List-based selection system and methods for using same

• US 7,424,447 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aperture Investments LLC
• Inventors: CASEY, TIMOTHY DANIEL, Fuzell-Casey, Jacquelyn
• Primary Examiner(s): HAQ, NAEEM U
• Application Number:
  US10/226,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20040039661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,206 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0219 based on funds or budget
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations

Abstract

A system and methods for enabling a user to create a list of items on a portable computing device, to communicate with external devices to locate each of the items available on the list within a geographically limited area, to provide users with visual or aural cues as to the location of items on the list, to progress through the list of items as each item is selected or rejected, and providing discounts toward, information about, or alternatives to the available items on the list.

Claims

1. A selection system for enabling a user to locate and select one or more items within a geographic area, comprising:

(a) a selection server, including

i. a database storing availability information and location information about a plurality of items within said area,

ii. an input/output system communicating with a portable computer containing a user created list of a plurality of items to be located by said user within said area, and

iii. a computer comparing said list against said availability information to determine if each item on said list is available for selection within said area, to determine a physical location of said available items on said list within said area, to create a location indicator for a first available item on said list within said area, to receive a status state for said first available item from said user indicating whether said user has selected said first available item, to create a second location indicator for a second available item on said list within said area, to receive a second status state for said second available item from said user indicating whether said user has selected said second available item, and to repeat a process of creating additional location indicators for each additional available item on said list within said area once a status state for a previous available item on said list has been received from said user until said user has indicated said status state for each of said available items on said list;

whereby said location indicator for said first available item, said second available item, and each additional available item is communicated from said selection server to said portable computer so as to enable said user to locate said first available item, said second available item, and each additional available item.

2. The selection system recited in claim 1, wherein said location indicator includes a cue transmitted to said portable computer, said cue operative to alert said user as to a physical location of said first available item.

3. The selection system recited in claim 2, wherein said cue is a text-based identifier corresponding to a physical organization of said area and a physical location of said first available item.

4. The selection system recited in claim 2, wherein said portable computer includes a display, wherein said location indicator includes a map operative to depict at least some portion of said area within which said first available item is located on said display, and wherein said cue is a visual cue depicted on said map.

5. The selection system recited in claim 4, wherein said portable computer further includes a position identifier operative to determine an approximate position of said portable computer within said area, and wherein said computer is further operative to create said location indicator based on said position identifier.

6. The selection system recited in claim 5, wherein said position identifier is a GPS device.

7. The selection system recited in claim 2, wherein said input/output system includes a plurality of remote transmitter/receivers distributed throughout said area operative to communicate with said portable computer, and wherein said computer is operative to determine when said portable computer is close to said physical location of said first available item by analyzing output signals from at least one of said remote transmitter/receivers.

8. The selection system recited in claim 7, wherein a first remote transmitter/receiver is operative to connect to said portable computer, and wherein said computer is operative to determine when said portable computer is close to said physical location of said first available item based on a physical location of said first remote transmitter/receiver.

9. The selection system recited in claim 8, wherein a physical location of said first remote transmitter/receiver is based on a unique signal transmitted to and received from said portable computer by said first remote transmitter/receiver.

10. The selection system recited in claim 7, wherein said computer is operative to determine when said portable computer is close to said physical location of said first available item by triangulating radio wave signals transmitted to and received from said portable computer by said remote transmitter/receivers.

11. The selection system recited in claim 2, wherein said portable computer includes a speaker, and wherein said cue is an aural indicator operative to be played by said speaker when said portable computer is close to said physical location of said first available item.

12. The selection system recited in claim 1, wherein said selection server is operative to assign a status state to each of said items on said list and communicate each said status state to said portable computer.

13. The selection system recited in claim 12, wherein said status state includes a selected state and a rejected state, and wherein said computer is operative to create a location indicator for a second available item within said area when said status state of said first item is changed to said selected state or to said rejected state.

14. The selection system recited in claim 12, wherein said status state includes an un-located state, a selected state and a rejected state for each of said plurality of items, wherein said computer is operative to automatically assign said first item said un-located state and to change said un-located state to said selected state or said rejected state, and wherein said computer is operative to assign said un-located state to said second available item when said status state of said first item is changed to said selected state or said rejected state.

15. The selection system recited in claim 14, wherein said second available item is selected from said plurality of items based on a physical location of said second available item relative to a physical location of said first available item within said area.

16. The selection system recited in claim 1, wherein said database is operative to store additional information corresponding to said items, and wherein said computer is operative to select said additional information to be communicated to said portable computer through said input/output system based on said list.

17. The selection system recited in claim 16, wherein said additional information includes a price for each of said available items.

18. The selection system recited in claim 17, wherein said computer is further operative to create a running cost total of said available items selected by said user based on said price and the quantity of said available items selected by said user.

19. The selection system recited in claim 18, wherein said portable computer includes payment information for said user, and wherein said selection system further comprises a check-out system operative to communicate with said selection server and said portable computer, to receive said running cost total and said payment information from said portable computer, to compare items selected by said user against said running cost total, and to process said payment information based on said selected items.

20. The selection system recited in claim 16, wherein said computer is further operative to select said additional information to be communicated to said portable computer through said input/output system based on said location indicator.

21. The selection system recited in claim 20, wherein said additional information includes alternative information for at least one of said available items.

22. The selection system recited in claim 20, wherein said additional information includes incentive information for at least one of said available items.

23. The selection system recited in claim 20, wherein said additional information includes advertising information for at least one of said available items.

24. The selection system recited in claim 1, wherein said geographic area is defined by a position of said user within or in close proximity to a building.

25. The selection system recited in claim 24, wherein said building includes at least one retail store.

26. The selection system recited in claim 25, wherein said portable computer is affixed to a portable device for assisting a customer of said retail store in carrying said available items selected by said user.

27. The selection system recited in claim 24, wherein said building hosts events in which said user is assigned a seat location.

28. The selection system recited in claim 27, wherein said plurality of items includes foods, drinks and souvenirs, wherein said input/output system is operative to communicate with said portable computer to obtain said seat location, and wherein said location indicator is created by said computer based on said seat location.

29. The selection system recited in claim 27, wherein said computer is further operative to create a delivery request associated with at least one of said items, whereby said item is delivered by said retail store to said user at said seat location.

30. The selection system recited in claim 1, wherein said list is created by said user based on said availability information downloaded from said database onto said portable computer.

31. The selection system recited in claim 30, wherein said availability information is based on a plurality of items available within an industry.

32. The selection system recited in claim 30, wherein said availability information is based on a plurality of items available to an operator of a type of retail store.

33. The selection system recited in claim 30, wherein said area is a retail store, and wherein availability information is based on said plurality of items.

34. The selection system recited in claim 1, wherein said input/output system includes a scanner for scanning information from a paper list of items created by said user, and wherein said computer is operative to convert said information into said list of items for communication to said portable computer.

35. The selection system recited in claim 34, wherein said information on said paper list is handwritten.

36. The selection system recited in claim 34, wherein said paper list is a form.

37. A portable selection system for enabling a user to locate and select one or more items within a geographic area, comprising:

a portable computing device including a memory for storing a list of a plurality of items desired by said user, a display for displaying said list to said user, a processor, and an input/output system communicating with a selection server to store availability information and location information about a plurality of items within said area, to compare said list against said availability information to determine if each item on said list is available for selection within said area, to determine a physical location of said available items on said list within said area, to create a location indicator for a first available item on said list within said area, to receive a status state for said first available item from said user indicating whether said user has selected said first available item, to create a second location indicator for a second available item on said list within said area, to receive a second status state for said second available item from said user indicating whether said user has selected said second available item, and to repeat a process of creating additional location indicators for each additional available item on said list within said area once a status state for a previous available item on said list has been received from said user until said user has indicated said status state for each of said available items on said list, whereby said location indicator for said first available item, said second available item, and each additional available item is communicated from said selection server to said portable computing device so as to enable said user to locate said first available item, said second available item, and each additional available item.

38. The portable selection system recited in claim 37, wherein said location indicator includes a cue operative to alert said user as to a physical location of said first available item.

39. The portable selection system recited in claim 38, wherein said cue is a text-based identifier corresponding to a physical organization of said area and a physical location of said first available item.

40. The portable selection system recited in claim 38, wherein said portable computing device includes a display, wherein said location indicator includes a map operative to depict at least some portion of said area within which said first available item is located on said display, and wherein said cue is a visual cue depicted on said map.

41. The portable selection system recited in claim 38, wherein said portable computing device further includes a position identifier operative to determine an approximate position of said portable computing device within said area, and wherein said selection system is further operative to create said location indicator based on said position identifier.

42. The portable selection system recited in claim 41, wherein said position identifier is a GPS device.

43. The portable selection system recited in claim 38, wherein said selection server includes an input/output system for communicating with a plurality of remote transmitter/receivers distributed throughout said area and which are in turn operative to communicate with said portable computing device, and wherein said selection server is operative to determine when said portable computing device is close to said physical location of said first available item by analyzing output signals from at least one of said remote transmitter/receivers.

