CN1701328A

CN1701328A - Hand-held inventory tracking and automated order transmission system

Info

Publication number: CN1701328A
Application number: CN02829448.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: D·T·－F·王; D·迪斯; C·科尔科兰; A·佩尔格尔; R·R·拉亚
Original assignee: Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Inc
Current assignee: Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Inc
Priority date: 2002-08-15
Filing date: 2002-08-15
Publication date: 2005-11-23
Also published as: AU2002319820A1; WO2004017156A2; JP2005535976A; EP1540537A4; BRPI0215845A2; WO2004017156A3; EP1540537A2; CA2495106A1

Abstract

A dynamic inventory tracking and management system and methodology therefore that streamlines the inventory level tracking process of contact lens products for prescriptive and diagnostic purposes maintained at various locations having eye care practitioners responsible for dispensing lenses to patients. The system inventory tracking system seamlessly interfaces with order entry infrastructure to automatically initiate replenishment of stock and diagnostic lens inventory levels maintained at various eye care practitioner locations, and/or provide low inventory warning messages for receipt by the ECP.

Description

Hand-held inventory tracking and automatic ordering transmission system

Technical field

The present invention relates to stock's (inventory) tracker and the method for product, relate in particular to a kind of like this method and system, be used for simplifying the income (revenue) that optical mirror slip product, the particularly stock in the eye care doctor's office keep and the tracking and the control of diagnostic contact lenses, and be used for automatically ordering processing for eye care doctor and client thereof carry out lens product.

Background technology

The appearance of coming of new technology has allowed to provide new contact lens design and material by manufacturer.For example, manufacturer can introduce following these designs in the contact lenses now, and described design comprises provides myopia, long sight, astigmatism and presbyopic correction, and strengthens characteristic such as this eyesight of UV protection, colored lens and other functions.This growth of design and characteristic is converted into the exponential growth in the stock keeping unit (" SKU ").For example, stipulated single design parameter for spherical mirror (myopia correction).For bifocal contact lenses (presbyopia) have been stipulated two design parameters.Each of these parameters can change to some extent according to user's difference.Thus, spherical patient may have-2.5 diopter correction, and another patient may need-9 diopter correction.Dioptric recruitment can be dioptric half or dioptric 1/4th.If the recruitment according to 1/4th provides 9 diopter, in the stock, will keep 36 SKU so.Along with the appearance of astigmatism correction (toric lens), 3 design parameters have been stipulated.These parameters are that spherical power correction, cylindrical power correction and axle are proofreaied and correct.The combination of the spherical power of toric lens, cylinder and axle degree will increase thousands of SKU by index law.In case add colored lens to SKU, the reader just is appreciated that the growth of SKU and interrelated logic is so that keep the stock so.At present, can obtain thousands of lens product, and just be introduced to their client by ECP now for the purpose of diagnosing (being called " diagnosis " lens product hereinafter) and the purpose (being called " income " lens product hereinafter) of regulation.

For example, expectation ECP can make diagnostic lens and their patient adaptive so that the fit scale that assurance is highly successful.These diagnostic lens be stored in the office of ECP or the lens product stock place that is stored in ECP Anywhere.Usually, with described diagnostic lens product or place individual packaging, or place and comprise the three or more straps (package strip) of packing first that connect by lid.Other diagnostic lens also are stored in its revenue package, but provide as diagnostic lens.

On the other hand, revenue lens product can only be supplied by writing out a prescription.Usually, revenue lens product is ordered by the phone of optist's office, perhaps by carrying out eye exam and carrying out other adaptive licensed ECP of patient and order.Whenever described needs of patients they the time, just expect that most ECP begins to order specific products SKU.The SKU that some offices may be chosen as high demand keeps a spot of stock, inventory, and comes to replenish periodically by signing stock order.

Current practice is only to provide the part of whole SKU to be used for diagnostic purpose.No matter diagnose or income, all described eyeglass is packaged in usually first in packing, the blister-pack, carry out secondary package with carton in batches successively then.Each carton for example can comprise 6,12,30 or 90 eyeglasses, and these eyeglasses are by in the packing first that is packaged in them respectively.No matter diagnose or income, described packing first all is marked with lens parameters, name of product, failure period and lot number and the eyeglass trade mark of printing.This type information can find in each film basic unit or on the blister-pack of leap predetermined quantity.Equally, described secondary package comprises that also above-mentioned information and FDA regulate the content statement, are used for international symbol and the product code (UPC-A type) and the lot number of recycle and UV protection.At present, have only described secondary package to comprise the bar code of product code and lot number.Some are packed first and can comprise bar code, but bar code is not common to all over products.Described lens parameters can comprise sphere, cylinder according to illustrated product and gain in strength and the axle combination in any.

At present, described ECP office keeps certain stock's revenue lens product for those SKU that client ECP uses, and receives periodically and keep an amount of diagnostic lens in the stock.Yet, do not exist systematization or effective method to control the amount of lenses that keeps among the stock at present, said nothing of the use of the income that tracks inventory or diagnostic lens.For example, the task of stock control is carried out by ECP or contact lenses technician usually, and these personnel cross over the personnel that product, trade mark and company carry out the inventory level assessment specially.When ordering for the first time, inventory level to new product requires to determine by means of the representative of sales ﹠ marketing, but after this developing level is to determine according to contact lenses technician or ECP staff's judgement, promptly, for the purpose of data processing and internal trace, ECP staff can optionally pack residue stock's specific SKU and/or the manual of blister-pack counted.Yet they can not preserve inventory log routinely.The tracking and the maintenance of income and diagnostic lens product inventories and any associated data are the tasks of a difficulty, consider that particularly the growth of new eyeglass SKU is all the more so.Johnson﹠amp; Johnson company Vistakon of branch office and current assignee of the present invention a kind of customer service program is provided, wherein when ECP office uses up stock just at the right time, the target of minimum inventories is sent (Doctor ControlledPatient Delivery, " DCPD ") with fixedly the conflicting between the availability of satisfying patient's order products by means of the controlled patient of doctor and is able to balance.According to estimates, for the task of stock control and order placement, the technician will spend four a minimum week and handle by six hours.

Especially with regard to order placement, for example, ECP is that specific consumers is ordered revenue lens again from producer and just required to give an oral account the lens product that will order, perhaps requires to comprise the manual order input of the patient information of lens product purchase order information.This process is dull and occurs personal error easily.Along with the growth of SKU, order process is extended so that more multiparameter is described.This information must manually be imported so that send to the order entry system of producer, and this will increase wrong possibility along with the increase of the number of parameters of each SKU.In addition, adaptive because described diagnostic lens is provided free to ECP with new patient, so the revenue lens that adds up of ordering by the ECP account is restricted its quantity.

At present, need unified system allow manufacturer to follow the tracks of the contact lens products that is distributed to ECP effectively, and to allow ECP be that countless diagnosis and revenue lens simplified its stock's control procedure, be easy to determine the eyeglass validity of distributing thus to the patient.In addition, the unified system of needs allows ECP to order lens product effectively and reduces the appearance of ubiquitous mistake in the past in the manual order input process.

Very desirable thus is that the effective storage capacity tracker of a kind of income and diagnostic lens product is provided for ECP.

Very desirablely be, a kind of inventory status notification system is provided, be used to allow manufacturer to follow the tracks of the contact lens products that is distributed to ECP, and allow ECP to keep the stock and simplify its stock's control procedure for countless distributed to patients' diagnosis and income generate lens product.

Very desirablely in addition be, a kind of effective lens product order entry system is provided, be used for the customer service order input process being simplified and streaming by the order that automatically generates diagnostic lens, and user option is provided, is used to receive the low stock warning of revenue lens or orders generation automatically according to predetermined patient's functions of use.

Desirablely in addition be, a kind of system is provided, a kind of effective lens product order entry system is used to make the customer service order input process to simplify and streaming, and allows to generate the lens product order so that can automatically keep and optimize the inventory level of lens product.

Desirablely in addition be, provide a kind of intelligent portable or hand-held PDA equipment to ECP, can scan the unique barcode identifiers that on eyeglass packing, provides, for use in above desired inventory status notification system and lens product order entry system.

Very desirablely in addition be, for ECP provides above desired inventory status notification system and automatic mirror flake products order entry system, described system uses intelligent portable or hand-held bar code scanning system together with the modulator-demodular unit dispensing device that is connected with existing phone and network service base fabric interface.

Summary of the invention

In view of the above, the object of the present invention is to provide the dynamic and automatic inventory status notification system of a kind of income and diagnostic contact lenses, it is designed to be able to make the streaming of inventory tracking process.

Another object of the present invention is to: a kind of effective lens product order entry system is provided, be used for the customer service order input process being simplified and streaming, so that can automatically keep and optimize the inventory level of the lens product that keeps by local ECP by the order of automatic generation income and diagnostic lens.

Another purpose of the present invention is: the system and the method that provide a kind of dynamic stock that is used to comprise the income product inventory level of customer service feature to follow the tracks of, be used for automatically warning ECP that inventory level is low, and by accelerating the beginning that product is ordered process again based on the low stock level to the characteristic that the user provides cancellation or agreement to order.

Another purpose of the present invention is: a kind of system and method is provided, the dynamic stock that is used for the diagnostic products stock is followed the tracks of, it provides the customer service characteristic so that automatically replenish/the new diagnostic products of transportation to local ECP place, and effectively controls product and shift to unauthorized use.

Another purpose of the present invention is: a kind of system and method is provided, the dynamic stock that is used for the diagnostic products stock is followed the tracks of, it provides the customer service characteristic so that replenish/the new diagnostic products of transportation from the local ECP of trend place, and effectively controls product and shift to unauthorized consumption.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a kind of dynamic and automatic inventory status notification system that is used for the permission web page operation of income and diagnostic contact lenses, and this system is designed to make inventory tracking and inventory to order the process streaming.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a kind of effective lens product order entry system, be used for making in the following manner the customer service order input process to simplify and streaming, described mode is: to the user option is provided in case below receiving any one: 1) when the revenue lens product among the stock is lower than predetermined threshold, warn, and/or 2) use ordering of automatically additional patient according to eyeglass, and/or 3) be ready to agree or the order of the preformatting of the low stock SKU of cancellation, so that automatically keep and optimize the inventory level of the lens product that keeps by ECP for client.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a kind of inventory status notification system, be used to allow make follow the tracks of and the documentation (after the manufacturing) of product information to its distribution and transportation logic simulation cycle effectively and improved, wherein said distribution and transportation for example are to be transferred to ECP from the place of making eyeglass or to provide income and diagnostic lens.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a kind of automatic ordering transmission system and method, it can help client to sign the additional order of lens product, and provide a kind of ordering system more automatically, be used for the supplemental diagnostics product and user personality is provided in case receive following any one: the 1) low stock of revenue lens product warning, and/or 2) use ordering and territory 3 of automatically additional patient according to eyeglass) be ready to supply client to agree or the low stock SKU order of having set up of cancellation by ECP.

Thus, according at least one embodiment of the present invention, provide a kind of dynamic stock to follow the tracks of and management system, comprise: server apparatus, be used to allow accessing database so that storage lens product information, described lens product information comprises inventory data, described inventory data comprises type (diagnosis or income) and the quantity of being responsible for providing to client in each place the lens product that keeps among the stock of eyeglass, the lens product of manufacturing comprises the packing with readable mark, and described readable mark is used for directly showing that lens product information or the associated lens product information that comprises for described database provide reference;

The equipment that provides in each place, be used to scan the indication that provides on providing lens product packing in each place to client, and obtain inventory tracking information, described inventory tracking information comprises the discharging quantity of lens product type identifier and each lens product type relevant with the place;

Be used to allow directly to send to the mechanism of database server via communication network in the inventory tracking information that has scanned that each place obtains; And

Be used for according to the mechanism of the inventory tracking information trace that has scanned each stock of various places maintenance, described follow-up mechanism is updated in the quantity of the lens product of every kind of lens product type providing in each place according to the quantity of the described inventory level that maintains each place, and is reported in the inventory lens product inventory level information of having upgraded that use in each place.

Also further realized a kind of mechanism of directly authentication is carried out in described place before the inventory tracking information of transmission from the equipment institute in each place of being used for receiving.In addition, also realized being used for determining to receive or the stock's of transportation mechanism in various places according to the inventory tracking information that has scanned, described follow-up mechanism is updated in the quantity of the lens product that each place receives or transport from each place according to the quantity of the described inventory level that maintains each place, and is reported in the inventory lens product inventory level information of having upgraded that use in each place.

Preferably, described contact lens products comprises income and the diagnostic lens in the packing that is provided at following type, and described type comprises: packing, blister-pack, bottled, secondary package, carton, carton or polybag first.The readable mark that provides on described packing can comprise unique barcode identifier, is used for showing and/or electronic reference lens product, its lens parameters, packing quantity, lot number and SKU and product code at database.Preferably, in described system, scanning the equipment of the indication that provides in the income provided and the diagnostic lens packing of product in each place being used to of providing, is to realize by means of hand-held PC that is equipped with scanner or PDA equipment.Except that the inventory tracking information of the discharging quantity that obtains to comprise lens product type and each lens product type, described PDA equipment can be followed the tracks of the information that comprises the reason of providing product.

Useful is that described automatic ordering transmission system has reduced client's ECP office labor, and provides ratio to give an oral account the SKU of lens product and the better order accuracy of existing processing mode of parameter thereof to the Customer Service Representative of producer.In addition, the automatic system and the method that are used for stock's dynamic stock tracking are optimized following human labour, described work comprises: calculate and follow the tracks of product, make the actual store of tank farm stock consistent with the logic stock, and make the text product information streaming in some time " input place ", and make personal error regulate the electronic document establishment minimization of information at stock, eyeglass information and FDA.

Description of drawings

To details of the present invention disclosed herein be described by means of following accompanying drawing below, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the example architecture of supporting dynamic stock of the present invention and tracking and management system;

Fig. 2 is the more detailed view according to order input processing unit of the present invention, wherein said order input processing unit comprise response " signing new order " button selection order treatment step again, described button is shown in Fig. 5 (b) and 5 (c);

Fig. 3 (a)-3 (d) has described according to the inventory tracking of the principle of the invention and the treatment step of management, comprise being used for the treatment scheme that ECP office provides eyeglass, and be used for ordering preferred processing and ordering and order the system algorithm of finishing of stock's renewal, stock control, ECP;

Fig. 4 has described the starter system setting and has made the product that takes place after the lens product and stored;

Fig. 5 (a) is an example chart of describing the gui interface that the PDA be equipped with bar code scanner provides, and it allows the ECP personnel selection to provide the reason of eyeglass; Diagnosis or revenue lens;

Fig. 5 (b) is an example chart of describing the gui interface that the PDA be equipped with bar code scanner provides, is used to show the level that tracks inventory of product type and allows ECP personnel inspection low stock warning level;

Fig. 5 (c) is an example chart of describing the gui interface that the PDA be equipped with bar code scanner provides, is used to show the level that tracks inventory of product type and allows the ECP personnel to begin to order or sign new order;

Fig. 6 described after " signing new order " button that the user selects according to the present invention among Fig. 5 (b) and 5 (c) to describe, according to the detailed diagram of the example process 160 of the inventory tracking of the principle of the invention and automatic ordering input;

Fig. 7 (a) has described various message formats to 7 (d), wherein Fig. 7 (a) and 7 (b) have described exemplary stock's order input record of each stock order input transaction (Fig. 7 (a)) and DCPD order input transaction (Fig. 7 (b)) respectively, Fig. 7 (c) has described exemplary stock's operation report transaction, and Fig. 7 (d) has described the example format of invoice summary request message;

Fig. 8 describes the block diagram that is used for the dynamic stock tracing process 300 of order according to the present invention, and wherein said order is automatically signed by system, and shows the low stock warning for the user as showing among Fig. 3 (c) and 3 (d); And

Fig. 9 is a block diagram of describing an embodiment of dynamic stock tracing process.

Embodiment

The present invention is a kind of dynamic stock tracker and method, is used to allow ECP to manage the stock of its diagnosis and revenue lens product.Described system and the coupling of electronic order input system allow ECP effectively for its client orders lens product, and for keeping stock's purpose to order eyeglass, so that make diagnosis and revenue lens in the stock of ECP, can keep proper level.This system provides a kind of automatic ordering formation characteristic, and it can automatically generate to replenish to order with automatically beginning and handle and (for example, assignee Vistakon, Johnson ﹠amp in lens product manufacturer location; The branch office of Johnson company) finishing the diagnosis and the income (when preferred) that are generated orders.In order to realize it, according to preferred embodiment, described inventory management system makes the handheld computer or the PDA(Personal Digital Assistant) that are equipped with the bar code scan capability can read and store unique product identification information, for example, UPC, SKU, lot number or the like, these information are provided on the eyeglass packaging label as bar code.Useful is that the information of collecting by described PDA is directly sent to lens product manufacturer order entry system effectively via existing telephone communication foundation structure (for example, wired telephone network), can handle them easily in this system.According to the present invention, the PDA that described dynamic stock is followed the tracks of and management system has realized being equipped with bar code scanner is the function used of tracking lens flake products dynamically, that is, whenever because: when 1) diagnosis or 2) reason of income is provided lens product, digitally establish.

