Integrated system for ordering, fulfillment, and delivery of consumer products using a data network

US7177825B1 · kind B1 · utility

Inventors

• Louis H. Borders · Palo Alto, US
• Arvind Peter Relan · Atherton, US
• Margaret Sue Lloyd · Menlo Park, US
• Sunil Bhargava · Hillsborough, US
• Joyo Wijaya · Menlo Park, US
• Peter Ham · Palo Alto, US
• Gray Andrew Clossman · Palo Alto, US
• Ajit Ramachandra Mayya · Saratoga, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 10, 2000
• Grant date: Feb 13, 2007
• Expiry date: May 10, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q30/00
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A technique for effecting electronic commerce using a data network is described. The data network includes a plurality of subsystems which, together, form an integrated system for receiving customer orders for selected items via a data network, fulfilling the customer orders, and delivering the ordered products to the customers. Moreover, according to a specific embodiment, the integrated nature of the system architecture of the present invention allows the on-line merchant to provide a guarantee to the customer that the ordered items will be available to be delivered to the customer at the specified delivery date, time, and location.