Abstract:
Systems and methods are disclosed that relate to providing information about an item available for sale. This item is selected for purchase by a buyer, and the location information of the buyer and seller are exchanged. As the buyer approaches the seller, the location of the seller is reported to the buyer. The sale can be completed upon the arrival of the buyer to the seller.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Generally, the invention relates to computer networks and wireless devices, and, more particularly, marketing and sales using location information. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Traditional point of sale (POS) transactions are conducted by a consumer going to a store, choosing an item, instructing a cashier as to the selected item, waiting for the item to be ready, paying for the item, and then leaving the store. There are many problems associated with this traditional POS transaction. First, communication difficulties may exist between the consumer and the cashier. Second, the ordering process creates necessary delays. Additionally, if a store has a long wait or an item is unavailable, a consumer will be unaware of the situation until after the consumer has exerted time, effort, and energy attempting to purchase an item. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    In one embodiment, a method is disclosed that relates to providing information about an item available for sale. This item is selected for purchase by a buyer, and the location information of the buyer and seller are exchanged. As the buyer approaches the seller, the location of the seller is reported to the buyer. The sale can be completed upon the arrival of the buyer to the seller. 
         [0004]    In another embodiment, another method is disclosed that configures a user interface device to receive a plurality of alerts relating to item. This method also may include receiving an alert on the user interface device that the item is available for purchase. This alert may include sales information and the location of the item. This method may also include conducting a wireless transaction to purchase the item, notifying the seller of the item automatically when the buyer approaches to pick up the item, and completing the transaction. 
         [0005]    In yet another embodiment, a system is disclosed that has a user interface that is capable of displaying information. In addition, the system also includes a memory component capable of storing information relating to the user interface and a plurality of user preferences. The system also has a location determining unit to determine the location of the system and to display the location of the system on the user interface. In addition, this system also has a wireless communication device that communicates with a second wireless communication device. The wireless communication device receives information relating to an item that corresponds to a preference in the memory component and displays the item on the user interface. The wireless communication promotes a transaction to purchase the item, and the wireless communication device provides the seller of the item location information relating to the buyer of the item. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one system of implementing a portable point of sale system. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a consumer within the range of an outer wireless service area. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a consumer within the range of an intermediate wireless service area. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a consumer within the range of a short-range wireless service area. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a preferences table. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of a consumer touch screen showing a main menu. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of a consumer touch screen showing a sub menu. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of a consumer touch screen showing a purchasing menu. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart of one embodiment of purchasing items using the portable point of sale system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary general purpose computer system suitable for implementing the several embodiments of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a portable point-of-sale (PPOS) system  2 . The PPOS system  2  allows consumer  6  to exchange information with a server  8  and a location determination unit  4 . Server  8  communicates with both consumer  6  and a store  24 . In one embodiment, consumer  6  contacts location determination unit  4  and obtains location information relating to the position of consumer  6 . Consumer  6  requests information relating to an item from server  8 . Server  8  accepts this request and determines that the requested item is available at store  24 . Server  8  then transmits information (e.g., price, description, etc.) relating to the requested item to consumer  6 . Consumer  6  is then presented with information related to the item and the location of the item. Consumer  6  may then purchase the item from store  24  using server  8 . Store  24  notified, through a method disclosed herein, when consumer  6  approaches store  24 . PPOS system  2  allows two-way communication between store  24  and consumer  6 . This communication allows store  24  to complete the transaction with consumer  6  without requiring that consumer  6  wait in line or place a traditional POS order. 
         [0018]    Location determination unit  4  may be any device used to determine the location of consumer  6 . Examples of location determination unit  4  include, but are not limited to, a global positioning system (GPS). It is understood that other methods of determining the location of consumer  6  may be used, including through the triangulation of signals transmitted to consumer  6  from cellular towers. It is understood that any method of determining the location of consumer  6  may be used consistent with the present disclosure. 
         [0019]    The location determination unit  4  may be programmed to update the location of consumer  6  at any frequency. For instance, location determination unit  4  may be programmed to perform updates based upon the change in position of the consumer  6 , the speed of consumer  6 , or at a predetermined time interval. 
         [0020]    Consumer  6  is an exemplary consumer with a communications interface device capable of communication with location determination unit  4  and server  8 . For the purposes of this disclosure, consumer  6  may have an communications interface including, but not limited to, a mobile cell phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a personal computer, a navigation system, or any other device capable of wireless communication. While no direct communication is shown between store  24  and consumer  6  it is understood that if consumer  6  is within the range of a network operated by store  24 , consumer  6  may communicate directly with store  24 . 
         [0021]    Server  8  is a general-purpose computing device capable of communications with consumer  6  and store  24 . Server  8  may be located at a wireless base station, at an Internet service provider (ISP), or any other location that allows consumer  6  to communicate with store  24 . 
