Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7793838?dq=5,867,764
Timestamp: 2016-12-11 05:00:50
Document Index: 319462507

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n7', 'art.\n16', 'art;\n19', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 130']

Patent US7793838 - Multi-channel purchase transaction - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA method for conducting a sales transaction. The method can include receiving at a terminal within a store a first identifier generated for a first item of merchandise selected by a customer while the customer is located within the store. The method also can include receiving from a virtual shopping...http://www.google.com/patents/US7793838?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7793838 - Multi-channel purchase transactionAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS7793838 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/278,692Publication dateSep 14, 2010Filing dateApr 5, 2006Priority dateApr 5, 2006Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS20070235527Publication number11278692, 278692, US 7793838 B2, US 7793838B2, US-B2-7793838, US7793838 B2, US7793838B2InventorsJames P. Appleyard, Chang-Ren He, Shiju MathaiOriginal AssigneeInternational Business Machines CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (15), Referenced by (3), Classifications (14), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMulti-channel purchase transaction
US 7793838 B2Abstract
A method for conducting a sales transaction. The method can include receiving at a terminal within a store a first identifier generated for a first item of merchandise selected by a customer while the customer is located within the store. The method also can include receiving from a virtual shopping cart a second identifier generated for a second item of merchandise. The first identifier and the second identifier can be processed in the sales transaction.
1. A method for conducting a sales transaction comprising:
receiving at a terminal within a store a first identifier generated for a first item of merchandise selected by a customer while the customer is physically located within the store;
responsive to identifying the user within the store, requesting from a virtual shopping cart associated with the user a list comprising at least a second identifier specifying a second item of merchandise previously selected by the user for purchase online;
receiving from the virtual shopping cart the list comprising the at least a second identifier specifying the second item of merchandise; and
processing the first item of merchandise and the second item of merchandise in a single sales transaction.
receiving from a client at least one item selection; and
adding the item selection to the virtual shopping cart;
wherein the second identifier corresponds to the item selection.
responsive to receiving the item selection from the client, adjusting an available inventory of the second item of merchandise.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a customer identifier at the terminal, the customer identifier associating the customer with the second item of merchandise.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second identifier comprises accessing a virtual shopping cart retrieval service via a communications network.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising responsive to the single sales transaction conducted within the store, removing each identifier for an item of merchandise involved in the single sales transaction from the virtual shopping cart.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at the terminal the first identifier comprises scanning a bar code of the first item of merchandise with a mobile communication device.
receiving from the customer via the communications network an appointment request; and
scheduling an appointment in accordance with the appointment request.
9. A system for conducting a sales transaction within a store, the system comprising a terminal that receives a first identifier generated for a first item of merchandise selected by a customer while the customer is physically located within the store, responsive to identifying the user within the store, requests from a virtual shopping cart associated with the user a list comprising at least a second identifier specifying a second item of merchandise previously selected by the user for purchase online, receives from the virtual shopping cart the list comprising the at least a second identifier specifying the second item of merchandise, and processes the first item of merchandise and the second item of merchandise in a single sales transaction.
10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a server that receives from a client at least one item selection and adds the item selection to the virtual shopping cart, wherein the second identifier corresponds to the item selection.
11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an inventory control application that, responsive to receiving the item selection from the client, adjusts an available inventory of the second item of merchandise.
12. The system of claim 9, wherein the terminal receives a customer identifier that associates the customer with the second item of merchandise.
13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a virtual shopping cart retrieval service that is accessed by the terminal via a communications network.
14. The system of claim 9, wherein the terminal comprises a scanner that scans a bar code of the first item of merchandise.
15. The system of claim 9, wherein the terminal, responsive to the single sales transaction conducted within the store, removes each of identifier for an item of merchandise involved in the single sales transaction from the virtual shopping cart.
16. The system of claim 9, further comprising an appointment scheduling application that receives from the customer via the communications network an appointment request and schedules an appointment in accordance with the appointment request.
17. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections comprising:
code for receiving at a terminal within a store a first identifier generated for a first item of merchandise selected by a customer while the customer is physically located within the store;
code for, responsive to identifying the user within the store, requesting from a virtual shopping cart associated with the user a list comprising at least a second identifier specifying a second item of merchandise previously selected by the user for purchase online;
code for receiving from the virtual shopping cart the list comprising the at least a second identifier specifying the second item of merchandise; and
code for processing the first item of merchandise and the second item of merchandise in a single sales transaction.
code for receiving from a client at least one item selection; and
code for adding the item selection to the virtual shopping cart;
19. The machine readable storage of claim 17, further comprising code for receiving a customer identifier at the terminal, the customer identifier associating the customer with the second item of merchandise.
20. The machine readable storage of claim 17, wherein the code for receiving the second identifier comprises code for accessing a virtual shopping cart retrieval service via a communications network. Description
The present invention relates to Internet transactions and, more particularly, to virtual shopping carts.
Retail sales over the Internet have continued to grow significantly over the last several years. One mechanism commonly implemented to facilitate such retail sales is a virtual shopping cart. A virtual shopping cart tracks items selected by a consumer for on-line purchase while allowing the consumer to continue shopping for additional items. When the consumer is done shopping, the consumer is presented with a list of the selected items contained in the virtual shopping cart and given an opportunity to purchase such items in a single transaction.
