Abstract:
A method is used for enabling fresh products related information to be sent to potential customers, where fresh products become available at one or more locations at different times during the day. The method comprises receiving at a server from said locations information regarding freshness of the fresh products that are or will become available at said locations; and presenting the information and said locations on a webpage by means of a server. A storage may be used to store information regarding one or more locations where fresh products are or will become available, and regarding freshness of the fresh products at the locations. A processor may be used to present the webpage that displays the stored information. Fresh products may include cookies, fresh produce and flowers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to methods and systems for enabling product information to be disseminated, and in particular to methods and systems for disseminating information about products that are best consumed when they are still fresh, such as warm cookies and fresh produce. 
         [0002]    Many products are best consumed when they are still fresh. Cookies, for example, taste best when they are freshly baked and are still warm. Other products that are best consumed fresh includes fresh vegetables and flowers. However, the systems currently in use for marketing such products do not adequately inform customers when such products become available, so that they can be purchased in the best condition for consumption. This can reduce the appeal of the product, such as for cookies, and may lead to waste, such as when fresh produce becomes wilted. It is therefore desirable to provide a fresh product system that can provide timely information on fresh products to consumers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In one embodiment, a system for enabling warm cookie related information to be sent to potential customers comprises a storage that stores information regarding one or more locations where warm cookies are or will become available and regarding freshness of the warm cookies at the locations. The system also includes a processor that presents a webpage that displays said information. 
         [0004]    Another embodiment includes a method for enabling warm cookie related information to be sent to potential customers, where cookies are made continually over a substantial part of a day and become available at a plurality of locations at different times during the day. The method comprises receiving at a server from said locations information regarding freshness of the warm cookies that are or will become available at said locations; and presenting the information and said locations on a webpage by means of a server. 
         [0005]    In one more embodiment, a system for enabling fresh products related information to be sent to potential customers comprises a storage that stores information regarding one or more locations where fresh products are or will become available and regarding freshness of the fresh products at the locations. The system also includes a processor that presents a webpage that displays said information. 
         [0006]    Yet another embodiment includes a method for enabling fresh products related information to be sent to potential customers, where fresh products become available at a plurality of locations at different times during the day. The method comprises receiving at a server from said locations information regarding freshness of the fresh products that are or will become available at said locations; and presenting the information and said locations on a webpage by means of a server. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an example of a computer system for implementing the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing a process carried out by a computer server for storing and updating warm cookie information at stores, and presenting this information on a webpage to illustrate one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing a process carried out by a computer server for storing customer preference for type of warm cookies, and sending warm cookies message to a customer for illustrating another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5-8  are views of webpages displaying forms for a customer to fill in information for sending a redeemable cookie message to illustrate the embodiments of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a view of a display of a warm cookie message the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
       [0013]    Identical components in this application are labeled by the same numerals. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , connected together by network  10  are a plurality of customer information devices or appliances  12  (for customers who may wish to view web pages for information regarding warm cookies or receive warm cookie messages when warm cookies become available, or both), a server  14 , and store devices or appliances  16  at a plurality of stores numbered  1  through n that can send information concerning the status of warm cookies available at the stores to server  14 . Network  10  may be any type of network that is used to connect a server, stores and consumers, such as the world wide web or internet. The information devices or appliances  12  and  16  employed by the customer and the stores may be any one of many types of different devices that can be used to perform the operations described below through the internet, including desktop, laptop and notebook computers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, MP3 players and other types of digital media players, set top boxes and other type of devices. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is an example of a computer system  50 , which together with peripherals, may be used for implementing the server  14 , customer information devices or appliances  12  and store devices or appliances  16  in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the computer system  50  includes a computer bus  44 . Various applications are software stored in the mass storage device  70 . Processor  64  reads the application software from device  70  into the main memory  66  and executes the code in the software in a manner known to those skilled in the art to perform the various functions described herein. When used to implement server  14 , forms (e.g. those of  FIG. 8 ), web pages or screen (e.g. those of  FIGS. 5-7 ), and customer data (e.g. customer input to form of  FIG. 8 ), may reside in the mass storage device  70  accessed by processor  64 . Processor  64  carries out the operations described below in reference to the flow charts of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , by reading the appropriate application software from device  70  into the main memory  66  and executing the code in the software. The computer system  50  may be operated by the user via keyboard  74  and cursor control device  76 . When used to implement server  14 , computer system  50  communicates with external systems such as the information appliances  12  and  16  for the customers and for the stores in  FIG. 1  through the internet  10  and communication device  78 , which may be a modem or a wireless communication device such as WI-FI, Blue Tooth, infrared systems, or radio waves systems. Display  72  and printer  80  may be used to print or display information present on the bus  44 . When used to implement customer information devices or appliances  12  or store devices or appliances  16 , computer system  50  communicates with server  14  in  FIG. 1  through the internet  10  and communication device  78 , which may be a modem or a wireless communication device such as WI-FI, Blue Tooth, infrared systems, or radio waves systems. 
