Restricted purchase of regulated items over a network

• US 8,010,411 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2007
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JUNE RAY LIMITED
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Woodward, Franklin Goodhue, Mills, James Connell, Hodge, Randolph Ashton, Miller, Andrew Karl, Wijaya, Joyo
• Primary Examiner(s): THEIN, MARIA TERESA T
• Application Number:
  US11/701,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/26.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0607 Regulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A technique is disclosed for implementing electronic commerce transactions via a data network. A regulated item selected by a customer is identified. The regulated item may correspond to an item which satisfies predetermined criteria, indicating that the regulated item is prohibited from being purchased by the customer. Action is then taken to prohibit the purchase of the selected item, via the data network, by the customer. According to one embodiment, the action taken to prohibit the purchase of the regulated item is automatically implemented at a server system configured to implement electronic commerce transactions between an on-line merchant and the customer. According to a specific implementation, the predetermined criteria correspond to regulations which restrict sales of the regulated items to persons in a particular jurisdiction based upon certain criteria such as, for example, time of day, day of week, age of the customer, type of product being sold, etc.

Claims

1. A computer-Implemented method performed by at least one computing device for implementing electronic commerce transactions via a network, the method comprising:

identifying a regulated item selected by a customer, the regulated item corresponding to an item which satisfies one or more predetermined criteria, the one or more predetermined criteria indicating at least that the item is subject to one or more regulations, and the regulated item being made available from a merchant via an on-line store;

placing the regulated item in an electronic shopping cart associating with an order of the customer from the on-line store, the order also having delivery information regarding delivery of the order; and

subsequently taking action, by the at least one computing device, to remove the regulated item from the electronic shopping cart associated with the customer, the removal of the regulated item from the electronic shopping cart being based on the one or more predetermined criteria and the delivery information,

wherein the regulated item pertains to an alcohol product or a tobacco product, and wherein the at least one regulation serves to regulate the sale or delivery of at least alcohol or tobacco products.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the delivery information includes at least a location, and

wherein said taking action comprises determining whether to remove the regulated item from the electronic shopping cart by at least comparing the location with the one or more predetermined criteria,

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined criteria corresponds to at least one of the one or more regulations which restrict sales of the regulated item to persons in a particular jurisdiction.

4. A method as recited In claim 3, wherein a jurisdiction is a state.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the regulated item is wine.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more regulations at least restricts sales of the regulated item to persons under a predetermined age.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the delivery information includes a day of week, and wherein at least one of the one or more regulations at least restricts the sale of the regulated item on at least one day of the week.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more regulations requires an appropriate recipient to be present to receive the delivery of the regulated item.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more regulations depends on a location associated with the customer.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more regulations are acquired from a data store associated with a server system that performs said method, and wherein the data store stores a plurality of regulation rules applicable to a plurality of different locations.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said taking action comprises receiving a customer input requesting removal of the regulated item from the electronic shopping cart associated with the customer.

12. A method as recited in claim 1,

wherein said placing comprises selecting a plurality of regulated items to be placed in the electronic shopping cart, and

wherein said taking action comprises:

notifying the customer that at least one of the plurality of regulated items is required to be removed from the electronic shopping cart; and

receiving, subsequent to said notifying, a customer input requesting removal of one or more of the plurality of regulated items from the electronic shopping cart associated with the customer.

13. A computer-implemented method performed by at least one computing device for facilitating online purchase of regulated products over a network, said method comprising:

(a) providing an online store for products, at least a portion of the products being regulated products;

(b) receiving at least one input from a customer with regard to the online store to create an online order for one or more of the products;

(c) requesting the customer to set delivery timing for the online order;

(d) receiving a requested delivery timing for the online order from the customer;

(e) determining, by the at least one computing device, whether the online order includes at least one regulated product;

(f) determining by the at least one computing device, when said determining (e) determines that the online order includes at least one regulated product, whether the requested delivery timing is permitted based on at least one regulation associated with the at least one regulated product, the at least one regulated product pertaining to an alcohol product or a tobacco product, and the at least one reputation serving to regulate the sale or delivery of at least alcohol or tobacco products; and

(g) producing a perceptible indication that at least the at least one regulated product is not permitted to be delivered at the requested delivery timing when said determining (f) determines that the at least one regulated product Is not permitted to be delivered at the requested delivery timing.

14. A method of claim 13, wherein the requested delivery timing is associated with a day of week, and wherein the at least one regulation limits the sale of the at least one regulated product to only certain days of week.

