US5839117A — Computerized event-driven routing system and meth…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 145 words

A computerized system for the placement of an order by a user via a terminal having a display, comprising: data capture means for capturing order information; storage means for storing the order information captured through the data capture means; and user interface means for providing the user with access to a plurality of order entry functions, the user interface means including means for defining a plurality of user-initiated events and a plurality of application points corresponding to the user-initiated events; action assignment means for assigning at least one action to at least one of the application points; and marketing means for dynamic invocation of the action upon user initiation of the event corresponding to the application point assigned to that event, so that the user is provided with the action at a point during the placement of the order at which the action is needed.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 145 words

A computerized system for the placement of an order by a user via a terminal having a display, comprising: data capture means for capturing order information; storage means for storing the order information captured through the data capture means; and user interface means for providing the user with access to a plurality of order entry functions, the user interface means including means for defining a plurality of user-initiated events and a plurality of application points corresponding to the user-initiated events; action assignment means for assigning at least one action to at least one of the application points; and marketing means for dynamic invocation of the action upon user initiation of the event corresponding to the application point assigned to that event, so that the user is provided with the action at a point during the placement of the order at which the action is needed.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 163 words

A computerized method for providing user assistance and performing marketing functions during the placement of an order by a user via a computer, the computer having a memory device for storing order information, a keyboard for entering order information, a display terminal for displaying visual images related to the order, and a pointing device for selecting visual objects displayed on the display terminal, the method comprising the steps executed by the computer of: (a) defining one or more user-initiated events capable of being recognized by the computer; (b) defining one or more application points and associating each of the application points with at least one of the user-initiated events; (c) assigning an action to each of the application points; (d) dynamically invoking the action assigned to the application point upon initiation of the user-initiated event associated with that application point so the user is provided with the action at a point during the placement of an order at which the action is needed.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 163 words

A computerized method for providing user assistance and performing marketing functions during the placement of an order by a user via a computer, the computer having a memory device for storing order information, a keyboard for entering order information, a display terminal for displaying visual images related to the order, and a pointing device for selecting visual objects displayed on the display terminal, the method comprising the steps executed by the computer of: (a) defining one or more user-initiated events capable of being recognized by the computer; (b) defining one or more application points and associating each of the application points with at least one of the user-initiated events; (c) assigning an action to each of the application points; (d) dynamically invoking the action assigned to the application point upon initiation of the user-initiated event associated with that application point so the user is provided with the action at a point during the placement of an order at which the action is needed.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of defining one or more application points comprises allowing the creation of new application points and the modification of existing application points.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 3, wherein the steps of allowing the creation of new application points and the modification of existing application points comprises creating and modifying the new and existing application points via a graphical user interface (GUI) application point maintenance window.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of defining one or more application points further comprises the steps executed by the computer of: (a) sequentially assigning application point numbers upon initiating definition of one of the application points; and (b) selectively bypassing the step of sequentially assigning application point numbers, and providing for manual entry of the application point numbers.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 2, further comprising the step executed by the computer of selectively activating and de-activating the one or more application points to respectively enable and disable the actions corresponding to the one or more application points.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 2, further comprising the step executed by the computer of selectively changing the assignment of the actions assigned by the assigning step to other ones of the application points.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of assigning an action to each of the application points comprises assigning the application points to account for a plurality of user experience levels.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 8, wherein the step of dynamically invoking the action comprises selecting a particular user experience level to selectively enable the invocation of various sets of actions depending on the particular user experience level selected.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of dynamically invoking the action comprises selectively setting the frequency in which the actions are initiated.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of assigning an action comprises defining at least one of the actions to display a message on the display terminal.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 11, wherein the step of defining at least one of the actions to display a message on the display terminal comprises displaying instructions to the user to assist in the placement of the order.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 11, wherein the step of defining at least one of the actions to display a message on the display terminal comprises selectively displaying the messages in one of a plurality of languages.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of assigning an action comprises defining at least one of the actions to display a backorder window defining a plurality of backorder options.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of assigning an action comprises defining at least one of the actions to display an add-on offer window defining a plurality of add-on offer options.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of assigning an action comprises defining at least one of the actions to provide a marketing promotion.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 16, wherein the step of defining at least one of the actions to provide a marketing promotion comprises providing a marketing promotion selected from a group comprising product-to-product cross sells, gifts, coupons, discounts, payment type discounts, shipment service level discounts, and shipping and handling discounts.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of defining one or more user-initiated events comprises defining at least one user-initiated event selected from a group comprising selecting a button, exiting an order entry function window, entering a window, exiting a window, and capturing data in a data capture field.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 136 words