Fig. 1 is the example architecture of supporting dynamic stock of the present invention and tracking and management system.As shown in Figure 1, described inventory tracking of the present invention and management system 10 comprise three parts: 1) eyeglass is followed the tracks of foundation structure 20, be arranged in local ECP office 12, comprise the computing machine that is equipped with the hand-held bar code scanner or the embodiment of PDA(Personal Digital Assistant), can read and store with first or the information that is associated of the unique bar code that provides on the secondary eyeglass packaging label, for example, be used for the purpose that dynamic stock is followed the tracks of and order is imported; 2) eyeglass dynamic tracking and inventory management system 30 comprise at least one master engine server 26 and database server 27, are used for executive software so that can carry out the logic stock control and eyeglass order functionality again, herein as will describing in detail more; And 3) input of enterprise customers service order and webserver foundation structure 50, comprise one or more enterprise servers, it can be existing enterprise order input server 58 and network order server 59, be used to receive, preserve and handle the full detail that is used for ordering again lens product, wherein said lens product comes from distribution system 51, described system 51 is such as being realized by assignee Vistakon, its present maintenance items is distributed tracking foundation structure, and described product dispensation is followed the tracks of foundation structure and comprised allocation database server element 57.As shown in Figure 1, described eyeglass is followed the tracks of foundation structure 20 and is comprised the parts that are positioned at product manufacturing site location 13, these parts are similar to computing machine or the PDA(Personal Digital Assistant) of realizing being equipped with the hand-held bar code scanner, can read and store with first or the information that is associated of the unique bar code that provides on the secondary eyeglass packaging label, for example, be used for the purpose that dynamic stock is followed the tracks of and order is imported.According to the present invention, existing network is ordered, order input 50 and distributing is followed the tracks of infrastructure systems and comprised communication infrastructure by network element 25 expressions, for example be Intranet or internet, be used to allow in the middle of various enterprise servers, to carry out communicating by letter of order input and account information.As shown in the figure, except that the eyeglass that is positioned at local ECP office 12 and manufacturing site location 13 was followed the tracks of foundation structure 20, the parts of dynamic stock tracker 30 were connected equally so that can pass network element 25 and communicate.

More specifically, as shown in Figure 1, in order to allow according to eyeglass following function of the present invention, the eyeglass tracking foundation structure 20 that is in each ECP office 12 and manufacturing site location 13 preferably provides hand-held PC or the PDA(Personal Digital Assistant) device that is equipped with bar code scanner 16, such as realizing in conjunction with personal computer (PC) 14.Preferably, the described PDA that is equipped with bar code scanner 16 comprises operating system, touch screen interface or GUI display, and can be equipped with client's software to be convenient to travel to and fro between dynamic stock and to follow the tracks of and input, the storage of the data of management system 30 and communicate by letter.For example, the equivalent of the SPT 1500 type hand-scanners of making such as Denso BHT-600 series or picture such as Symbol Technologies company can be equipped with TCP/IP and FTP piles up firmware, it comprise software and all scanner application program so that guarantee be used for the FTP function of communicating by letter with manufacturer/enterprise router.It should be understood that, technology according to routine, described hand-held bar code scanner 16 can gums be communicated by letter with the server apparatus in dynamic stock tracking and the management system 30 according to any of following dual mode, described mode is: 1) by real-time radio be connected to local near in access point, wherein said access point for example comprises the server (not shown) that Ethernet via 10/100base-T (LAN connect be effective) in this case or analog of telephone line (via public switched telephone network) are connected with communication network 25 rigid lines such as the internet; And 2) be connected to the modulator-demodular unit (not shown) via a pattern (batch-mode) support in batches so that for example be connected with communication network 25 such as the wire-telephony system via RJ-11 standard telephone connecting line.Handheld unit 16 and dynamic stock follow the tracks of and management system infrastructure server 26,27 between communication can be the modulator-demodular unit dial-in direct or via communication network 25 use, wired or wireless data pass on.

Fig. 2 for example understands the infrastructure according to enterprise order input processing of the present invention and inventory tracking foundation structure 50.As shown in Figure 2, described enterprise order input and inventory tracking foundation structure 50 comprise first file transfer protocol (FTP) (FTP) server apparatus 56, be used for receiving the lens product order input that sends to dynamic stock tracking and management system 30 from ECP client 12 via the PDA that is equipped with bar code scanner at first, and then format the order input request that is received, and described request is transferred to enterprise order input server apparatus 58, such as IBM AS/400.Preferably, allow the secure communication of commission merchant and order input server via secure communication protocols.Described

security server

56,58 is incorporated defined business rules and process into customized the Internet addressable Database Systems, and the design one group of special purpose computer is arranged, be used to provide fire wall, application service and database management function.The client part (PDA, Desktop PC or kneetop computer) that it should be understood that system can communicated by letter with dynamic stock tracking and Tomcat-AdminPortal via HTTP(Hypertext Transport Protocol) and Open Security socket layer (OpenSSL) on the WWW or on TCP/IP equally.

As Fig. 2 was further shown, the center of described enterprise order input and order process foundation structure 50 was that business document is handled and electronic data interchange (" EDI ") is handled service provider 35.Preferably, described EDI handles service provider and comprises EXTOL integrating gear 35, be used for providing exchanges data and transaction with higher speed and high power capacity, and software is provided so as to realize with EDI driving platform between communicate by letter, conversion and document management facility, described driving platform for example is IBM AS/400.Described integrating gear 35 is providing huge dirigibility aspect tissue and the retrieve data, and no matter how platform can be seamlessly integrated with any EDI user application software, and can obtain the data that come from any system according to arbitrary standards, and automatically handle it in real time.Described integrator, EXTOL integrator are connected with enterprise order treatment facility 45 especially, and described enterprise order treatment facility 45 comprises server/

database systems

47 and 49, be used to preserve order, generation order and inventory and EDI is provided order process.As will explaining more in detail, order entry system also follows the tracks of with described dynamic stock and management system 30 is connected, described dynamic stock is followed the tracks of and management system comprises server/database systems 27, the stock who is used to upgrade and follows the tracks of specific ECP and manufacturer uses, and the master library of keeping ECP office is deposited.

Fig. 3 (a) is to describe according to the creative inventory tracking of the principle of the invention and notional block diagram of management process to 3 (d).Fig. 3 (a) has especially described the treatment scheme 100 of ECP, and the system algorithm finished of stock's renewal, stock control, the preferably processing of ECP order, order process and order.Shown in Fig. 3 (a), first step 101 has been described ECP representative scanning from making each product that distributing center receives, and for example, when finishing the order of stock lens product, and in step 102, stores described product in the stock that local office keeps.Specifically, shown in Fig. 3 (a), at step 101a, the personnel that are in ECP office use the PDA that is equipped with bar code scanner 16 that described product is swept dynamic stock and follow the tracks of and management system 30, so that upgrade the logic stock of this ECP.Respond described scanning, in step 105, execution algorithm 115 in the server 26,27 of dynamic stock tracking and management system 30 is so that upgrade and follow the tracks of the logic stock of this ECP.Specifically, the algorithm 115 shown in Fig. 3 (a) is activated so that increase the on-hand quantity of the product of specific SKU, and wherein said specific SKU is associated with the stock of local ECP, and local ECP has the quantity by the product of ECP scanning.

Subsequently, shown in figure (a), in step 103, described ECP office 12 will provide product according to any of three kinds of modes, and described mode is: 1) being diagnostic purpose, for example is adaptive with particular patient, as shown in the step 104a; And 2) be the income purpose, that is, and for satisfying the patient prescription of specific SKU (lens product), as shown in the step 104b.In every kind of three kinds of ECP products granting situations, the packing of product that described ECP office uses the PDA scanning that is equipped with bar code scanner 16 to provide is so that dynamic stock is followed the tracks of and management system 30 can use described product information to upgrade the logic stock of this ECP.Fig. 5 (a) for example understands the use of the PDA 16 that is equipped with bar code scanner especially, the display 150 that described PDA 16 provides comprises eyeglass granting option one 52, can be by the ECP personnel selection so that allow ECP to select to provide the reason of eyeglass, that is, and for diagnosis still is the purpose of income.In order to illustrate, will diagnostic lens be provided by the radio button 154 of shown highlighted demonstration.Return with reference to figure 3 (a), response is to the scanning of the diagnostic lens of granting, and at step 104a, execution algorithm 116 in the server 26,27 of dynamic stock tracking and management system 30 is so that upgrade and follow the tracks of the logic stock of the diagnostic lens product of this ECP.Specifically, the algorithm 116 shown in Fig. 3 (a) is activated so that reduce the on-hand quantity of the diagnostic lens product of specific SKU, and wherein said specific SKU is retained among the stock of local ECP with the quantity of providing product by ECP scanning.Equally, response is to the scanning of the revenue lens provided, at step 104b, dynamic stock follow the tracks of and the server 26,27 of management system 30 in execution algorithm 117 so that upgrade and follow the tracks of the logic stock of the revenue lens product of this ECP.Specifically, the algorithm 117 shown in Fig. 3 (a) is activated so that reduce the on-hand quantity of the revenue lens product of specific SKU, and wherein said specific SKU is retained among the stock of local ECP with the quantity of providing product by ECP scanning.

