Product variety information

• US 7,734,514 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grocery Shopping Network, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Grocery Shopping Network, Inc.
• Inventors: Robinson, Andrew, Adam, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Pond; Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US11/122,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20060253344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,860 Days
• Field of Search: 705/27, 705/26, 705/14
• US Class Current: 705/14.73
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

The present invention provides product available varieties information. In one embodiment, a method of providing information regarding items for sale is provided. The method comprises displaying items for sale on a graphic user interface (GUI). Providing an available varieties link on the GUI for items having different varieties and displaying the available varieties of an associated item when the varieties link has been activated.

Claims

1. A method of providing information regarding items put on sale by a retailer, the method comprising:

determining items put on sale having different varieties;

determining the different varieties available in the retailer'"'"'s inventory for at least one of the items put on sale;

selectively choosing which of the available different varieties associated with the item are to be put on sale for the same price as the item;

linking the chosen available different varieties with the associated item with a programmable processor;

displaying the items put on sale on a graphical user interface;

providing the available different varieties links on the graphical user interface; and

activating a different varieties link of an associated item and displaying the chosen available varieties upon selection of the different varieties link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the items displayed are in the form of a circular ad.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adding selected varieties to a shopping list.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a detailed item screen upon selection of an associated item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information displayed when a varieties link has been activated includes at least one of size per unit, flavor and brand name.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the chosen available varieties are at least one of different available flavors and different brand names of an item.

7. A method of providing variety information of select items for sale, the method comprising:

selectively choosing which available different varieties of an item for sale in a retailer'"'"'s inventory are to be on sale for the same price as the item;

linking the item to each selectively chosen different available variety that is on sale at the same sale price with a programmable processor;

displaying a circular ad on a screen of a graphic user interface, the circular ad including items for sale from the retailer'"'"'s inventory;

providing available varieties links for each of the items in the circular ad having more than one selectively chosen variety; and

displaying selectively chosen varieties associated with an item that are available for the same sale price upon activation of an associated varieties link in the circular ad.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

displaying a detailed description of an item upon activation of an items link.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a shopping list of selected varieties of items.

10. A method of providing product variety information, the method comprising:

selectively choosing different varieties of a product that are to be on sale for the same price as the product;

creating links between the chosen different varieties of the product that are to be on sale for the same price and are in stock with a programmable processor;

displaying an ad of products for sale on a display screen;

providing product specific screen upon selection of a desired product;

displaying a varieties link associated with the desired product; and

displaying the selectively chosen available different varieties of the desired product that are available for a same sale price upon activation of the varieties link.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

adding select varieties to a shopping list.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein information displayed upon activation of varieties link includes at least one of size per unit, flavor and brand name.

13. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

creating varieties links between products that have different varieties that are in stock at a store that are selectively chosen by the store to be on sale for a same price as the product with a programmable processor;

displaying items for sale on a graphical user interface;

providing an available varieties link on the graphical user interface for items having different varieties that have been selectively chosen by the store; and

displaying the selectively chosen available varieties of an associated item upon activation of a varieties link, wherein the each different variety of a product that is displayed is available at the select same product sale price.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the items displayed are in the form of a circular ad.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

adding selected varieties to a shopping list.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

displaying a detailed item screen upon selection of an associated item.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

providing information when the varieties link has been activated including at least one of size per unit, flavor and brand name.

18. A grocery information system, the system comprising:

a means for selectively choosing which varieties of an item that has a plurality of different varieties are to be put on sale for the same sale price as the item;

a means for establishing links between the chosen different available varieties that are in stock at a store;

a means for displaying available items for sale on a graphical user interface;

a means for providing a varieties link for each item having chosen available different varieties; and

a means for displaying the chosen available different varieties of an item that are available for a same select sale price upon activation of an associated varieties link.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a means for displaying an item specific screen upon selection of the item.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a means for placing a desired variety of an item in a shopping list.