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It will take a creative genius to try to place negitive spin on this one! Clearly our coach is among the most respected and sought after coaches in college football. The statue will be even MORE worthy after a few more national championships! RTR!!
Fart....u are a moron......and a great liar! Win the capitol one trophy and place next to "the people's championship" hardware!
awbun fans calling Alabama fans "redneck" is like awbun fans calling Tide supporters "trailer-trash." Most self respecting awbies once lived in the prestigious "wire road estates!!" If the mobile home fits-wear it awbun! By the way....I'll boo WHO I WANT, WHEN I WANT! gene "cheater" chizik earned his detractors just as Saban has from you hayseeds!
awbun fans calling Alabama fans "redneck" is like awbun fans calling Tide supporters "trailer-trash." Most self respecting awbies once lived in the prestigious "wire road estates!!" If the mobile home fits-wear it awbun!
Lets see....who did more for Alabama....Bear Bryant or Joe Namath.....who did more for awbun....Shug Jordan or Pat Sullivan. An easy call......players should have plaques...coaches have the more lasting impact, give them the statues! Find a new cause to moan and groan about awbs!
You moron...the first time it was played at a college football game it WAS the Ga band.....theme to Jaws first played by Fl band. Guess ya'll will change to crimson and white and become the Crimson Tigers next!!
These kids have busted their humps for years waiting on this day. Now they are denied the full experience because a bunch of greedy sob's can't decide how to divide BILLIONS of dollars. The NFLPA should be ashamed! They should gladly allow these kids the ability to attend the draft with no retribution! I'm not denying the relevence of the players stance, just the way they are expressing it! The kids should go to the draft and wear nflpa hats or T's.
Blue, you are the idiot! Bama self reported PRIOR to any wrong doing. The NCAA in its supreme hypocracy praised UA for its handling of the case...then called it strike 2. I love Bama and Bama basketball, but Trevor Lacey would be foolish to play anywhere but KY, Conn or KS-true basketball schools.
Any awbun fan who believe scammy newton did not receive money cross the line from blind loyalty to blind stupidity! Your university ceo (lowder) is under federal indictment and several of your MAJOR boosters are as well. Your ship is sinking and the best you can do is to cast desperaging comments about the U of A......get a life. Learn how to play football and maybe your board of trustees will BUY you a life!
Vacated wins are something you awbuns better get used to....only thing you'll have to show for '10 season will be your championship hats and t-shirts. Only problem is they need to read..."awbun.....2010 TEMPORARY national champions." You're going to lose it all-and STILL you morons will say it was worth it! Put the crystal next to your "peoples championship" trophy from the tiny terry days! The heisman will be forfeited alla reggie bush! What an embarrassment you awb's are! Shameless fools!
The star rating is only relevent to physical attributes and physical potential. While I would prefer a team of 4's and 5's, the real measure is how many stars they would garner AFTER their senior year. Trent and Ingram were excellent, but remember Derrick Lassic was barely a 3-star and he had a GREAT college career. All the hype just makes the Rivals.com and Scout.com owners richer. High School kids holding ESPN press conferences.....what a load of who-hah!
I, too am of the opinion that MG will struggle due to heavy competition and lack of ability. I like Mark tons and wish him all the luck in the world. I also witnessed enough Bama Basketball under his tutelage to know he will again prove the "Peter Principle."
PS: Go Bama Go's basketball knowledge is not the issue....I'm quite sure he is not paid $millions$ to coach anything. Gottfried is.
Boosters are different from institutional and/or administrative participation. The "hundred dollar handshake" and more egregious offenses are impossible to police. Clearly it has happened EVERYWHERE for eons. No one is yet to make allegations that LSU or Saban had a "black book" recording payoffs. However at awbun, former coach Terry Bowden acknowledged and alleged the existence of just such a ledger book at awbun. I would think lowder, mcgregor and yellafella would have destroyed it by now.....unless they did not learn a lesson from richard nixon! Transactions such as COACHES delivering bookbags of cash is considerably more serious than the cash-handshake!
NB...I, too believe the hundred $ handshakes are everywhere. The problems are systemic. However delivering cash by a coach in a bookbag is a different matter! 1856, the Tide has no role in your problems....self destruction caused by your Board of Trustees leadership including the CEO, Lauder and McGregor. Yella fella will be impliicated as well. Fine leadership! MRG, you are dillusional if you believe this is a set-up and baseless! You better pray the judge in the wiretap case is an awbun fan or the REAL facts will rock your world. awbun's win at any cost tactics will come to light in SMU proportions! Forget the second shoe, the whole shoe store is about to fall and it will fall on tumahs cowna! This is envy to the nth power and the results therein! Unfortunately the whole conference is soon to be the shame of ncaa football!
And I certainly concure with you...Julio has earned the right to attend! All these kids have and any idiot who says the don't are short-sighted. Perhaps an anti-trust suit would solve that issue!
Is this the real JM? If so, thanks for the memories! Are you still in the windy city? You know we play golf in February instead of shoveling snow......maybe you need to retire back home! We'd love to have you back!
I am really impressed on the continued intensity of our team. I was, however a little dissapointed in JaMychal Green's demeanor after he fouled out. He needs to learn its a team sport and not all about him. He should have been standing and waving a towel, not head covered by the towel. He's a great ballplayer, but needs to play smarter...his fourth foul was a 2-handed push-and while the guy semi-flopped, Green's arms were extended in the push. Always going to get that call. He needs to learn to raise his hand in acknowledgement and walk away. He'll be a T-magnet in the NBA (if he makes it!). All in all, a great run...hope we finish the job! RTR!
Your attitude is admirable, farte. I appreciate your willingness to eat crow....unfortunately I fear you will soon be feasting on the entire flock! This snowball has just begun to roll downhill! My concern is what goes around, comes around. This is systemic and an issue at ALL division 1 schools. I remember telling my friends not to laugh, that the eric ramsey thing could also happen to us as well. Clearly it did. The ncaa and nfl are not taking necessary steps to squelch these activities at all schools.
"Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we choose to decieve." The excrement storm is about to begin!! Win at all costs can prove costly! Still defending scammy newton?? Read this and weep awbs...or laugh til you cry like I will do!
I'll assume that the lack of grammatical skills is another glowing tribute to the awbun english dept. Boris, you are an idiot and as usual more than willing to display that "fact" to anyone who can read! All these awbs reading about their obsession.....Alabama Football. You losers are always willing to place your stupidity on display!


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Get Ready For Car CRASHING because its a simple game in which you can crash cars and looks fun when you crash car and basically i was making this for ANDROID but this version is for WINDOWS . NEXT VERSION CAR MANIA 2.0 WILL BE RELEASE IN MARCH 2012 AND IT WILL BE FOR ANDROID YES ! AND FOR WINDOWS ALSO BUT I NEED YOUR HELP , GIVE MY YOUR SUGGESTION AND I HOPE YOU LIKE THIS GAME , DON'T BE RUDE TO ME PLEASE ITS FIRST TIME FOR ME BECAUSE ITS MY FIRST EVER GAME THANK YOU LOVE YOU GUYS ! <3 :-) .
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Marci's Table
Delicious helpings from a philosophizing foodie with Marci Izard
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A Healthy & Delicious Homemade Snack
Why not add a super food to a classic Middle Eastern snack?! Homemade hummus is naturally full of vitamins, minerals and a handful of feel good foods. Adding in a roasted red pepper just ups the ante (and makes it prettier too). [Read More]


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110 W. New York Ave.
DeLand, FL 32720
DeLand will bear some costs for Stetson football parties
By Jen Horton
posted Jun 26, 2013 - 9:48:50am
While the cost of a tailgating ticket is still being determined by Stetson University, other costs associated with the arrival of collegiate football in DeLand are known.
One is the cost of the shuttle that will run between Downtown DeLand and Spec Martin Memorial Stadium on the six home-game days this season. The City of DeLand will pay for the bus, so long as there is a demand for the service.
The hope is that the hundreds of football fans expected to stream into town for the games will spend some money in Downtown DeLand before and after the action on the gridiron, especially if they can park easily in the center of town and get a ride to the stadium.
