Method and apparatus for selecting a pickup location based on customer location

• US 8,392,262 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mallick, Martyn, Smith, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): STOPP, COURTNEY L
• Application Number:
  US12/017,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20090187489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/26.1, 705/27.1
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining a pickup location for an item selected in an online transaction based on location information or data. The method comprises obtaining location data for the mobile communication device and determining availability of the selected item at one or more locations based on proximity to the location. According to an embodiment, one of the locations with item availability is selected and the online transaction is completed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for selecting a pickup location during a checkout procedure for purchasing an item in an online transaction from a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

selecting an item for purchase from a single retailer, wherein said single retailer comprises a plurality of retailer locations;

initiating a checkout procedure for purchasing said selected item, said checkout procedure including the step of providing payment information to said single retailer;

obtaining, by a server associated with the single retailer, retailer location data associated with at least some of said plurality of retailer locations for said single retailer only;

providing device location data associated with the mobile communication device;

determining one or more potential retailer locations for pickup of said selected item based on said device location data and said retailer location data;

determining, by the server, whether said selected item is currently available at said one or more potential retailer locations associated with said single retailer,

providing the mobile communication device with said one or more potential retailer locations determined to have current item availability and said one or more potential retailer locations determined not to have current availability with expected item availability dates; and

selecting from the mobile communication device one of said plurality of retailer locations, the selecting of one of said plurality of retailer locations occurring after the selecting of the item for purchase and the initiating of the checkout procedure; and

completing, by the server, the checkout procedure by processing said provided payment information and making the selected item available at said selected retailer location.

2. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of determining one or more potential retailer locations for pickup comprises processing said device location data and said retailer location data to determining one or more retailer locations within a proximate distance to the location of said mobile communication device.

3. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of providing device location data associated with the mobile communication device comprises determining a current location based on one or more of GPS location data or cellular tower location data associated with the mobile communication device.

4. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of determining one or more potential retailer locations for pickup comprises selecting a pre-defined location set by the user of the mobile communication device.

5. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pre-defined location is transmitted from the mobile communication device and overrides the device location data.

6. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pre-defined location is stored in a server accessed by said retailer.

7. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining location data comprises receiving data for a client location from the mobile communication device.

8. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, further including the step of providing the mobile communication device with directions to said selected retailer location.

9. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of determining one or more retailer system associated locations is executed in response to an in-store pickup request from the client.

10. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, further including the step of providing an option of a future pickup if the item is not available at said one or more of said plurality of retailer locations.

11. An electronic device configured for selecting a pickup location during a checkout procedure for purchasing an item in an online transaction with a retailer chain comprising a plurality of retailer locations, said electronic device comprising:

a component configured to select an item for purchase from said retailer chain and transmit data for said selected item to a retailer server associated with said retailer chain;

a component configured to initiate a checkout procedure for purchasing said selected item, and including a component to generate payment information for said retailer server;

a component configured to transmit location data associated with the electronic device to said retailer server;

a component configured to receive from the retailer server one or more potential retailer locations for pickup of said selected item based on said device location data and said retailer location data;

a component configured to transmit an availability request for said selected item at said one or more potential retailer locations associated with said single retailer and receive from the retailer server said one or more potential retailer locations determined to have current item availability and said one or more potential retailer locations determined not to have current availability with expected item availability dates;

a component configured to select one of said one or more potential retailer locations, the selecting of one of said one or more potential retailer locations occurring after the selecting of the item for purchase and the initiating of the checkout procedure; and

a component configured to transmit said payment information to said retailer server and complete said checkout procedure.

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said device location data comprises a physical location for the electronic device.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said device location data comprises a physical location defined by a client using the electronic device.

14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said device comprises a mobile communication device operatively coupled to a communication network with said retailer server.

15. A server for determining a pickup location during a checkout procedure for the purchase of an item in an online transaction from a mobile communication device operatively coupled to a communication network, wherein the item is selected from a retailer chain having a plurality of geographically dispersed retailer locations, said server comprising:

a computer operatively coupled to the communication network and configured to execute a plurality of code modules;

a code module configured to process a checkout request from the mobile communication device for the selected item;

a code module configured to receive payment information from the mobile communication device;

a code module configured to obtain device location data for the mobile communication device;

a code module configured to obtain retailer location data for one or more of said plurality of geographically dispersed retailer locations having the selected item available for purchase;

a code module configured to determine one or more potential retailer locations for pickup of the selected item based on said device location data and said retailer location data;

a code module to determine whether said selected item is currently available at said one or more potential retailer locations associated with said single retailer;

a code module to provide to the mobile communication device said one or more potential retailer locations determined to have current item availability and said one or more potential retailer locations determined not to have current availability with expected item availability dates;

a code module configured to select one of said potential retailer locations for pickup of the selected item in response to an input from the mobile communication device, the selecting of one of said potential retailer locations occurring after the selection of the item and the processing of the checkout procedure;

a code module configured to process said payment information and complete said checkout request; and

a code module configured to reserve said selected item for pickup at said selected retailer location.

16. The server as claimed in claim 15, further including a code module configured to provide directions to said selected retailer location at the mobile communication device.

17. The server as claimed in claim 15, further including a code module configured to select one or more of said plurality of geographically dispersed retailer locations for a future pickup if the selected item is not available for purchase.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing executable instructions for selecting a pickup location during a checkout procedure for purchasing an item in an online transaction from using a mobile communication device, said computer readable medium comprising:

a storage medium configured to store computer readable instructions executable by a processor,

said computer instructions comprising,

selecting an item for purchase from a single retailer, wherein said single retailer comprises a plurality of retailer locations;

initiating a checkout procedure for purchasing said selected item, said checkout procedure including the step of providing payment information to said single retailer;

obtaining retailer location data associated with at least some of said plurality of retailer locations for said single retailer only;

providing device location data associated with the mobile communication device;

determining one or more potential retailer locations for pickup of said selected item based on said device location data and said retailer location data;

determining whether said selected item is currently available at said one or more potential retailer locations associated with said single retailer,

providing the mobile communication device with said one or more potential retailer locations determined to have current item availability and said one or more potential retailer locations determined not to have current availability with expected item availability dates; and

selecting from the mobile communication device one of said plurality of retailer locations, the selecting of one of said plurality of retailer locations occurring after the selecting of the item for purchase and the initiating of the checkout procedure; and

completing the checkout procedure by processing said provided payment information and making the selected item available at said selected retailer location.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 18, wherein said executable instruction of determining one or more potential retailer locations for pickup comprises processing said device location data and said retailer location data to determine one or more retailer locations within a proximate distance to the location of said mobile communication device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 18, wherein said executable instruction of determining one or more potential retailer locations for pickup comprises selecting a pre-defined location set by the user of the mobile communication device.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 20, wherein said pre-defined location is transmitted from the mobile communication device and overrides the device location data.