A computer based system is used for providing a comprehensive set of business support services for mobile business operations such as merchandising carts and kiosks. The services include: i.) providing a two-way computerized communication link between the mobile business unit and a headquarters base station via radio telemetry or ground lines, ii.) a data capture facility which polls a variety of intelligent devices, such as temperature sensors and inventory level indicators, packages the data for subsequent transmission to the base station and summaries the data for display on the mobile system control panel, iii.) a base station communication facility which transmits messages and computer commands to remote carts and kiosks and initiates outbound paging, iv.) a base station mass storage and reporting facility which stores historical data related to product sales, cashier settlement, inventory control and in bound messages for subsequent retrieval and reporting.
A method for automatically storing information on the date of the first use of an electronic device after purchase for verifying the warranty period of the electronic device. When an electronic device is used for the first time after purchase, the date information necessary for verifying the warranty period is automatically stored, thereby settling disputes concerning warranty periods. Also, the cost for repairing products for which the warranty period has already elapsed can be greatly reduced.
An apparatus and method for storing data related to service of an electronic device, in particular, an apparatus and method for automatically storing information concerning the first use date after purchase for verifying the warranty period of the electronic device. When an electronic device is used for the first time after being purchased, the date information necessary for verifying a warranty period is automatically stored, thereby settling disputes concerning warranty periods. Also, the cost for repairing products for which the warranty period has already elapsed can be greatly reduced.
An enhanced desktop management interface within a computing device interfaces with a management information system. The enhanced desktop management interface includes a service layer which has a management interface and a component interface. A plurality of management applications interact with the management interface of the service layer. Also, a plurality of manageable elements interface with the component interface of the service layer. When a primary communication path interface is available, the enhanced desktop management interface communicates with the management information system through the primary communication path. When the primary communication path interface is not available and an alternate communication path interface is available, the enhanced desktop management interface communicates with the management information system through the alternate communication path.
Software metering is implemented within a computing system. Using a communication path, contact with the computing system is established and terms of the software metering are agreed upon. The software within the computing system is then activated via the communication path. The activation includes specification to the computing system of parameters for the software metering.
A computer system according to the present invention comprises in a preferred embodiment a memory, a processor, an input and an output. The computer system receives part data and forecast data for each part in an inventory, including the number of units in the inventory, the cost, and the forecast unit demand. The computer system uses the part data and forecast data for each part to optimize the number of units of each part in the inventory for a selected inventory investment or service level constraint. The computer system optimizes the number of units of each part in the inventory by determining the number of units for each part for which the marginal increase in the number of orders for the part filled from the inventory for each additional order stocked is equal to the marginal increase for every other part and for which either the inventory service level equals the service level constraint or the inventory investment equals the inventory investment constraint. The computer system then outputs a determined minimum unit replenishment quantity and a safety unit quantity for each part. The minimum unit replenishment quantities and the safety unit quantity are used to determine the number of units of each part used to resupply the inventory.
