METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING AND INTERACTING WITH A VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE

• US 20120123675A1
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: iTAG, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iTAG, Inc.
• Inventors: Parker, Lansing Arthur II
• Application Number:
  US12/947,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20120123675A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/426
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions

Abstract

A method for operating a virtual marketplace is disclosed. The method includes generating an administration interface for a user configured to manage a product inventory, incentivizing user interactions with the virtual marketplace by granting user credits to a user based upon predetermined categories of user input into the virtual marketplace, maintaining the product inventory, identifying product information based upon user input including a physical location of the user, generating a user interface configured to receive user input and navigate among a plurality of informational modules in response to a user request, selectively sending the administration interface to a user in response to a request by the user, and sending the user interface to a user in response to a request by the user.

Claims

1. A method for operating a virtual marketplace, the method comprising:

generating an administration interface for a user configured to manage a product inventory, the product inventory comprising a plurality of entries, each entry associated with a product entered by a user, each product associated with a physical product location;

maintaining the product inventory;

incentivizing user interactions with the virtual marketplace by granting user credits to a user based upon predetermined categories of user input into the virtual marketplace;

identifying product information based upon user input including a physical location of the user;

generating a user interface configured to receive user input and navigate among a plurality of informational modules in response to a user request, wherein a first informational module is configured to communicate the identified product information to a user, a second informational module is configured to process purchases of products within the product inventory including redeeming the granted user credits for a discount, a third information module is configured to selectively guide a user to a physical location of a product, a fourth informational module is configured to intermediate communication among users;

selectively sending the administration interface to a user in response to a request by the user; and

sending the user interface to a user in response to a request by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

integrating the virtual marketplace with a point-of-sale system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

managing the product inventory using the administration interface including;

importing product information in response to a request by the user;

exporting product information in response to a request by the user;

publishing a draft product inventory in response to a request by the user, wherein publishing additionally comprises updating the product inventory based upon the draft product inventory; and

changing access permissions of the product entries in response to a request by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined category of user input granting user credits to a user comprises at least one of the following input categories:

submitting information regarding a product within the product inventory,

submitting a product for inclusion within the product inventory,

purchasing a product within the product inventory, and

referring a user to the virtual marketplace.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface is adapted for a mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the third information module is additionally configured to provide a travel direction based upon the user location and physical location of a selected product, provide a travel distance between the user and the selected product, and provide a visual map.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the visual map is configured to display a current location and a product location.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

granting access permissions to a user for managing the product inventory using the administration interface;

granting read, write, and modify permissions to the user subsequent to the user entering a product within the product inventory, wherein the read, write, and modify permissions are granted with respect to the entered product; and

sending the administration interface to a user granted the access permissions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the administration interface is additionally configured to selectively display products by proximate location to the user.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

populating the product inventory with at least one entry stored on an external inventory.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first informational module is additional configured to suggest entries to the user based upon prior identified products, displayed products, and purchased products.

12. A method for interacting with a virtual marketplace, the method comprising:

determining a physical location of a user;

sending the physical location of the user to a server computing system;

receiving a user interface configured to receive user input and navigate among a plurality of informational modules in response to a user request including;

a first informational module is configured to communicate product information to a user, the product information received from a product inventory stored on a server computer system, the product inventory comprising a plurality of entries, each entry associated with a product entered by a user, each product associated with a physical product location;

a second informational module is configured to process purchases of products within the product inventory including redeeming user credits for a discount,

a third information module is configured to selectively guide a user to a physical location of a product,

a fourth informational module is configured to intermediate communication among users;

receiving user credits based upon predetermined categories of user input into the virtual marketplace;

searching the product inventory via the user interface for products using user supplied keywords and the physical location of the user; and

receiving identified products corresponding to the user supplied keywords and the physical location of the user.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

applying the received user credits for a discount on a selected product; and

purchasing the selected product via the second informational module.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second information module is integrated with a point-of-sale system configured to process payment of the selected product.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the point-of-sale system is additionally configured to place the selected product on hold.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined category of user input granting user credits to a user comprises at least one of the following input categories:

submitting information regarding a product within the product inventory,

submitting a product for inclusion within the product inventory,

purchasing a product within the product inventory, and

referring a user to the virtual marketplace.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the third information module is additionally configured to provide a travel direction based upon the user location and physical location of a selected product, provide a travel distance between the user and the selected product, and provide a visual map.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the visual map is configured to display a current location and a product location.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the user interface is adapted for a mobile device.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving an administration interface configured to receive a new product entry and corresponding product information for entry into the product inventory.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

entering a product and corresponding product information into the product inventory via the administration interface;

associating each product with an access parameter responsive to a user selection in the administration interface; and

publishing the product and corresponding product information based upon the access parameter.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the product information includes a graphic image.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein the user interface is further configured to search the product inventory using a scanned product identification number.

24. A mobile device that provides a service to users over a network, said mobile device comprising a processor and a memory, and being programmed, via executable program instructions, to perform a method that comprises:

determining a physical location of the user;

sending the physical location of the user to a server computing system;

receiving a user interface configured to receive user input and navigate among a plurality of informational modules in response to a user request including;

a first informational module is configured to communicate product information to a user, the product information received from a product inventory stored on a server computer system, the product inventory comprising a plurality of entries, each entry associated with a product entered by a user, each product associated with a physical product location;

a second informational module is configured to process purchases of products within the product inventory including redeeming user credits for a discount,

a third information module is configured to selectively guide a user to a physical location of a product,

a fourth informational module is configured to intermediate communication among users selectively establish contact relationships with other users, and enable users to identify contacts of their respective contacts;

receiving user credits based upon predetermined categories of user input into the virtual marketplace;

searching the product inventory via the user interface for products using user supplied keywords and the physical location of the user; and

receiving identified products corresponding to the user supplied keywords and the physical location of the user.