as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0099631 Al
`(43) Pub. Date: Jul. 25, 2002
`
`Vankeret al.
`
`US 20020099631A1
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR
`TRANSFERRING INFORMATION BETWEEN
`MULTIPLE BUYERS AND MULTIPLE
`SELLERS
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors: David Vanker, Troy, MI (US);
`Thaddeus O. MacKrell, Grosse Pointe,
`MI (US)
`
`of provisional application No. 60/262,182, filed on
`Jan. 17, 2001.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Inte C17 caceccccccecsensseen G06G 1/14; GO6F 17/60
`(51)
`(52) US. Ch.
`caecsscssssssssstsnssssistnstnnsetn 705/28; 705/22
`
`Correspondence Address:
`BANIAK PINE & GANNON
`Suite 1200
`150 N. Wacker Drive
`Chicago, IL 60606-1606 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10/050,615
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 16, 2002
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`application No.
`(63) Non-provisional of provisional
`60/262,184, filed on Jan. 17, 2001. Non-provisional
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method for transferring information between multiple
`buyers and multiple vendors is provided. Information is
`received from a plurality of sources. This information cor-
`responds to a plurality of products. This information is
`stored in a first database. A request is received. The request
`concerns a portion of the information stored in the first
`database. The request is then retrieved from the first data-
`base and posted to a second database. Access is provided to
`subsets of the second database to a plurality of subscribers.
`
`
` Communcations
`
`Interfaces for
`Data
`
`
`
`Viewing and
`collection
`
`
`
`Transmitting Data
` Devices
`
`
`(142, 144, 146,
`148, 150, 152)
`
`
`206
`
`
`database
`
`
`Data subset
`
`Exception
`
`
`Central Inventory
`capture and
`presentation
` information
`
`
`
`Data Repository
`reporting
`engine
`
`
`engine
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Vendor
`
`
`
`product
`attributes
`
`
`database
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Communications
`Interfaces for
`Viewing and
`Transmitting Data
`(142, 144, 146,
`148, 150, 152)
`
`
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 1
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jul. 25,2002 Sheet 1 of 9
`
`US 2002/0099631 Al
`
`FIG. 1
`
`PRIOR ART
`
`20°
`
`22JC
`
`26C
`
`PROVI-1009- Page 2
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jul. 25,2002 Sheet 2 of 9
`
`US 2002/0099631 Al
`
`42
`Pp
`
`10
`
`142
`
`FIG. 2
`
`430
`
`116
`
`146
`
`132
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`t08|| C) | 77 1 5
`
`
`
`
`
`112
`
`OO :
`\\ te
`3
`
`3
`
`16
`
`|
`
`SS
`
`~
`
`10
`
`2
`
`148
`
`11
`
`14
`0
`
`MM
`4
`
`110
`
`172
`
`yl
`,
`
`/)
`oa NI
`
`17
`
`ARM=
` 0i 1 OV:||
`OPO
`
`
`
`
`
`118
`
`©6138
`
`152
`
`130
`
`134
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 3
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jul. 25,2002 Sheet 3 of 9
`
`US 2002/0099631 Al
`
`FIG. 3
`
`
` Communcations
`Interfaces for
`
`
` Data
`
`
`Viewing and
`collection
`
`Transmitting Data
`Devices
`
`
`
`(142, 144, 146,
`
`
`
`148, 150, 152)
`
`128, 130, 132
`136, 138, 140)
`
`
`206
`
`
`
`
`Product
`Data subset
`
`:
`:
`Central Inventory
`.
`presentation
`Data Revosito
`information
`
`
`
`
`engine
`p
`"y
`database
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Exception
`capture and
`reporting
`engine
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Vendor
`
`
`
`Communications
`
`
`product
`
`Interfaces for
`
`attributes
`
`
`Viewing and
`database
`
`
`Transmitting Data
`
`
`(142, 144, 146,
`
`148, 150, 152)
`
`
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 4
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jul. 25,2002 Sheet 4 of 9
`
`US 2002/0099631 Al
`
`FIG. 4
`
`330
`
`340
`
`Useridentity and security key
`
`310
`
`{
`
`|
`
`|
`
` Communications
`
`
`Database of
`
`
`interface for
`useridentities
`Verified
`First log
`Forced
`
`
`
`transmitting,
`password
`in?
