Abstract:
A network-based method for saving and recalling bill of material information includes receiving bill of material specification information from a user and using a server to compare the received specification information with pre-stored information. The method also includes selecting at least one bill of material that matches the received specification information and displaying to the user information related to the bill of material, and providing the user the option of ordering the product on the bill of material.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to computer network-based systems and more particularly to a network-based method and system for saving user information Electronic commerce (e-commerce) sites on the Internet allow users to purchase products online and to generate a bill of material for products that have been ordered. Currently, users of e-commerce sites do not have the capability to save and recall Bill of Material information as each Bill of Material is typically lost at the end of each user session. This is a significant drawback in many situations. Large and complex orders can be difficult to enter at one time, necessitating multiple orders often at different times. Some users at the time they access the e-commerce website may not have all of the requisite information completely defined. One example would be users who are accessing an e-commerce site to obtain information for budgetary purposes that they may subsequently convert to an order if their budgetary submission is approved. Those who are re-ordering a product are another example of users who have to reenter the same information they have entered previously.  
           [0002]    Users therefore often have to reenter information entered into the system, which inconveniences users and increases the chance of errors. It would be desirable for users of an e-commerce web site to be able to save and retrieve a previously generated bill of material and to edit and re-submit the saved bill of material for fulfillment.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    In an exemplary embodiment, a system for saving user information allows users to use the Internet to select a previously submitted bill of material. The network-based method for selecting a bill of material includes receiving bill of material specification information from a user and comparing the received bill of material specification information with pre-stored bill of material information. If at least one bill of material matches the received user criteria for the bill of material, the pre-stored bill of material information is downloaded for communication to the user. The bill of material information may include, for example, a quote name, a bid date, a bid type, a reference number, or the name of a user. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 2 is an expanded version block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a server architecture of an alternative system;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a network-based method for saving and recalling user information;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of a product selection page;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of an Add to Bill of Material page;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 6 is an exemplary embodiment of a Quotation Information page;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 7 is an exemplary embodiment of a Save Option page;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 8 is an exemplary embodiment of a Quotation Manager Select Quotation page;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 9 is an exemplary embodiment of a Quotes Search page;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 10 is an exemplary embodiment of a Quotation Search Results page;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 11 is an exemplary embodiment of a How to Order page;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 12 is an exemplary embodiment of an Add Products page;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 13 is an exemplary embodiment of a Quotation Manager page;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 14 is an exemplary embodiment of a Printing Options page;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 15 is an exemplary embodiment of a recalled bill of material page; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 16 is an exemplary embodiment of an updated version of a recalled bill of material page. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. System  10  includes a server sub-system  12 , sometimes referred to herein as server  12 , and a plurality of user devices  14  connected to server  12 . In one embodiment, devices  14  are computers including a web browser, and server  12  is accessible to devices  14  via a network such as an intranet or the Internet. In an alternative embodiment, devices  14  are servers for a network of customer devices.  
         [0021]    Devices  14  are interconnected to the network, such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), through many interfaces including dial-in-connections, cable modems and high-speed ISDN lines. Alternatively, devices  14  are any device capable of interconnecting to a network including a network-based phone or other network-based connectable equipment. Server  12  includes a database server  16  connected to a centralized database  18  containing bill of material information. In one embodiment, centralized database  18  is stored on database server  16  and can be accessed by potential users at one of user devices  14  by logging onto server sub-system  12  through one of user devices  14 . In an alternative embodiment centralized database  18  is stored remotely from server  12 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is an expanded version block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a server architecture of a system  22 . System  22  includes server sub-system  12  and user devices  14 . Server sub-system  12  includes database server  16 , an application server  24 , a web server  26 , a fax server  28 , a directory server  30 , and a mail server  32 . A disk storage unit  34  is coupled to database server  16  and directory server  30 . Servers  16 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32  are coupled in a local area network (LAN)  36 . In addition, a system administrator workstation  38 , a user workstation  40 , and a supervisor workstation  42  are coupled to LAN  36 . Alternatively, workstations  38 ,  40 , and  42  are coupled to LAN  36  via an Internet link or are connected through an intranet.  
