W.W. GRAINGER, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160055179 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING AN IMAGE TO PROVIDE SEARCH RESULTS - A system and method uses one or more images provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results. The image recognition system may use one or more image match algorithms to create one or more possible product match sets. In the event multiple product match sets are created, the search results may be limited to product that appears in one or more of the plural possible product match sets. | 02-25-2016 |
20150120614 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING PRODUCT PRICES - Systems and methods are provided for optimizing prices for products and services based on consumer survey data, or at least based on the principle that non-flat prices such as $0.99, $3.95, $49.99, for example, create negative impressions about merchants. The system may retrieve a current price from a database and identify a price class or a price range to which the current price corresponds. The system may then execute a pricing process that is associated with the identified price class or price range. The pricing process computes an offer price that a majority of consumers will perceive as being more fair than the current price. | 04-30-2015 |
20150081470 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL CONTENT IN COMMUNICATIONS SHARING A WEBPAGE - An apparatus and methods are provided for personalizing messages that are sent to a recipient when a user of a website wishes to “share” a particular webpage or content thereof with the recipient. The apparatus and methods, which are founded on non-transitory computer readable media, involve using information available about the recipient as well as information about a product or service displayed on the webpage to identify supplemental content to include in the message to the recipient regarding the shared webpage. The recipient's prior browsing and purchasing histories with the website, as well as the purchasing tendencies of other customers, may be particularly helpful in identifying relevant supplemental content. | 03-19-2015 |
20150074205 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PERSONALIZED MESSAGING - A user associates a supply chain event with a personalized message. The system causes the personalized message (or a link thereto) to be sent to a recipient using a selected dissemination method when the supply chain event occurs. | 03-12-2015 |
20150008661 | APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND DISPLAYING PAGES OF READING MATERIAL - A bookholder apparatus adapted to support a plurality of pages of reading material and to be slidable across a support surface includes a front cover, a back cover, and a spine operable coupled to the front cover and the back cover. The bookholder allows the container to be moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein the plurality of pages are supported within the container. A plurality of roller elements are mounted to an outer surface and within a perimeter of at least one of the front cover, the back cover, or the spine to allow the bookholder to slide and/or roll across a support surface. | 01-08-2015 |
20140317076 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING USE OF A SELECTION GUIDE - A system and method functions to automatically invoke a selection guide when the search term(s) provided in a freeform search query are determined to be associated with a category of item for which a selection guide will provide the most efficient means for the user to locate items of interest. | 10-23-2014 |
20140316951 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING INVENTORY OF A PRODUCT WITHIN A STORAGE BIN - A system and method can monitor inventory of product within storage bins of a storage facility by mounting cameras to the storage bins. The cameras and a user processing device may be operably connected to a network such that the user processing device is in communication with the cameras. Further, the user processing device may search records of a database that correspond to product stored in the storage facility. Once a product of interest is identified, a location of the relevant storage bin may be provided to the user processing device, along with an image and/or video captured by the camera to show contents of the storage bin. | 10-23-2014 |
20140304110 | PROCUREMENT PROCESS UTILIZING A LIGHT SENSOR - A system for managing a procurement process uses an ambient light sensor to detect an operating anomaly regarding at least one light source. A procurement system operatively coupled to the light sensing system receives information indicative of the detected operating anomaly of the at least one light source and, in response thereto, initiates the procurement process to obtain a replacement for the at least one light source. | 10-09-2014 |
20140280175 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING PRODUCT SEARCH WITHIN AN ELECTRONIC PRODUCT CATALOG - An user interface for a general product category has an interactive product informational section which presents a plurality of first level product categories for product within the general product category and a plurality of user interface elements for use in expanding and collapsing each of the plurality of first level product categories to thereby provide selective access to a second level of product information for product within the corresponding first level product category. The second level of product information is in the form of a table in which is listed characteristic information for individual products within the corresponding first level product category. Each row within the table includes characteristic information for individual products within the corresponding first level product category and has an associated user interface element for causing a display of more detailed information for a corresponding one of the individual products. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279279 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADMINISTERING CUSTOMER PURCHASING PROCESSES - A customer purchasing workflow management functionality related to a customer account hosted by a vendor system is presented on a client computing device in a dashboard page. The system allows a customer to visualize purchasing workflows and processes by authorized purchasers and by authorized approvers, including the spending and approval limits associated with each, and the relationships therebetween. The system further provides for editing of the stored information comprising the purchasing workflows and processes. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279248 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SEARCH RESULTS INCORPORATING SUPPLY CHAIN INFORMATION - A systems and methods for providing a search refinement tools that incorporate contextual information, such as supply chain information is disclosed. In general, the example methods and systems provide the customer with the ability to refine search results on an e-commerce website using previously stored historical supply chain information. Supply chain information refers to historical information about a purchaser and the purchaser's previous purchases. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279210 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSOCIATING ITEM LISTS WITH GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS - A current geographic location of a mobile device, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, or the like, is used to retrieve one or more lists of product related items, such as information related to product that has been delivered/shipped to one or more locations in the vicinity of the current geographic location of the mobile device. The lists of product related items provide details about the product related items and a user interface element for allowing, among other things, items to be ordered, e.g., for delivery/shipment to a corresponding geographic location. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279193 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS INCORPORATING SECONDARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION - A system and method provides product/service recommendations by rendering and analyzing content on webpages that are linked to on a user's personal webpage. In this manner, the system and method compiles a more complete view of the user's interest and preferences, thus providing more effective and finely-attuned user recommendations. | 09-18-2014 |
20140244439 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THE NONINTRUSIVE IDENTIFICATION AND ORDERING OF COMPONENT PARTS - A noninstrusive system and method of scanning an object having component parts includes a vendor based data repository of component parts and a matching processor to receive a scanned image representative of the assembled object and to provide suggested and/or matched component parts for purchase from the vendor. | 08-28-2014 |
20140244433 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THE NONINTRUSIVE IDENTIFICATION AND ORDERING OF COMPONENT PARTS - A noninstrusive system and method of scanning an object having component parts includes a vendor based data repository of component parts and a matching processor to receive a scanned image representative of the assembled object and to provide suggested and/or matched component parts for purchase from the vendor. | 08-28-2014 |
20140189519 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING WEBSITE BROWSING HISTORY TO REPEAT USERS OF A WEBSITE - A system and method can monitor interactions between a user and a website during web browsing sessions. The interactions between the user and the website are stored in a data repository, tracking cookies, or the like for later retrieval. The system and method allow the user to retrieve the monitored interactions during later browsing sessions. Session data that represents the monitored interactions may be sorted by time, by type, or by both time and type so that a user can locate particular information quickly and efficiently. The session data, moreover, may contain active links that allow the user to revisit specific monitored interactions with the click of a single button. | 07-03-2014 |
20140189097 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE METRICS - An infrastructure metrics measuring process provides relevant infrastructure metrics for components of a monitored system. The process retrieves and stores application user data for a plurality of applications running on a network system and operating system statistics for at least one operating system running at least one of the plurality of application running on a network system. The data is aggregated into at least one of a transactional data stream and a non-transactional data stream and correlated onto a common time scale. The correlated aggregated data stream is then graphically displayed to a user to further analysis by a user. | 07-03-2014 |
20140188551 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING NAVIGATION TENDENCIES TO USERS OF A WEBSITE - The example systems and methods provide ways for websites to monitor, store, retrieve, and display navigation tendencies of users of websites. More particularly, the systems and methods involve websites displaying measures of user traffic associated with various categories of web content. The measures of user traffic may inform a user of how the user previously navigated the various hierarchical categories of web content, or the measures of user traffic may inform a user of how others navigate the various hierarchical categories of web content. Moreover, the user may select an identifiable group of users for which the website will display navigation tendencies. In the alternative, the website may display navigation tendencies of an identifiable group of users based on an identity of the user viewing the website. | 07-03-2014 |
20140183324 | APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND DISPLAYING ARTICLES - An assembly for holding and displaying books, or items having a book-like structure includes a book attached to a hinged book-holding device, which displays the book in various positions. The hinge allows the book to move in at least two positions, a first standing position and a second, inclined position. The disclosed book-holding system also comprises a stabilizing mechanism that, when activated, provides a broader structural base. Thus, when the book is inclined and opened, the stabilizing mechanism holds the entire system steady so it does not tilt open. | 07-03-2014 |
