System and method for providing electronic devices to order

Abstract

A system and method of specifying reconfigure to order electronic devices is disclosed. A customer interacts with a reseller to specify the electronic device they wish to purchase, any software to be loaded on the electronic device prior to shipment. A portion of the software is provided by the customer to the reseller. An electronic device is selected from inventory stock and reconfigured. The electronic device is delivered to the customer capable of being used within the customer's specific application without further configuration by the customer.

1 . A method of processing an order from a customer by a reseller of an electronic device, said electronic device comprising storage operative to store software, said method comprising: 
 (a) receiving a configuration from said customer by an order processing system, wherein said configuration comprises a first specification identifying software to be installed in a first electronic device, including at least a portion thereof to be provided by said customer;    (b) receiving by said order processing system, said portion of said software provided by said customer;    (c) retrieving a first electronic device from an inventory stock of electronic devices;    (d) reconfiguring said storage of said first electronic device based on said software, including at least said portion thereof received from said customer; and    (e) supplying said first electronic device to said customer wherein said first electronic device is capable of being utilized by said customer without further configuration according to said configuration.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first electronic device comprises an electrical energy meter.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inventory stock comprises new and used electronic devices.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1. , wherein (a) further comprises: 
 receiving said configuration by an order processing system over a network from a network accessible web site.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said software is communicated by said customer to said order processing system.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) further comprises: 
 receiving a second specification identifying a second electronic device owned by said customer and accessible via a network; and    retrieving said configuration from said second electronic device via said network.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (f) storing said order in a database coupled with said order processing system, said database operative to store said configuration and said software for all of said orders placed by said customer.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 (g) receiving, by said order processing system, an identification of a prior order for a second electronic device previously ordered from said reseller, said prior order being stored in said database; and    (h) retrieving said prior order from said database; and    wherein (a) further comprises receiving said configuration from said prior order.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (f) assessing at least one need of said customer;    (g) recommending a particular configuration based on (f);    
   
   
       10 . An order processor for providing an electronic device from a reseller to a customer, said electronic device comprising storage operative to store software, said order processor comprising: 
 an order receiver operative to receive an order for a first electronic device, said order comprising a configuration comprising a specification identifying software to be installed in said first electronic device, including at least a portion thereof to be provided by said customer;    a software receiver operative to receive said portion of said software from said customer;    a selection interface coupled with said order receiver and said software receiver operative to select a first electronic device from inventory stock;    a configuration interface coupled with said order receiver and said software receiver operative to reconfigure said storage of said first electronic device based on said software, including at least said portion thereof received from said customer;    a delivery interface coupled with said order receiver and operative to deliver said order to said customer according to said configuration such that said first electronic device is capable of being utilized by said customer without further configuration.    
   
   
       11 . The order processor of  claim 10 , wherein said first electronic device comprises an electrical energy meter.  
   
   
       12 . The order processor of  claim 10 , wherein said inventory stock comprises new and used electronic devices.  
   
   
       13 . The order processor of  claim 10 , wherein said order receiver is further operative to receive said order via a network coupled with said order receiver.  
   