         [0023]    Each workstation  38 ,  40 , and  42  is a personal computer having a web browser. Although the functions performed at the workstations typically are illustrated as being performed at respective workstations  38 ,  40 , and  42 , such functions can be performed at one of many personal computers coupled to LAN  36 . Workstations  38 ,  40 , and  42  are illustrated as being associated with separate functions only to facilitate an understanding of the different types of functions that can be performed by individuals having access to LAN  36 .  
         [0024]    In another embodiment, server sub-system  12  is configured to be communicatively coupled to various individuals or employees  44  and to third parties, e.g., users,  46  via an ISP Internet connection  48 . The communication in the exemplary embodiment is illustrated as being performed via the Internet, however, any other wide area network (WAN) type communication can be used in other embodiments, i.e., the systems and processes are not limited to being practiced via the Internet. In addition, and rather than a WAN  50 , local area network  36  could be used in place of WAN  50 .  
         [0025]    In the exemplary embodiment, any employee  44  or user  46  having a workstation  52  can access server sub-system  12 . One of user devices  14  includes a workstation  54  located at a remote location. Workstations  52  and  54  are personal computers having a web browser. Also, workstations  52  and  54  are configured to communicate with server sub-system  12 . Furthermore, fax server  28  communicates with employees  44  and users  46  located outside the business entity and any of the remotely located user systems, including a user system  56  via a telephone link. Fax server  28  is configured to communicate with other workstations  38 ,  40 , and  42  as well.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram  90  for a network-based method for saving and recalling user information. System  10  (shown in FIG. 1) displays a Home page  92 . In one embodiment, the user inputs the information into a device (such as device  14  shown in FIG. 1) that transmits the information to a server (such as server  12  shown in FIG. 1). The user information is received from the user via a graphical user interface as will be described in greater detail below.  
         [0027]    Home page  92  allows selection  94  of a new project. On selection  94  of a new project server  12  displays a commercial project solution adviser page  96  that guides the user to configure a product correctly to meet the user&#39;s specifications. Once the product has been configured in a configured product page  100 , the system then adds  102  the product to a bill of material, including in one embodiment a catalog number, quantity, and product description.  
         [0028]    Alternatively, if the user indicates that the project is not new, server  12  then receives identification information from the user and retrieves  104  a selected project from a database resident on server  12 . In one embodiment, the pre-stored information is stored in a database that resides on server  12 . In an alternative embodiment, the pre-stored information is stored in a database remote from server  12 . The pre-stored information includes various types of bill of material-related information. Server  12  compares the user provided information to the pre-stored information to determine if any pre-stored bill of material-related information contained in the database satisfy the product specifications submitted by the user.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a product selection page, as depicted in screen shot  190 , which includes a product selection area  192  that includes a plurality of pull down menus that allow selection of a product. Screen shot  190  also includes a recommendation area  194  to display a recommended product that conforms to the users specifications. Screen shot  190  also includes an Add to Bill of Material button  196 , a View Bill of Material button  198 , and a Next Product button  200 .  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of an Add to Bill of Material page, as depicted in screen shot  210 , which server  12  displays when Add to Bill of Material button  196  in FIG. 4 is selected. Screen shot  210  includes a Quantity selection area  212 , a Marks selection area  214 , an OK button  216 , and a Cancel button  218 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a Quotation Information page, as depicted in screen shot  280 . Screen shot  280  includes a Quote Name text box  282 , a set of Bid Date pull down menus  284 , a Bid Type pull down menu  286 , a Continue button  288 , and a Cancel button  290 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of a Save Option page, as depicted in screen shot  300 . Screen shot  300  includes a Save button  302  that updates the existing product in the bill of material, a Save as New button  304  that adds the selected product to the bill of material as a new product, and a Cancel button  306 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of a Quotation Manager Select Quotation page, as depicted in screen shot  310 , which includes a New Quote button  312  and a Search button  314 . Screen shot  310  also includes a Quotation Name