Abstract:
A method and apparatus for providing a web based service that allows subscribers to specify the particular item they desire to purchase, to input a zip code, and to activate a web based tool to search stores within a specified radius of the specified locales to locate and reserve the item for purchase and pickup are disclosed.

Description:
The present invention relates generally to communication networks and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for locating and reserving items via a web application in communication networks, e.g., packet networks such as Internet Protocol (IP) networks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Consumers spend an inordinate amount of time searching for commercial goods that conform to their desired specifications. Teenagers, in particular, may know exactly the brand of shoes, the particular color, and the size they want but may be unable to locate it within various shopping locales. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus for locating and reserving items via a web application in a packet network, e.g., an IP network. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the present invention provides a web based service that allows a subscriber to specify the particular item they desire to purchase, input a zip code, and activate a web based tool to search stores within a specified radius of the specified locales to locate and reserve the item for purchase and pickup. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The teaching of the present invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network related to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example of locating and reserving order items via a web application in an Internet Protocol (IP) network of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of a method for locating and reserving order items via a web application in a packet network, e.g., an IP network, of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a high level block diagram of a general purpose computer suitable for use in performing the functions described herein. 
     
    
    
     To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To better understand the present invention,  FIG. 1  illustrates a communication architecture  100  having an example network, e.g., a packet network such as a VoIP network related to the present invention. Exemplary packet networks include internet protocol (IP) networks, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks, frame-relay networks, and the like. An IP network is broadly defined as a network that uses Internet Protocol to exchange data packets. Thus, a VoIP network or a SoIP (Service over Internet Protocol) network is considered an IP network. 
     In one embodiment, the VoIP network may comprise various types of customer endpoint devices connected via various types of access networks to a carrier (a service provider) VoIP core infrastructure over an Internet Protocol/Multi-Protocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) based core backbone network. Broadly defined, a VoIP network is a network that is capable of carrying voice signals as packetized data over an IP network. The present invention is described below in the context of an illustrative VoIP network. Thus, the present invention should not be interpreted to be limited by this particular illustrative architecture. 
     The customer endpoint devices can be either Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) based or IP based. TDM based customer endpoint devices  122 ,  123 ,  134 , and  135  typically comprise of TDM phones or Private Branch Exchange (PBX). IP based customer endpoint devices  144  and  145  typically comprise IP phones or IP PBX. The Terminal Adaptors (TA)  132  and  133  are used to provide necessary interworking functions between TDM customer endpoint devices, such as analog phones, and packet based access network technologies, such as Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) or Cable broadband access networks. TDM based customer endpoint devices access VoIP services by using either a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  120 ,  121  or a broadband access network via a TA  132  or  133 . IP based customer endpoint devices access VoIP services by using a Local Area Network (LAN)  140  and  141  with a VoIP gateway or router  142  and  143 , respectively. 
     The access networks can be either TDM or packet based. A TDM PSTN  120  or  121  is used to support TDM customer endpoint devices connected via traditional phone lines. A packet based access network, such as Frame Relay, ATM, Ethernet or IP, is used to support IP based customer endpoint devices via a customer LAN, e.g.,  140  with a VoIP gateway and router  142 . A packet based access network  130  or  131 , such as DSL or Cable, when used together with a TA  132  or  133 , is used to support TDM based customer endpoint devices. 
     The core VoIP infrastructure comprises of several-key VoIP components, such the Border Element (BE)  112  and  113 , the Call Control Element (CCE)  111 , VoIP related Application Servers (AS)  114 , and Media Server (MS)  115 . The BE resides at the edge of the VoIP core infrastructure and interfaces with customers endpoints over various types of access networks. A BE is typically implemented as a Media Gateway and performs signaling, media control, security, and call admission control and related functions. The CCE resides within the VoIP infrastructure and is connected to the BEs using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) over the underlying IP/MPLS based core backbone network  110 . The CCE is typically implemented as a Media Gateway Controller or a softswitch and performs network wide call control related functions as well as interacts with the appropriate VoIP service related servers when necessary. The CCE functions as a SIP back-to-back user agent and is a signaling endpoint for all call legs between all BEs and the CCE. The CCE may need to interact with various VoIP related Application Servers (AS) in order to complete a call that require certain service specific features, e.g. translation of an E.164 voice network address into an IP address. 
