Patent US6134557A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US6134557A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Materials and supplies ordering system

Assignee: FREEMAN CRAIG E MR
•
Filing: 1998-11-20
•
Granted: 2000-10-17
•
Expires: 2018-11-20
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract The present invention comprises a computer program which displays a number of objects in some form of organized, often hierarchial, fashion commonly known as a categorization table. In summary, the ordering program displays a categorization table organizes data under successive and expandable levels of categorized headings, assigns the appropriate vendor specific names, SKU codes, part numbers, universal product code, and/or bar codes, and then transfers this specific information to a merchant or vendor for processing of the order. The programs allows the user to manipulate the data or to select objects for appropriate actions (starting a program, printing a construction material supply list, transferring a generated list(s) to the vendor/merchant, etc.). Once the categorization table is completed, a specific report can be generated from the program. This report is a material and supply list which details the vendor/merchant specific names, stock keeping unit (SKU) codes, vendor part numbers, universal product code, and/or bar codes and quantity requested for each material listed on the table. This report also provides contractor identification information (name, address, telephone number) and specific job number, and accounting information (purchase order number or credit card number). Furthermore, this report is then transferred to the identified vendor/merchant for processing, and possible delivery of materials and supplies, including confirmation of the order.

Inventors

  • 👤 Craig Freeman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-10 01:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/087; G06Q10/0875; G06Q10/0874; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/20; G06Q20/203; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 227 words
A contractor's/customer's ordering program, said program displaying a categorization table on a computer system to achieve a method for recording specific contractor product orders and quantity of such product orders and further adapted for calculating a specific merchant/vendor part number and product name, stock keeping unit (SKU) number, universal product code, or bar code, for each individual product, the program capable of recording said product name, quantity of said product, merchant/vendor part number, SKU number, universal product code, and/or bar code, the ordering method comprising the steps of: initiating said contractor/customer order program; selecting a merchant or vendor from a first menu displayed by said ordering program; selecting a construction phase from a second menu displayed by said ordering program; entering a job identification information into said ordering program whereas said ordering program displays a construction phase specific categorization table; entering one or more materials or product names and a specific quantity desired for each material or product into said categorization table; said ordering program attaching a vendor or merchant specific part number and product name, SKU, universal product code, or bar code for each material or product entered; said ordering program generating a list displaying the merchant specific product number and product name, SKU number, universal product code, or bar code and quantity for each individual product; and transferring said list to said vendor or merchant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 227 words
A contractor's/customer's ordering program, said program displaying a categorization table on a computer system to achieve a method for recording specific contractor product orders and quantity of such product orders and further adapted for calculating a specific merchant/vendor part number and product name, stock keeping unit (SKU) number, universal product code, or bar code, for each individual product, the program capable of recording said product name, quantity of said product, merchant/vendor part number, SKU number, universal product code, and/or bar code, the ordering method comprising the steps of: initiating said contractor/customer order program; selecting a merchant or vendor from a first menu displayed by said ordering program; selecting a construction phase from a second menu displayed by said ordering program; entering a job identification information into said ordering program whereas said ordering program displays a construction phase specific categorization table; entering one or more materials or product names and a specific quantity desired for each material or product into said categorization table; said ordering program attaching a vendor or merchant specific part number and product name, SKU, universal product code, or bar code for each material or product entered; said ordering program generating a list displaying the merchant specific product number and product name, SKU number, universal product code, or bar code and quantity for each individual product; and transferring said list to said vendor or merchant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of downloading a current list of SKU numbers, universal product codes or bar codes for specific product names from said specific vendor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of downloading a current list of costs for each specific material or product from said specific vendor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of transferring said list to the merchant or vendor is by a software floppy disk or hardcopy format.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of transferring said list to the merchant or vendor is by electronic means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising a step of performing a spelling check or name matching subroutine which evaluates the contractor or customer entered material or product name and compares it with the vendor supplied database.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of terminating the entering of any additional materials or supplies by toggling a termination icon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of returning a cost estimate and list of availability from said merchant or vendor to said contractor or customer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of requesting a date of delivery of said materials and supplies from said merchant or vendor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method as recited in claim 8 wherein a confirmation means is transferred from said vendor or merchant to said contractor or customer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 44 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of sending a second list to said merchant or vendor confirming the order by the contractor or customer and supplying a purchase order, billing account or credit card number to complete the transaction.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 160 words
A method for communicating material and supply data to an intended recipient at a remote location, comprising the steps of: initiating a contractor/customer ordering computer program; selecting a recipient from a first menu displayed by said ordering program; selecting a construction phase from a second menu displayed by said ordering program; entering a job identification number into said ordering program whereas said ordering program displays a construction phase specific categorization table; entering one or more material or product names and a specific quantity desired for each material or product into said categorization table; said ordering program attaching an intended recipient specific part number and part name, stock keeping unit (SKU), universal product code or bar code for each material or product entered; said ordering program generating a list displaying the intended recipient specific product number and product name, SKU number, universal product code, or bar code and quantity for each individual product; and transferring said list to said intended recipient.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 160 words
A method for communicating material and supply data to an intended recipient at a remote location, comprising the steps of: initiating a contractor/customer ordering computer program; selecting a recipient from a first menu displayed by said ordering program; selecting a construction phase from a second menu displayed by said ordering program; entering a job identification number into said ordering program whereas said ordering program displays a construction phase specific categorization table; entering one or more material or product names and a specific quantity desired for each material or product into said categorization table; said ordering program attaching an intended recipient specific part number and part name, stock keeping unit (SKU), universal product code or bar code for each material or product entered; said ordering program generating a list displaying the intended recipient specific product number and product name, SKU number, universal product code, or bar code and quantity for each individual product; and transferring said list to said intended recipient.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of downloading a current list of SKU numbers, universal product codes or bar codes for specific product names from said intended recipient.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of downloading a current list of costs for each specific material or product from said intended recipient.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the step of transferring said list to said intended recipient is by a software floppy disk or hardcopy format.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the step of transferring said list to said intended recipient is by electronic means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising a step of performing a spelling check or name matching subroutine which evaluates the contractor or customer entered material or product name and compares it with an intended recipient supplied database.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of terminating the entering of any additional materials or supplies by toggling a termination icon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of returning a cost estimate and list of availability from said intended recipient to said contractor or customer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of requesting a date of delivery of said materials and supplies from said intended recipient.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method as recited in claim 19 wherein a confirmation means is transferred from said intended recipient to said contractor or customer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of sending a second list to said intended recipient confirming the order by the contractor or customer and supplying a purchase order, billing account or credit card number to complete the transaction.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4887208A Cited
US4887206A Cited
US5231585A Cited
US5526520A Cited
US5625827A Cited
US5806069A Cited
US5878401A Cited
US5819232A Cited
US5884300A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-10-17 2004-04-17 2004-10-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-10-17 2008-04-17 2008-10-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-10-17 2012-04-17 2012-10-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag