Shopping system of integrated electronic commerce and physical commerce
First Claim
1. A method of effecting commerce, comprising steps of:
- (a) providing a first means comprising at least one actual physically embodied supplier of products/services, in which a customer can receive from among a plurality of products/services;
(b) providing second means comprising display means and input means for interacting with a customer;
(c) maintaining an electronic-commerce (e-commerce) server system, comprising;
i. first storing means for storing data representing an inventory of products/services offered by said one actually embodied supplier at said first means;
ii. second storing means for storing data representing information related to customers;
iii. means for communicating information in said first storing means and said second storing means over a communication network. (d) providing a communication network, whereby said second means and said electronic-commerce server system are connected and may communicate with each other;
(e) a customer using said second means to communicate with said electronic-commerce server system to place an order for products/services from said at least one actual physically embodied supplier;
(f) delivering said order to a location designated by said customer.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system of effecting commerce in a physically embodied shopping facilities in computerized environment. In a preferred embodiment, a shopping system of the present invention is a physically embodied shopping center comprising a plurality of stores and/or service providers, an electronic-commerce server system, a plurality of local e-shopping client systems, a computer network and a local delivery system. A shopper visiting a shopping center with implemented system of the invention is presented with two basic flexible methods of shopping. In the first method, the shopper may shop by directly visiting the stores in the shopping center and physically looking for goods or services. In the second method, the shopper may choose to shop by using a local e-shopping client system. Local e-shopping client systems are preferably set up in a collective manner inside an e-shopping hall. An e-shopping client system is connected to the electronic-commerce server system via the computer network. The electronic-commerce server system is also preferably connected to the Internet so that the e-shopping front of the shopping center is also accessible by a remote user computer. A shopper using an e-shopping client system may shop for products/services by browsing through the Web pages provided by the electronic-commerce server system, or, by submitting search conditions to the electronic-commerce server system. The shopper can further use a shopping list to expedite a shopping process. When the shopper places an order with a participating store of the shopping center using an e-shopping client system, a delivery may be arranged with the shopping center'"'"'s local delivery system to have the order delivered to the shopper'"'"'s desired location, e.g., the local e-shopping client system site where the shopper is doing e-shopping. In regardless of which method a shopper uses to do shopping, the electronic-commerce server system preferably always keep the system updated. The present invention provides an unique and novel system and method in integrating electronic commerce and physics commerce. A system of the invention allows a shopper to have flexible, enjoyable and real-time shopping experience. A system of the invention also allows a shopping center to attract shoppers and effectively sell.
100 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of effecting commerce, comprising steps of:
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(a) providing a first means comprising at least one actual physically embodied supplier of products/services, in which a customer can receive from among a plurality of products/services;
(b) providing second means comprising display means and input means for interacting with a customer;
(c) maintaining an electronic-commerce (e-commerce) server system, comprising;
i. first storing means for storing data representing an inventory of products/services offered by said one actually embodied supplier at said first means;
ii. second storing means for storing data representing information related to customers;
iii. means for communicating information in said first storing means and said second storing means over a communication network. (d) providing a communication network, whereby said second means and said electronic-commerce server system are connected and may communicate with each other;
(e) a customer using said second means to communicate with said electronic-commerce server system to place an order for products/services from said at least one actual physically embodied supplier;
(f) delivering said order to a location designated by said customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An electronic shopping method using a portable shopping list, comprising steps of:
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(a) providing a portable means, whereby a user may store a first list;
(b) providing a fixed means that is connected to an electronic-commerce site over a computer driven network;
(c) providing a communication interface, whereby said first list in said portable means is transfered to said fixed means;
(d) said user submitting said first list through said fixed means to said electronic-commerce site over said computer driven network;
(e) said electronic-commerce site returning a list of items for sale at said electronic-commerce site to said fixed means;
(f) said user using the returned list at said fixed means to construct a second list of items for purchase;
(g) said user submitting said second list of items at said fixed means to said electronic-commerce site and thus completing order of said second list of items. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification