ONLINE SHOPPING SYSTEM

• US 20070088628A1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kroger Company
• Original Assignee: Kroger Company
• Inventors: Keys, Kemberly, Hopson, David
• Application Number:
  US11/548,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20070088628A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

An online shopping system that permits a customer to submit online orders for items and/or services from a store that serves both walk-in customers and online customers. The online shopping system presents an online display of an order cutoff time and an associated delivery window for items selected by the customer. The system accepts the customer'"'"'s submission of a purchase order for the item in response to a time of submission being before the order cutoff time. The online shopping system does not settle with a credit supplier of the customer until the item selected by the customer is picked from inventory but before it is delivered. Therefore, the customer can go online and make changes to the order. In addition, available service windows are presented to the customer as a function of customer selected order and service types; and further, the order picking is assigned in accordance with a picker'"'"'s preference.

Claims

1-46. -46. (canceled)

47. A method of processing an order with an online shopping system that permits a customer to submit and thereafter change an order with a store that serves both walk-in customers and online customers, the method comprising:

presenting to the customer a display identifying at least one of an item and service using a customer computer connectable to a second computer by an internet;

presenting to the customer a display acknowledging a customer'"'"'s selection of the at least one of an item and service using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet;

presenting to the customer a display of at least one service window and a respective order cutoff time using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet, the at least one service window identifying a time window on a date when a prospective online order can be provided to the customer via one of a customer pickup and delivery, the respective order cutoff time identifying a time after which the order of the customer'"'"'s selection cannot be changed;

presenting to the customer a display permitting the customer to submit an online order for the customer'"'"'s selection of the at least one an item and service and a first service window having a first order cutoff time using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet;

presenting to the customer a display confirming a submission of the online order and the first service window with the first order cutoff time using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet;

storing the online order and the first service window with the first order cutoff time in the second computer;

thereafter, transmitting instructions from the customer to change the online order previously submitted by the customer using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet; and

presenting, using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet, a display to the customer confirming compliance with the instructions to change the online order in response to the instructions being submitted prior to the first order cutoff time associated with the first service window.

49. The method of claim 49 wherein after transmitting instructions, the method further comprises:

comparing a time of submission of the online order to the first order cutoff time associated with the first service window; and

presenting the display to the customer confirming compliance with the instructions to change the online order in response to the time of submission being before the first order cutoff time.

48. The method of claim 49 wherein prior to transmitting instructions, the method further comprises:

generating instructions from the customer computer to log off the customer computer from the online shopping system; and

thereafter,

generating instructions from the customer computer to log on the customer computer to the online shopping system.

50. The method of claim 51 further comprising presenting, using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet, a display to the customer requesting the customer contact a customer service representative in response to the time of submission of the online order being later than the first order cutoff time.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein prior to presenting to the customer a display identifying at least one of an item and service, the method further comprises presenting to the customer a display of at least one customer selectable order type using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet, the display of at least one customer selectable order type identifying one of a grocery order, an event planning service, a catering service order, a flower order and a liquor order.

55. A method of processing an order with an online shopping system that permits a customer to submit and thereafter change an order with a store that serves both walk-in customers and online customers, the method comprising:

providing a communication link between the customer and a member proxy who may be authorized to place an order on behalf of the customer;

presenting to the member proxy a display identifying at least one of an item and service using a member proxy computer connectable to a second computer;

presenting to the member proxy a display acknowledging a customer'"'"'s selection of the at least one of an item and service using the member proxy computer connectable to the second computer;

presenting to the member proxy a display of a plurality of service windows and respective order cutoff times using the member proxy computer connectable to the second computer, each service window identifying a time window on a date when a prospective online order can be provided to the customer via one of a customer pickup and delivery, each respective order cutoff time identifying a time after which an order for the customer'"'"'s selection cannot be changed;

presenting to the member proxy a display permitting the member proxy to submit an online order for the customer'"'"'s selection of the at least one an item and service and a first service window having a first order cutoff time using the member proxy computer connectable to the second computer;

presenting to the member proxy a display confirming a submission of the online order and the first service window with the first order cutoff time using the member proxy computer connectable to the second computer; and

storing the online order and the first service window in the second computer.

52. The method of claim 53 further comprising presenting to the customer a display of at least one customer selectable service type using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet, the display of at least one customer selectable service type identifying one of a delivery service, a pick up service and a print a shopping list service.

53. The method of claim 54 wherein the at least one service window and the respective order cutoff time are determined in part by at least one of an order type and a service type selected by the customer.

54. The method of claim 55 wherein the at least one service window and the respective order cutoff time are further determined in part by at least one of an available picking capacity, an available delivery truck capacity and an available delivery stop capacity.

57. The method of claim 57 further comprising:

thereafter, transmitting instructions from the member proxy to change the online order previously submitted by on behalf of the customer using the member proxy computer connectable to the second computer; and

presenting, using the member proxy computer connectable to the second computer, a display to the member proxy confirming compliance with the instructions to change the online order in response to the instructions being submitted prior to the first order cutoff time associated with the first service window.

56. The method of claim 57 further comprising:

thereafter, transmitting instructions to change the online order previously submitted by on behalf of the customer; and

presenting a display confirming compliance with the instructions to change the online order in response to the instructions being submitted prior to the first order cutoff time associated with the first service window.

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising:

thereafter, transmitting instructions from the customer to change the online order previously submitted by on behalf of the customer using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by an internet; and

presenting, using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by an internet, a display to the customer confirming compliance with the instructions to change the online order in response to the instructions being submitted prior to the first order cutoff time associated with the first service window.

59. The method of claim 57 wherein prior to transmitting instructions, the method further comprises:

terminating the communications link between the customer and the member proxy; and

thereafter,

re-establishing the communications link between the customer and the member proxy.

60. A method of processing an order with an online shopping system that permits a customer to submit and thereafter change an order with a store that serves both walk-in customers and online customers, the method comprising:

presenting to the customer a display identifying an item using a customer computer connectable to a second computer by an internet;

presenting to the customer a display acknowledging a customer'"'"'s selection of the item using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet;

presenting, using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet, at least one display to the customer permitting the customer to submit an online order for the customer'"'"'s selection of the item and an authorization to pay for the online order using a credit supplier;

presenting, using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet, at least one display to the customer confirming a submission of the online order by the customer and the authorization to pay for the online order using a first credit supplier;

storing the online order and the authorization to pay for the online order using the first credit supplier in the second computer;

thereafter, picking the item in the online order;

thereafter, settling the online order for the customer'"'"'s selection of the item with the first credit supplier; and

thereafter, providing the online order of the item to the customer via one of a customer pickup and delivery.

62. The method of claim 62 wherein the display of the authorization to pay for the online order using a credit supplier further comprises a display identifying the credit supplier.

61. The method of claim 62 wherein after picking the item, the method further comprises repricing the item prior to settling the online order.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein after presenting a display identifying at least one of an item and service, the method further comprises:

presenting to the customer a display of a plurality of service windows and respective order cutoff times using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet, each service window identifying a time window on a date when a prospective online order can be provided to the customer via one of a customer pickup and delivery, each respective order cutoff time identifying a time after which the prospective online order cannot be changed;

presenting to the customer a display confirming a customer submission of a first service window and a first order cutoff time using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet;

storing the first service window and the first order cutoff time in the second computer;

thereafter, transmitting instructions from the customer to change the online order previously submitted by the customer using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet; and

presenting, using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by the internet, a display to the customer confirming compliance with the instructions to change the online order in response to the instructions being submitted prior to the first order cutoff time associated with the first service window.

64. A method of processing an order with an online shopping system that permits a customer to submit an order with a store that serves both walk-in customers and online customers, the method comprising:

presenting, using a customer computer connectable to a second computer by an internet, a display to a customer permitting the customer to select an order type from several order types, one order type being limited to one of an item and service not available with another order type;

presenting, using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by an internet, a display to the customer permitting a customer to select a service type from several service types, each service type having at least one service window identifying a window of time and a date during which an order may be provided to a customer via one of a customer pickup and delivery;

receiving, using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by an internet, a request from the customer to display available service windows for a first order type and a first service type selected by the customer;

retrieving all service windows over a date interval for the first order type and the first service type;

identifying available service windows for the first order type and the first service type by eliminating service windows that

have a time and date earlier than a current time and date plus lead times for the first order type and the first service type, and

exceed system resources to pick and deliver items selected by the customer associated with the first order type and the first service type; and

presenting a display to the customer of the available service windows for the first order type and the first service type using the customer computer connectable to the second computer by an internet.

66. The method of claim 66 wherein printing a list of items further comprises printing a listing of selected by the customer in pick list order and their location in the store.

65. The method of claim 66 wherein the several service types comprise one of orders that are to be delivered to the customer, orders that are to be picked up by the customer and printing a list of items for the customer.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein the several order types comprise one of orders for groceries, flowers, liquor products and catering services.