Preferably, as will describing in detail more, the viewpoint of the inventory tracking of realizing according to EDI stock control and order input work the subject of knowledge and the object of knowledge, defined " flat file " form and comprised a plurality of section or record formats of not demarcating, included but not limited to: the record, leader, one or more stock control detail record and the closing the transaction record that show the transaction beginning.Thus, adopt the more detail as shown in Fig. 7 (c), describe exemplary EDI form stock and used transaction reporting record 275, be used to be illustrated as the minimum data that stock control/renewal purpose offers dynamic stock tracking and Tomcat-AdminPortal 26, it comprises: (EDI) exchange beginning section 277 for example comprises (EDI) exchange beginning Duan Biaoshifu @VKS; EDI message id (" VKN852 ") comprises the data origin of unique id of transmit leg ID or PDA, the trade date of optional message sequence number (the control number of order assignment) and expression stock control date of shipping, for example, according to the YYYYMMDD form; Stock control header segment 279, comprise show that leader begins, the text " HDR " in type of transaction (for example " V " shows supplier inventory), optional PO numbering, the number of the account that is addressed to and the place that shows number of the account and the place that is associated with submitted inventory management information; And, one or more stock control detail records 280, each includes the data that show following content: " PRD " field that shows the beginning of detailed row project, optional trading partner's numbering, trade date, eyeglass UPC, the number of transaction of manufacturing, the account place of passing on/sell/receiving, measuring unit, activity code and unique manufacturing eyeglass identification code, for example, the product identifiers code 281.Described stock control closing the transaction record or interchange end segment 285 Bao Kuo @VKE encapsulation indication show the sum that the detail record that finishes and provide is provided.

Fig. 3 (b) has described by the management that dynamic stock of the present invention is followed the tracks of and management system 30 provides and lens product order functionality again.Specifically, according to Fig. 3 (a), dynamic stock follow the tracks of and management system 30 servers 26,27 in be that also execution in step 106 is so that be corresponding type of lenses management and the physical inventory of optimization maintenance and logic stock's ratio after the eyeglass of arbitrary respective type that local ECP office 12 provides upgrades inventory level.For example, enabling after algorithm 115 upgrades the stock lens product that is received, also enable other algorithm 125 and determine because whether the case of stock lenses number that the amount of lenses of granting reduces is lower than the limit of threshold stock inventory level.If the amount of lenses of providing is lower than threshold stock inventory level, take responsive action in step 107 so.For case of stock lenses, can be as at the new order that generates case of stock lenses shown in the step 135 like that.Equally, after the algorithm 116 of enabling the diagnostic lens product volume that is used for upgrading the stock after providing diagnostic lens, whether enable diagnostic lens number among the definite stock who reduces owing to the diagnostic lens amount of having provided of further algorithm 126 less than the threshold value diagnostic lens inventory level limit.If the amount of lenses of providing is lower than threshold value diagnostic lens inventory level, take the response action in step 107 so, in this case, as order in such automatic generation diagnostic lens shown in the step 136.In addition, shown in Fig. 3 (b), after the algorithm 117 of enabling the revenue lens product amount that is used for upgrading the stock after providing revenue lens, whether enable revenue lens number among the definite stock who reduces owing to the revenue lens amount of having provided of further algorithm 127 less than threshold revenue lens inventory level.If the amount of lenses of providing is lower than threshold revenue lens inventory level, take responsive action in step 107 so, in this case, according to as shown in the step 137 pass through that ECP office shows in advance preferably take action, as will according to Fig. 3 (c) be further explained in detail.

Fig. 3 (c) shows that more detailedly how responding action 135-137 handles order, and wherein said action 135-137 follows the tracks of via described dynamic stock and management system 30 response managements and optimize the stock and take.For example, in response to the new order that generates the stock eyeglass, as shown in the step 135, the PDA equipment 16 of described ECP reception is come from that dynamic stock is followed the tracks of and management system 30 for the affirmation of signing the stock lens orders lenses, as shown in the step 145.Equally, in response to the automatic generation of the new order of diagnostic lens, as shown in the step 136, the PDA equipment of described ECP reception is come from that dynamic stock is followed the tracks of and management system 30 for the affirmation of signing diagnostic lens order, as shown in the step 146.As mentioned before, the action that described dynamic stock is followed the tracks of and management system 30 is taked according to new revenue lens is subjected to the preferred qualification that ECP sends in advance.Shown in Fig. 3 (c), these are preferably included in the action that step 108 shows, comprise: dynamic stock is followed the tracks of and the option one 37a of management system 30, is used to generate the low stock alert message of the PDA that will send to ECP, and described message shows that the stock of revenue lens is lower than threshold limit; The option one 37b of dynamic stock tracking and management system 30, be used to generate the low stock alert message of the PDA that will send to ECP, described message shows that the stock of revenue lens is lower than threshold limit, and further begin to set up order automatically, for the new details of ECP approval, disapprove or appointment such as the amount of ordering; Perhaps, the option one 37c of dynamic stock tracking and management system 30, be used to generate the low stock alert message of the PDA that will send to ECP, described message shows that the stock of revenue lens is lower than threshold limit, and be used under the situation that does not relate to other ECP, automatically generate ordering again of revenue lens, make and distribution so that satisfy.In response to the action of being followed the tracks of by dynamic stock and management system 30 is taked according to option one 37a-137c, described ECP will carry out respectively: 1) receive the low stock warning in the PDA equipment that only is presented at ECP, as shown in the step 147a; 2) receive the low stock warning in the PDA equipment be presented at ECP and being prompted and check to agreeing or cancellation is set up orders, as shown in the step 147b; Perhaps 3) receive in the PDA equipment that is presented at ECP the low stock warning and in addition reception signed the affirmation of the order of new revenue lens, as shown in the step 147c.

Fig. 3 (d) has described order complete process and the function by dynamic stock of the present invention is followed the tracks of and management system 30 provides.Shown in Fig. 3 (d), step 109 has been described the order process function of being carried out by the master engine server 26 of dynamic stock tracking and management system 30.Thus, for preferably ordering the order of signing again in the revenue lens that step 147c generates automatically for stock SKU, diagnosis SKU and according to ECP, described master engine server 26 begins to order and finishes by bind all records (being received via network by ECP) electronically according to ECP especially, and they are sent to network order service device 59, wherein begin to finish and order treatment step 110.In order to satisfy the eyeglass of this type of eyeglass is ordered, receive the eyeglass of the lens orders lenses of binding by network order service device 59, and send it to order input server 58, the lens orders lenses that the 58 current receptions of described order input server receive via for example phone.All these lens orders lenses are bound according to the ECP that orders, and generate " collection " voucher that comprises all orders.Described collection voucher is handled by distribution server 57, and how its identification product type and location will handle order at actual store shelf place if remaining among the stock of distributing center 60.For example, described collection voucher can be discerned definite lens orders lenses, for example, eyeglass with grayish-9.0 diopter intensity, this is the special orders of necessary manual information retrieval, and other can be the eyeglass of more general standard, for example, can automatically retrieve the eyeglass of-2.5 intensity so that it is placed case in advance so that distribute.Collect these eyeglasses for specia order at last, and as showing, be transported in step 112 step 101 by as described in ECP receive their parts (referring to Fig. 3 (a)), and it is swept described system so that increase the inventory level that this ECP office keeps.Return with reference to figure 3 (c), preferred according to ECP, at step 147a and 147b, described master engine server 26 will be enabled the process of generation " low stock " alert message, and described alert message is received by the PDA 16 that is positioned at ECP office.

Fig. 4 has described the process 200 that is used for setting up described system and stores described lens product after distributing center 60 is made.As shown in Figure 4, in fact first step 201 relates to initial order information input inventory status notification system, and described initial order information comprises type of lenses and parameter, quantity or the like.These products can be made when order is received in prediction, and described order is to generate for any purpose described herein.After information is imported described system, will make described product, as shown in the step 202.Then, at the described eyeglass of step 203 packing, simultaneously as on packing as described in shown in the step 204 bar code 64 or other distinguishing marks being arranged on.Then, in step 205, in being positioned over the stock that distributing center 60 keeps before, use the PDA that is equipped with bar code scanner to upgrade the data that this product in the server with inventory status notification system 30 is associated.At last, in step 206, the packing that comprises the eyeglass of coming of new is physically transferred to the stock's shelf that are positioned at distributing center 60.

Comprise automatic processing by other functions that dynamic stock is followed the tracks of and management system 30 provides to the invoice summary request that comes from ECP.Dynamic stock of the present invention is followed the tracks of and order entry system has the function that allows ECP to use hand-held PDA request invoice summary.Specifically, according to mode described herein, can order described PDA operator to import the date of inventory with beginning.In response, system will construct file according to the EDI file layout of predeclared being called " VKNISR ".Use the default value of current date, described operator can promptly ask the affirmation of the order of up-to-date transmission of this day.Affirmation will be from described current date, and will continue up to arriving one of following date: the date (for example, maximal value is 30) that default value of current date (sending when the day before yesterday) or operator import.

Fig. 7 (d) has described the example format of the invoice summary request message 290 that is generated by PDA.Usually, described exemplary invoice summary request message format comprises: (EDI) exchange beginning section 292, and it comprises exchange beginning Biao Shifu @VKS; EDI message id (" VKNISR ") comprises the data origin of transmit leg ID or the unique id of PDA, optional message sequence number (the perhaps control number of order assignment), and the trade date of expression stock control date of shipping, for example, according to the YYYYMMDD form; Invoice summary request header segment 294, comprise the text that shows that leader begins, for example, the type of transaction that shows " F " of fax listings request, optional PO numbering, the number of the account that sends to and show the place of number of the account and the place that is associated with the inventory of being asked, and the text " PDA " that shows the requesting party; And one or more fax request detail records 295, each includes the data that show following content: show the FAX field that detailed row project begins, " From Date (from date) " that shows the request from date, and " To Date (date of arrival) " that show the request date of arrival, the area code in ECP place and the ECP Fax number that is sending the people of request.Described invoice summary request closing the transaction record or interchange end segment 298 Bao Kuo @VKE encapsulation indication show the sum that the detail record that finishes and provide is provided.