`and security
`
`
`
`
`viewing data
`keys
`change
`
`
`
`
`
`Not Verified
`
`
`
`
`Resubmittal,
`automatic
`
`
`reassignmentof
`password for
`valid usernames
`
`
`system users
`
`Application
`Module
`Access
`
`Data
`Subset
`Access
`
`ommunicatio
`with other
`
`320
`
`322
`
`324
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 5
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 5
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jul. 25,2002 Sheet 5 of 9
`
`US 2002/0099631 Al
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Buyer1
`
`Buyer3
`
`Buyer2
`
`PROVI-1009- Page 6
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jul. 25,2002 Sheet 6 of 9
`
`US 2002/0099631 Al
`
`FIG. 6
`
`2-Dimensional Data Table
`
` Regina Hatch °
`Employer:.
`Gerieral Hospitatfintérwéntional Radiology
`
`Tree View
`
`
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 7
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 7
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jul. 25,2002 Sheet 7 of 9
`
`US 2002/0099631 Al
`
`FIG. 7
`
`“Tree”’-form Hierarchical
`Data Table
`
`
`
`(Accessories- Interventional
`& 3 Balloon Catheter
` ©) £3 Boston Scientific/Scimed
`2 Sy MAX
`£2) 15779 | MODEL 7F MAXT1 55CM
`[715787 | MODEL 7F MAX CL1 400M
`([ Cordis, a Johnson & Johnson Company
`= (1) Catheter
`
`SS Catheter, Ablation
`(7 Bard Electrophysiology
`= (2 Closure Device
`# (5) Contrast Material
`& (4) Defibrilators & Leads
`
`| Qty: 11
`|UOM:EA | Qty/UOM:1
`J|UOM:EA | Qty/UOM:1 | Qty: 65
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 8
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 8
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jul. 25,2002 Sheet 8 of 9
`
`US 2002/0099631 Al
`
`FIG. 8
`
` - Quantity + Quantity_On_Order
`
`| Par
`
`Low Threshold
`
`Over Threshold
`
`Low Stock
`
`
`
`410 _
`
`Over
`Stock
`
`420
`
`Low
`Stock
`Watch
`List
`
`430
`
`Over
`Stock
`Watch
`List
`
`440 a
`
`450°~
`
`-
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 9
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 9
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jul. 25,2002 Sheet 9 of 9
`
`US 2002/0099631 Al
`
`FIG. 9
`
`
`
`500
`
`
`Node
`Receives
`Information
`
`
`
` 510
`Node
`
`
`Stores
`
`Request
`
` 520
`
`
` 530
`
`
`
`
`
`540
`
`
`Node
`Posts
`information
`
`
`
`Node
`Receives
`Request
`
`
`
`Node
`Retrieves
`Information
`
`
`550
`
`
`Node Provides
`Accessto
`Subscribers
`
`
`
`
` 560
`
`Subscriber
`
`Transacts
`Business
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 10
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 10
`
`

`

`US 2002/0099631 Al
`
`Jul. 25, 2002
`
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSFERRING
`INFORMATION BETWEEN MULTIPLE BUYERS
`AND MULTIPLE SELLERS
`
`APPLICATION HISTORY
`
`[0001] This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provi-
`sional Patent Application, Serial No. 60/262,182, filed on
`Jan. 17, 2001 and entitled “Method and System for Trans-
`ferring Blood-Related Information Between Multiple Buy-
`ers and Multiple Sellers of Blood,” and U.S. Provisional
`Patent Application, Serial No. 60/262,184, filed on Jan. 17,
`2001 and entitled “Method and System for Transferring
`Inventory Information Between Multiple Buyers and Mul-
`tiple Sellers.”
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002] The present invention generally relates to the field
`of information transfer and, more specifically, to a method
`and system for transferring information between multiple
`buyers and multiple vendors.
`
`BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
`
`corresponding product visibility with regard to location,
`type and disposition. Furthermore, the optimization of the
`product at the point of use is made possible by licensed
`access for a vendor and their ability to use the present
`invention and supporting decision tools to move the neces-
`sary inventory to the optimal or immediate point of con-
`sumption. Since the needs of each customeris different, the
`present invention allows individual vendor and customer
`licensors to set mutually agreed-upon inventory levels which
`satisfy the operational requirement for each customer, while
`avoiding excessive stocking by either party.
