Electronic retail order communication

• US 7,716,086 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Glen J., Mcknight, Russell F.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US12/150,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/26, 705/27, 705/35, 705/37, 707/10, 707/104.1, 709/203, 709/224
• US Class Current: 705/26.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation

Abstract

Multiple users are provided the ability to add or modify items in an open order created by an originating user on an electronic retail system. The originating user has the ability to verify and authorize a final purchase order that is submitted to the retail system. The originating user forwards an open order to other users, who are then allowed to add to the order, such as by adding items to a shopping cart. In a tandem browsing mode, other users are invited to observe the interaction of the originating user with an electronic retail system and modify an order for approval by the originating user.

Claims

1. A method of shopping on an electronic retail system, the method comprising:

generating an order by selection of goods on a data entry device by an originating user on the electronic retail system via a network connection;

communicating the order to another user by a notification system;

receiving, by an accumulator, additions to the order from said another user; and

providing the order, including additions to the order, to the originating user for submission as a combined order.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising facilitating modification or approval of the combined order by the originating user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the order is communicated to multiple other users.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the order is communicated in serial or parallel manner.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the order is communicated by identifying the order to said another user in a manner that permits the user to access the order.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the order is communicated by facilitating a tandem browsing session of the order with the originating user and said another user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the order is communicated by at least one of electronic mail, chat, instant messaging and tandem browsing.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the order is accessed by the users from the electronic retail system via a network.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the order is formatted and sent to another user for modification and return to the originating user.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein modifications to an order by another user must be received within a predetermined tune to be included in the combined order.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the predetermined time is selected by the originating user.

12. The method of claim 1 and further comprising submitting the combined order to the electronic retail system when it is approved by the originating user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the combined order specifies multiple shipping addresses.

14. The method of claim 12 and further comprising dividing a cost of the order between users based on what they ordered.