Abstract:
An enterprise site and a method of operating same for supplying on-line information to a customer of a provider of specialty chemicals. The method and site provide on-line specialty chemical information for use in an application that the customer specifies by navigating through a hierarchy of related pages and screens. Additionally, the customer may identify distributors with a given radius.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to world wide web (WWW) sites of a type that describe goods and/or services and, more particularly, relates to a business-to-business (B2B) type of WWW site directed to providing information related to specialty chemicals, such as adhesives, sealants, coatings, lubricants and cleaners, as well as related equipment and services. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The so-called B2B type of WWW (web) site has become an important advertising component of many manufacturing and/or service-related companies. The B2B web site enables a company to not only provide a comprehensive listing of its products and/or services, but to also provide a mechanism to offer related information, such as product sheets, application notes, technical literature and the like. A listing of distributors can also be provided. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides an improved B2B web site that provides on-line information related to specialty chemicals, such as adhesives, sealants, coatings, lubricants and cleaners, as well as related equipment and services. 
     This invention also provides a B2B web site that supplies on-line information in a hierarchical manner with a plurality of related pages enabling the customer to contact sales professionals and technical specialists from various levels within the hierarchy. 
     An enterprise site and a method of operating same is provided for supplying on-line information to a customer (or a potential customer) of a provider of specialty chemicals, including adhesives, sealants, coatings, lubricants and cleaners, as well as related equipment and services. The method includes a first step of (A) providing on-line specialty chemical information with a hierarchy of related pages and screens, the information including a list containing, preferably, a plurality of recommended specialty chemical products for use in an application that the customer specifies by navigating through the hierarchy of related pages and screens. A second step (B) enables the customer to specify a distance radius at each of the levels within the hierarchy of related pages and screens of the on-line specialty chemical information. A third step (C) operates in response to the specified distance radius, and provides the customer with a list of distributors of the specialty chemicals that lie within the specified radius. 
     The step (B) of enabling the customer to specify a distance radius further enables the customer to specify at least one specialty chemical product, and the step (C) of providing the customer with the list of distributors in this case provides the customer with a list of distributors, located within the specified distance radius, that stock the specified at least one specialty chemical product. 
     A further step enables the customer to contact sales professionals and technical specialists at each of the levels within the hierarchy of related pages and screens of the on-line specialty chemical information. This step further enables the customer to fill out and submit an on-line form including comments and/or questions entered by the customer, or a description of the intended application that is entered by the customer. 
     The hierarchy of related pages and screens of the on-line specialty chemical information preferably includes a Product Selector, where the customer is enabled to specify an intended use for a specialty chemical product. The intended use can be selected from one of Product Assembly; Plant and Equipment Maintenance and Repair; and Printed Circuit Board or Electronics Assembly. By selecting the Product Assembly intended use, the customer is enabled to further specify one of: Seal Microporosity or Pores in Surfaces; Seal or Lock a Threaded Assembly; Bond or Seal a Non-Threaded Assembly; Coat, Pot, or Encapsulate an Assembly; Clean a Surface for Better Bond Strength; and Lubricate an Assembly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above set forth and other features of the invention are made more apparent in the ensuing Detailed Description of the Invention when read in conjunction with the attached Drawings, where: 
     FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a data processing system and data communications network that is suitable for implementing the teachings found herein; 
     FIG. 2 depicts examples of a hierarchical arrangement of related web pages and screens; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an input screen for a user to make an Application Assistance or Product Recommendation inquiry to a technical assistance center shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an input screen for a user to make a Contact a Local Sales Representative to Schedule a Consultation inquiry to a sales assistance center shown in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 illustrates an input screen for a user to make a Distributor Location inquiry to a distributor locator center shown in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a data processing system and data communications network, jointly referred to as system  1 , that is suitable for implementing the teachings of this invention. A plurality of users  12  (User_ 1  through User_n) are assumed to be bidirectionally coupled to a global data communications network, typically the Internet  14 , and are enabled to transmit and receive data packets using, typically, a TCP/IP protocol. The data packets are transmitted to and received from a server  16  located at an enterprise location or site  10 , which could be an office of a manufacturer or provider of goods and services. While one server  16  is shown, those skilled in the art will recognize that a plurality of servers can be used, and that these servers can be sited at one location, or they may be widely distributed and remotely sited. For example, a plurality of distributed servers  16  can be used for servicing users  12  in different geographic locations, such as North America, Europe, Japan and Southeast Asia or, alternatively, a single server  16  can be used for servicing all of the users  12 . 
