PRE-PURCHASE FEEDBACK APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20140180855A1
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Argue, Stuart, Marcar, Emile
• Granted Patent: US 9,196,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is disclosed for enabling pre-purchase feedback. Within the method, a primary customer carrying a first computing device may be received within a brick-and-mortar store. A computer system corresponding to the store may receive via the first computing device an instruction to share with a secondary customer data describing a proposed purchase of one or more products. The computer system may then pass the data to a second computing device corresponding to the secondary customer. The computer system may also receive, via the second computing device, feedback corresponding to the proposed purchase and pass the feedback to the first computing device. Accordingly, the primary customer may receive pre-purchase feedback from the secondary customer.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for enabling pre-purchase feedback, the method comprising:

supporting, by a retailer, a software application and a computer system that are proprietary to the retailer;

receiving, within a brick-and-mortar store of the retailer, a primary customer carrying a first computing device, the first computing device having installed thereon a first instance of the software application;

receiving, by the computer system from the primary customer via the first instance while the primary customer is within the brick-and-mortar store, an instruction to share with a secondary customer data describing a proposed purchase of one or more products;

passing, by the computer system, the data to a second computing device corresponding to the secondary customer; and

receiving, by the computer system from the secondary customer via the second computing device, a request to add or remove at least one item to or from the proposed purchase;

passing, by the computer system, the request to the first instance; and

adding or removing, by the first instance, the at least one item to or from the proposed purchase in accordance with the request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system comprises a point-of-sale system contained within the brick-and-mortar store.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising completing, by the point-of-sale system after the passing of the request, a purchase transaction involving the primary customer.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising delivering, by the computer system via the first instance, receipt data documenting the purchase transaction to the first computing device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second computing device has installed thereon a second instance of the software application.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the passing the data to the second computing device comprises delivering the data to the second instance.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving the request comprises receiving the request via the second instance.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first computing device comprises a first mobile telephone.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing, by the computer system, information linking the first instance to the second instance.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

completing, by the retailer after the passing of the request, a purchase transaction involving the primary customer; and

delivering, by the computer system via the first instance, receipt data documenting the purchase transaction to the first computing device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the passing the data to the second computing device comprises passing the data to the second computing device while the secondary customer is located outside of the brick-and-mortar store.

4-6. -6. (canceled)

13-15. -15. (canceled)

18-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more memory devices operably connected to the one or more processors;

the one or more processors and one or more memory devices forming a computer system supported by and proprietary to a retailer; and

the one or more memory devices collectively storing

a shopping module programmed to receive via a first computing device an instruction to share with a second computing device data describing a proposed purchase of one or more products,

a communication module programmed to pass the data to the second computing device piecemeal such that each product of the one or more products is passed to the second computing device in real time as that product is (1) checked off a shopping list on the first computing device or (2) scanned by the first computing device,

the communication module further programmed to receive via the second computing device a request to add or remove at least one item to or from the proposed purchase, and

the communication module further programmed to pass the request to the first computing device.

21. A computer-implemented method for enabling pre-purchase feedback, the method comprising:

supporting, by a retailer, a software application and a computer system that are proprietary to the retailer;

storing, by the computer system, information linking a first instance of the software application to a second instance of the software application, the first instance being installed on a first mobile computing device, the second instance being installed on a second mobile computing device;

receiving, by the computer system from the first instance, an instruction to share with the second instance data describing a proposed purchase from the retailer of one or more products;

passing, by the computer system, the data to the second instance piecemeal such that each product of the one or more products is passed to the second instance in real time as that product is (1) checked off a shopping list on the first instance or (2) scanned by the first mobile computing device into the first instance.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving, by the computer system from the second instance, a request to add or remove at least one product to or from the proposed purchase.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising passing, by the computer system, the request to the first instance.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising completing, by the computer system after the passing of the request, a purchase transaction involving the primary customer.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising delivering, by the computer system, receipt data documenting the purchase transaction to the first instance.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the purchase transaction is in accordance with the request and is, as a result, different from the proposed purchase.