System and method for remote acquisition and delivery of goods

• US 10,115,067 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consumeron, LLC
• Original Assignee: Consumeron, LLC
• Inventors: Barron, Mark B, Hays, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Levine, Adam L
• Application Number:
  US13/392,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20120185356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,987 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261, 705 271
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation

Abstract

A system and method for remote acquisition and delivery of goods includes a server in communication with customer computers, such as through a user interface via the internet. The server can store customer information including billing information, and may include an image processor. A mobile delivery system in communication with the server includes an energy efficient vehicle, an image capture device, a global positioning system, a communication device and a printer. In use, a customer communicates with a mobile delivery agent via the image capture device and the communication device to remotely acquire a product. Once acquired, the delivery agent delivers the product to a designated delivery location. The image capture device can be utilized during the entire transaction. The system preferably includes a processor for optimizing system efficiencies, including selecting a delivery agent based on the product, pick-up location and delivery site.

Claims

1. A method for remote acquisition and delivery of goods comprising:

at least one remote server receiving, through the internet or a network from a user interface on a customer computer at a first location, a first acquisition request from a first customer for a first set of one or more goods, at a second, service location;

the at least one remote server sending instructions based on the first acquisition request, to a communication device of a mobile delivery agent system located at a third location;

the at least one remote server deploying the mobile delivery agent system from the third location to a fourth, shopping location, having the first set of one or more goods, by providing instructions to the communication device, wherein the mobile delivery agent system includes;

an image capture device and the communication device;

obtaining an image, with the mobile delivery agent system through use of the image capture device, of the first set of one or more goods at the shopping location;

electronically transmitting, with the mobile delivery agent system through use of the communication device, the image of the first set of one or more goods from the shopping location to the customer computer of the first customer;

receiving, with the communication device of the mobile delivery agent system, further instructions from the first customer, through the customer computer, about the first set of one or more goods based on the transmitted image;

acquiring the first set of one or more goods at the shopping location via the mobile delivery agent system; and

delivering the first set of one or more goods from the shopping location to a delivery site.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said mobile delivery agent system further includes a global positioning system and the method further comprising:

sending to the first customer, information on the delivery agent system, including location information based on signals from the global positioning system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information on the delivery agent system includes an availability status of the delivery agent system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first acquisition request from the first customer includes a selection of the delivery agent system for fulfilling the first acquisition request.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after receiving the first acquisition request, calculating which of a plurality of delivery agent systems could most efficiently carry out the first acquisition request using the at least one remote server, with the calculation being based, at least in part, on the location having the first set one or more goods, a current location of at least one of the plurality of delivery agent systems and the delivery site.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

conducting a credit check of the first customer prior to acquiring the first set of one or more goods; and

pre-approving the first customer for a particular purchase amount based on the credit check.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

obtaining consent from the first customer to acquire the first set of one or more goods using the communication device before acquiring the first set one or more goods.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving instructions from the first customer using the communication device to remotely inspect the first set of one or more goods utilizing the image capture device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a price estimate based on the first acquisition request; and

providing the price estimate to the first customer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, while deploying the delivery agent system to the location having the first set of one or more goods, providing the first customer with a real-time street view utilizing the image capture device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile delivery system further includes a printer and the method further comprising:

printing out an invoice for the first customer utilizing the printer upon delivery of the one or more goods.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second acquisition request from a second customer for a second set of one or more goods;

electronically transferring an image of the second set of one or more goods to the second customer using the communication device;

acquiring the second set of one or more goods via the delivery agent system; and

delivering the second set of one or more goods.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

offering a discount to the first customer and/or the second customer based, at least in part, on their sharing of the delivery agent system.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

checking the one or more goods off an electronic shopping list in real-time as each of the one or more goods is acquired.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving product data from the first customer regarding the one or more goods; and

checking the internet for a digital coupon associated with the product data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the mobile delivery system further includes a printer and the method further comprising:

printing out the digital coupon utilizing the printer; and

applying the coupon to a purchase during the step of acquiring the first set of one or more goods.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving product data from the first customer regarding at least one of the one or more goods; and

generating product reviews associated with the product data which are accessible by the first customer.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of electronically transmitting an image comprises streaming real-time video.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deploying a plurality of delivery agent systems to various geographic locations.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of one or more goods are delivered to the delivery site by using a third party delivery service.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more images of the first set of one or more goods from the first customer; and

identifying the first set of one or more goods based on the one or more images.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a rejection of an item to be acquired in the first set of one or more goods from the first customer;

causing the delivery agent system to look for a similar item based on the receipt of the rejection.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the delivery agent system travels to a second shopping location to look for the similar item.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a text message to or initiating a voice communication with the first customer when the delivery agent system is near the first shopping location.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the first acquisition request includes a fast delivery request, and wherein a selection of the delivery agent system is based, at least in part, on the fast delivery request.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing purchase history of the first customer;

suggesting purchases to the first customer based on the purchase history.

27. A method for remote acquisition and delivery of goods comprising:

at least one remote server receiving, through the internet or a network from a user interface on a first customer computer at a first location, a first acquisition request from a first customer for a first set of one or more goods, at a second location;

the at least one remote server sending instructions based on the first acquisition request, to a communication device of a mobile delivery agent system associated with at least one mobile delivery agent located at a third location;

the at least one remote server deploying the mobile delivery agent system from the third location to a fourth, shopping location having the first set of one or more goods, by providing instructions to the communication device, wherein the mobile delivery agent system includes;

an image capture device and the communication device;

obtaining, with the delivery agent system through the use of the image capture device, an image of the first set of one or more goods at the shopping location;

electronically transmitting, with the delivery agent system with the communication device, the image of the first set of one or more goods from the shopping location to the first customer computer;

receiving with the communications device of the mobile delivery agent system, further instructions from the first customer through the customer computer about the first set of one or more goods based on the transmitted image;

acquiring at the shopping location, via the at least one delivery agent system, the first set of one or more goods; and

delivering the first set of one or more goods from the shopping location to a delivery site.

28. A method for remote acquisition and delivery of goods comprising:

at least one remote server connected to the internet or a network receiving, through the internet or a network from a user interface on a customer computer at a first location, a first acquisition request from a customer to a services provider for a first set of one or more goods, through a first line of communication established between the user interface of the customer computer at the first location and the at least one remote server, the services provider being located at a second location;

the at least one remote server deploying a mobile delivery agent system from a third location to a fourth, shopping location having the first set of one or more goods, by providing instructions to a communication device included in the mobile delivery agent system associated with a delivery agent, through a second line of communication established between the at least one remote server for the services provider and the communication device of the mobile delivery agent system, wherein the mobile delivery agent system includes the image capture device and the communication device;

obtaining, by the mobile delivery agent system through the use of an image capture device, an image of the first set of one or more goods;

electronically transmitting, by the delivery agent system through the use of the communication device, the image of the first set of one or more goods from the shopping location to the first customer, either directly or indirectly from the communication device of the at least one delivery agent system to the customer computer of the first customer;

the customer computer providing to the delivery agent system, through the communication device, either directly or indirectly, further instructions for the delivery agent system from the customer, through the customer computer, about the first set of one or more goods based on the transmitted image;

acquiring the first set of one or more goods, at the shopping location, via the delivery agent system; and

delivering the first set of one or more goods from the shopping location to a delivery site.