The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 25, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1996
Kazuyoshi Fukushima, Tokyo, JP;
Koubun Suzuki, Kawasaki, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., , JP;
Abstract
An order management system automatically places an order with one of a plurality of suppliers when order information is input by one of a plurality of orderers. A terminal unit is provided to each of the orderers. The terminal unit is used for inputting the order information being transmitted to a central management unit via a communication network. The central management unit manages order history information and section information with respect to each orderer. The central management unit calculates a total cost of previous orderers based on the order history information of one of the orderers sending the order information and order information sent from one of the orderers. Execution of an ordering process is permitted when the calculated total cost of the previous orders is within a budget of the orderer.