GB2363220A

GB2363220A - Matched purchase selection system

Info

Publication number: GB2363220A
Application number: GB0014080A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Heron
Original assignee: RIDLEY HERON Ltd
Current assignee: RIDLEY HERON Ltd
Priority date: 2000-06-10
Filing date: 2000-06-10
Publication date: 2001-12-12
Also published as: GB0014080D0

Abstract

A system for matching purchase selections comprises a plurality of supplier provided product databases and a controller. The controller provides coordination between search, result transmitting, order receiving and order transmitting means. The suppliers and users are remote from each other. In use the controller receives a user enquiry and forwards it to a search means. The search means interrogates the databases, 162,172 and results are displayed to the user by the results transmitting means. The order receiving means receives a matched purchase order from the user, the matched purchase order comprising a product selected from the first database and a linked second product from the second database. In one embodiment this is a picture and a suitable frame. On receipt of a purchase order, separate orders are transmitted, 180,190 to the suppliers by the order transmitting means. The controller may be a hub in a network and preferably be a web site address. Further means may be provided for secure access to the system, monitoring of user activity, entering dispatch instructions and for enabling payment to the suppliers.

Description

2363220 Matched purchase selection system The present invention relates to

an electronic system enabling a user to place a 5 purchase order for an integrated matched product derived from plural supplier databases.

Electronic shopping, for example via the internet is becoming a common experience. The shopper typically visits an electronic shopping web-site, 10 browses a database of products for sale, makes various product seiections and pays for the selected products by some secure payment means.

It is appreciated that, whilst convenient, the electronic shopping experience has some disadvantages for the business and the user compared to shopping in a 15 real store. One area which can be more difficult is if the customer wishes to make purchase-matching sets of products, that is to say products which have attributes which are in some way matched such that they form a suitable companion for each other. Examples of customer matched product sets might for example include a suitable picture frame and border to go with a picture print; a 20 tie to go with a shirt; or a cheese to go with a particular wine. In the real world, the making of physical matching comparisons is relatively straightforward in a supportive sales environment, which may include the added advantage of expert sales guidance.

25 It would be desirable to enable for a business to allow its customers to product match in an online environment. Electronic shopping sites have therefore been developed which assist users to select matched products, for example by allowing side-by-side comparison of products to allow for matching of aesthetic aspects such as colours. Some on-line assistance with making selections may 30 indeed, be provided by expert or semi-expert systems with e.g. knowledge of complementary colours or scaling of products for perspective viewing.

Product matching in the electronic shopping environment is however, very difficult where the products to be matched are sold and supplied by different 35 commercial entities. Typically, the process will involve visiting separate seller/supplier websites with little or no opportunity to make side-by- side matching comparisons. Separate ordering and payment transactions are also likely to be required.

5 The Applicants have however, now developed an electronic system and method to enable a customer to make a matched purchase selection and place a single purchase order online for matched products, wherein the products are sold/supplied by plural distinct suppliers. The purchase order is automatically transmitted in relevant part to each supplier. The customer therefore has the freedom to make the product matching decision and the convenience of a straightforward on-line purchasing process.

The electronic system herein also has the advantage that it may be configured such that part of the matched purchase order is dispatched to a supplier of the remaining part of the matched purchase order. That supplier then integrates the parts of the order into a matched purchase set for supply to the customer. The intgration may involve assembly or finishing steps. Additionally, the integrator may be chosen to be a supplier based locally to the customer such that the customer may conveniently interact with that integrator including providing expert advice and arranging for collection or delivery of the product directly.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronic system enabling a user to place a purchase order for matched products from plural supplier databases comprising a first supplier database storing product information relating to the products of a first supplier; at least one further supplier database storing product information relating to the products of at least one further supplier; a controller unit capable of receiving a first and at least one further user inquiry from said user; first search means associated with said controller unit for searching said first supplier database in response to said first user inquiry; at least one further search means associated 'with the controller unit for 5 searching said at least one further supplier database in response to said at least one further user inquiry; I results transmitting means associated with the controller unit for transmitting the results of any database search to the user; order receiving means associated with the controller unit for receiving a matched purchase order from the user, wherein the matched purchase order relates to a product selected from the first supplier database and at least one matching product selected from the at least one further supplier database; order transmitting means for transmitting the relevant part of the matched purchase order to the first supplier and at least one further relevant part of the matched purchase order to the at least one further supplier; 20 wherein said first supplier and said at least one further supplier are remotely located from the user and from each other.

