Wireless, location-based e-commerce for mobile communication devices

• US 20080004888A1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hildreth, Robert, Haveson, Ryan A., Davis, Darren R., Morris, Max G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,239,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Wireless-enabled mobile communication devices and network nodes are configured for participation in wireless, location-based e-commerce activities. Consumers using mobile communication devices in the vicinity of physical retail locations receive opportunities to engage in e-commerce, using their mobile communication devices, with merchants operating the physical retail locations. In an exemplary e-commerce transaction, a wireless communication session is established between a mobile communication device and a wireless network access node, which may be associated with a wireless local area network (“WLAN”) or a wide-area network (“WAN”). Via the wireless communication session, a consumer receives a virtual retail experience associated with the physical retail location, and an exchange of consideration between the consumer and the merchant entity is arranged. In exchange for consideration from the consumer, the consumer receives commodity.

Claims

1. An e-commerce method, comprising:

identifying a retail location proximate to a location of a mobile communication device operated by a consumer;

based on the identified retail location, arranging for establishment of a wireless communication session between the mobile communication device and a wireless network node;

via the wireless communication session, arranging for the consumer to receive information regarding a commodity that is available for transfer on behalf of the merchant entity; and

arranging for an exchange of consideration between the consumer and the merchant entity via the wireless communication session, the consideration from the consumer in exchange for the commodity.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

via the wireless communication session, arranging for the communication device to present a user interface associated with the retail location,

wherein the step of arranging for the consumer to receive information regarding a commodity comprises arranging for the consumer to receive information regarding the commodity via the user interface.

3. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the consideration from the consumer is selected from the group consisting of a promise to pay money, a promise to receive advertising via the wireless communication session, and redemption of a redeemable article.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the commodity is selected from the group consisting of:

a commodity at the premises, a discount on a commodity at the premises, a digital media file, streaming digital media content, a service provided to the consumer via the wireless communication session, a license, and a redeemable article.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

ascertaining a location of the mobile communication device within a predefined service region of a wireless local area network operated on behalf of the merchant entity,

wherein the retail location is within the predefined service region, and wherein the step of establishing the wireless communication session comprises establishing the wireless communication session between the mobile communication device and a node of the wireless local area network operated on behalf of the merchant entity.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the retail location is identified from among a plurality of retail locations within the predefined service region.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein at least some of the plurality of retail locations are operated by different merchant entities.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the predefined service region comprises one of:

a store having a plurality of departments comprising the plurality of retail locations;

a mall having a plurality of stores comprising the plurality of retail locations;

a theme park having a plurality of themed regions comprising the plurality of retail locations; and

a public attraction having a plurality of geographical areas comprising the plurality of retail locations.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

ascertaining a location of the mobile communication device using a wide-area network,

wherein the step of establishing the wireless communication session comprises establishing the wireless communication session between the mobile communication device and a node of the wide-area network.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a profile associated with the consumer;

via the wireless communication session, collecting information regarding a behavior of the consumer; and

based on the collected information, updating the profile.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the collected information is selected from the group consisting of:

information input by the consumer via the communication device;

information provided by the consumer to the merchant entity;

information regarding location of the consumer with respect to the retail location;

consideration exchanged by the consumer; and

communication device-collected information.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of arranging for the mobile communication device to receive information regarding a commodity comprises using the profile to customize the information associated with the commodity.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of identifying a retail location proximate to the location of the mobile communication device comprises using the profile to identify a retail location proximate to the location of the mobile communication device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the profile is used to identify the retail location based on an affiliation of the identified retail location with a retail location previously visited by the consumer.

15. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 1.

16. An e-commerce system, comprising:

a location manager configured to determine if a mobile communication device operable by a consumer is proximate to a retail location;

a network interface responsive to the location manager, the network interface configured to use a predetermined communication protocol to establish a wireless communication session between the mobile communication device and a wireless network node; and

a commodity transfer manager responsive to the location manager and the network interface, the commodity transfer manager configured to

arrange for the consumer to receive, via the wireless communication session, information regarding a commodity that is available for transfer on behalf of the merchant entity, and

arrange for an exchange of consideration between the consumer and the merchant entity via the wireless communication session, the consideration from the consumer in exchange for the commodity.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the system comprises a client-side operating environment.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the client-side operating environment is implemented within one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a portable digital media player, a computer, and a vehicle-mounted device.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the system comprises a server-side operating environment.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the server-side operating environment is implemented by one of a point-of-presence server operated on behalf of the merchant entity within a wireless local area network at the retail location, and a server within a wide-area network.