The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
With reference now to the figures,
In the depicted example, a server 104 is connected to network 102 along with storage unit 106. In addition, clients 108, 110, and 112 also are connected to network 102. These clients 108, 110, and 112 may be, for example, personal computers or network computers. In the depicted example, server 104 provides data, such as boot files, operating system images, and applications to clients 108-112. Network data processing system 100 might also contain a supplementary server 126 and additional data storage 128.
Clients 108, 110, and 112 are clients to server 104. Network data processing system 100 includes printers 114, 116, and 118, and may also include additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown. The means by which clients 108-112 connect to the network 102 may include conventional telephone landline 120, broadband Digital Service Line (DSL) or cable 124, or wireless communication network 122.
In the depicted example, network data processing system 100 is the Internet with network 102 representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite or similar protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands of commercial, government, educational and other computer systems that route data and messages. Of course, network data processing system 100 also may be implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as for example, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).
Referring to
Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus bridge 214 connected to I/O bus 212 provides an interface to PCI local bus 216. A number of modems may be connected to PCI bus 216. Typical PCI bus implementations will support four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors. Communication links to network computers 108-112 in
Additional PCI bus bridges 222 and 224 provide interfaces for additional PCI buses 226 and 228, from which additional modems or network adapters may be supported. In this manner, data processing system 200 allows connections to multiple network computers. A memory-mapped graphics adapter 230 and hard disk 232 may also be connected to I/O bus 212 as depicted, either directly or indirectly.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in
The data processing system depicted in
The invention provides a way to automatically track and then pay the retailer and/or distributor for the sale of products. A distribution identifier uniquely identifies the particular wholesaler, retailer or distributor that actually provides the product to a customer.
In the event that the customer purchases an item, the identifier is used to track the supply chain of from the manufacturer to the retailer. The distribution identifier information can be looked up based on product, serial number or some other number or code.
Depending on the compensation system employed, payment for the product sale can move either up or down the supply chain. In one embodiment, the retailer receives payment from the end user. In this case, an invoice is generated by the manufacturer and the retailer distributes a specified percentage of the product sale to each party in the supply chain back to the manufacturer. This is the payment system applicable to most convention retail distribution systems. In an alternate embodiment, payment is made from the end user directly to the manufacturer. In this case, the manufacturer pays commissions to each party in the supply chain up to the retail seller.
The following list of definitions will help the reader better understand the descriptions of the process flows below:
The next steps comprises the pre-shipping (manufacture) transactions. For a new product, a new entry is created in the UPID table (step 302). For an existing product, an active UPID would be selected from the UPID table.
A new UCID record is created for the selected UPID (step 303), and the initial Supply Chain Company is selected and its USCID is stored in the UCID record, which is added to the UCID table (step 304). The USCID is added as RetailInvoice in the UCID record history.
The product identified by the UPID is then manufactured, and that copy is then labeled with its own UCID (step 305) and delivered to the supply chain company identified by the USCID (step 306). The UCID labeling for each item can be accomplished using a variety of techniques known in the art. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, radio frequency identification (RFID) is incorporated into the packaging or labeling of each item. However, alternate embodiments may incorporate more conventional identification methods such as bar codes, serial numbers, and magnetic strips.
As the item in question moves through the supply chain, the USCID of each successive supply chain company to take possession of the item is stored in the UCID record history. The process may include optional steps for wholesale transactions. The supply chain inventory server receives a request from a supply chain wholesale server (step 307). The inventory server validates the request by looking up the UCID record and identifying the requesting server (step 308). The inventory server then updates the UCID record history (step 309).
The steps for retail transactions start with the inventory server receiving a request from a supply chain retail server (step 310). The inventory server validates the request by looking up the UCID record and identifying the requesting retail server (step 311). The inventory server then updates the UCID record history and records the payment information (step 312).
