System for notifying an online client of a mobile vendor

• US 7,305,350 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mercury Kingdom Assets Limited
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bruecken, Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender, F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sheikh, Asfand M.
• Application Number:
  US10/134,440
• Time in Patent Office: 2,044 Days
• Field of Search: 705/27, 705/1, 705/14, 705/26, 340/994, 340/988
• US Class Current: 705/346
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Systems and techniques for notifying a potential customer of a vendor that is in geographic proximity to the potential customer. The vendor is associated with a vendor and may include available good and/or services. The potential customer may be notified of several vendors associated with different vendors. Each vendor may be assigned at least one primary service and at least one secondary service.

Claims

1. A method of notifying a potential customer of available goods or services, the method comprising:

establishing, at a host system configured to provide presence-based personal messaging services, personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers;

accessing location information indicative of a first location of a mobile vendor in transit, wherein the mobile vendor has available goods or services;

determining that the mobile vendor is in a first area based on the location information indicative of the first location of the mobile vendor;

identifying a first group of potential customers, the first group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the first area;

accessing location information indicative of a second location of the mobile vendor in transit;

determining that the mobile vendor is in a second area based on the location information indicative of the second location of the mobile vendor, the second area being different than the first area;

identifying a second group of potential customers, the second group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area and the second group of potential customers including at least one customer not included in the first group of potential customers;

selecting a potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area; and

sending, using the host system, a personal messaging communication over an established personal messaging communication session corresponding to the selected potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area, the personal messaging communication offering an available good or service provided by the mobile vendor to the selected potential customer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers comprises establishing a connection over a network with the multiple client systems such that the potential customers are capable of receiving an instant message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers comprises establishing a connection over a network between the multiple client systems and the host system configured to provide presence-based personal messing services.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a location of the multiple potential customers.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein determining the location of the multiple potential customers includes using an Internet Protocol address to determine location information.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein determining the location of the multiple potential customers includes using a telephone number to determine location information.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein determining the location of the multiple potential customers includes using a Global Positioning System to determine locating information.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining preferences of the multiple potential customers, wherein selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers includes selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers based on the preferences.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein determining the preferences includes tracking addresses requested by the client.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the preferences include information about contacting the one or more potential customers.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the mobile vendor has an available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers, wherein sending, using the host system, the personal messaging communication is conditioned on the mobile vendor having an available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein determining that the mobile vendor is in the second area includes determining that the mobile vendor is in the second area by referencing the location of the mobile vendor relative to an established route.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the second group of potential customers includes calculating the distance between a current location associated with at least one of the multiple potential customers and an estimated location of the mobile vendor along an established route.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the second group of potential customers includes identifying the multiple potential customers that are proximate to the second area based on a default location of at least one of the multiple potential customers.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers includes determining whether a client system associated with each of the multiple potential customers is connected to the host system configured to provide presence-based personal messing services.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a response personal messaging communication, from the selected potential customer, over the established personal messaging communication corresponding to the selected potential customer, the response personal messaging communication indicating an order by the selected potential customer of an available good or service offered by the mobile vendor.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining at least one of available goods and services offered by the mobile vendor, wherein sending, using the host system, the personal messaging communication includes sending, using the host system, a personal messaging communication that includes information informing the at least one potential customer of at least one good or service offered by the mobile vendor.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the second group of potential customers that are proximate to the second area further comprises determining a distance between the mobile vendor and a location associated with at least one of the multiple potential customers.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a graphical user interface to a client system with the selected potential customer.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein transmitting the graphical user interface includes providing a map depicting the second location of the mobile vendor.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the map shows updated positions of the mobile vendor.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying the mobile vendor of an order from the selected potential customer.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein notifying the mobile vendor includes providing directions to a physical location of the selected potential customer.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising retrieving a profiles associated with potential customers included in the second group of potential customers, wherein selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers includes selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers based on the retrieved profiles.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the profiles include a schedule for receiving notification, wherein selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers includes selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers based on the schedule for receiving notifications.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the profiles include preferences, wherein selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers includes selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers based on the preferences included in the profiles.

27. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying the at least one potential customer of different vendors.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile vendor is assigned at least one primary service and at least one secondary service.

29. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining that at least one of the multiple potential customers is at a non-default location.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein determining that the at least one potential customer is at the non-default location comprises receiving location information from a carrier providing mobile services.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein determining that the at least one potential customer is located at the non-default location includes determining that an account is being accessed from a mobile device instead of a desktop computer.

32. The method of claim 11 wherein determining whether the mobile vendor has an available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers includes determining whether the mobile vendor has the available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers based on a non-default location of at least one potential customer.

33. The method of claim 22 wherein notifying the mobile vendor comprises transmitting a graphical user interface to a computer associated with the mobile vendor.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein transmitting the graphical user interface includes providing a map depicting a location of the selected potential customer.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the map shows updated positions of the selected potential customer.

64. The method of claim 1 wherein accessing location information indicative of a mobile vendor in transit includes accessing an actual location for the mobile vendor.

65. The method of claim 1 wherein accessing location information includes accessing information other than an actual location.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein accessing the information other than an actual location includes accessing a route.

67. The method of claim 65 wherein accessing the information other than an actual location includes accessing an elapsed time since the mobile vendor was at a specified location.

76. The method of claim 1 furthering comprising receiving, at the host system, an alert from the mobile vendor so that determining that the mobile vendor is in the second area, identifying the second group of potential customers, selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers, and sending, using the host system, the personal messaging communication are triggered based on receipt of the alert.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein the mobile vendor sends the alert in response to updating location information for the mobile vendor.

78. The method of claim 76 wherein the mobile vendor sends the alert in response to updating inventory status for the mobile vendor.

36. A computer program for transferring electronic data from a communications system, the computer program being stored on a computer readable medium and comprising instructions for:

establishing, at a host system configured to provide presence-based personal messaging services, personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers;

accessing location information indicative of a first location of a mobile vendor in transit, wherein the mobile vendor has available goods or services;

determining that the mobile vendor is in a first area based on the location information indicative of the first location of the mobile vendor;

identifying a first group of potential customers, the first group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the first area;

accessing location information indicative of a second location of the mobile vendor in transit;

determining that the mobile vendor is in a second area based on the location information indicative of the second location of the mobile vendor, the second area being different than the first area;

identifying a second group of potential customers, the second group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area and the second group of potential customers including at least one customer not included in the first group of potential customers;

selecting a potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area; and

sending, using the host system, a personal messaging communication over an established personal messaging communication session corresponding to the selected potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area, the personal messaging communication offering an available good or service provided by the mobile vendor to the selected potential customer.

37. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a disk.

38. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a client device.

39. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a host device.

40. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a propagated signal.

41. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the communication system comprises an online service provider.

42. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the computer program comprises a vendor computer program.

43. The computer program of claim 36 wherein identifying the second group of potential customers that are proximate to the second area includes receiving location information from a carrier providing mobile services.

44. The computer program of claim 36 further comprising instructions for determining that at least one of the multiple potential customers is at a non-default location.

45. The computer program of claim 44 wherein determining that at least one of the potential customers is located at the non-default location includes determining that an account is being accessed from a mobile device instead of a desktop computer.

46. The computer program of claim 36 further comprising instructions for determining whether the mobile vendor an available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers wherein sending, using the host system, the personal messaging communication is conditioned on the mobile vendor having an available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers.

47. The computer program of claim 46 wherein determining whether the mobile vendor has the available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers includes determining whether the mobile vendor has available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers based on a non-default location of at least one potential customer.

48. The computer program of claim 36 further comprising instructions for notifying the mobile vendor of an order from the selected potential customer.

49. The computer program of claim 48 wherein notifying the mobile vendor comprises transmitting a graphical user interface to a computer associated with the mobile vendor.

50. The computer program of claim 49 wherein providing the graphical user interface includes providing a map depicting a location of the selected potential customer.

51. The computer program of claim 50 wherein the map shows updated positions of the selected potential customer.

68. The computer program of claim 36 wherein accessing the location information indicative of a mobile vendor in transit includes accessing an actual location for the mobile vendor.

69. The computer program of claim 36 wherein accessing the location information includes accessing information other than an actual location.

70. The computer program of claim 69 wherein accessing the information other than an actual location includes accessing a route.

71. The computer program of claim 69 wherein accessing the information other than an actual location includes accessing an elapsed time since the mobile vendor was at a specified location.

