System and method for providing self service checkout and product delivery using a mobile device

• US 7,963,441 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2008
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transform Sr Brands, LLC (ESL Investments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sears Brands LLC (Sears Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Mukherjee, Devajit, Mills, Robert D., Emmons, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US12/038,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20080237340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385, 705/26
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A mobile device is provided with an information extracting application in response to a message received from the mobile device while located within retail establishment. Information that is then extracted by the mobile device from an information carrying indicia via use of the information extracting application is received from the mobile device and used to cause a display on the mobile device of a first web/wireless access protocal (“WAP”) page having information related to a product, wherein the first web/WAP page includes a link activatable while the mobile device is located within the retail establishment to initiate a purchase of the product. In response to activation of the link, the mobile device is caused to display at least a second web/WAP page to allow a user to specify a payment method to be used to purchase the product to specify a method by which the product is to be checked out/picked up/delivered to the user.

Claims

1. A method for providing self service checkout to a user using a mobile device within a retail establishment, comprising:

in response to an SMS request message received from the mobile device, sending to the mobile device a reply message having a wireless access protocol (“

WAP”

) link which is activatable while the mobile device is located within the retail establishment to initiate an installation of an information extracting application on the mobile device;

in response to the WAP link being activated on the mobile device while located within the retail establishment, providing to the mobile device the information extracting application;

receiving from the mobile device while located within the retail establishment information that was extracted by the mobile device from an information carrying indicia via use of the information extracting application installed on the mobile device, the information carrying indicia corresponding to a product being sold within the retail establishment;

using the information received from the mobile device while located within the retail establishment to cause a display on the mobile device of a first web/WAP page having information related to the product, wherein the first web/WAP page includes a checkout link activatable while the mobile device is located within the retail establishment to initiate a purchase of the product; and

in response to the checkout link being activated on the mobile device while located within the retail establishment, causing a display of at least a second web/WAP page that provides a means for the user to specify a payment method to be used to purchase the product and a means for the user to specify a method by which the product is to be checked out/picked up/delivered to the user.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising providing to the mobile device while located within the retail establishment at least one of an order confirmation and a purchase receipt upon completion of steps associated with purchase of the product whereupon the user is able to simply show the order confirmation or purchase receipt to thereby exit the retail establishment with the product.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein at least the purchase receipt comprises the SMS message sent to the mobile device while located within the retail establishment.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, comprising providing information with at least one of the order confirmation and the purchase receipt which information is enterable into an in-store kiosk to initiate delivery or a point of sale terminal to facilitate carry out of the product.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least a second web/WAP page provides a means for the user to specify a method by which the product is to be delivered to the user via in-car pickup.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, comprising using the mobile device to extract information from a second information carrying indicia associated with an in-car pickup location wherein the information extracted from the second information carrying indicia is provided from the mobile device to a merchant to thereby indicate readiness of the customer to have purchased product delivered to the user.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular telephone.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the information carrying indicia comprises a barcode.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the barcode comprises a 1D barcode.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the barcode comprises a 2D barcode.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the barcode comprises a 3D barcode.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the cellular telephone comprises a camera and wherein the information extracting application comprises an application that cooperates with the camera to image and extract information from the barcode.