Smart Device Apps and Incentives For Encouraging The Creation and Sharing Electronic Lists To Imrpove Targeted Marketing While Preserving User Anonymity

• US 20150228004A1
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kristin Kaye Bednarek, Michael David Bednarek
• Original Assignee: Kristin Kaye Bednarek, Michael David Bednarek
• Inventors: Bednarek, Kristin Kaye, Bednarek, Michael David
• Application Number:
  US14/175,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20150228004A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

Systems, methods and applications for using electronic lists to facilitate commerce, excursion organization and political discourse are described. The cloud based infrastructure described supports smart device APPS that encourage users to create electronic lists that include information that can be searched and used for targeted marketing without compromising the anonymity of the users. By providing IT infrastructure that facilitates and encourages users to create and share multiple lists, the system makes it possible to provide vendors, suppliers, marketers and interest organizations with direct information that is more valuable that information inferred from web browsing or other indirect acts. The information obtained directly from the users can then be used to facilitate commercial and other transactions. Lists stored within the system may be used to facilitate a distributed distribution system using trusted drivers and authorized affiliates.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions for causing one or more processors on one or more network devices to execute the steps of:

storing a plurality of user profiles, wherein each user profile has a unique USER ID that allows the user anonymity

storing a plurality of user created lists, each list being associated with just one USER ID and including at list one list item created from input received from the user whose user profile is associated with the USER ID

receiving input from users indicating that a list pertains to a category and storing a record of the category in association with the list

receiving input from a user indicating that a list created by that user is affiliated with a list created by one or more other users and storing a record of the affiliated lists

creating a consolidated list by combining and deduplicating the affiliated lists and storing the consolidated lists in association with the plurality of USER IDs of the users that created the affiliated lists

allowing users to search the list items user created lists and consolidated lists without compromising the anonymity of the users associated with the USER ID.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 further comprising instructions stored thereon for causing one or more processors on one or more network devices to execute the steps of:

generating consolidated lists of affiliated users;

generating an inventory query based on items from the consolidated list;

displaying available goods and location;

polling other users by sending a message to select users to solicit, prompt or otherwise encourage the recipient users to generate a user list item.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 further comprising instructions stored thereon for causing one or more processors on one or more network devices to execute the steps of implementing a distributed order fulfillment and distribution process comprising the steps of

receiving a signal indicating that a user have checked in at a remote location;

determining whether the user is qualified as at least one of an authorized affiliate or trusted driver eligible to pick up orders on behalf of others;

if the user is qualified as at least one of an authorized affiliate or trusted driver eligible to pick up orders on behalf of others displaying orders that are available for pickup by the user;

receiving a user selection; and

for each order selected transmitting order details to the user.

4. A system for exchanging data with an external list service that stores records associated with unique USER IDs, the records stored including user profiles and user created lists, the system comprising:

a check-in station for receiving input from USERS, the station comprising hardware for receiving input from a user that includes at least identification of a unique USER ID;

memory for storing list records received from the electronic list service;

an inventory system that includes electronically searchable records sufficient to identify products in inventory and the location of products in the store; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying a program executable in a computing device that includes code that generates queries of an external electronic list system sufficient to obtain at least one list record associated with the USER ID input and logic for receiving input including at least the list items associated with the USER ID, initiating an inventory system query and generating an output a shopping list showing the list items that are available and the store location of the list items.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the check-in station receives biometric input from USERS.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the check-in station receives touchscreen input from USERS

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the output is a signal that causes the list to be displayed on a user device.

8. The system of claim 4, further comprising hardware for tracking the location of a hand held user device and communicating with the hand held user device to provide in store direction guidance based on the location of the hand held device and the location of a selected list item.

10. The system of claim 4, the inventory system further includes electronically searchable records sufficient to identify the current price of products in inventory.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further embodies a program executable in a computing device that includes code that executes the steps of implementing a distributed order fulfillment and distribution process comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal indicating that a user have checked in at a remote location;

determining whether the user is qualified as at least one of an authorized affiliate or trusted driver eligible to pick up orders on behalf of others;

if the user is qualified as at least one of an authorized affiliate or trusted driver eligible to pick up orders on behalf of others displaying orders that are available for pickup by the user;

receiving a user selection; and

for each order selected transmitting order details to the user.

12. A system comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions for causing one or more processors on one or more network devices to process an order received from a smart device in a vehicle where the smart device is equipped with location determination equipment, a display, user interface and communication equipment, by executing the steps of:

receiving a vendor location query from a user, the vendor location request identifying at least a vendor category and the user location;

identifying at least one vendor satisfying the vendor location query and transmitting vendor information to the user;

obtaining a vendor selection from the user;

sending menu information to the user based on the vendor selection obtained from the user;

creating and storing an order list based on item selections received from at least one user;

transmitting the order list to vendor and, optionally, including payment information, vehicle location information and/or vehicle identification information;

receiving from the vendor and providing to the user location pick-up information.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the pick-up information includes a specific unique pick-up location

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising the steps of tracking the location of the user vehicle and the order progress and exchanging information with the user and vendor concerning the same.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising the steps of alerting affiliated users of the pending order and providing the affiliated users an opportunity to create an order list and consolidating all lists received.