United States Patent [19J
`Blinn et al.
`
`111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US006058373A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,058,373
`May 2, 2000
`
`[54] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING
`ELECTRONIC ORDER FORMS
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Arnold Blinn, Bellevue, Wash.;
`Michael Ari Cohen, San Francisco,
`Calif.; Michael Lorton; Gregory J.
`Stein, both of Redmond, Wash.
`
`[73] Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond,
`Wash.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/732,205
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Oct. 16, 1996
`
`Int. Cl? ....................................................... GOSB 9/00
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl. ................................. 705/26; 705/22; 705/27;
`705/28
`[58] Field of Search .................................. 705/20, 22, 26,
`705/27, 28, 29
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,799,156
`5,347,632
`5,710,887
`
`1!1989 Shavit et a!. .
`9/1994 Filepp et a!. .
`1!1998 Chelliah et a!.
`
`395/226
`
`01HER PUBLICATIONS
`
`General overview and description of eShop Technology,
`Internet
`address:
`http://www.eshop.com/corp/technolo(cid:173)
`gy.html. This reference was copied from the Internet and
`printed around May 1996, although the pages are dated Jan.
`1, 1996.
`
`A compilation of press releases of various dates describing
`features of eShop Technology, Internet address: http://ww(cid:173)
`w.eshop.com/corp/press.html. This reference was copied
`from the Internet and printed around May 1996, although the
`pages are dated Jan. 1, 1996. Also note dates listed for press
`releases of Nov. 7, 1995, Dec. 7, 1995 and Jan. 23, 1996.
`eShop™ Technology Merchant Manual, Feb. 21, 1996. This
`document contains proprietary material subject to M.P.E.P. §
`724.
`Primary Examiner-Thomas R. Peeso
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lee & Hayes, PLLC
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention provides a method and system for
`processing electronic sales transactions. In a preferred
`embodiment, an electronic merchandising system allows
`merchants to create electronic orders which are easily adapt(cid:173)
`able for different sales situations. The preferred electronic
`order comprises flexible blackboards which allow merchants
`to add sales information with what are called key-value
`pairs. In the preferred embodiment, the order is an object
`which contains at least one order blackboard and one or
`more item blackboards. In addition, the preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ment contains an order processing module with multiple
`stages which process the order. The preferred stages include
`a product information stage, a merchant information stage,
`a shopper information stage, an order initialization stage, an
`order check stage, an item price adjust stage, an order price
`adjust stage, a shipping stage, a handling stage, a tax stage,
`an order total stage, an inventory stage, a payment stage and
`an accept stage.
`
`58 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets
`
`~!00
`
`ELECTRONIC
`MERCHANDISING
`SYSTEM
`
`!08
`
`COMMUNICATIONS
`MEDIUM
`
`!28
`
`!04
`
`!06
`
`!26
`
`ORDER
`PROCESSING
`MODULE
`
`STORE SERVER PROCESS
`
`MERCHANT SYSTEM
`
` 1
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

`

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`
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`
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`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

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`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 2, 2000
`
`Sheet 7 of 18
`
`6,058,373
`
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` 8
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

`

`302-----.......
`
`PRODUCT PRODUCT
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` 9
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 2, 2000
`
`Sheet 9 of 18
`
`6,058,373
`
`304
`~
`
`ORDER
`IDENTIFIER
`
`SHOPPER
`IDENTIFIER
`
`DATE
`CHANGED
`
`KEY-VALUE
`PAIRS
`
`• • •
`
`1st
`SHOPPER'S
`ORDER
`
`2nd
`SHOPPER'S
`ORDER
`
`•
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`
`•
`•
`•
`
`FIG, 9
`
`• • •
`
`• • •
`
`•
`•
`•
`
` 10
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

