Method and system for providing retail-item purchasing data in a computer network environment

• US 7,720,715 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Nemer, James Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MISIASZEK, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/231,640
• Time in Patent Office: 2,818 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A method and system for communicating retail-item-purchasing data in a computer network environment is provided. Commute information is leveraged to provide purchasing options to end-users and to permit customers to automatically search for various products available at local businesses without having to visit each business. The commute information can be a commute path or a location reference. One or more providers of the items within a distance of the commute path are identified. Purchasing data is communicated based on the determination of the providers.

Claims

1. A method for providing retail-item-purchasing data in a computer network environment, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic representation of a list of one or more items, wherein receiving said electronic representation includes receiving said electronic representation that includes a digital data transmission over a communication network from a client device selected from the group comprising;

a handheld device, a computer, a kiosk, an automobile two-way communication device, a telephone and a database, said handheld device is selected from the group comprising;

a mobile phone, a pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), and a personal information manager (PIM);

referencing a commute path defined by a first location and a second location, said commute path is generated from input received from a selection from the group comprising;

an end-user,

a location-sensing device that includes a device equipped with a global-positioning component, and

a mapping component;

determining one or more providers of said one or more items within a distance, at most fifty miles, of said commute path, said distance is a parameter set by said end-user, wherein determining one or more providers includes identifying a business entity that offers said one or more items for sale and identifying said business entity includes referencing a selection from the group comprising;

item-pricing data and item-availability data; and

communicating purchasing data based on said determination of said one or more providers in response to receiving said electronic representation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said distance is a default value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein purchasing data includes a selection from the group comprising:

a price of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of alternative products related to said items;

an availability status of complementary products related to said items;

an availability status of generic alternatives to said items;

a product description; and

a sum of said prices.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein communicating purchasing data

includes presenting said purchasing data on said client device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a purchase request from said end-user to order said one or more items from said one or more providers; and

transmitting said purchase request to said one or more providers.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising presenting a final commute path, wherein said final commute path includes said provider(s) to fulfill said purchase request.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising storing said electronic representation of said list of one or more items.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing a selection from the group comprising said list, said purchasing data, said commute path, said purchase request.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving a promotional offer from said one or more providers.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising presenting said promotional offer to said end-user in response to receiving said electronic representation of said list of said one or more items.

11. A method for providing purchasing data in a computer network environment, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a list of one or more items to price, wherein receiving said list includes receiving said list as a digital data transmission over a communications network from a client device selected from the group comprising;

a handheld device, a computer, a kiosk, an automobile two-way communication device, a telephone and a database, said handheld device is selected from the group comprising;

a mobile phone, a pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), and personal information manager (PIM);

receiving location-information corresponding to a geographic area, wherein receiving said location-information includes referencing location-information generated from input provided by an end-user;

determining one or more providers of said one or more items, wherein said one or more providers are within a distance, at most fifty miles, from said geographic area, said distance is a parameter set by said end-user, wherein determining one or more providers includes identifying a business entity that offers said one or more items for sale, and identifying said business entity further includes referencing a selection from the group comprising;

item-pricing data and item-availability data;

communicating purchasing information of said one or more items available from said one or more providers;

utilizing the purchasing information to generate a purchase request to order said one or more items; and

initiating a transaction with said one or more providers of the ordered one or more items included in the purchase request.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein referencing said location-information includes referencing location-information generated from input provided by a location-sensing device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said location-sensing device includes a device equipped with a global-positioning component.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein referencing said location-information includes referencing geographic information received from a mapping component.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said distance is a default value.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein purchasing data includes a selection from the group comprising:

a price of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of alternative products related to said items;

an availability status of complementary products related to said items;

an availability status of generic alternatives to said items;

a product description; and

a sum of said prices.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein communicating purchasing data includes presenting said purchasing data on said client device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a purchase request from said end-user to order said one or more items from said one or more providers; and

transmitting said purchase request to said one or more providers.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising presenting a commute path, wherein said commute path includes a first location, said provider(s)'"'"'s location, and a destination location.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising storing a selection from the group comprising said list, said purchasing data, said location information, said purchase request.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving a promotional offer from said one or more providers.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising presenting said promotional offer to said end-user in response to receiving said list of said one or more items.