Read the whole story in the June 24-26 Midweek edition of The Beacon. To subscribe to The Beacon online, click here. For a list of newsstand locations, click here. To have the print edition mailed to your home twice a week, send your address via email to firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Sickening, but not surprising. City officials are basically the university's puppets and rubber stamp whatever Stetson tells them to do, even when it runs counter to the interests of the citizens they represent.
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Hang tight!
Recipe by kelcampbell
"Thin cucumber slices are rolled around shredded carrot, cream cheese, and raisins for a little sushi-shaped finger food that's tied with a fresh chive."
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long seedless cucumber, ends trimmed
carrot, shredded
1 (4 ounce) package
cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup
long fresh chives for tying
Be sure you have plenty of time to assemble these little guys...also, I strongly suggest you make them right before serving b/c they don't hold up well over time. I made them several hours ahead and the water from the cukes drained onto the platter, leaving them somewhat "limp." Very tasty with the addition of smoked salmon and sesame seeds.
These taste OK - but boy are they fiddly to make. My chives were quite long enough and kept breaking so I resorted to thin strips of green onion and finally gave up trying to tie them. Cute idea but a lot of work.
4 Ratings
I found this to be very fun to make. And It tastes surprisingly well! I'm not a fan of cucumbers or carrots, but this is definitely something I could eat!
I made this as the directions listed, but I have a few suggestions. Sometimes I used less cream cheese so that when I rolled the cucumber, the end could overlap and I didn't have to worry about anything spilling out. I also added more raisins, since 2-3 didn't really seem like a lot.
I didn't have any large carrots on me, so I shredded 1/2 cup of baby carrots (24 servings = 24 tsp = 8 TBS = 1/2 c).
As for chives breaking, buy fresh as possible and as green as possible. I suppose not too many people made jewelery out of grass as kids, but don't pull the chives too tight or they will break. Also, do not use any wimpy/weak/shriveled chives as those tend to break the most when tugged.
Since you are making each roll by hand, it is a lot of work and time consuming. I also suggest placing finished rolls onto whatever you plan to serve them on, to prevent the chives from untying between finishing and eating.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Mini Cucumber Sushi Rolls
Serving Size: 1/12 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 46
Calories from Fat: 30
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Honolulu police have released two suspects arrested Friday in separate fatal stabbing cases.
Enrico Golden, 33, of Liliha was arrested Friday night after he was allegedly involved in a fatal stabbing that also injured three other men at Mayor Wright housing complex.
Relatives of the man killed identified him as 32-year-old Benjamin Rekis of Mililani.
They say Rekis he was the father of three young children and was visiting family at the housing complex on Friday
Golden was released pending investigation and was not charged.
The second suspect arrested in a separate fatal stabbing in Waikiki was also released Sunday.
The 42-year-old Wahiawa man was accused of stabbing and killing 20-year-old Brycen Iona, of Kaneohe, on Sunday Jan. 22 at near Queen's Surf Beach in Waikiki.
The suspect was arrested Friday night. Jan. 27, in connection with the stabbing.
According to a police highlight, the suspect approached Iona and a friend after he saw them stealing his bag. A fight ensued, during which Iona and his friend assaulted the suspect, who later pulled out a knife and stabbed both victims.
The other man, an 18-year-old, was initially listed in serious condition.
This suspect is the second suspect arrested and released in this case. A 39-year-old man, believed to be homeless, was arrested shortly after police responded to the stabbing call. He was also not charged.


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Listed below are some benefits to becoming a corporate sponsor. We treat our sponsors right and appreciate your contribution to National University.
Different packages exist and we will work with you to custom-tailor your package to best suit the needs of your company.
For more information on corporate sponsorships, contact Lynn Nelson at email@example.com or 630-889-6702.
Scholarships help NUHS attract and reward outstanding and needy students. Many different scholarships have been established by trusts, individuals, organizations, and companies. With the rising costs of professional education, there is always a need for additional scholarship funds, and donors are encouraged to consider contributing towards one of the established scholarships or creating a new scholarship fund.
Two general scholarships have been established to address the needs of a broad range of students. These are endowed scholarships, meaning that the scholarships are awarded from the interest earned on the investment. The principal of the funds remains untouched, ensuring perpetuity. These funds were created by pooling many smaller donations and continue to grow from additional donations. Because creating a new named scholarship requires a minimum donation of $25,000, these two general scholarships are ideal for persons with smaller amounts to donate.
The National University of Health Sciences Scholarship is funded by donations from contributors who wish to recognize an accomplishment of the university or to honor a graduate, or deceased family member or friend. Qualifying criteria include: full-time student status in the second or later trimester of study; good academic standing with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.20; demonstration of financial need; and demonstrated ability, merit, character, and sincerity of purpose in reaching his or her goals in their chosen profession.
The National College of Chiropractic Scholarship is funded by donations from contributors who wish to recognize graduates or achievements of The National College of Chiropractic (NCC). NCC was the forerunner of the National University of Health Sciences, which was formalized in 2000. Qualifying criteria include: full-time student status in the second or later trimester of study; good academic standing with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.20; demonstration of financial need; and demonstrated ability, merit, character, and sincerity of purpose in reaching his or her goals in the chiropractic profession.
To establish an endowed award requires the donation of a minimum of $25,000, which may be given in a lump sum or over a period of time. Endowed awards become operative one year after the minimum level of $25,000 is reached. Scholarship awards are paid out of the interest earned on the endowment, thereby leaving the principal untouched. Endowed awards exist in perpetuity, providing a timeless recognition of the person after whom the scholarship is named.
To contribute to a scholarship or for more information on creating a new endowed scholarship, please call us at 608-889-6604.
Every college or university strives to develop and strengthen its general endowment. Endowed funds significantly add to the strength of the institution by providing a source of revenue through the interest returned on the investment, by providing a solid financial base for the institution, and by ensuring stability of programs. Endowments are invested and only the earnings on the investment may be spent. The board of trustees has established a policy on endowments that directs a portion of the earnings to be returned to the fund, thus leading to a progressive growth of the corpus of the endowment.
The general endowment is an unrestricted endowment, meaning that the University is free to select the best application for use of the investment returns, which might include returning additional interest to the investment to increase the size of the principal, or allocating funds to specific projects or institutional needs. The corpus, or principal, of the endowment remains untouched.
National University often has one or more special projects that are in need of additional funding. Our current projects are listed below:
The purchase of the former Firestone Tire Company property, located at the northeast corner of the Roosevelt Road and Highland Avenue intersection in Lombard, supports National's growth and future expansion. The Operation Bricks fund raising campaign will enable the University to achieve its goal of paying off the $1.2 million mortgage on this property.
The campaign allows friends of the University to fund a portion of the property by purchasing figurative bricks for $400 each. So far, several hundred out of 3,000 total bricks have been sold.
As is true with other donations to NUHS, these contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Checks can be made payable to NUHS and sent directly to the Office of the President (200 E. Roosevelt Road, Lombard, IL 60148). Write "Operation Bricks" in the memo area of the check. Credit card donations are also accepted.
The University has one of the largest collections of books, audiovisual materials and journals relating to the field of alternative medicine. NUHS has created the Library Alternative Medicine Collection Endowment in order to expand and maintain this collection for many years to come. A goal of $1 million has been set for this fund. As is the case with other endowed funds, the corpus of the fund is invested and the interest generated is used to support the endowed program. In this way, the collection becomes permanently funded.
For more information on any of these projects, please call us at 630-889-6604.


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Shelley Geballe, J.D., M.P.H.
Distinguished Senior Fellow
Attorney Geballe is the Distinguished Senior Fellow at CT Voices for Children. A Co-Founder of CT Voices, she served as Voices' President from its start in 1995 until October 2008. She also is a Lecturer in the Yale Medical School (Department of Epidemiology and Public Health) where she teaches a course in Health Disparities and a Clinical Visiting Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School where she co-teaches the Legislative Advocacy class.
Attorney Geballe's research and writing at CT Voices has focused on state and federal tax and budget policy, family economic security, child welfare and juvenile justice, children's health and mental health and K-12 education. She also currently serves in a number of appointed positions in the state, including the Advisory Committee of the Office of the Child Advocate and the Commission on Child Protection. She has been a consultant in a variety of international contexts, most recently about the non-profit sector at Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, China, on the HIV/AIDS law at the University of Pretoria in South Africa and public health law at the Union School of Public Health in Beijing, China.