         [0022]    Store  24  is an entity that communicates with server  8 . Store  24  is able to accept orders from server  8  and consumer  6 . Store  24  may be any kind of store, business, service, or other entity that may provide goods or services to consumer  6 . Examples of goods that store  24  may sell include, but are not limited to, food, clothes, electronics or other consumer items. Examples of services that store  24  may provide include, but are not limited to, health, laundry, or other services. The use of the term “store” should not be construed as limiting, as store may be any entity that can communicate with either server  8  or consumer  6 , and provide any service or good to consumer  6 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is an illustration showing one embodiment of a portion of the PPOS system  2 . In this embodiment, a map  10  shows consumer  6  on a first road  14 . Also in this figure are a second road  12 , a store  24 , a large wireless range  18 , a medium wireless range  20 , and a small wireless range  22 .  FIG. 1  illustrates that consumer  6  is within large wireless range  18  but not within medium wireless range  20  or short wireless range  22 . In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , medium wireless range  20  promotes direct communication between consumer  6  and store  24 . However, consumer  6  is not within medium wireless range  20 , so consumer  6  cannot communicate directly with store  24 . In this embodiment, consumer  6  may use the large wireless range  18  to communicate with store  24  through server  8 . 
         [0024]    Large wireless range  18  may be any network capable of long-range communication, including, but not limited to cellular networks, satellite networks, and any other networks capable of long-range communication. An example of a large wireless range  18  networks include a wireless wide area network (WWAN). Examples of cellular networks include, but are not limited to, code division multiple access (CDMA) and global system for mobile communications (GSM) radio transceiver cards, and other well-known network standards. 
         [0025]    Medium wireless range  20  may be any network capable of being operated by store  24 . Examples of medium wireless range  20  networks include, but are not limited to, IEEE 802.11 standard and its successors (known today as 802.11 a, b, g, n, etc.; hereinafter, all of the 802.11 standards are referred to collectively as “802.11” unless explicitly stated otherwise). Medium wireless range  20  may, in some embodiments overlap portions of the large wireless range  18 . In the event that consumer  6  travels into medium wireless range  20 , it is understood that there may be a handoff between the wireless systems. In such a case, consumer  6  may use one or both of large wireless range  18  network or medium wireless range  20  network. 
         [0026]    Short wireless range  22  is intended to refer to very short-range network communications. One example of this type of network is a short-range wireless protocol called Bluetooth. Bluetooth is implemented as a standardized protocol for short-range data communication using unlicensed radio frequencies. Another example of this short wireless range  22  is a radio-frequency (RFID) identification method. The short range allows for secure processing or payments, as well as the transmission of location information relating to consumer  6 . 
         [0027]    It is expressly understood that consumer  6  may configure the PPOS system  2  to alert consumer  6  when certain buying opportunities are near. As will be explained in  FIG. 5 , the user can set a plurality of preferences relating to items that consumer  6  is interested in. Consumer  6  may set PPOS system  2  to alert consumer  6  when a sale on a particular item is occurring. For instance, if consumer  6  is interested in buying shoes, and a sale is occurring within a predetermined range of the current location of consumer  6 , an alert will appear on the communication interface device used by consumer  6 . The alert may take the form of a text message, audio message, video message, or combination of forms. It is further understood that PPOS system  2  can act in an “active” mode (e.g. messages are pushed to the consumer interface device) and a passive mode (e.g. the consumer initiates a search for an item). 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is another map  10  that is substantially similar to  FIG. 2 . In this  FIG. 3 , consumer  6  is now within the range of medium wireless range  20 . At this point, consumer  6  may communicate directly with store  24 . This may allow for additional types of exchange of information. For instance, consumer  6  may alert store  24  that consumer  6  has arrived at store  24 . In this way store  24  is aware of the presence of consumer  6 , and can provide the requested goods or services to consumer  6 . In addition, content that might unavailable in the large wireless range  18  network might be available in the medium wireless range  20 . For instance, multimedia content that might be unavailable through large range wireless  18  network might be available in medium range wireless range  20 . When consumer  6  comes within medium wireless range  20  an automated registration process might allow the consumer to complete transactions, or perform any other function with store  24 . 
         [0029]    One example where medium wireless range  20  may exchange large amounts of data is in the health services. Consumer  6  may register the presence of consumer  6  to a doctor in store  24  upon arriving at a medical office. In another embodiment, consumer  6  might require emergency medical attention and be taken to a hospital. At the hospital, consumer  6  might automatically transmit information relating to the medical emergency of consumer  6 , information relating to the medical history of consumer  6 , insurance information of consumer  6 , and other information relating to consumer  6 . In such a way, the hospital could have an integrated system allowing new or returning patents to avoid a lengthy checking process by providing all of the emergency medical information automatically. 
         [0030]    While three ranges are shown, it is understood that any range of devices may be used consistent with this disclosure. The use of the three disclosed ranges is only for the purpose of illustrating alternative ranges. This disclosure should not be construed as to be limiting as to any particular range or number of ranges. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is also substantially similar to  FIG. 2 . In this illustration, consumer  6  has arrived at store  24  and is within the range of short wireless range  22 . At this range, the transition between consumer  6  and store  24  may be completed using Bluetooth, RFID, or any other short-range technology. In addition, the short wireless range  22  allows store  24  to become aware of the location of consumer  6 . The ability for store  24  to be aware of the location of consumer  6  allows for several innovative features. For example, if in-store  24  was a service-oriented business, such the dry cleaner, the dry cleaner might bring the clothes to consumer  6  upon the arrival of consumer  6 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows a table  40  showing the preferences of consumer  6 . This table may be stored locally within a machine owned and used by consumer  6  or may be stored on a server  8 . It is closely understood that the preferences shown here are for exemplary purposes only and other preferences may be present within the disclosed system. There are four columns for preferences shown in table  40 , payment methods  42 , display coupons  44 , item preferences  46 , and item exclusion  48 . These columns are used for illustrative purposes only, and are offered to show the available options of consumer  6 . 
         [0033]    Payment methods  42  may be used to determine what type payments the consumer prefers to use. If consumer  6  prefers to use RFID, RFID will be noted in the payment method column. Consumer  6  may also store one or more credit cards within the payment methods. Consumer  6  may select from these payment methods at time of purchase to automate the purchase products process. In this way, when consumer  6  selects an item to be purchased from store  24 , the order can be transmitted to store  24 , the order acknowledged by store  24 , and the item paid for all seamlessly without requiring the physical presence of consumer  6 . 
         [0034]    Column  44  allows consumer  6  to determine what coupons or promotions to accept from different categories of vendors. For instance, if consumer  6  prefers to receive coupons for food but does not want to receive coupons for electronics or clothes, consumer  6  will only be shown coupons for food. It is understood that any criteria or classification may be used to determine what types of information the consumer wants to receive (e.g. rather than coupons, promotional or other material may be offered). 
         [0035]    Item preferences  46  allow the consumer to list one or more types of goods or services that the consumer is interested in purchasing. In the present example, consumer  6  indicated a preference for Chinese, fast, and Mexican food. Therefore, in some embodiments, whenever consumer  6  is looking for restaurants, restaurants that correspond to item preferences  46  will first be presented to consumer  6 . 
         [0036]    Item exclusion  48  is a list of items to which consumer  6  is not interested in. In the example embodiment given in  FIG. 5  consumer  6  has excluded Italian food, electronics, and shoes. Consumer  6  does not wish to receive information relating to these stores. This is useful if, for instance, consumer  6  requested information relating to restaurants in the area. Consumer  6  would not be shown any Italian restaurants based on the consumers preferences. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is a screenshot  60  of a main menu that may be displayed on any mobile device used by consumer  6 . Examples of mobile devices include but are not limited to screens mounted within a vehicle, GPS and devices, mobile phones, general-purpose computer or any other device capable of communication with store  24  or server  8 . Consumer  6  is presented with a main option  62  that asks what the consumer is looking for. Consumer  6  is presented with three options under the main option: food  64 , gas  66 , and general shopping  68 . It is understood that any number of different options may be presented to consumer  6 . Depending upon the option that consumer  6  selects, the PPOS system  2  will attempt to find options that correspond to that category of choice. 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  is an example of a screenshot that might appear after the screenshot of  FIG. 6  if the consumer selects food  64 . A first choice  82 , a second choice  84 , and a third choice  86  are shown with the relative distance from consumer  6 . The location of consumer  6  is determined through the use of one of the aforementioned methods of triangulation or GPS navigation. A map  88  is displayed below the options, which shows the locations of the choices presented. 
         [0039]      FIG. 8  is a screenshot of the possible options presented to consumer  6 , if consumer  6  selects the first option  82 . In this example, the title of the name of the restaurant consumer  6  has chosen is shown in block  102 . The distance of the option from consumer  6  is shown in block  104 . Consumer  6  is presented with a menu that lists the items available at restaurant  102 . In the example embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , consumer  6  selects noodles as shown in block  108 . Consumer  6  can purchase noodles  108  using select button  110 . In such a case, PPOS system  2  will transmit information relating to be purchased to store  102 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 9  is an example flowchart  130  of one method of implementing the presently disclosed systems and methods. In block  132 , consumer  6  first selects the buy button  110 . In block  134  the system prepares the order for transmission. This preparation may include determining what information the consumer wishes to transmit concurrently with the order. Examples of information that consumer  6  may choose to transmit include, but are not limited to, specific instructions, vehicle description, or vehicle location. 
