ORDERING SYSTEM

Abstract: A product ordering system comprising a central unit and at least one user terminal is provided. Each user terminal comprises first processing means for processing data, reader means for reading product data from a portable data carrier, user interface means for enabling a user to input order instructions to the terminal, transmitter and receiver means for transmitting an order signal representing the input order instructions and the read product data, together with an identification code identifying the particular user terminal, and for receiving response signals sent from the central unit to that user terminal, and a power supply for supplying power to the terminal. The central unit comprises processing means for processing data and having a memory for receiving and storing data, and transmitting and receiving means for receiving order signals from user terminals and for transmitting response signals to user terminals. The invention provides a much more convenient ordering system. It allows a user to receive immediate confirmation that an order has been received. It also avoids the need for the user to have details about the product which he/she is ordering.

Description: ORDERING SYSTEM The invention relates to an ordering system, particularly a system for ordering consumables, such as stationery. Current methods employed for ordering consumables include ordering by post, telephone or fax. However these methods have many drawbacks, for example difficulty ordering outside opening hours, the need to have order information about the consumable required to hand, such as its European Article Number (EAN) or Universal Product Code (UPC) , the need to look up the telephone number or postal address. The present invention provides an improved ordering system which addresses these problems. The invention provides an ordering system in which a portable data carrier, usually a card, stores information identifying one or more product (s) to be ordered. This information is read from the card when an order is to be made and sent to a central unit, usually the system manager, along with data indicating the quantity required. This ordering system avoids the need for the specification, part number, UPC or EAN of the product required to be known by the user at the time of ordering. The order may be made at any time of day, on any day of the week as it can be made even when no personnel are present at the system manager. Also, the system manager can immediately send a message back to the user terminal confirming that the order has been received. The invention is defined in more detail in the appended claims to which reference should now be made. A preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings in which : Figure 1 shows the components making up a system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figures 2A and 2B show a flow-chart of the operational program of a user terminal in the same embodiment; and Figure 3 shows a flow-chart of the operational program of the system manager in the same embodiment. Referring to Figure 1, the system comprises one or more user terminal (s) 10 (only one shown in Figure 1) and a central unit 12, called the system manager in Figure 1. In practice, there will be a substantial number of user terminals 10, which may be used simultaneously by different users in different retail outlets, but there need only be one system manager 20. The user terminal is a card transaction apparatus in a retail outlet such as a Electronic Fund Transfer Point-of- Sale/Electronic Point-of-Sale (EFTPOS/EPOS) terminal or cashtill machine. The terminal comprises processor means 14, means for reading a portable data carrier 15, a display 16, a keyboard 12, a receipt printer 11, a Terminal Adaptor (TA) 17, and a power supply 19, the connections of which are not shown to avoid undue complexity. The TA 17 connects the processor 14 through a PSTN/0800 Bus 18 to an ISDN network 30. The service manager 20 comprises an ethernet 21 on which a plurality of processors 21, 24 are connected. In Figure 1, two processors only are shown to avoid undue complexity. The first processor 21 is connected via a Terminal Adaptor 23 (or Digital Service Unit) to the ISDN network 30. This processor 21 has a memory for storing data files which contain, by reference to the card identification number, information on all card owners, such as each owner's credit history, order history and credit limit. This processor is responsible for on-line ordering. A Second processor 24 is used for all manual ordering, that is orders input to the processor 24 using a keyboard 25. The user terminal (s) 10 communicate with the system manager 20 via the ISDN network 30 using X.25 packet transmission protocol. The Terminal Adaptor is an X.25 pad. The use of the system will now be described. When a user wants to make an order, for example if they are down to the last roll of receipt paper for the printer 11 and need to order some more, the user presses a button on the keyboard 12 of the terminal 10 to initiate a transaction. The display 16 then displays a message indicating that the terminal is waiting for the user to swipe a card. The user then swipes a card through the reader 15, as if it was a credit or payment card. The card is a magnetic stripe card, of the same size and format as a credit card, and has stored on it data defining the type of paper rolls used in the EFTPOS machine, and a customer identification code. These are read by the reader 15. The display 16 then requests the user to input the quantity of rolls of paper which are required. The user then waits until the order transaction is authorised by the system manager. The display then asks the user to press "Enter" to complete the transaction, and a receipt is then printed by the receipt printer 11. If the order is not authorised then an error message will be displayed with instructions to the user. Referring to Figures 2A and 2B, the operational program of the user terminal 10 will now be described. When the user terminal 10 is not being used for a transaction it reverts from a normal, functional mode to an idle or "standby" mode. This is indicated at 100 in Figure 2A. In idle mode the screen or other peripherals may be powered down to save power. The terminal 10 is switched from its idle mode to its functional mode when it detects that a particular button on the keyboard 12 has been pressed, indicating that a transaction is being requested (step 201) . The terminal then displays a message on its display 16 requesting the user to swipe a data card (step 104) . The terminal then checks that the card has been read successfully (step 106) , and if not asks the user to swipe the card again. If it has been swiped successfully, the terminal displays a message asking the user to enter the quantity of the particular product required (step 108) . The