Abstract:
Once a purchaser has proceeded through a check out experience with an online retail system, the settings established during that checkout experience will be applied to future checkout experiences by that purchaser. By capturing and thereafter using checkout settings in this manner, a purchaser can proceed from a shopping cart directly to a checkout review page with the checkout review page being pre-populated with such prior established settings. Furthermore, the methodology allows the purchaser to have a virtually unlimited number of goods in their shopping cart and to have multiple different types of order fulfillment options (e.g., shipping, store pickup, delivery to an organization, etc.) automatically established for those goods.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The subject invention generally relates to online retail services and, more particularly, relates to a system and method for providing a streamlined checkout process for use in connection with online retail services. 
     Systems and methods for purchasing goods and/or services (“product”) via use of an online checkout process are known in the art. By way of example only, U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,411, published on Sep. 28, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes a system and method in which an order for product is placed by a purchaser at a client system and received by a server system. The server system receives purchaser information including identification of the purchaser, payment information, and shipment information from the client system. The server system then assigns a client identifier to the client system and associates the assigned client identifier with the received purchaser information. The server system sends to the client system the assigned client identifier and an HTML document identifying the product and including an order button. The client system receives and stores the assigned client identifier and receives and displays the HTML document. In response to the selection of the order button, the client system sends to the server system a request to purchase the identified product. The server system receives the request and combines the purchaser information associated with the client identifier of the client system to generate an order to purchase the product in accordance with the billing and shipment information whereby the purchaser effects the ordering of the product by selection of the order button. 
     SUMMARY 
     Described hereinafter is a system and method for providing a streamlined checkout process for use in connection with online retail services. To this end, once a purchaser has proceeded through a check out experience with the system, the settings established during that checkout experience will be applied to future checkout experiences by that purchaser. In particular, such captured settings will be used to pre-populate information that is presented to a purchaser in a checkout review page that is provided to the purchaser to thereby allow the purchaser to review the details of a purchase transaction before finalizing the same, e.g., by clicking on a “place order” icon. By capturing and thereafter using checkout settings in this manner, a purchaser can proceed from a shopping cart, product detail page, and/or the like directly to the checkout review page without having to again provide transaction related information. As a result, the number of steps required to be performed by the purchaser to submit orders for selected goods will be minimized. Furthermore, the methodology can be used to support a checkout review page in which is presented information for a virtually unlimited number of product which can be purchased through use of multiple different types of order fulfillment options (e.g., shipping, store pickup, delivery to an organization, etc.). 
     While the forgoing provides a general overview of some of the various features and functionalities of the subject invention, a better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties, and relationships of the subject invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth illustrative embodiments and which are indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the subject invention may be employed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the subject invention, reference may be had to preferred embodiments shown in the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates in block diagram form components of an exemplary system for providing a streamlined checkout process for use in connection with online retail services; and 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a screen shot of an exemplary checkout review page utilized in the system of  FIG. 1  to provide a streamlined checkout process for use in connection with online retail service. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to the figures, the following describes a system and method for providing a streamlined checkout process for use in connection with online retail services. To this end, an exemplary system, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , includes a processing device  20  whereby a purchaser may access an online retail channel hosted by a retailer system  68  to, among other things, view and purchase product being offered for sale by a retailer. While illustrated in the exemplary form of a personal computer, it is to be understood that the processing device  20  may be embodied in any type of device having the ability to execute instructions such as, by way of example only, a personal-digital assistant (“PDA”), a cellular telephone, or the like. Furthermore, while described and illustrated in the context of a single processing device  20 , those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the various tasks described hereinafter may be practiced in a distributed environment having multiple processing devices linked via a local or wide-area network, such as the Internet, whereby the executable instructions may be associated with and/or executed by one or more of the multiple processing devices. 