Prior to co-founding CT Voices, Attorney Geballe practiced civil rights law, serving as counsel in a variety of federal class action cases, including representing the state's abused and neglected children in a systemic class action challenge to CT's foster care system, children with HIV/AIDS who were excluded from the New Haven public schools, women incarcerated in CT's prison system, and CT inmates living with HIV disease. She also taught Federal Civil Rights Practice at the University of Connecticut Law School. Her publications include Geballe, Gruendel, & Andiman (eds.), Forgotten Children of the AIDS Epidemic (Yale University Press, 1995).
For her work on behalf of CT's young people and their families, Attorney Geballe has been honored by many organizations including the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (John Filer Award), the CT Bar Association, the CT Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers (CT Chapter), the National Organization for Women (CT Chapter), Casey Family Services, the CT Youth Service Association, the CT Association of Mental Health Clinics for Children, the CT Community Providers Association, the CT Probate Court Assembly, Gateway Community College, the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition, and United Way of Greater New Haven.
Attorney Geballe received her law degree from Yale Law School (1976) and her public health degree from Yale Medical School (1995). She is married to Gordon T. Geballe, Associate Dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and they have three sons, three daughters-in-law, three grandsons and a granddaughter.


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HUDSON, Wis. - The defense team for confessed murderer Aaron Schaffhausen is slowly building a case in his civil insanity trial.
On Tuesday morning Schaffhausen's attorneys called on Dr. J. Reid Meloy to testify on the defendant's state of mind on the day he killed his three daughters.
Meloy has testified in 30 to 40 insanity cases and works for the FBI as a consultant. He told jurors that Schaffhausen had a mental disease at time of killing and was suffering from major depression. As a result, Meloy says, Schaffhausen lacked substantial capacity to conform his conduct to the standards of law.
"He currently meets criteria for depressive disorder, he has it now, he had it before, has had it since adolescence," Meloy testified. "I observed his depression when I interviewed him. He had recurrent depression literally for years."
Dr. Meloy says he reviewed all evidence in case, pouring over police and investigation reports. He also met with Aaron twice for a total of ten and a half hours, administering a number of psychological tests. Meloy also went to the Schaffhausen home with defense attorney John Kucinski to get a sense of the physical evidence and murder scene.
Jurors were told that Schaffhausen would cry easily, he was volatile, he was angry, and he was obsessed with his ex-wife Jessica. Meloy maintains that Schaffhausen had many death images which is a major symptom of depression. He also referenced the defendant's alcoholism, saying it leads to an exaggerated depression state.
Dr. Meloy characterizes Aaron Schaffhausen as "a complicated individual" dependent, depressive, obsessive, impulsive, narcissistic, and border line chronically depressed.
He says Jessica Schaffhausen was his wife, but in many ways acted as his mother. Jurors were told that Schaffhausen was passive at home and that the vulnerability of being the dependent personality can leave the person unstable.
The jury was told that Schaffhausen doesn't see people as a whole, which contributed to how he felt about his girls.
Aaron Schaffhausen told Dr. Meloy about the afternoon he murdered his daughters, and Meloy gave his interpretation of the events. He says as Schaffhausen moved through the house he saw lives he was no longer a part of, and it conjured up grief and sadness. When daughter Cecilia asked for help finding her shoes, Meloy says that triggered his feelings of dependency.
Meloy says he sliced the girls throats, and went downstairs with the intent of starting the home on fire, something the doctor says is a part of Schaffhausen's death fantasy. When he returned to the room and saw the horror of his murdered daughters, Dr. Meloy says he attempted to put clean clothes on them, tucked them in their own beds and kissed them goodnight.
"You see the gross and dangerous contradiction in his mind," Meloy told jurors.
(Copyright 2013 by KARE. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. )


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The Millers, who are chasing back-to-back promotions, put in an inspired display to see off favourites Preston, with goals from Wes Thomas, Lee Frecklington and Kieran Agard overturning Paul Gallagher's early opener and sealing a final date with Leyton Orient at Wembley.
It was a trademark display of attacking endeavour, orchestrated by the influential Ben Pringle, which could have yielded a bigger winning margin but Evans was still left beaming.
"It feels wonderful, when we came up into League One we were people's favourites to go back down but we worked hard and we have had a fantastic season," the Scot said.
"Over the two games we deserved it, it's a great night for us.
"When we went in front I knew we would win, when we scored the third I thought we might go on and win very comfortably.
"I have had some magical highlights and it will be a very proud moment to walk out at Wembley.
"This ranks right up there, I still maintain that the Aldershot game last year is still the best because we won promotion, but this is up there."
Rotherham will meet Russell Slade's Orient, who led the division for much of the campaign, at Wembley and Evans expects another titanic clash.
"It's my job to make sure everyone enjoys the moment but we will start preparing for Leyton Orient tomorrow," he added. "We will be underdogs when we get to Wembley we know that, they have been top of the league for most of the season.
"We have taken ourselves to the final fence but that is the size of Becher's Brook when you look at the opposition. If I could emulate what some other Scottish managers have done at Wembley I will be happy."


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We created Pandora to put the Music Genome Project directly in your hands
It's a new kind of radio –
stations that play only music you like
Love & Death
Selected Discography
Track List: Between Here And Lost
Track List: Chemicals
Similar Artists
Korn's paradigm shift?
But with that said, Stay clean and with Christ Brian. Love the Project.
I like korn and now i can show my churchy gma this and laugh


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Viewing convention Program information from 2014
Session Details
805. In the Meme Time
Tuesday, 12 January, 1:45–3:00 p.m., Northwestern–Ohio State, Chicago Marriott
Program arranged by the Division on Popular Culture
Presiding: John W. Mowitt, Univ. of Leeds
1. "C'est la même," Sarah Juliet Lauro, Clemson Univ.
2. "Vaccinating against the Virus of the Mind: Incorporating Agency into the Meme Equation," Kate Miltner, Social Media Collective, Microsoft Research New England
3. "All Together Now: Beyond the Totalizing Meme," Peter Krapp, Univ. of California, Irvine
No comments have been posted for this session.
|© 2015 Modern Language Association.


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Full detailed profile on Roberto Played by Jean Paul San Pedro on Passions Daytime Soap Opera.
Jean Paul San Pedro (provided by the actor)
Actor: Jean Paul San Pedro
Who played Roberto over the years
Jorge Alberti (June 29, 2004 to September 14, 2006)
Past: Student
Past: Drug Smuggler
Roberto was Paloma's long term boyfriend in Mexico. When she moved to Harmony to be with her family, he followed. While there, he got her involved in his attempts to smuggle prescription drugs to help poor senior citizens. In turn, he helped her in her attempts to save Jessica from Spike. When he proposed to her, she rejected him and he returned to Mexico before his green card could expire.
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In Tabitha's living room, Kay cries over her wedding dress going up in flames, Tabitha thinks evil is in Harmony, and Noah and Roberto trade snarky barbs. Kay sees a candlestick and blames Noah for knocking it over when he ran into the room, thereby setting her dress on fire. Noah insists it wasn't him and Tabitha thinks to herself that it wasn't Noah's fault, but the book's. Kay wants to know why Noah rushed into the room and he says it's because he saw Paloma and Roberto kissing. Everyone turns to look at Paloma and she tries to explain that she doesn't know why she kissed him. A cocky Roberto pipes up and says sometimes passion just sweeps you off your feet. Noah puffs up and orders Roberto to meet him outside, but Tabitha stops time before the men can fight. She looks through her book to see what's supposed to happen and the book starts to bleed and then bubbles. Tabitha thinks she's got the message loud and clear and restores time, telling the men not to fight in her house. Noah lunges for Roberto, but Miguel pulls him off. Paloma asks Noah to believe that she doesn't know why she was kissing Roberto just like she believed him when he didn't know why he was with Fancy. Noah comes around and says he trusts her and understands. Roberto glibly tells Noah sometimes old feelings bubble to the surface, but Paloma says she doesn't have feelings for him. Noah instructs Roberto to stay away from his fiancée or else! Miguel tells Noah to calm down and chalks the kiss up to the weird things that happen in Harmony. He reminds them that they are having a wedding and that they should focus on love. The couples profess their love for each other and Miguel says love will keep them together, just as the book starts throwing objects around the room. Tabitha thinks it's another sign the marriage is doomed and then the madness stops. Roberto wants to know if the whole town is possessed by demons and Tabitha offers that maybe it was a seismic disturbance, but no one believes her. Everyone helps to clean up Tabitha's house and Paloma worries the broken mirror she's sweeping up is seven years bad luck. Noah tries to make her feel better, but Paloma sees an image of Theresa running in a piece of the glass. Paloma cries and says it's a message from the grave, but no one else can see it. Paloma grows hysterical as she sees Juanita holding a butcher knife over Theresa's lifeless body.