`
`[0007] The present invention is thus designedto invigorate
`and optimize the general commercial activities of partici-
`pating industries. Beyond simple inventory consumption
`triggers and product level analysis, the present invention
`provides a platform for the easy collection and dissemina-
`tion of a wide range of commerce-related information
`throughout an industry, without burdening any party with
`more than a single, direct
`interface to all other parties.
`Furthermore, intelligent controls limit access by each indi-
`vidual while mutually agreeable licensing agreements and
`syndicate arrangements allow each vendor and customer to
`control the expansion and participation of parties in the
`model.
`
`[0003] Traditional inventory management systems were
`internally focused (i.e., only concerned about a particular
`customeror a particular vendor), and insight into inventory
`on hand was limited to each party’s ownstaff. As a result,
`inventory management systems for both customers and
`vendors were limited to managing current stock on hand and
`alerting responsible parties when to re-order certain prod-
`ucts. Any visibility into a customer’s inventory level by a
`vendor or a vendor’s stocking level by a customer was
`established through a specific arrangement and proprietary
`[0010] FIG.3isa flow chart illustrating the basic function
`computer system integration.
`of the system of FIG.2;
`
`[0004] Another obstacle was that, in most vendors’ and
`most customers’ internal systems,
`inventory, production,
`sales management, billing, etc. were very often based on
`many separate computer systems. These systems lacked the
`standardization afforded by a common communicative lan-
`guage, one that would enable an efficient data exchange.
`Furthermore, this lack of standardization prevented not only
`vendors from proactively managing their customers, but also
`prevented different departments of the same customer from
`accurately viewing product stocking and consumptionrates.
`
`Thereis, therefore, a need to provide a method and
`[0005]
`system for transferring information between multiple buyers
`and multiple sellers that overcomes the above-stated disad-
`vantages.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`[0006] The present invention provides an industry-wide,
`multi-party inventory management system. The system of
`the present invention comprises a collective view of the
`inventory levels within an entire market while extending the
`“just in time” inventory practices of each manufacturer to
`the point of consumption through the deployment of “point
`of use” level data capture devices and a central database.
`Individually established product re-supply level points are
`used by the central database’s operating system to trigger a
`vendor’s re-supply and billing mechanisms. Licensed access
`by a manufacturer sales or service representative in the field,
`coupled with the use of similar data collection devices,
`enables the management of truck stock inventory and the
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`
`[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the current
`environment of an inventory management system;
`
`[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment
`of an inventory management system, in accordance with the
`present invention;
`
`[0011] FIG. 4 is a flow chartillustrating the security and
`access control component of the system of FIG.2;
`
`FIG.5 illustrates an array highlighting a dynamic
`{0012]
`creation of customized data sets, according to the system of
`FIG.2;
`
`FIG.6 illustrates an example of a two-dimensional
`[0013]
`data table, as used in the system of FIG. 2;
`
`[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a vertical and
`hierarchical data trees, as used in the system of FIG.2;
`
`[0015] FIG. 8 is a table illustrating user-determined
`thresholds, for use in the system of FIG. 2; and
`
`[0016] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for
`transferring information between multiple buyers and mul-
`tiple vendors, in accordance with the system of FIG.2.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`[0017] The present invention relates to a community—or
`market-wide, multi-contributor, pooled inventory system
`that enables all licensed parties to have selective access to
`data elements. The data elements preferably relate to various
`aspects of a particular industry. In turn, access to the data
`elements enable the licensed parties to effect specific actions
`concerning the data elements, such as, for example, auto-
`mated re-supply, billing, consignment, truck stock manage-
`ment, service, marketing, general communication improve-
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 11
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 11
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`

`

`US 2002/0099631 Al
`
`Jul. 25, 2002
`
`ments, etc. The present invention may be managed by one of
`the market participants or, alternatively, by an independent
`third party.
`
`out the market in order to minimize excess manufacturing,
`to review consumption of critical supply and to manage
`customer consignment programs.
`
`[0018] Shared visibility into product parameters—such as
`quantities, locations, expiration dates, arrival dates, delivery
`status, point of origin, etc—between multiple buyers on one
`hand and multiple sellers on the other relies on a coordinated
`and common system between the parties. “Coordinated” in
`the above phrase means built and maintained to serve
`particular subsets of relevant data to the respective parties,
`with features that both add value on either end of the
`equation (distinctly for buyers and sellers) and provide
`protection for the parties’ internal data. The coordination of
`data gathering, storage, sharing, and value-added manipu-
`lation between multiple independent buyers and suppliers
`(or distributing and receiving entities in the case of a single
`organization) is the essence of this invention. The preferred
`embodimentof a coordinatorin this inventionis the host and
`
`ongoing administrator of an electronic repository of data and
`software tools that together constitute a software applica-
`tion, also known as an application service provider (ASP).