terminal then dials the system manager (step 110) and transmits the order request, including the data read from the card and the quantity required. The terminal 10 waits for the system manager to send back a response signal indicating whether or not the order is authorised (step 112) . If the response signal indicates the order is not authorised, then the terminal displays an error message indicating the reason why the order has not been accepted. Possible errors are shown in Table 1. TABLE 1 nnnnnnnnnn = referral telephone number. If the response signal indicates the order is authorised, the terminal prompts the user to press the "Enter" key to complete the transaction (step 118) . If "Enter" is pressed (step 120) the terminal displays an "order complete" message (step 122) and prints a receipt acknowledging that the order has been made (step 124) . The terminal then reverts to idle mode (step 100) . If the "Enter" key is not pressed within a predetermined time interval, the terminal assumes the order is to be cancelled, and calls the system manager 20 to cancel the order (step 126) . The operational program of the system manager will now be described with reference to Figure 3. When the system manager 20 receives a request for authorisation from a user terminal 10 it first checks whether the card identification code sent by the user terminal is listed in its file of identification codes (step 130) . If the code is not on this list then the system manager 20 sends a response signal back to the user terminal indicating that the order is not authorised and that the terminal should display error message number 1 (step 132) . If the card identification code is on the list, the system manager 20 then checks whether the quantity of goods ordered by the user is below a predefined limit Y' set by the system manager for that user and which is stored in one of the data files of its first processor 21. If the amount being ordered is greater than the assigned limit, the system manager sends a response signal to the user terminal indicating that the order is not authorised and instructing the terminal to display error message number 2 (step 136) . If the quantity of the product being ordered is within the allowed limit Λ Y' , the processor 21 next checks the user' s account to see whether any previous orders have still not been paid for, or if the user has a history of bad debt (step 138). If the user's account is not acceptable the system manager sends a response signal to the user terminal indicating that the order is not authorised and instructing it to display error message number 5 (step 140) . If the user account is OK, the system manager sends a response signal to the user terminal authorising the order (step 142) . The system manager then stores the details of the order (step 140) in the memory of processor 21. The system manager then waits for more order requests from user terminals (step 146) . In a modification of the preferred embodiment of the system the user card is a combined ordering card and payment card. In this case the system manager would carry out a financial transaction in payment for the goods ordered when it receives and authorises an order. In another modification, the system manager may be connected on-line to a warehouse where the products being ordered are stored. The system manager 20 forwards any orders received from user terminals directly to the warehouse. Alternatively, the system manager could print the orders out into paper format, and deliver these to the warehouse. As would be clear to a man skilled in the art, the telephone network used need not be ISDN network, but may also be an analogue network, or a radio telephone network. The invention provides a much more convenient ordering system. It allows a user to receive immediate confirmation that an order has been received. It also avoids the need for the user to have details about the product which he/she is ordering.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A product ordering system including a central unit and at least one user terminal, each user terminal comprising: first processing means for processing data; reader means coupled to the first processing means for reading product data from a portable data carrier; user interface means coupled to the first processing means for enabling a user to input order instructions to the terminal; first transmitter and receiver means coupled to the first processing means for transmitting an order signal representing the input order instructions and the read product data, together with an identification code identifying the particular user terminal, and for receiving response signals sent from the central unit to that user terminal; and a power supply for supplying power to the terminal; the central unit comprising: second processing means for processing data having a memory for receiving and storing data; and second transmitting and receiving means for receiving the order signal and transmitting a response signal to the user terminal. 2. A system according to claim 1 in which the central unit includes printing means for printing data identifying an order from the user terminal. 3. A system according to any preceding claim in which the first and/or second transmitting and receiving means comprise telephone network interfaces. 4. A system according to claim 3 in which the first and/or second transmitting and receiving means comprise a Terminal Adaptor for connection to a digital telephone line. 5. A system according to any preceding claim in which the portable data carrier comprises a card with a readable magnetic data store. 6. A system according to any preceding claim in which the portable data carrier is a card comprising a microchip. 7. A user terminal for ordering products comprising: processing means for processing data; reader means coupled to the processing means for reading product data from a portable data carrier; user interface means coupled to the processing means for enabling a user to input order instructions to the terminal; transmitter and receiver means coupled to the processing means for transmitting an order signal representing the input order instructions and the read product data, together with an identification code identifying the particular user terminal, and for receiving response signals sent to that user terminal; and a power supply for supplying power to the terminal. 8. A system for ordering products substantially as described herein with re erence to the drawings . 9. A user terminal substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

Inventors: CALLOW MICHAEL WILLIAM, SALTER DAVID FRANK, CALLOW, MICHAEL, WILLIAM, SALTER, DAVID, FRANK
Applicants: CALLOW MICHAEL WILLIAM, FORTOAK LIMITED, SALTER DAVID FRANK, CALLOW, MICHAEL, WILLIAM, SALTER, DAVID, FRANK
Application year: 1999
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06Q30