By remote it is meant that the first supplier, at least one further supplier and user are physically, and potentially geographically distant from each other.

Suitably, any data is communicable in encrypted form. All suitable methods of encryption or partial encryption are envisaged. Password protection may also be employed.

30 In one aspect, the part of the matched purchase order transmitted to the at least one further supplier requests supply of said matching product to the first supplier to enable supply of a matched product set to the user. In this instance, the first supplier may act such as to integrate the component parts of the order into a matched purchase set for supply to the customer. The integration may involve 35 assembly or finishing steps. Where the first supplier is based in the same geographic locality as the user this arrangement will facilitate interaction between the user and the integrator supplier.

The electronic system herein may be configured su6h that a user has contact 5 with a local integrator supplier who, for example provide the user with log-in password access to the integrator's web-site on the system. The user browses and places a matched purchase order via the system which order is transmitted to the various suppliers, but is then subsequently integrated as above by the local integrator supplier for supply to the user. The user thus has the advantage 10 of local supply but also access to a much broader range of matching supplier's goods. The integrator supplier has the advantage of being able to develop a sales relationship with a local customer whilst also being able to supply a broad range of matched products with minimal order processing costs and little administrative burden.

In another aspect, the matched purchase order requests that the first supplier and the at least one further supplier supply the respective product and matching product to an independent dispatcher to despatch said matched product set to the user.

In one aspect, the first supplier database and/or the at least one further database are associated with the controller unit.

In another aspect, the first supplier database and/or the at least one further 25 database are external to the controller unit.

Suitably, the first search means and at least one further search means are associable. That is to say the searching is in some way associated or linked.

30 Suitably, the results transmitting means transmits the results of plural database searches to the user, thereby enabling the user to perform a matching of the first supplier product information with that of the at least one further supplier product information. Preferably, any of said plural database searches is repeatable in response to further user enquiry to enable better product matching. Thus, the 35 user may make side-by side comparable matching product comparisons repeating the comparisons with different choices of matching product to get better matches.

Suitably, the results transmitting means transmits the results of any database 5 search in a form capable of display to the user in graphical form. The display may be in colour to enable colour comparisons.

Preferably, the controller unit is at a hub on a network computer system. The term hub is used generally to define an interchange on the computer system.

10 The hub may be located on a single server or may be located on multiple servers appropriately linked. The hub is typically located at, and under the control of a network services provider such as an Internet Service Provider. It is an advantage of the system herein, that the system may be located geographically distant from the user and any supplier.

Suitably, the hub is a specific network address in the network computer system.

The specific network address may be selected from the group consisting of a web-site address, an e-mail address and a file transfer protocol address.

Preferably, the hub is a web-site address on the network computer system.

In one aspect, the network computer system comprises a public access network computer system. The internet is one suitable example of a public access network ' computer system, wherein the entrypoint can be any suitable entrypoint thereto including gateways managed by an Internet service provider. The public 25 access network computer system may also form part of a telecommunications system, which may itself be either a traditional copper wire system, a cellular system or an optical network.

In another aspect, the network computer system comprises a private access 30 network computer system and the entrypoint is a secure gateway. The private access network system may for example, comprise an intranet or extranet which may for example, be maintained by an information service provider. The secure gateway may for example include password protection; a firewall; and suitable encryption means.

Preferably, user access to the electronic system is by way of a secure access gateway having password protection.

User access to the electronic system is via any suitable device such as a 5 personal computer or hand-held computing device with suitable telecommunications capability to enable communication with the electronic system. Suitably, the device additionally comprises a data input system for user input of data to the electronic data manager. More preferably, the data input system comprises a man machine interface (MMI) preferably selected from a 10 keypad, voice recognition interface or graphical user interface (GUI).

Suitably, the device additionally comprises a display for display of data from the electronic data manager to the user. The display may for example, comprise a screen such as an LED or LCD screen.

Suitably, the system additionally comprises payment means for enabling payment by the user to a payee selected from the group consisting of the first supplier, the at least one further supplier, the system manager and any combination thereof. The payment may be made entirely to one payee or may be 20 sub-divided between multiple payees according to the commercial arrangement between them. The payment means typically comprises any suitable secure payment protocol.

