Virtual Group Shopping Mall

• US 20090018929A1
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Weathers, Michael Willam JR.
• Granted Patent: US 7,725,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

As a movie/television show, etc. is being watched, a viewer is able to purchase items viewed during a presentation. A viewer may stop the presentation either to purchase merchandise or services or alternatively, save items for later in a “virtual group shopping mall.” A voice or written message may be added to allow more content to be placed with each saved item. A group may be identified and given access to the virtual shopping mall. This enables members of the group, such as friends, to see shopping preferences of others in a group. Further, shopping lists may be generated for group members based upon items placed in the virtual mall, thereby enabling a list of “must haves” for the group. Purchases may be made using M-commerce or a potential purchaser may be directed to a store having a product or service desired for purchase.

Claims

1. A system for enabling remote shopping transactions comprising:

a content server operable to receive requests for content from a viewer;

a catalog server operable to enable transactions involving selected content viewed by said viewer; and

a virtual group shopping mall wherein said viewer allows access, by selected entities, to information involving said selected content, wherein the selected entities may add voice messages to supplement the selected content.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said transactions include a purchase of merchandise viewed in said content by said viewer.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said transactions include the receipt by said viewer of information concerning said selected content viewed.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said selected content is placed within said virtual group shopping mall.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said content server is operable to stream data to said viewer.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said content server is operable to transmit data to said viewer by file transfer.

7. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said content includes audio and video content.

8. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said selected entities consist of friends, relatives, and strangers with respect to said viewer and combinations thereof.

9. A system as recited in claim 4 wherein said access provides said selected entities with an ability to view selected content placed within said virtual group shopping mall.

10. A system as recited in claim 4 wherein said access provides said selected entities with an ability to add additional content to said mall corresponding to said selected content.

11. A method comprising:

providing content to a viewer through a device, from a server, having markings within said content for enabling selections therein;

enabling the placement of said selections within a virtual shopping mall, said mall being accessible by members of a group selected by said viewer and

enabling the addition of voice messages as supplemental content to said selections that are placed in said virtual shopping mall.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said selections identify merchandise appearing within said content viewed by said viewer.

13. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said selections identify services identified within said content examined by said viewer.

14. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising providing information about selections placed within said virtual shopping mall.

15. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising enabling purchase of selections placed within said virtual shopping mall.

16. A method as recited in claim 14 further comprising creating a shopping list from the selections placed within said virtual shopping mall.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said shopping list is made available, on a server providing a catalog of content selections, to members of said group and wherein said members of said group make associated shopping lists available, on said server providing the catalog of content selections for sharing, among said members of said group.

18. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said content is provided to said viewer using a unicast.

19. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said content is provided to said viewer using a podcast.

20. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said content is provided to said viewer using a broadcast.

21. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising providing, in connection with a server, a catalog of selected services and products associated with content viewed.

22. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising receiving geofence breach information by said device within a predetermined time period in connection with placements of said selections within said virtual shopping mall.

23. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said device is a mobile device.

24. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein said mobile device is a mobile phone.