     The users  12  are assumed, for the purposes of this invention, to include some capability, such as a keyboard, mouse or trackball, for navigating through a hierarchy of related pages and screens of on-line specialty chemical information that is presented to the user  12  from the enterprise site  10 , via the server  16  and internet  14 . 
     The enterprise site  10  preferably also includes a memory  18  that is bidirectionally coupled to the server  16  for storing data representing web pages, screens and page templates that are transmitted to the users  12 , as well as other data as described below. In the preferred embodiment a technical assistance center  20 , a sales assistance center  22  and a distributor locator center  24  are provided as well, and each is also bidirectionally coupled to the server  16 . 
     In the presently preferred embodiment of this invention the business conducted at the enterprise location  10  is related to specialty chemicals, including adhesives, sealants, coatings, lubricants and cleaners, as well as related equipment and services, and the web pages, screens and page templates stored in the memory  18  relate, to these goods, as well as to technical information regarding these goods, such as technical data sheets, as well as to other types of technical literature, application notes and the like that are related to these goods. 
     When first entering the WWW site the user  12  is presented with a choice of WWW sites, including the United States, Australia, Sweden, Spain, Japan, Korea, etc. Each site provides the user with the appropriate language, as well as information that is pertinent to the particular region or country, such as information relating to local distributors, symposia, user groups, etc. Preferably, the user  12  is presented with a consistent visual experience regardless of the selected site. 
     After entering a desired site the user  12  is presented with a number of choices, such as Application Assistance, Browse Catalog, Distributor Locator, Datasheets, Literature, etc. 
     When selecting the Application Assistance choice the user  12  enters a Product Selector, which is organized in a hierarchical manner and which is intended to provide the user  12 , where possible, with a plurality of possible product selections that are appropriate for the user&#39;s requirements. In a preferred implementation the Product Selector operates as follows. Reference can also be made to FIG.  2 . 
     Assume first that the user  12  is prompted to indicate one of a plurality of intended uses for the product. The intended uses can include: Product Assembly; Plant and Equipment Maintenance and Repair; and Printed Circuit Board or Electronics Assembly. By clicking on one of these selections, the user  12  enters the next, lower level of the Product Selector. Assuming for this example that the user  12  selected Product Assembly, the user  12  is then prompted to indicate an area of assembly, and is presented with choices such as: Seal Microporosity or Pores in Surfaces; Seal or Lock a Threaded Assembly; Bond or Seal a Non-Threaded Assembly; Coat, Pot, or Encapsulate an Assembly; Clean a Surface for Better Bond Strength; and Lubricate an Assembly. 
     By clicking on one of these selections, such as Seal Microporosity or Pores in Surfaces, the user  12  enters the next lower level of the hierarchical Product Selector and is presented with a list comprised of, preferably, a plurality of suitable products. The product information preferably includes, but is not limited to, the product number; a brief product description (such as a trade name); and information as to what type of documentation is available for the recommended products, where to buy the recommended products, and an ability to view the corresponding page(s) from the on-line catalog. 
     By clicking on another selection relevant to the area of assembly, such as the Bond or Seal a Non-Threaded Assembly selection, the user  12  is instead presented with a next lower level that requests further information regarding the intended application. In this example the next, lower level prompts the user to indicate what type of assembly is being bonded, and includes selections of: Bonding and Sealing Cylindrical Metal to Metal Assemblies; Bonding and Sealing Cylindrical Assemblies Where One Surface is Non-Metalic; Bonding All Other Assemblies; and Sealing or Gasketing All Other Assemblies. 
     If the user  12  selects, for example, Bonding and Sealing Cylindrical Metal to Metal Assemblies, then a next, lower level of the Product Selector is entered where the user  12  is again prompted for additional information, in this case: Select Material Appropriate for your Cylindrical Assembly, and is given choices between: General Purpose or High Temperature. Only after selecting one of these two choices is the user  12  presented with a list of Recommended Products for the intended application. 
     As should be apparent, the number of levels of the hierarchical Product Selector is not fixed, but is a function of the type of application. That is, in order to select a list of Recommended Products for the user  12 , the enterprise system  10  may require more or less information from the user  12 , depending on the user&#39;s intended application. 
     In accordance with an aspect of these teachings, at all of the displayed levels, as well as when the list of Recommended Products is displayed, the user  12  is presented with an opportunity to close the product selection loop. This is accomplished by providing the user with the ability to select one or more of the following: Contact the Manufacturer for Technical Assistance and Product Usage Information; Contact a Local Sales Representative to Schedule a Consultation; and Contact a Local Distributor. 