`

`!006
`_l
`
`!004
`
`ORDER FORM
`
`/1000
`
`bATE : - - - (cid:173)
`\
`NAME:-----
`ADDRESS: ____ _
`
`SHIPPING ADDRESS:
`
`CEDIT INFORMATION:
`
`\._1010
`
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`
`~1008
`1002 '\J
`
`ITEM
`
`QUANTITY I COLOR I SIZE I MODEL I DISCOUNT I PRICE
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`
`1014 ~UBTOTAL: - - - - - - -
`1016--......._TAX: - - - - - - -
`1018~TOTAL: - - - - - - -
`
`FIG 10
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`d •
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`
` 11
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 2, 2000
`
`Sheet 11 of 18
`
`6,058,373
`
`ORDER
`
`124
`
`ORDER BLACKBOARD
`
`KEY - VALUE
`KEY- VALUE
`•
`•
`•
`KEY - VALUE
`----------------
`ITEM BLACKBOARD
`
`KEY - VALUE
`KEY - VALUE
`•
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`•
`KEY - VALUE
`----------------
`•
`•
`•
`----------------
`ITEM BLACKBOARD
`
`350
`
`352
`
`352'
`
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`KEY - VALUE
`•
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`
`F/Q 11
`
`1100
`
`1100
`
`1100
`
`1100
`
`1100
`
`1100
`
` 12
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

`

`FIG, 12A
`
`FIG, 128
`
`FIG 12
`
`FIG, 12C
`
`'24
`
`0
`R
`D :_
`E
`R
`
`' - -
`
`1
`
`PRODUCT INFORMATION
`STAGE
`~354
`r--------1----L ___
`t
`I
`1200-......,_
`PRODUCT INFORMATION
`I
`DEFAULT COMPONENT
`I
`I
`1202"'- f
`I
`I
`PRODUCT INFORMATION
`I
`I
`OPTIONAL COMPONENTS:
`I
`[NONE]
`I
`I
`•
`I
`/!204
`I
`PRODUCT INFORMATION
`I
`I
`REQUIRED COMPONENT
`I
`~ - - -- - - _,_ - - - - - - ~
`-
`-
`-
`
`124
`
`0
`R
`D
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`R
`
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`
`MERCHANT INFORMATION STAGE~J55
`r
`- - t - - -
`t
`1205......_,__
`I
`I MERCHANT INFORMATION
`I
`DEFAULT COMPONENT
`I
`I
`[NONE]
`I
`0
`I R
`I
`I
`I D
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`t
`!208-......,_
`I
`E
`I R
`I MERCHANT INFORMATION
`I
`I
`. OPTIONAL COMPONENTS:
`I
`I
`I ..__
`[NONE)
`I
`I
`l
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`I
`/'210
`I
`I
`I
`I MERCHANT INFORMATION
`I
`REQUIRED COMPONENT
`I
`I
`I
`[NONE)
`I
`I - - - - - - - -1- - - - - - - ~
`-
`-
`!2A
`
`-
`
`-
`FIG
`
`d •
`\Jl
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`~
`~
`'-<
`~N
`
`N c c c
`
`'Jl =(cid:173)~
`~ .....
`'"""' N
`0 ......,
`'"""' 00
`
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`
`.... = Ul
`
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`....
`~
`......::.
`~
`
`SHOPPER INFORMATION STAGE LJ58
`
`12 !2 "-1-------
`
`r
`
`SHOPPER INFORMATION
`DEFAULT COMPONENT
`I
`1214-......., t
`SHOPPER INFORMATION
`OPTIONAL COMPONENTS:
`[NONE)
`
`•
`
`/!215
`SHOPPER INFORMATION
`REQUIRED COMPONENT
`[NONE]
`
`-------- -------
`-
`-
`
` 13
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
` (cid:9) (cid:9)
`
`
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`
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` (cid:9) (cid:9)
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`
` 14
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`
`