     More particularly, to provide a means for a purchaser to access the online retail channel (and to perform various other tasks as necessary) the processing device  20  preferably includes a processing unit  22  and a system memory  24  which may be linked via a bus  26 . Without limitation, the bus  26  may be a memory bus, a peripheral bus, and/or a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. As needed for any particular purpose, the system memory  24  may include read only memory (ROM)  28  and/or random access memory (RAM)  30 . Additional memory devices may also be made accessible to the processing device  20  by means of, for example, a hard disk drive interface  32 , a magnetic disk drive interface  34 , and/or an optical disk drive interface  36 . As will be understood, these devices, which would be linked to the system bus  26 , respectively allow for reading from and writing to a hard disk  38 , reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk  40 , and for reading from or writing to a removable optical disk  42 , such as a CD/DVD ROM or other optical media. The drive interfaces and their associated physically embodied computer-readable media allow for the storage of instructions, data structures, program modules, and the like for execution by the processing unit  22  of the processing device  20 . Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that other types of physically embodied computer-readable media that can store data and/or executable instructions may be used for this same purpose. Examples of such media devices include, but are not limited to, magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital videodisks, Bernoulli cartridges, random access memories, nano-drives, memory sticks, and other read/write and/or read-only memories. Meanwhile, the program modules that may be stored in one or more of the memory/media devices may include a basic input/output system (BIOS)  44  which contains the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the processing device  20 , such as during start-up, an operating system  46 , one or more applications programs  48  (such as a Web browser), other program modules  50 , and/or program data  52 . 
     To allow a purchaser to enter commands and information into the processing device  20 , e.g., to search for and purchase product, indicate how an order for product is to be fulfilled, etc., input devices such as a touch pad or keyboard  54  and/or a pointing device  56  are provided. While not illustrated, other input devices may include a microphone, a joystick, a game pad, a scanner, a camera, etc. These and other input devices would typically be connected to the processing unit  22  by means of an interface  58  which, in turn, would be coupled to the bus  26 . Input devices may be connected to the processor  22  using interfaces such as, for example, a parallel port, game port, firewire, or a universal serial bus (USB). To view information from the processing device  20 , a monitor  60  or other type of display device may also be connected to the bus  26  via an interface, such as a video adapter  62 . In addition to the monitor  60 , the processing device  20  may also include other peripheral output devices, not shown, such as speakers and printers. 
     As noted above, the processing device  20  may also utilize logical connections to one or more remote processing devices, such as a retailer system  68  having associated data repository  68 A. As will be understood, the data repository  68 A may maintain a database of product that is being sold by the retailer, purchaser information (including information concerning past checkout experiences of particular purchasers), financial information, and the like type of data used in commerce. While the retailer system  68  has been illustrated in the exemplary form of a server computer, it will be appreciated that the retailer system  68  may, like processing device  20 , be any type of device having processing capabilities. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the retailer system  68  need not be implemented as a single device but may be implemented in a manner such that the tasks performed by the retailer system  68  are distributed amongst a plurality of processing devices/databases located at the same or different geographical locations and linked through a communication network. Additionally, the retailer system  68  may have logical connections to other systems third party systems  80  via the network  12  and, via such connections, will be associated with functions that are supported by and data repositories that are linked to such other third party systems. Such third party systems may include, without limitation, systems of banking, credit, or other financial institutions, systems of third party providers of product, systems of shipping/delivery companies, systems that support social networking, etc. 
     For performing tasks as needed, the retailer system  68  may include many or all of the elements described above relative to the processing device  20 . In addition, the retailer system  68  would generally include executable instructions that are likewise stored on physically embodied memory devices for, among other things, supporting online retail channel services, supporting physical retail channel POS services, maintaining records, etc. To this end, the retailer system  68  may additionally include links to point-of-sale devices, e.g., cash registers, that are located within one or more retail stores and the like without limitation. 
     Communications between the processing device  20  and the retailer system  68  may be exchanged via a further processing device, such as a network router, that is responsible for network routing. Communications with the network router may be performed via a network interface component  73 . Thus, within such a networked environment, e.g., the Internet, World Wide Web, LAN, or other like type of wired or wireless network, it will be appreciated that program modules depicted relative to the processing device  20 , or portions thereof, may be stored in the memory storage device(s) associated with the retailer system  68 . 
     As noted above, the subject invention, particularly the retailer system  68 , functions to support a system that provides a streamlined checkout process for use in connection with online retail services. To this end, a purchaser may access the retailer system  68  and browse a catalog of product being offered for sale via the retailer system  68  and indicate a desire to purchase product of interest from the retailer, e.g., the purchaser may view and access product detail pages and from the product detail page place product into a shopping cart or otherwise proceed directly to checkout to thereby effect a purchase of product of interest. While a purchaser may access a checkout page for the purpose of purchasing product via interaction with a product detail page and/or a shopping cart page, it is to be appreciated that a purchaser can equally access a checkout page from other pages provided to the purchaser by the retailer system  68 . By way of additional example and without limitation, a checkout page can be accessed by a purchaser interacting with pages that present listings of product previously purchased by the purchaser, that present listings of product desired to be purchased by the purchaser, that present listings of product purchased by associates or friends of the purchaser, etc. 
     When a purchaser known to the retailer system  68 , e.g., a purchaser that has accessed the retailer system  68  with a provided ID/password pair, with a cookie stored on their computer, etc., proceeds to checkout for the purpose of purchasing product of interest, a checkout review page, an example of which is shown in  FIG. 2 , is caused by the instructions associated with the retailer system  68  to be presented to the purchaser. The checkout review page functions to display to the purchaser all product that has been selected by the purchaser for purchase as well as the current fulfillment option by which each of the selected product is to provided to the purchaser. In this regard, for certain product as appropriate, the purchaser may be provided with options, for example on a product detail page, shopping cart page, or the like, whereby the user can specify to the retailer system  68  one of various different types of fulfillment options for that product. By way of further example, fulfillment options for a product that may be selected by a user, if available for a given product, may include an option to pick-up the ordered product at a given location, to have the ordered product shipped to a home address, to have the ordered product delivered to a business address, etc. As will be appreciated, for certain product, such as regulated items (e.g., prescriptions, alcohol, etc.), only an in-store pickup fulfillment option may be made available to the purchaser. 
     More particularly, the checkout review page functions to present to the purchaser an organized listing of all currently selected product wherein the selected product is organized according to the current fulfillment option by which each of the selected product is to provided to the purchaser. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , because each of the products  202  and  204  was selected for or otherwise limited to the fulfillment option “Pickup Items,” the products  202  and  204  are presented together within the checkout review page as falling within the “Pickup Items” fulfillment option category with all of the relevant information associated with the “Pickup Items” fulfillment option additionally presented to the purchaser in the checkout review page. Likewise, because each of the product  206  and  208  was selected for or otherwise limited to the fulfillment option “Shipping,” the products  206  and  208  are presented together within the checkout review page as falling with the “Shipping” fulfillment option category with all of the relevant information associated with the “Shipping” fulfillment option additionally presented to the purchaser in the checkout review page. As will be appreciated, similar presentations of products and information may be made available in the checkout review page for any other fulfillment options that may be relevant for product selected by the purchaser. 
     Considering the fulfillment option information that is presented to the purchaser in the checkout review page, because the purchaser is known to the retail system  68 , the fulfillment option information is preferably pre-populated using information that has been captured from that purchaser, organization of which the purchaser is a member, or the like, in the past. For example, the information  210  associated with the “Pickup Item” fulfillment option that is presented within the checkout review page, which information specifies to the purchaser how the fulfillment option will be realized if the order is placed, may default to the last location (and possibly pickup time) at which the purchaser picked-up product. To the extent that the purchaser would like to change how the presently presented fulfillment option for “Pickup Item” is to be realized, a drop down list  212  or the like type of user interface element may be made available to the purchaser whereby the purchaser can easily select a different location and/or pickup time at which pickup is to be made of the corresponding “to-be picked up” product  202  and/or  204 . In the case of “Pickup Item” fulfillment, the alternative pickup locations that may be made available for selection by the user via the drop down list  210  would normally be pre-established by the retailer. In a similar manner, the information  214  associated with the “Shipping” fulfillment option that is presented within the checkout review page may default to the last location to which the purchaser had product shipped. To the extent that the purchaser would like to change how the presently presented fulfillment option for “Shipment” is to be realized, a drop down list  216  or the like type of user interface element may be made available to the purchaser whereby the purchaser can easily select a different location to which (or shipping method by which) the “to-be shipped” product  206  and/or  208  is to be shipped, e.g., an address to which product was previously shipped to the purchaser or an address that was otherwise specified to the retailer system  68  by the purchaser. Still further, an option  216  may be presented to the purchaser whereby the purchaser may specify to the retailer system  68  a new address to which the “to-be-shipped” product  206  and/or  208  is to be shipped. With respect to product shipment, while multiple items are preferably consolidated for shipment from a single origin location (store, warehouse, etc.) based on the zip-code address of the current ship-to address, it may be desired to provide the purchaser with the option to change product origin location and/or grouping(s) of product to be shipped together to thereby allow the purchaser to obtain product as required. As will be appreciated, pre-populated information and change options may be presented to the purchaser for any additional fulfillment options, such as delivery to an organization or the like. 
     The checkout review page will additionally present to the purchaser payment and billing information for their current product and fulfillment selections which payment and billing information is again preferably pre-populated using information that has been captured from that purchaser, organization of which the purchaser is a member, or the like, in the past. For example, the billing and payment information  218  associated with the “Pickup Item” fulfillment option that is presented within the checkout review page, which information specifies to the purchaser how payment is to be made if the order is placed, may default to the last payment method used by the purchaser when the purchaser last picked up product that was ordered via the retailer system  68 , e.g., they paid by cash in the store. To the extent that the purchaser would like to change how they would like to pay for the “to-be picked up” product  202  and/or  204 , additional selectable options may be presented to the purchaser, e.g., pay online. In the event that payment is to be made online, the system may additionally default to the last online payment method  220 , e.g., credit card, that was used by the purchaser when paying online, again providing the purchaser with the option  222  to change this currently specified, online payment method. Similarly, in the event that payment is to be made by billing, the system may default to present as the billing information  224  the last billing address that was used by the purchaser when purchasing product via billing with the purchaser once again being provided with the option  226  to change the currently presented billing information. If the last payment method utilized by the purchaser was a gift card, the retailer system  68  may determine if the amount left on the gift card is sufficient to cover the needed payments and, if not, the retailer system  68  may default to use a previously provided credit/debit card as the currently displayed form of payment. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, through use of the described checkout review page, a purchaser is presented with a single page that sets forth pre-populated fulfillment and payment options for product to be purchased, from which the purchaser need only click a further “place order” button  230  to execute the retail transaction according to the terms and conditions set forth thereon. As will be further appreciated, it is by use of the described checkout review page that the system and method provides a purchaser with a streamlined checkout process. 
     While various concepts have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications and alternatives to those concepts could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. For example, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the ordering of the steps described herein and illustrated in the figures can be modified without departing from the scope of the invention claimed hereinafter. Similarly, those of skill the art will appreciate that certain of the steps described herein may be considered to be optional. Yet further, while various aspects of the invention have been described in the context of functional modules and components, it is to be understood that, unless otherwise stated to the contrary, one or more of the described functions and/or features may be integrated in a single physical device and/or a software module, or one or more functions and/or features may be implemented in separate physical devices or software modules. It will also be appreciated that a detailed discussion of the actual implementation of the modules used to perform the various described functions is not necessary for an enabling understanding of the invention. Rather, the actual implementation of such modules would be well within the routine skill of an engineer, given the disclosure herein of the attributes, functionality, and inter-relationship of the various functional modules in the system. Therefore, a person knowledgeable in the art, applying ordinary skill, will be able to practice the invention set forth in the claims without undue experimentation. It will be additionally appreciated that the particular concepts disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.