System and Method for Configuring Products Over a Communications Network

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the automated selection of formulations and/or formulation components by specifying product characteristics. In particular, the system and method serve customers within market segments that use selected components as raw materials for manufacture of specialty products and that require an understanding of how the selected components effect performance. For example, such products as electronic circuits, coatings, adhesives, sealants, inks, polishes, cleaners, and detergents fall within the profile of such products.

1 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A method for providing technical support information for making at least a portion of a product from a particular configuration of constituent components including at least one of a plurality of different non-fungible components in combination with fungible components, the technical support information being provided from a remotely located server to a user of a client computer coupled to the Internet by the method comprising the following steps:
 maintaining a database of technical support information including the identity of the non-fungible components and fungible components to be combined in different solutions for different applications;   providing a communications link at the database in communication with the server;   maintaining an interactive web site hosted by the server;   identifying different applications for at least a portion of a product to the user of the client computer on the interactive website;   accepting a selection of one of the different applications for at least a portion of a product for the selected one of the applications by the user of the client computer by on the interactive website;   presenting a set of characteristics for the one of the different applications selected on the interactive website;   accepting a specification of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics in the presented set on the interactive website;   presenting a plurality of solutions on the interactive website wherein each of the solutions have characteristics substantially matching the specification of requirements and each of the solutions comprises one of the different non-fungible components combined with commodity components;   accepting a selection of more than one and less than all of the plurality of solutions for comparison on the interactive website;   presenting sets of characteristics for the accepted selection of solutions for comparison on the interactive website including any differences in the characteristics of the solutions for comparison;   accepting a selection of at least one of the solutions for comparison on the interactive website;   presenting technical support information on the interactive website for making the at least one of the solutions selected, the technical support information including information concerning the at least one of the non-fungible components and additional information identifying the fungible components which may be assembled with the at least one of the different non-fungible components to make the at least one of the solutions selected; and   presenting an offer to sell the of the selected at least one of the solutions on the interactive website alone and unassembled with any of the non-fungible components.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the interactive website includes a plurality of user interfaces and the accepting of a specification of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics and the accepting of a selection of the one of the different applications occur at different user interfaces. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the interactive website comprises a plurality of web pages. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60  wherein the technical support information is presented on at least one of the web pages of the interactive website. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the interactive website includes a plurality of interactive user interfaces. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise a numerical specification of a requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise a numerical range for at least one of the characteristics in the set. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise at least one feature requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 58  including accepting a prioritizing of at least one of the requirements specified. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the presenting of the sets of characteristics of the selected solutions for comparison are side-by-side on the interactive website. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the solutions comprise electronic circuits including at least one integrated circuit assembled with other components and the specified requirements of the characteristics in the set include integrated circuit parameters. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the technical support information includes the cost of the at least one non-fungible component in the selected at least one of the selected solutions. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69  further comprising accepting an order for purchasing the non-fungible component of the selected at least one of the solutions on the interactive website. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 58  further comprising presenting the identification of different applications in different markets on the interactive website and accepting a selection of one of the markets on the interactive website before selecting one of the different applications. 
     
     
         72 . A system for promoting the use of a supplier's non-fungible specialty components in combination with fungible commodity components in making products, comprising:
 a supplier computer means for providing technical support information relating to the supplier's specialty components supplied by the supplier, the technical support information providing different solutions for different applications by combining different non-fungible specialty components with different fungible commodity components;   a server computer means and storage medium;   a communications link between the supplier computer means and the server computer means and storage medium for transmitting the technical support information for storage at the storage medium and use by the server computer means;   the server computer means hosting an interactive web site and communicating with the Internet for providing technical support information to a user of a client computer in communication with the Internet by presenting:
 (a) at least one application selection interface identifying different applications to the user of the client computer and accepting a selection of an application from the user of the client computer; 
 (b) at least one solutions selection interface presented to the user of the client computer in response to the selection of an applications at the at least one application selection interface, the at least one solutions selection interface providing the following:
 identifying a set of characteristics for the application selected, 
 accepting from the user of the client computer a specification of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics in the identified set, 
 identifying a plurality of solutions having profiles of characteristics for the identified set substantially matching the specified requirements where each of the solutions comprises a different combination of at least one non-fungible component and other commodity components, 
 accepting a selection of more than one and less than all of the plurality of solutions for comparison: 
 presenting profiles of characteristics for the accepted selection of solutions for comparison including differences in the characteristics of the profiles, 
 accepting from the user of the client computer a selection of at least one of the solutions selected for comparison, 
 providing the technical support information stored in the database concerning the at least one non-fungible component of the at least one of the solutions selected and a link to additional information identifying other fungible components which may be assembled with the at least one non-fungible component to make the selected at least one of the solutions, and 
 presenting an offer to sell the at least one non-fungible component of the selected one of the at least one of the solutions alone without the other fungible components which may be assembled with the at least one specialty component. 
 
