Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Definitions

• the invention relates generally to a system for controlling the selective transfer of products.
• the invention relates to a system for controlling the selective transfer of material products between an initial holder and a final holder located on two respective sites distant from each other, in which the products are individually identified by respective codes and belong to a predetermined set of products.
• VPC Mail Order
• the object of the invention is to provide a system for transferring products presented on a first physical support which may be a catalog.
• This transfer system should simplify the work of the final product holders to carry out the selection and transfer of the selected products.
• the system of the invention also conforms to the generic definition given in the preamble above, is essentially characterized in that the codes of all the products are printed on a first physical medium held by the final holder and in which these codes are respectively correlated with identification data of the products to which they are assigned, and in that this system comprises at least one automated reading operation in which the holder final creates a computer file by automated reading of the codes assigned to products to be transferred selectively, an identification operation in which a data item identifying the final holder is entered in the computer file, a transmission operation by which the file data processing is transmitted to the initial holder, a correlation operation in which the codes contained in the file received by the initial holder are correlated with the identification data of the products identified by these codes, and a printing operation in which at least the data identification of the final holder and donations Identification data of the products to be transferred selectively are printed on a second physical medium on the site of the original holder.
• the establishment of the list of products to be transferred is greatly simplified compared to the systems of the prior art thanks in particular to the automated reading operation which makes it possible, from the site of the end holder, to create a computer file identifying the selected products as well as data concerning the final holder.
• This computer file is then transmitted to a computer or a server center located on the site of the original holder.
• the initial holder then prints on a second physical medium the list of products to be transferred and the identification data of the final holder. This system reduces the risk of product transfer errors between the site of the initial holder and the site of the final holder.
• the product transfer control system includes: - a device made available to each final holder to read the codes of the selected products and establish the computer file, transmission means for transmitting the computer file on a telecommunication line, a server center for receiving the computer file and printing the second physical medium, means for storing the products to be transferred, and means for distributing the products selected by the final holder.
• the first physical medium held by the final holder is a means of presenting the products such as a catalog, each product presented being correlated or associated with a code generally presented in the form of an informative label.
• the code or informative label is in the form of a bar code or a so-called electronic label, comprising at least the information making it possible to identify the product and possibly its price. This information can be supplemented by that relating to the start and end dates of validity of the product price as well as the weight of the product.
• the start and end dates of validity are those of the first physical medium or catalog held by the final holder.
• the device made available to the end holder is a barcode or electronic label reader which includes a microprocessor programmed to perform various operations in order to establish a computer file of the products selected by the end holder. To this end, it contains information making it possible to identify the final holder and possibly his means of payment.
• the device made available to the final holder includes a clock to know the local date and time at any time.
• the transmission means for example, consist of a telephone line associated with a telephone handset.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for controlling the transfer of products presented on a catalog according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is an element of the catalog for a product capable of being transferred using the system according to the invention
• - Figure 3 is an example of an open catalog showing two products transferable via the system according to one inventio.
• the invention will be described in an application using labels of the "barcode” type, but it is applicable to other types of labels that can be "read” electronically. This is the case of so-called electronic labels which contain an electronic circuit producing an electronic memory. This memory can be read remotely by an interrogation / reading device known elsewhere.
• the product transfer system comprises the following elements ( Figure 1): - first physical support which in this case is a catalog 10 of transferable products, each product 12 ( Figures 2 and 3) being represented visually and its representation visual 14 being accompanied by the mandatory information 16 according to the regulations in force and a bar code 18 to identify the product 12 and to provide other information which will be explained below;
• a server center 26 for receiving the computer files 24 transmitted by the means of transmission and present / print them in the form of a second physical medium which can be, for example, an order form 28 for products the amount of which is debited from the bank or other account of the final holder, an order which also serves to prepare delivery, and
• the catalog 10 of the products or articles can be in the form of a notebook of which each double-sided sheet is divided into several parts, for example in two, in the direction of the height, each half-page being then assigned to a product.