         [0016]    The process for providing information on the availability of warm cookies to customers through a web interface is illustrated in reference to  FIGS. 3-9 . While the description below is in reference to one customer and one store information device or appliance, it will be understood that the same operation described below will apply to other customer and store information devices or appliances. In reference to  FIG. 3 , server  14  stores therein the locations of stores and warm cookie availability information at these stores (block  102 ). Where server  14  is implemented by means of computer system  50  including peripherals of  FIG. 2 , this information may be stored in mass storage  70 . Server  14  presents this information on a web page described below. First, for interaction with customers, server  14  presents the web page shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , when displayed on information device or appliance  12 , this web page includes various options which customers can select, such as by clicking using a computer mouse or a button on a cellular phone in device or appliance  12 , one option of which is the “Warm Cookie Map.” Once this is selected by a customer through the device or appliance  12 , server  14  will provide to device or appliance  12  the store locations and warm cookie availability information on a web page, or a warm cookie map, such as the one shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, cookies are continually being baked at or delivered to various stores and become available intermittently during time periods during the day, so that warm cookies become available at different times of the day during such time periods. In such event, the warm cookie availability information stored in server  14  will need to be updated dynamically during such time periods during the day, so that customers can obtain up-to-date information on whether warm cookies are available, and at which one or ones of the stores. For this purpose, the store device or appliance  16  will send messages to server  14  when warm cookies become available at such store locations, such as when the cookies are retrieved from one or more ovens at least one of the stores. Server  14  receives this information from at least one of the stores and updates the warm cookie availability information stored (blocks  104  and  106 ). While preferably the same server  14  that receives this information from at least one of the stores also presents the updated warm cookie availability information on a web page or sends alert messages to customers as described below, it will be understood that two different servers that communicate with each other to pass the needed updated warm cookie availability information may be used: one receiving this information from at least one of the stores and another one presenting the updated warm cookie availability information on a web page and messages to customers may be sent by either one of the two servers. Preferably, different types of cookies are being baked to provide different flavors for customers with a wide variety of tastes. In such case, the warm cookie availability information stored in storage and presented on a web page will include the type or types of cookies that are available. 
         [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a screen displayed by a store device or appliance  16 , where the screen serves as a user interface for store personnel to send messages to server  14  when warm cookies become available at such store locations. Where device or appliance  16  is implemented by means of computer system  50  and at least some of the peripherals of  FIG. 2 , this screen is presented on display  72 . When cookies (e.g. almond tea) of a particular type are baked and retrieved from one or more ovens at the store involved, store personnel would press or click on the appropriate button labeled “cookie—almond tea” on the screen to so indicate. Once the “send” button is subsequently pressed or clicked, processor  64  in device or appliance  16  detects this and sends a message to server  14  via the communication device  78  and network  10  to indicate the type of cookie that has become available. Server  14  will then update the warm cookie availability information stored and presented on the web page sent to the network  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , more than one type of cookie may be available at the same time (e.g. almond tea, milk chocolate and oatmeal raisin cookies baked in the same batch, shown as shaded in  FIG. 7 ) at the same store so that the store personnel would press or click on the appropriate multiple buttons on the screen to so indicate. 
         [0019]    Preferably, store personnel would press or click on the appropriate button on the screen when the cookies have been baked and become available. One indication of freshness of a cookie is the time elapsed since the cookie is retrieved from the oven. Thus, the elapsed time “7 min. ago” may be shown on the web page to indicate cookie freshness, as shown in  FIG. 6 . In an alternative embodiment, store personnel would press or click on the appropriate button on the screen a short time before the baker has finished baking the cookies, and is thus not yet available. The warm cookie information stored in storage  70  would then indicate the expected time or times when warm cookies will be available instead of the elapsed time. This allows the system to provide the opportunity for customers to purchase cookies right when they are retrieved from the oven, which may be attractive to some customers. However, in the event that the baking process is not successful or interrupted for any reason after the store personnel pressed or clicked on the appropriate buttons, this may cause some customers to be disappointed when they are not able to access cookies at the expected time. Hence this alternative embodiment may be useful where the baking process is improved to the extent that the risk of this happening is small. 
         [0020]    The cookies after retrieval from the oven will cool off in time, so that in time, they are not warm anymore, such as after 45 minutes or an hour. Thus, server  14  implements a threshold (e.g. 45 minutes or an hour) by which information at a particular store concerning cookies that are no longer warm will be altered in storage  70  (e.g. into the category: no warm cookies available) and no longer presented on the web page as having warm cookies available, such as the web page of  FIG. 6 . For example, information regarding elapsed time for cookies that were retrieved from the oven more than one hour ago may be removed from storage and the webpage, such as that in  FIG. 6 . In such event, the store location may be displayed on the web page with a note that “no warm cookies found” when customer clicks on or places the cursor at the store location. 
