Methods, systems, and computer program products that facilitate and enhance personal shopping

• US 20080059323A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lin, Shiejye Geoffrey, Carter, Sharon Evelyn, Chang, E-Lee
• Granted Patent: US 7,908,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• 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 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products that facilitate personal shopping are provided. A shopping list is generated for a customer via a personal shopping system connected to a communications network. The shopping list identifies one or more products the customer wants to purchase. The personal shopping system includes a product usage repository that contains customer information for each of a plurality of customers, including information about products previously purchased by each customer. The shopping list is transmitted to one or more product providers via the communications network with a request for information about each product on the shopping list. Product information is received for each item on the shopping list from one or more product providers via the communications network and communicated to the customer via the communications network.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating personal shopping, comprising:

generating a shopping list for a customer via a personal shopping system connected to a communications network, wherein the shopping list identifies one or more products the customer wants to purchase, wherein the personal shopping system includes a product usage repository that contains customer information for each of a plurality of customers, and wherein the customer information includes information about products previously purchased by each customer;

transmitting the shopping list to one or more product providers via the communications network with a request for information about each product on the shopping list;

receiving product information for each item on the shopping list from one or more product providers via the communications network; and

communicating the received product information to the customer via the communications network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for information comprises a request for information selected from the group consisting of product availability, product price, and product location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a shopping list comprises automatically generating the shopping list as products are consumed by the customer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a shopping list comprises generating a shopping list based upon product ingredients.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a shopping list is responsive to entering product identification information into a device in communication with the communications network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a shopping list is responsive to purchasing decision logic defined by a customer.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of cell phones, PDAs, personal computers, internet video devices, and WebTVs.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a shopping list is responsive to scanning a barcode associated with the product via a scanning device in communication with the communications network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a shopping list is responsive to detecting an RFID tag identifier associated with the product via an RF antenna in communication with the communications network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a shopping list is responsive to selecting a product displayed within a display screen of a device in communication with the communications network.

20. A computer program product for facilitating personal shopping, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code being configured to carry out the method of claim 1.

11. A method of facilitating personal shopping, comprising:

entering information associated with a product into a device in communication with a communications network;

transmitting the product information to a personal shopping system connected to the communications network, wherein the personal shopping system includes a product usage repository that contains customer information for each of a plurality of customers, and wherein the customer information includes customer product inventory information; and

receiving an indication at the device from the personal shopping system as to whether customer inventory for the product is below a threshold level.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein entering information associated with a product into a device comprises scanning a barcode associated with the product via the device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein entering information associated with a product into a device comprises detecting an RFID tag identifier associated with the product via an RF antenna associated with the device.

14. A personal shopping system, comprising:

a product usage repository that contains customer information for each of a plurality of customers, and wherein the customer information includes information about products previously purchased by each customer;

means for generating a shopping list for a customer, wherein the shopping list identifies one or more products the customer wants to purchase;

means for transmitting the shopping list to one or more product providers via the communications network with a request for information about each product on the shopping list;

means for receiving product information for each item on the shopping list from one or more product providers via the communications network; and

means for communicating the received product information to the customer via the communications network.

15. The personal shopping system of claim 14, wherein the means for generating a shopping list comprises means for allowing a customer to modify a generated shopping list.

16. The personal shopping system of claim 14, wherein the request for information comprises a request for information selected from the group consisting of product availability, product price, and product location.

17. The personal shopping system of claim 14, wherein the means for generating a shopping list comprises means for automatically generating a shopping list as products are consumed by a customer.

18. The personal shopping system of claim 14, wherein the means for generating a shopping list comprises means for generating a shopping list in response to entering product identification information into a device in communication with the communications network.

19. A personal shopping system, comprising:

a product usage repository that contains customer information for each of a plurality of customers, and wherein the customer information includes customer product inventory information;

a customer device comprising means for entering information associated with a product and transmitting entered information to the product usage repository; and

means for receiving an indication at the customer device as to whether customer inventory for the product is below a threshold level.