Methods and apparatus for on-line ordering

Abstract

Systems and methods for ordering supplies from suppliers or for other e-commerce activities are described. Standards for placing orders and registering catalog information in a database are described. Systems and methods for placing orders, preprocessing supplier information using geographic information, conducting data searches and analyses locally on user access devices, continuously updating displays of browser frames, tracking orders using accounting codes, placing graphical custom orders, submitting graphical orders to suppliers, placing group orders, reducing risks associated with delinquent accounts receivable, and combinations thereof are described.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for identifying data objects in a client browser using functions, said browser communicating with a server system via an electronic communication network, said method comprising: 
 transferring at least one data object and at least one function from said server system to said browser; and    identifying at least one of said at least one data object using said function.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transferring comprises transferring at least one function selected from a group consisting of: 
 a. a searching function;    b. a grouping function;    c. a sorting function; and    d. a function comprising a combination of at least two of a-c.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said transferring comprises transferring at least one compressed data object; and    said method further comprises decompressing said compressed data object.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said decompressing comprises converting data from base-n values to base-10 values, wherein n is a number greater than 10.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said decompressing comprises forming a database having at least one data object corresponding to a supplier, said at least one data object having at least one attribute selected from a group consisting of: 
 a. name information;    b. address information;    c. service information;    d. hours of operation information;    e. catalog information;    f. critique information;    g. parking information;    h. other information; and    i. a combination of at least two of a-h.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said decompressing comprises forming a database having at least one data object corresponding to a food supplier, said at least one data object having at least one attribute selected from a group consisting of: 
 a. name information;    b. address information;    c. cuisine information;    d. delivery information;    e. take-out information;    f. hours of operation information;    g. menu information;    h. attire information;    i. parking information;    j. atmosphere information;    k. review information;    l. other information; and    m. a combination of at least two of a-l.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said decompressing comprises forming a database having at least one data object corresponding to a catalog item, said at least one data object having at least one attribute selected from a group consisting of: 
 a. name information;    b. identification number information;    c. size information;    d. color information;    e. material information;    f. inventory information;    g. customization information; and    h. a combination of at least two of a-g.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said decompressing comprises forming a database having at least one data object corresponding to a food item, said at least one data object having at least one attribute selected from a group consisting of: 
 a. name information;    b. identification number information;    c. size information;    d. customization information;    e. delivery information; and    f. a combination of at least two of a-e.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising presenting at least one identified data object to a user of said browser.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said presenting comprises displaying graphical representations of said at least one identified data object, said at least one identified data object selected from a group consisting of: 
 a. a supplier;    b. a catalog item;    c. a menu item; and    d. a combination of at least two of a-c.    
     
     
         11 . A system for identifying data objects in a client browser using functions, comprising: 
 means for transferring at least one data object and at least one function from a server system to a browser via an electronic communication network; and    means for identifying at least one of said at least one data object using said function,    said means for transferring and said means for identifying in communication via an electronic communication system.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said means for transferring comprises means for transferring at least one function selected from a group consisting of: 
 a. a searching function;    b. a grouping function;    c. a sorting function; and    d. a function comprising a combination of at least two of a-c.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said means for transferring comprises means for transferring at least one compressed data object; and    said system further comprises means for decompressing said compressed data object,    said means for decompressing, said means for transferring and said means for identifying in communication via an electronic communication system.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said means for decompressing comprises means for converting data from base-n values to base-10 values, wherein n is a number greater than 10.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said means for decompressing comprises means for forming a database having at least one data object corresponding to a supplier, said at least one data object having at least one attribute selected from a group consisting of: 
 a. name information;    b. address information;    c. service information;    d. hours of operation information;    e. catalog information;    f. critique information;    g. parking information;    h. other information; and    i. a combination of at least two of a-h.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said means for decompressing comprises means for forming a database having at least one data object corresponding to a food supplier, said at least one data object having at least one attribute selected from a group consisting of: 
 a. name information;    b. address information;    c. cuisine information;    d. delivery information;    e. take-out information;    f. hours of operation information;    g. menu information;    h. attire information;    i. parking information;    j. atmosphere information;    k. review information;    l. other information; and    m. a combination of at least two of a-l.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said means for decompressing comprises means for forming a database having at least one data object corresponding to a catalog item, said at least one data object having at least one attribute selected from a group consisting of: 
 a. name information;    b. identification number information;    c. size information;    d. color information;    e. material information;    f. inventory information;    g. customization information; and    h. a combination of at least two of a-g.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said means for decompressing comprises forming a database having at least one data object corresponding to a food item, said at least one data object having at least one attribute selected from a group consisting of: 
 a. name information;    b. identification number information;    c. size information;    d. customization information;    e. delivery information; and    f. a combination of at least two of a-e.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising means for presenting at least one identified data object to a user of said browser, 
 said means for presenting, said means for transferring and said means for identifying in communication via an electronic communication system.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said means for presenting comprises means for displaying graphical representations of said at least one identified data objects, said at least one identified data object selected from a group consisting of: 
 a. a supplier;    b. a catalog item;    c. a menu item; and    d. a combination of at least two of a-c.