System and Method for Remote Acquisition and Delivery of Goods

• US 20110055046A1
• Filed: 02/24/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consumeron, LLC
• Original Assignee: Consumeron, LLC
• Inventors: Hays, Michael, Bowen, Mark Baron
• Granted Patent: US 8,244,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation

Abstract

A system and method for remote acquisition and delivery of goods includes a server in communication with customer computers, such as through a user interface via the internet. The server can store customer information including billing information, and may include a real-time video processor. A mobile delivery system in communication with the server includes an energy efficient vehicle, a real-time video device, a global positioning system, a communication device and a printer. In use, a customer communicates with a mobile delivery agent via the real-time video device and the communication device to remotely acquire a product. Once acquired, the delivery agent delivers the product to a designated delivery location. The real-time video device can be utilized during the entire transaction. The system preferably includes a processor for optimizing system efficiencies, including selecting a delivery agent based on the product, pick-up location and delivery site.

Claims

1. A system for remote acquisition and delivery of one or more goods based on an acquisition request from a customer comprising:

at least one server in communication with a wide area network; and

a plurality of mobile delivery agent systems in communication with the at least one server, each of the plurality of delivery agent systems being adapted for use with a respective delivery agent and including;

a real-time video device for streaming real-time video to a customer from the respective delivery agent;

a communications device enabling the customer and the respective delivery agent to communicate in connection with completing the acquisition request; and

a global positioning system in communication with the at least one server, with the global positioning system providing location information on the respective delivery agent.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of delivery agent systems further comprises a mobile printer for providing the customer a receipt for the acquisition request.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one server includes a customer database for storing customer information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one server includes a processor adapted to select one of the plurality of delivery agents for the acquisition request based, at least in part, on the location information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of delivery agent systems, the global positioning system, the real-time video device and the communications device are incorporated into an energy efficient vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one server is adapted to receive the acquisition request from the customer over the wide area network.

7. A system for remote acquisition and delivery of one or more goods based on an acquisition request from a customer comprising:

a display for displaying a plurality of delivery agents and a location of each delivery agent, wherein the location of each delivery agent is dynamically updated by a global positioning system providing location information;

an input for receiving a selection of one of the plurality of delivery agents for processing the acquisition request from the customer;

a real-time video device for streaming real time video to the customer; and

a communication device for facilitating communications with the delivery agent.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the real-time video device displays the delivery agent'"'"'s view of the one or more goods.

9. A method for remote acquisition and delivery of goods comprising:

deploying a plurality of delivery agents of a service provider to various geographic locations, each delivery agent having a mobile delivery agent system in communication with at least one remote server, wherein each mobile delivery agent system includes;

a real-time video device and a communication device;

receiving a first acquisition request from a first customer for a set of one or more goods;

deploying one of the plurality of delivery agents to a location having the first set of one or more goods;

electronically transferring an image of the first set of one or more goods to the first customer using the real-time video device;

acquiring the first set of one or more goods via the delivery agent; and

delivering the first set of one or more goods to a delivery site selected by the first customer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each mobile delivery agent system further includes a global positioning system and the method further comprising:

sending to the first customer, information on the plurality of delivery agents, including location information based on signals from the global positioning devices.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first acquisition request from the first customer includes a selection of one of the plurality of delivery agents for fulfilling the first acquisition request.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the information on the plurality of delivery agents includes an availability status of the plurality of delivery agents.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

after receiving the first acquisition request, calculating which of the plurality of delivery agents could most efficiently carry out the first acquisition request using the at least one remote server, with the calculation being based, at least in part, on the location having the first set one or more goods, a current location of the delivery agent and the delivery site.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

conducting a credit check of the first customer prior to acquiring the first set of one or more goods; and

pre-approving the first customer for a particular purchase amount based on the credit check.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

obtaining consent from the first customer to acquire the first set of one or more goods using the communication device before acquiring the first set one or more goods.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving instructions from the first customer using the communication device to remotely inspect the first set of one or more goods utilizing the real-time video device.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

calculating a price estimate based on the first acquisition request; and

providing the price estimate to the first customer.

18. The method of claim 9, further comprising, while deploying the one of the plurality of delivery agents to the location having the first set of one or more goods, providing the first customer with a real-time street view utilizing the real-time video device.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the each mobile delivery system further includes a printer and the method further comprising:

printing out an invoice for the first customer utilizing the printer upon delivery of the one or more goods.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the information on the plurality of delivery agents includes the status of the plurality of delivery agents.

21. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a second acquisition request from a second customer for a second set of one or more goods;

electronically transferring an image of the second set of one or more goods to the second customer using the real-time video device;

acquiring the second set of one or more goods via the delivery agent; and

delivering the second set of one or more goods to a second delivery site selected by the second customer.

22. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

checking the one or more goods off an electronic shopping list in real-time as each of the one or more goods is acquired.

23. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving product data from the first customer regarding the one or more goods; and

checking the internet for a digital coupon associated with the product data.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the each mobile delivery system further includes a printer and the method further comprising:

printing out the digital coupon utilizing the printer; and

applying the coupon to a purchase during the step of acquiring the first set of one or more goods via the delivery agent.

25. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving product data from the first customer regarding at least one of the one or more goods; and

generating product reviews associated with the product data which are accessible by the first customer.