SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING A MOBILE DEVICE TO FOLLOW A PRICE FOR AN ITEM

• US 20110006114A1
• Filed: 08/05/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transform Sr Brands, LLC (ESL Investments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sears Brands LLC (Sears Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Schueller, Dana L., Grimm, Dan S., Brillhart, Marisa Lynne
• Granted Patent: US 8,789,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A mobile device, such as a cellular telephone, is used to obtain information that is indicative of an item, such as a photograph of the item or a scan of an information carrying indicia associated with the item. The information obtained is then used to present on the mobile device a page by which a user can establish parameters for following the price of the item.

Claims

1. A computer-readable media embodied on a non-transient, physical memory device having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for facilitating a following of a price of an item, the instructions performing steps comprising:

receiving from a mobile device information obtained by the mobile device that is representative of the item;

using the obtained information to cause a page to be displayed on the mobile device wherein the page comprises one or more user interface elements by which a user can establish one or more parameters for following the price of the item;

receiving from the mobile device the one or more parameters for following the price of the item; and

causing one or more alert having information related to the price of the item to be sent to the user according to the received one or more parameters.

2. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the information obtained by the mobile device comprises a photograph of the item.

3. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the information obtained by the mobile device comprises a scan of a barcode associated with the item.

4. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprises an address to which the one or more alerts are to be sent.

5. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 4, wherein the address comprises an email address.

6. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 4, wherein the address comprises a phone number.

7. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 4, wherein the address comprises a social networking username.

8. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprises a customer'"'"'s desired price for the item.

9. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 8, wherein the instructions perform the steps of:

receiving merchant input comprising a price range for the item;

comparing the customer'"'"'s desired price for the item with the price range; and

initiating a sale of the item when the customer'"'"'s desired price is within or above the price range.

10. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructions perform the steps of:

locating one or more items similar to the item and having a price substantially near the customer'"'"'s desired price; and

sending to the user a recommendation for the one or more similar items when the customer'"'"'s desired price is below the price range.

11. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructions perform the steps of:

receiving competitor input comprising a competitor'"'"'s price for the item;

comparing the competitor'"'"'s price for the item with the price range; and

downwardly adjusting the price range to match the competitor'"'"'s price for the item when the competitor'"'"'s price for the item is below the price range.

12. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructions perform the steps of:

receiving competitor input comprising a competitor'"'"'s price for the item;

comparing the competitor'"'"'s price for the item with the price range; and

upwardly adjusting the price range to match the competitor'"'"'s price for the item when the competitor'"'"'s price for the item is above the price range.

13. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprises a time schedule at which the one or more price alerts are to be sent.

14. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 8, wherein the instructions cause an alert to be sent when the customer'"'"'s desired price for the item meets or exceeds a current price for the item.

15. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions cause news related to the item to be sent to the user.

16. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 15, wherein the news comprises a peer review of the item.