`

`-
`
`-
`
`-
`-
`I __ ~R~E~ ~OTAL STAG~ -:s~
`1262~ t
`ORDER TOTAL DEFAULT
`COMPONENT
`1264---..,_ f
`ORDER TOTAL OPTIONAL
`COMPONENTS:
`
`-
`rAX STAGE
`c82_
`-------
`1 !24
`!256~
`I
`TAX DEFAULT
`I
`COMPONENT
`I
`0
`(NONE)
`I R
`f
`1258-......
`I D
`I
`TAX OPTIONAL
`E
`I R
`COMPONENTS:
`:
`(SimpleUSTox)-----.
`[SimpleJoponTax]--- ~~
`] ~~258o
`[.
`S•mpleConodaToxJ- ~1258b
`[SimpleVATiax]- ---K~258c
`f
`f
`I 1258d
`TAX REQUIRED
`I 1260
`COMPONENT
`-
`_I
`
`(NONE)
`
`l /1266
`
`-
`
`124
`(-----
`
`0
`R
`D
`E
`R
`....___
`
`t
`ORDER TOTAL REQUIRED
`COMPONENT
`(NONE)
`-
`------
`-I
`-'
`ACCEPT STAGE~390
`128o--.._ · t
`-,
`
`c_J88
`
`-,
`
`I
`
`124
`
`ACCEPT DEFAULT
`COMPONENT
`(NONE]
`1282---..... f
`ACCEPT OPTIONAL
`COMPONENTS:
`[POGen]
`(POGenPipe)
`[SaveOrderToDb ~
`SaveltemsToDb
`[ReduceLocollnventory ]-
`t
`•
`/!2t!i4
`ACCEPT REQUIRED
`COMPONENT
`[NONE]
`
`L---------------'
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`- .L
`I
`I
`T
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`!24
`
`PAYMENT STAGE
`~-------
`I
`1274~
`- I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
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`I
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`I
`I
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`
`0
`R
`D
`E
`R
`
`-
`
`PAYMENT DEFAULT
`COMPONENT
`
`1276--...... f
`PAYMENT OPTIONAL
`COMPONENTS:
`VERIFONE
`
`/1278
`
`t
`PAYMENT REQUIRED
`COMPONENT
`
`L------- ________ I
`
`- - -
`
`- -
`
`0
`R
`D
`E
`R
`
`-
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`-
`-
`I
`INVENTORY STAGE £
`~-------1---
`t
`1268--......._
`INVENTORY DEFAULT
`COMPONENT
`[NONE)
`
`--
`
`I
`
`I
`I
`I
`• /1270
`I
`I
`INVENTORY OPTIONAL
`I
`COMPONENTS:
`I
`[FioglnventoryJ- ~
`[Locallnventory]- r-......
`
`0
`R
`D
`E
`R
`
`1270o
`1270b
`
`+
`' 1272-..__
`INVENTORY REQUIRED
`COMPONENT
`[NONE]
`
`-
`
`FIG 12(
`
`1282o
`1282b
`1282c
`1282d
`1282e
`
`d •
`\Jl
`•
`~
`~ .....
`~ = .....
`
`~
`~
`'-<
`~N
`
`N c c c
`
`'JJ. =(cid:173)~
`~ .....
`'"""' ~
`0 ......,
`'"""' 00
`
`0\
`
`.... = Ul
`
`00
`....
`~
`......::.
`~
`
` 15
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 2, 2000
`
`Sheet 15 of 18
`
`6,058,373
`
`!300
`/ '
`( START
`
`/!302
`
`CONSUMER ACCESSES
`MERCHANDIZING SYSTEM
`
`A
`
`!304~
`
`CONSUMER VIEWS
`VIRTUAL STORE
`I
`
`J
`
`CONSUMER
`SELECTS
`EXIT
`
`!350,
`
`END
`
`1306\
`
`1320~
`
`ct33o
`
`CONSUMER
