Diamond Retailer, Wholesaler and Consumer Finder, Tracker and Sales System

Abstract

An information processing system for electronically vertically integrating a consumer, retailer and wholesaler of diamonds (or jewelry) includes maintaining a diamond inventory database which lists common characteristics, wholesale price and retail price. In the retail facility or space, the consumer electronically searches the diamond database and is presented with record displays of diamonds within the scope of the search and the retail price. A retailer's computer can mimic the consumer search and display the wholesale price. This tracking and a sales alarm trigger facilitates a face-to-face sale of the diamond. An alarm issues when the consumer's search exceeds certain predetermined parameters.

1 . An information processing system to facilitate a face to face sale of a diamond between a consumer and a retailer in a retail facility under the control of said retailer and for electronically vertically integrating a consumer interested in buying a diamond, a retailer of said diamond and a wholesaler selling a plurality of diamonds, said system comprising:
 a diamond inventory data base being a compilation of data representing said plurality of diamonds, said data base listing, for each diamond, common characteristics and wholesale price and retail price;   a search engine at said retail facility permitting said consumer to electronically search said inventory data base with search criteria relative to said common characteristics and said retail price;   a first display at said retail facility viewable by said consumer which shows, said common characteristics and said retail price for diamonds within the scope of said search;   a second display at said retail facility viewable by said retailer but not viewable by consumer which shows said common characteristics of diamonds within the scope of said search and the wholesale prices thereof to facilitate said face to face sale.   
     
     
         2 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first display does not include a display of said wholesale price to said consumer. 
     
     
         3 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said diamond inventory data base is located either at said retail facility, at a remote facility under the control of a third party or at a remote facility under the control of said wholesaler. 
     
     
         4 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said common characteristics include color, weight in carats, cut and clarity. 
     
     
         5 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said diamond inventory data base which includes data representing a certification certificate for at least some of said plurality of diamonds in said diamond inventory data base and said first display to consumer includes a selectable display of the certificate associated said diamond found by said consumer within the scope of said search if such certificate is associated therewith. 
     
     
         6 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 1  including an electronic transfer communications link between said diamond data base located at said retailer and said wholesaler. 
     
     
         7 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said search engine permits a plurality of consumer searches into said diamond data base and said first display is a plurality of consumer displays. 
     
     
         8 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said diamond data base includes data representing diamonds from a plurality of wholesalers. 
     
     
         9 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 1  said search engine is operative with an interactive touch screen display. 
     
     
         10 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first display includes means for providing multilingual electronic interactions with said consumer. 
     
     
         11 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first display includes means for providing the display of educational data relative to the purchase of diamonds to said consumer. 
     
     
         12 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 1  a search result tracker, coupled to said search engine, and an alarm monitor which issues an alarm to said retailer to initiate said face to face sale based upon predetermined parameters obtained from said search tracker. 
     
     
         13 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said alarm is an alarm from the group consisting of an audio alarm, a visual alarm, a combination audio-visual alarm and an electronic alarm. 
     
     
         14 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said diamond inventory data base is located either at said retail facility, at a remote facility under the control of a third party or at a remote facility under the control of said wholesaler. 
     
     
         15 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said common characteristics include color, weight in carats, cut and clarity. 
     
     
         16 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said diamond inventory data base which includes data representing a certification certificate for at least some of said plurality of diamonds in said diamond inventory data base and said first display to consumer includes a selectable display of the certificate associated said diamond found by said consumer within the scope of said search if such certificate is associated therewith. 
     
     
         17 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 16  including an electronic transfer communications link between said diamond data base located at said retailer and said wholesaler. 
     
     
         18 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said search engine permits a plurality of consumer searches into said diamond data base and said first display is a plurality of consumer displays. 
     
     
         19 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said diamond data base includes data representing diamonds from a plurality of wholesalers. 
     
     
         20 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 19  said search engine is operative with an interactive touch screen display. 
     
     
         21 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein said first display includes means for providing multilingual electronic interactions with said consumer. 
     
     
         22 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said first display includes means for providing the display of educational data relative to the purchase of diamonds to said consumer. 
     
     
         23 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 22  a search result tracker, coupled to said search engine, and an alarm monitor which issues an alarm to said retailer to initiate said face to face sale based upon predetermined parameters obtained from said search tracker. 
     
     
         24 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said alarm is an alarm from the group consisting of an audio alarm, a visual alarm, a combination audio-visual alarm and an electronic alarm.