Suitably, the system additionally comprises monitoring means for monitoring the 25 level of user activity of the system. Thus, statistics such as the number of visits to a web-site, or the average time spent by a user thereon, or the average user spend may be monitored. The system may be configured such that each user is assigned a unique user password and profile to enable the activity of each user to be monitored separately. The user profile may also be configured to allow 30 differential pricing to be offered to preferred users. Thus, password control enables statistics to be developed for individual user profiles including the capability to differentially price and target each particular user (socalled 'one-to one' marketing).

Suitably, the system enables a user to place a purchase order for framed picture products from plural supplier databases, wherein the first supplier database is a picture database storing product 5 information relating to the picture products of a picture publisher; and wherein the at least one further supplier database is a picture frame database storing product information relating to the frame products of a picture framer.

10 Suitably, the part of the matched purchase order transmitted to the picture publisher requests supply of a selected picture from the picture publisher to the framer to enable supply of a framed picture to the user.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of electronically enabling a user to place a purchase order for matched products from plural supplier databases comprising providing a first supplier database storing product information relating to the products of a first supplier; providing at least one further supplier database storing product information relating to the products of at least one further supplier; providing a controller unit capable of receiving a first and at least one further user inquiry from said user; receiving at the controller unit, a first user enquiry; searching said first supplier database in response to said first user inquiry; receiving at the controller unit, at least one further user enquiry; searching said at least one further supplier database in response to said at least one further user inquiry; transmitting the results of the database searches to the user; receiving a matched purchase order from the user, wherein the matched purchase order relates to a product selected from the first supplier database and 5 at least one matching product selected from the at least one further supplier database; I transmitting the relevant part of the matched purchase order to the first supplier and at least one further relevant part of the matched purchase order to the at 10 least one further supplier; wherein said first supplier and said at least one further supplier are remotely located from the user and from each other.

15 Suitably, the part of the matched purchase order transmitted to the at least one further supplier requests supply of said matching product to the first supplier to enable supply of a matched product set to the user.

Suitably, the matched purchase order requests that the first supplier and the at 20 least one further supplier supply the respective product and matching product to an independent dispatcher to despatch said matched product set to the user.

Suitably, the method additionally comprises associating any search with any other search.

Suitably, the method comprises transmitting the results of plural database searches to the user, thereby enabling the user to perform a matching of the first supplier product information with that of the at least one further supplier product information.

Suitably, the method comprises repeating any of said plural database searches in response to further user inquiry to enable better product matching.

Suitably, the method comprises transmitting the results of any database search 35 in a form capable of display to the user in graphical form.

Suitably, the method additionally comprises requesting payment from the user to a payee selected form the group consisting of the first supplier, the at least one further supplier, the system manager and any combination thereof.

Suitably, the method additionally comprises monitoring the level of user activity.

I In one aspect, the method enables a user to place a purchase order for framed picture products from plural supplier databases wherein the first supplier database is a picture database storing product information relating to the picture products of a picture publisher; and wherein the at least one further database is a picture frame database storing 15 product information relating to the frame products of a picture framer.

Suitably, the part of the matched purchase order transmitted to the picture publisher requests supply of a selected picture to the framer to enable supply of a framed picture to the user.

In variations of the above method, plural picture databases from plural picture publishers may be searched and plural orders placed.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a 25 computer program product for use with a digital computer comprising software code portions for performing, or requesting user input enabling the performing, of the steps of the method described above, when said program is run on said digital computer.

30 According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a digital computer system enabling a user to place a purchase order for matched products from plural supplier databases comprising a digital computer system; and executable on said digital computer system, a computer program product as described above.

Suitably, the digital computer system additionally comprises a display for 5 displaying output to a user.

E mbodiments of systems according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

10 Figure 1. is a schematic representation of a first system in accord with the present invention; and Figure 2. is a flowchart representation of an outline method in accord with the present invention.

In each of the following drawings the principles of the present invention will be illustrated for a system enabling a user to place a purchase order for framed picture products. In these illustrations the first supplier is a picture publisher having an online catalogue of digital picture prints and the second supplier is a 20 picture framer having an online catalogue of digital frames and framing options.