`VIEWS ITEM
`
`CONSUMER SELECTS CONSUMER SELECTS
`PURCHASE OPTION
`SHOPPING BASKET
`
`1308"
`PROCESS ORDER
`(SEE FIG. 14)
`
`1310\
`
`DISPLAY PRODUCT
`INFORMATION
`
`1322\
`
`[1332
`
`PROCESS ORDER
`(SEE FIG. 15)
`
`PROCESS ORDER
`(SEE FIG. 15)
`
`1324\
`
`(1334
`
`DISPLAY ORDER
`INFORMATION
`
`DISPLAY PURCHASE
`TOTAL
`
`(1336
`
`A
`
`DISPLAY PURCHASE
`PAYMENT INFORMATION
`
`A
`
`/1338
`
`PROCESS ORDER
`(SEE FIG. 16)
`
`/1340
`
`FULFILL ORDER
`
`FIG !3
`
`A
`
` 16
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 2, 2000
`
`Sheet 16 of 18
`
`6,058,373
`
`START
`
`1400
`
`/1402
`
`PAGE GENERATOR OR
`ACTION MANAGER
`CREATES AN ORDER
`FOR AN
`ITEM
`
`'
`
`/1404
`
`ADD KEY-VALUE
`PAIRS TO
`ITEM BLACKBOARD
`
`/1406'
`
`PRODUCT INFORMATION
`STAGE
`
`/1408
`r----....L-.....L.---,
`
`ITEM PRICE
`ADJUST
`
`r r-1410
`
`END
`
`FIG: 14
`
` 17
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 2, 2000
`
`Sheet 17 of 18
`
`6,058,373
`
`START
`
`!500
`
`r-!502
`
`ACTION MANAGER
`CREATES AN ORDER
`CONTAINING ALL
`SELECTED ITEMS
`
`(1504
`
`ADD KEY-VALUE
`PAIRS TO ORDER
`BLACKBOARD AND
`ITEM BLACKBOARDS
`
`/!506
`
`PRODUCT
`INFORMATION
`STAGE
`
`/!508
`
`MERCHANT
`INFORMATION
`STAGE
`
`(!5!0
`
`SHOPPER
`INFORMATION
`STAGE
`
`1!5!2
`
`ORDER
`INITIALIZATION
`STAGE
`
`(15!4
`
`ORDER
`CHECK
`STAGE
`
`FIG 15
`
`~15 16
`
`ITEM PRICE
`ADJUST STAGE
`
`;t.
`
`'.5!8
`
`ORDER PRICE
`ADJUST STAGE
`
`~0
`(15.
`
`SHIPPING
`STAGE
`
`/15.
`
`HANDLING
`STAGE
`
`/!5.
`
`TAX
`STAGE
`
`/15.
`
`ORDER TOTAL
`STAGE
`
`/'5.
`
`INVENTORY
`STAGE
`
`~
`
`0
`/!53;
`
`END
`
` 18
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 2, 2000
`
`Sheet 18 of 18
`
`6,058,373
`
`START
`
`1600
`
`/!602
`ACTION MANAGER
`CREATES AN ORDER
`CONTAINING ALL
`SELECTED ITEMS
`
`/!604
`
`ADD I<EY-VALUE
`PAIRS TO ORDER
`BLACKBOARD AND
`ITEM BLACKBOARDS
`
`/!606
`
`PRODUCT
`INFORMATION
`STAGE
`
`r-!608
`
`MERCHANT
`INFORMATION
`STAGE
`
`L'6Jo
`
`SHOPPER
`INFORMATION
`STAGE
`
`.Lf612
`
`ORDER
`INITIALIZATION
`STAGE
`
`/1614
`
`ORDER
`CHECK
`STAGE
`
`/1616
`
`ITEM PRICE
`ADJUST STAGE
`
`FIG 16
`
`18
`L_6
`
`ORDER PRICE
`ADJUST STAGE
`
`!620
`~·
`
`SHIPPING
`STAGE
`
`//.
`'6'22
`
`HANDLING
`STAGE
`
`TAX
`STAGE
`
`1624
`( '
`
`1626
`_C
`
`ORDER TOTAL
`STAGE
`
`£·
`1628
`INVENTORY
`STAGE
`
`//.
`630
`
`PAYMENT
`STAGE
`
`('6.
`'32
`
`ACCEPT
`STAGE
`
`4
`(163
`
`END
`
`)
`
` 19
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

