Interactive management of storefront purchases

• US 7,575,163 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shopify Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Savusdiphol; Paultep
• Application Number:
  US11/458,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20080017706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

Briefly described, one embodiment of the system, among others, includes a media server configured to transfer storefront interface data to a client device, where the storefront interface data enables a graphical storefront interface to be displayed on the client device. The system further includes a profile database maintaining profile records of users of the graphical storefront interface. At least one profile record comprises a profile for an administrator of an interactive management service, where the administrator authorizes other users to participate in the service including the first user. Further, the administrator sets parameters maintained in the profile database that limit which items are displayed to the first user and offered for sale by the media server to the first user. Also, payment for items purchased by the first user are charged to the administrator. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for interactive management of storefront purchases, comprising:

a media server configured to transfer storefront interface data to a client device, the storefront interface data enabling a graphical storefront interface to be displayed on the client device, the graphical storefront interface enabling a first user to communicate with the media server for the purpose of browsing graphical descriptions of items that are offered for sale, the graphical storefront interface further enabled to allow the first user to make purchases of offered items; and

a profile database maintaining profile records of users of the graphical storefront interface, at least one profile record comprising a profile for an administrative user of an interactive management service, the administrative user authorized to browse and purchase items from the interactive management service, the administrative user also authorizing other users to participate in the interactive management service including the first user, the profile database comprising;

parameters set by the administrative user that limit which items are displayed to the first user and offered for sale by the media server to the first user,

payment information, and

favorite items of the administrative user'"'"'s that are automatically added to any order of the first user;

the media server receiving an order from the first user to purchase an item offered for sale on the virtual storefront guide;

the media server automatically adding the administrative user'"'"'s favorite items to the first user'"'"'s order; and

the media server accessing the payment information such that the administrative user'"'"'s favorite items and the first user'"'"'s order are charged to the administrative user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the profile of the administrative user maintains an address where the administrative user may be contacted to authorize a purchase of an item that has not been pre-approved by the administrative user, the media sewer further configured to receive a request from the first user to contact the administrative user to ask the administrative user to authorize the purchase of the item;

and send a message to the address of the administrative user.

3. The system of claim 2, the media server further configured to receive a reply from the administrative user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical storefront interface provides an interface to a meal buying service that offers food purchases to users of the graphical storefront interface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the administrative user sets parameters that limit a total price of an order that may be made by the first user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the profile of the administrative user maintains an address where the administrative user may be contacted to authorize a purchase of an order with the total price that exceeds a limit previously set by the administrative user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the media server transmits data over a television network to the client device, the client device comprising a set-top box to a television set.

8. A method for interactive management of storefront purchases, comprising:

causing display of a virtual storefront guide enabling a first user to browse graphical descriptions of items offered for sale and to make purchases of offered items;

storing profile records of users of the graphical storefront interface, with at least one profile record comprising a profile for an administrative user of an interactive management service, the administrative user authorized to browse and purchase items from the interactive management service, the administrative user also authorizing other users to participate in the interactive management service including the first user;

retrieving favorite items of the administrative user'"'"'s that are automatically added to any order of the first user;

limiting which items are displayed to the first user and offered for sale on the virtual storefront guide in accordance with parameters defined by the administrative user, the administrative user authorizing the first user to participate in activities of the virtual storefront guide;

receiving an order from the first user to purchase an item offered for sale on the virtual storefront guide;

automatically adding the administrative user'"'"'s favorite items to the first user'"'"'s order; and

accessing payment information such that the administrative user'"'"'s favorite items and the first user'"'"'s order are charged to the administrative user.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a request from the first user to contact the administrative user and ask the administrative user to authorize the purchase of an item; and

sending a message to the address of the administrative user prompting the administrative user to authorize or not authorize the purchase.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a request from the first user to contact the administrative user and ask the administrative user to authorize the purchase of an order at a total price that exceeds a pre-approved limit set by the administrative user; and

sending a message to the address of the administrative user prompting the administrative user to authorize or not authorize the purchase.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving the administrative user'"'"'s selection of items offered for sale by a vendor that are available for purchase by the first user and items offered for sale by the vendor that are not available for purchase by the first user.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing an interface to a meal buying service that offers food purchases to users of the virtual storefront guide; and

activating an automatic ordering feature in which selected items will be automatically ordered for the first user on a designated day of the week.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying a promotional offer to the first user that complies with parameters set up by the administrative user on which items may be purchased.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying the virtual storefront guide and receiving selection of an option for charging the payment to a utility bill.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying a reminder and prompting the first user that it is meal time and to place an order.

16. A computer readable medium having a computer program for interactive management of storefront purchases, the program having instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

causing display of a virtual storefront guide enabling a first user to browse graphical descriptions of items offered for sale and to make purchases of offered items;

storing profile records of users of the graphical storefront interface, with at least one profile record comprising a profile for an administrative user of an interactive management service, the administrative user authorized to browse and purchase items from the interactive management service, the administrative user also authorizing other users to participate in the interactive management service including the first user;

retrieving favorite items of the administrative user'"'"'s that are automatically added to any order of the first user;

limiting which items are displayed to the first user and offered for sale on the virtual storefront guide in accordance with parameters defined by the administrative user, the administrative user authorizing the first user to participate in activities of the virtual storefront guide;

receiving an order from the first user to purchase an item offered for sale on the virtual storefront guide;

automatically adding the administrative user'"'"'s favorite items to the first user'"'"'s order; and

accessing payment information such that the administrative user'"'"'s favorite items and the first user'"'"'s order are charged to the administrative user.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for:

receiving a request from the first user to contact the administrative user and ask the administrative user to authorize the purchase of an item that has not been pre-approved by the administrative user; and

sending a message to the address of the administrative user prompting the administrative user to authorize or not authorize the purchase.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for:

receiving a request from the first user to contact the administrative user and ask the administrative user to authorize the purchase of an order at a total price that exceeds a pre-approved limit set by the administrative user; and

sending a message to the address of the administrative user prompting the administrative user to authorize or not authorize the purchase.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for:

causing display a promotional offer to the first user that complies with parameters set up by the administrative user on which items may be purchased.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for charging a payment to a utility bill.