Apparatus and method for facilitating transactions

• US 7,433,834 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GTJ Ventures, LLC (Raymond Anthony Joao)
• Original Assignee: Raymond Anthony Joao
• Inventors: Joao, Raymond Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, JEFFREY A
• Application Number:
  US10/094,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,402 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, including storing information regarding a goal and/or expectation regarding in-store sales, revenues, profits, or losses, regarding a retail store, selecting or triggering an occurrence of an event which is selected or triggered by an employee of the retail store, processing in-store sales, revenue, profit, or loss, information corresponding to the retail store in connection with the goal and/or expectation with a processor in response to the occurrence of the event, identifying a good, product, or service, for which an in-store price change is recommended, determining an in-store price change for the good, product, or service, generating a message containing information regarding the in-store price change, and transmitting the message to a wireless device associated with an individual. The wireless device is inside the retail store.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory device for storing information regarding at least one of a goal and an expectation regarding at least one of in-store sales, in-store revenues, in-store profits, and in-store losses, regarding a retail store;

a processor, wherein the processor processes at least one of in-store sales information, in-store revenue information, in-store profit information, and in-store loss information, corresponding to the retail store, in connection with the at least one of a goal and an expectation, in response to a selection or a triggering of an occurrence of an event by a manager or an employee of the retail store, wherein the processor determines whether or not the at least one of a goal and an expectation has been met, and further wherein the processor identifies at least one of a good, a product, and a service, for which an in-store price change is recommended, and further wherein the processor determines an in-store price change for the at least one of a good, a product, and a service, wherein the processor generates a message containing information regarding the in-store price change for the at least one of a good, a product, and a service; and

a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits the message to a wireless device associated with an individual, wherein the wireless device is inside the retail store.

2. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory device for storing information regarding at least one of a goal and an expectation regarding at least one of in-store sales, in-store revenues, in-store profits, and in-store losses, regarding a retail store, and information regarding at least one of a bid and an offer for at least one of a good, a product, and a service, wherein the at least one of a bid and an offer is placed by or made by an individual or a shopper, and further wherein the at least one of a bid and an offer is at least one of entered into the apparatus via an input device and received by a receiver;

a processor, wherein the processor processes at least one of in-store sales information, in-store revenue information, in-store profit information, and in-store loss information, corresponding to the retail store in connection with the at least one of a goal and an expectation, and wherein the processor determines whether or not the at least one of a goal and an expectation has been met, and further wherein the processor processes information regarding the at least one of a bid and an offer and determines whether or not the at least one of a bid and an offer is acceptable, and further wherein the processor determines an in-store price change for the at least one of a good, a product, and a service, for the individual or the shopper in response to the at least one of a bid and an offer, wherein the processor generates a message containing information indicating that the at least one of a bid and an offer is accepted or containing information regarding the in-store price change for the individual or the shopper for the at least one of a good, a product, and a service, in response to the at least one of a bid and an offer; and

a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits the message to a wireless device associated with the individual or the shopper, wherein the wireless device is inside the retail store.

3. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

storing information regarding at least one of a goal and an expectation regarding at least one of in-store sales, in-store revenues, in-store profits, and in-store losses, regarding a retail store;

selecting or triggering an occurrence of an event, wherein the event is selected or triggered by an employee of the retail store;

processing at least one of in-store sales information, in-store revenue information, in-store profit information, and in-store loss information, corresponding to the retail store in connection with the at least one of a goal and an expectation with a processor in response to the occurrence of an event;

identifying at least one of a good, a product, and a service, for which an in-store price change is recommended;

determining an in-store price change for the at least one of a good, a product, and a service;

generating a message containing information regarding the in-store price change for the at least one of a good, a product, and a service; and

transmitting the message to a wireless device associated with an individual, wherein the wireless device is inside the retail store.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the in-store price change is at least one of a price reduction and a discount.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

at least one of transmitting the information regarding the in-store price change to at least one of a store computer, an electronic price display device, and an electronic bulletin board, and displaying information regarding an in-store price change on or via at least one of a store computer, an electronic price display device, and an electronic bulletin board.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

effecting a price change for the at least one of a good, a product, and a service.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the in-store price change is a price increase.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the event is a scheduled sale or a sales promotion.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the event is at least one of a meeting of at least one of a sales level, a revenue level, a profit level, and a loss level, a start of an accounting period, an end of an accounting period, a receipt of a delivery of a good or product, a selling of a good or product, and a selling out of a good or product.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the message is transmitted to the wireless device in response to an acceptance of a bid or offer made by the individual.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing information regarding the in-store price change to a sales person.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the message contains information regarding a coupon or an electronic coupon.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the message contains an advertisement.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the wireless device is at least one of a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, and a personal digital assistant.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the processor processes information regarding a plurality of retail stores.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