In the system shown in Figure 1, there is provided a central hub 10 on a network computer system. The hub 10 is typically located at a web-site address hosted by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The web-site address is configured to 25 enable communication with at least the computer of a picture publisher 20, the computer of a framer 30, a customer computer 40, the computer of the systems manager 50 and the computer of a supplier of chop frames 60. The supplier of chop frames typically supplies frame chops comprising the four sides of the frame chopped to framing size to the framer for assembly and framing. Access to 30 the hub 10 is typically password-protected with different levels of access granted to different users. The system can be configured to enable passwords to be issued by either the systems manager 50 or by the picture publisher 20 or framer 30. The system is typically configured such that each of the suppliers 20, 30, 60 and the systems manager 50 have password access to their own private 'back 35 office' web-page for receiving system orders and reviewing site activity.

The hub 10 comprises various administrative functions including a controller unit 12, one or more search means or tools 14, order receiving means 16 which may include payment authorisation means and order transmitting means 18 for 5 transmitting the order to the suppliers 20, 30 and 60. The hub 10 has associated picture database 24 and frames database 34. The databases 24, 34 may be located on the same server as the hub 10 or on an external server. For computing efficiency, it is preferred that the databases 24, 34 are on the same server as the hub 10.

In the method shown in Figure 2, the user initially logs-in 140 to the central hub web-site address or more typically to a sub-site address which is managed by the framer but linked into the order processing capability of the hub. The sub-site address may be configured to provided an online 'shopfront' or'home page'for a 15 local framer such that the user has the positive feeling that they are dealing with a local framer. Typically, the log-in 140 will include some authentication steps such as password access. The user then views the desired web-page, selects one of the picture or frames databases 160, 170 and makes a search thereof 162, 172 to uncover various picture or frame options. Typically, the user will 20 search the picture database 162 first and select a picture 164. The frame database will then be searched 172 and a potentially matching frame and mount will be selected 174. The selected picture, mount and frame are then matched 166 to check that the selected frame fits with the selected picture. The system will typically allow scalling of the picture, mount and frame for perspective. A 25 matching decision 168 is made. If the decision 168 is negative it may be followed by further searching 162, 172, selection 164, 174 and matching 166 steps. It will be appreciated that the various searches 162, 172 and selection 164, 174 may be made in any order and that various iterations are likely to be needed before a suitable match is found.

Once a suitable match has been selected, the user will place a purchase order in which the selected products are identified. Payment 172 may be made at this stage by a secure electronic payment protocol. Alternatively, payment may be made on delivery of the framed picture e.g. by the framer. The order is 35 transmitted electronically to both the picture supplier 180 and to the framer 190.

In a variation of this method, an order is also transmitted electronically to a chop frame supplier requesting the supply of chop frames to the framer. The transmission typically occurs simultaneously, for example by the sending of e mail order requests. Typically, the system will be donfigured to ensure that the 5 order is also logged administratively in the online 'back office' of each of the suppliers. Order fulfilment by the picture publisher 182 to the framer is followed by integration of the picture and matching framer 192 by the framer and supply of the framer picture to the customer 194, thereby fulfilling the customer's order.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 An electronic system enabling a user to place a purchase order for matched products from plural supplier databases comprising a first supplier database storing product information relating to the products of a first supplier; at least one further supplier database storing product information relating to the 10 products of at least one further supplier; a controller unit capable of receiving a first and at least one further user inquiry from said user; 15 first search means associated with said controller unit for searching said first supplier database in response to said first user inquiry; at least one further search means associated with the controller unit for searching said at least one further supplier database in response to said at least 20 one further user inquiry; results transmitting means associated with the controller unit for transmitting the results of any database search to the user; 25 order receiving means associated with the controller unit for receiving a matched purchase order from the user, wherein the matched purchase order relates to a product selected from the first supplier database and at least one matching product selected from the at least one further supplier database; 30 order transmitting means for transmitting the relevant part of the matched purchase order to the first supplier and at least one further relevant part of the matched purchase order to the at least one further supplier; wherein said first supplier and said at least one further supplier are remote from 35 the user and from each other.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the part of the matched purchase order transmitted to the at least one further supplier requests supply of said matching product to the first supplier to enable supply of a matched product 5 set to the user.

i A system according to claim 1, wherein the matched purchase order requests that the first supplier and the at least one further supplier supply the respective product and matching product to an independent dispatcher to 10 despatch said matched product set to the user.

4. A system according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first supplier database and/or the at least one further database are associated with the controller unit.

5. A system according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first supplier database andlor the at least one further database are external to the controller unit.

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6. A system according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first search means and at least one further search means are associable.