23. A computer-readable medium having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon that when implemented cause a method of providing retail product information on a list of one or more items, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic representation of said list, wherein the step of receiving said electronic representation includes receiving said electronic representation as a digital data transmission over a communication network from a client device selected from the group comprising;

a handheld device, a computer, a kiosk, an automobile two-way communication device, a telephone and a database, and said handheld device is selected from the group comprising;

a mobile phone, a pager, a kiosk, a personal data assistant (PDA), and personal information manager (PIM);

referencing a commute path, wherein said commute path is generated from input received from a selection from the group comprising;

an end-user,

a location-sensing device that includes a device equipped with a global-positioning component, and

a mapping component;

determining one or more providers of said one or more items within a distance, at most fifty miles, of said commute path, said distance is a parameter set by said end-user, wherein determining one or more providers includes identifying a business entity that offers said one or more items for sale and identifying said business entity includes referencing a selection from the group comprising;

item-pricing data and item-availability data; and

communicating product information related to said one or more items based on said determination of said one or more providers.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein said distance is a default value.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein purchasing data includes a selection from the group comprising:

a price of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of alternative products related to said items;

an availability status of complementary products related to said items;

an availability status of generic alternatives to said items;

a product description; and

a sum of said prices.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein communicating product information includes presenting said purchasing data on said client device.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving a purchase request from said end-user to order said one or more items from said one or more providers; and

transmitting said purchase request to said one or more providers.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising presenting a final commute path, wherein said final commute path includes said provider(s) to fulfill said purchase request.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising storing a selection from the group comprising said list, said purchasing data, said commute path, said purchase request.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising receiving a promotional offer from said one or more providers.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising presenting said promotional offer to said end-user in response to receiving said electronic representation of said list of said one or more items.

32. A computer system comprising one or more computers programmed to cause a method for providing product information relating to a list of one or more items to be performed, said method comprising:

receiving an electronic representation of said list, wherein the step of receiving said electronic representation includes receiving said electronic representation as a digital data transmission over a communications network from a client device selected from the group comprising;

a handheld device, a computer, a kiosk, an automobile two-way communication device, a telephone and a database, said handheld device is selected from the group comprising;

a mobile phone, a pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), and personal information manager (PIM);

receiving a commute path defined by a first location and a second location, said commute path is generated from input received from a selection from the group comprising;

an end-user,

a location-sensing device that includes a device equipped with a global-positioning component, and

a mapping component;

identifying one or more providers of said one or more items within a distance, at most fifty miles, of said commute path, said distance is a parameter set by said end-user, wherein identifying one or more providers includes referencing a selection from the group comprising;

item-pricing data, item-availability data, and historical data captured from prior purchases; and

communicating product information related to said one or more items based on said identification of said one or more providers.

33. The computer system of claim 32, wherein said distance is a default value.

34. The computer system of claim 32, wherein purchasing data includes a selection from the group comprising:

a price of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of alternative products related to said items;

an availability status of complementary products related to said items;

an availability status of generic alternatives to said items;

a product description; and

a sum of said prices.

35. The computer system of claim 34, wherein communicating purchasing data includes presenting said purchasing data on said client device.

36. The computer system of claim 35, further comprising:

receiving a purchase request from said end-user to order said one or more items from said one or more providers; and

transmitting said purchase request to said one or more providers.

37. The computer system of claim 36, further comprising presenting a final commute path, wherein said final commute path includes said provider(s) to fulfill said purchase request.

38. The computer system of claim 34, further comprising storing a selection from the group comprising said list, said purchasing data, said commute path, said purchase request.

39. The computer system of claim 36, further comprising receiving a promotional offer from said one or more providers.

40. The computer system of claim 37, further comprising presenting said promotional offer to said end-user in response to receiving said electronic representation of said list of said one or more items.