79. The computer program of claim 36 furthering comprising instructions for receiving, at the host system, an alert from the mobile vendor so that determining that the mobile vendor is in the second area, identifying the second group of potential customers, selecting the potential customers from among the second group of potential customers, and sending, using the host system, the personal messaging communication are triggered based on receipt of the alert.

80. The computer program of claim 79 wherein the mobile vendor sends the alert in response to updating location information for the mobile vendor.

81. The computer program of claim 79 wherein the mobile vendor sends the alert in response to updating inventory status for the mobile vendor.

52. A communications apparatus for transferring electronic data from a communication system, the apparatus configured to:

establish, at a host system configured to provide presence-based personal messaging services, personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers;

access location information indicative of a first location of a mobile vendor in transit, wherein the mobile vendor has available goods or services;

determine that the mobile vendor is in a first area based on the location information indicative of the first location of the mobile vendor;

identifying a first group of potential customers, the first group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the first area;

access location information indicative of a second location of the mobile vendor in transit;

determining that the mobile vendor is in a second area based on the location information indicative of the second location of the mobile vendor, the second area being different than the first area;

identify a second group of potential customers, the second group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area and the second group of potential customers including at least one customer not included in the first group of potential customers;

select a potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area; and

send, using the host system, a personal messaging communication over an established personal messaging communication session corresponding to the selected potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area, the personal messaging communication offering an available good or service provided by the mobile vendor to the selected potential customer.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the communications system comprises an online service provider.

54. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the communications system comprises a vendor system.

55. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein identifying the second group of potential customers that are proximate to the second area includes receiving location information from a carrier providing mobile services.

56. The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising determining that at least one of the multiple potential customers is at a non-default location.

57. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein determining that the at least one potential customer is located at the non-default location includes determining that an account is being accessed from a mobile device instead of a desktop computer.

58. The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising determining whether the mobile vendor an available good or service to offer to multiple potential, wherein sending, using the host system, the personal messaging communication is conditioned on the mobile vendor having an available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers.

59. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein determining whether the mobile vendor has the available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers includes determining whether the mobile vendor has available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers based on a non-default location of at least one potential customer.

60. The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising notifying the mobile vendor of an order from the selected potential customer.

61. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein notifying the mobile vendor comprises transmitting a graphical user interface to a computer associated with the mobile vendor.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein providing the graphical user interface includes providing a map depicting a location of the selected potential customer.

63. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the map shows updated positions of the selected potential customer.

72. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein accessing the location information includes accessing an actual location for the mobile vendor.

73. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein accessing the location information includes accessing information other than an actual location.

74. The apparatus of claim 73 wherein accessing the information other than an actual location includes accessing a route.

75. The apparatus of claim 73 wherein accessing the information other than an actual location includes accessing an elapsed time since the mobile vendor was at a specified location.

82. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the apparatus is configured to receive, at the host system, an alert from the mobile vendor, the receipt of the alert triggering the apparatus to determine that the mobile vendor is in the second area, identify the second group of potential customers, select the potential customers from among the second group of potential customers, and send, using the host system, the personal messaging communication.

83. The apparatus of claim 82 wherein the mobile vendor sends the alert in response to updating location information for the mobile vendor.

84. The apparatus of claim 82 wherein the mobile vendor sends the alert in response to updating inventory status for the mobile vendor.

85. A method of notifying a potential customer of available goods or services, the method comprising:

establishing, at a host system configured to provide presence-based personal messaging services, personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers;

accessing, at the host system, location information indicative of a location of a mobile vendor in transit, wherein the mobile vendor has available goods or services to offer to the multiple potential customers;

accessing, at the host system, location information associated with the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions;

comparing, at the host system, the accessed location information indicative of the location of the mobile vendor in transit with the accessed location information associated with the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions;

based on comparison results, selecting a potential customer from among the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions, the selected potential customer being located proximate to the mobile vendor and having an established personal messaging communication session;

sending, using the host system, a personal messaging communication over the established personal messaging communication session corresponding to the selected potential customer located proximate to the mobile vendor, the personal messaging communication offering an available good or service provided by the mobile vendor to the selected potential customer;

receiving a response personal messaging communication, from the selected potential customer, over the established personal messaging communication session corresponding to the selected potential customer, the response personal messaging communication indicating an order by the selected potential customer of an available good or service offered by the mobile vendor; and

notifying the mobile vendor of the order by the selected potential customer.