15. A method of claim 13, wherein said producing (g) of the perceptible indication comprises causing a notification to be displayed, the notification informing the customer that the requested delivery timing is denied when said determining (f) determines that the at least one regulated product is not permitted to be delivered at the requested delivery timing.

16. A method of claim 13, wherein the at least one regulation depends on a location associated with the customer.

17. A method of claim 13, wherein the at least one computing device is at least a part of a server system, wherein the at least one regulation is acquired from a data store associated with the server system, and wherein the data store stores a plurality of regulations that differ depending on delivery locations.

18. A computer-implemented method performed by at least one computing device for implementing electronic commerce transactions via a network, the method comprising:

identifying, by the at least one computing device, a regulated item selected by a customer, the regulated item corresponding to an item which satisfies one or more predetermined criteria, the one or more predetermined criteria indicating whether the item is prohibited from being purchased by the customer, the one or more predetermined criteria corresponding to at least one regulation which restricts delivery of the regulated item to persons in a particular location, the regulated item pertaining to an alcohol product or a tobacco product, and the at least one regulation serving to regulate deliver timing of at least alcohol or tobacco products; and

taking action, other than or in addition to presenting a notification message, by the at least one computing device to prevent the purchase of the regulated item via the network by the customer In accordance with the at least one regulation.

19. A method of claim 18, wherein said taking action comprises modifying a display of items available for purchase by the customer, wherein the display modification includes restricting display of items which are prohibited from being purchased by the customer based upon the one or more predetermined criteria.

20. A method of claim 18, wherein said taking action comprises taking action to prevent the customer from adding the regulated item to an electronic shopping cart associated with the customer.

21. A method of claim 18, wherein said taking action comprises taking action to prevent the customer from completing a checkout operation with respect to an electronic shopping cart containing the regulated item.

22. A method of claim 18, wherein the at least one computing device is at least a part of a server system, and wherein said taking action is automatically implemented at the Ran server system configured to implement electronic commerce transactions between an on-line merchant and the customer.

23. A method of claim 18, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria correspond to one or more regulations which prohibit delivery of the regulated item to persons in a particular location or which restrict sales of the regulated item to persons under a particular age.

24. A method of claim 18, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria Include at least one regulation code parameter for use in identifying items which are associated with a class of regulated items;

and

wherein said regulated item has associated therewith a specific regulation code parameter.

25. A method of claim 18, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria includes at least one restriction parameter for use in identifying at least one type of compliance action to be performed in order to comply with a legal regulation which restricts sales of the regulated item to persons in a particular location.

26. A computer-implemented method performed by at least one computing device for facilitating online purchase of regulated products over a network, said method comprising:

providing an online store for products, at least a portion of the products being regulated products;

receiving at least one input from a customer with regard to the online store to create an online order for one or more of the products;

requesting the customer to set a delivery location for the online order;

receiving a requested delivery location for the online order from the customer;

determining, by the at least one computing device, whether the online order includes at least one regulated product;

determining by the at least one computing device, when it is determined that the online order includes at least one regulated product, whether the requested delivery location is permitted based on at least one regulation associated with the at least one regulated product, the at least one regulated product pertaining to an alcohol product or a tobacco product, and the at least one regulation serving to regulate delivery timing of at least alcohol or tobacco products; and

producing a perceptible indication that at least the at least one regulated product is not permitted to be delivered at the requested delivery location when it is determined that the at least one regulated product is not permitted to be delivered at the requested delivery location.

27. A system for implementing electronic commerce transactions via a data network, said system comprising:

at least one CPU;

a memory; and

said system being configured to;

provide an online store for products, at least a portion of the products being regulated products;

receive interactions from a customer with regard to the online store to create an online order for one or more of the products;

request the customer to set a delivery location for the online order;

receive a requested delivery location for the online order from the customer,

determine whether the online order Includes at least one regulated product; and

determine, when it is determined that the online order includes at least one regulated product, whether the requested delivery location is permitted based on at least one regulation associated with the at least one regulated product, the at least one regulated product pertaining to an alcohol product or a tobacco product, and the at least one regulation serving to regulate delivery timing of at least alcohol or tobacco products.

28. A system of claim 27, wherein said system being further configured to;

produce a perceptible indication that at least the at least one regulated product is not permitted to be delivered at the requested delivery location when it is determined that the at least one regulated product is not permitted to be delivered at the requested delivery location.

29. A system of claim 27, wherein said system is configured to inform the customer that delivery of the at least one regulated product is restricted.

30. A system of claim 27, wherein said system is configured to inform the customer that delivery of the online order, due to at least one regulated product, is subject to at least one restriction.

31. A system of claim 28, wherein the at least one restriction prohibits delivery of the at least one regulated product at the requested delivery location.

32. A system as recited in claim 29, wherein when the at least one restriction prohibits delivery of the at least one regulated product at the requested delivery location, said system is configured to (i) remove the at least one regulated product from the online order and continue with the requested delivery location, or (ii) allow the customer to designate another delivery location.

33. A system for implementing electronic commerce transactions via a data network, said system comprising:

at least one CPU; and

a memory configured to store computer program code, said computer program code including at least;

computer program code for providing an online store for products, at least a portion of the products being regulated products;

computer program code for receiving interactions from a customer with regard to the online store to create an online order for one or more of the products;

computer program code for requesting the customer to set delivery information for the online order of the customer, the delivery information including at least delivery timing data;

computer program code for receiving the delivery information for the online order of the customer;

computer program code for determining whether the online order includes at least one regulated product;

computer program code for determining, when it is determined that the online order includes at least one regulated product, whether delivery of the online order in accordance with the delivery timing data is permitted based on at least one regulation associated with the at least one regulated product, the at least one regulated product pertaining to an alcohol product or a tobacco product, and the at least one regulation serving to regulate delivery timing of at least alcohol or tobacco products; and

computer program code for producing a perceptible indication that at least the at least one regulated product is not permitted to be delivered in accordance with the delivery timing data if it is determined that the at least one regulated product is not permitted to be delivered in accordance with the delivery information.

34. A system of claim 33, wherein the delivery information includes at least a state to which the online order is to be delivered.

35. A system of claim 33, wherein the delivery information includes at least a delivery address to which the online order is to be delivered.

36. A system of claim 33, wherein said system is configured to inform the customer that delivery of the at least one regulated product is restricted.

37. A system of claim 33, wherein said system is configured to inform the customer that delivery of the online order, due to at least one regulated product, is subject to at least one restriction.

38. A system as recited in claim 37, wherein when the at least one restriction prohibits delivery of the at least one regulated product in accordance with the delivery information, said system is configured to (i) remove the at least one regulated product from the online order and maintain the delivery information, or (ii) allow the customer to designate other delivery information.

39. A system as recited in claim 33, wherein the at least one regulation prohibits delivery of regulated products based on one or more of month of year, week of month, day of month, or calendar date.

40. A system as recited in claim 33,

wherein said computer program code for receiving interactions from the customer with regard to the online store to create the online order for one or more of the products comprises computer program code for providing an electronic shopping cart configured to identify the one or more products of the online order, and

wherein said computer program code for determining whether delivery of the online order in accordance with the delivery information is permitted operates to check those products that have been placed within the electronic shopping cart.

41. A computer-implemented method performed by at least one computing device for facilitating online purchase of regulated products over a network, said method comprising:

providing an online store for products, at least a portion of the products being regulated products;

receiving interactions from a customer with regard to the online store to identify one or more of the products for an online order;

requesting the customer to set a delivery location for the online order;

receiving a requested delivery location for the online order from the customer;

determining, by the at least one computing device, whether the online order includes at least one regulated product; and

determining, by the at least one computing device, when it is determined that the online order includes at least one regulated product, whether delivery of the online order to the requested delivery location is permitted based on at least one regulation associated with the at least one regulated product, the at least one regulated product pertaining to an alcohol product or a tobacco product, and the at least one regulation serving to regulate delivery timing of at least alcohol or tobacco products.

42. A computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein said method further comprises:

producing a perceptible indication that at least the at least one regulated product is not permitted to be delivered to the requested delivery location when it is determined that the at least one regulated product is not permitted to be delivered to the requested delivery location.

43. A computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein said method comprises:

informing the customer that delivery of the at least one regulated product is restricted, when it is determined that the at least one regulated product is not permitted to be delivered to the requested delivery location.

44. A computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein said method comprises:

allowing the customer to (i) remove the at least one regulated product from the online order or (ii) designate another delivery location, when it is determined that the at least one regulated product is not permitted to be delivered to the requested delivery location.

45. A computer-implemented method of claim 42, wherein the at least one regulation prohibits delivery of regulated products based on one or more of month of year, week of month, day of month, or calendar date.

46. A computer-implemented method of claim 41,

wherein said method comprises providing an electronic shopping cart configured to identify the one or more products of the online order, and

wherein said determining whether delivery of the online order to the requested delivery location is permitted operates to check those products that have been placed within the electronic shopping cart.