• Each product 12 is shown in a visual representation 14 of its packaging, this representation being accompanied by at least information 16 required by the regulations in force and a bar code 18.
• the bar code will contain for example in coded form the information / following parameters:
• the device 20 for reading bar codes is of the conventional type, for example of the type used when going to the checkouts of stores but also presents additional functionalities which are, for example, the following: a keyboard 40 comprising several keys for command 42, to perform on / off, to control the reading of the bar code, to indicate the number of identical items that are ordered, to calculate the total price of the order, to calculate the total weight of the command, - to close the command and save it in the file 24, to control the transmission of the file via the transmission means 22, to perform any other function which may prove necessary,
• a screen 44 for viewing a certain amount of information for example, the price of the item / product selected, the weight of the product, the limits of validity of the catalog, the name of the article, etc.
• a memory for recording information relating to the final holder who in certain particular cases may be a buyer, in particular the characteristics of his bank card making it possible to make payments with the agreement of the indicated final holder, for example, by tabulating his personal code,
• an electrical supply device such as a battery (not shown).
• the transmission means 22 of the command file 24 can be of any type which is implemented via a telecommunication line, for example a telephone line via a telephone handset 50.
• the server center 26 comprises a computer 36 which is connected to several telecommunication lines to receive and process the 24 files.
• the processing of the file which is carried out by the server center consists in: - editing or printing a second physical medium or more particularly an order form 28 with a view to its use for the preparation of the transfer of products to the storage and distribution store / delivery 30, - optionally add value to the order form for the various items that make it up and calculate the total value and the total weight, - possibly debit the amount on the bank or other account of the final holder who in this case is a buyer identified by the transmitted computer file, - list the selected products on the computer file transmitted by internal and external nomenclature number so as to prepare the transfer / delivery and determine the stock status at any time.
• the storage means for the products consist essentially of a warehouse 32 closed to the public and containing all the products in the catalog according to a stock appropriate to the expected volume of orders for the item under consideration.
• the distribution means 34 of the products selected to be transferred consist of a delivery counter for the listed packages where the buyer can compare the list of selected products as it results from file 24 which he can read on his reading 20 with that edited by the server center 26, in particular as regards the total weight or possibly article by article.
• the reading device 20 contains in its memory a certain number of information relating to the final holder such as his name, first name, address and any other particular feature.
• the device 20 can include in his memory elements of identification of the buyer's bank card, credit, loyalty or purchase, information which is used to personalize the file 24, establish the second physical medium which can be a purchase order 28 and possibly establish the corresponding invoice.
• Any list of products selected by the final holder, as recorded in file 24, must be validated by the latter, for example by the creation of a personal code, which can be the code of the bank card when the final holder is a buyer.
• the tabulation of the personal code has the effect of certifying the order and has the consequence of locking the file 24 which can no longer be modified, whether by the final holder or the server center or any other party. Unlocking can only be carried out by mutual agreement between the final holder and the initial holder at the time of delivery of the selected product (s).
• the products and the associated bar codes are, in the example described above, presented in a catalog 10 of paper type.
• the distribution building 34 is organized to allow rapid removal of the products to be transferred, selected by the final holder, with verification using the device 20 via the file 24. It can be provided for the passage of motor vehicles in order allow the withdrawal of products to be transferred.
• the operation of the product transfer control system according to the invention comprises the following operations at the end holder:
• the second physical medium can be an order form in paper form or in electronic form such as a computer screen and the products to be transferred are listed by nomenclature numbers which are specific to the organization of the original holder ( in a particular case seller / distributor) so as to locate the items in the warehouse.
• the operations are as follows: - selection in the warehouse by the attendant of the articles to be transferred using the BOM numbers,

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• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Finance (AREA)
• Development Economics (AREA)
• Economics (AREA)
• Marketing (AREA)
• Strategic Management (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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ID=8868716

Family Applications (1)

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Citations (6)

• 2001
  • 2001-10-25 FR FR0113810A patent/FR2831690B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-10-25 WO PCT/FR2002/003678 patent/WO2003036531A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2002-10-25 EP EP02795344A patent/EP1488357A2/de not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (6)

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