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

• US 7,908,175 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lin, Shiejye Geoffrey, Carter, Sharon Evelyn, Chang, E-Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Airapetian; Mila
• Application Number:
  US11/512,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• 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 grocery shopping list for a customer via a personal shopping system connected to a communications network, wherein the personal shopping system includes purchasing decision logic defined by the customer that specifies a preferred brand for each grocery product, a purchase schedule for each grocery product, and a maximum amount the customer is willing to pay for each grocery product, wherein the shopping list identifies grocery products the customer wants to purchase based on the decision logic, wherein generating the shopping list is initiated automatically upon the occurrence of any of the following;

as grocery products are consumed by the customer, in response to entering grocery product identification information into a device in communication with the communications network, in response to scanning a barcode associated with a grocery product via a scanning device in communication with the communications network, and in response to selecting a grocery product displayed within a display screen of a device in communication with the communications network;

transmitting the shopping list from the personal shopping system to one or more grocery product providers via the communications network with a request for information about each grocery product on the shopping list, wherein the information request for each grocery product on the shopping list includes grocery product price information, grocery product availability information, and grocery product location information;

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

transmitting the received grocery product information from the personal shopping system to a remotely located customer client device via the communications network, wherein the information includes grocery product price information, grocery product availability information, and grocery product location information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of cell phones, PDAs, personal computers, internet video devices, and WebTVs.

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

4. A personal shopping system, comprising:

a grocery product usage repository that contains customer information for a remotely located customer, and wherein the customer information includes information about grocery products previously purchased by the customer;

a processor;

memory coupled to the processor;

purchasing decision logic stored within the memory, wherein the purchasing decision logic is defined by the customer and specifies a preferred brand for each grocery product, a purchase schedule for each grocery product, and a maximum amount the customer is willing to pay for each grocery product;

a computer program code residing in the memory that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the following;

generate a grocery shopping list for the customer, wherein the grocery shopping list identifies grocery products the customer wants to purchase based on the decision logic, wherein generating the shopping list is initiated automatically upon the occurrence of any of the following;

as grocery products are consumed by the customer, in response to entering grocery product identification information into a device in communication with the communications network, in response to scanning a barcode associated with a grocery product via a scanning device in communication with the communications network, and in response to selecting a grocery product displayed within a display screen of a device in communication with the communications network;

transmit the grocery shopping list to at least one grocery product provider via the communications network with a request for information about each grocery product on the shopping list, wherein the information request for each grocery product on the grocery shopping list includes grocery product price information, grocery product availability information, and grocery product location information;

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

transmit the received grocery product information to a remotely located customer client device via the communications network, wherein the information includes grocery product price information, grocery product availability information, and grocery product location information, and wherein the customer client device is a cell phone, a PDA, a personal computer, an internet video device, or a WebTV.

5. The personal shopping system of claim 4, further comprising computer program code that, when executed by the processor, allows a customer to modify a generated grocery shopping list.