According to Fig. 6 the process of importing according to the automatic ordering of the principle of the invention 160 is described in further detail now.Fig. 6 has described the example menu selection of presenting to the user via the screen display of the PDA(Personal Digital Assistant) 16 of ECP.These menus are selected to comprise: be used to read and import order data so that storage option one 62 wherein; Be used to send the order stored and/or stock control data option one 64 to manufacturer's order entry system; Be used to ask the option one 66 of received fax order affirmation; The practical option one 67 that the user sets, perhaps system is provided with option one 68; And I.D. information option 169.According to the option one 62 that is used to read and import order data, Fig. 6 has described order ECP or operator generally and has scanned first step 170 with the bar code of ordered particular optic product.The user who it should be understood that PDA equipment can comprise: the internal eye health doctor (ECP) or its commission merchant that carry out visual task in the place of ECP; Require the outside ECP of income product or diagnostic products.Usually, when ordering revenue lens according to the present invention, described ECP or office worker are preferably scanned the UPC bar code on packing or the carton, perhaps scan them from the product barcode book.It should be understood that when packing, arrange lens product with different quantity, and its packing character can change.Preferably, for example, when establishing for diagnostic purpose, described system can follow the tracks of according to carton, secondary package (" carton " or " bag "), the product of packing (single " film " packing, " bottled ") or plastic bag packaging first.In addition, bar code can be one dimension and/or two-dimentional type.In brief, all lens orders lenses imported in one day and granting data are stored among the PDA, and regular, for example day by day or press customer requirements, all order data are sent to manufacturer/enterprise dynamic inventory tracking and management system foundation structure 30 (Fig. 1).For the situation that will order diagnostic lens for specific consumers, the bar code that the label that can peel off is provided and represents described SKU can packed first.Described ECP can peel off label and be placed on patient's form after adaptive, and can collect patient's form and can scan each bar coded sticker.Under the situation of revenue lens, all diagnostic lens order imported in one day and granting data are stored among the PDA, and regular, for example day by day or press customer requirements, all order data are sent to manufacturer/enterprise order input foundation structure so that finish.What will be further understood that is, except that using the PDA that is equipped with bar code scanner to generate lens product " stock " order so that keep the inventory level as medium, the lens product that can use the PDA that is equipped with bar code scanner to generate specific consumers is ordered again, that is, the controlled patient of so-called doctor sends or " DCPD " orders.For example, has the barcode identifiers that is associated with particular patient or client, and this bar code can be scanned during order generate to be handled, so that for client starts order, and it is directly sent to from dynamic inventory tracking and management system 30 orders input foundation structure 50.As the result of this order process, can be specific consumers or the additional lens product quantity delivered of patient.

Fig. 5 (c) has especially illustrated to be equipped with the use of the PDA 16 of bar code scanner, it provides the display 450 that comprises the function that is used to sign the product order, comprise: be used to illustrate the option 453 of lens product type to be ordered, and the option 456 that is used to illustrate the specific SKU of lens product to be ordered.After this information of input, described user can select to sign order option 458, and perhaps editor is stored in the existing order in the PDA equipment, as indicated in the option 460.In addition, described user can select option 465 to browse the inventory level summary information that those have the quantity that is lower than warning threshold, and described warning threshold is that described dynamic stock tracking and management system 30 are determined.In case according to low stock counting chart inventory level is defined as lowly, the user just can select option 462 to start ordering again this eyeglass.

Return with reference to figure 6, in step 172, by the optional screen 150 of client, with regard to scanning bar code be used for the diagnosis or income make definite, as shown in Fig. 5 (a).In addition, if the one dimension bar code just allows the user to import quantity,, suppose that so quantity is included in the data of scanning if described bar code is two-dimentional.In addition, step 172 comprises that contrast diagnostic products table (not shown) is to confirm the step through (if two dimension) code of scanning, described diagnostic products table comprises such as subpack ID, subpack UOM, subpack and (for example illustrating, 00033P TA 8.7 0.00-0.75+70D) data, if and do not find, just begin to show error message.Otherwise, can contrast income product table (not shown) and further confirm scan code, described income product table comprises the data such as product SKU, product code UOM and product code description (for example, 73390550790 12P TA, 8.7 0.00-0.75+10).Preferably, if do not find, just show error message.Next, in step 176, just whether to be that UPC-A makes definite for the bar code of scanning.Specifically, check the table of the ID of manufacturer in order to discern effective manufacturer.If UPC-A is invalid manufacturer, so described PDA for example will show " invalid manufacturer ", otherwise the described PDA that is equipped with bar code scanner will verify whether described UPC-A is effective manufacturer.As the result who confirms scan code and checking manufacturer, the form of ordering details according to detailed description comes the construction data file, and as shown in the step 180, the prompting user is imported the quantity of wishing the revenue lens of ordering.It should be understood that described operator has the ability that changed quantity at the submission order in the past at any time.Above-mentioned bar code, explanation and the relevant amount of ordering through scanning will show according to the scroll list form that is positioned on the described screen (not shown), be used to indicate operator's scanning bar code.It should be understood that described operator also has the ability that all writes down from the tabulation deletion, and change is to the ability of the Order Quantity of the bar code of UPC-A scanning.

Describe now as shown in the option one among Fig. 6 64 for ECP can with the hand-held PDA that utilizes send the option of order and inventory tracking data.Preferably, described PDA equipment at first indicates the operator that PDA equipment 16 is placed base unit, and sends so that begin by enter key.This will start following event sequence: initial, described PDA will be automatically to the place dialing of lens manufacturer, as shown in the step 174, and send and comprise that the authorization information of number of the account and password is so that verified by manufacturer.If described account information is that effectively manufacturer will send " can send " information so.Otherwise it is invalid information that manufacturer will send account.It should be understood that described PDA can show the message that shows " invalid account information " to the user.If described PDA receives its that come from manufacturer and can send the message of information to manufacturer, promptly successfully connect, so described PDA is arranged in transmission in all data of scanned barcode list.In one embodiment, described data are transferred to ftp server 56 (Fig. 2) by FTP from dynamic inventory tracking and management system 30.If described the transmission successfully, manufacturer will send the message of " successful acknowledge number: xxxxxx " so, and wherein xxxxxx is an acknowledge number.That is to say, because the file of each transmission comprises unique title and unique message SN, so this file will be used as the affirmation number that is shown to the user.PDA show successfully send message after, will the number of affirmation and allow the operator turn back to master menu by the instruction of " enter key ".At this moment, described transmission number will be deleted from described PDA.It should be understood that the possibility mistake that can run into comprises during sending: can not carry out authentication to dialup router/PPP, and will show the user message of " fail to be connected to Comm.server " in such cases; And, can not carry out authentication to ftp server, and will show the user message of " fail to be connected to ftp server " in such cases.If successfully connect, PDA is to ftp server FTP data so, and described data have the detailed data of the file layout of each type, and described uniform data is suitable beginning, stem and ending segment, as will describing in detail herein.It should be understood that if FTP lost efficacy, will show the user message of " data is not successfully passed on " so.Preferably, be each section formation sequence of sending number.In addition, as will explaining more in detail, each document (for example, all sections) comes " packing " in transmission time Li Yong @VKS Yi Ji @VKE encapsulation.If the generation transmission failure, " bag " of Sheng Chenging is used as unique " bag " with its oneself sequence number and preserves so, and follow up scan will can not be affixed in the inefficacy " bag ".Generate new " bag " when attempting to transmit next time.Two " bags " can send together.After successful transmission, the scroll list of bar code of scanning is deleted from described tabulation.Should remove the invoice summary request date in addition.Also will delete the file of packing.In one embodiment, the PDA that is equipped with bar code scanner is used for storage inventory tracking with each package scan or orders the relevant information of purpose, and accumulation and all information of demarcating are so that arrive order input/inventory tracking foundation structure as single file transfer after a while.Preferably, periodically carry out transmission, for example, carry out several times every day, perhaps finish or execution when the user asks on business day according to the regulation of ECP office.

Turn back to Fig. 6, now will according to step 186 describe for ECP can with the hand-held PDA that utilizes ask to order the option one 66 of affirmation by faxing.In this step, described PDA equipment indication operator input validation is with the date of beginning.Preferably, use the default value of current date so that described operator can ask the affirmation of the order of up-to-date transmission of this day rapidly.Usually, described affirmation will be from current date, and will continue up to arriving one of following date: the date (for example, being 30 to the maximum) that default value of current date (sending when the day before yesterday) or operator import.In response, described PDA equipment the display requirement user is placed its support with hand-held PDA and by " enter key " so that the message that request fax is confirmed.User's input of response request, will following process take place for transmission: described PDA will automatically dial to the place of lens manufacturer, and transmission comprises that the authorization information of number of the account and password is so that verified by manufacturer.If described account information is that effectively manufacturer will send " can send " information so.Otherwise manufacturer will send the invalid information of account.It should be understood that described PDA can show the message that shows " invalid account information " to the user.If described PDA receive come from manufacturer show that it can send the message of information to manufacturer, promptly successfully connect, so described PDA will send the request of the fax affirmation on input date.If described transmission success, manufacturer/enterprise will send acknowledge number and show " successfully transmission " message so, and described message comprises acknowledge number, and command operation person turns back to master menu by " enter key ".At this moment, described transmission number is deleted from described PDA.

