Internet enhanced local shopping system and method

• US 7,596,513 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Fargo, Kendall
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Airapetian; Mila
• Application Number:
  US10/977,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20050097005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.62
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy

Abstract

Internet enhanced local shopping system in which businesses having physical stores where products and services can be purchased submit their inventories and business terms, including their geographic locations, into a searchable database available to shoppers wanting to buy products and services locally so that shoppers can find stores in their area where the products and services they desire are available and can be purchased under specified terms.

Claims

1. A method for online shopping, comprising:

extracting a first plurality of inventory items from an accounting system of a first retailer using a processor, wherein the accounting system of the first retailer comprises an inventory database storing the first plurality of inventory items;

updating the inventory database using a point of sale terminal of the accounting system before extracting the first plurality of inventory items;

transmitting the first plurality of inventory items to an online shopping system comprising a searchable database and a website, wherein the searchable database is updated to include the first plurality of inventory items;

receiving, at the web site, a search request comprising a product, a location of a shopper, and a maximum traveling distance as search criteria after updating the searchable database;

retrieving a first inventory item comprising the product from the searchable database, wherein the first plurality of inventory items comprises the first inventory item, and wherein a location of the first retailer is within the maximum traveling distance from the location of the shopper; and

sending the location of the first retailer and a portion of the first inventory item in response to the search request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

extracting a second plurality of inventory items from an accounting system of a second retailer;

transmitting the second plurality of inventory items to the on-line shopping system, wherein the searchable database is updated to include the second plurality of items;

retrieving a second inventory item comprising the product from the searchable database, wherein the second plurality of inventory items comprises the second inventory item, and wherein a location of the second retailer is within the maximum traveling distance from the location of the shopper; and

sending the location of the second retailer and a portion of the second inventory item in response to the search request.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a trigger to start extracting the first plurality of inventory items.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the trigger is issued periodically.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

converting the first plurality of inventory items to XML before updating the searchable database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first inventory item further comprises a price of the product at the first retailer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the portion of the first inventory item comprises the price of the product at the first retailer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first inventory item further comprises a manufacturer of the product.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

sending a link to a website of the manufacturer in response to the search request.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a code for the product from the first inventory item after transmitting the first plurality of inventory items;

retrieving a product description of the product from a product description database module of the online shopping system based on the code; and

sending the product description in response to the search query.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the product description comprises an image of the product.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the product description comprises a video of the product.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging the first retailer a fee for sending the location of the first retailer in response to the search request.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a payment for the product in a first format after sending the portion of the first inventory item; and

sending the payment in a second format to the first retailer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first format is a credit card.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a client software module to the first retailer for extracting the first plurality of inventory items.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining business data from the first retailer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the business data comprises hours of operation of the first retailer.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the business data comprises a form of payment accepted by the first retailer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the search request specifies the form of payment.

21. A system for online shopping, comprising:

a first processor executing a client software module configured to extract a plurality of inventory items from an accounting system of the retailer, wherein the accounting system comprises an inventory database storing the plurality of inventory items, and wherein the first processor is configured to update the inventory database using a point of sale terminal of the accounting system before extracting the first plurality of inventory items;

a searchable database operatively connected to the client software module through a network and configured to obtain the plurality of inventory items from the client software module;

a website operatively connected to the searchable database and configured to obtain a search request comprising a product, a location of a shopper, and a maximum traveling distance as search criteria; and

a second processor executing a search module configured to retrieve an inventory item from the searchable database, and send a portion of the inventory item and a location of the retailer in response to the search request,

wherein the plurality of inventory items comprises the inventory item, and wherein the location of the retailer is within the maximum traveling distance from the location of the shopper.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a location matching module operatively connected to the website and configured to calculate a distance between the location of the shopper and the location of the retailer.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a payment function module operatively connected to the website and configured to obtain a payment for the product in a first format and send the payment to the retailer in a second format.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the first format is a credit card.

25. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a product description database module operatively connected to the website and configured to retrieve a description of the product based on a code in the inventory item, wherein the description is sent in response to the search request.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the description of the product comprises a video of the product.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the description comprises an image of the product.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the inventory item comprises a price of the product at the retailer.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the portion of the inventory item comprises the price of the product.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein the inventory item comprises a manufacturer of the product.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein the client software module is further configured to convert the plurality of inventory items to XML.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein the searchable database stores business data of the retailer.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the business data comprises hours of operation of the retailer.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the business data comprises a form of payment accepted by the retailer.