20140180876 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT INFORMATION AND RELATED FUNCTIONALITIES - A system and method for allowing a consumer to quickly access product information and/or commerce functionalities as related to one or more products that are associated with an electronic document, such as a web page, that is currently being viewed by the consumer in an electronic document viewing program, such as an Internet browser. | 06-26-2014 |
20140172744 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT REVIEWS AND/OR RATINGS - A system causes an image of a product and a ratings dashboard to be presented on a client computing device. Interaction with the ratings dashboard causes a quick review summary for the product to be presented. The quick review summary for the product provides a top line visual summary of review information provided by product reviewers which information includes a visualization of at least a number of product reviewers that have given the product each of a plurality of overall product reviewer ratings and a visualization of an average overall product reviewer rating of at least one characteristic of the product. Interaction with the quick review summary for the product may be used to cause a presentation of a more detailed summary of the product reviewer information for the product or information related to all product reviewer reviews for the product which information is further capable of being at least one of sorted and filtered. | 06-19-2014 |
20140172638 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT REVIEWS AND/OR RATINGS - A system causes an image of a product and a ratings dashboard to be presented on a client computing device. Interaction with the ratings dashboard causes a quick review summary for the product to be presented. The quick review summary for the product provides a top line visual summary of review information provided by product reviewers which information includes a visualization of at least a number of product reviewers that have given the product each of a plurality of overall product reviewer ratings and a visualization of an average overall product reviewer rating of at least one characteristic of the product. Interaction with the quick review summary for the product may be used to cause a presentation of a more detailed summary of the product reviewer information for the product or information related to all product reviewer reviews for the product which information is further capable of being at least one of sorted and filtered. | 06-19-2014 |
20140156471 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATED CUSTOMER ORDER CROSS REFERENCING - An auto cross-referencing functionality related to an order number directed to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a vendor system is presented on a client computing device in a page providing an access point for ordering an item. The system allows a customer to enter a manufacturer, competitor, or other non-vendor specific ordering number into an ordering system and have the provided number transformed in-situ to the vendor's ordering number, either in real-time and/or through a batch-like process. | 06-05-2014 |
20140156466 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATED CUSTOMER ORDER CROSS REFERENCING - An auto cross-referencing functionality related to an order number directed to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a vendor system is presented on a client computing device in a page providing an access point for ordering an item. The system allows a customer to enter a manufacturer, competitor, or other non-vendor specific ordering number into an ordering system and have the provided number transformed in-situ to the vendor's ordering number, either in real-time and/or through a batch-like process. | 06-05-2014 |
20140025544 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CUSTOMIZING INVENTORY IN AN AUTOMATED DISPENSING CABINET - A system and method for configuring a dispensing cabinet with products within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler system includes a display of a user interface having a graphical representation of a dispensing cabinet for dispensing products including a graphical representation of each dispensing mechanism. A selection of a single product from a listing of products associates the selected single product to at least one dispensing mechanism and causes a change in the graphical representation of the dispensing cabinet such that the at least one dispensing mechanism is visually identified as having the selected single product associated with the dispensing mechanism. | 01-23-2014 |
20140019315 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CUSTOMIZING INVENTORY IN AN AUTOMATED DISPENSING CABINET - A system and method for configuring a dispensing cabinet with products within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler system includes a display of a user interface having a graphical representation of a dispensing cabinet for dispensing products including a graphical representation of each dispensing mechanism. A selection of a single product from a listing of products associates the selected single product to at least one dispensing mechanism and causes a change in the graphical representation of the dispensing cabinet such that the at least one dispensing mechanism is visually identified as having the selected single product associated with the dispensing mechanism. | 01-16-2014 |
20140019314 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CUSTOMIZING INVENTORY IN AN AUTOMATED DISPENSING CABINET - A system and method for configuring a dispensing cabinet with products within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler system includes a display of a user interface having a graphical representation of a dispensing cabinet for dispensing products including a graphical representation of each dispensing mechanism. A selection of a single product from a listing of products associates the selected single product to at least one dispensing mechanism and causes a change in the graphical representation of the dispensing cabinet such that the at least one dispensing mechanism is visually identified as having the selected single product associated with the dispensing mechanism. | 01-16-2014 |