In her living room, Tabitha frets over all the warnings that evil is coming to Harmony. Her book starts to glow and crackle and she hides it when Kay and Paloma enter. Paloma asks for Kay's advice on caring for two men at the same time. Tabitha's book starts to spark and Paloma asks what she has behind her back. Tabitha zaps it out of her hands and says there was nothing. Paloma lets it go and she asks how is she supposed to know what she really feels for Roberto and Noah, as both men enter the room. Pilar pulls Paloma aside and tells her to listen to her heart and it will tell her who to be with. Paloma says she can't get the image of Noah kissing the woman at the Blue Note out of her head. Kay tells her to talk to him about it. Paloma asks Noah to come with her and tells Roberto she will talk to him later.
Miguel enters with a box of wedding favors. Kay tells Tabitha she wants to know what was up with that spark, but turns her attentions to Miguel. Tabitha thinks she can't tell Kay that evil is coming to Harmony because she would make things worse. Miguel asks Roberto to help him get more boxes out of the car and Kay asks Tabitha about the spark behind her back. Tabitha lies and says she was working on a spell to help with the wedding. Kay eventually believes her and asks what the spell does. Tabitha doesn't want to spoil the surprise, but promises, "Things will happen that will make your wedding unforgettable."
Miguel and Roberto come back with more boxes of stuff for the wedding and Roberto walks off. Tabitha thinks to herself that evil is targeting the wedding and Kay in particular. In the kitchen, Noah asks Paloma to go away together so they can spend time together without anyone around to bother them. She agrees and Noah leaves to tell Kay. Roberto comes into the kitchen wanting to talk to Paloma about the two of them, but Paloma says she is going to marry Noah so there's nothing to talk about.
Miguel, Kay and Tabitha work on wedding favors and Noah walks in saying he and Paloma are going away for a few days. Miguel tells Noah he's glad they worked things out and wants him to take care of his sister. Noah promises to looks after her forever. Noah goes to find Paloma and the book zaps Paloma and Roberto, making them kiss just as Noah walks in and sees them. Paloma stops kissing Roberto and sees Noah. She's confused and says she has no idea what just happened. She runs after Noah and Roberto smiles.
The doorbell rings and Tabitha answers it. She comes back with a box containing Kay's dress. Miguel wants to see it, but Kay says it's bad luck. Tabitha thinks the wedding is already cursed. Kay sends Miguel upstairs and shows Tabitha her dress. The book starts to spark and Noah, Roberto and Paloma enter arguing. The book sends a spark on Kay's dress and Noah tells Roberto he wants to see him outside! Kay then notices her dress is on fire and everyone helps to put it out. Tabitha thinks Harmony is in for a hell of a ride.


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The most experienced workers would receive about $7.33 an hour base pay.
"Our people [are] trying to work with the company," a union spokesman told the Post-Intelligencer. "They want to keep Emerson in Paris."
Five days later, Emerson announced Paris had won out over the Murphy plant.
It'd taken $1.2 million and a wage freeze to save the factory. There were other sacrifices, too: The plant's cafeteria would eventually close -- instead of a hot sausage biscuit, employees had to settle for vending-machine donuts.
But Chadwick and her co-workers were still employed.
The reprieve would prove short-lived.
In 1997, Sears told Emerson that it was reevaluating the supplier relationship between the two companies. Sears wanted to cut costs and was looking for someone to make Craftsman products more cheaply. Sears says it invited Emerson to submit a new bid, but Emerson refused.
Sears was attempting to do to Emerson what Emerson had done to Paris.
But Chuck Knight wasn't just some elected official from small-town U.S.A., eager to keep business at any cost.
Emerson simply walked away from Sears' business, analysts who followed the St. Louis company said at the time.
On June 30, 1997, Sears formally told Emerson the contract, first signed in 1968, was ending.
According to factory workers in Paris, Emerson execs blamed Sears.
"They tried to turn us against Sears," Chadwick says.
After Sears announced the Craftsman deal was dead, Emerson scrambled to try to fill the crater that would be left when the last Craftsman tool came rolling off the line October 1, 1998.
Emerson also knew it needed to keep the plant open four more years to live up to its 1992 deal with Paris.
For workers, the issues were simple. They needed jobs to keep the roofs over their heads and food on their tables.
The city and county, already hit by other plant closings, needed the jobs for its citizens and tax revenue for its coffers. And suppliers -- other companies in Tennessee, Kentucky and nearby states -- also depended on the plant.
Emerson turned to Home Depot, a company that had been making overtures to the motor maker for some time.
"I've had conversations with Emerson for eight years to get them to make these tools for us, but they couldn't because of the loyalty to Sears," Bernard Marcus told the Atlanta Constitution at the '98 picnic.
With loyalty no longer in the picture, Emerson was free to hook up with a company that Wall Street recognized as a fast-rising star. The deal with Emerson gave Home Depot its first-ever line of power tools, letting it compete with Lowe's and Sears. With Ridgid, an Emerson brand name already well-known in the plumbing industry, Home Depot was also getting instant credibility with professionals and do-it-yourselfers.
Analysts applauded. They recognized that the deal might prove more profitable for Emerson than staying with Sears.
But Emerson still had to pay the costs of creating an entire new line. Starting from scratch -- without tooling, machines, drawings, plans or dies -- should've been prohibitive both in terms of cost and in terms of the time needed to develop the products, Sears alleges.
So, Sears claims, Emerson took an illegal shortcut. It used the Craftsman design as a blueprint, as well as Sears tooling and machinery, to get a jump start on the Ridgid line. And it did so, Sears claims, after signing a contract expressly agreeing not to use the tools, patterns, designs or molds developed for Sears for the benefit of another company selling tools in the U.S.
In its lawsuit, Sears alleges that it requested a list of the machines in the plant. In the spring of 1998, Emerson provided a list, but Sears claimed some of its property wasn't included. As a result, Sears asked to audit the inventory at the Paris plant.
Emerson agreed, but the Sears team was greeted as warmly as weapons inspectors in Iraq. Sears claims its team, which included auditors from Deloitte and Touche, was barred from taking pictures and inspecting the property during plant hours. Instead, Emerson would only let the auditing team into the plant in the early morning or late afternoon.
Sears claims that Emerson executives repeatedly warned them about their safety, that "workers at the plant might do physical harm to the Sears audit team."
However, Sears says that the auditors were never threatened by the plant workers. The executives, not the factory hands, were the problem.
Paris politicians and government officials are also skeptical that the union would have ever made any threats against Sears or its auditors.
"I cannot imagine any difficulties like that," says Ray Whitlow, director of economic development for Paris and Henry County. "These are country folks that are used to working."
Sears claims that, in addition to making it difficult for them to inspect the plant, Emerson stashed a lot of equipment in an abandoned shirt factory, equipment that Emerson claimed was obsolete. Although auditors were allowed into the factory, the suit claims that the machinery was stacked in such a way that many of the serial numbers were hidden from view. Sears also claims that two expensive and relatively new pieces of equipment were tucked behind large bins in an attempt to conceal them from the auditors. Sears claims that the scene was disorganized and chaotic, making it impossible to conduct a thorough or accurate audit.
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A universal automated order processing system represents multiple (e.g., hundreds or thousands) participating merchants who offer their products through the system. Customers become qualified for using the system by supplying a set of information (e.g., name, credit card number, shipping address) that is stored in a customer database. When a customer wishes to order a product, the customer calls the system, customer identity is automatically confirmed, the customer enters a product order number and the complete order is routed to the appropriate merchant with the information necessary for the merchant to fulfill the order. Available credit verification and other aspects of credit card transactions may be handled by either the system operator or the merchant. The system operator may offer revolving credit. The system may also be used to provide potential customers of the merchants with free product information.
1. A computer system for automated order processing permitting a plurality of customers who have already provided a customer information set to the system to order one or more products from a plurality of products offered by one of a plurality of participating merchants, said system comprising:
a first database including a variable length order number assigned to each of the plurality of products, each order number identifying a unique one of said plurality of products and the one of said plurality of participating merchants offering the product;
a customer database including the customer information set corresponding to each of the plurality of system customers, said information set including a customer identification, a customer address, and a method of payment;
means for receiving an incoming product order number representing one of the plurality of products offered from one of the plurality of customers;
means for matching the incoming product order number to the one of the customer information sets corresponding to the one of the plurality of customers;
means for matching the incoming product order to the one of said plurality of participating merchants that offers the one of the plurality of products;
means for communicating the receipt of the product order number to the one of said plurality of participating merchants; and
security means for confirming the identity of the one of the plurality of customers placing the order.
2. The system of
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a communication link between the system and the inventory control computer.
9. The system of
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first receiving means at a location of one of the plurality of customers for receiving a product advertisement from a broadcasting transmission system;
display device displaying the product advertisement, and wherein the means for receiving receives the product order number assigned to a product advertised in the product advertisement; and
interface means for forwarding said received product order to the one of the plurality of participating merchants.
29. The system of
30. The system of
31. The system of
a backchannel uplink for communicating the received one or more product order numbers and the customer identification of said customer to a satellite;
a downlink to a direct broadcast satellite service provider receiving said product order numbers and the customer identification from said satellite, and communicating, in response to said receiving, said product order numbers and the identification to an interface means.
32. The system of
a backchannel uplink capability for communicating the received one or more product order numbers and the customer identification to said cable TV receiver;
a downlink to a cable TV service provider for receiving said product order numbers and the customer identification from said cable TV receiver, and communicating, in response to said receiving said product order numbers and the identification to an interface means.
33. The system of
34. The system of
35. The system of
push button input control device for initiating an opening of an overlay screen on said display device; and
wherein the means for receiving one or more product order numbers comprises an input receiving from the control device the product order numbers representing a product selected from the group consisting of: an information set describing the advertised product and the advertised product.
36. The system of
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49. A computer system for automated order processing permitting customers who have already provided customer information to the system to order selected products from an array of products offered by a plurality of participating merchants, said system comprising:
a first database including a variable length order number assigned to each product offered through the system, each order number identifying a unique product and a merchant offering the product;
a customer database including a plurality of customer information sets comprising information for identifying the customer;
a first input terminal, comprising an address, for receiving an indication of a product order from a customer who has connected to the system via the address;
a first module for matching information associated with the customer connected to the system to a corresponding customer information set;
a second module for matching the indicated product order number to the merchant offering the product identified by the indicated product number;
a first output terminal for communicating the received indication and at least a portion of the corresponding customer information set to the merchant offering the product; and
a security module for confirming the identity of the connected customer.
This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/567,716, filed May 10, 2000; Ser. No. 09/564,386, filed May 3, 2000; and Ser. 09/465,729, filed Dec. 17, 1999.
The invention relates to systems and methods by which customers purchase products from merchants. More particularly, the invention relates to a universal automated order processing system and method by which customers may order a product, preferably by telephone or interactive TV, by accessing a central system that processes and routes a complete product order to the appropriate one of multiple (e.g., hundreds or thousands) participating merchants.
Over time, consumer/merchant product purchase transactions have evolved from early barter-type transactions to the three forms of transactions that predominate in the modern economy.
First are face-to-face transactions (for example, involving the customer and a retail store, street vendor, or the like) where payment is made by cash, bank check or credit card. While these face-to-face transactions will always be a part of the economy, they are generally limited to those products that are readily available for exchange at the site of the transaction.
Secondly are conventional "mail order" purchases typically made by telephone calls to operators representing the mail order company. These purchases are usually made through catalog services, but may be through a retail store or, in a TV marketing context, through a vendor that has advertised on television. Payment for these types of purchases are usually by bank check or credit card, with credit card payment being preferred to avoid delays occasioned by mailing the customer's check to the merchant and "clearing" of the check through the banking system. Deliveries of mail order purchases are usually by common carrier, such as United Parcel Service, Federal Express, or the like. While mail order services greatly enhance customer options and provide a convenience, the cost of order processing may exceed 20% of sales due in large part to the high cost of the necessary telephone operators. Additionally, in times of low unemployment and with the expected changing demographics of the work force, it is likely to be exceedingly difficult to recruit and retain workers in sufficient numbers at reasonable wages and with sufficient skills to maintain the current cost structures of retail mail order processing.
The third form of consumer/merchant transactions in the modern economy is purchasing through computers that are interconnected through communication links, for example, orders of products over the Internet. Internet purchases are almost exclusively paid for by credit cards. Drawbacks to the current Internet purchasing model include the occasional difficulties in logging on as well as the unfamiliar and cumbersome process necessary to page through an electronic catalog, often resulting in enough frustration that potential purchasers simply do not attempt the effort. Vast numbers of "computer savvy" consumers simply refuse to use Internet purchasing systems for these reasons. Additionally, there is the problem of sensitive information, primarily credit card numbers, being routed through the nodes of computer systems that are located throughout the world. Large numbers of computer savvy customers refuse to use the Internet purchasing systems for security reasons alone. As another consideration, the entire Internet purchasing model is brought into question by the well-documented financial losses on operations suffered by this segment of the economy. Published reports indicate that the 241 largest retail Internet merchants in the United States are currently losing approximately seven billion dollars per year on net sales of 20 billion dollars per year—bringing into question the viability of the Internet based retail selling business model. Lastly, vast numbers of people, currently a substantial majority of consumers in the United States, simply do not have home-based access to the Internet or do not have the computer skills or confidence to engage in Internet purchase transactions. While optimistic projections see this problem declining over time, there clearly is a ceiling on the percentage of the population who will use this model even five or ten years in the future. As evidence of the reluctance of a solid core of citizens to use Internet ordering either now or in the future is the fact that only fifteen to twenty percent of video cassette recorder (VCR) purchasers learn to program their VCR's to record programming for time shifting purposes—or even master the steps necessary to set the VCR's clock.
Another issue not addressed by promoters of the Internet model for consumer purchase transactions is the inability of relatively small vendors to offer products independently without the significant overhead attributed to the so-called "back office operations" associated with order processing. An order processing system that would permit small vendors to economically and efficiently process orders would open up a limitless number of business opportunities and further enhance choice and price competition to the benefit of consumers and the economy as a whole.
Telephone technology appears to have been largely overlooked in the current rush to Internet based consumer product purchase transactions. Telephone access is essentially universal in developed countries throughout the world, with compatible protocols and systems interconnecting the entire globe. Telephones are easy to use and become more so every day. Virtually everyone is comfortable with telephone communications and appreciates the convenience they afford. The versatility and options offered by telephones are ever expanding, while the cost of calls is dropping dramatically. Long distance toll charges in the year 2010, including international calls, are likely to drop to on the order of one to three cents per minute, with many calls close to being free. Cellular phones are becoming so small that they may be carried in even the smallest purse, and with further miniaturization, cellular phones will be carried with the ease of a credit card. Lastly, and importantly, the phone system offers a level of security to the information transmitted, whether voice or data, that is sufficient to meet the requirements of the most security sensitive consumers and merchants.
While the above-mentioned forms of customer/merchant purchase transactions presently support a vibrant and ever expanding consumer-based economy, a new system for initiating and completing purchase transactions that overcomes the above drawbacks is desirable to facilitate product ordering by consumers and to further drive the economy in the new millennium. A new system utilizing time-tested and ever improving telephone technology offers exceptional promise, with the prospect that the system will also utilize promising emerging technologies.
