Ordering and Image Transmission System and Method Utilizing Instant Messaging

• US 20080313056A1
• Filed: 06/09/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shadow Enterprises Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Shadow Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Nowak, Keith B., Kantor, Kristopher, Parks, Brian
• Application Number:
  US12/135,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20080313056A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0615 Anonymizing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for a consumer to order goods and/or services from a vendor through the use of an instant messaging service and to transmit images via instant messaging. The consumer initiates an instant message communication link between the consumer and the vendor by using the vendor'"'"'s screen name which has been added to the consumer'"'"'s list of contacts and sending an initiating message. Software resident on the vendor'"'"'s computer responds to initiation of the instant message communication link by supplying a list of goods and/or services to the consumer. The consumer can order from the list of goods and/or services to the consumer. The consumer can order from the list of goods and/or services while concurrently communicating with the vendor. An order identification number is created each time an order is placed which includes information from the consumer'"'"'s screen name, the vendor'"'"'s screen name and software generated in formation. The order identification number uniquely identifies the order and is used only once. Images can also be sent from a first IM user to a second IM user with each image being customized by the first user by adding text or other attributes to a base image.

Claims

1. ) A system for a first IM user to send selected images to a second IM user through the use of an instant message communication, comprising;

a first user apparatus capable to receive and transmit instant messages, to keep a contacts list and to establish an instant message communication with a second user apparatus capable to receive and transmit instant messages;

a database for storing one or more base digital images;

a computing unit configured for prompting the first user to generate text or other attributes to be added to a selected area of the stored base digital images.

the computing unit further configured to generate and store an image identification character and to store the text or other attributes generated by the first user;

the computing unit further configured to send the unique identification character to the user apparatus which is used to retrieve the base digital image, and;

the computing unit further configured for applying the user generated text or other attributes to the base digital image to create a combined image for the first user.

2. ) A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first user providers information to the computing unit identifying the second user and the computing unit is further configured to use the second user identifying information, and the image identifying character to send the combined image to the second user.

3. ) A method performed by a computer system comprising the steps of:

storing a vendor'"'"'s list of goods and/or services in a database accessible by the computer system;

establishing an instant message communication between a user apparatus and a vendor apparatus, both the user and the vendor identified by unique screen names, the establishing occurring by the user selecting a vendor screen name placed by the user on the user'"'"'s contact list;

presenting and displaying the vendors list of goods and/or services to the user in response to the establishment of the instant message communication;

generating a unique order identification number which references information from the users screen name, the vendor'"'"'s screen name and information generated by the computer system and;

using the order identification number to identify and track a specific cache placed by the user.

4. ) A system for a user to order selected goods and/or services from a list of goods and/or services provided by a vendor through use of instant message communication between the user and the vendor comprising:

a user apparatus operable to receive and transmit instant messages, to keep a contacts list, and to establish an instant message communication with a vendor apparatus by selecting a vendor name from the contact list;

the vendor apparatus operable to receive and transmit instant messages,

a database for storing the vendor'"'"'s list of goods and/or services,

a computing unit configured to present and display the vendor'"'"'s list of goods and/or services to the user in response to the instant message communication and to receive through the use of the instant message communication orders placed by the user by selecting specific items from the vendor'"'"'s list of goods and/or services,

the computing unit further configured to generate a unique order identification number which references information from the user'"'"'s screen name, the vendors screen name and information generated by the computing unit, and

the computing unit further configured to use the order identification number to identify and track the specific order placed by the user.

5. ) A method performed by a computer system for a consumer to order goods and/or services from a vendor through use of an instant messaging service, comprising the steps of;

storing a vendor'"'"'s list of goods and/or services in a database accessible by the computer system,

establishing an instant message communication between a user apparatus and a vendor apparatus, both the user and the vendor identified by a unique screen names, the establishing occurring by the user selecting a vendor screen name placed by the user on the user'"'"'s contact list,

presenting and displaying the vendor'"'"'s list of goods and/or services

to the user in response to establishment of the instant message communication so that the user can order specific selected items from the vendor'"'"'s list of goods and/or services

and

generating a unique order identification number to identify and track a specific order placed by the user, the order identification number referencing information from the user'"'"'s screen name. the vendor'"'"'s screen name and information generated by the computer system.