   
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 72  wherein the at least one solutions selection interface comprises one interface for specifying the requirements and another interface for selecting the solution. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 72  wherein the at least one solutions selection interface comprises at least one web page of the web site. 
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 72  wherein the technical support information is displayed on at least one web page of the web site. 
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 72  wherein the at least one solutions selection interface comprises at least one web page of the web site. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 72  wherein the at least one solutions selection interface accepts from the user of the client computer a numerical specification of a requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set. 
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 77  wherein the numerical specification comprises a numerical range for at least one of the characteristics in the set. 
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 77  wherein the at least one solutions selection interface accepts from the user of the client computer a specification of at least one feature requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set. 
     
     
         80 . The system of  claim 72  wherein the at least one solutions selection interface accepts a prioritization from a user of the client computer to prioritize at least one of the requirements specified. 
     
     
         81 . The system of  claim 72  wherein the characteristics of the profiles are displayed side-by-side on the at least one solutions selection interface. 
     
     
         82 . The system of  claim 72  wherein the one at least one solution selected comprises an electronic circuit including at least one integrated circuit assembled with other components and the specified requirements of the characteristics in the set comprise integrated circuit parameters. 
     
     
         83 . The system of  claim 82  wherein the technical support information includes parameters for the integrated circuit of the at least one selected solution. 
     
     
         84 . The system of  claim 72  wherein the at least one application selection interface comprises a web page of the website. 
     
     
         85 . The system of  claim 72  wherein the at least one solutions selection interface accepts from the user of the client computer a selection of the set of characteristics to be displayed. 
     
     
         86 . The system of  claim 72  wherein the at least one solutions selection interface presents the profiles of characteristics of the solutions selected for comparison side-by-side. 
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 72  wherein the at least one solutions selection interface accepts from the user of the client computer a selection of the set of characteristics to be displayed. 
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 72  wherein the at least one solutions selection interface accepts from the user of the client computer a selection of more than one but less than all of the plurality of solutions displayed for comparison and subsequently presents only the profiles of the solutions selected for comparison. 
     
     
         89 . A method for providing technical support information for making at least a portion of a product from a particular configuration of constituent components including at least one of a plurality of different non-fungible components in combination with fungible components, the technical support information being provided on an interactive web site hosted by a server in communication with the Internet so as to present at least one user interface for display on a display device at a client computer having a communications interface with the Internet, the method comprising:
 maintaining, on a computer-readable storage medium, a database of technical support information including the identity of the different non-fungible components which may be combined with fungible components to provide different solutions for different applications;   maintaining, at the computer-readable storage medium, a communications link providing access to the database by the server hosting the interactive web site;   presenting, on a user interface, an output from the server identifying different applications for at least a portion of a product;   accepting, on a user interface, a selection of one of the different applications for at least a portion of a product;   presenting, on a user interface, an output from the server identifying a set of characteristics for the one of the different applications selected;   accepting, on a user interface, an input representing a specification of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics in the set;   presenting, on a user interface, an output from the server representing a plurality of solutions wherein each of the solutions have characteristics substantially matching the specification of requirements and each of the solutions comprises one of the different non-fungible components to be combined with fungible components;   accepting, on a user interface, an input representing a selection of more than one and less than all of the plurality of solutions for comparison;   presenting, on a user interface, an output from the server representing only the characteristics for the selected solutions for comparison;   accepting, on a user interface, a selection of at least one of the more than one and less than all of the solutions for comparison;   presenting, on a user interface, a link to technical support information for making the at least one of the solutions selected, the technical support information including information concerning the at least one of the non-fungible components and additional information concerning the fungible components which may be assembled with the at least one non-fungible component to make the at least one of the solutions selected; and   presenting, on a user interface, an offer to sell the at least one non-fungible component of the selected at least one of the solutions alone and unassembled with any non-fungible components.   
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 88  wherein the accepting of a specification of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics and the accepting of a selection of the one of the different applications occur on different user interfaces. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 89  wherein the different user interfaces comprise different web pages of the web site. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 88  wherein the accepting of a selection of more than one and less than all of the solutions for comparison and the presenting of the characteristics for the selected solutions for comparison occur at different user interfaces. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91  wherein the different user interfaces comprise different web pages of the web site. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 88  wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise a numerical specification of a requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 93  wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise a numerical range for at least one of the characteristics in the set. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 93  wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise at least one feature requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 88  wherein the presenting of the characteristics for the selected solutions for comparison occurs on the same user interface with the characteristics of each of selected solutions presented side-by-side with the characteristics of another of the selected solutions. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 96  wherein the same user interface comprises a web page of the web site. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 88  wherein the solutions comprise electronic circuits, the non-fungible components comprise integrated circuits, the fungible components comprise passive components and the specified requirements of the characteristics in the set include integrated circuit parameters. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 88  wherein the technical support information includes the cost of the at least one non-fungible component in the selected at least one of the selected solutions. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 88  further comprising accepting an order for purchasing the non-fungible component of the at least one of the selected solutions on a user interface. 
     
