Shopping optimizer
First Claim
1. A computer program product for optimizing a shopping itinerary, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable and executable by one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
- receiving, by the one or more processors, from a computing device of a first shopper, over a network, an identification of a first desired item, wherein the identification of the first desired item is from a list of multiple desired items for the first shopper, wherein each desired item of the multiple desired items is offered at a discounted price, at a different physical store, and at a specific time on a given date, and wherein the first desired item is available for purchase at a first physical store at a first specific time on a first given date comprising a point in time of the receiving from the computing device of the first shopper, the identification of the first desired item;
receiving, by the one or more processors, from a computing device of a second shopper, over the network, an identity of the second shopper, wherein the second shopper has been identified as also desiring the first desired item and currently shopping for the first desired item;
determining a likelihood of the first shopper arriving at the first physical store before the second shopper purchases a last available instance of the first desired item in the first physical store, wherein the determining comprises;
ascertaining, by the one or more processors, a geographical location of the first shopper at the point in time of the receiving from the computing device of the first shopper, the identification of the first desired item, based on utilizing a global positioning system in the computing device of the first shopper over the network;
ascertaining, by the one or more processors, a geographical location of the second shopper at the point in time of the receiving from the computing device of the first shopper, the identification of the first desired item, based on utilizing a global positioning system in the computing device of the second shopper over the network;
determining, by the one or more processors, relative travel times to the first physical store for the first shopper and the second shopper from the point in time of the receiving from the computing device of the first shopper, the identification of the first desired item;
determining, by the one or more processors, a time at which a quantity of the first desired items will be exhausted, based on polling, at pre-determined intervals, an inventory management system to determine the quantity of the first desired items that is available at the first physical store and a rate at which the first desired item is sold at the first physical store during the pre-determined intervals; and
determining, by the one or more processors, the likelihood of the first shopper arriving at the first physical store before the second shopper purchases the last available instance of the first desired item in the first physical store, by comparing the time at which the quantity of the first desired items will be exhausted with the relative travel times;
based on the likelihood, determining, by the or more processors, that the first shopper will arrive at the first physical store before the last available instance of the first desired item has been purchased by the second shopper;
computing, by the one or more processors, directions to the first physical store from the geographical location of the first shopper, wherein based on following the direction, the first shopper will arrive at the first physical store at a time before the time at which the quantity of the first desired items will be exhausted;
providing, by the one or more processors, over the network, the first shopper with an identity of the first physical store, wherein the providing comprises providing the global positioning system in the computing device of the first shopper with directions to the first physical store to enable the computing device of the first shopper to navigate to the first physical store to arrive before the time at which the quantity of the first desired items will be exhausted; and
generating, by the one or more processors, a shopping itinerary for the first shopper, wherein the shopping itinerary comprises, for the first desired item, the identity of the first physical store and the directions to the first physical store and for each remaining desired item on the list of multiple desired items, an identity of the different physical store and directions to the different physical store with an anticipated arrival at the specific time on a given date when the desired item is offered at the discounted price.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, and/or computer program product optimizes shopping for one or more desired items. An identification of a desired item, which is initially available for purchase at a first physical store, is received. An identity of a second shopper, who also wants the desired item and is currently shopping for the desired item, is received. One or more processors then determine a likelihood of the first shopper arriving at the first physical store before the second shopper purchases a last available instance of the desired item in the first physical store. In response to determining that the first shopper will arrive at the first physical store before the last available instance of the desired item has been purchased by the second shopper, the first shopper is provided with an identity of the first physical store.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer program product for optimizing a shopping itinerary, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable and executable by one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
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receiving, by the one or more processors, from a computing device of a first shopper, over a network, an identification of a first desired item, wherein the identification of the first desired item is from a list of multiple desired items for the first shopper, wherein each desired item of the multiple desired items is offered at a discounted price, at a different physical store, and at a specific time on a given date, and wherein the first desired item is available for purchase at a first physical store at a first specific time on a first given date comprising a point in time of the receiving from the computing device of the first shopper, the identification of the first desired item; receiving, by the one or more processors, from a computing device of a second shopper, over the network, an identity of the second shopper, wherein the second shopper has been identified as also desiring the first desired item and currently shopping for the first desired item; determining a likelihood of the first shopper arriving at the first physical store before the second shopper purchases a last available instance of the first desired item in the first physical store, wherein the determining comprises; ascertaining, by the one or more processors, a geographical location of the first shopper at the point in time of the receiving from the computing device of the first shopper, the identification of the first desired item, based on utilizing a global positioning system in the computing device of the first shopper over the network; ascertaining, by the one or more processors, a geographical location of the second shopper at the point in time of the receiving from the computing device of the first shopper, the identification of the first desired item, based on utilizing a global positioning system in the computing device of the second shopper over the network; determining, by the one or more processors, relative travel times to the first physical store for the first shopper and the second shopper from the point in time of the receiving from the computing device of the first shopper, the identification of the first desired item; determining, by the one or more processors, a time at which a quantity of the first desired items will be exhausted, based on polling, at pre-determined intervals, an inventory management system to determine the quantity of the first desired items that is available at the first physical store and a rate at which the first desired item is sold at the first physical store during the pre-determined intervals; and determining, by the one or more processors, the likelihood of the first shopper arriving at the first physical store before the second shopper purchases the last available instance of the first desired item in the first physical store, by comparing the time at which the quantity of the first desired items will be exhausted with the relative travel times; based on the likelihood, determining, by the or more processors, that the first shopper will arrive at the first physical store before the last available instance of the first desired item has been purchased by the second shopper; computing, by the one or more processors, directions to the first physical store from the geographical location of the first shopper, wherein based on following the direction, the first shopper will arrive at the first physical store at a time before the time at which the quantity of the first desired items will be exhausted; providing, by the one or more processors, over the network, the first shopper with an identity of the first physical store, wherein the providing comprises providing the global positioning system in the computing device of the first shopper with directions to the first physical store to enable the computing device of the first shopper to navigate to the first physical store to arrive before the time at which the quantity of the first desired items will be exhausted; and generating, by the one or more processors, a shopping itinerary for the first shopper, wherein the shopping itinerary comprises, for the first desired item, the identity of the first physical store and the directions to the first physical store and for each remaining desired item on the list of multiple desired items, an identity of the different physical store and directions to the different physical store with an anticipated arrival at the specific time on a given date when the desired item is offered at the discounted price. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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2. A computer system comprising:
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computer readable memory; one or more processors in communication with the computer readable memory; and program instructions executable by the one or more processors via the memory to perform a method, the method comprising; receiving, by the one or more processors, from a computing device of a first shopper, over a network, an identification of a first desired item, wherein the identification of the first desired item is from a list of multiple desired items for the first shopper, wherein each desired item of the multiple desired items is offered at a discounted price, at a different physical store, and at a specific time on a given date, and wherein the first desired item is available for purchase at a first physical store at a first specific time on a first given date comprising a point in time of the receiving from the computing device of the first shopper, the identification of the first desired item; receiving, by the one or more processors, from a computing device of a second shopper, over the network an identity of the second shopper, wherein the second shopper has been identified as also desiring the first desired item and currently shopping for the first desired item; determining, by the one or more processors, a likelihood of the first shopper arriving at a first physical store before the second shopper purchases a last available instance of the first desired item in the first physical store, the determining comprising; ascertaining, by the one or more processors, a geographical location of the first shopper at the point in time of the receiving from the computing device of the first shopper, the identification of the first desired item, based on utilizing a global positioning system in the computing device of the first shopper over the network; ascertaining, by the one or more processors, a geographical location of the second shopper at the point in time of the receiving from the computing device of the first shopper, the identification of the first desired item, based on utilizing a global positioning system in the computing device of the second shopper over the network; determining, by the one or more processors, relative travel times to the first physical store for the first shopper and the second shopper from the point in time of the receiving from the computing device of the first shopper, the identification of the first desired item; determining, by the one or more processors, a time at which a quantity of the first desired items will be exhausted, based on polling, at pre-determined intervals, an inventory management system to determine the quantity of the first desired items that is available at the first physical store and a rate at which the first desired item is sold at the first physical store during the pre-determined intervals; and determining, by the one or more processors, the likelihood of the first shopper arriving at the first physical store before the second shopper purchases the last available instance of the first desired item in the first physical store, by comparing the time at which the quantity of the first desired items will be exhausted with the relative travel times; based on the likelihood, determining, by the or more processors, that the first shopper will arrive at the first physical store before the last available instance of the first desired item has been purchased by the second shopper; computing, by the one or more processors, directions to the first physical store from the geographical location of the first shopper, wherein based on following the direction, the first shopper will arrive at the first physical store at a time before the time at which the quantity of the first desired items will be exhausted; and providing, by the one or more processors, over the network, the first shopper with an identity of the first physical store, wherein the providing comprises providing the global positioning system in the computing device of the first shopper with directions to the first physical store to enable the computing device of the first shopper to navigate to the first physical store to arrive before the time at which the quantity of the first desired items will be exhausted; and generating, by the one or more processors, a shopping itinerary for the first shopper, wherein the shopping itinerary comprises, for the first desired item, the identity of the first physical store and the directions to the first physical store and for each remaining desired item on the list of multiple desired items, an identity of the different physical store and directions to the different physical store with an anticipated arrival at the specific time on a given date when the desired item is offered at the discounted price.
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Specification