US6141658A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer system and method for managing sales information
Assignee: ORION IP DE LLC LLC
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Filing: 1997-09-10
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Granted: 2000-10-31
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Expires: 2017-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A computer system is used for managing product knowledge related to products offered for sale by a selling entity. The computer system includes a memory arrangement with at least one processing unit being coupled to the memory arrangement. The computing system defines a data model to describe relationships between data categories. A data instance is input to the computer system that corresponds to one or more of the data categories. The data instance represents at least part of the product knowledge. The computer system can also create a user-defined relationship item for the data instance and present the product knowledge to a user of the system in a manner established by the data model and the user-defined relationship. The product knowledge that is presented by the computing system includes information that corresponds to the data instance.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale Arthur Mehr
- 👤 Jerome Dale Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/28; G06F16/284; G06F16/288; G06F16/22; G06F16/2228; G06F16/2246; G06F16/80; G06F16/84; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99937
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A computer system for managing product knowledge related to products offered for sale by a selling entity, comprising: a memory arrangement; at least one processing unit coupled to the memory arrangement; means for defining a data model that describes relationships between data categories; means for inputting one or more data instance item corresponding to one or more of the data categories, the data instance item representing at least part of the product knowledge; means for creating one or more user-defined relationship items for the data instance item; and means for presenting the product knowledge, including information corresponding to the data instance item, to a user of the system in a manner established by the data model and the user-defined relationship; wherein the data model is constructed from one or more data instance items interconnected using the user-defined relationship items for each data instance item.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer system for managing product knowledge related to products offered for sale by a selling entity, comprising: a memory arrangement; at least one processing unit coupled to the memory arrangement; means for defining a data model that describes relationships between data categories; means for inputting one or more data instance item corresponding to one or more of the data categories, the data instance item representing at least part of the product knowledge; means for creating one or more user-defined relationship items for the data instance item; and means for presenting the product knowledge, including information corresponding to the data instance item, to a user of the system in a manner established by the data model and the user-defined relationship; wherein the data model is constructed from one or more data instance items interconnected using the user-defined relationship items for each data instance item.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer system, according to claim 1, further comprising at least one data source configured and arranged to provide one or more data instances to at least one of the memory arrangement and the at least one processing unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer system, according to claim 1, further comprising means for selectively presenting at least a portion of the product knowledge to a plurality of users of the system, each of the plurality of users receiving a respective portion of the product knowledge in a format selected as a function of the respective portion of the product knowledge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer system, according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processing unit is configured and arranged to create data objects representing the data categories.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer system, according to claim 4, wherein the data objects contain rule objects that describe the relationships between the data categories.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer system, according to claim 5, wherein the at least one processing unit is configured and arranged to define pointers for use in describing the relationships between the data categories, the pointers linking the data objects.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer system, according to claim 1, further comprising means for selecting a portion of the product knowledge for presentation to the user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer system, according to claim 7, wherein the portion of the product knowledge is selected in a manner established by the data model and the user-defined relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer system, according to claim 8, wherein the data instance contains attribute objects for use in selecting the portion of the product knowledge for presentation to the user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer system, according to claim 9, further comprising a user interface configured and arranged to allow the user to select one or more of the attribute objects.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer system, according to claim 1, further comprising means for presenting differentiated portions of the product knowledge to each of a plurality of users of the system in a manner established by the data model and the user-defined relationship.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer system, according to claim 1, further comprising a graphic user interface configured and arranged to facilitate creating the user-defined relationship item.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer system, according to claim 12, wherein the graphic user interface comprises at least one of a wizard, a shortcut, a builder, and a user-defined form.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer system, according to claim 1, further comprising means for defining an association between a descriptor and an associated value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer system, according to claim 1, further comprising means for selectively granting differentiated access rights to respective data instances corresponding to one or more of the data categories.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
154 words
A computer system implemented method for managing product knowledge comprising a plurality of data items related to products offered for sale by a selling entity, the computer system including a memory arrangement and at least one processing unit, the method comprising: defining a data model of data categories, the data model establishing relationships between data categories; receiving in the computer system one or more particular data items corresponding to one or more of the data categories; receiving user-defined relationship information for the particular data item, the relationship information relating the particular data item to one or more other data items; and presenting the product knowledge, including information about the particular data item, to a user of the system in a manner established by the data model and the user-defined relationship; wherein the data model is constructed from one or more data instance items interconnected using the user-defined relationship items for each data instance item.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
154 words
A computer system implemented method for managing product knowledge comprising a plurality of data items related to products offered for sale by a selling entity, the computer system including a memory arrangement and at least one processing unit, the method comprising: defining a data model of data categories, the data model establishing relationships between data categories; receiving in the computer system one or more particular data items corresponding to one or more of the data categories; receiving user-defined relationship information for the particular data item, the relationship information relating the particular data item to one or more other data items; and presenting the product knowledge, including information about the particular data item, to a user of the system in a manner established by the data model and the user-defined relationship; wherein the data model is constructed from one or more data instance items interconnected using the user-defined relationship items for each data instance item.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method, according to claim 16, further comprising providing one or more data instances to at least one of the memory arrangement and the at least one processing unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method, according to claim 16, further comprising selectively presenting at least a portion of the product knowledge to a plurality of users of the system, each of the plurality of users receiving a respective portion of the product knowledge in a format selected as a function of the respective portion of the product knowledge.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method, according to claim 16, further comprising creating data objects representing the data categories.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method, according to claim 19, wherein the data objects contain rule objects that describe the relationships between the data categories.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method, according to claim 20, further comprising defining pointers for use in describing the relationships between the data categories, the pointers linking the data objects.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method, according to claim 16, further comprising selecting a portion of the product knowledge for presentation to the user.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method, according to claim 22, further comprising selecting the portion of the product knowledge in a manner established by the data model and the user-defined relationship.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method, according to claim 23, wherein the data instance contains attribute objects for use in selecting the portion of the product knowledge for presentation to the user.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method, according to claim 24, further comprising allowing the user to select one or more of the attribute objects.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method, according to claim 16, further comprising presenting differentiated portions of the product knowledge to each of a plurality of users of the system in a manner established by the data model and the user-defined relationship.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method, according to claim 16, further comprising using a graphic user interface configured and arranged to facilitate creating the user-defined relationship item.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method, according to claim 27, wherein the graphic user interface comprises at least one of a wizard, a shortcut, a builder, and a user-defined form.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method, according to claim 16, further comprising defining an association between a descriptor and an associated value.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method, according to claim 16, further comprising selectively granting differentiated access rights to respective data instances corresponding to one or more of the data categories.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-31 | 2004-05-01 | 2004-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-31 | 2008-05-01 | 2008-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-31 | 2012-05-01 | 2012-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |