Patent ID: 7233914
Filing Date: 2007-06-19
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for effecting, via a computer network, substitution of at least one ordered item of at least one customer order for on-line shopping, the method comprising: receiving, via the computer network at least one customer order placed by a customer through a computing device, the at least one customer order including more than one ordered item, with at least one ordered item having an ordered quantity larger than one, the customer order being a current order of the customer, including delivery time information regarding the order; analyzing a selected portion of the received customer order taking into consideration at least another customer order to determine whether at least one item of inventory has been oversold, said analyzing being performed prior to the delivery of at least one ordered item of the received customer order and at least one ordered item of the at least another customer order; identifying an ordered item in the received customer order relating to an oversold item; and upon identifying the ordered item relating to the oversold item, automatically substituting, based upon information regarding at least one substitution preference stored in a storage medium, at least one substitute item for the identified ordered item in the received customer order, the at least one substitution preference being provided by the customer, wherein the substituting depends on a ratio rule for substituting the substitute item for the identified ordered item, wherein a quantity of the substitute item to be substituted for a quantity of the identified ordered item is not one for one, and is dependent on applying the ratio rule to the quantity of the identified ordered item, wherein the customer is allowed to modify the at least one substitution preference during the current order, and wherein the customer is allowed to view the image of at least one item through the computing device to support the customer in placing the current order.