`

`6,058,373
`
`10
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING
`ELECTRONIC ORDER FORMS
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to computer network communica(cid:173)
`tion systems and, more particularly, to electronic merchan(cid:173)
`dising systems which allow consumers to purchase goods
`and services over a distributed network.
`2. Background
`Electronic merchandising systems currently exist which
`a~low users to purchase goods and services from a variety of
`different merchants over a distributed computer network
`such as the Internet. With systems of this type, the merchants
`typically establish a virtual store which end users can
`interactively view with a personal computer which is con(cid:173)
`nected to the network. The end users or consumers can then
`purchase desired items offered for sale.
`In World Wide Web ("Web") based implementations the
`virtual stores are in the form of hypertext documents w'hich 20
`are hosted by the Web sites of the respective merchants.
`Typically, a Web site is an Internet-connected computer or
`computer system which runs server software for serving
`information using the standard protocols of the World Wide
`Web. In other implementations, the merchants' hypertext 25
`documents may, for example, be hosted by a centralized
`computer of an on-line services network, such as the
`Microsoft Network (MSN), or by an Internet site which is
`accessed using proprietary applications software.
`Conventional hypertext documents contain pictures, tex- 30
`tual descriptions, and pricing information with respect to the
`products and/or services offered by the respective mer(cid:173)
`chants. In addition, the hypertext documents include elec(cid:173)
`tronic order forms which allow consumers to purchase the
`goods and services offered by the merchants. The hypertext 35
`documents are typically accessed using a standard Web
`browser application which runs on the consumer's com(cid:173)
`puter.
`For example, a consumer may direct his Web browser to
`access a merchant's hypertext documents. Upon viewing a
`desired good or service, the consumer fills out an electronic
`order form which specifies the name of the consumer a
`shipping address, billing information, the desired good' or
`service, etc. The consumer's Web browser then transmits the
`electronic order form to the Merchant's Website. Upon
`receiving the electronic order form, the Merchant Website
`processes the electronic order form to complete the sales
`transaction.
`Prior art electronic merchandising systems, however,
`typically use electronic order forms comprising rigid records
`with fixed attributes. Consequently, conventional electronic
`order forms are not easily adaptable to the rapidly changing
`electronic sales environment. Furthermore, changes in the
`electronic order form often require corresponding changes in
`the electronic purchasing system.
`In addition, conventional electronic merchandising sys(cid:173)
`tems process the electronic order forms with modules which
`typically require a significant level of inter-module commu(cid:173)
`nication. The inter-module communication usually requires
`significant order processing resources. In addition, the com(cid:173)
`plex interrelationships which exist between the modules
`make any changes to the purchasing process a time con(cid:173)
`suming and risky task.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention provides a method and system for
`processing electronic sales transactions. In a preferred
`
`5
`
`2
`embodiment, the electronic merchandising system allows
`merchants to create electronic orders which are easily adapt(cid:173)
`able for different sales situations. The preferred electronic
`order comprises flexible blackboards which allow merchants
`to add sales information with what are called key-value
`pairs. The sales transaction information stored in the key(cid:173)
`value pairs may include, by a way of example, special
`~hipping. information, unique billing information, gift wrap
`mformatlon, monogram information, etc.
`Unlike other order forms which rely on specific database
`structures or other structured formats, the order of the
`present invention contains as many key-value pairs as are
`necessary to define a sales transaction. This allows mer(cid:173)
`chants to easily customize the electronic merchandising
`15 system for diverse sales transactions. Advantageously, mer(cid:173)
`chants can add new key-value pairs or delete existing
`key-value pairs to modify the electronic merchandizing
`system.
`For example, a conventional order form typically contains
`a list of purchased items and other order information. The
`order information, also referred to as the order properties,
`the name of the shopper, the shopper's address, the shipping
`address, the order subtotal, the taxes and the order total
`amount. The list of items typically contains an entry for each
`item and item information such as the quantity of items, the
`color, size and model of items, the item discount item price
`etc.
`'
`'
`Such order forms will vary from merchant to merchant.
`For example, an international merchant may require com(cid:173)
`plex tax information, a merchant which provides gift wrap(cid:173)
`ping will need gift wrapping information, a merchant which
`provides monogram services will need monogram
`information, etc. In addition, in the electronic merchandising
`business, new services and billing methods are being added
`at a rapid pace. For example, if a merchant accepts digital
`cash, the merchant will have to modify the billing informa(cid:173)
`tion to accept digital cash information.
`Unfortunately, conventional electronic merchandising
`40 systems typically represent the order information and item
`information in predefined formats such as a database format
`with specific fields. If new payment methods are needed or
`if a merchant has unique needs, the merchant must revise the
`specified order form format. Unfortunately, revising the
`45 order form format can result in significant revisions to the
`electronic merchandising software.
`One approach in conventional electronic merchandising
`systems is to predefine every data element which may be
`needed in any sales transactions. For example, some com-
`50 panies have attempted to define every data element which is
`needed for shipping information. Unfortunately, even if
`every possible data element needed to represent current sales
`transactions could be predefined, new sales transactions
`would arise which require new revisions to the electronic
`55 merchandising software.
`Rather than utilizing a predefined organization of data
`elements, the present invention utilizes an order with mul(cid:173)
`tiple key-value pairs which are not organized with a pre(cid:173)
`defined format. In the preferred embodiment, the order is an
`60 object which contains at least one order blackboard and one
`or more item blackboards. Preferably, each blackboard con(cid:173)
`tains a set of key-value pairs. Each key-value pair, in turn,
`contains a value and a key which identifies the value. In the
`order blackboard, the key-value pairs contain order proper-
`65 ties such as the consumer's name, the consumer's address,
`the desired shipping address, the billing information, the
`order subtotal, the taxes, the order total, etc.
`
` 20
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1025, Page
`
`

