Method and system for providing retail-item-purchasing data in a computer network environment

• US 8,200,551 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Nemer, James Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Misiaszek, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/755,174
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261- 272
• US Class Current: 705/26.9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A method and system for communicating retail-item-purchasing data in a computer network environment is provided. Commute information is leveraged to provide purchasing options to end-users and to permit customers to automatically search for various products available at local businesses without having to visit each business. The commute information can be a commute path or a location reference. One or more providers of the items within a distance of the commute path are identified. Purchasing data is communicated based on the determination of the providers.

Claims

1. A method for accepting a request for retail product information from an end-user, comprising:

presenting a first prompt on a client device for communicating a request for information regarding one or more items;

presenting a second prompt for communicating a commute route; and

presenting purchasing data related to said one or more items to said end-user, wherein said purchasing data includes prices of said one or more items offered by one or more providers within a distance from said commute route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said client device includes a selection from the group comprising:

a handheld device, a computer, a kiosk, an automobile two-way communication device, a telephone and a database.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said handheld device includes a selection from the group comprising:

a mobile phone, a pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), and personal information manager (PIM).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said commute route is generated from input provided by said end-user.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said commute route is generated from input provided by a location-sensing device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said location-sensing device includes a device equipped with a global-positioning component.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said commute route includes data received from a mapping component.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said distance is at most fifty miles.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said distance is a parameter received from said end-user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said distance is a default value.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said purchasing data includes a selection from the group comprising:

a price of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of alternative products related to said items;

an availability status of complementary products related to said items;

an availability status of generic alternatives to said items;

a product description; and

a sum of said prices.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein presenting said purchasing data includes presenting said purchasing data on said client device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

presenting a third prompt for receiving a purchase request from said end-user to order said one or more items from said one or more providers; and

presenting a confirmation prompt that said purchase request was transmitted to said one or more providers.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising presenting a final commute path, wherein said final commute path includes said provider(s) to fulfill said purchase request.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising presenting a promotional offer from said one or more providers.

16. Computer-storage media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for implementing a system for accepting a request for retail product information from an end-user, comprising:

a list-processing component that presents a first prompt on a client device for communicating a request for information regarding one or more items;

a route-processing component that presents a second prompt for communicating a commute route; and

a purchasing-data component that presents purchasing data related to said one or more items to said end-user, wherein said purchasing data includes prices of said one or more items offered by one or more providers within a distance from said commute route.

17. Computer-storage media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for a method of providing retail product information on a list of one or more items, the method comprising the steps of:

providing for the creation of an end-user account;

associating a first retail sale of one or more items from a first business with said end-user account; and

associating a second retail sale of one or more items from a second business with said end-user account.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein said first retail sale comprises items to be received by said end-user from said first business.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein said second retail sale comprises items to be received by said end-user from said second business.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising:

storing said retail sales;

associating payment information of said end-user with said end-user account;

presenting one or more of said stored retail sales to said end-user;

managing said stored retail sales, wherein said managing includes a selection from a group comprising;

(1) sharing said stored retail sales with other retailers,

(2) reviewing a history of said stored retail sales,

(3) organizing said stored retail sales, and

(4) communicating said stored retail sales to a remote device.