Method and apparatus for monitoring internet based sales transactions by local vendors

• US 20020087505A1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, William Glenwood, Smith, Kevin Lee, MacGregor, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,868,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for facilitating the ability of a local organization to have its products or services displayed to a consumer on a computer monitor in a manner that facilitates their identification by the consumer in the local area. A search engine server is formed to display search results according to distance from the consumer. Search results are ordered in a specified manner that includes evaluating store location, product availability and price. With respect to store location, GPS coordinates are used if available to determine distances from the stores to the consumer. If GPS coordinates are not available, then a database that correlates postal codes is used to determine adjacent postal codes. Thus, search results are ordered in terms of highest priority being given to vendors in the same postal code, then to vendors in neighboring postal codes. Thereafter, priority is given to vendors whose postal codes are within the same city, then the same county, and finally, within the same state. The display results are generated with a graphical user interface that creates “buttons” to facilitate the user sending an e-mail message to the particular store, a hold request to hold a particular product, and to initiate a voice call between the consumer and the store.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating an Internet-based transaction corresponding to a store inventory comprising:

receiving and storing store location information and corresponding inventory;

receiving a search request for a specified product entered by a user; and

storing product interest information with respect to specific store locations.

6. The method of claim 1 further including the step of monitoring sales of specific products at specific store locations.

7. The method of claim 1 further including the step of monitoring hold requests of specific products at specific store locations.

8. The method of claim 1 further including the step of monitoring search requests of specific products at consumer locations characterized by a geographic description.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the geographic description is a portion of a city.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the geographic description is a portion of a state.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the geographic description is a portion of a country.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the record includes a geographic discrete parameter relating to a vendor of the specified product.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the geographic discrete parameter is one of a street address, a postal code, a geographic coordinate or a wireless telephone network work sector.

16. The search engine server of claim 15 wherein the logic further prompts the server to monitor sales.

17. The search engine server of claim 15 wherein the logic further prompts the server to monitor hold requests.

18. The search engine server of claim 15 wherein the logic further prompts the server to monitor product interest according to a geographic descriptor.

19. The search engine server of claim 15 wherein the logic further prompts the server to monitor product interest on a store by store level.

2. The method of claim 2 further including summing product interest information for a group of stores.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the group of stores are characterized by a geographic designation.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the group of stores are within the same portion of a city.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the group of stores are within the same state.

12. A method for facilitating an Internet-based transaction, comprising:

producing a selectable graphical user interface (GUI) hold button for display on the user'"'"'s terminal;

upon receiving an indication of a hold selection, generating a communication to a specified store requesting that a specified product be put on hold for the user; and

storing a record of the hold request.

15. A search engine server for sequencing electronic search results, comprising:

a processor for executing computer instructions, the computer instructions defining operational logic of the apparatus;

a memory forming a database of product interest records; and

a bus for connecting the processor to the memory to produce the computer instructions to the processor for execution wherein the computer instructions define operational logic that prompts the processor to form the database to enable the processor to store the product interest records.

20. A method for performing product searches responsive to product search requests entered via a computer terminal, comprising:

performing search requests for products;

listing search results on a store by store basis;

determining if the product search request is one that is to be monitored for product interest;

storing all transactions relating to the product search request;

storing a geographic description of the stores for all transactions relating to the product search request;

analyzing stored records to determine product interest in a defined geographic area; and

producing a report containing information relating to the analyzed stored records.