Oftentimes, the consumer may be interested in a particular item, but not ready to purchase the item without having the opportunity to personally inspect it. Thus, the consumer may forego purchasing the item on-line, instead opting to shop at a conventional retail store. Unfortunately, the consumer may sometimes find that the item in which she is interested is not in stock. In consequence, much time may be wasted traveling to and from a retail store without being able to make a desired purchase.
The present invention relates to a method for conducting a sales transaction. The method can include receiving at a terminal within a store a first identifier generated for a first item of merchandise selected by a customer while the customer is located within the store and, responsive to identifying the user within the store, requesting from a virtual shopping cart associated with the user a list comprising at least a second identifier specifying a second item of merchandise previously selected by the user for purchase online. The method also can include receiving from the virtual shopping cart the list comprising the at least a second identifier specifying the second item of merchandise. The first item of merchandise and the second item of merchandise can be processed in a single sales transaction.
The present invention also relates to a system for conducting a sales transaction. The system can include a terminal within a store that receives a first identifier generated for a first item of merchandise selected by a customer while the customer is located within the store and, responsive to identifying the user within the store, requests from a virtual shopping cart associated with the user a list comprising at least a second identifier specifying a second item of merchandise previously selected by the user for purchase online. The terminal also can receive from the virtual shopping cart the list comprising the at least a second identifier specifying the second item of merchandise. The terminal can process the first item of merchandise and the second item of merchandise in a single sales transaction.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a purchase transaction system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of processing a purchase transaction in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method and a system for combining on-line shopping via a communications network, such as the Internet, and in-person shopping within a store. In particular, items of merchandise (hereinafter “items”) identified in a customer's virtual shopping cart can be combined with items selected by the customer while the customer is located within the store. Checkout of such items then can be processed in a single transaction.
The ability of the customer to shop on-line is useful for determining whether desired items are presently available for purchase prior to the customer traveling to the store. For example, items added to the customer's virtual shopping cart can be allocated to the customer and removed from the store's available inventory. After arriving at the store, the customer can be provided opportunity to personally inspect items selected on-line prior to completing the purchase transaction. Further, store sales representatives can be given opportunity to show to the customer alternative items available for purchase. If the customer decides not to proceed with the purchase of any of the items contained in the virtual shopping cart, such items can be removed from the virtual shopping cart and returned to the store's available inventory.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a purchase transaction system (hereinafter “system”) 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 can include a client 110 that communicates with a server 115 via a communications network 105. The communications network 105 can be, for example, the Internet, the World Wide Web, an intranet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a cellular communications network, or any other communications network suitable for communicating digital data. As such, the communications network 105 can include wired and/or wireless communication links.
The client 110 can be an application executing on a processing system which is communicatively linked to the communications network 105. For example, the client 110 can be a network browser or other communications application executing on a computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile station (e.g. a mobile telephone), an internet appliance, or any other processing system suitable for exchanging data via the communications network 105. The client 110 can include a user interface 120 for receiving customer selections of merchandise for purchase. The user interface 120 can be, for example, a graphical user interface.
The user interface 120 also can be used by a customer to request an in-store appointment, for example to meet with a sales representative or to schedule a sales transaction. An appointment scheduling application 125 can be provided to schedule appointments in accordance to such appointment requests. The appointment scheduling application 125 can be instantiated on the server 115 or otherwise communicatively linked to the client 110.
The sever 115 can provide to the client 110 access to at least one virtual shopping cart 130. As used herein, a “virtual shopping cart” is a listing of one or more items of merchandise selected by a customer, the item selections being digitally received from the client 110 and stored in digital form. The virtual shopping cart 130 can be stored in a database, a text file, or stored in any other suitable manner. A virtual shopping cart application (hereinafter “VSC application”) 135 can interface with the client 110 to receive item selections 140 from the customer and add such item selections 140 to the virtual shopping cart 130. The VSC application 135 can be, for example, a web based application with which the client 110 interfaces while the customer is shopping via the communications network 105.
The VSC application 135 can interface with an inventory control application 145 that adjusts available store inventory based, at least in part, on the item selections 140 and subsequent purchases. For example, when a particular item is added to a customer's virtual shopping cart 130, the quantity of such items that are identified as being available for purchase can be reduced by one. Similarly, when an item is removed from a virtual shopping cart 130 without being purchased, the quantity of such items that are identified as being available for purchase can be increased by one. The inventory control application also can track other inventory parameters and the invention is not limited in this regard. The inventory control application 145 can be instantiated on the server 115 or otherwise communicatively linked to the server 115.
The system 100 also can include a point of sale terminal 150. The point of sale terminal 150 can be communicatively linked to the server 115 via the communications network 105, or via another communications network with which the server 115 is communicatively linked. When a customer wishes a sales transaction to be initiated, the customer can present an identifier to a cashier for entry into the point of sales terminal 150, or enter her identifier directly into the point of sales terminal 150. The identifier can be contained on a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, an electronic storage medium and/or any other suitable storage medium. For example, the identifier can be contained on a card having a storage medium contained thereon. Alternatively, the identifier can comprise an alphanumeric code that is entered into the point of sales terminal 150, for example via a keypad.