`“Common,” as used above, means available to both the
`parties, as part of their current (or an easily obtainable)
`internal system for transmitting, manipulating and viewing
`information, and based on communication standards sup-
`ported on both ends of the transaction. The preferred
`embodiment of a common system for communicationis, in
`this case, the Internet or any similar communication system.
`
`[0019] The processes covered by this invention may be
`grouped into generic features (such as security) and two
`independent cycles (for buyers and sellers), with several
`points of intersection. Elements of these cycles—selected
`features that add value for users of the system by enhancing
`insight into inventory disposition and related commercial
`activity—are not new. The invention’s innovations lie in the
`particular processes that make the data valid, comprehen-
`sible and useful to parties on opposite ends of a transaction
`and in the cumulative effect—real-time, shared visibility
`into inventory at
`the point of use or sale, forming an
`industry-wide, multi-party inventory management system.
`
`[0020] By enabling the multi-customer collection and
`pooling of inventory, the present invention permits an entire
`vertical market of customers having similar interests to take
`advantage of higher levels of service from an unlimited
`number of vendors and distributors, including widespread
`consignment inventory practices.
`
`[0021] Furthermore, by pooling data contributions from
`multiple customers and by allowing vendors to view and
`interpret specific data as it relates to certain rules of access,
`the present invention foregoes the need for each individual
`customer to have a computer connection to each vendoror
`distributor. Thus, from either the vendoror distributor per-
`spective, the multi-customer pooled data provides insight
`and enables action with regard to individual customers, but
`also foregoesthe traditional requirement of having a specific
`link or intermittent query of each individual customer.
`
`invention enables an
`the present
`[0022] Furthermore,
`extension of “just in time” manufacturing practices through
`to the point of consumption. This increased visibility on
`product stocking levels enables the participating manufac-
`tures to optimize available product across the entire market,
`to view field agent’s trunk supply, to move product through-
`
`To this end, a “many to many” method and appa-
`[0023]
`ratus for the syndication of inventory and associated data
`between two or more parties via a computer system or
`systems managed by one of the parties or by a third,
`independentparty through an “all parties”licensing arrange-
`mentis provided by the present invention. According to the
`present invention, competitive manufacturers or suppliers of
`product obtain licensed access to a database which contains
`continuously updated condition and consumption informa-
`tion on their products provided by the market consumers via
`barcode readers or like systems. Additionally, the central
`database managing licensor accepts inventory data from
`licensees and then assembles, sorts and feeds back a collec-
`tion of the relevant data to all engaged parties in the
`arrangement
`to include product manufactures and their
`agents, as well as producers, distributors, testers and con-
`sumers or users.
`
`[0024] Data contribution can also include information
`from the manufactureror distributor to the customer on the
`
`status of product which is in route to the customer’s location,
`as well as information on pricing, billing, account status,
`productrecalls, marketing and the like. Although commerce
`can be executed through the system, the present invention is
`primarily designed to collect and organize data which opti-
`mizes the entire commercial process, but is not limited to
`one element, such as, for example, the product selection or
`purchase.
`
`To that end, licensing parties might also include
`[0025]
`other commerce facilitators such as group purchasing orga-
`nizations and industry-wide communication exchanges
`(e.g., Internet exchanges). These organizations may license
`information regarding the continuous flow of product
`between the customers and the vendors or distributors in
`
`order to enable such activities as charge-back programs,
`volume discounting, contract compliance analysis and the
`like.
