Automated system for managing baby care products

• US 8,112,322 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Williams, Rodney Bernard, Moeggenberg, Katherine Marie, La Niear, Charlotte Vallory
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zukanovich, Brandy A
• Application Number:
  US13/219,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20110313881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 162 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/26.1, 705/26.8, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0607 Regulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/18 for washing or drying persons

Abstract

A method, in a computer-based online system having a memory, for managing an account for purchasing baby care products by a particular user, wherein the account is for use with a particular category of baby care products, including diapers.

Claims

1. A method, in a computer-based online system having a memory, for managing an account for purchasing baby care products by a particular user, wherein the account is for use with a particular category of baby care products, the method comprising:

electronically receiving a first message including a request to contribute a specified amount to the account, wherein the request is associated with a participant distinct from the user;

causing the account to be updated in accordance with the first message;

electronically receiving a second message including a request from the user to apply a certain amount available in the account to a purchase of a specified product;

determining whether the specified product is a product in the category of baby care products associated with the account; and

only in response to determining that the specified product is a product in the category of baby care products associated with the account, granting the request to apply the certain amount to the purchase.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

electronically transmitting an update request to a server operated by a financial institution in response to receiving the first message to update a financial account corresponding to the account in accordance with the first message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the account to be updated in accordance with the first message includes automatically updating a data record in a database associated with the computer-based online system, the method further comprising:

providing a selection of baby care products to the user via an electronic store, including limiting the selection to the category of baby care products associated with the account;

wherein the second message is automatically generated in response to a user selecting the product at the electronic store.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the category of baby care products corresponds to a non-durable good;

the method further comprising;

automatically calculating an estimated amount of time during which a total amount available in the account satisfies the user'"'"'s need for the non-durable good; and

providing an indication including the estimated amount of time to the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the category is limited to age-specific versions of a non-durable good.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the non-durable good is diapers.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the non-durable good is diapers.