Inventory tracking of the present invention and order entry system have the ability of auto-update operating system and application software.Specifically, described PDA equipment can be checked the new application program or the existence of operating system software.On the long-range place of these file residents in enterprise network, and if exist, will correspondingly download.Thus, turn back to Fig. 6, now will according to step 187 describe for ECP can with the utilization PDA that is equipped with bar code scanner allow the option one 68 of default.In step 187, described menu selects to allow the user to browse the current version that is loaded into the software on the described PDA, and allows the operator to be upgraded to up-to-date software version.If the operator asks upgrading, order below will taking place so: initial, described PDA indication operator places support with PDA, and upgrades so that begin by " enter key ".Described PDA will automatically dial to the place of lens manufacturer, and transmission comprises that the Information Authentication of number of the account and password is so that verified by manufacturer.If described account information is that effectively manufacturer will send " can send " information so.Otherwise manufacturer will send the invalid information of account.It should be understood that described PDA can show the message that shows " invalid account information " to the user.If described PDA receive come from manufacturer show that it can send the message of information to manufacturer, promptly successfully connect, so described PDA will send the request of software release upgrade.In response, manufacturer/enterprise will send up-to-date software version.After PDA receives upgraded version, it will show described the upgrading successfully to manufacturer/enterprise.If the unsuccessful transmission of upgraded version will require described PDA to return to its previous software version so, and to the operator show the upgrading be unsuccessful.In a preferred embodiment, manufacturer is included in the ability that electronics is ordered auto-update software during the process of carrying out.

Turn back to Fig. 6, now will according to step 189 describe for ECP can with the utilization PDA that is equipped with bar code scanner come the option one 69 of the input I.D. of permission system information.In step 189, menu item is provided, it requires the user to input password or provides the PDA key sequence to begin to import the ECP identifying information, so that allow PDA visit manufacturer order entry system.It should be understood that being positioned at this regional information can remotely change by modulator-demodular unit, for example, in order between the order transmission period, to change the number of the account of ECP.In step 190, identifying information to be imported comprises: ID number or number of the account that manufacturer is exclusive; Allow the password of visit AS/400; And be used for telephone number to manufacturer dialing.

According to the present invention, viewpoint according to the automatic ordering input function, can send (" DCPD ") order definition " flat file " form for electronics stock and the controlled patient of doctor, described form comprises a plurality of section or record formats of not demarcating, and includes but not limited to: the record that shows the transaction beginning; Leader; Optional order note (" COM ") record; For stock order optional, but requirement can only be used for patient information (" the PAT ") section that DCPD orders; Optional address information section (" ADD ") comprises city, state and zip code information, and it is chosen wantonly for stock order, orders but requirement can only be used for DCPD; The detailed row of one or more order inputs project segment (" DET "); And closing the transaction record.It should be understood that each DCPD order can have only a patient.Fig. 7 (a) and 7 (b) have described exemplary stock's order input record 250,260, each figure all shows and offers each stock order input transaction 250 (Fig. 7 (a) and the DCPD order input transaction 260 (minimum data of Fig. 7 (b), comprise: each (EDI) exchange beginning section 252,262, it comprises EDI exchange beginning Biao Shifu @VKS, EDI message id (" VKN850 ") for example, (for example comprise transmit leg ID, " PDA ") or the data origin of other unique id of bar code PDA, optional message SN (the control number 254 of order assignment, 264), and the trade date on expression stock's control transmission date, for example, according to the YYYYMMDD form; Each order header section 255,265, comprise the text " HDR " that shows leader and begin, type of transaction, for example using " S " to show that stock as shown in section 255 (Fig. 7 (a)) replenishes orders, perhaps show that with D the DCPD shown in section 265 (Fig. 7 (b)) orders type, optional purchase order number (" PO "), the number of the account that is addressed to and show the place of number of the account and the place that is associated with the order information of submitting to, and show that no matter having the fax order confirms to ask (shown in Fig. 7 (a)) or the order of not faxing to confirm under the situation of request (shown in Fig. 7 (b)), " PDA/FAX " field of the order of signing by " PDA ", and explanation comprises credit number, the diagnostic lens number of the account, diagnostic lens account place, the option field of the information of transportation resources of being asked and the following ship date of being asked; And corresponding one or more stock control detail record section 256,266, each includes the data that show following content: show the PRD field that detailed row project begins, optional trading partner number, trade date, the eyeglass UPC of manufacturing or unique manufacturing eyeglass identification code (product identifiers code 257,267), number of transaction comes from the account place in the place that transmission/sale/reception comes and goes, measuring unit, and activity code.

Shown in Fig. 7 (b), described DCPD orders (Fig. 7 (b)) transaction and also comprises patient's section 268, this patient's section comprises " PAT " field that shows patient's start-of-record, show the option field of wearing fate, for example, 1-7 days (not shown), optional postcard message id, it comprises and is used to begin to generate message so that the code " A " that contact ECP office orders again perhaps is used to begin to generate message so that call out the code " B " that office sets up agreement; Optional pack slip message id, it comprises the code that is used to begin to generate one or more message, comprise and be used to be created on the code " A " of these eyeglasses being used up the message of the importance of announcing contact office before at least one week, be used to generate and show that the eyeglass ordered should wear according to the usual method of giving instruction manual, and can not exceed the code " B " of one day message, be used to generate and show that illustrated usual method is for the be absolutely necessary code " C " of message of the health of maintenance customer's eyes, be used to generate and show that this eyeglass only belongs to single and uses the code " D " of wearing every day and must not reusable message, be used to generate as the code " E " of reminding the user just wearing day to throw will be after only using in 1st processed message of falling of eyeglass and these eyeglasses, and be used to generate and show day code " F " of the advertisement information of the health-benefiting of throwing eyeglass; For example, if the patient id when described patient is recent patient, and if the new Vistakon patient ID or-1 during new patient, and patient's surname, patient's name and patient's name's middle initial.

As Fig. 7 (b)) further illustrate, described DCPD orders (Fig. 7 (b)) transaction and also comprises address field 268, this address field comprises " ADD " field that shows patient address start-of-record and the one or more fields that are used for address information, and described DCPD order transaction also comprises city/postcode/state section 269, and it comprises " CSZ " field that shows city/postcode/state start-of-record and comprises and be used to show the city, the state, 5 postcodes and 4 optional postcode expansions, area code and 7 telephone numbers, and one or more fields of 5 optional telephone number expansions.

Each all illustrates and offers the exemplary order input record 250,260 that each stock order input transaction (Fig. 7 (a)) and DCPD order the minimum data of (Fig. 7 (b)) and also comprise detailed row project segment, and it comprises: show the DET field that detailed row project begins; Be used to illustrate the PO line number field of continuous capable bullets; Quantity, be quantity of order; Measuring unit; The product identifiers code; The desired product of the lens product of R (right eye) or L (left eye) that comprises of DCPD order uses; And the detailed row of optional order.Each stock order input transaction (Fig. 7 (a)) and DCPD order (Fig. 7 (b)) transaction each comprise that also each stock 259 or DCPD order 270 closing the transaction records (interchange end segment), each section includes EDI exchange Jie Shubiaoshifu @VKE and the sum (DET) of the detail record that provides.