`
`[0026] The “many to many” inventory data syndication
`model, as promulgated by the present invention,is primarily
`designed to enable multiple common customers of the same
`groups of vendorsordistributors to avoid the requirement of
`multiple unit of use collection systems and multiple inter-
`faces to vendor order fulfillment systems. Likewise, from a
`vendor’s or distributor’s perspective, the present invention
`limits the required numberof customerinterfaces from one
`for each customerto one for the entire engaged market. As
`a result, the present invention pertains to a wide variety of
`markets. However,
`it
`is of particular benefit
`in markets
`where full
`integration and use of standardized product
`coding and or communication languages is lacking. This
`absence of standardization may be due to a dearth of
`industry focus, competitive positions of suppliers or a lack
`of available technology skills at the customer end. Further-
`more,
`the present
`invention applies particularly well
`in
`markets where the material being produced, sold, distrib-
`uted, controlled, managed, tracked and/or consumedis sub-
`ject to one or more of the following characteristics:
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 12
`
`PROVI-1009 - Page 12
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`

`US 2002/0099631 Al
`
`Jul. 25, 2002
`
`[0027] The items are labile in nature or subject to
`obsolescence;
`
`[0028] The items can be labeled with incremental
`information regarding newly revealed characteristics
`while awaiting consumption, thus essentially chang-
`ing their identity;
`
`[0029] The items can be moved between various
`points of use in order to avoid spoilage and to
`optimize supply;
`
`[0030] The items can bepart of a consignment inven-
`tory arrangement; and
`
`[0031] The items may be managed by a central
`database-type system of syndicated information
`which is then provided to various contributing and
`consuming parties via a licensing relationship.
`
`[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of the
`current environment of an inventory management system
`10. For purposes of the example shown in FIG.1, it will be
`assumed that the industry in question concerns the supply
`and distribution of implanted medical devices. Alternatively,
`the inventory management system described here may be
`applicable to other products. Such products include, for
`example, blood and blood-related components(i.e., plasma,
`retics, red blood cells, white bloodcells, etc.), body organs
`for transplant (i.e., eyes, kidneys, skin, livers, lungs, hearts,
`etc.), bone marrow and related components, genetic material
`(ie., cells, DNA, RNA, eggs, semen, etc.),
`limbs, (ie.,
`fingers, hands, toes, legs, arms,ears, etc.), hair and follicles,
`implanted and external bodily function support or monitor-
`ing devices (i.c., pumps, pacemakers, prosthetics, ocular
`devices, stents, etc.) and organic compounds(i.e., cloned
`organisms,cells, organs, animals,etc.). The inventory man-
`agement system may also include veterinary (ie., non-
`human) applications for all the medical items listed above.
`Additionally,
`the inventory management system may be
`directed to non-medical labile or “time-sensitive” products,
`such as cattle, poultry, raw meat and seafood, prepared meat
`and seafood, wild animals, dairy products, other non-meat
`prepared foods, plants, flowers, grain, seeds, water,
`ice,
`wine, beer,
`liquor,
`lumber, apparel and footwear, home
`furnishings, seasonal goods, toys, reading materials, com-
`puters and electronics, packaged software, appliances, hard-
`ware, home improvement supplies,
`industrial supplies,
`gases, organic fuels and lubricants (i.e., oil gasoline, etc.)
`and genetically-altered components.
`
`[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, users of implantable medical
`devices 12, 14, 16, 18, mainly hospitals, order supplies from
`a plurality of suppliers 20, 22, 24, 26. The suppliers 20, 22,
`24, 26 may sometimes be under contract with the users 12,
`14, 16, 18. Generally, the users 12, 14, 16, 18 will addition-
`ally have a storage area 28, 30, 32, 34. The storage areas 28,
`30, 32, 34 preferably store, inventory and match the products
`to patients. The storage areas 28, 30, 32, 34 may be an
`internal department within a particular user, as shown; may
`be shared between two users (as illustrated by reference
`numeral 36); or outsourced to a third party (as illustrated by
`reference numeral 38).
`
`[0034] The third party storage area 38 may even be an
`independent product supplier offering an additional service.
`In such a case, the third party supplier 38 may employ agents
`(as shown by the line referenced by numeral 40) to deliver
`
`In all cases,
`to the user 18 when ordered.
`the product
`however,
`the user’s staff communicates frequently (as
`shown by the line referenced by numeral 42) with the
`supplier 24 regarding the inventory needed at the user’s
`facility. As required, agents 44 may be dispatched to move
`products to users (as shown by the line referenced by
`numeral 46) or between users (as shown by the line refer-
`enced by numeral 48) to address a need or to optimize the
`late-dated supply of a certain product.
`
`In all cases, communication on a continuousbasis
`[0035]
`does not exist between blood suppliers 20, 22, 24, 26 in the
`users 12, 14, 16, 18 or the blood suppliers 20, 22, 24, 26
`concerning the level, type, availability, dating, disposition
`and other pertinent details of the product.
