US6023683A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic sourcing system and method
Assignee: ePlus Inc
•
Filing: 1994-08-10
•
Granted: 2000-02-08
•
Expires: 2014-08-10
Abstract
Abstract An electronic sourcing system includes a computer that maintains a catalog database of data including product information (such as product identification and descriptive information) relating to catalog items available from vendor product catalogs, and a means for building (generating) a requisition including at least one requisitioned item. Information at least partially identifying an item desired to be requisitioned is entered by a user, and utilized by a means for searching the database for catalog items matching that information and for selecting at least one catalog item located as a result of the search. Text describing the catalog items, and images of the items, may be viewed. Data identifying selected catalog items are communicated to the requisition building means, which generates a requisition including entries for items corresponding to the selected catalog items. The system checks the availability in one or more inventory locations of the corresponding desired catalog items, and generates one or more purchase orders for desired items from inventory locations stocking the items.
Inventors
- 👤 James M. Johnson
- 👤 Robert P. Kinross
- 👤 Francis J. Melly
- 👤 Douglas A. Momyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/087; G06Q10/0874; G06Q10/08741; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0283; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0603; G06Q30/0623; G06Q30/0625; G06Q30/0633; G06Q30/0635; G06Q30/0641
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
An electronic sourcing system comprising: at least two product catalogs containing data relating to items associated with the respective sources; means for selecting the product catalogs to search; means for searching for matching items among the selected product catalogs; means for building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); means for processing the requisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selected matching items; and means for determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
An electronic sourcing system comprising: at least two product catalogs containing data relating to items associated with the respective sources; means for selecting the product catalogs to search; means for searching for matching items among the selected product catalogs; means for building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); means for processing the requisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selected matching items; and means for determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 1 wherein the purchase orders include data relating to a catalog number for the selected matching items.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
An electronic sourcing system comprising: at least two product catalogs containing data relating to items associated with the respective sources; means for selecting the product catalogs to search; means for searching for matching items among the selected product catalogs; means for building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); means for processing the requisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selected matching items; and means for converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
An electronic sourcing system comprising: at least two product catalogs containing data relating to items associated with the respective sources; means for selecting the product catalogs to search; means for searching for matching items among the selected product catalogs; means for building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); means for processing the requisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selected matching items; and means for converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 3 further comprising means for determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 3 further comprising means for determining the applicable price of a selected matching item.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
An electronic sourcing system comprising: a database containing data relating to items associated with at least two sources; means for searching for matching items in the database; means for building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); means for processing the requisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selected matching items; and means for converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
An electronic sourcing system comprising: a database containing data relating to items associated with at least two sources; means for searching for matching items in the database; means for building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); means for processing the requisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selected matching items; and means for converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic sourcing system of claim 6 wherein the requisition includes matching items from at least two sources.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 6 wherein the purchase orders include data relating to catalog numbers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 6 further comprising means for determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 6 further comprising means for determining the applicable price of a selected matching item.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electronic sourcing system comprising: at least two product catalogs containing data relating to items associated with the respective sources; means for searching for matching items among the product catalogs; means for building a requisition that includes a first matching item and a second matching item, each associated with a different source; means for processing the requisition to generate purchase orders for the first and the second matching items; and means for converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electronic sourcing system comprising: at least two product catalogs containing data relating to items associated with the respective sources; means for searching for matching items among the product catalogs; means for building a requisition that includes a first matching item and a second matching item, each associated with a different source; means for processing the requisition to generate purchase orders for the first and the second matching items; and means for converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 11 wherein a first purchase order includes data relating to the first matching item.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 12 wherein a second purchase order includes data relating to the second matching catalog item.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
96 words
An electronic sourcing system comprising: data relating to items associated with at least two sources maintained so that selected data may be searched separately; means for searching for matching items among the selected data; means for building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); means for processing the requisition to generate purchase orders using data relating to the selected matching items and their associated source(s); and means for coverting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
96 words
An electronic sourcing system comprising: data relating to items associated with at least two sources maintained so that selected data may be searched separately; means for searching for matching items among the selected data; means for building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); means for processing the requisition to generate purchase orders using data relating to the selected matching items and their associated source(s); and means for coverting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 14 wherein the purchase orders use data relating to at least two sources.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 14 wherein the purchase orders use data relating to catalog numbers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 14 further comprising means for determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 14 further comprising means for determining the applicable price of a selected matching item.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
69 words
An electronic sourcing system comprising: a database containing data relating to items associated with at least two vendors maintained so that selected portions of the database may be searched separately; means for searching for matching items in the selected portions of the database; means for building a requisition that includes data relating to selected matching items; means for processing the requisition to generate purchase orders for selected matching items.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
69 words