20130251273 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING AN IMAGE TO PROVIDE SEARCH RESULTS - A system and method uses one or more images provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results. The image recognition system may use one or more image match algorithms to create one or more possible product match sets. In the event multiple product match sets are created, the search results may be limited to product that appears in one or more of the plural possible product match sets. | 09-26-2013 |
20130239018 | GRAPHICAL DISPLAY RESPONSIVE TO VOICE INPUT - An embodiment of the present invention is directed to controlling a graphical display responsive to voice input. A voice input is received from a live telephone conversation between two or more parties. The voice input is then analyzed for the presence of a product model number. The product model number is then extracting from the voice input. The product model number is then displayed in a model number listing on the graphical display while the conversation is still ongoing. | 09-12-2013 |
20130238469 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT RELATED ELECTRONIC CATALOG FUNCTIONALITY - An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. | 09-12-2013 |
20130238466 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT RELATED ELECTRONIC CATALOG FUNCTIONALITY - An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. | 09-12-2013 |
20130232207 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING ATTENTION TO WEB SITE FUNCTIONALITY - A system determines if functionality offered via a Web site is being underutilizing by a user, e.g., not being using at all or not being using with some desired degree of regularity. When it is determined that the functionality offered via the Web site is being underutilized by the user, the system provides an email to the user to direct the attention of the user to this functionality of the Web site. | 09-05-2013 |
20130204750 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CUSTOMIZING INVENTORY IN AN AUTOMATED DISPENSING CABINET - A system and method for configuring a dispensing cabinet with products within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler system includes a display of a user interface having a graphical representation of a dispensing cabinet for dispensing products including a graphical representation of each dispensing mechanism. A selection of a single product from a listing of products associates the selected single product to at least one dispensing mechanism and causes a change in the graphical representation of the dispensing cabinet such that the at least one dispensing mechanism is visually identified as having the selected single product associated with the dispensing mechanism. | 08-08-2013 |
20130191245 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A POSSIBLE ERROR IN A CUSTOMER PROVIDED PRODUCT ORDER QUANTITY - Prior ordering history of a product is examined to determine an historical ordering quantity distribution for a product. A customer specified, to-be-purchased quantity of a product is then compared against the determined historical ordering-quantity frequency distribution for the product. When the customer specified, to-be-purchased quantity of the product falls below a certain probability threshold determined using the historical ordering-quantity frequency distribution, or is otherwise suspicious, the customer is notified of a suspected error in the provided product order quantity and/or asked to verify if the provided product quantity is correct. | 07-25-2013 |
20130179468 | Product search - A system and method for searching a product model number database having a plurality of product model numbers stored therein receives a string to be searched in the product model number database from a client device. Multiple queries are then created based on the string and the model number database is queried using the created queries. Query results responsive to the created queries are then received from the model number database and transmitted to the client device. | 07-11-2013 |
20130138530 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING PURCHASING HISTORY DATA TO AUTOMATICALLY CREATE A PURCHASING LIST - Personalized product listing are generated for a user by gathering from a data repository prior product purchasing history of the user and by then analyzing the gathered prior product purchasing history of the user to discern if one or more products have been purchased according to a similar recurrence pattern. The one or more products that have been purchased according to the similar recurrence pattern are then placed within the generated personalized product listing for the user. The generated personalized product listing for the user can be used by the system to facilitate an automatic reordering of quantities of the product according to the recurrence pattern schedule. | 05-30-2013 |
20130120440 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING AN IMAGE TO PROVIDE SEARCH RESULTS - A system and method uses an image manipulating application to define in an object image a plurality of discrete cells. Predefined image information is substituted for image information in selected ones of the plurality of discrete cells to form a translated version of the object image. The translated version of the object image may then be provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results. | 05-16-2013 |
20130111316 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONTINUED ACCESS TO USER RELATED INFORMATION | 05-02-2013 |
20130080288 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING A CUSTOMER TO ADDITIONAL PURCHASING OPPORTUNITIES - A dynamic merchandising system creates for each of a plurality of products in a plurality of purchase orders a list of products purchased together. This information is then used to create ordered lists reflecting relationships between various product attributes, e.g., the relationships between different brand names purchased together, different product categories purchased together, different catalog pages of products purchased together, etc. From these ordered relationship lists information may be selected and presented to the customer for the purpose of directing the customer to additional purchasing opportunities. | 03-28-2013 |