`
`[0036] At all relevant points within system 10, some
`portion of information regarding the availability, status,
`disposition, dating and other pertinent details on the blood
`supply may be available. However, no system links these
`disparate points of information in an organized,reliable and
`accessible manner. As a result, significant energy, resources,
`time and supplies are wasted in the current model.
`
`[0037] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of one
`embodimentof an inventory management system 100 of the
`present invention. For purposes of the example shown in
`FIG. 2, it will be assumed that the industry in question
`concerns the supply and distribution of implantable medical
`devices. Alternatively,
`the inventory management system
`described here may be applicable to other products. Such
`products include,
`for example, blood and blood-related
`components(i.e., plasma,retics, red blood cells, white blood
`cells, etc.), body organs for transplant (i.e., eyes, kidneys,
`skin, livers, lungs, hearts, etc.), bone marrow and related
`components, genetic material (i.e., cells, DNA, RNA,eggs,
`semen, etc.), limbs, (i.e., fingers, hands, toes, legs, arms,
`ears, etc.), hair and follicles, implanted and external bodily
`function support or monitoring devices (i.e., pumps, pace-
`makers, prosthetics, ocular devices, stents, etc.) and organic
`compounds(i.e., cloned organisms, cells, organs, animals,
`etc.). The inventory management system mayalso include
`veterinary (i.e., non-human) applications for all the medical
`items listed above. Additionally, the inventory management
`system may be directed to non-medical labile or “time-
`sensitive” products, such as cattle, poultry, raw meat and
`seafood, prepared meat and seafood, wild animals, dairy
`products, other non-meat prepared foods, plants, flowers,
`grain, seeds, water, ice, wine, beer, liquor, lumber, apparel
`and footwear, home furnishings, seasonal goods,toys, read-
`ing materials, computers and electronics, packaged soft-
`ware, appliances, hardware, home improvement supplies,
`industrial supplies, gases, organic fuels and lubricants (i.e.,
`oil gasoline, etc.) and genetically-altered components.
`
`[0038] The inventory management system 100 may pref-
`erably include a computer algorithm program and software,
`which may bestored integral with, or remote from, a central
`database 102. The computer algorithm program maypref-
`erably comprise any program capable of being stored on an
`electronic medium, such as, for example, RAM or ROM,
`and permitted to be accessed (and consequently run) by
`microprocessor (not shown), preferably running integral
`with, or remote from, the central database 102. Alternatively,
`the software running inventory management system 100
`may be performed manually by a programmer,electronically
`
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`programming instructions to the inventory management
`system 100, either remotely from a location away from the
`inventory management system 100, or via an electronic
`connection with the inventory management system 100.
`
`[0039] Referring to FIG.2, the embodimentof the inven-
`tory management system 100 of the present invention com-
`prises a model and apparatus for the inventory management
`and distribution of implantable medical devices.
`In the
`embodiment shown, key information, such as the status,
`disposition, availability, price, age, etc.
`is contained in a
`single, multi-user, independent location, such as a database
`102. Furthermore, the database 102 may be accessed byall
`parties appropriately involved in the transaction of each unit
`of product.
`
`[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, the fundamental change from
`the present market picture (i.e., FIG. 1) is the addition of the
`independently maintained database 102. As seen in FIG.1,
`the present market picture is a competitive model that does
`not afford ease of communication between market suppliers
`or customers concerning the status of the product. This
`creates waste and excessive effort to communicate effec-
`tively regarding the supply.
`
`[0041] By contrast, referring to FIG. 2, the present inven-
`tion provides a central point of information 102, accessible
`by all (subject
`to certain rules), without disturbing the
`existing market structure. There are still suppliers 104, 106
`who compete for users 108, 110. Productis still brought to
`the user’s facilities 112, 114 by shippers 116, 118. Suppliers
`104, 106 still manufacturer products and hold it in their
`warehouse locations 122, 124 awaiting approvalto distrib-
`ute. Some suppliers 104, 106 may choose to place part of
`their supply at the hospital on consignment 126, which is
`enabled and easily managed through the present invention.
`
`[0042] Another elementof the modelis the proliferation of
`data access and/or viewing devices 142, 144, 146, 148, 150,
`152 that enable all parties to see their data on their supply.
