the change to the asset in the quote.

23. The method, as set forth in claim 22, further comprising:

submitting the quote to an order.

24. The method, as set forth in claim 23, further comprising:

generating a list of items comprising the selected asset;

detecting selection of one of the items; and

allowing a user to reconfigure the selected item.

25. The method, as set forth in claim 24, further comprising:

ungrouping the selected item with a quantity of more than one to a corresponding multiple of items; and

allowing the user to reconfigure each item of the multiple of items individually.

26. The method, as set forth in claim 25, further comprising:

detecting selection of an option to update potential revenue based on the price of items in the selected quote.

27. The method, as set forth in claim 26, further comprising:

detecting selection of an option to create a quote for a new asset, wherein the quote for the new asset is associated with the selected account;

generating a list assets comprising products and services available;

detecting selection of an asset; and

invoking a product configurator to allow the user to configure the selected asset.

28. The method as set forth in claim 27, wherein the change comprises disconnecting the asset.

29. The method as set forth in claim 28 wherein the change comprises transferring the asset, the method further comprising:

detecting selection of an option to transfer the asset;

copying information about the configuration of the asset to the quote; and

setting the status of items in the quote to indicate that the items are to be included in a service profile at a new address.

30. The method as set forth in claim 29, further comprising:

copying the information about the configuration of the asset to a second quote; and

setting the status of items in the second quote to indicate that the items are to be disconnected in a service profile at an old address.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising:

a first set of instructions, executable by a processor, configured to generate a list of orders, wherein

the list of orders identifies a plurality of orders,

a complex order is associated with an account,

the complex order comprises the list of orders,

each of the plurality of orders is associated with the account by virtue of the complex order comprising the plurality of orders,

the list of orders comprises open orders and pending orders, and

one or more relationships exist between a plurality of the plurality of orders;

a second set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to generate a quote, wherein

the quote is based, at least in part, on

the complex order,

a configuration change, and

a future state of an asset;

a third set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect selection of an order of the list of orders;

a fourth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect a change request, wherein

the change request represents a request to change the order of the list of orders, and

a configuration change is based, at least in part, on the change request;

a fifth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to apply the configuration change to the open orders and the pending orders to reflect the future state of the asset;

a sixth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to allow the configuration change to cause a change in configuration to the future state of the asset; and

a seventh set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to incorporate the change in configuration to the future state of the asset into the quote.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as set forth in claim 31, further comprising:

an eighth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to generate a list of items comprising the order;

a ninth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to determine whether each item in the list of items has been delivered;

a tenth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect selection of one of the items; and

an eleventh set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to allow the user to reconfigure the selected item if the selected item has not been delivered.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as set forth in claim 32, further comprising:

a twelfth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to change the status of the selected item to indicate that the selected item has been changed.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as set forth in claim 31, further comprising:

a thirteenth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to change the status of the order to indicate that the order has been updated.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as set forth in claim 31, further comprising:

a fourteenth set of instructions, executable by a processor, configured to generate a list of accounts;

a fifteenth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect selection of one of the accounts; and

a sixteenth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to generate a list of quotes associated with the selected account.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as set forth in claim 31, further comprising:

a seventeenth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to generate a list of accounts;

an eighteenth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect selection of one of the accounts;

a nineteenth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to generate a list of quotes associated with the selected account;

a twentieth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect selection of one of the quotes;

a twenty-first set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect a request to change the selected quote; and

a twenty-second set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to incorporate the change in the quote.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as set forth in claim 36, further comprising:

a twenty-third set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to generate a list of assets associated with the selected account;

a twenty-fourth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect selection of one of the assets;

a twenty-fifth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect a request to change the selected asset; and

a twenty-sixth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to incorporate the change to the asset in the quote.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as set forth in claim 37, further comprising:

a twenty-seventh set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to submit the quote to an order.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as set forth in claim 38, further comprising:

a twenty-eighth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to generate a list of items comprising the selected asset;

a twenty-ninth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect selection of one of the items; and

a thirtieth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to allow a user to reconfigure the selected item.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as set forth in claim 39, further comprising:

a thirty-first set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to ungroup the selected item with a quantity of more than one to a corresponding multiple of items; and

a thirty-second set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to allow the user to reconfigure each item of the multiple of items individually.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as set forth in claim 40, further comprising:

a thirty-third set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect selection of an option to update potential revenue based on the price of items in the selected quote.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as set forth in claim 41, further comprising:

a thirty-fourth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect selection of an option to create a new quote for a new asset, wherein the new quote is associated with the selected account;

a thirty-fifth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to generate a list assets comprising products and services available;

a thirty-sixth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect selection of an asset; and

a thirty-seventh set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to invoke a product configurator to allow the user to configure the selected asset.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 42, wherein the change comprises disconnecting the asset.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 43 wherein the change comprises transferring the asset, the computer readable storage medium further comprising:

a thirty-eighth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to detect selection of an option to transfer the asset;

a thirty-ninth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to copy information about the configuration of the asset to the new quote; and

a fortieth set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to set the status of items in the new quote to indicate that the items are to be included in a service profile at a new address.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 44, further comprising:

a forty-second set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to copy the information about the configuration of the asset to a second quote; and

a forty-third set of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to set the status of items in the second quote to indicate that the items are to be disconnected in a service profile at an old address.