A computerized system provides a salesperson with assistance related to training and sales of parts corresponding to particular products. More particularly, a computerized system incorporating a data storage device, a display apparatus, a part selection device and a user interface mechanism enhances the efforts of a parts salesman. The data storage device electronically stores graphic and textual partsrelated information including specifications, features and customer benefits. The display apparatus electronically displays portions of the graphic and textual information in order to provide training and sales assistance related to part features and customer benefits. The part selection device electronically selects a particular part by navigating through part choices menus based on stored part specifications. The user interface mechanism controls the operation of the display apparatus and the part selection device parts so that each of the respective parts are operatively coupled and... |
Citations|
| US4435769 | Mar 16, 1981 | Mar 6, 1984 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
Japan Audatex Co., Ltd. | Portable type automobile repair estimate issuing device | | US4775935 | Sep 22, 1986 | Oct 4, 1988 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Video merchandising system with variable and adoptive product sequence presentation order | | US4931929 | Aug 14, 1987 | Jun 5, 1990 | Search & Source, Incorporated | Design component selection computer with specification of product characteristics and of color by machine readable device | | US4964043 | Jun 13, 1988 | Oct 16, 1990 | | System for visualizing, identifying and ordering gearing configurations | | US4972318 | Apr 24, 1990 | Nov 20, 1990 | Iron City Sash & Door Company | Order entry and inventory control method | | US4992940 | Mar 13, 1989 | Feb 12, 1991 | H-Renee, Incorporated | System and method for automated selection of equipment for purchase through input of user desired specifications | | US5053956 | Apr 25, 1989 | Oct 1, 1991 | Coats Viyella | Interactive system for retail transactions | | US5146404 | Sep 19, 1986 | Sep 8, 1992 | Westinghouse Electric Corporation | Electronic maintenance support work station | | US5153825 | Nov 27, 1989 | Oct 6, 1992 | Yada Systes, Inc. | Paint formula retrieval and management system and method | | US5309355 | Sep 3, 1993 | May 3, 1994 | | Automated sales system |
Referenced by|
| US5657460 | Apr 11, 1995 | Aug 12, 1997 | Data View, Inc. | System and method for storing and displaying data | | US5675784 | May 31, 1995 | Oct 7, 1997 | International Business Machnes Corporation | Data structure for a relational database system for collecting component and specification level data related to products | | US5682506 | Jul 5, 1996 | Oct 28, 1997 | General Electric Company | Method and system for group visualization of virtual objects | | US5826240 | Jan 18, 1996 | Oct 20, 1998 | Rosefaire Development, Ltd. | Sales presentation system for coaching sellers to describe specific features and benefits of a product or service based on input from a prospect | | US5844554 | Sep 17, 1996 | Dec 1, 1998 | BT Squared Technologies, Inc. | Methods and systems for user interfaces and constraint handling configurations software | | US5847971 | Jan 5, 1996 | Dec 8, 1998 | Steelcase Incorporated | 3-D spatial GUI querying and manipulating an RDMS for order-entry applications | | US5878401 | Feb 9, 1996 | Mar 2, 1999 | | Sales and inventory method and apparatus | | US5890149 | Jun 20, 1996 | Mar 30, 1999 | WisdomWare, Inc. | Organization training, coaching and indexing system | | US5923552 | Dec 31, 1996 | Jul 13, 1999 | BuildNet, Inc. | Systems and methods for facilitating the exchange of information between separate business entities | | US6002855 | Sep 16, 1998 | Dec 14, 1999 | Steelcase Incorporated | 3-D spatial GUI for querying and manipulating an RDMS for order-entry applications | | US6034676 | Jul 14, 1997 | Mar 7, 2000 | Data View, Inc. | System and method for measuring and processing tire depth data | | US6115641 | May 22, 1998 | Sep 5, 2000 | BuildNet, Inc. | Systems and methods for facilitating the exchange of information between separate business entities | | US6115642 | May 22, 1998 | Sep 5, 2000 | BuildNet, Inc. | Systems and methods for facilitating the exchange of information between separate business entities | | US6125356 | Sep 15, 1997 | Sep 26, 2000 | Rosefaire Development, Ltd. | Portable sales presentation system with selective scripted seller prompts | | US6167394 | May 11, 1998 | Dec 26, 2000 | General Electric Company | Information management system with remote access and display features | | US6300948 | Nov 25, 1998 | Oct 9, 2001 | | Methods and systems for user interfaces and constraint handling in configuration software | | US6557054 | Apr 20, 2000 | Apr 29, 2003 | | Method and system for distributing updates by presenting directory of software available for user installation that is not already installed on user station | | US6594692 | Apr 29, 1996 | Jul 15, 2003 | | Methods for transacting electronic commerce | | US6611862 | Apr 20, 2000 | Aug 26, 2003 | | User station software that controls transport and presentation of content from a remote source | | US6658464 | Apr 20, 2000 | Dec 2, 2003 | | User station software that controls transport, storage, and presentation of content from a remote source | | US6725204 | Jul 12, 2000 | Apr 20, 2004 | | System for facilitating the sale and shipment of cores | | US6769009 | Apr 20, 2000 | Jul 27, 2004 | | Method and system for selecting a personalized set of information channels | | US6917894 | Dec 5, 2002 | Jul 12, 2005 | | Tire plus-sizing software program | | US6941305 | Jan 18, 2002 | Sep 6, 2005 | Symeron Software, Inc. | Customer management system for automobile sales industry | | US7006953 | Aug 29, 2001 | Feb 28, 2006 | NSK Ltd. | Method and apparatus for predicting the life of a rolling bearing, rolling bearing selection apparatus using the life prediction apparatus, and storage medium | | US7193632 | Nov 6, 2003 | Mar 20, 2007 | Behr Process Corporation | Distributed color coordination system | | US7230629 | Nov 6, 2003 | Jun 12, 2007 | Behr Process Corporation | Data-driven color coordinator | | US7246110 | May 25, 2000 | Jul 17, 2007 | CNET Networks, Inc. | Product feature and relation comparison system | | US7330585 | Nov 6, 2003 | Feb 12, 2008 | Behr Process Corporation | Color selection and coordination kiosk and system | | US7386811 | Sep 17, 2001 | Jun 10, 2008 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
Saga Sanyo Industries Co., Ltd. | Method of selecting type of electronic part and electronic parts maker server | | US7505969 | Aug 5, 2004 | Mar 17, 2009 | CBS Interactive, Inc. | Product placement engine and method | | US7605824 | Apr 23, 2007 | Oct 20, 2009 | Behr Process Corporation | Data-driven color coordinator | | US7613638 | Aug 31, 2005 | Nov 3, 2009 | Siemens Corporate Research, Inc. | Automated systems and methods to support electronic business transactions for spare parts | | US7653687 | Jun 8, 2007 | Jan 26, 2010 | | Method for distributing content to a user station | | US7698279 | Nov 10, 2005 | Apr 13, 2010 | CBS Interactive, Inc. | Product feature and relation comparison system | | US7778993 | Jan 31, 2008 | Aug 17, 2010 | | Dynamic Taxonomy process for browsing and retrieving information in large heterogeneous data bases | | US7785218 | Mar 26, 2007 | Aug 31, 2010 | Acushnet Company | Custom milled iron set | | US7899896 | Sep 28, 2007 | Mar 1, 2011 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
Saga Sanyo Industries Co., Ltd. | Method of selecting type of electronic part and electronic parts maker server | | US7970722 | Nov 9, 2009 | Jun 28, 2011 | Aloft Media, LLC | System, method and computer program product for a collaborative decision platform | | US8005777 | Jul 27, 2010 | Aug 23, 2011 | Aloft Media, LLC | System, method and computer program product for a collaborative decision platform | | US8024399 | Aug 31, 2006 | Sep 20, 2011 | Twintech E.U., Limited Liability Company | Software distribution over a network | | US8041699 | Jul 1, 2010 | Oct 18, 2011 | | Process of dynamic taxonomy for browsing and retrieving information in large heterogeneous data bases | | US8069204 | Aug 31, 2006 | Nov 29, 2011 | Twintech E.U., Limited Liability Company | Providing and receiving content over a wireless communication system | | US8131883 | Apr 20, 2000 | Mar 6, 2012 | Intellectual Ventures I, Limited Liability Company | Method for distributing content to a user station | | US8140411 | Jun 21, 2007 | Mar 20, 2012 | | Dynamic linking of part items to repair data | | US8160988 | Jul 27, 2010 | Apr 17, 2012 | Aloft Media, LLC | System, method and computer program product for a collaborative decision platform | | US8214264 | May 2, 2006 | Jul 3, 2012 | CBS Interactive, Inc. | System and method for an electronic product advisor | | US8245150 | Oct 6, 2005 | Aug 14, 2012 | Caterpillar Inc. | Parts catalog system | | USD593119 | Apr 2, 2007 | May 26, 2009 | Tokyo Electron Limited | Computer generated image for a display panel or screen | | USD595312 | Nov 10, 2006 | Jun 30, 2009 | Sony Kabushiki Kaisha | Icon for a display screen | | USD600714 | Dec 2, 2008 | Sep 22, 2009 | Microsoft Corporation | Icon for a display screen | | USD606553 | Dec 11, 2008 | Dec 22, 2009 | Microsoft Corporation | Icon for a portion of a display screen | | USD607011 | Dec 11, 2008 | Dec 29, 2009 | Microsoft Corporation | Icon for a portion of a display screen | | USD621415 | Aug 11, 2009 | Aug 10, 2010 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Portion of liquid crystal panel with icon image | | USD623194 | Sep 8, 2009 | Sep 7, 2010 | Rain Bird Corporation | Graphical user interface for a wireless rain sensor | | USD637619 | Aug 20, 2009 | May 10, 2011 | SMART Technologies ULC | Portion of a display screen with an icon | | USD638028 | Jul 30, 2010 | May 17, 2011 | Rain Bird Corporation | Wireless rain sensor with a graphical user interface | | USD661705 | Sep 22, 2011 | Jun 12, 2012 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH | Dishwasher with display | | USRE38284 | Dec 5, 1997 | Oct 21, 2003 | Information Presentation Solutions Development, Inc. | Computer-assisted interactive method and apparatus for making a multi-media presentation |