7. ' 1 A system according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the results transmitting means transmits the results of plural database searches to the user, 25 thereby enabling the user to perform a matching of the first supplier product information with that of the at least one further supplier product information.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein any of said plural database searches is repeatable in response to further user enquiry to enable better 30 product matching.

9. A system according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the results transmitting means transmits the results of any database search in a form capable of display to the user in graphical form.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the controller unit is at a hub on a network computer system.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the hub is a web-site address 5 on the network computer system.

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12. A system according to either of claims 10 or 11, wherein the network computer system comprises a public access network computer system.

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13. A system according to either of claims 10 or 11, wherein the network computer system comprises a private access network computer system.

14. A system according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein user access to the network computer system is by way of a secure access gateway having 15 password protection.

15. A system according to any of claims 1 to 14, additionally comprising payment means for enabling payment by the user to a payee selected from the group consisting of the first supplier, the at least one further supplier, the system 20 manager and any combination thereof.

16. A system according to any of claims 1 to 15, additionally comprising monitori.ng means for monitoring the level of user activity of the system.

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17. A system according to any of claims 1 to 16, enabling a user to place a purchase order for framed picture products from plural supplier databases,

wherein the first supplier database is a picture database storing product information relating to the picture products of a picture publisher; and wherein the at least one further supplier database is a picture frame database storing product information relating to the frame products of a picture framer.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the part of the matched 35 purchase order transmitted to the picture publisher requests supply of a selected picture from the picture publisher to the framer to enable supply of a framed picture to the user.

19. A system essentially as described in the accompanying description and 5 drawings.

20. A method of electronically enabling a user to place a purchase order for matched products from plural supplier databases comprising 10 providing a first supplier database storing product information relating to the products of a first supplier; providing at least one further supplier database storing product information relating to the products of at least one further supplier; providing a controller unit capable of receiving a first and at least one further user inquiry from said user; receiving at the controller unit, a first user enquiry; searching said first supplier database in response to said first user inquiry; receiving at the controller unit, at least one further user enquiry; 25 searching said at least one further supplier database in response to said at least one further user inquiry; transmitting the results of the database searches to the user;

30 receiving a matched purchase order from the user, wherein the matched purchase order relates to a product selected from the first supplier database and at least one matching product selected from the at least one further supplier database; transmitting the relevant part of the matched purchase order to the first supplier and at least one further relevant part of the matched purchase order to the at least one further supplier; 5 wherein said first supplier and said at least one further supplier are remotely located from the user and from each other.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the part of the matched purchase order transmitted to the at least one further supplier requests supply of said matching product to the first supplier to enable supply of a matched product set to the user.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the matched purchase order requests that the first supplier and the at least one further supplier supply the respective product and matching product to an independent despatcher to despatch said matched product set to the user.

23. A method according to any of claims 20 to 22, additionally comprising associating any search with any other search.

24. A method according to any of claims 20 to 23, comprising transmitting the results of plural database searches to the user, thereby enabling the user to perform ' ' a matching of the first supplier product information with that of the at least one further supplier product information.

25. A method according to claim 24, comprising repeating any of said plural database searches in response to further user inquiry to enable better product matching.

26. A method according to any of claims 20 to 25, comprising transmitting the results of any database search in a form capable of display to the user in graphical form.

27. A method according to any of claims 20 to 26, additionally comprising requesting payment from the user to a payee selected form the group consisting of the first supplier, the at least one further supplier, the system manager and any combination thereof.

28. A method according to any of claims 20 to 27, additionally comprising monitoring the level of user activity.

29. A method according to any of claims 20 to 28, enabling a user to place 10 a purchase order for framed picture products from plural supplier databases comprising wherein the first supplier database is a picture database storing product information relating to the picture products of a picture publisher; and wherein the at least one further database is a picture frame database storing product information relating to the frame products of a picture framer.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein the part of the matched 20 purchase order transmitted to the picture publisher requests supply of a selected picture to the framer to enable supply of a framed picture to the user.

31. A computer program product for use with a digital computer comprising software code portions for performing, or requesting user input enabling the 25 performing, of the steps of any of claims 20 to 30, when said program is run on said digital computer.

32. A digital computer system enabling a user to place a purchase order for matched products from plural supplier databases comprising a digital computer system; and executable on said digital computer system, a computer program product according to claim 31.

33. A digital computer system according to claim 32 additionally comprising a display for displaying output to a user.

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