List-based selection system and methods for using same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A selection system for enabling a user to locate and select one or more items within a geographic area, comprising:
- (a) a selection server, including i. a database operative to store availability information and location information about a plurality of items within said area, ii. an input/output system operative to communicate with a portable computer containing a user created list of at least two items to be located by said user within said area, and iii. a computer operative to compare said list against said availability information to determine if each item on said list is available for selection within said area, to determine a physical location of said available items on said list within said area, and to create a location indicator for a first available item within said area;
whereby said location indicator for said first available item is communicated from said selection server to said portable computer so as to enable said user to locate said first available item.
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Abstract
A system and methods for enabling a user to create a list of items on a portable computing device, to communicate with external devices to locate each of the items available on the list within a geographically limited area, to provide users with visual or aural cues as to the location of items on the list, to progress through the list of items as each item is selected or rejected, and providing discounts toward, information about, or alternatives to the available items on the list.
139 Citations
119 Claims
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1. A selection system for enabling a user to locate and select one or more items within a geographic area, comprising:
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(a) a selection server, including i. a database operative to store availability information and location information about a plurality of items within said area, ii. an input/output system operative to communicate with a portable computer containing a user created list of at least two items to be located by said user within said area, and iii. a computer operative to compare said list against said availability information to determine if each item on said list is available for selection within said area, to determine a physical location of said available items on said list within said area, and to create a location indicator for a first available item within said area;
whereby said location indicator for said first available item is communicated from said selection server to said portable computer so as to enable said user to locate said first available item. - 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, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A portable selection system for enabling a user to locate and select one or more items within a geographic area, comprising:
a portable computing device including a memory for storing a list of at least two items desired by said user, a display for displaying said list to said user, a processor, and an input/output system for communicating with a selection server operative to store availability information and location information about a plurality of items within said area, to compare said list against said availability information to determine if each item on said list is available for selection within said area, to determine a physical location of said available items on said list within said area, and to create a location indicator for a first available item within said area, whereby said location indicator for said first available item is communicated from said selection server to said portable computing device so as to enable said user to locate said first available item. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A method for enabling a user to locate and select one or more items within a geographic area, comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing information about a plurality of items within said area, said information including availability information about each of said items and location information about each of said items, (b) communicating with a portable computing device under the control of said user to obtain a user created list of at least two items to be located by said user within said area, (c) comparing said list against said availability information to determine if each item on said list is available for selection within said area and to determine a physical location of said available items on said list within said area, (d) creating a location indicator for a first available item within said area, and (e) communicating said location indicator for said first available item to said portable computing device to enable said user to locate said first available item. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99)
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100. A method of enabling a user of a portable computing device to locate and select a series of items within a geographic area, comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing said portable computing device a list of items desired by said user for location and selection within said area (b) enabling said list to be communicated from said portable computing device to a selection server containing availability information about each of said items and location information about each of said items, (c) enabling said portable computing device to receive said availability information for each item on said list and said location information for only those items on said list that are available to be located and selected within said area based on said availability information;
(d) identifying an available item on said list to said user based on said location information;
(e) enabling said user to use said portable computing device to indicate a status state for said available item; and
(f) repeating steps (d) and (e) for each of said items on said list until said user has indicated said status state for each available item on said list, whereby a next available item on said list is based on a status state for a previous available item and said location information for said next available item. - View Dependent Claims (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119)
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Specification