Methods and apparatuses for locating retail consumer products

• US 20060010046A1
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Patience Van Zandt
• Original Assignee: Patience Van Zandt
• Inventors: Van Zandt, Patience
• Application Number:
  US11/179,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20060010046A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for providing the location of consumer products. A designation for a particular product or class of products is received from a consumer via a digital processing system. The consumer is automatically provided with the location of the product in relation to a specific location.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving an input from a user via a digital processing system, the input specifying a product;

automatically providing information to the consumer via the digital processing system, the information indicating the location of the product in relation to a specified location.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the specified location is a location of the digital processing system.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the information includes a map of a commercial establishment having a directional indicator that directs the user from a specified location to the product.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the specified location is a location of a prominent reference point.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein the information further includes a set of specific directions from the specified location to the product.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein the information further includes a description of the product.

7. A machine-readable medium that provides executable instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving an input from a user via a digital processing system, the input specifying a product;

automatically providing information to the consumer via the digital processing system, the information indicating the location of the product in relation to a specified location.

8. The machine-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the specified location is a location of the digital processing system.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the information includes a map of a commercial establishment having a directional indicator that directs the user from a specified location to the product.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the specified location is a location of a prominent reference point.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the information further includes a set of specific directions from the specified location to the product.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the information further includes a description of the product.

13. An apparatus comprising;

a digital processing system having a memory, the memory having stored thereon one or more product designations, each product designation corresponding to a product, and location information corresponding to each of the one or more product designations, the location information indicating the location of the corresponding product in relation to a specified location;

an input device for receiving a designation for a specified product from a user; and

an output device for providing a location information corresponding to the specified product to the user.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the specified location is a location of the digital processing system.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the location information includes a map of a commercial establishment having a directional indicator that directs the user from a specified location to the specified product.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the specified location is a location of a prominent reference point.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the information further includes a set of specific directions from the specified location to the specified product.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the information further includes a description of the specified product.