     
         101 . A method for providing technical support information for making at least a portion of a product from a particular configuration of constituent components including at least one of a plurality of different non-fungible components to be used in combination with fungible components, the method comprising the following steps for providing the technical support information to a user of a client computer coupled to the Internet with access to an interactive website hosted by a server, the website including a plurality of web pages:
 maintaining, on a computer-readable storage medium, a database of technical support information including the identity of the different specialty components which may be combined with non-fungible components to provide different solutions for different applications;   maintaining, at the computer-readable storage medium, a communications link providing access to the database by the server hosting the interactive website;   providing at least one the web pages for identifying to a user of a client computer different applications for at least a portion of a product;   providing at least one of the web pages for accepting a selection by a user of a client computer of one of the different applications for at least a portion of the product;   providing at least one of the web pages for identifying to a user of a client computer a set of characteristics for the one of the different applications selected;   providing at least one of the web pages for accepting a specification by a user of a client computer of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics in the set;   providing at least one of the web pages for identifying to a user of a client computer a plurality of solutions wherein each of the solutions has characteristics substantially matching the specification of requirements and each of the solutions comprises one of the different non-fungible components to be combined with commodity components;   providing at least one of the web pages for accepting a selection by a user of a client computer of more than one and less than all of the plurality of solutions for comparison;   providing at least one of the web pages for presenting to a user of a client computer only characteristics for the selected solutions for comparison;   providing at least one of the web pages for accepting a selection by a user of a client computer at least one of the more than one and less than all of the solutions for comparison;   providing at least one of the pages for presenting to a user of a client computer access to technical support information including information concerning the at least one of the non-fungible components and additional information concerning the fungible components which may be assembled with the at least one specialty component to make the at least one of the solutions selected; and   providing at least one of the web pages for presenting to a user of a client computer access to an offer to sell the at least one non-fungible component of the selected solution alone and unassembled with any non-fungible components.   
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101  wherein the at least one web page provided for accepting the specification of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics is different from the at least one web page for accepting the selection of different applications. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 101  wherein the at least one web page provided for accepting of the selection of more than one and less than all of the solutions for comparison is different from the at least one web page provided for presenting of the characteristics for the selected solutions. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 101  wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise a numerical specification of a requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 104  wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise a numerical range for at least one of the characteristics in the set. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 101  wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise at least one feature requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set. 
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 101  wherein the presenting of the characteristics for the selected solutions for comparison occurs on the same web page with the characteristics of each of selected solutions presented side-by-side with the characteristics of another of the selected solutions. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 101  wherein the solutions comprise electronic circuits, the non-fungible components comprise integrated circuits, the fungible components comprise passive components and the specified requirements of the characteristics in the set include integrated circuit parameters. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 101  wherein the technical support information includes the cost of the at least one non-fungible component in the selected at least one of the selected solutions.