A computerized system for the placement of an order by a user via a terminal having a display, the system comprising: (a) memory means for storing order information; (b) event definition means for defining one or more user-initiated events capable of being recognized by the computerized system; (c) application point definition means for defining one or more application points and associating each of the application points with at least one of the user-initiated events; (d) action assignment means for assigning an action to each of the application points; and (e) marketing means for dynamically invoking the action assigned to the application point upon initiation of the user-initiated event associated with that application point so the user is provided with the action at a point during the placement of an order at which the action is needed.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 136 words

A computerized system for the placement of an order by a user via a terminal having a display, the system comprising: (a) memory means for storing order information; (b) event definition means for defining one or more user-initiated events capable of being recognized by the computerized system; (c) application point definition means for defining one or more application points and associating each of the application points with at least one of the user-initiated events; (d) action assignment means for assigning an action to each of the application points; and (e) marketing means for dynamically invoking the action assigned to the application point upon initiation of the user-initiated event associated with that application point so the user is provided with the action at a point during the placement of an order at which the action is needed.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 33 words

The computerized system as in claim 19, wherein the application point definition means comprises application point maintenance means for allowing the creation of new application points and the modification of existing application points.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 36 words

The computerized system as in claim 20, wherein the application point maintenance means comprises graphical user interface maintenance means for creating and modifying the new and existing application points via a graphical application point maintenance window.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 56 words

The computerized system as in claim 19, wherein the application point definition means further comprises: (a) means for sequentially assigning application point numbers upon initiating definition of one of the application points; and (b) means for selectively bypassing the step of sequentially assigning application point numbers, and providing for manual entry of the application point numbers.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 42 words

The computerized system as in claim 19, wherein the application point definition means comprises activation means for selectively activating and de-activating the one or more application points to respectively enable and disable the actions corresponding to the one or more application points.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

The computerized system as in claim 19, wherein the action assignment means comprises experience level entry means for assigning the application points to account for a plurality of user experience levels.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 38 words

The computerized system as in claim 24, wherein the marketing means comprises means for selecting a particular user experience level to selectively enable the invocation of various sets of actions depending on the particular user experience level selected.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

The computerized system as in claim 19, wherein the marketing means comprises means for selectively setting the frequency in which the actions are initiated.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 31 words

The computerized system as in claim 19, wherein the action assignment means comprises message display means for defining at least one of the actions to display a message on the display.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 28 words

The computerized system as in claim 27, wherein the message display means comprises means for displaying instructions to the user to assist in the placement of the order.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 24 words

The computerized system as in claim 27, wherein the message display means comprises selectively displaying the messages in one of a plurality of languages.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 36 words

The computerized system as in claim 19, wherein the action assignment means comprises means for defining at least one of the actions to display a backorder window defining a plurality of backorder options on the display.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 38 words

The computerized system as in claim 19, wherein the action assignment means comprises means for defining at least one of the actions to display an add-on offer window defining a plurality of add-on offer options on the display.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 29 words

The computerized system as in claim 19, wherein the action assignment means comprises promotion maintenance means for defining at least one of the actions to provide a marketing promotion.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 35 words

The computerized system as in claim 32, wherein the marketing promotions are selected from a group comprising product-to-product cross sells, gifts, coupons, discounts, payment type discounts, shipment service level discounts, and shipping and handling discounts.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 43 words

The computerized system as in claim 19, wherein the one or more user-initiated events is selected from a group comprising selecting a button, exiting an order entry function window, entering a window, exiting a window, and capturing data in a data capture field.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-11-16	2002-05-18	2002-11-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-11-16	2006-05-18	2006-11-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-11-16	2010-05-18	2010-11-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Computerized event-driven routing system and method for use in an order entry system

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