System to provide web-based sales involving storage facilities
First Claim
1. A method of purchasing goods from a merchant and delivering goods to a user, comprising:
- a) an order step wherein, after communicating with a server system through a merchant website, the user selects one or more goods to purchase, the user places an order for selected goods via a user terminal;
b) an assembly step, wherein the order is communicated to an assembling means via a merchant interface unit, prompting the assembling means to take the goods from the merchant'"'"'s inventory and assemble the order; and
c) a delivery step, wherein the order is placed by the assembling means in a storage unit for the user to pick up.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention comprises a method for a user purchasing goods from a merchant, and a merchant delivering goods to a user. After communicating with a server system through a merchant website, the user selects one or more goods to purchase and the user places an order for selected goods via a user terminal. Then, the order is communicated to the assembling means via a merchant interface unit, prompting the assembling means to take the products from the merchant'"'"'s inventory and assemble the order. A storage devices for a time slot chosen by the user is allocated via a reservation system and method, and given a combination which will open the storage unit during the chosen time slot. The order is placed by the assembling means in the storage unit for the user to pick up. The storage units are monitored to determine if the user picked up the goods at the chosen time slot. The storage units may also be used for sending packages and receiving packages sent to the user. Besides accessing the merchant through the merchant website, the user may also purchase the goods through a kiosk, i.e., located outside the merchant'"'"'s facility.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of purchasing goods from a merchant and delivering goods to a user, comprising:
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a) an order step wherein, after communicating with a server system through a merchant website, the user selects one or more goods to purchase, the user places an order for selected goods via a user terminal;
b) an assembly step, wherein the order is communicated to an assembling means via a merchant interface unit, prompting the assembling means to take the goods from the merchant'"'"'s inventory and assemble the order; and
c) a delivery step, wherein the order is placed by the assembling means in a storage unit for the user to pick up. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 22)
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7. A system for purchasing and delivering goods, comprising:
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a) a server system which is coupled to a storage device system terminal;
b) one or more storage units contained in a storage device, the one or more units being coupled to the storage device system terminal and to the server system;
c) a user terminal, which is coupled to the server system; and
d) a merchant interface terminal, which is coupled to the server system. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for a user to purchase goods from a merchant, wherein the device is coupled to a server system with an inventory database of the merchant, the device comprising:
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a) a user interface;
b) data entry means coupled to the user interface for communicating data to the user;
c) a program module which enables the user to i) select goods for purchase from the inventory database of the merchant, ii) select a storage device containing at least one storage unit using a storage device reservation system, iii) select a time for the goods to be placed in a storage unit contained in a storage device using a storage device reservation system, iv) pay for the goods by inputting payment information through the data entry means; and
d) a processing unit to execute instructions of the program module. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 26)
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16. A reservation system for allocating storage units in storage devices, comprising:
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a) a storage device system terminal;
b) one or more storage units coupled to the storage device system terminal;
c) a server system which is coupled to the storage device system terminal;
d) a merchant interface unit coupled to the server system; and
e) a user terminal which is coupled to the server system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A reservation system for allocating storage devices, comprising:
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a) one or more storage units;
b) a storage device system terminal which is coupled to the one or more storage units; and
c) an indicator means coupled to the server system or to the storage device system terminal for indicating information about the status of the storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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20. A method of reserving storage units at different time intervals, comprising:
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a) a time interval query step where a user queries a server system for a chosen time interval during which the user wants access to the storage unit;
b) an availability query step wherein the server system communicates with a storage device system terminal to determine if any storage units are available during the chosen time interval; and
c) an assign step, wherein the storage device system, after communicating with the server system that a storage unit is available for the chosen time interval, assigns a combination to the storage unit available for the assigned time interval, and communicates the location of the assigned storage unit and the assigned time interval to the user. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification