Systems and methods for managing orders made via a computer network

• US 8,015,068 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transform Sr Brands, LLC (ESL Investments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sears Brands LLC (Sears Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Mills, Robert, Levine, Daniel, Eroles, Arnold S., Swamy, Sanjana, Prakash, Shailesh, Yu, James, Huppert, Jim, Holtman, Karen S., Grimm, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZURITA, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US12/539,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• 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 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for allowing a user to schedule pickup of an ordered item provides a user interface having user interface elements for allowing a user to specify a frequency with which an order is it to be picked up, for informing a user as to availability of the item for pickup, and/or for allowing a user to request that an item be held in reserve for pickup within a given period of time, such as 24 hours. Frequency options provided to the user for selection when scheduling an order for pickup may include a one-time frequency, a daily frequency, a weekly frequency, a monthly frequency, and user specified dates. The information as to availability of the item for pickup is determined considering a time of order and real-time stocking information for the item.

Claims

1. A computer-readable non-transitory media stored thereon computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions perform steps for allowing a user to schedule pickup of an ordered item, the steps comprising:

providing a search results page which includes an item available for ordering;

providing a user interface comprising user interface elements for allowing a user to specify that an order which includes the item is it to be scheduled for pickup;

wherein the user interface comprises an indicator for informing a user of a time when at least the item in the order will be available for pickup;

wherein the time is determined considering real-time stocking information for the item; and

wherein the real-time stocking information for the item is used to influence a position of the item within the search results page.

2. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1 wherein the user interface is caused to be displayed via user interactions with a tool bar.

3. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface is caused to be displayed via user interaction with a user interface element of the search results page.

4. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface is caused to be displayed via user interaction with a user interface element of a product details page.

5. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein items within a single order are available to be scheduled for pickup at different times.

6. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein an item within an order can be held in reserve at the pickup location.

7. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 6, wherein payment for the item held in reserve need not be made until the item is picked up at the pickup location.

8. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein the item is held in reserve for a predetermined period of time and then released for purchase by others.