     By selecting the Contact the Manufacturer for Technical Assistance and Product Usage choice, the user  12  is presented with a forms  30 A to be filled out (FIG.  3 ). The form  30 A includes a field  31  wherein the user  12  is enabled to describe the intended application in further detail. The completed form is then sent to the technical assistance center  20  for review by a human or an automated expert, who can then contact the user  12  with further information regarding recommended products for the user&#39;s application. For the case where no one existing product meets all of the user&#39;s application requirements, the user  12  can instead be contacted with information regarding the capacity of the manufacturer to provide a custom product formulation for the user&#39;s intended application. 
     By instead selecting the Contact a Local Sales Representative to Schedule a Consultation choice, the user  12  is presented with another form  30 B to be filled out (FIG.  4 ). The form  30 B includes a field  32  wherein the user  12  is enabled to provide detailed Comments/Questions regarding the intended application. The completed form is in this case sent to the sales assistance center  22  for review by a human or automated expert, who can then contact the user  12  with an answer to any questions, a response to any comments, as well as recommendations regarding a possible on-site consultation, the availability of samples, the availability of technical documentation related to the same or a similar application, etc. 
     By instead selecting the Contact a Local Distributor choice, the user  12  is presented with a different form  30 C to be filled out (FIG.  5 ). This form includes a ZIP/Postal Code field  33 A, as well as a Select Search Radius field  33 B. An optional Item Number field  33 C is also provided to enable the user  12  to enter a product identifier so that a stocking distributor can be quickly located. The Select Search Radius field  33 B enables the user  12  to select one of a plurality of choices, such as 5 miles, 10 miles, 25 miles (default), 40 miles and 50 miles. Based on the entered ZIP/Postal Code field  33 A, and on the user-specified search radius, the distributor locator center  24  is enabled to generate a list of product distributors within the specified radius. If the optional Item Number field  33 C was also filled in by the user  12 , then the distributor locator center  24  is enabled to parse the list of distributors so as to include only those that are stocking distributors for the specified product. 
     It is within the scope of these teachings to automatically fill in one or more Item Numbers into the Item Number field  33 C at the Product Selector level where the list of Recommended Products is displayed to the user  12 . In this case, when the user selects the Contact a Local Distributor choice, the displayed list of Distributors (i.e. , those Distributors within the specified or default radius  33 B) will automatically contain one or more stocking distributors for one or more Item Numbers corresponding to the list of Recommended Products for the application specified by the user  12 . 
     The list of distributors is derived from a distributor database (DDB)  18 A stored in the memory  18 , where the DDB  18 A includes the names and contact information for all distributors (worldwide or only those in local region served by the WWW site), and preferably also includes an indication of the products stocked by each distributor. Conventional mapping software, keyed from ZIP or Postal codes, can be employed to determine the identities of those distributors that are located within the specified radius  30 C. 
     In a presently preferred, but not limiting, embodiment of these teachings the distributor locator center  24  identifies a particular distributor as being a stocking distributor if the distributor has ordered a user-specified item (e.g., a particular adhesive or sealant) within some predetermined period of time, such as within the last three months. This information may be found in the distributor database (DDB)  18 A stored in the memory  18 . In this manner the user or customer is provided a list of distributors having a higher probability of actually having a desired item in stock. 
     It should be apparent that the foregoing description has been made in the context of presently preferred embodiments of this invention, and thus the various specifically described site choices, such as Application Assistance; Browse Catalog; Distributor Locator; Datasheets; Literature; etc., the various intended product uses, such as Product Assembly; Plant and Equipment Maintenance and Repair; and Printed Circuit Board or Electronics Assembly, and the various sub-choices under intended product uses, such as Seal Microporosity or Pores in Surfaces; Seal or Lock a Threaded Assembly; Bond or Seal a Non-Threaded Assembly; Coat, Pot, or Encapsulate an Assembly; Clean a Surface for Better Bond Strength; and Lubricate an Assembly, are all exemplary, and are not to be construed in a limiting sense upon the teachings found herein. In like manner, the specifics given above as to the Contact the Manufacturer for Technical Assistance and Product Usage choice, the Contact a Local Sales Representative to Schedule a Consultation choice, and the Contact a Local Distributor choice, and their respective user input forms  30 A,  30 B and  30 C (FIGS.  3 - 5 ), are also exemplary, and are not intended to be construed in a limiting sense upon the practice of the teachings of this invention. 
     The teachings of this invention are, also not limited to only B2B types of enterprise sites, but apply as well to business to consumer enterprise sites. 
     Also, while the invention has been described primarily in the context of industrial applications, the teachings of this invention relate as well to the automotive aftermarket, as well as to the biomedical and medical device markets, among others. 
     Thus, while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is defined by the claims that follow.