         [0021]    As noted above, in an alternative embodiment, the expected time or times when warm cookies will become available may be shown instead of the time elapsed since the cookie was retrieved from the oven. For example, the “7 minutes ago” indication in  FIG. 6  may be replaced by the note that “expected in 7 minutes.” Also shown preferably is the type of warm cookie that is available, and at which location. Preferably, the warm cookie map shows all the locations where warm cookies are available at some point in time, and shows icons in the shape of cookies at the stores where warm cookies are currently available. In  FIG. 6 , for example, such icons are shown as cookies enclosed within a circular ring at the locations of four stores. By placing the cursor in display  72  of the device or appliance  12  or clicking the cookie icon at the location of one of the four store locations in the web page, for example, the type of warm cookies and the freshness information at this particular store location are displayed for view by the customer. The same can be done at the other three store locations to display the type of warm cookies and the freshness information at each one of the other three store locations. Preferably, all of the store locations are shown, including the stores where no warm cookies are currently available, where the icons may be shown in a different shape or size (shown as smaller cookies in  FIG. 6 ) and/or color compared to the store locations where warm cookies are currently available. When a customer places the cursor in display  72  of the device or appliance  12  or clicks the cookie icon at the location of such a store, the note “no warm cookies found” will be displayed. While the time elapsed since a cookie is retrieved from the oven may be used as a gauge for freshness, obviously other measures may be used instead and are within the scope of the invention. For example, another measure of freshness can be the temperature of the cookie or another product such as a food product that requires heating during processing. 
         [0022]    The web page of  FIG. 6  illustrates a warm cookie map, showing a satellite view of the area concerned, and superimposed onto it the cookie icons at store locations where cookies are available, as well as the cookie icons at store locations where warm cookies are not available at this point in time. This map may be composed using, for example a software map application modified so that the icons for stores are superimposed thereon and with the features described above for showing the type of cookies and freshness indication. The implementation of this modification is known to those skilled in the art, and thus need not be described in detail herein. 
         [0023]    For the convenience of customers, in one embodiment, customers may wish to receive messages regarding the type or types of cookies that they prefer along with the store locations where these cookies may be found. Preferably customers can also receive these messages at the times or within certain time periods indicating the availability of warm cookies at these locations. This is illustrated in the flow chart of  FIG. 4  and the web pages of  FIGS. 5 ,  8  and the message in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0024]    The entry point for customers is again the web page shown in  FIG. 5 . If a customer clicks the link “click here now” for “Warm Cookie Ready Message” on the web page displayed by device or appliance  12 , server  14  will return to the customer a web page such as that of  FIG. 8 , which may be a form for the customer to fill in and send back to the server. As shown in  FIG. 8 , this web page permits the customer to specify the preferred types or flavors of warm cookies, the preferred locations where these warm cookies are available, and the time periods during which these cookies are available, and during which the customer would like to receive messages concerning the availability of warm cookies at the specified locations. See Block  150  in  FIG. 4 . The customer sees this web page on device or appliance  16 , and inputs the information requested (the types or flavors of cookies, the locations where these warm cookies are available, and the time periods during which the customer would like to receive messages concerning warm cookie availability). When the customer clicks the button “Create Email Alert” in  FIG. 8 , a message containing the information inputted by the customer is sent to server  14  via the communication device  78  of device or appliance  12 . The server  14  stores as a customer profile the information input in this message from the customer along with the identity of the customer in mass storage  70  in  FIG. 2 . See Block  152  in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0025]    When server  14  receives up-to-date warm cookie availability information from the devices or appliances  16  at one or more, of the stores, it updates the information stored in storage  70  as described above. Block  154 . This updated information is then matched and compared with the customer profiles stored in storage  70  (Block  156 ). If the up-to-date warm cookie availability information indicates that the type or types of warm cookies available at store locations match those specified in any customer profile stored in storage at server  14 , server  14  will send a warm cookie message to the customer with such profile to inform the customer. See Block  158  in  FIG. 4 . One example of such message is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0026]    Essentially the same system as that described above may be used for the collection of information concerning other types of fresh products best consumed when they are still fresh. Such products include fresh vegetables and flowers. Freshness of fresh vegetables and flowers may be measured at farms or gardens by the time elapsed since the time they are harvested or picked in the case of fresh vegetables or cut in the case of flowers. While the time elapsed since fresh vegetables and flowers are harvested, picked or cut may be used as a gauge for freshness, obviously other measures may be used instead and are within the scope of the invention. 
         [0027]    Stores where such fresh products are available may keep track of this freshness information gathered at farms or gardens using devices or appliances  16  as well as the type or types of fresh products, and send to a server  14  information regarding the type or types and freshness information in the manner as that described above for cookies. Server  14  stores this information and updates it when it receives message(s) from one or more stores. Server  14  or another server may be used to update the webpage presented to network  10  using the updated information, again in the manner as that described above for cookies. Server  14  or another server also interacts with customers who wishes to receive messages concerning fresh products availability information in the manner as that described above for cookies. 
         [0028]    While the invention has been described above by reference to various embodiments, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is to be defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.