LOCATABLE SHOPPING CART AND METHODS FOR LOCATING THE SAME

• US 20100106602A1
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aperture Investments LLC
• Original Assignee: Aperture Investments LLC
• Inventors: Fuzell-Casey, Jacquelyn, Casey, Timothy Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/684,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.580
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0219 based on funds or budget
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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 30/0639 Item locations

Abstract

A shopping cart that can be geographically located, methods for locating such carts, and a selection system for enabling a user to create a list of items on a portable computing device, to communicate with external devices to locate each of the items available on the list within a geographically limited area, to provide users with visual or aural cues as to the location of items on the list, to progress through the list of items as each item is selected or rejected, and providing discounts toward, information about, or alternatives to the available items on the list.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a location of a shopping cart within a geographic area, comprising the steps of:

identifying a portable computing device having a GPS receiver, the portable computing device being physically associated with the shopping cart; and

communicating with the GPS receiver to identify the location of the shopping cart.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of identifying a physical distance from the location of the shopping cart to an item within the geographic area.

3. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the item is desired by or advertised to a user of the shopping cart.

4. A locatable shopping cart, comprising:

a shopping cart; and

a GPS receiver physically connected to the shopping cart, the GPS receiver identifying a location of the shopping cart by identifying a location of the GPS receiver.

5. The locatable shopping cart recited in claim 4, further comprising a portable computing device physically connected to the shopping cart operating in conjunction with the GPS receiver.

6. The locatable shopping cart recited in claim 5, further comprising a location identification software operating on the portable computing device and identifying the location of the shopping cart to a user.

7. The locatable shopping cart recited in claim 6, wherein the portable computing device has an application that changes its operation based on the location of the shopping cart.

8. The locatable shopping cart recited in claim 5, further comprising a shopping list software program operating on the portable computing device and assisting a user of the shopping cart in shopping within a store.

9. The locatable shopping cart recited in claim 8, wherein the shopping list software program is operated wirelessly over a network.

10. The locatable shopping cart recited in claim 8, wherein a shopping list for the user is downloaded over a network to the portable computing device to operate with the shopping list software program.

11. A locatable shopping cart, comprising:

a shopping cart; and

a wireless location device connected to the shopping cart, the wireless location device identifying a location of the shopping cart by identifying a location of the wireless location device.

12. The locatable shopping cart recited in claim 11, further comprising a portable computing device physically connected to the shopping cart operating in conjunction with the wireless location device.

13. The locatable shopping cart recited in claim 12, further comprising a location identification software operating on the portable computing device and identifying the location of the shopping cart to a user.

14. The locatable shopping cart recited in claim 13, wherein the portable computing device has an application that changes its operation based on the location of the shopping cart.

15. The locatable shopping cart recited in claim 12, further comprising a shopping list software program operating on the portable computing device and assisting a user of the shopping cart in shopping within a store.

16. The locatable shopping cart recited in claim 15, wherein the shopping list software program is operated wirelessly over a network.

17. The locatable shopping cart recited in claim 15, wherein a shopping list for the user is downloaded over a network to the portable computing device to operate with the shopping list software program.