     For calls that originate or terminate in a different carrier, they can be handled through the PSTN  120  and  121  or the Partner IP Carrier  160  interconnections. For originating or terminating TDM calls, they can be handled via existing PSTN interconnections to the other carrier. For originating or terminating VoIP calls, they can be handled via the Partner IP carrier interface  160  to the other carrier. 
     In order to illustrate how the different components operate to support a VoIP call, the following call scenario is used to illustrate how a VoIP call is setup between two customer endpoints. A customer using IP device  144  at location A places a call to another customer at location Z using TDM device  135 . During the call setup, a setup signaling message is sent from IP device  144 , through the LAN  140 , the VoIP Gateway/Router  142 , and the associated packet based access network, to BE  112 . BE  112  will then send a setup signaling message, such as a SIP-INVITE message if SIP is used, to CCE  111 . CCE  111  looks at the called party information and queries the necessary VoIP service related application server  114  to obtain the information to complete this call. In one embodiment, the Application Server (AS) functions as a SIP back-to-back user agent. If BE  113  needs to be involved in completing the call; CCE  111  sends another call setup message, such as a SIP-INVITE message if SIP is used, to BE  113 . Upon receiving the call setup message, BE  113  forwards the call setup message, via broadband network  131 , to TA  133 . TA  133  then identifies the appropriate TDM device  135  and rings that device. Once the call is accepted at location Z by the called party, a call acknowledgement signaling message, such as a SIP 200 OK response message if SIP is used, is sent in the reverse direction back to the CCE  111 . After the CCE  111  receives the call acknowledgement message, it will then send a call acknowledgement signaling message, such as a SIP 200 OK response message if SIP is used, toward the calling party. In addition, the CCE  111  also provides the necessary information of the call to both BE  112  and BE  113  so that the call data exchange can proceed directly between BE  112  and BE  113 . The call signaling path  150  and the call media path  151  are illustratively shown in  FIG. 1 . Note that the call signaling path and the call media path are different because once a call has been setup up between two endpoints, the CCE  111  does not need to be in the data path for actual direct data exchange. 
     Media Servers (MS)  115  are special servers that typically handle and terminate media streams, and to provide services such as announcements, teleconference bridges, transcoding, and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) messages for VoIP service applications. 
     Note that a customer in location A using any endpoint device type with its associated access network type can communicate with another customer in location Z using any endpoint device type with its associated network type as well. For instance, a customer at location A using IP customer endpoint device  144  with packet based access network  140  can call another customer at location Z using TDM endpoint device  123  with PSTN access network  121 . The BEs  112  and  113  are responsible for the necessary signaling protocol translation, e.g., SS7 to and from SIP, and media format conversion, such as TDM voice format to and from IP based packet voice format. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example 200 of locating and reserving items via a web application in an Internet Protocol (IP) network of the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , a subscriber subscribes to both VoIP network services and IP network access services from the provider of IP network  210 . IP network  210  provides the backbone network to support VoIP services. The subscriber uses VoIP telephone  231  to access VoIP network services and PC  232  to access IP network services. The subscriber uses PC  232  to access a web based application on Locate and Reserve Order Application Server  215  using flow  240 . The subscriber provides the details of an item that the subscriber wants to order but cannot find the item in nearby stores. The subscriber provides the item brand name, model number or name, color choice, and size associated with the item to Locate and Reserve Order Application Server  215 . In addition, the subscriber also inputs a zip code and a radius that will be used to define the geographical area in which the order item search is to be performed. Using the provided inputs, Locate and Reserve Order Application Server  215  performs a search for the desired item of the subscriber. Locate and Reserve Order Application Server  215  then sends a list of search results that conforms to the subscriber&#39;s specifications to the subscriber for review. Locate and Reserve Order Application Server  215  also offers the subscriber the opportunity to purchase or reserve the item on behalf of the subscriber. The subscriber can provide payment information to Locate and Reserve Order Application Server  215  to purchase or reserve the item at a specific store identified by the search results and to be picked up later. The subscriber can use the subscribed network service account, a credit account, a debit card account, or a prepaid account to purchase or reserve the item. Locate and Reserve Order Application Server  215  then confirms the purchased or reserved order item is ready to be picked up at a specific store location on or after a specified date and time by the subscriber. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of a method  300  for locating and reserving items via a web application in a packet network, e.g., an IP network, of the present invention. Method  300  starts in step  305  and proceeds to step  310 . 