An electronic sourcing system comprising: a database containing data relating to items associated with at least two vendors maintained so that selected portions of the database may be searched separately; means for searching for matching items in the selected portions of the database; means for building a requisition that includes data relating to selected matching items; means for processing the requisition to generate purchase orders for selected matching items.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 19 wherein the purchase orders include data relating to vendor catalog numbers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 19 further comprising means for converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 19 further comprising means for determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 19 further comprising means for determining the applicable price of a selected matching item.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic sourcing system of claim 19 wherein the requisition includes matching items from at least two sources.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electronic sourcing system of claim 24 wherein the purchase orders include data relating to the source associated with the selected matching item.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
80 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining at least two product catalogs on a database containing data relating to items associated with the respective sources; selecting the product catalogs to search; searching for matching items among the selected product catalogs; building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); processing the requisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selected matching items; and determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
80 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining at least two product catalogs on a database containing data relating to items associated with the respective sources; selecting the product catalogs to search; searching for matching items among the selected product catalogs; building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); processing the requisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selected matching items; and determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the purchase orders include data relating to a vendor catalog number for the selected matching items.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
92 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining at least two product catalogs on a database containing data relating to items associated with the respective sources; selecting the product catalogs to search; searching for matching items among the selected product catalogs; building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); processing the requisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selected matching items; and converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
92 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining at least two product catalogs on a database containing data relating to items associated with the respective sources; selecting the product catalogs to search; searching for matching items among the selected product catalogs; building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); processing the requisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selected matching items; and converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of determining the applicable price of a selected matching item.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
87 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining a database containing data relating to items associated with at least two sources; searching for matching items among the data relating to the items; building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated sources; processing the requisition to generate purchase orders using data relating to the selected matching items and their associated source(s); and converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
87 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining a database containing data relating to items associated with at least two sources; searching for matching items among the data relating to the items; building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated sources; processing the requisition to generate purchase orders using data relating to the selected matching items and their associated source(s); and converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the purchase orders use data relating to at least two sources.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the purchase orders use data relating to catalog numbers.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of determining the applicable price of a selected matching item.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
91 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining a database containing at least two product catalogs containing data relating to items associated with the respective sources; searching for matching items among the product catalogs; building a requisition that includes a first matching item and a second matching item, each from a different product catalog; processing the requisition to generate purchase orders for the first and the second matching items; and converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
91 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining a database containing at least two product catalogs containing data relating to items associated with the respective sources; searching for matching items among the product catalogs; building a requisition that includes a first matching item and a second matching item, each from a different product catalog; processing the requisition to generate purchase orders for the first and the second matching items; and converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 36 wherein a first purchase order uses data relating to the first matching item and a second purchase order uses data relating to the second matching catalog item.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of determining the applicable price of a selected matching item.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
85 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining a database containing data relating to items associated with at least two sources whereby selected portions of the database may be searched separately; searching for matching items among the selected portions of the database; building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); processing the requisition to generate purchase orders using data relating to the selected matching items and their associated source(s); and determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
85 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining a database containing data relating to items associated with at least two sources whereby selected portions of the database may be searched separately; searching for matching items among the selected portions of the database; building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); processing the requisition to generate purchase orders using data relating to the selected matching items and their associated source(s); and determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
97 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining a database containing data relating to items associated with at least two sources whereby selected portions of the database may be searched separately; searching for matching items among the selected portions of the database; building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); processing the requisition to generate purchase orders using data relating to the selected matching items and their associated source(s); and converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
97 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining a database containing data relating to items associated with at least two sources whereby selected portions of the database may be searched separately; searching for matching items among the selected portions of the database; building a requisition using data relating to selected matching items and their associated source(s); processing the requisition to generate purchase orders using data relating to the selected matching items and their associated source(s); and converting data relating to a selected matching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 41 wherein a first purchase order uses data relating to selected matching items from a first source and a second purchase order uses data relating to selected matching items from a second source.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of determining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of determining the applicable price of a selected matching item.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
60 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining a database containing data relating to items associated with at least two vendors whereby selected portions of the database may be searched separately; searching for matching items in the selected portions of the database; building a requisition that includes selected matching items; processing the requisition to generate purchase orders for selected matching items.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
60 words
A method comprising the steps of: maintaining a database containing data relating to items associated with at least two vendors whereby selected portions of the database may be searched separately; searching for matching items in the selected portions of the database; building a requisition that includes selected matching items; processing the requisition to generate purchase orders for selected matching items.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-02-07 | 2003-08-09 | 2004-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-07 | 2007-08-09 | 2008-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-07 | 2011-08-09 | 2012-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |