Interactive Management of Storefront Purchases

• US 20080017706A1
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shopify Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,575,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

Briefly described, one embodiment of the system, among others, includes a media server configured to transfer storefront interface data to a client device, where the storefront interface data enables a graphical storefront interface to be displayed on the client device. The system further includes a profile database maintaining profile records of users of the graphical storefront interface. At least one profile record comprises a profile for an administrator of an interactive management service, where the administrator authorizes other users to participate in the service including the first user. Further, the administrator sets parameters maintained in the profile database that limit which items are displayed to the first user and offered for sale by the media server to the first user. Also, payment for items purchased by the first user are charged to the administrator. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for interactive management of storefront purchases, comprising:

a media server configured to transfer storefront interface data to a client device, the storefront interface data enabling a graphical storefront interface to be displayed on the client device, the graphical storefront interface enabling a first user to communicate with the media server for the purpose of browsing graphical descriptions of items that are offered for sale, the graphical storefront interface further enabled to allow the first user to make purchases of offered items; and

a profile database maintaining profile records of users of the graphical storefront interface, at least one profile record comprising a profile for an administrator of an interactive management service, the administrator authorizing other users to participate in the service including the first user, wherein;

parameters set by the administrator that limit which items are displayed to the first user and offered for sale by the media server to the first user are maintained in the profile database, and

payment for items purchased by the first user are charged to the administrator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the profile of the administrator maintains an address where the administrator may be contacted to authorize a purchase of an item that has not been pre-approved by the administrator, the media server further configured to receive a request from the first user to contact the administrator to ask the administrator to authorize the purchase of the item;

and send a message to the address of the administrator.

3. The system of claim 2, the media server farther configured to receive a reply from the administrator in response to the sent message;

and allow the first user to purchase the item if the reply authorized the purchase.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical storefront interface provides for an interface to a meal buying service that offers food purchases to users of the graphical storefront interface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the administrator sets parameters that limit a total price of an order that may be made by the first user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the profile of the administrator maintains an address where the administrator may be contacted to authorize a purchase of an order with the total price that exceeds a limit previously set by the administrator, the media server further configured to receive a request from the first user to contact the administrator and ask the administrator to authorize the purchase of the order at the total price;

and send a message to the address of the administrator asking the administrator to reply to the message and indicate whether the order is authorized by the administrator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the media server transmits data over a television network to the client device, the client device comprising a set-top box to a television set.

8. A method for interactive management of storefront purchases, comprising the steps of:

displaying a virtual storefront guide, the virtual storefront guide enabling a first user to browse graphical descriptions of items that are offered for sale, the virtual storefront guide further enabled to allow the first user to make purchases of offered items;

limiting which items are displayed to the first user and offered for sale on the virtual storefront guide in accordance with parameters defined by an administrator, the administrator authorizing the first user to participate in activities of the virtual storefront guide; and

charging payment of purchases made by the first user to the administrator.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from the first user to contact the administrator and ask the administrator to authorize the purchase of an item that has not been pre-approved by the administrator; and

sending a message to the address of the administrator prompting the administrator to authorize or not authorize the purchase.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from the first user to contact the administrator and ask the administrator to authorize the purchase of an order at a total price that exceeds a pre-approved limit set by the administrator; and

sending a message to the address of the administrator prompting the administrator to authorize or not authorize the purchase.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

prompting the first user to select items for purchase in advance of when the items are to be delivered.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the virtual storefront guide provides for an interface to a meal buying service that offers food purchases to users of the virtual storefront guide.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

displaying a promotional offer to the first user that complies with parameters set up the administrator on which items may be purchased.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the virtual storefront guide is displayed over a television network utilizing a set-top box.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the virtual storefront guide is displayed over a world wide web environment utilizing a web browser.

16. A computer readable medium having a computer program for interactive management of storefront purchases, the program having instructions for performing the steps of:

displaying a virtual storefront guide, the virtual storefront guide enabling a first user to browse graphical descriptions of items that are offered for sale, the virtual storefront guide further enabled to allow the first user to make purchases of offered items;

limiting which items are displayed to the first user and offered for sale on the virtual storefront guide in accordance with parameters defined by an administrator, the administrator authorizing the first user to participate in activities of the virtual storefront guide; and

charging payment of purchases made by the first user to the administrator.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, the program further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from the first user to contact the administrator and ask the administrator to authorize the purchase of an item that has not been pre-approved by the administrator; and

sending a message to the address of the administrator prompting the administrator to authorize or not authorize the purchase.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, the program further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from the first user to contact the administrator and ask the administrator to authorize the purchase of an order at a total price that exceeds a pre-approved limit set by the administrator; and

sending a message to the address of the administrator prompting the administrator to authorize or not authorize the purchase.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16, the program further comprising the step of:

displaying a promotional offer to the first user that complies with parameters set up by the administrator on which items may be purchased.

20. The compute readable medium of claim 16, wherein the virtual storefront guide is displayed over a television network utilizing a set-top box.