The present invention, in one broad respect, is an order processing system and method permitting ordinary consumers to set up accounts with the system and thereafter order products from a vast array of products offered by multiple participating merchants who have agreed to offer their respective products for sale through the system. The array of products is limitless, subject only to the level of participation by the merchants who offer products. Access to the system is made quick and simple so that virtually anyone will feel comfortable using the system. In certain embodiments, orders can be placed by a telephone call, preferably a call dialed by pressing a single button, followed by the system automatically identifying the call by call no. ID, voice verification, or both, followed by the customer simply entering the product number for the product desired. The order is automatically processed by the system and a processed order is automatically routed in electronic form to the participating merchant who will fulfill the order without further need for contact with the consumer. Either the participating merchant or the operator of the central order processing system may assume responsibility for verifying available credit at the time of the purchase. The operator of the system may also offer revolving credit. The system may also be used to automatically provide customers with free product information by e-mail, mail or telephone.
In one aspect, the invention may be defined as an order processing system permitting customers who have already provided customer information to the system to order selected products from a vast array of products offered by multiple participating merchants. The system includes a product/merchant database with information corresponding to an order number assigned to each product offered through the system. Each order number identifies a unique product and an associated merchant offering the product. A customer database includes a customer information set for each system customer. The information set includes customer identification, customer address information and method of payment information. Incoming product orders from customers who have connected to the system are received via a system address with the customer being automatically identified. Each incoming customer order is matched to the customer information set for that customer and to a participating merchant. The customer information and identification of the product being ordered is communicated in electronic form to the participating merchant that provides the ordered product so that the merchant can fulfill the order. POTS and cellular telephone are the preferred means for customers placing orders, with the customer's identity being automatically determined by call no. ID and/or voice recognition. Alternative communications technologies include satellite paging, person digital assistant (PDA), radio LAN and interactive TV. Dedicated ordering devices may be provided to system customers by the system operator.
In another aspect, the invention may be defined as a method permitting customers to use an order processing system to order selected products from a vast array of products offered by multiple participating merchants. The method includes establishing accounts between the order processing system and merchants who have agreed to offer their respective products for sale. An order number is assigned to each product offered by the participating merchants. The method establishes a customer database including a customer information set for each customer, with the information set including customer identification, customer address information and method of payment information. Each customer, when desiring to place a product order, utilizes a system address to establish contact with the system and enters the order number for the product desired. Each customer placing an order is automatically identified. Each incoming customer order is matched to the customer information set for that customer. Customer information and identification of the product being ordered is communicated in electronic form to the participating merchant that provides the ordered product so that the merchant can fulfill the order.
Some of the features of the invention having been stated, other features will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 8. shows another roadside electronic billboard advertising a pizza special for delivery to a commuter's home to arrive at about the time that the commuter returns home in the evening.
While the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which aspects of the preferred manner of practicing the present invention are shown, it is to be understood at the outset of the description which follows that persons of skill in the appropriate arts may modify the invention herein described while still achieving the favorable results of this invention. Accordingly, the description which follows is to be understood as being a broad, teaching disclosure directed to persons of skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon the present invention.
A brief overview of the operation of the automated order processing system of the invention will now be set forth from a customer's perspective, followed by a detailed description of the system, its components, alternative embodiments and other details of structure and operation. System 20 (
In a representative situation where a customer responds to advertisement 30, the customer using POTS dials or speed dials the 800 number of system 20 and connects to a customer telephone interface 40 that automatically identifies the customer by automated identification technology (e.g., "call no. ID") or voice recognition technology or other suitable means. The customer then responds to a prompt from telephone interface 40 and enters the product order number. The customer may then hang up or await a confirmation and other ordering options that may be offered.
It will be appreciated that in preferred embodiments, first-time users of the system will need to supply sufficient information so that they may be identified and accepted as a customer in good standing, before they can place orders.
Referring now to
Customer telephone interface 40 serves as a means for receiving incoming product orders from customers who connect to the system via a system address, in this case a toll-free telephone number (e.g., 800.555.5555) or a cellular linking number (e.g., *100). To this end, telephone interface 40 includes a telephony switch from companies such, as Nortel or Lucent Technologies, which identifies the inbound caller number and transmits that information to a receiving database server that automatically performs a lookup on the phone number to determine the caller's identity and required information ("call no. ID"). As an alternative to, or in addition to, call no. ID technology, the customer identity may be automatically determined by a voice recognition unit (VRU) that recognizes characteristics of a customer's voice and compares those characteristics to a voice profile that the customer provides when the customer is established as a new customer. VRU technology is commercially available from various vendors, for example, VRU systems marketed by VeriVoice, Inc. of Princeton, N.J., USA.
While it is preferred to utilize customer identification employing call no. ID technology, voice recognition technology or other technologies that operate independent of information input by the customer in response to a prompt, other identification means may be used, for example, where the customer is automatically prompted to provide information such as credit card number, social security number, date of birth, personal identification number (PIN), or the like, alone or in combination, and the provided information is compared against information previously established in the customer database to verify the identity of the customer placing the call. In this regard, the term "automatically identifying each customer placing an order" is deemed to include all of the above means for identifying customers and their equivalents, with it being understood that the technologies that do not require caller response to prompts are preferred.
Following identification of the customer placing a call, customer telephone interface 40 prompts the customer to enter the product order number (e.g., 653) for the product being ordered. The prompt may be as simple as a recognizable tone, or may be a simple verbal command such as "please enter (or say) product order number". In a straightforward application, once the product order number is entered on the telephone keypad or stated verbally by the customer, the customer may hang up with or without interface 40 indicating acceptance of the order. In this regard, a suitable automated procedure following a customer's entry of an order number may be, "You have entered product number 653, a Golf Magic titanium composite driver. Please press 1 to complete your purchase of this product. Please press 2 to re-enter the product number.". The system may permit ordering multiple products in one call, verifying the carrier to be used for shipping, verifying product availability and shipping date, and conveying other forms of information that consumers may desire during the order placement call. These features will be discussed below in conjunction with the description of other embodiments of the invention.
If the customer who is calling system 20 is a new customer who has not established an account with the system, the automated customer identification feature of customer telephone interface 40 will prompt the new customer to enter information sufficient to establish the caller as a qualified customer in customer database 70. In this regard, setting up a new customer file in customer database 70 may be achieved through an establish new customer module 60 that connects the caller to an operator or connects the caller to an automated new customer telephonic data entry application. According to the embodiment of
A second database, product/merchant database 80, includes information corresponding to the order numbers assigned to each product offered through the system by the participating merchants. Each order number identifies a unique product and an associated merchant offering that product. Database 80 receives periodic updates from merchants M1, M2, . . . MN.
Order transaction module 50 employs information from the product/merchant database for matching each incoming customer order to a participating merchant. Transaction module 50 also has access to customer information supplied from customer database 70 so that, in conjunction with order placement module 100, the necessary information may be communicated to the appropriate merchant to permit the merchant to fulfill the order. According to the embodiment illustrated in
While not illustrated in
In the embodiment of
Once a customer makes a connection to the system 520 with a GPS device, the system can determine if the customer is located in an establishment that has registered as a merchant in the system database. (In this embodiment, the database stores GPS location information for participating merchants and their perspective outlet and/or retail locations.) If the customer is located inside a registered establishment, then the user may be prompted through a voice response unit to verify his location and the merchant name for the transaction. Once the transaction is complete, the merchant receives the store or outlet location responsible for the sale so the merchant can provide the proper accounting and sales credits needed for the transaction.
If the customer is outside of a registered merchant location because the customer is traveling, then system 520 can determine the closest geographic store or outlet location to forward to the merchant at the time of the sale so the merchant can still perform the appropriate accounting and sales credit needed for the transaction.
When the customer's location, time of request and product selection coincide with an advertising campaign running at that moment in time and at the same geographic location as the customer, then the transaction can be sent to the merchant as verification of its advertising campaign's effectiveness. With this capability, merchants will be able to determine specific geographic responses to advertisements in a near real time fashion.
Another service that may be offered to customers with GPS capable devices (e.g., GPS cellular phones or PDA's) is GPS locator services. For customers accessing system 520 using a GPS capable device, the system may offer a GPS locator service that can be reached conveniently, for example, by two-button access such as by pressing "WT" followed by pressing a single digit such as "3". The customer then receives an operator response such as, "Hello, Mr. Jones. We see that you are located at the corner of Pine Street and Second Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. How may we help you?" The customer may then request any form of assistance offered by a GPS locator service such as directions from the customer's location to a desired destination, the name and location of a hotel or restaurant, etc. In the context of the present invention, the customer has accessed system 520 to order a product (GPS locator services) through a participating merchant (the GPS locator service provider) using a product order number (3). It will be appreciated that the GPS locator service provider may be an independent organization or a part of the system operator's organization.