Fig. 8 describes the generalized block diagram that is used for providing in system 10 of the present invention the illustrative methods 300 of dynamic inventory management and income and/or diagnostic lens tracking.With regard to stock's use and stock's renewal, as shown in Figure 2, and detailed illustrating in the block diagram of Fig. 8, first step 302 relates to the data that reception sends from PDA equipment 16 via communication network.As mentioned above, the data that send from described PDA can comprise that the stock uses data or can comprise order request data as selecting.Specifically, data are sent to first ftp server 56 (for example, Sun 2000) by FTP from dynamic inventory tracking and management system 10 from PDA, as shown in Figure 2.In response, described FTP Sun 2000 servers are carried out such process, that is: described PDA data are tied to predetermined file format together with arbitrary order of the lens product that obtains by the Internet or by phone, wherein described file are sent to as shown in Figure 2 AS/400 system 58 via FTP.Use Extol EDI translater 35 (Fig. 2) to carry out the program of handling EDF013.In response to file EDF013 is imported to the Extol translater, shown in the step 304 among Fig. 8, the connection that data input pin is set to open and translate described data by News Category.That is to say, shown in Fig. 8 step 306, be translated according to the data that provide in the described VKN850 message format of Fig. 7 (a) herein, that is, be mapped as the detailed form (Fig. 2) of the EDI order that is called EDF001, EDF002 file layout.Equally, use the Extol translater, be mapped as the stock's updating file form that is called VMF001 470 according to the data that comprise in the described VKN852 message format of Fig. 7 (c) herein, as what will explain according to an embodiment of the described dynamic stock tracing process of Fig. 9, and the data that comprise in the VKNISR message format described herein are mapped as the listings request file layout (as shown in Figure 2) that is called VMF004.Return with reference to figure 8, next step 308 is that the field in checking translated EDF001A, EDF002A, VMF001, the VMF004 form is to utilize valid data to fill, promptly, EDF001, EDF002 comprise correct order header field, VMF001 comprises that correct stock uses field, and/or VMF004 comprises correct listings request field.For the ease of discussing, suppose to have received more new data of stock that next step is to utilize use value to upgrade the stock who is associated with described ECP.That is to say, as shown in the step 309, calling program is so that read the use data that PDA reports, and it is provided to the VMF001 stock updating file of input, and in step 310, be used to upgrade inventory master file VMF002, described inventory master file VMF002 is used to follow the tracks of the inventory count value of single ECP account.To the algorithm that be called be described according to the step 115-118 of Fig. 3 (b) herein.Deposit file in order to be mapped to the VMF002 master library, described VMF001 comprises 4 byte subpack marks symbol, and described identifier is used to be linked to product and uses database GBF472 (shown in Fig. 9) so that obtain described UPC.Use number of the account, place, UPC and measuring unit as key, described data can be linked to the VMF002 master library and deposit file.At first, for every kind of corresponding lens product (diagnosis or income), all are kept at the single ECP user inventory counting that is used to follow the tracks of among the inventory master file VMF002476 (as shown in Figure 9) with " existing (on-hand) " inventory level amount=XX eyeglass of eyeglass; " use " quantity=YY; And " Reorder Point " threshold value (for example lower threshold)=ZZ eyeglass begins.When the PDA from ECP receives information, utilize the lens product of reporting by file VMF001 to make and be used for upgrading these accounts.Specifically, the account with the activity that comes from VMF001 will reduce the usage quantity of being reported from VMF001, and " use " quantity will increase the usage quantity of being reported.For example, will deduct in the on-hand quantity of use amount from database VMF002 476 that provide in the described VMF001 file.If on-hand quantity＜0 is set at 0 with the value of having now so.In case finish checking and do not have reporting errors, continue described process so so that calling program VMR002, its assessment stock and or begin to generate warning, because the on-hand inventory level smaller or equal to Reorder Point (promptly, XX＜=ZZ) and preferably send according to ECP and to order to the account, perhaps automatically generate and order again, for example, for diagnostic lens generates.That is to say that as shown in Figure 9, described program VMR002 478 is called so that the inventory level of analyzing VMF002 and following the tracks of each ECP.Result as this process, carry out the automatic ordering generative process, it calls following steps as shown in Figure 2: generate one or more file EDF001A, this document is to order and be used to verify that it is less than or equal to the Reorder Point threshold value (that is, the order header of the PDA that correctly writes of those ECP accounts of XX＜=ZZ) is preserved file for having the on-hand inventory level for each ECP; Spanned file EDF002A, this document order and verify the detailed file of preserving of order that only correctly writes the PDA of EDF002A details for the account with on-hand inventory level＜=Reorder Point threshold value.

More specifically, with reference to Fig. 9, program VMR002 478 reads VMF002, up to the end of file (EOF), and definite on-hand inventory level whether＜=the Reorder Point threshold value, shown in step 312 among Fig. 8.If satisfy this standard, so described process links to EDF001A file (Fig. 2) according to number of the account and place.If do not find the EDF001A file, create described EDF001A file header file so, so that comprise people's (for example ,=" PDA/FAX ") of number of the account, place, EDI sequence number (=0), order type (=" S "), order source (=" P ") and signing order.In case write the EDF001A field, just write the EDF002A field, so that comprise ECP number of the account, place, EDI sequence #=0, UPC, measuring unit and the amount of ordering (for example ,=minimum number).At last,, also deposit and upgraded following inventory tracking value among the file VMF002 at master library as the further result of this process, as herein to corresponding ECP account according to the step 125-127 of Fig. 3 (b) described.It should be understood that, part as this VMR002 process 478, if the on-hand inventory level is not less than the Reorder Point threshold value, on-hand inventory level and second " warning " threshold value " WW " of ECP can be compared so, this second warning threshold shows that to ECP definite inventory level is very low, and client or ECP may wish that beginning orders again.That is to say, as shown in the step 314 of Fig. 8, whether program VMR002 478 can read VMF002 and definite on-hand inventory level in addition＜=and the warning threshold level is (promptly, XX＜=WW), and if like this, start alert message to ECP user, as shown in the step 320 of Fig. 8.Otherwise described process proceeds to step 302, so that wait for next order.

Fig. 5 (b) illustrates the exemplary description of ECP to the PDA screen display 400 of the local ECP of the snapshots in time of the on-hand inventory level of income and diagnostic lens.As shown in the figure, in case when the inventory tracking function executing software that provides as ECP that uses among the described PDA16 was provided, shown menu option comprises: menu option 403 was used for checking the stock according to product line; Option 406 is used for checking the stock according to the SKU numbering; Option 408 is used to start the signing of new order; Option 410 is used for checking the stock according to product type; And option 412, be used to check total stock.Preferably, when browsing the snapshots in time of the total stock as shown in Fig. 5 (b),, provide the bar chart mark 415 that is used to show existing physical quantity for every type eyeglass; The mark 420 that shows discharging quantity; And show that expectation satisfies the mark 425 of amount of logic of desirable demand or use.Shown in Fig. 5 (b), show the indication 430 of having signed order for diagnostic lens.In addition, threshold ratio result by way of caution, for the exemplary stock's lens product shown in the display screen, low stock warning indication 435 marks 440 with the possible quantity that shows eyeglass and will order again.

In another embodiment, can be implemented as single client triggers and orders lens product automatically.For example, after providing a collection of eyeglass for specific consumers, 90 days quantity delivered for example, ECP and/or order entry system can be followed the tracks of fate so, so can be that those particular patient generate ordering new quantity delivered automatically.Thus, ECP need not import order, but trigger can be building up in the PDA software of ECP, is used to follow the tracks of fate in the past after providing specific supply for client.In the default time over and done with after, so, described ECP just can automatically notify patient's quantity delivered may be carry out degree that new eyeglass is ordered with discharging, perhaps as selecting, specific patient can automatically generate order and finish and order, so that can transport by the new eyeglass of automatic reception according to mode described herein.

Return with reference to figure 5 (b) and Fig. 8, step 318 is as dynamic stock tracing process another part, as the result who determines the low stock level in step 312 or as the result who begins to receive the request of ordering of dotted line 319 expressions in as Fig. 8, order interface file from order preservation file to EDI and automatically generate order.Thus, in next step 318, invoked procedure VMR003 (as shown in Figure 2) comes to create order according to EDF001A and EDF002A.Preferably, described program VMR003 to carry out preset time (for example day by day) so that be that the activity on the same day generates order.Specifically, VMR003 reads the EDF001A file, up to running into described EOF, and links to the EDF001 file according to number of the account, place and EDI sequence number.If do not find, the field that comes from the EDF001A of order header establishment so is moved to EDF001 and is written into EDF001.Then, EDF002A is set and read to described program according to number of the account, place and EDI sequence number, till not finding.If find, the field that comes from EDF002A so is moved to EDF002 and writes the EDF002 file.This is a cyclic process, and continues always, up to run into EDF in EDF00IA till.In case the program of completing successfully is just removed EDF001A and EDF002A.Such as further shown in Figure 2, in step 49, executive routine VMR004 is so that use the VMF004EDI file layout to generate invoice summary request, and described request is generated and places fax queue.This request is the affirmation to ECP, with the quantity and the date of delivery of notice ECP product ordering.

Though described the present invention in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, but this does not mean that scope of the present invention is limited in illustrated particular form, on the contrary, this means that covering can comprise these replacement schemes, modification and equivalent manners within the spirit and scope of the present invention, scope of the present invention is limited by appended claims.

Claims

1. a dynamic stock is followed the tracks of and management system, comprising:

Server apparatus, be used to allow accessing database so that storage lens product information, described lens product information comprises inventory data, described inventory data is included in type and the quantity of being responsible for providing to client the lens product of preserving among various the residing stocks of eyeglass, the lens product of described manufacturing comprises the packing with readable mark, and described readable mark is used for the reference that directly shows lens product information or the associated lens product information that is included in database is provided;

The equipment that provides in each place, be used to scan the indication that provides on providing lens product packing in each place to client, and obtaining inventory tracking information, described inventory tracking information comprises the discharging quantity of lens product type identifier and the every kind lens product type relevant with the place;

Be used to allow directly to send to the mechanism of described database server via communication network in the inventory tracking information that has scanned of each described place acquisition;

Be used for according to the mechanism of the described inventory tracking information trace that has scanned each stock of various places preservation, described follow-up mechanism is updated in the quantity of the lens product of every kind of type of lenses each place providing according to the quantity in the described inventory level that is kept at each place, and the inventory level information of the case of stock lenses product that upgraded of report is for using in each place.

2. dynamic stock as claimed in claim 1 is followed the tracks of and management system, and wherein said being used for directly communicates by letter so that the mechanism of input information comprises the wired connection to described communication network with described database server.