     In step  310 , the method receives an access request to the Locate and Reserve Order web application by a subscriber. The access request is received by a Locate and Reserve Order Application Server. 
     In step  315 , the method receives the details of the interested item provided by the subscriber. The details are received by the Locate and Reserve Order Application Server. The details of the interested item include, but are not limited to, a brand name, a model number or name, a color choice, a quantity value, a price range that the subscriber is willing to pay, and/or a size associated with the desired item. 
     In step  320 , the method receives the desired geographical search parameters from the subscriber. The received geographical search parameters include, but are not limited to, a zip code and a search radius that will be used as search parameters to conduct the item search. The zip code and the search radius parameters define the geographical search area in which the order item search is to be performed. 
     In step  325 , the method searches the desired item using the item details as well as the geographical search parameters provided by the subscriber to locate the order item for the subscriber. The search is conducted by the Locate and Reserve Order Application Server. 
     In step  330 , the method checks if the desired item has been located by the search. If the desired item has been located, the method proceeds to step  335 ; otherwise, the method proceeds to step  355 . 
     In step  335 , the method returns a list of search results that conforms to the subscriber provided specifications to be reviewed by the subscriber. The list of search results is returned by the Locate and Reserve Order Application Server. 
     In step  340 , the method offers the subscriber an opportunity to reserve or purchase the desired item on behalf of the subscriber. The offer to reserve the desired order item is made by the Locate and Reserve Order Application Server. 
     In step  345 , the method obtains the payment information from the subscriber. The payment information is obtained by the Locate and Reserve Order Application Server. The payment information comprises the method that the subscriber wishes to use to purchase or reserve the desired item. The subscriber can use the subscribed network service account, a credit account, a debit card account, or a prepaid account to purchase or reserve the desired item. 
     In step  350 , the method confirms the purchased or reserved item is ready to be picked up at a specific store location on or after a specified date and time. The confirmation is sent to the subscriber by the Locate and Reserve Order Application Server. The method ends in step  355 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts a high level block diagram of a general purpose computer suitable for use in performing the functions described herein. As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the system  400  comprises a processor element  402  (e.g., a CPU), a memory  404 , e.g., random access memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM), a module  405  for locating and reserving order items via a web application, and various input/output devices  406  (e.g., storage devices, including but not limited to, a tape drive, a floppy drive, a hard disk drive or a compact disk drive, a receiver, a transmitter, a speaker, a display, a speech synthesizer, an output port, and a user input device (such as a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, and the like)). 
     It should be noted that the present invention can be implemented in software and/or in a combination of software and hardware, e.g., using application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), a general purpose computer or any other hardware equivalents. In one embodiment, the present module or process  405  for locating and reserving order items via a web application can be loaded into memory  404  and executed by processor  402  to implement the functions as discussed above. As such, the present process  405  for locating and reserving order items via a web application (including associated data structures) of the present invention can be stored on a computer readable medium or carrier, e.g., RAM memory, magnetic or optical drive or diskette and the like. 
     While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.