at least one of changing a price at least one of on a merchandise rack, on merchandise, and at a check-out register, and displaying information regarding an in-store price change on or via at least one of a display located at least one of on a merchandise display rack, at a check-out register, on a promotional display device, and on an electronic bulletin board.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing information input or received via at least one of a cash register system, a sales recording or a sales registering system, an accounts receivable system, and an inventory computer system; and

utilizing the information input or received via the at least one of a cash register system, a sales recording or a sales registering system, an accounts receivable system, and an inventory computer system, in at least one of identifying the at least one of a good, a product, and a service, and in determining the in-store price change.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing information regarding at least one of a shopping history, a purchasing history, and a buying pattern, of the individual; and

utilizing the information regarding the at least one of a shopping history, a purchasing history, and a buying pattern, of the individual in at least one of identifying the at least one of a good, a product, and a service, for which an in-store price change is recommended, and determining the in-store price change for the at least one of a good, a product, and a service.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing information regarding at least one of a bid and an offer for a second at least one of a good, a product, and a service, wherein the at least one of a bid and an offer is placed by or made by the individual or by a shopper;

processing the information regarding the at least one of a bid and an offer;

determining whether or not the at least one of a bid and an offer is acceptable;

determining a second in-store price change for the second at least one of a good, a product, and a service, for the individual or the shopper in response to the at least one of a bid and an offer;

generating a second message containing information indicating that the at least one of a bid and an offer is accepted, containing information regarding the second in-store price change for the second at least one of a good, a product, and a service, in response to the at least one of a bid and an offer, or containing a counteroffer in response to the at least one of a bid and an offer; and

transmitting the second message to the wireless device, to a communication device associated with the individual, or to a communication device associated with the shopper.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the message contains information regarding an electronic coupon and an incentive for using the electronic coupon within a certain time period.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

processing a payment or a pre-payment for the at least one of a good, a product, and a service, wherein the payment or the pre-payment is made via the wireless device.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

processing a request by the individual to purchase an option to purchase the at least one of a good, a product, and a service;

determining a price of the option;

generating a second message containing information regarding the price of the option; and

transmitting the second message to the wireless device.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing information regarding at least one of a bid and an offer made by the individual or by a shopper for a second at least one of a good, a product, and a service;

determining whether the at least one of a bid and an offer is accepted;

generating a second message, if the at least one of a bid and an offer is accepted, containing information indicating that the at least one of a bid and an offer is accepted; and

transmitting the second message to the wireless device, to a communication device associated with the individual, or to a communication device associated with the shopper.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the event is an expiration of a pre-specified time period.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the event is at least one of a meeting of a sales level or a profit level, a start of an accounting period, an end of an accounting period, an end of a sales event, a receipt of a delivery of a good or a product, and a selling of a good, a product, or a service.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

identifying a second at least one of a good, a product, and a service, which is a subject of an upsell offer, and further wherein the message contains information regarding the upsell offer.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein, the event is at least one of a detection of a purchase made by the individual or a shopper, a use of a coupon, a use of an electronic coupon, and an expiration of a time period associated with at least one of a coupon, an electronic coupon, and an upsell offer.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

generating a second message, wherein the second message contains information regarding at least one of a sales offering, an upsell offering, a coupon, and an electronic coupon; and

transmitting the second message to at least one of the wireless device, a communication device associated with the individual, and a communication device associated with a shopper.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

processing information regarding the individual, a shopper, or multiple shoppers, entering into the retail store or a mall;

generating a second message containing at least one of a sales offering, a discount offering, an upsell offering, a coupon, and an electronic coupon; and

transmitting the second message to at least one of the wireless device, a communication device associated with the shopper, or a communication device associated with at least one of the multiple shoppers.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing information regarding at least one of a request and a bid regarding a second at least one of a good, a product, and a service, wherein the at least one of a request and a bid is made by the individual or by a shopper;

identifying an affiliated marketing partner, in an affiliated marketing relationship with the retail store, for responding to the at least one of a request and a bid;

determining whether the affiliated marketing partner is capable of providing information in response to the request or whether the affiliated marketing partner accepts the bid or makes a counteroffer to the bid;

generating a second message containing information regarding a response to the request, an acceptance of the bid, or a counteroffer to the bid; and

transmitting the second message to at least one of the wireless device, a communication device associated with the individual, and a communication device associated with the shopper.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, further comprising:

identifying a third at least one of a good, a product, and a service, which is a subject of an upsell offer, wherein the second message contains information regarding the upsell offer.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, further comprising:

determining if a purchase is made pursuant to the affiliated marketing relationship; and

effecting a payment to the retail store pursuant to the affiliated marketing relationship.

33. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

storing information regarding at least one of a goal and an expectation regarding at least one of in-store sales, in-store revenues, in-store profits, and in-store losses, regarding a retail store, and information regarding at least one of a bid and an offer for at least one of a good, a product, and a service, wherein the at least one of a bid and an offer is placed by or made by an individual or a shopper;

processing at least one of in-store sales information, in-store revenue information, in-store profit information, and in-store loss information, corresponding to the retail store in connection with the at least one of a goal and an expectation with a processor;

processing information regarding the at least one of a bid and an offer with the processor;

determining whether or not the at least one of a bid and an offer is acceptable;

determining an in-store price change for the at least one of a good, a product, and a service, for the individual or the shopper in response to the at least one of a bid and an offer;

generating a message containing information indicating that the at least one of a bid and an offer is accepted or containing information regarding the in-store price change for the individual or the shopper for the at least one of a good, a product, and a service, in response to the at least one of a bid and an offer; and

transmitting the message to a wireless device associated with the individual or the shopper, wherein the wireless device is inside the retail store.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, wherein the in-store price change is at least one of a price reduction and a discount.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, further comprising:

at least one of transmitting the information regarding the in-store price change to at least one of a store computer, an electronic price display device, and an electronic bulletin board, and displaying information regarding an in-store price change on or via at least one of a store computer, an electronic price display device, and an electronic bulletin board.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, wherein the in-store price change is a price increase.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, wherein the message contains information regarding a coupon or an electronic coupon.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, wherein the message contains an advertisement.

39. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, wherein the wireless device is at least one of a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, and a personal digital assistant.

40. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, further comprising:

at least one of changing a price at least one of on a merchandise rack, on merchandise, and at a check-out register, and displaying information regarding an in-store price change on or via at least one of a display located at least one of on a merchandise display rack, at a check-out register, on a promotional display device, and on an electronic bulletin board.

41. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, further comprising:

storing information regarding at least one of a shopping history, a purchasing history, and a buying pattern, of the individual or the shopper; and

utilizing the information regarding the at least one of a shopping history, a purchasing history, and a buying pattern, of the individual or the shopper in determining whether the at least one of a bid and an offer is accepted.

42. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, further comprising:

selecting or triggering an occurrence of an event, wherein the event is selected or triggered by an employee of the retail store;

processing at least one of in-store sales information, in-store revenue information, in-store profit information, and in-store loss information, corresponding to the retail store in connection with the at least one of a goal and an expectation in response to the occurrence of an event;

identifying a second at least one of a good, a product, and a service, for which an in-store price change is recommended;

determining an in-store price change for the second at least one of a good, a product, and a service;

generating a second message containing information regarding the in-store price change for the second at least one of a good, a product, and a service; and

transmitting the second message to the wireless device associated with the individual or the shopper or to a communication device associated with a second individual.

43. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, wherein the message contains information regarding an electronic coupon and an incentive for using the electronic coupon within a certain time period.

44. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, further comprising:

processing a payment or a pre-payment for the at least one of a good, a product, and a service, wherein the payment or the pre-payment is made via the wireless device.

45. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, further comprising:

processing a request by the individual or the shopper to purchase an option to purchase the at least one of a good, a product, and a service;

determining a price of the option;

generating a second message containing information regarding the price of the option; and

transmitting the second message to the wireless device.

46. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, further comprising:

identifying a second at least one of a good, a product, and a service, which is the subject of an upsell offer, and further wherein the message contains information regarding the upsell offer.

47. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, further comprising:

processing information regarding the individual, the shopper, or multiple shoppers, as they enter into the retail store or a mall, or as they enter the retail store or a mall;

generating a second message containing at least one of a sales offering, a discount offering, an upsell offering, a coupon, and an electronic coupon; and

transmitting the second message to at least one of the wireless device, a communication device associated with the individual or the shopper, or a communication device associated with at least one of the multiple shoppers.

48. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, wherein the at least one of a bid and an offer is placed or made via the wireless device or the at least one of a bid and an offer is placed or made via a communication device or a kiosk located inside the retail store or inside or at a mall.

49. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, further comprising:

identifying an affiliated marketing partner, in an affiliated marketing relationship with the retail store, for responding to the at least one of a bid and an offer;

determining whether the affiliated marketing partner accepts the at least one of a bid and an offer or whether the affiliated marketing partner makes a counteroffer to the at least one of a bid and an offer;

generating a second message containing information regarding an acceptance of the at least one of a bid and an offer or a counteroffer to the at least one of a bid and an offer; and

transmitting the second message to at least one of the wireless device, a communication device associated with the individual, and a communication device associated with the shopper.

50. The computer-implemented method of claim 49, further comprising:

identifying an upsell opportunity regarding a second at least one of a good, a product, and a service, wherein the second message contains information regarding the upsell offer.

51. The computer-implemented method of claim 49, further comprising:

determining if a purchase is made pursuant to the affiliated marketing relationship; and

effecting a payment to the retail store pursuant to the affiliated marketing relationship.

52. The computer-implemented method of claim 49, further comprising:

generating a second message, wherein the second message contains information regarding at least one of a sales offering, an upsell offering, a coupon, and an electronic coupon; and

transmitting the second message to at least one of the wireless device, a communication device associated with the individual, and a communication device associated with the shopper.