Apparatus and method for providing flexible purchase options

• US 20030182197A1
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beckman, Jerry L.
• Application Number:
  US10/106,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for providing flexible purchase options, reminders and transaction performance. A method may include receiving a request for a good. Position of a portable communication device is monitored. A determination is made as to whether said request for the good may be satisfied by a provider location within a set proximity of said position. When the request may be satisfied, a user of said portable communication device and the provider location are notified.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for a good;

monitoring a position of a portable communication device; and

determining whether said request for the good may be satisfied by a provider location within a set proximity of said position, when the request may be satisfied, notifying a user of said portable communication device the request may be satisfied and notifying the provider location.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the portable communication device includes a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, and portable information handling system.

3. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising checking availability of the good, wherein checking includes at least one of accessing at least one network site corresponding to a provider of goods, the network site suitable for indicating availability of a good at a location of a provider of goods;

and the good is not available from a location, availability of the good at a next nearest provider location is checked.

4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein monitoring includes a time parameter.

5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein directions are given to the user to the provider location of the good of the requested item.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the provider location includes a store, directions are given to the user of the placement of the good within the location.

7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein position is monitored by at least one of a global positioning system and signal from the location of the provider of the goods.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for a good by a portable communication device, the portable communication device suitable for inputting data from a user and outputting data;

monitoring a position of a portable communication device; and

determining whether said request for the good may be satisfied by a provider location within a set proximity of said position, when the request may be satisfied, notifying a user of the portable communication device of presence of the requested good at the location.

9. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the portable communication device includes a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, and portable information handling system.

10. The method as described in claim 8, further comprising checking availability of the good.

11. The method as described in claim 10, wherein checking includes accessing at least one network site corresponding to a provider of goods, the network site suitable for indicating availability of a good at a location of a provider of goods.

12. The method as described in claim 10, wherein the good is not available from a location, availability of the good at a next nearest provider location is checked.

13. The method as described in claim 8, wherein monitoring includes a time parameter.

14. The method as described in claim 8, further comprising notifying the provider of goods at the monitored location of the request.

15. The method as described in claim 8, wherein directions are given to the user to the provider of the good of the requested item.

16. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the provider location includes a store, directions are given to the user of the placement of the good within the location.

17. The method as described in claim 12, wherein position is monitored by at least one of a global positioning system and signal from the location of the provider of the goods.

18. An apparatus, comprising;

a portable communication device, the portable communication device suitable for storing of electronic data and determining a position of the portable communication device with respect to a location, wherein the portable communication device receives a request for a good and a position of the portable communication device is monitored as within a predetermined proximity to a location having the requested good, the portable communication device notifies a user of the portable communication device of presence of the requested good at the location.

19. The apparatus as described in claim 18, wherein the portable communication device is configured as at least one of a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, and portable information handling system.

20. The apparatus as described in claim 18, further comprising checking availability of the good.

21. The apparatus as described in claim 20, wherein checking includes accessing at least one network site corresponding to a provider of goods, the network site suitable for indicating availability of a good at a location of a provider of goods.

22. The apparatus as described in claim 20, wherein the good is not available from a location, availability of the good at a next nearest provider location is checked.

23. The apparatus as described in claim 18, wherein monitoring includes a time parameter.

24. The apparatus as described in claim 18, further comprising notifying the provider of goods at the monitored location of the request.

25. The apparatus as described in claim 18, wherein directions are given to the user of at least one of to the provider location of the good of the requested item;

and wherein the location includes a store, directions are given to the user of the portable communication device of the placement of the good within the location.

26. The apparatus as described in claim 18, wherein position is monitored by at least one of a global positioning system and signal from the location of the provider location of the goods.