When the item is finally sold to an end user by a retailer, the transaction is validated and recorded in the UCID record history for that item (step 313). In the preferred embodiment, this would be accomplished via a RFID reader at the retail point of sale (POS) that would read the UCID of the item. As pointed out above, other well known identification techniques may also be used at the POS.
An invoicing server records the wholesale invoices in the accounting system (step 314). These are derived by assessing the USCIDs in the UCID record history and the wholesale invoicing scale associated with the product UPID. The server also records the retail invoice in the accounting system (step 315). This is derived by assessing the Retail USCID in the UCID record history and the retail invoicing scale of the UPID.
The invention periodically generates an invoice (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) (step 316). The accounting system processes an invoice history of un-invoiced UCIDs and prepares invoices accordingly. The accounting system then records the invoice in the UCID record history (step 317).
The process begins by initializing the back-end servers (step 401). This involves preparing the database server by selecting the database software of choice. The database is created with associated tables for storing the following information:
The next steps comprises the pre-shipping (manufacture) transactions. A new entry is created in the UPID table for a new product (step 402). For an existing product, an active UPID would be selected from the UPID table.
A new UCID record is created for the selected UPID (step 403), and a Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is set in the UCID record (step 404). The MSRP is used for calculating the proper commission(s) for the supplier(s) in the supply and distribution chain as well as determining the amount to collect from the end user during the retail transaction.
The initial Supply Chain Company is selected and its USCID is stored in the UCID record, which is added to the UCID table (step 405).
The product identified by the UPID is then manufactured, and that copy is then labeled with its own UCID (step 406) and delivered to the supply chain company identified by the USCID (step 407). As before the UCID labeling and tracking for each item can be accomplished using a variety of techniques known in the art. In the preferred embodiment RFID is used, but more conventional identification methods such as bar codes, serial numbers, and magnetic strips may also be employed.
As with the previous process described above, the USCID of each successive supply chain company to take possession of the item is stored in the UCID record history as the item in question moves through the supply chain. The commission payment process may also include optional steps for wholesale transactions. The supply chain inventory server receives a request from a supply chain wholesale server (step 408). The inventory server validates the request by looking up the UCID record and identifying the requesting server (step 409). The inventory server then updates the UCID record history (step 410).
The steps for retail transactions start with the inventory server receiving a request from a supply chain retail server (step 411). The inventory server validates the request by looking up the UCID record and identifying the requesting retail server (step 412). The inventory server then updates the UCID record history and records the payment information (step 413).
When the item is finally sold to an end user by a retailer, payment is collected directly by the back end system and the transaction is validated and recorded in the UCID record history for that item (step 414). In the preferred embodiment, the recordation would be accomplished via a RFID reader at the retail point of sale (POS) that reads the UCID of the item. Other well known identification techniques may also be used at the POS.
An accounting server records the wholesale commissions in the accounting system (step 415). These are derived by assessing the USCIDs in the UCID record history and the wholesale commission scale associated with the product UPID. The server also records the retail commission in the accounting system (step 416). This is derived by assessing the Retail USCID in the UCID record history and the retail commission scale of the UPID.
The invention periodically generates payments to the supply chain (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) (step 417). The accounting system processes a commission history of unpaid UCIDs and prepares commission payments accordingly. The accounting system then records the payment in the UCID record history (step 418).
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the manufacturer retains ownership of the product until it is sold to the end user by the retailer. This arrangement is facilitated by the detailed tracking of each item through the entire supply chain from the manufacturer to the end user. Furthermore, having the manufacturer retain ownership of the merchandise until final sale may have tax benefits for distributors and retailers since the merchandise is not their inventory but that of the manufacturer.
The invention also has the benefit of the allowing the manufacturer to very precisely track the distribution path of each item sold and determine the most efficient distribution routes for particular products and well as the most effective distributors and sellers. Precise invoicing and payment of commissions throughout the supply chain also allows efficient distributors and providers to better internalize the benefits produced from their operations.
The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations will be possible to the disclosed embodiments without going outside the scope of the invention as disclosed in the claims.