display area  316 , a Date display area  318 , a Created By display area  320 , a Reference Number display area  322 , and a Delete link area  324 . Screen shot  310  further includes a Close button  326 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of a Quotes Search page, as depicted in screen shot  330 . Screen shot  330  includes a Quote Name text box  332  for specifying a quote name, a Created By text box  334  for specifying the identity of the person who created the quote, and a Submit button  336 . Screen shot  330  also includes a set of From Date pull down menus  338  for specifying a date, a set of To Date pull down menus  340  for specifying a date, and a Submit button  342 . Screen shot  330  further includes a Reference # text box  344 , for specifying a reference number, a Submit button  346 , and a Back button  348 .  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10 shows an exemplary embodiment of a Quotation Search Results page, as depicted in screen shot  350 , which includes a New Quote button  352 , a Search button  354 , a Quotation Name display area  356 , a Date display area  358 , a Created by display area  360 , a Reference Number display area  362 , and a set of Delete links  364 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 11 shows an exemplary embodiment of a How to Order page, as depicted in screen shot  370 , which includes a Price and Availability button  372 , a Print button  374 , and a Close button  376 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 12 shows an exemplary embodiment of a Add Products page, as depicted in screen shot  380 , which includes an Add Products pull down menu  382  that includes entries for Commercial Project Advisor, Service Entrance, Busway Solutions Advisor, Bus Plugs and Parts, Spec-Setter Safety Switch, Load Centers, A-Series Pro-Stock Panelboards option, and Modular Metering options.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 13 shows an exemplary embodiment of a Quotation Manager page, as depicted in screen shot  390 , which includes a Quotation Manager pull down menu  392  that includes entries for New, Save, Save as New, and Recall options. Selection of the Save as New option causes system  10  (shown in FIG. 1) to display the Quotation Information page (shown in FIG. 6). Selection of the Recall option causes system  10  to display the Quotation Manager Select Quotation page (shown in FIG. 8).  
         [0039]    Screen shot  390  also includes a set of Delete, Copy, and Edit buttons  394 . On selection of the Edit button the system brings the user back to the product selection page (shown in FIG. 4), preconfigured according to the product that the user wants to edit. After a change in the product configuration, selection of the “Add to Bill of Material” button a second time takes the user to the Save Option page (shown in FIG. 7) instead of the “Add to Bill of Material Page (shown in FIG. 5). At the Save Option page the user can select the save options (update, save as new, or cancel the update.) The Copy button allows the user to copy the same product with the same configuration to the bottom of the bill of material, while the Delete button allows the user to delete a product from the bill of material.  
         [0040]    Screen shot  390  also has a set of Clear, Back, and How to Order buttons  396 . Selection of the Clear button clears all products from the bill of material. Selection of the Back button takes the user back to the product selection page (shown in FIG. 4) and closes the opened bill of material, while selection of the How to Order button causes system  10  (shown in FIG. 1) to display the How to Order page (shown in FIG. 11).  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 14 shows an exemplary embodiment of a Printing Options page, as depicted in screen shot  400 , which includes a Printing Options pull down menu  402  that includes entries for Print with Header with Price, Print with Header without Price, Print without Header with Price, and Print without Header without Price.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 15 shows an exemplary embodiment of a recalled bill of material page, as depicted in screen shot  410 , which includes a bill of material information area  412  that in turn includes a reviser name, a revision date, a revision number, a project name, a purchase order number, a creation date and a reference number. In an alternative embodiment, screen shot  410  includes a customer purchase order number. Screen shot  410  also includes a product order information area  414  that includes information about a product being ordered.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 16 shows an exemplary embodiment of an updated version of a recalled bill of material page, as depicted in screen shot  420 , which includes a bill of material information area  422  that in turn includes an updated reviser name, revision date, revision number, project name, purchase order number, creation date and reference number. In an alternative embodiment, screen shot  420  also includes an updated customer purchase order number. Screen shot  420  also includes a product order information area  424  that includes information about a product being ordered.  
         [0044]    While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.