   
       14 . A method of processing an order from a customer by a reseller for an electronic device, said electronic device being characterized by at least one model and at least one type, said electronic device comprising storage operative to store software, said method comprising: 
 (a) receiving by an order processing system, a first specification identifying a first electronic device to be ordered, said first specification identifying a particular one of said at least one model and type;    (b) receiving by said order processing system, a second specification identifying optional hardware to be installed in said electronic device;    (c) receiving by said order processing system, a third specification identifying software to be installed in said electronic device including at least a portion thereof to be provided by said customer;    (d) receiving by said order processing system, said portion of said software provided by said customer;    (e) providing said first electronic device of said specified particular model and type from an inventory stock maintained by said provider;    (f) installing said specified optional hardware into said first electronic device;    (g) configuring said storage of said first electronic device based on said software, including at least said portion thereof received from said customer; and    (h) supplying said first electronic device to said customer wherein said first electronic device is capable of being utilized by said customer without further configuration according to said first, second and third specifications.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said first electronic device comprises an electrical energy meter.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said inventory stock comprises new and used electronic devices.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said software is communicated by said customer to said order processing system.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said order processing system is coupled with a network, (a) further comprising receiving said first specification over said network, (b) further comprising receiving said second specification over said network, and (c) further comprising receiving said third specification over said network.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of (a), (b), and (c) are performed by an interface coupled with said order processing system, wherein said interface comprises a network accessible web site.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein (a) further comprises: 
 receiving a fourth specification identifying a second electronic device owned by said customer and accessible via a network; and    retrieving identifiers of a model and type of said second electronic device from said second electronic device by said order processing system via said network, said first specification comprising said identifiers.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein (b) further comprises: 
 receiving a fourth specification identifying a second electronic device owned by said customer and accessible via a network; and    retrieving identifiers of said optional hardware installed in said second electronic device from said second electronic device by said order processing system via said network, said second specification comprising said identifiers.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein (c) further comprises: 
 receiving a fourth specification identifying a second electronic device owned by said customer and accessible via a network; and    retrieving a copy of said software installed in said second electronic device from said second electronic device by said order processing system via said network, said third specification comprising said copy.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 (i) storing said order in a database coupled with said order processing system, said database operative to store said first, second, and third specifications and said software for all of said orders placed by said customer.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 (j) receiving, by said order processing system, an identification of a prior order for a second electronic device previously ordered from said reseller, said prior order being stored in said database; and    (k) retrieving said prior order from said database; and    wherein (a) further comprises receiving said first specification from said prior order.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 (j) receiving, by said order processing system, an identification of a prior order for a second electronic device previously ordered from said provider, said prior order being stored in said database; and    (k) retrieving said prior order from said database; and    wherein (b) further comprises receiving said second specification from said prior order.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 (j) receiving, by said order processing system, an identification of a prior order for a second electronic device previously ordered from said provider, said prior order being stored in said database; and    (k) retrieving said prior order from said database; and    wherein said prior order comprises said software, (c) further comprising receiving said third specification from said prior order.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 (i) assessing at least one need of said customer;    (j) recommending a particular of said at least one model and said at least one type based on (i); and    wherein said first specification is based on (j)    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 (i) assessing at least one need of said customer;    (j) recommending said optional hardware based on (i); and    wherein said second specification is based on (j).    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 (i) assessing at least one need of said customer;    (j) recommending said software based on (i); and    wherein said third specification is based on (j).    
   
   
       30 . A system for processing an order from a customer by a provider for an electronic device, said electronic device comprising storage operative to store software, said system comprising: 
 a server computer;    a first interface coupled with said server and operative to receive an order comprising a configuration comprising a first specification identifying software, including at least a portion thereof to be provided by said customer, to be installed in a first electronic device, said first interface being further operative to receive said portion of said software from said customer;    an order generator coupled with said server and operative to generate said order for said electronic device from said configuration, said order generator being further operative to generate said order including said software and transmit said order to said provider such that said provider may configure said storage of said electronic device based on said software and provide said electronic device to said customer, said electronic device being capable of being utilized by said customer without further configuration according to said configuration.    
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said first electronic device comprises an electrical energy meter.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said inventory stock comprises new and used electronic devices.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising receiving said configuration by an order processing system over a network from a network accessible web site.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a database coupled with said server computer and operative to store said software, including said first portion, said interface further operative to retrieve said software from said database.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising an electronic device interface operative to communicate with at least one electronic device owned by said customer and accessible via a network, said first interface being further operative to receive a second specification identifying a second electronic device owned by said customer, said electronic device interface being further operative to retrieve said configuration from said second electronic device over said network.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a database coupled with said server computer and operative to store said configuration for all of said orders placed by said customer.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 a second interface coupled with said server computer and operative to receive a second specification identifying a prior order for a second electronic device previously ordered from said reseller; said prior order being stored in said database, said second interface being further operative to retrieve said prior order from said database and generate said configuration from said prior order.    
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a second interface coupled with said server computer and operative to assess at least one need of said customer and recommend a particular configuration based on said assessment, said configuration comprising said recommendation.