Systems and methods for price searching and intelligent shopping lists on a mobile device

• US 7,756,757 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Oakes, Charles Lee III
• Primary Examiner(s): Airapetian; Mila
• Application Number:
  US12/042,794
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Price searching and intelligent shopping lists on a mobile device is provided. A system for providing a shopping list comprises at least one subsystem that receives input data containing product identification information, at least one subsystem that determines location information of a product identified by the product identification information, and at least one subsystem that determines a proposed route from a particular location to a location of the product identified by the location information.

Claims

1. A system for determining a route for shopping comprising:

a system implemented on one or more processors, the system comprising;

at least one subsystem that determines a lowest overall cost of a route for a user to take in acquiring items located in disparate locations; and

at least one subsystem that bases a route decision at least in part on a prioritized list of factors provided by the user.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one subsystem that determines comprises at least one subsystem implemented on one or more processors that bases a route decision at least in part on the current location of a user, locations of the items, and a desired end location provided by the user.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the current location of the user is determined by information provided by a user'"'"'s global positioning system (GPS) device.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one subsystem that determines further comprises at least one subsystem implemented on one or more processors that bases a route decision at least in part on different prices of a same item available in multiple locations and whether travel costs to obtain a less expensive item in one location is more than a difference in price of a same item available in a different location.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one subsystem that determines further comprises at least one subsystem implemented on one or more processors that bases a route decision at least in part on whether an item is indicated by the user as needed immediately.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the factors include one or more of the following:

lowest overall cost, urgency of acquiring items, whether it is preferred to purchase a particular or all items item on a web site, whether it is preferred to purchase a particular or all items at a physical store, whether a particular item or any item is farther than a particular distance from the user'"'"'s current location.

7. A method for determining a route for shopping, the method comprising:

using a processor to perform;

determining a lowest overall cost of a route for a user to take in acquiring items located in disparate locations; and

basing a route decision at least in part on a prioritized list of factors provided by the user.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the determining comprises basing a route decision at least in part on the current location of a user, locations of the items, and a desired end location provided by the user.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the current location of the user is determined by information provided by a user'"'"'s global positioning system (GPS) device.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the determining further comprises basing a route decision at least in part on different prices of a same item available in multiple locations and whether travel costs to obtain a less expensive item in one location is more than a difference in price of a same item available in a different location.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the determining further comprises basing a route decision at least in part on whether an item is indicated by the user as needed immediately.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the factors include one or more of the following:

lowest overall cost, urgency of acquiring items, whether it is preferred to purchase a particular or all items item on a web site, whether it is preferred to purchase a particular or all items at a physical store, whether a particular item or any item is farther than a particular distance from the user'"'"'s current location.

13. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for determining a route for shopping, said computer readable instructions comprising instructions for:

determining a lowest overall cost of a route for a user to take in acquiring items located in disparate locations; and

basing a route decision at least in part on a prioritized list of factors provided by the user.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions for determining comprise instructions for basing a route decision at least in part on the current location of a user, locations of the items, and a desired end location provided by the user.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the current location of the user is determined by information provided by a user'"'"'s global positioning system (GPS) device.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the instructions for determining further comprise instructions for basing a route decision at least in part on different prices of a same item available in multiple locations and whether travel costs to obtain a less expensive item in one location is more than a difference in price of a same item available in a different location.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the instructions for determining further comprise instructions for basing a route decision at least in part on whether an item is indicated by the user as needed immediately.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the factors include one or more of the following:

lowest overall cost, urgency of acquiring items, whether it is preferred to purchase a particular or all items item on a web site, whether it is preferred to purchase a particular or all items at a physical store, whether a particular item or any item is farther than a particular distance from the user'"'"'s current location.