`

`6,058,373
`
`4
`discount may apply to the electronic order. When the pro(cid:173)
`motion component receives the electronic order, the promo(cid:173)
`tion component performs the necessary calculations to dis(cid:173)
`count the price of the electronic order based on the contents
`5 of the discount key-value pair.
`In another aspect of the present invention, the components
`in the order pipeline use the order as their primary means of
`intercommunication. If a first component needs to pass
`information to a second component, the first component
`stores the appropriate key-value pair in the order. Thus, the
`components communicate with each other by storing infor(cid:173)
`mation in the order. This reduces the system requirements
`needed to support inter-component communication.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`3
`The key-value pairs in the item blackboards contain
`information about each item. Preferably, an item blackboard
`exists for each item. Furthermore, the key-value pairs in one
`item blackboard can differ from the key-value pairs in
`another item blackboard. For example, the key-value pairs in
`one of the item blackboards contain, but are not limited to,
`1) the information which defines a particular item such as the
`item stock keeping unit (sku) and item quantity, 2) the
`information sent from the consumer to the merchant which
`defines additional services associated with the item (i.e., a 10
`monogram service or a gift wrapping service) and 3) infor(cid:173)
`mation known to the merchant and kept on the item black(cid:173)
`board for reference such as an item description, an item size,
`an item price, etc.
`In the preferred embodiment, an order processing module 15
`processes the order. The order processing module contains
`an order engine and multiple components called the order
`pipeline. The order engine determines which components in
`the order pipeline process the order. Each component in the
`order pipeline reads from or writes to its assigned key-value 20
`pairs. Upon receiving an order form, a component searches
`for its assigned key-value pairs and adds its own key-value
`pairs necessary to process the order.
`Thus, each component only modifies its assigned key(cid:173)
`value pairs. This allows a merchant to add new key-value 25
`pairs without having to also modify the software instructions
`in the existing order processing components. For example,
`assume that a merchant sells shirts. Furthermore, assume
`that the merchant desires to provide a monogram service
`which adds a consumer's initials to the purchased shirts. As 30
`discussed in more detail below, the merchant defines within
`the merchant software, a monogram key-value pair which
`comprises a monogram key word and a corresponding value
`which stores the consumer's initials. Furthermore, the mer(cid:173)
`chant adds a customized monogram component to the order 35
`processing module.
`In this example, when the consumer purchases a shirt with
`the monogram service option, the consumer enters his
`initials. The electronic merchandising system then creates an
`order with the key-value pairs necessary to complete the
`sales transaction. In this example, the electronic merchan(cid:173)
`dising system also adds the monogram key-value pair to the
`order.
`Each component in the order processing system processes
`its assigned key-value pairs. When the monogram compo(cid:173)
`nent receives an electronic order, the monogram component
`searches the electronic order for the monogram key-value
`pair and performs the necessary steps to ensure that the
`appropriate amount is billed for the monogram service.
`Thus, the preferred embodiment of the present invention
`allows the merchants to customize the electronic merchan(cid:173)
`dising system for different sales situations with a minimal
`amount of programming effort. Rather than having to alter
`existing order processing components for different sales 55
`transactions, a merchant can modify the existing component
`or replace an existing component with a new component.
`Accordingly, the programing effort required to modify the
`existing order processing module is greatly reduced.
`For example, suppose a merchant has an order processing
`system which computes the price of an order. Furthermore,
`assume that the merchant desires to provide a promotional
`discount. With the preferred embodiment of the present
`invention, the merchant simply adds 1) a promotion key(cid:173)
`value pair to the electronic order and 2) a promotion 65
`component to the order processing system. In this example,
`the promotion key-value pair identifies that a promotional
`
`50
`
`These and other aspects, advantages, and novel features of
`the invention will become apparent upon reading the fol(cid:173)
`lowing detailed description and upon reference to accom(cid:173)
`panying drawings in which:
`FIG. 1 is a high level block diagram illustrating the
`preferred electronic merchandising system.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the architecture of
`the preferred electronic merchandising system.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the preferred mod(cid:173)
`ules in the store server process.
`FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
`graphical user interface for a shopping cart in the preferred
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
`graphical us