Mobile Shopping Decision Agent

• US 20110276385A1
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Keller, Marc B.
• Application Number:
  US12/775,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20110276385A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A mobile shopping decision agent application is disclosed. A wireless-enabled (e.g., WiFi) device that uses three or more routers to locate the exact position (e.g., aisle number, shelf, etc. in a store) of a user operating the wireless-enabled device to provide the user with assistance in shopping (e.g., comparison, order online, read technical specifications, read customer reviews, etc.) for a product, and allows the user to purchase the product on the spot from the merchant (or another competing merchant) direct from his/her account with a bank online or at the merchant POS/checkout. In addition, application also may use various social networking features (e.g., product recommendations from friends, recommendations from public at large, wish list, etc.) to enhance the customer'"'"'s shopping experience.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

connecting a user device to a network located in a store;

wirelessly locating the user device'"'"'s physical location in the store;

sending product information to the user device from a server, wherein the product information is based on a product search based on input from the user device, a purchase history, or the user device'"'"'s physical location in the store.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the product search is entered into the user device using a bar code scan, NFC, manual search, or an image of the product.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the product information comprises one or more of the following:

location information, specifications, reviews, and price.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein the location information comprises store mapping and the product information on price comprises a price comparison.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing an option to purchase the product on the user device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising providing financing options for purchasing the product on the user device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising providing an option to purchase the product directly from an account stored on the user device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the server issues an electronic receipt to the user device after the product is purchased.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising issuing an electronic coupon to the user device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein wirelessly locating the user device'"'"'s physical location in the store comprises triangulation using at least three wireless access points.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a processor for executing computer-executable instructions; and

one or more memories storing the computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform a method comprising;

connecting a user device to a network located in a store;

wirelessly locating the user device'"'"'s physical location in the store using at least three wireless routers;

sending product information to the user device, wherein the product information is based on a product search from the user device, a purchase history, or the user device'"'"'s physical location in the store.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the product search is entered into the user device using a bar code scan, NFC, manual search, or an image of the product.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the product information comprises one or more of the following:

location information, specifications, reviews, and price.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the location information comprises store mapping and the product information on price comprises a price comparison.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising providing an option to purchase the product directly on the user device from the store or online.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising providing financing options for purchasing the product on the user device.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the server issues an electronic receipt to the user device after the product is purchased.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising issuing an electronic coupon to the user device.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein wirelessly locating the user device'"'"'s physical location in the store comprises triangulation using the at least three wireless routers.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a processor for executing computer-executable instructions; and

one or more memories storing the computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform a method comprising;

connecting a user device to a network located in a store;

wirelessly locating the user device'"'"'s physical location in the store using a triangulation method with at least three wireless access points;

sending product information to the user device, wherein the product information is based on a product search from the user device, a purchase history, or the user device'"'"'s physical location in the store and wherein the product information comprises one or more of the following;

location information, specifications, reviews, and price comparison;

issuing an electronic coupon to the user device for the product;

providing the user device with an option to purchase the product from the store or online; and

issuing an electronic receipt to the user device if the product is purchased.