3. dynamic stock as claimed in claim 1 is followed the tracks of and management system, and wherein said communication network comprises and come from following group a kind of that described group comprises: public switched telephone network, public internet and private intranet.

4. dynamic stock as claimed in claim 1 is followed the tracks of and management system, also comprise order input foundation structure, for providing lens product, described various places order and finish function, the described scanister that provides in each place also allows to come input mirror flake products purchase order information according to the described case of stock lenses product inventory that upgraded that reports to described place, and wherein said purchase order information can directly send to described order input foundation structure via described communication network.

5. dynamic stock as claimed in claim 4 is followed the tracks of and management system, also comprises being used for before receiving the inventory tracking information that directly sends from the residing described equipment in field the mechanism of this place being carried out authentication.

6. dynamic stock as claimed in claim 5 is followed the tracks of and management system, wherein said follow-up mechanism comprises: being used for to be that the inventory level of upgrading that preserve in a place is ordered the mechanism that threshold value compares with the predetermined eyeglass of specifying lens product type, described mechanism automatically begins to generate order so that send it to described order input foundation structure, supplies with additional thereby can carry out eyeglass for the particular optic product that is in the place automatically.

7. dynamic stock as claimed in claim 5 is followed the tracks of and management system, wherein said follow-up mechanism comprises: being used for to be that the inventory level of upgrading that preserve in a place is ordered the mechanism that threshold value compares with the predetermined eyeglass of specifying lens product type, described mechanism generates message automatically so that send it to described place, and described message shows in the quantity delivered of described place particular optic product low.

8. dynamic stock as claimed in claim 4 is followed the tracks of and management system, the described scanister that provides in each place lens product purchase order information again that can also import specific consumers wherein, described client purchase order information again can directly be sent to described order input foundation structure via described communication network.

9. dynamic stock as claimed in claim 8 is followed the tracks of and management system, the described scanning indication that wherein provides comprises and the specific consumers further indication that is associated of purchase order information again, the described scanister that provides in each place also scans described further indication, is the purchase order information again that described client order eyeglass again time transmission is associated with box lunch.

10. dynamic stock as claimed in claim 4 is followed the tracks of and management system, described lens product type wherein to be tracked comprises and comes from following group one or more, described group comprises: be used to test the diagnostic lens adaptive with particular patient, it is non-tangible that the identity of test patient keeps, and still can follow the tracks of by the test patient identification code.

11. dynamic stock as claimed in claim 4 is followed the tracks of and management system, described lens product type wherein to be tracked comprises revenue lens, described revenue lens comprises and comes from following group one or more, described group comprises: the revenue lens of preserving among the stock stock, and the controlled patient of doctor sends (DCPD) revenue lens.

12. dynamic stock as claimed in claim 4 is followed the tracks of and management system, wherein provide in each place be used to scan is provided at granting and comprises to the described equipment of the indication on client's the lens product packing: be used to store in order to order the mechanism of the lens product information that scans with the inventory tracking purpose, described system cycle ground sends each residing described canned data in described field via described communication network to described database server.

13. dynamic stock as claimed in claim 1 is followed the tracks of and management system, the lens product information in the described database server of wherein being stored in comprises following group one or more, and described group comprises: lens product code, lot number, stock keeping unit (SKU) and quantity and lens parameters.

14. dynamic stock as claimed in claim 1 is followed the tracks of and management system, wherein said scanister is a handheld unit.

15. a method that is used for dynamic tracking lens product stock said method comprising the steps of:

A) in storer, store the lens product information that comprises inventory data, described inventory data is included in type and the quantity of being responsible for providing to client the lens product of preserving among the stock in various places of eyeglass, and the lens product of described manufacturing comprises the packing with the readable mark that directly shows described lens product information;

B) scanning is provided to client's lens product in each place the indication that provides is provided, and obtain inventory tracking information, described inventory tracking information comprises the lens product type identifier, and provide and be associated with the place each the packing eyeglass discharging quantity;

C) directly be sent in the inventory tracking information that has scanned that each place, described place obtains via communication network to described database server; And

D) by upgrading the lens product quantity of granting according to the quantity of in the described inventory level in each place, preserving, thus the stock who preserves at place, various places according to the described inventory tracking information trace that has scanned; And the inventory lens product inventory level information that report has been upgraded is so that use at each place, place.

16. also comprising, method as claimed in claim 15, the step b) of wherein said direct transmission allow cable data to pass on transmission so that direct step to described database input information.

17. method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the steps of: as to come input mirror flake products purchase order information according to the case of stock lenses product inventory that has upgraded that reports to described place, and via described communication network described purchase order information is directly sent to order input foundation structure, so that order and finish function for described various places provide lens product.

18. method as claimed in claim 17 is wherein comprising step before the step c): before receiving the inventory tracking information that directly sends from the residing described equipment in field, authentication is carried out in described place.

19. method as claimed in claim 18, the wherein said step d) that tracks inventory may further comprise the steps:

To order threshold value for the first predetermined eyeglass that upgrades inventory level and appointment lens product type that preserve in a place compares; And

Automatically begin to generate order so that allow for the particular optic product that is in the place and carry out automatic eyeglass and supply with and replenish.

20. method as claimed in claim 18, the wherein said step d) that tracks inventory is further comprising the steps of:

To order threshold value for the second predetermined eyeglass that upgrades inventory level and appointment lens product type that preserve in a place compares; And

Automatically generate message so that send it to described place, described message shows that the quantity delivered of residing particular optic product on the scene is very low.

21. method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said lens product type to be tracked comprises and comes from one or more in following group, described group comprises: be used to test the diagnostic lens adaptive with particular patient, described method is further comprising the steps of: replenish described diagnostic lens automatically according to the customizable business rules that is provided with for each place, thereby when low-level threshold value satisfied the business rules standard in described place, automatically the diagnostic lens with predetermined quantity was transported to described place.

22. method as claimed in claim 17 is further comprising the steps of: allow for specific consumers input mirror flake products purchase order information again, and with described client again purchase order information directly send to described order input foundation structure via described communication network.

23. method as claimed in claim 22, the described scanning indication that wherein provides comprises the further indication that is associated with the purchase order information again of specific consumers, described scanning step comprises: scanning described further indication, is the purchase order information again that described client order eyeglass again time transmission is associated with box lunch.

24. method as claimed in claim 23 is further comprising the steps of:

Be stored as and order or inventory tracking purpose and the lens product information that scans; And

Periodically be distributed in the described scanning information that each place, described place obtains via described communication network to described database server.

25. the equipment that machine readable is got, positively comprising can be by the instruction repertorie of machine execution, so that carry out the method step that is used for dynamic tracking lens product stock, described method step comprises:

B) scanning is provided at each place and provides to the indication on client's the lens product packing, and obtains inventory tracking information, and described inventory tracking information comprises the lens product type identifier and the discharging quantity of each lens product type of being associated with the place;

C) directly be sent in the inventory tracking information that has scanned that each described place obtains via communication network to described database server; And

26. machine readable taking equipment as claimed in claim 25, the step b) of wherein said direct transmission also comprises: allow cable data to pass on transmission so that to the step of the direct input information of described database.

27. machine readable taking equipment as claimed in claim 25, further comprising the steps of: as to come input mirror flake products purchase order information according to the product inventory of renewal case of stock lenses that reports to described place, and via described communication network described purchase order information is directly sent to order input foundation structure, so that order and finish function for described various places provide lens product.

28. machine readable taking equipment as claimed in claim 25 is wherein comprising step before the step c): before receiving the inventory tracking information that directly sends from the residing described equipment in field, authentication is carried out in described place.

29. machine readable taking equipment as claimed in claim 28, the wherein said step d) that tracks inventory is further comprising the steps of:

Automatically begin to generate order so that send it to described order input foundation structure, carry out automatic eyeglass and supply with and replenish thereby allow for the particular optic product that is in the place.

30. machine readable taking equipment as claimed in claim 28, the wherein said step d) that tracks inventory is further comprising the steps of:

Automatically generate message so that send it to described place, described message shows in the quantity delivered of a residing particular optic product in field very low.

31. machine readable taking equipment as claimed in claim 27, wherein said lens product type to be tracked comprises and comes from following group one or more, described group comprises: be used to test the diagnostic lens adaptive with particular patient, described method is further comprising the steps of: replenish described diagnostic lens automatically according to the customizable business rules that is provided with for each place, thereby when low-level threshold value satisfied the business rules standard in described place, automatically the diagnostic lens with predetermined quantity was transported to described place.

32. machine readable taking equipment as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the steps of: allow for specific consumers input mirror flake products purchase order information again, and with described client again purchase order information directly send to described order input foundation structure via described communication network.

33. machine readable taking equipment as claimed in claim 27, the described scanning indication that wherein provides comprises the further indication that is associated with the purchase order information again of specific consumers, described scanning step comprises: scanning described further indication, is the purchase order information again that described client order eyeglass again time transmission is associated with box lunch.

34. machine readable taking equipment as claimed in claim 33 is further comprising the steps of:

Periodically be sent in the described scanning information that each place, described place obtains via described communication network to described database server.