System and method for obtaining items at a traveler's destination

• US 7,219,074 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Basson, Sara H., Kanevsky, Dimitri, Capek, Peter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischetti; Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US09/854,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20020169682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,192 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 206/534
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• 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

A method for providing a service for a traveler to acquire at least one item at the traveler'"'"'s destination, comprising the steps of receiving a request from a traveler for obtaining at least one item; providing the traveler with the option to one of rent and purchase the at least one item, arranging for the at least one item to be supplied, arranging for shipping of the at least one item to a location selected by the traveler at a time selected by the traveler; and conducting a transaction with the traveler for obtaining the at least one item.

Claims

1. A method in a computerized system of providing one or more personal use items for expected use by a user to one or more destinations to which the user intends to travel, the personal use items being provided by a plurality of suppliers able to deliver the personal use items to the destination within a time frame set by the user, the method comprising the steps of:

determining by the user the personal use items needed at the one or more destinations and to be packed in a suitcase;

describing in at least one databases accessible via a network, each of the plurality of destinations to which the user can travel, each of the plurality of participating suppliers at each of said destinations, and personal use items offered by said suppliers at each of said destinations, said description of personal use items being provided by means of spoken words;

selecting a destination, personal use items, a user'"'"'s time frame, and special labeling instructions presented in Braille or other tactile reading indicia;

generating, by said computerized system, at least one list of said selected personal use items picked from the plurality of items according to user'"'"'s preferences, said user'"'"'s time frame, availability of said personal use items, and ability of a supplier to deliver said personal use items to said destination within said user'"'"'s time frame;

eliminating the personal use items contained on the at least one list from those items to be packed in the suitcase;

generating, by said computerized system, instructions as to the placement of said personal use items in placement locations at said one or more destinations indicated in advance by said user;

said computerized system communicating with said suppliers to convey information relating to said personal use items to be provided at the destination within said user'"'"'s time frame, and with said special labeling instructions and in placement locations indicated in advance by said user; and

said suppliers supplying said personal use items to the destination within said user'"'"'s time frame, and with said special labeling instructions and in placement locations indicated in advance by said user.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said database further includes a description of destinations previously visited by said user.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said database further includes a history of items previously requested by said user.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said database further includes personal data of a clothing size, a height, and a weight of said user.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said preferences include preferred activities and preferred colors of the user.

6. A method as in claim 1, further comprising determining a fee for providing said items to the user at the destination.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said fee is determined by at least one server computing device used to manage said database.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein said provided items are sold, leased, rented, loaned, and provided free to the user.

9. A method as in claim 1, further comprising a step of generating a user profile from the a database information corresponding to said user upon said user performing said selecting step.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein said time frame indicates when said user will arrive at said destination and when said user will depart said destination.

11. A method as in claim 10, further comprising a step of forwarding said time frame to said supplier, said supplier providing said selected items at said destination within said time frame.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein said time frame indicates when said items are to be provided at said destination.

13. A method as in claim 12, further comprising a step of forwarding said time frame to said supplier, said supplier providing said selected items at said destination within said time frame.

14. The method as in claim 1, wherein said network is selected from one of the Internet, wireless, or telephone.

15. The method as in claim 14, wherein said selecting step is performed on an interactive world wide web based service, where a history for each user is maintained and interactive selection of desired items to be rented, purchased, and delivered to the destination is performed.

16. The method as in claim 1, further comprising a step of selecting preferences including styles and colors of the items.

17. The method as in claim 1, further comprising a step of labeling and packing the chosen items.

18. The method as in claim 1, further comprising a step of discounting travel service to promote providing said items to said destination.

19. The method as in claim 1, further comprising a step of packing said items in luggage.

20. The method as in claim 1, wherein said suppliers providing step further comprises notifying said suppliers of a change in the user'"'"'s destination;

and providing said items to said changed destination.

21. The method as in claim 1, wherein said suppliers providing step further comprises notifying said suppliers of a change in the user'"'"'s time frame;

and providing said items within said time frame.