         [0041]    In block  136 , consumer  6  transmits order information and provides the vehicle&#39;s estimated time of arrival or the distance the vehicle is from store  24 . In block  138 , the PPOS system  2  will check the consumer preferences to determine whether the consumer wishes to pay remotely. If the consumer does not wish to pay remotely there will be no payment initiated as shown in block  140 . If the consumer does wish to cement a payment, a remote payment will be initiated as shown in block  142 . In block  146 , consumer  6  receives an order confirmation. In block  148  the consumer drives to store  24  and store  24  is alerted to the presence of consumer  6 . In block  150 , the transaction is completed and consumer  6  completes the purchase from store  24 . 
         [0042]    Server  8  described above may be implemented on any general-purpose computer  290  with sufficient processing power, memory resources, and network throughput capability to handle the necessary workload placed upon it. A consumer home personal computer, networked to a central server  8  through a wide area network, such as the Internet, may be used in conjunction with the disclosed embodiments. The consumer home personal computer may share some, or all, of the elements of server  8 .  FIG. 10  illustrates a typical, general-purpose computer system suitable for implementing one or more embodiments disclosed herein. The general-purpose computer  290  includes a processor  302  (which may be referred to as a central processor unit or CPU) that is in communication with memory devices including secondary storage  292 , read only memory (ROM)  294 , random access memory (RAM)  296 , input/output (I/O)  298  devices, and network connectivity devices  300 . The processor may be implemented as one or more CPU chips. 
         [0043]    The secondary storage  292  is typically comprised of one or more disk drives or tape drives and is used for non-volatile storage of data and as an over-flow data storage device if RAM  296  is not large enough to hold all working data. Secondary storage  292  may be used to store programs that are loaded into RAM  296  when such programs are selected for execution. The ROM  294  is used to store instructions and perhaps data that are read during program execution. ROM  294  is a non-volatile memory device that typically has a small memory capacity relative to the larger memory capacity of secondary storage. The RAM  296  is used to store volatile data and perhaps to store instructions. Access to both ROM  294  and RAM  296  is typically faster than to secondary storage  292 . 
         [0044]    I/O  298  devices may include printers, video monitors, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), touch screen displays, keyboards, keypads, switches, dials, mice, track balls, voice recognizers, card readers, paper tape readers, or other well-known input devices. The network connectivity devices  392  may take the form of modems, modem banks, ethernet cards, universal serial bus (USB) interface cards, serial interfaces, token ring cards, fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) cards, wireless local area network (WLAN) cards, radio transceiver cards such as code division multiple access (CDMA) and/or global system for mobile communications (GSM) radio transceiver cards, and other well-known network devices. These network connectivity devices  300  may enable the processor  302  to communicate with an Internet or one or more intranets. With such a network connection, it is contemplated that the processor  302  might receive information from the network, or might output information to the network in the course of performing the above-described method steps. 
         [0045]    Such information, which may include data or instructions to be executed using processor  302  for example, may be received from and outputted to the network, for example, in the form of a computer data baseband signal or signal embodied in a carrier wave. The baseband signal or signal embodied in the carrier wave generated by the network connectivity devices  300  may propagate in or on the surface of electrical conductors, in coaxial cables, in waveguides, in optical media, for example optical fiber, or in the air or free space. 
         [0046]    The information contained in the baseband signal or signal embedded in the carrier wave may be ordered according to different sequences, as may be desirable for either processing or generating the information or transmitting or receiving the information. The baseband signal or signal embedded in the carrier wave, or other types of signals currently used or hereafter developed, referred to herein as the transmission medium, may be generated according to several methods well known to one skilled in the art. 
         [0047]    The processor  302  executes instructions, codes, computer programs, scripts that it accesses from hard disk, floppy disk, optical disk (these various disk based systems may all be considered secondary storage  292 ), ROM  294 , RAM  296 , or the network connectivity devices  300 . 
         [0048]    While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods might be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details given herein. For example, the various elements or components may be combined or integrated in another system or certain features may be omitted, or not implemented. 
         [0049]    Also, techniques, systems, subsystems and methods described and illustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Other products shown or discussed as directly coupled or communicating with each other may be coupled through some interface or device, such that the products may no longer be considered directly coupled to each other but may still be indirectly coupled and in communication, whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise with one another. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein. 
         [0050]    It should be understood that although an exemplary implementation of one embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated above, the present system may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated above, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.