`These devices can be as varied as phones, pages, PDAs,
`computers, Internet browsers, etc. These devices communi-
`cate with the central independent repository 102 via com-
`munication links 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174—importantly,
`without need for a specific and proprietary communications
`protocol; rather, they rely on the standard communications
`protocol used to connect with this common communications
`platform (a preferred embodiment is the Internet). Another
`change to the market model is the addition of information
`collection devices (e.g., bar-code scanners) 128, 130, 132,
`134, 136, 138, 140, which are interfaced to a network which
`is in turn connected to the database via the Internet or other
`network (e.g., wireless). As indicated in FIG. 2,
`these
`devices 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140 are widely
`deployed throughout
`the invention to collect data on a
`continuousbasis.
`
`[0043] The use of various data collection devices 128,
`130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140 and data viewing devices 142,
`144, 146, 148, 150, 152 by all significant players in the
`supply chain enables the constant updating of the central
`independent repository 102. This system providescritical,
`and previously unavailable, information to the individuals,
`whocan use the data in a proactive manner to optimize the
`blood supply.
`[0044] Although traditional service contracts between
`suppliers and customers continue to exist in the current
`
`invention, the invention enables new parties 154,e.g., indus-
`try analysts, to easily gain a consolidated view of the product
`status, availability and disposition. In addition, the model
`allows rules of access to govern the availability of informa-
`tion between market players (i.e. between neighboring hos-
`pitals) so that they can support one another’s needs. Like-
`wise, the rules of access can permit two affiliated suppliers
`to view each other’s supply status while maintaining as
`proprietary the sources of that supply 120. Finally, although
`the various suppliers remain independent, the access rules
`that are a part of the invention can permit all parties to
`optimize the supply that is in the channel. For example, the
`invention enablesall supplier representatives 116, 118 to use
`their data retrieval systems 136, 138 to move supply
`between hospitals (as referenced by lines 156, 158, 160),
`while appropriately tracking ownership for payment pur-
`poses.
`
`In operation, this invention eliminates the product
`[0045]
`waste and excessive and laborious communication and prod-
`uct shuffling effort associated with the current market model.
`
`FIG.3 illustrates the basic function of the present
`[0046]
`invention. A data collection device 128, 130, 132, 136, 138,
`140 acquires information in the form of a code (an example
`is the alphanumeric code indicated by a barcode). The code
`is communicated via computer link 182 to a central Product
`Information Database 200, which associates product
`attributes with the alphanumeric code. The Product Infor-
`mation Database 200 is updated by periodic communication
`via computer link 186 with a plurality of Vendor Product
`Attributes Databases 204, maintained separate from the
`Product Information Database 200 by a plurality of vendors
`or suppliers. When the Product Information Database 200
`can’t identify a code, it communicates the problem to the
`Exception Capture and Reporting Engine 202 to be
`addressed and corrected. The Product Information Database
`200 continuously communicates via computer link 190 with
`a Central Inventory Data Repository 104. The difference
`between the two databases is that the Product Information
`
`Database 200 is a record of single-instance product infor-
`mation regarding a plurality of products, and is not modified
`by exchanges with the Data Collection Device 128, 130,
`132, 136, 138, 140.
`
`[0047] The Central Inventory Data Repository 104, on the
`other hand, maintains
`a dynamic record of multiple
`instances of a single product information code, in order to
`track product totals.
`
`[0048] When a Communications Interface for Formatting
`and Viewing Data 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152 (one
`embodimentis an Internet browser) requests a data subset,
`the request goes via computer link 180 to a Data Subset
`Presentation Engine 206. According to pre-selected param-
`eters, the Data Subset Presentation Engine 206 acquires data
`via a communications interface 188 from the Central Inven-
`tory Data Repository 104, and presents the data subset via a
`communications interface 180 through a Communications
`Interface for Formatting and Viewing Data 142, 144, 146,
`148, 150, 152.
`
`[0049] Referring to FIG. 9, a method for transferring
`information between multiple buyers and multiple vendors
`is illustrated. In Block 500, a central node receives various
`information corresponding to a plurality of products. This
`information is preferably transmitted to the node electroni-
`
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`cally, but may be by any other suitable means providing for
`the transfer of information. Additionally, the information is
`preferably sent to the node from a plurality of independent
`sources. Preferably, these independent sources are suppliers
`of a particular product (i.e., vendors). For example, a vendor
`may supply information to the node regarding specific
`details about the product controlled by vendor, such as, for
`example, amount of product, size of product, cost of pr