SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN ENHANCED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

• US 20100070378A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: TROTMAN, Douglas Keith, Gilbert, Mazin, Di Fabbrizio, Giuseppe, Wilpon, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• 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 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for creating a virtual shopping area. The method includes receiving a query from a user and an automated input specific to the user from a computing device, generating a list of merchants based on the query and the automated input, generating a virtual shopping area from the list of merchants and based on one or more constraints, and displaying the virtual shopping area on the computing device. One optional step is presenting to the user an interface to purchase query-related items from merchants in the virtual shopping area. The method optionally includes receiving an indication of intent to purchase an item from the user, displaying an image of the item to the user, and dynamically updating the displayed image of the item as the user specifies item-specific details. The list of merchants can be restricted to merchants geographically close to the user.

Claims

1. A method for creating a virtual shopping area using a computing device, the method causing the computing device to perform steps comprising:

receiving a query from a user and an automated input specific to the user from a computing device;

generating a list of merchants based on the query and the automated input and prior to purchasing or ordering any item;

generating a virtual shopping area from the list of merchants and based on one or more constraints; and

displaying the virtual shopping area including a representation of each merchant in the list of merchants on the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising presenting to the user an interface to purchase query-related items from merchants in the virtual shopping area.

3. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising presenting to the user a map indicating a location of at least one merchant.

4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving an indication of intent to purchase an item from the user;

displaying an image of the item to the user; and

dynamically updating the displayed image of the item as the user specifies item-specific details.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of merchants is restricted to merchants geographically close to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the query is a natural language query.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the query is for a general type of product or service and the list of merchants includes only those merchants selling the general type of product or service.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein merchants pay for placement in the list of merchants.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the automated input is one of a user account, a phone number of the mobile device, a user name, a password, and GPS data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual shopping area is a three-dimensional virtual space.

12. A system for creating a virtual shopping area, the system comprising:

a processor;

a module configured to control the processor to receive a query from a user and an automated input specific to the user from a computing device;

a module configured to control the processor to generate a list of merchants based on the query and the automated input and prior to purchasing or ordering any item;

a module configured to control the processor to generate a virtual shopping area from the list of merchants and based on one or more constraints; and

a module configured to control the processor to display the virtual shopping area including a representation of each merchant in the list of merchants on the computing device.

13. The system of claim 12, the system further comprising a module configured to control the processor to present to the user an interface to purchase query-related items from merchants in the virtual shopping area.

14. The system of claim 12, the system further comprising a module configured to control the processor to present to the user a map indicating a location of at least one merchant.

15. The system of claim 12, the system further comprising:

a module configured to control the processor to receive an indication of intent to purchase an item from the user;

a module configured to control the processor to display an image of the item to the user; and

a module configured to control the processor to dynamically update the displayed image of the item as the user specifies item-specific details.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the list of merchants is restricted to merchants geographically close to the user.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the virtual shopping area is a three-dimensional virtual space.

18. A tangible computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program having instructions for controlling the processor to create a virtual shopping area, the instructions causing the computing device to perform steps comprising:

receiving a query from a user and an automated input specific to the user from a computing device;

generating a list of merchants based on the query and the automated input and prior to purchasing or ordering any item;

generating a virtual shopping area from the list of merchants and based on one or more constraints; and

displaying the virtual shopping area including a representation of each merchant in the list of merchants on the computing device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, the instructions further comprising presenting to the user an interface to purchase query-related items from merchants in the virtual shopping area.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the list of merchants is restricted to merchants geographically close to the user.