One important safety related feature that may be made available to customers with GPS capable devices is utilizing system 520 to assure that a customer's location is automatically reported to the local emergency response office when the customer places a 911 emergency call. This feature permits a customer to press "WT" followed by pressing "911" to initiate a 911 emergency call. First, the customer would speak directly to the local emergency response office to communicate the nature of the emergency, followed by system 520 facilitating a GPS locator service's determination of the location of the customer, followed by the GPS locator service communicating the location to the local emergency response office. The above procedure includes a "default" mechanism so that the same automatic intervention of the GPS locator service is provided even if the customer directly dials "911" without first pressing the access button(s) for the "WT" system.
Another example of the utility of the system of the invention, not illustrated in the drawings, is where a customer obtains telephone directory assistance services through the system, most conveniently, if desired, by a two-button access such as by pressing "WT" followed by pressing a single digit such as "0". The customer is then directly connected to a directory assistance service provider that may be an independent organization or a part of the system operator's organization. In the context of the present invention, the customer has accessed the system to order a product (directory assistance services) from a participating merchant (the directory assistance service provider) using a product order number (0).
It will be appreciated that automated customer ordering systems of the invention may be provided with a customer interface that permits customers to place an order using means other than POTS or cellular telephone. For example, the following communication methods, coupled with customer identification procedures, may be used, preferably to supplement a telephone access system:
One business model for the commercial exploitation of the automated product ordering system of the invention is shown in block diagram form in FIG. 10. According to this model, the parties most directly involved are the system operator, system customers, participating merchants, shippers and the banking system/credit card companies who interact with each other as shown, all in accordance with interrelationships described above.
An example of the significant improvement the system of the invention offers over existing ordering systems is illustrated in
Another example of the invention is its use in connection with trade shows and conventions. Prior to a trade show or convention, prospective attendees may register to attend by utilizing the system of the invention. The trade show or convention is assigned an order number by the ordering system operator, and attendees utilize the system for registration purposes in essentially the same manner as any customer of the system would order a product through the system. At the time of registration through the system of the invention, an existing customer of the system will not have to enter significant additional information. However, a new customer would have to enter sufficient customer identification information for purposes of completing the transaction. At the time of registration, the attendee may be linked to local hotels for making appropriate reservations. Also, the registration information may be utilized to preprint name tags for attendees that may be mailed to the attendees prior to the trade show or convention along with other materials such as exhibitor lists, speaker lists, schedules, etc. For last-minute registration at the trade show/convention site, a kiosk may be set up for registering attendees through the system of the invention, with the kiosk having a printer for printing name tags. In the above-described application of the invention to trade shows and conventions (and other gatherings involving a registration procedure), the attendee (customer) orders a product (trade show or convention registration) through an ordering system of the invention. Additionally, the ordering system may be used in the trade show/convention context to permit attendees to readily and conveniently obtain information and products from the exhibitors. For example, on a trade show floor, an exhibitor's booth may display an order number permitting attendees to obtain information about that exhibitor's business or products. Thus, an attendee standing ten deep or more at an exhibitor's booth may simply note the order number(s) for information and/or products of that particular exhibitor and at that time, utilizing a cell phone or similar device, immediately order the information or products, or the noted product numbers may be used at a later time to actually place the order. The exhibitor order numbers may also be displayed in literature distributed to attendees by the trade show/convention promoter or the exhibitors themselves. Thus, in the context of a trade show, convention or other similar gathering, the present invention may be used to facilitate registration by attendees, as well as serving as an information and product ordering mechanism permitting attendees to obtain information and products from exhibitors.
Other representative applications of the ordering system of the present invention are:
As discussed above, advertisements and orders for products offered by participating merchants may be facilitated by advertisements in any appropriate medium, such as billboards, magazines, newspapers, etc. In one implementation of the invention, advertisements for the products of the participating merchants are displayed on the TV screens of subscribers to direct broadcast satellite (DBS) or cable TV services.
In preferred embodiments, receivers 700 and 710 are interactive devices permitting users to enjoy the benefits of numerous viewing aids (for example, locating programming in various menus and catalogs and ordering "pay-per-view" programming). Additionally, in accordance with the invention, utilizing the interactive capability and the memory capabilities (17 gigabyte and higher hard drive) of state-of-the-art DBS and cable TV receivers, the receiver 700 and 710 are used to permit customers to enjoy an interactive experience wherein the customer works with a specialized or programmable remote control 701 or 711 to locate and focus in on available products of interest, and order the same through the system of the invention. This TV interactive capability, with the infrastructure of the ordering system of the present invention, is extremely rapid and simple to use. Some examples of uses of the ordering system of the present invention incorporating interactive TV follows, along with information concerning the implementation of these systems:
1. Interactive TV Commercials Across All Broadcast Channels.
The system of the invention, used with interactive TV, creates a merchandising opportunity for every advertisement displayed on all TV channels. According to this implementation of the invention, conventional television advertisements give viewers/customers the ability to see an advertisement for any product, such as a car, phone provider, or event; and immediately request information, initiate a purchase, or navigate several tiers of variations on the item being advertised. For example, when a 20-second ad for a CD player appears, the interested viewer can push one button on the remote control, pausing or "freezing" the ad (while storing all subsequent material on the channel being viewed to the hard drive for delayed viewing after the transaction), and allowing the viewer to request information, see similar models and pricing by the manufacturer, purchase the item, and/or return to the show being held on the hard drive. This function preferably is implemented using a "picture-in-picture" format wherein the customer presses a single button on the remote that opens an overlay screen on the advertisement allowing the customer to use the remote control to input a unique product order number from any advertisement in a preformatted window. An example of this procedure is shown in
2. Dedicated DBS or Cable TV Channel(s).
In addition to providing interactive DBS and cable TV viewers with the ability to purchase products shown in advertisements across all channels, the invention may be utilized in conjunction with dedicated channel(s). An example of such a channel is an "on-demand music channel" that operates 24 hours per day to present a combination of music videos and advertisements. The music channel presents conventional music videos on one portion of the screen, along with other music/entertainment related programming, while also presenting banner advertisements and other forms of advertisements on other portions of the screen. An interactive guide permits viewers to select those genres of music that are of most interest to them for music video display, as well as permitting viewers to navigate catalogs of available music. A thorough discussion of the marketing concepts, hardware and other features associated with an on-demand music channel is set forth in commonly assigned co-pending application Ser. No. 09/502,069, filed Feb. 10, 2000, entitled "Music Delivery System", the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
3. Information Bounce-back from the System' s Central Computer to a Satellite or Cable TV Receiver, in General.
There are numerous marketing or customer information systems that require the use of a central database to supply a small, but key, set of information to a customer. For example, a customer viewing an ad for a pickup truck may like to know the location of a nearby dealer, or even have the dealer phone the customer. Or perhaps, a pizza franchise ad has just appeared and a customer would like to order one if he thought there was free delivery to his home. Or a customer hears an ad for a concert and wonders whether he can still purchase a good seat. Additionally, a customer may wish to use his TV remote to request the amount of his electric bill and then pay it. All these functions require that the customer request a small amount of information from a large database that may need to know the customer's identity. The interactive TV implementation of the present invention is well adapted to allowing an individual to simply request information, see the results in the thirty seconds or so required for a satellite or cable TV receiver to establish a modem connection (via a conventional phone or Internet) with a secure central computing system that knows the identity and billing details (like the credit card number) of the satellite or cable TV receiver and to initiate the transaction provided confirmation is received from the customer by his handheld remote. As suggested above, other modes of providing information from a central computer system include the Internet or downloads from a satellite.
4. Rating System.
In a rating system similar to the well-known Nielsen rating system for shows and movies, interactive TV viewers have the opportunity to post approval ratings of what they just watched, for possible compensation. This information feeds a particular product order number or code with the ability to rate the content on a scale of, perhaps, one to five stars to create immediate feedback to the affiliates.
