SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING ORDERS MADE VIA A COMPUTER NETWORK

• US 20110040651A1
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transform Sr Brands, LLC (ESL Investments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sears Brands LLC (Sears Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Mills, Robert, Levine, Daniel, Eroles, Arnold S., Swamy, Sanjana, Prakash, Shailesh, Yu, James, Huppert, Jim, Holtman, Karen S., Grimm, Daniel S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,015,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• 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 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for allowing a user to schedule pickup of an ordered item provides a user interface having user interface elements for allowing a user to specify a frequency with which an order is it to be picked up, for informing a user as to availability of the item for pickup, and/or for allowing a user to request that an item be held in reserve for pickup within a given period of time, such as 24 hours. Frequency options provided to the user for selection when scheduling an order for pickup may include a one-time frequency, a daily frequency, a weekly frequency, a monthly frequency, and user specified dates. The information as to availability of the item for pickup is determined considering a time of order and real-time stocking information for the item.

Claims

1. A computer-readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions perform steps for allowing a user to schedule pickup of an ordered item, the steps comprising:

providing a user interface comprising user interface elements for allowing a user to specify a frequency with which an order is it to be picked up;

wherein the frequency options provided to the user for selection comprise a one-time frequency, a daily frequency, a weekly frequency, a monthly frequency, and user specified dates.

2. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises an indicator for informing a user of a time when an order with a daily frequency will be available.

3. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises user interface elements for allowing a user to specify an end date and if weekend pickup is to be made available for an order with a daily frequency.

4. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises user interface elements for allowing a user to specify a start date, frequency of, day of the week for pickup, and an end date for an order with a weekly frequency.

5. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 4, wherein the user interface element for specifying an end date comprises a displayed calendar.

6. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises user interface elements for allowing a user to specify a start date, frequency of, day of the month for pickup, and an end date for an order with a monthly frequency.

7. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 6, wherein the user interface element for specifying an end date comprises a displayed calendar.

8. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a user interface element in the form of a displayed calendar for allowing a user to specify pickup dates for an order with a user specified frequency.

9. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises user interface elements for allowing a user to pause a scheduled order.

10. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface is caused to be displayed via user interactions with a tool bar.

11. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface is caused to be displayed via user interaction with a user interface element of a search results page.

12. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface is caused to be displayed via user interaction with a user interface element of a product details page.

13. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein items within a single order are available to be scheduled for pickup at different times.

14. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein an item within an order can be held in reserve at the pickup location.

17. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises an indicator for informing a user of a time when an item will be available for pickup and wherein the time is determined considering real-time stocking information for the item.

18. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the real-time stocking information for the item is used to influence a position of the item within a search results page.

15. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 15, wherein payment for the item held in reserve need not be made until the item is picked up at the pickup location.

16. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 15, wherein the item is held in reserve for a predetermined period of time and then released for purchase by others.