44. The portable selection system recited in claim 43, wherein a first remote transmitter/receiver is operative to connect to said portable computing device, and wherein said selection system is operative to determine when said portable computing device is close to said physical location of said first available item based on said physical location of said first remote transmitter/receiver.

45. The portable selection system recited in claim 44, wherein said physical location of said first remote transmitter/receiver is based on a unique signal transmitted to and received from said portable computing device by said first remote transmitter/receiver.

46. The portable selection system recited in claim 43, wherein said selection server is operative to determine when said portable computing device is close to said physical location of said first available item by triangulating radio wave signals transmitted to and received from said portable computing device by said remote transmitter/receivers.

47. The portable selection system recited in claim 38, wherein said portable computing device includes a speaker, and wherein said cue is an aural indicator operative to be played by said speaker when said portable computing device is close to said physical location of said first available item.

48. The portable selection system recited in claim 37, wherein said selection server is operative to assign a status state to each of said items on said list and communicate each said status state to said portable computing device.

49. The portable selection system recited in claim 48, wherein said status state includes a selected state and a rejected state, and wherein said selection server is operative to create a location indicator for a second available item within said area when said status state of said first item is changed to said selected state or to said rejected state.

50. The portable selection system recited in claim 48, wherein said status state includes an un-located state, a selected state and a rejected state for each of said plurality of items, wherein said selection server is operative to automatically assign said first item said un-located state and to change said un-located state to said selected state or said rejected state, and wherein said selection server is operative to assign said un-located state to said second available item when said status state of said first item is changed to said selected state or said rejected state.

51. The portable selection system recited in claim 50, wherein said second available item is selected from said plurality of items based on a physical location of said second available item relative to a physical location of said first available item within said area.

52. The portable selection system recited in claim 37, wherein said selection server is operative to store additional information corresponding to said items, and wherein said selection server is operative to select said additional information to be communicated to said portable computing device based on said list.

53. The portable selection system recited in claim 52, wherein said additional information includes a price for each of said available item.

54. The portable selection system recited in claim 53, wherein said selection server is further operative to create a running cost total of said available items selected by said user based on said price and the quantity of said available items selected by said user.

55. The portable selection system recited in claim 54, wherein said portable computing device includes payment information for said user, and wherein said portable selection system further comprises a check-out system operative to communicate with said selection server and said portable computing device, to receive said running cost total and said payment information from said portable computing device, to compare items selected by said user against said running cost total, and to process said payment information based on said selected items.

56. The portable selection system recited in claim 52, wherein said selection server is further operative to select said additional information to be communicated to said portable computing device based on said location indicator.

57. The portable selection system recited in claim 56, wherein said additional information includes alternative information for at least one of said available items.

58. The portable selection system recited in claim 56, wherein said additional information includes incentive information for at least one of said available items.

59. The portable selection system recited in claim 56, wherein said additional information includes advertising information for at least one of said available items.

60. The portable selection system recited in claim 37, wherein said geographic area is defined by a position of said user within or in close proximity to a building.

61. The portable selection system recited in claim 60, wherein said building includes at least one retail store.

62. The portable selection system recited in claim 61, wherein said portable computing device is affixed to a portable device for assisting a customer of said retail store in carrying said available items selected by said user.

63. The portable selection system recited in claim 60, wherein said building hosts events in which said user is assigned a seat location.

64. The portable selection system recited in claim 63, wherein said plurality of items includes foods, drinks and souvenirs, wherein said selection server is operative to communicate with said portable computing device to obtain said seat location, and wherein said location indicator is created by said selection server based on said seat location.

65. The portable selection system recited in claim 63, wherein said selection server is further operative to create a delivery request associated with at least one of said items, whereby said item is delivered by said retail store to said user at said seat location.

66. The portable selection system recited in claim 37, wherein said list is created by said user based on said availability information downloaded from said selection server onto said portable computing device.

67. The portable selection system recited in claim 66, wherein said availability information is based on a plurality of items available within an industry.

68. The portable selection system recited in claim 66, wherein said availability information is based on a plurality of items available to an operator of a type of retail store.

69. The portable selection system recited in claim 66, wherein said area is a retail store, and wherein availability information is based on said plurality of items.

70. The portable selection system recited in claim 37, wherein said portable selection system further comprises a scanner for scanning information from a paper list of items created by said user, communicating scanned information to said selection server, and wherein said selection server is operative to convert said information into said list of items for communication to said portable computing device.

71. The portable selection system recited in claim 70, wherein said information on said paper list is handwritten.

72. The portable selection system recited in claim 70, wherein said paper list is a form.