System for managing customer orders and method of implementation
DCFirst Claim
1. A system for processing customer orders in a computer-based data processing system having a plurality of data processing devices electrically connected to communicate with each other, comprising:
- means for receiving customer orders, said customer order receiving means including a plurality of customer order input terminals;
means for processing customer orders connected to said customer order receiving means and including an interface module accessed through a customer order input terminal, said interface module for coordinating access to a plurality of database modules and for controlling interaction between a user and said plurality of database modules, said customer order processing means further including means for generating a customer order in response to data inputs from the user through said plurality of customer order input terminals and data from said plurality of database modules;
means for automatically checking inventory for availability of inventory in response to customer orders including a plurality of inventory control input terminals for inputting inventory data and an inventory database module for storing the inventory data, said inventory checking means being connected to be accessible through a customer order input terminal;
means communicatively connected to said customer order processing means, for controlling retrieval of goods from inventory to create loads including an inventory storage location database module providing data on inventory location, and a plurality of inventory data output terminals for outputting location data for retrieval of selected goods;
means communicatively connected to said customer order processing means, for building loads for shipment from the retrieved selected goods including means for determining placement of the retrieved selected goods in at least one load in response to data on the retrieved selected goods; and
means communicatively connected to said load building means for scheduling loads to customers, said load scheduling means having a shipment database module and means for determining shipment of loads based on data from said load building means and said shipment database module, wherein said plurality of database modules include said inventory database module, said inventory storage location database module, and said shipment database module.
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Abstract
The system of this invention manages customer orders using vendor supplied software systems interfaced on a real-time basis to touch the data in each system on a real time basis. In effect, there is horizontal communication between the various components of the system such as inventory, purchasing, order management and receipt, logistics and inventory to have continual data flow without using a vertical software interface. As a result, customer orders are received on a real-time basis using screens that are user friendly to promptly take orders, and to verify customer data and verify the ability to meet those orders. Transmission of documents within the system is minimized thereby making it more efficient, timely and cost efficient.
739 Citations
2 Claims
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1. A system for processing customer orders in a computer-based data processing system having a plurality of data processing devices electrically connected to communicate with each other, comprising:
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means for receiving customer orders, said customer order receiving means including a plurality of customer order input terminals; means for processing customer orders connected to said customer order receiving means and including an interface module accessed through a customer order input terminal, said interface module for coordinating access to a plurality of database modules and for controlling interaction between a user and said plurality of database modules, said customer order processing means further including means for generating a customer order in response to data inputs from the user through said plurality of customer order input terminals and data from said plurality of database modules; means for automatically checking inventory for availability of inventory in response to customer orders including a plurality of inventory control input terminals for inputting inventory data and an inventory database module for storing the inventory data, said inventory checking means being connected to be accessible through a customer order input terminal; means communicatively connected to said customer order processing means, for controlling retrieval of goods from inventory to create loads including an inventory storage location database module providing data on inventory location, and a plurality of inventory data output terminals for outputting location data for retrieval of selected goods; means communicatively connected to said customer order processing means, for building loads for shipment from the retrieved selected goods including means for determining placement of the retrieved selected goods in at least one load in response to data on the retrieved selected goods; and means communicatively connected to said load building means for scheduling loads to customers, said load scheduling means having a shipment database module and means for determining shipment of loads based on data from said load building means and said shipment database module, wherein said plurality of database modules include said inventory database module, said inventory storage location database module, and said shipment database module.
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2. A system for processing customer orders implemented in a networked computer-based data processing system, comprising:
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means for receiving customer orders, said customer order receiving means including at least one customer order input terminal; means connected to said order receiving means, for processing customer orders, said customer order processing means including means for generating a customer order in response to data inputs from a user; means connected to said order processing means, for automatically checking inventory for availability of inventory in response to customer orders, said inventory checking means including an inventory database module for storing inventory data; means connected to said customer order processing means, for controlling retrieval of goods from inventory to create loads, said retrieval controlling means including an inventory storage location database module providing data on inventory location; means communicatively connected to said customer order processing means, for building loads for shipment based on the retrieved selected goods including means for determining placement of the retrieved selected goods based on data on the retrieved selected goods; and means connected to said load building means, for scheduling loads to customers, said load scheduling means having a shipment database module and means for determining shipment of loads based on data from said load building means and said shipment database module, wherein said order processing means is further for controlling interaction between the user and at least said inventory database module, said inventory storage location database module, and said shipment database module, thereby generating customer orders in response to data inputs from the user and data from at least said inventory database module, said inventory storage location database module, and said shipment database module.
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Specification