5. Auctions.
The ability of the viewer/customer to interact with the TV simplifies the posting of a bidding system, again tied to a particular order number or code per item, working with the customer's remote control or other input device. Items up for bid become virtually unlimited, i.e., goods, services, or possibly high profile items within established auction networks, such as eBay, ubid, etc. This system is very effective for time dependent, last minute bargains and overstocks. The viewer has the ability to participate in what becomes a silent auction, entering pricing information through the remote control or input device as described above.
6. Home Schooling.
Utilizing the TV remote control, and requesting particular classes or complete curriculums with product order numbers or codes, the interactive TV viewer may participate in a distant learning experience. This interaction offers the student access to the world's greatest professors within every discipline, giving the student the ability to ask questions, and even take tests from the comfort of his home. Transcripts may be made available to eliminate the need to take excessive notes, and downloaded via email to the student's home PC or, perhaps, printer enabled set-top box. Courses may be based upon enrichment classes, advanced degrees, or even complete grade level curriculums for home schooling. This system also lends itself toward national standardized testing on all subject materials.
7. Reservations and Ticketing.
Hotel, airline or restaurant reservations may be made targeting specific venues as defined by the product ordering system. Any of these may be reserved using a customer's interactive TV remote. Advanced ticket bookings or last minute availability may be advertised for sporting events, concerts, transportation and travel, cruises, etc. Things such as seating plans and views from particular sections may be included to simplify seat selection.
8. Insurance Quotes.
Personalized rates and quotes may be obtained by direct input of a particular product order number. This application is applicable to insurance for medical, dental, auto, homeowners, etc. Simply by answering a few questions, direct quotes are sent via email, fax, or to a printer-enabled set-top box.
9. Pharmaceutical Information.
Order numbers or codes may be applied to new or existing pharmaceutical products to make available information and detail not normally available in standard commercials. Additionally, the interactive TV implementation of the invention may serve as a communication vehicle to track/validate clinical trials for accuracy and compliance to FDA standards. This would include dosage, timing, and possible side effects entered by clinical trial participants through a secure order number transaction that would generate a reporting document back to the pharmaceutical company or clinical trial agency. The pharmaceutical company then uses this information to evaluate the clinical trial or to transfer important drug-related information in a secure manner to doctors/providers to keep them informed of new and existing medicines.
10. Public Opinion Polling.
The interactive TV implementation of the invention facilitates two-way communication to assess public opinion on any topic worth considering. Direct feedback provides significant value to news agencies, political operatives, police investigations, or even interactive game shows, e.g., the fourth lifeline in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?".
11. Take-out Menus.
Local restaurants offer mouth-watering cuisine in TV ads with an embedded product order number for immediate home delivery. This application encompasses all standard pizza and Chinese, along with possible gourmet dining for the "no-time" lifestyles of today.
12. Coupons.
Merchants of everyday products utilize this service to offer coupons for goods and services, which are emailed to the consumer or sent directly to a printer-enabled, set-top box. This application drives traffic to the stores under specific promotions the merchants choose to offer.
13. Video Messaging and Conferencing.
Using specified order numbers or codes, interactive television viewers may retrieve personalized video messages or emails sent to them by individuals or corporations. These messages may include family greetings sent into the system operator via its web site, or personalized corporate ads and messages for a particular household. The messages may include corporate policy and training programs, along with possible recruitment applications. This system may also be used to facilitate video conferencing for the growing "work-at-home" segment of the business community. The corporation may lease side band capacity from the satellite or cable company, which would only be accessible through proper identification built into the ordering system. Preferably, VHS format is used to conserve bandwidth for this transmission.
In another embodiment, the dedicated ordering device 860 may be integrated with a cellular phone (
The manner and means for designing and producing dedicated ordering devices as described above are well within the skills of those familiar with remote control units for consumer electronics and similar electronic devices, and will not be discussed in detail herein. Suffice it to say that relatively unadorned, dedicated order devices 830, in various forms, may be produced in quantity for a cost on the order of one dollar (U.S.) or less and provided to all customers of system 820. It will be appreciated that existing system customers may receive their dedicated ordering devices with their pre-programmed customer identification number that will identify them to system 820. Additionally, and of considerable value in recruiting new customers to system 820, fully operational dedicated ordering devices may be distributed free of charge to literally millions of people who are not customers of the system with instructions on how to supply information to the system to register as an approved customer. If such a non-customer attempts to use the device before registering as a customer, the interactive receiver will prompt him of the need to register before making a purchase.
The low cost and versatility of these dedicated ordering devices render them useful for product or product information ordering at many special venues. For example, as shown in
In another embodiment shown in
It will be appreciated, as mentioned above, that use of the dedicated ordering devices may be accompanied by optional security measures to assure that the person placing the order is the authorized customer for that device. For example, the dedicated ordering device may include several buttons, for example four buttons, that must be pressed in a predetermined sequence to define a PIN for the particular customer in order to complete an ordering transaction. As another alternative, the device may include a thumb print identification unit that must be activated to confirm the user's identity at the time of each purchase transaction. Additionally, when used in conjunction with a cellular telephone, an authorized purchase transaction may require voice identification and/or voice recognition in order to authorize the transaction.
It will be appreciated that the ordering system of the present invention may be used in conjunction with a web site offered by the system operator. One use of the web site is for a system customer who may have seen an advertisement for a specific product offered by a participating merchant, but the customer did not note the order number. By accessing the web site, the customer may locate the product (using the participating merchant's name or product identification) and obtain the order number. In other instances, utilizing the product order number infrastructure of the invention, a customer may wish to place his order through the web site. To this end, the web site may display an image of the product, the product order number and a means for the customer to either order the product or order product information. As one option, ordering may be achieved by the customer simply clicking on the image, with the order number being "embedded" in the image. The web site may also provide a link to the web site of the appropriate participating merchant.
Another optional feature of the invention permits "data mining" with respect to individual authorized customers within a family having a single account with the system operator. According to this feature, each authorized family member is assigned a second level, two digit PIN that is entered at the time of completing a transaction.
It will be appreciated that the system operator may offer revolving credit to customers of the system, thus providing the system operator an additional profit stream and an additional mechanism for providing "clean" orders which do not expose participating merchants to credit risks, an option that is particularly appealing to small, niche vendors who may wish to utilize the system as their sole or primary order placement vehicle.
It will also be appreciated that the present invention has been described in connection with an automated order processing system for products. In this regard, the term "products", as used in the specification and claims, is deemed to include both goods and services offered by participating merchants to customers of the system. Additionally, the invention may be used to process other kinds of transactions such as a situation where a non-profit organization advertises for donations and provides donors the opportunity to make monetary contributions through the system, or where an organization permits a customer or client to pay an invoice (with associated order number) through the system. Such donation transactions and invoice payment transactions and other transactions where one party (the "merchant") permits another party (the "customer") to pay through the system are deemed to involve "products" as that term is used herein.
With the large number of product/merchant combinations for products made available through the system, most of the product order numbers will be in the range of 6 to 10 numbers. However, for certain, very high usage situations, or products particularly appropriate to a specific customer base, truncated product order numbers, even single digit numbers as discussed in connection with
Referring to
The system and method of the invention may have application at any scale of operations (as measured by number of participating merchants, volume of orders, dollar volume, etc.) that is economically viable; however, it will be appreciated that the invention has as one primary utility the provision of a universal automated product ordering system that is known to virtually all consumers in the modern economy and permits consumers to first join the system and thereafter purchase any offered product any time through a simple, fully understandable, non-intimidating access and ordering procedure that may be as easy as pushing one button (followed by entry of an order number) on a POTS telephone, cellular telephone, PDA, pager or a dedicated device.
While the present invention has been described in connection with certain illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated that modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
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The Diner is a restaurant in Tyler Texas serving delicious meals for breakfast and lunch with a hometown atmosphere. Conveniently located on South Broadway Ave., across from Kohl's, the Diner is open 7 days a week. Treat yourself and let your next dining experience be at The Diner!
Aside from our tasty treats in our beautiful restaurant, we also offer full service catering for any size event. And if you're just looking for a meal for the family, we have an assortment of casseroles that will be perfect. If you like, we'll even cook it in your own dish. Whatever the occasion, the Diner is here to provide delicious and healthy meals.
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