20130024319 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT RELATED ELECTRONIC CATALOG FUNCTIONALITY - An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. | 01-24-2013 |
20130018914 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING USE OF A SELECTION GUIDE - A system and method functions to automatically invoke a link to a selection guide when the search term(s) being provided in a freeform search query are determined to be associated with a category of item for which a selection guide will provide the most efficient means for the user to locate items of interest. | 01-17-2013 |
20120303649 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING USE OF A SELECTION GUIDE - A system and method functions to automatically invoke a selection guide when the search term(s) provided in a freeform search query are determined to be associated with a category of item for which a selection guide will provide the most efficient means for the user to locate items of interest. | 11-29-2012 |
20120280912 | COMPUTER MOUSE PROVIDING A TOUCHLESS INPUT INTERFACE - A computer input device, such as a mouse, has a surface movement sensor in communication with a processing circuit for providing to the processing circuit first signals indicative of sensed movement of the computer input device upon a surface, and one or more touchless sensor subsystems in communication with the processing circuit for providing to the processing circuit second signals indicative of sensed surface movements relative to the computer input device. A transmission circuit under control of the processing circuit issues transmissions to a computer representative of the first and second signals. | 11-08-2012 |
20120278484 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING ATTENTION TO WEB SITE FUNCTIONALITY - A system determines if functionality offered via a Web site is being underutilizing by a user, e.g., not being using at all or not being using with some desired degree of regularity. When it is determined that the functionality offered via the Web site is being underutilized by the user, the system provides to content of the Web site a cue, e.g., audio and/or visual, for directing the attention of the user to the functionality offered via the Web site. | 11-01-2012 |
20120271808 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PERSONALIZED SEARCH RESULTS - Personalized search results are provided to a user by sending to the user a direct marketing email having associated therewith one or more opt-out elements. Information related to the user's interaction with the one or more opt-out elements is maintained in a database. When a search request is thereafter submitted to a search engine by the user, the information related to the user's interaction with the one or more opt-out elements is used to inhibit inclusion within the search results of one or more items. In addition or alternatively, when the user accesses a search interface having a plurality of search options selectable to provide a search request to the search engine, the information related to the user's interaction with the one or more opt-out elements is used to inhibit inclusion within the search interface of one or more of the plurality of user selectable search options. | 10-25-2012 |
20120259730 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT RELATED ELECTRONIC CATALOG FUNCTIONALITY - An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. | 10-11-2012 |
20120253984 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HIGHLIGHTING DIFFERENCES IN ITEMS IN A SEARCH RESULT LISTING - A received search query is used to create a search result where the search result is a listing of items identified in a data repository of item information where the item information includes data indicative of parametric values for each of a plurality of items. Data indicative of parametric values within the item information of the listing of items is used to order the search result for display whereby at least one subset of items within the listing of items determined to have similar parametric values will be displayed as a group having positions within the listing of items that are proximate relative to each other. Data indicative of parametric values within the item information of the at least one subset of items is also used to discern differences in one or more parametric values between items in the at least one subset of items which discerned differences in the one or more parametric values between items in the at least one subset of items within the listing of items are caused to be highlighted. | 10-04-2012 |
20120116927 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT RELATED ELECTRONIC CATALOG FUNCTIONALITY - An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. | 05-10-2012 |
20110282767 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT RELATED ELECTRONIC CATALOG FUNCTIONALITY - An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. | 11-17-2011 |
20110252017 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A RESPONSE TO A SEARCH QUERY - A system receives a request to search an electronic catalog of a vendor which specifies a query term. The query term is used to search an electronic catalog of a third party. The results obtained by searching the electronic catalog of the third party are parsed to uncover a keyword recognized by a search engine associated with the electronic catalog of the vendor. The uncovered keyword is then used in the search engine associated with the electronic catalog of the vendor to locate one or more items in the electronic catalog of the vendor. Items located in this manner are the search results responsive to the query term. | 10-13-2011 |
20100325015 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING IMAGE DATA TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH AN ONLINE RETAIL ENVIRONMENT - An image recognition system is provided with a reference image and the image recognition system functions to discern a context for the reference image. A user is thereafter presented with recommendations for products or other online services that are relevant to the discerned context for the image. | 12-23-2010 |
20100299204 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING A CUSTOMER TO ADDITIONAL PURCHASING OPPORTUNITIES - A dynamic merchandising system creates for each of a plurality of products in a plurality of purchase orders a list of products purchased together. This information is then used to create ordered lists reflecting relationships between various product attributes, e.g., the relationships between different brand names purchased together, different product categories purchased together, different catalog pages of products purchased together, etc. From these ordered relationship lists information may be selected and presented to the customer for the purpose of directing the customer to additional purchasing opportunities. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299203 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING A CUSTOMER TO ADDITIONAL PURCHASING OPPORTUNITIES - A dynamic merchandising system creates for each of a plurality of products in a plurality of purchase orders a list of products purchased together. This information is then used to create ordered lists reflecting relationships between various product attributes, e.g., the relationships between different brand names purchased together, different product categories purchased together, different catalog pages of products purchased together, etc. From these ordered relationship lists information may be selected and presented to the customer for the purpose of directing the customer to additional purchasing opportunities. | 11-25-2010 |
20100262514 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING, SEARCHING, AND INTERACTING WITH A TWO DIMENSIONAL PRODUCT CATALOG - A system and method for use in presenting information relevant to a product catalog. The system receives a search request and presents to a user in a two-dimensional format a plurality of iconic images each representative of a page of a product catalog. Each of the iconic images is activatable to cause a display of an image of the page of the product catalog represented by the iconic image. One or more of the presented plurality of iconic images that are linked to a page of the product catalog having a product responsive to the search request are highlighted to the user. | 10-14-2010 |
20100223064 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PERSONALIZED REFERENCE COLLECTION - A system and method for providing a reference collection that is personalized for a consumer. The system includes a server computer having an associated data repository. Stored in the data repository is an aggregation of links to sources of on-line information and each link within the aggregation is mapped to one or more consumer communities and/or products. Programming resident on the server computer acts to provide to a client computer a webpage that includes a reference collection that is personalized for the consumer, the reference collection being provided as a listing of those links within the aggregation of links to sources of on-line information that have been mapped within the data repository to a one or more consumer communities to which the consumer belongs and/or products of interest to the consumer. | 09-02-2010 |
20100205044 | METHOD FOR MANAGING INVENTORY WITHIN AN INTEGRATED SUPPLY CHAIN - A method for managing inventory within a supply chain. The method is performed by providing forecasts of demand for items distributed within the supply chain, using the forecasts to establish base stocking levels and reorder points within the supply chain, and using the established base stocking levels and reorder points to position items within the supply chain so as to maximize efficiency and profitability when responding to an order for an item. | 08-12-2010 |
20100188337 | COMPUTER MOUSE PROVIDING A TOUCHLESS INPUT INTERFACE - A computer input device, such as a mouse, has a processing circuit, a memory having instructions for controlling operations of the processing circuit, a surface movement sensor in communication with the processing circuit providing to the processing circuit first signals indicative of sensed movement of the computer input device upon a surface, and one or more touchless sensor subsystems in communication with the processing circuit providing to the processing circuit second signals indicative of sensed surface movements relative to the computer input device occurring in spaced proximity to the computer input device. A transmission circuit under control of the processing circuit issues transmissions to a computer representative of the first and second signals to cause regions or locations on a computer display screen to be pointed to, to cause information which is represented on the computer display screen to be moved and/or selected, to cause locations on the computer display screen to be designated, etc. | 07-29-2010 |
20100145964 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING IDENTIFIERS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH A CATALOG OF PRODUCTS - A system for providing identifiers for use in connection with a catalog of products functions by providing an identifier as a query term to a search engine associated with an Internet server. The results obtained from the Internet server as a result of providing the identifier as the search engine query term are parsed to discern a number of search hits included within the results. If the number of search hits included within the results is within a predefined threshold, the identifier is selected to be used in a catalog to indentify one or more products listed within the catalog of products. | 06-10-2010 |
20100030653 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A POSSIBLE ERROR IN A CUSTOMER PROVIDED PRODUCT ORDER QUANTITY - Prior ordering history of a product is examined to determine an historical ordering quantity distribution for a product. A customer specified, to-be-purchased quantity of a product is then compared against the determined historical ordering-quantity frequency distribution for the product. When the customer specified, to-be-purchased quantity of the product falls below a certain probability threshold determined using the historical ordering-quantity frequency distribution, or is otherwise suspicious, the customer is notified of a suspected error in the provided product order quantity and/or asked to verify if the provided product quantity is correct. | 02-04-2010 |
20100017304 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT RELATED ELECTRONIC CATALOG FUNCTIONALITY - An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. | 01-21-2010 |
20090267340 | PRINT CATALOG WITH IMAGES USED TO CONVEY INFORMATION - A print catalog has a plurality of pages that are bound together with a binding. Each page of the print catalog has a listing of one or more products that are being offered for sale and at least one non-textual image that is representative of a category of product for products within the listing of products on that page. The non-textual image on each of the plurality of pages is positioned on a side of its respective page that is spaced furthest from the binding. | 10-29-2009 |
20090216660 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING COMMUNITY BASED CATALOGS AND/OR COMMUNITY BASED ON-LINE SERVICES - A buying community is established by discerning customers having the same or similar business types. The business type of a customer may be discerned from a keyword within a corporate, business, or other entity name that is associated with the customer or from purchasing interests commonly shared by customers. Once a buying community is established, behaviors of customers within that buying community are discerned. These behaviors may include product purchasing behaviors, on-line navigation behaviors, on-line searching behaviors, etc. The discerned behaviors of the customers within the buying community may then be used to provide catalogs customized for those members and/or on-line services customized for those members. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216609 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING COMMUNITY BASED CATALOGS AND/OR COMMUNITY BASED ON-LINE SERVICES - A buying community is established by discerning customers having the same or similar business types. The business type of a customer may be discerned from a corporate, business, or other entity name that is associated with the customer. Once a buying community is established, behaviors of customers within that buying community are discerned. These behaviors may include product purchasing behaviors, on-line navigation behaviors, on-line searching behaviors, etc. The discerned behaviors of the customers within the buying community may then be used to provide catalogs customized for those members and/or on-line services customized for those members. | 08-27-2009 |
20090150392 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A RESPONSE TO A SEARCH QUERY - A system receives a request to search an electronic catalog of a vendor which specifies a query term. The query term is used to search an electronic catalog of a third party. The results obtained by searching the electronic catalog of the third party are parsed to uncover a keyword recognized by a search engine associated with the electronic catalog of the vendor. The uncovered keyword is then used in the search engine associated with the electronic catalog of the vendor to locate one or more items in the electronic catalog of the vendor. Items located in this manner are the search results responsive to the query term. | 06-11-2009 |
20090083162 | System and method for providing delivery of goods - In connection with the delivery of goods ordered by a customer, a system and method functions to use information associated with the customer and/or goods ordered by the customer to determine additional goods that are likely to be of interest to the customer. The additional goods may then be included on a delivery vehicle whereupon the additional goods may be offered for sale to the customer. The offer for sale may be made directly from the delivery vehicle or by stocking and offering the additional goods at a wholesaler location, such as a vending machine, wholesaler branch location, etc. | 03-26-2009 |
20090043617 | System and Method for Managing the Delivery of Orders for Goods - A system and method for managing the delivery of goods. The system and method particularly provides for manifesting and controlling route-based delivery of orders or packages from a vendor to one or more locations accessible by customers. The locations may include automated, self-service vending machines and/or will-call lockers, under the control of a system (ideally centralized and automated) that can receive and actively manage manifest information. | 02-12-2009 |
20080270280 | COMPREHENSIVE, INTEGRATED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING AND DEMONSTRATING COSTS SAVINGS VALUES - A cost savings calculator plan is established for a customer by associating calculator instances, selected from an established plurality of calculator types, with a customer profile. The calculator instances associated with the customer profile are utilized to determine specific cost savings amounts for the customer. The specific cost savings amounts may be presented to the customer using different specified levels of granularity. | 10-30-2008 |
20080228552 | System and method for providing product recommendations to consumers within a merchant location - Discerned relationships between products are utilized to generate product recommendation cards that are to be positioned throughout a merchant location. The product recommendation card contains information about one or more products that are likely to be purchased with a related-to product. The information carried on the product recommendation card may include one or more of the following for a recommended product: an image of the product; a brand for the product; a logo associated with the product; a textual description of the product; a bar code associated with the product; usage information for the product; and a location of the product within the merchant location. The product recommendation card(s) for product(s) that are likely to purchased with a related-to product may then be positioned in the vicinity of the related-to product within the merchant location to draw the attention of the consumer to these product(s) for the purpose of causing the consumer to purchase these product(s) in addition to the related-to product. | 09-18-2008 |