Method, system, and storage medium for providing automated purchasing and delivery services

• US 7,797,196 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2003
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Collins, Jason, Aaron, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Amee A
• Application Number:
  US10/689,133
• Time in Patent Office: 2,521 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a method, system, and storage medium for providing automated purchasing and delivery services. The method includes performing analysis of electronic activities conducted by a network user, inferring an intent to execute a transaction by the network user, and executing the transaction on behalf of the network user. The analysis includes comparing the electronic activities with previously-conducted electronic activities, and applying user-defined policies to the electronic activities.

Claims

1. A method for automating recurrent electronic transactions conducted over a network, comprising:

gathering, by a purchasing system, data from an application executing on a computer device in response to electronic activities conducted by a network user of the computer device, the electronic activities subject to the gathering comprising accessing a web site, performing a detectable user action on a web page, drafting an email, searching a web-based electronic search engine, entering a new task or accessing an existing task in an electronic task folder, and creating, editing, or viewing a document;

wherein the data gathered includes data collected in response to each of the electronic activities conducted by the network user;

performing, via the purchasing system, analysis of the electronic activities, the analysis including;

comparing the electronic activities with previously-conducted electronic activities by the network user;

applying policies defined by the network user to the electronic activities; and

determining whether the policies defined by the network user are in conflict with the transaction;

the purchasing system inferring an intent to execute a transaction by the network user, the inference based upon results of the analysis and absent any explicit action by the network user to execute the transaction; and

the purchasing system automatically executing the transaction on behalf of the network user upon determining the policies defined by the network user are not in conflict with the transaction, the automatically executing the transaction including executing a purchase of a service/product on behalf of the network user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing the electronic activities with previously-conducted electronic activities further comprises:

collecting data entered by the network user;

parsing the data by comparing the data to data stored in a database in communication with the purchasing system that contains the previously-conducted electronic activities, the parsing resulting in a suggested electronic transaction for execution;

searching the database for related resources associated with the suggested electronic transaction; and

searching a profile database in communication with the purchasing system, the profile database storing policies and rules created by the network user, the policies and rules specifying conditions for authorizing and executing the suggested electronic transaction;

wherein the policies and rules include;

placing an upper limit on an amount of money that is authorized to be spent on a transaction;

placing a time limit on when a transaction may be executed;

prescribing authorized vendors, suppliers, or entities through which a transaction may be entered; and

specifying delivery options for items and services associated with a transaction.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

the purchasing system searching a service/product database in communication with the purchasing system to ensure the items and services associated with the transaction are available.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

the purchasing system searching a service/product database in communication with the purchasing system to ensure that the items and services associated with the transaction are compatible with the transaction.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the purchasing system generating an electronic invoice upon execution of the transaction and notifying the network user that the transaction has been completed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the notification is sent via at least one of:

an application programming interface of the computer device;

an email program on the computer device;

a pager;

a telephone call via a voice network;

a computer-generated voice messaging system over a telephone line;

a call on a mobile wireless device;

a personal digital assistant; and

an instant message program.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic activities conducted by the network user include accessing a personal information calendar.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the previously-conducted electronic activities include:

an occurrence of a meeting scheduled into the personal information calendar and including parameters comprising;

a number of participants;

a meeting location;

a time of day; and

meeting resources and materials;

a web site search;

an electronic purchase;

an email message received or transmitted by the network user;

a calendar item generated or accessed by the network user; and

a task item generated or accessed by the network user.

9. A non-transitory storage medium comprising machine-readable computer program code for automating recurrent electronic transactions conducted over a network, the storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method comprising:

gathering, by a purchasing system, data from an application executing on a computer device in response to electronic activities conducted by a network user of the computer device, the electronic activities subject to the gathering comprising accessing a web site, performing a detectable user action on a web page, drafting an email, searching a web-based electronic search engine, accessing a personal information calendar, entering a new task or accessing an existing task in an electronic task folder, and creating, editing, or viewing a document;

wherein the data gathered includes data collected in response to each of the electronic activities conducted by the network user;

performing analysis of the electronic activities, the analysis including;

comparing the electronic activities with previously-conducted electronic activities by the network user;

applying policies defined by the network user to the electronic activities; and

determining whether the policies defined by the network user are in conflict with the transaction;

inferring an intent to execute a transaction by the network user, the inference based upon results of the analysis and absent any explicit action by the network user to execute the transaction; and

executing the transaction on behalf of the network user upon determining the policies defined by the network user are not in conflict with the transaction, the automatically executing the transaction including executing a purchase of a service/product on behalf of the network user.

10. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the comparing the electronic activities with previously-conducted electronic activities further comprises:

collecting data entered by the network user;

parsing the data by comparing the data to data stored in a database containing the previously-conducted electronic activities, the parsing resulting in a suggested electronic transaction for execution;

searching the database for related resources associated with the suggested electronic transaction; and

searching a profile database storing policies and rules created by the network user, the policies and rules operable for specifying conditions for authorizing and executing the suggested electronic transaction;

wherein the policies and rules include;

placing an upper limit on an amount of money that is authorized to be spent on a transaction;

placing a time limit on when a transaction may be executed;

prescribing authorized vendors, suppliers, or entities through which a transaction may be entered; and

specifying delivery options for items and services associated with a transaction.

11. The storage medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions for causing the computer to implement:

searching a service/product database to ensure the items and services associated with the transaction are available.

12. The storage medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions for causing the computer to implement:

searching a service/product database to ensure that the items and services associated with the transaction are compatible with the transaction;

generating an electronic invoice upon execution of the transaction; and

notifying the network user that the transaction has been completed.

13. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the notification is sent via an application programming interface.

14. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the notification is sent via at least one of:

an email program on a computer device;

a pager;

a telephone call via a voice network;

a computer-generated voice messaging system over a telephone line;

a call on a mobile wireless device;

a personal digital assistant; and

an instant message program.

15. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the previously-conducted electronic activities include at least one of:

an occurrence of a meeting including parameters comprising;

a number of participants;

a meeting location;

a time of day; and

meeting resources and materials;

a web site search;

an electronic purchase;

an email message received or transmitted by the network user;

a calendar item generated or accessed by the network user; and

a task item generated or accessed by the network user.

16. A system for automating recurrent electronic transactions conducted over a network, comprising:

a computer system; and

a purchasing system executed via the computer system, the purchasing system implementing a method, comprising;

gathering data from an application executing on a computer device in response to electronic activities conducted by a network user of the computer device, the electronic activities subject to the gathering comprising accessing a web site, performing a detectable user action on a web page, drafting an email, searching a web-based electronic search engine, accessing a personal information calendar, entering a new task or accessing an existing task in an electronic task folder, and creating, editing, or viewing a document;

wherein the data gathered includes data collected in response to each of the electronic activities conducted by the network user;

performing analysis of the electronic activities, the analysis including;

comparing the electronic activities with previously-conducted electronic activities by the network user;

applying policies defined by the network user to the electronic activities; and

determining whether the policies defined by the network user are in conflict with the transaction;

inferring an intent to execute a transaction by the network user, the inference based upon results of the analysis and absent any explicit action by the network user to execute the transaction; and

automatically executing the transaction on behalf of the network user upon determining the policies defined by the network user are not in conflict with the transaction, the automatically executing the transaction including executing a purchase of a service/product on behalf of the network user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein comparing the electronic activities with previously-conducted electronic activities further comprises:

collecting data entered by the network user;

parsing the data by comparing the data to data stored in a database containing the previously-conducted electronic activities, the parsing resulting in a suggested electronic transaction for execution;

searching the database for related resources associated with the suggested electronic transaction; and

searching a profile database storing policies and rules created by the network user, the policies and rules operable for specifying conditions for authorizing and executing the suggested electronic transaction;

wherein the policies and rules include;

placing an upper limit on an amount of money that is authorized to be spent on a transaction;

placing a time limit on when a transaction may be executed;

prescribing authorized vendors, suppliers, or entities through which a transaction may be entered; and

specifying delivery options for items and services associated with a transaction.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the purchasing system further performs:

searching a service/product database to ensure the items and services associated with the transaction are available; and

searching a service/product database to ensure that the items and services associated with the transaction are compatible with the transaction.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the purchasing system is executed via an application programming interface on the network computer.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the previously-conducted electronic activities include at least one of:

an occurrence of a meeting including parameters comprising;

a number of participants;

a meeting location;

a time of day; and

meeting resources and materials;

a web site search;

an electronic purchase;

an email message received or transmitted by the network user;

a calendar item generated or accessed by the network user; and

a task item generated or accessed by the network user.