Claims1. A computerized method of selling parts for particular equipment specified by a customer, comprising the steps of: - a) receiving information identifying a customer's parts requirements for the equipment, comprising the step of receiving equipment application information, comprising an identification of the equipment with which one or more parts are to be used;
- b) electronically specifying information identifying a plurality of parts and specifications for the parts;
- c) gathering parts-related information for one or more parts within the plurality of parts which meets the customer's requirements, comprising the step of electronically associating at least one of the parts within the plurality of parts with the received equipment application information; and
- d) receiving the gathered parts-related information and compiling the parts-related information into a proposal meeting the customer's requirements.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein: - a) the step (a) further comprises the step of receiving at least a portion of a manufacturer's part number; and
- b) the step (c) further comprises the step of electronically associating at least one of the parts within the plurality of parts with the received portion of a manufacturer's part number.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein: - a) the step (a) further comprises the step of receiving feature information; and
- b) the step (c) further comprises the step of electronically associating at least one of the parts within the plurality of parts with the received feature information.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (a) further comprises the steps of: - a) selecting a type of the equipment; and
- b) selecting a manufacturer of the equipment.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (d) comprises the step of generating a printed version of the proposal. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (d) further comprises the step of including within the proposal specifications corresponding to the one or more parts which meets the customer's requirements. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (d) further comprises the step of including within the proposal price information corresponding to the one or more parts which meets the customer's requirements. PG,63 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (d) comprises the step of including within the proposal graphical information corresponding to the one or more parts which meets the customer's requirements. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (d) comprises the step of including within the proposal textual information corresponding to the one or more parts which meets the customer's requirements. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (d) comprises the step of generating an animated demonstration illustrating how a particular identified part works. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (d) comprises the step of graphically illustrating within the proposal construction features of a particular one of the parts which meets the customer's requirements. 12. The method of claim 1 wherein: - a) the step (a) further comprises the step of receiving information identifying a first feature and a second feature of a particular part within the plurality of parts;
- b) the step (c) further comprises the step of accessing a storage means and retrieving information to compare the first and second features, comprising the steps of:
- i) generating a first set of information describing the first and second features; and
- ii) generating a second set of information describing how the first and second features affect performance of the particular part; and
- c) the step (d) comprises the step of compiling the first and second sets of information into the proposal.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein: - a) the step of accessing the storage means and retrieving information to compare the first and second features further comprises the step of generating textual information describing the first and second features; and
- b) the step (d) further comprises the step of compiling the textual information into the proposal.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein: - a) the step of accessing the storage means and retrieving information to compare the first and second features further comprises the step of generating graphical information describing the first and second features; and
- b) the step (d) further comprises the step of compiling the graphical information into the proposal.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is executed by a portable personal computer. |