After receiving the customer identifier, the point of sale terminal 150 can receive from the server 115 identifier(s) 155 for items contained in the virtual shopping cart 130 that is associated with the customer's identifier. The point of sale terminal 140 can access a virtual shopping cart retrieval service (hereinafter “retrieval service”) 160 which retrieves the identifier(s) 155 from the virtual shopping cart 130. The retrieval service 160 can be, for example, a Java application. The retrieval service 160 can be instantiated on the server 115 or otherwise communicatively linked to the server 115 in a manner which provides the retrieval service access to retrieve the identifier(s) 155 from the virtual sales cart 130.
In an alternate arrangement, the virtual shopping cart 130 can be stored onto a portable storage device in addition to, or in lieu of, being stored on the server 115. For example, the virtual shopping cart 130 can be stored on a card comprising a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, an electronic storage medium and/or any other suitable storage medium. In such an arrangement, the customer can present her portable storage device to a cashier or to the point of sale terminal 150 when the customer is ready to initiate a purchase transaction for items contained on the portable storage device.
After receiving the identifiers 155, the customer can be queried as to whether she wishes to purchase each of identified items. Items can be removed from the virtual shopping cart 130, saved in the virtual shopping cart 130 for later purchase, or selected for immediate purchase. Once an item is purchased, such item can be removed from the virtual shopping cart.
In addition, identifiers for any items selected for purchase by the customer while the customer is located in the store can be processed. For example, the items selected for purchase can be carried to the point of sale terminal 150 and their bar codes scanned. Alternatively, item identifiers can be entered into the point of sale terminal 150 via a keypad or in any other suitable manner.
The identifiers for items selected by the customer while in the store can be processed with the identifiers 155 from the virtual shopping cart 130 in a single sales transaction, although multiple sales transactions also can be performed. Purchased items can be delivered to the customer in any suitable manner. For example, such items can be delivered to a specific location within the store, for instance to the point of sale terminal 150 or to a pick-up counter, or delivered to a customer provided address.
The system also can include a second terminal 165. In one arrangement, the terminal 165 can be a kiosk that includes an application executing on a processing system that is communicatively linked to the communications network 105. The kiosk can be, for instance, located within the store. The kiosk can provide a customer access to add and remove items from her virtual shopping cart 130.
In another arrangement, the terminal 165 can be a device comprising a scanner. For example, the terminal 165 can be a mobile communication device that includes the scanner. The scanner can be used by the customer to scan product codes for items to be added or removed from her virtual shopping cart 130 while shopping within the store.
In an arrangement in which the virtual shopping cart 130 is stored on the server 115, the terminal 165 can be communicatively linked to the server 115 via the communications network 105, or via another communications network with which the server 115 is communicatively linked. In an arrangement in which the virtual shopping cart 130 is stored on a portable storage device, the terminal 165 can include an interface which enables the terminal 165 to read and write data to the storage device. For example, the terminal 165 can include a magnetic card reader/writer or a communications port.
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram 200 illustrating a method of processing a purchase transaction in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In step 202, a cashier can begin the sales transaction, for example by entering data into a point of sale terminal. In step 204 the point of sale terminal can ready the transaction. In step 206, the cashier can receive an identifier from the customer. For example, the customer can provide a portable storage device, such as a customer identifier card, or provide a verbal identifier, such as the customer's name, customer code, telephone number or the like. Proceeding to step 208, the cashier can enter the customer identifier into the point of sale terminal and at step 210 the customer identifier can be stored.
In step 212, the cashier can enter into the point of sale terminal a request for the customer's virtual shopping cart. In step 214, the point of sale terminal can ping the virtual shopping cart retrieval service (hereinafter “retrieval service”) and in step 216 the retrieval service can establish a connection with the point of sale terminal. In step 218, the retrieval service can request the customer identifier. In step 220, the point of sale terminal can provide such identifier to the retrieval service. The customer identifier can be the customer identifier entered in step 208, or an identifier that correlates to the customer identifier entered in step 208.
In step 222, the retrieval service can connect to the datastore where the customer's virtual shopping cart is stored. In step 224, the retrieval service can query the datastore for a listing of items contained in the virtual shopping cart. In step 226, the datastore can provide a listing of items contained in the virtual shopping cart. In step 228, a list of the items in the virtual shopping cart can be provided the point of sale terminal. The customer can be queried whether she wishes to proceed with the purchase of such items and given the opportunity to remove items which she no longer wishes to purchase. In step 230, the price of the virtual shopping cart items can be totaled, their tax can be computed, and such information can be displayed.
In step 232, the customer can present to the cashier items selected while shopping in the store. In step 234, the in-store items can be added to the sales transaction. In step 236, the price of the in-store items can be totaled, their tax can be computed, and such information can be displayed. In step 238, the cashier can complete the checkout of the virtual shopping cart and in-store items.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6679421 *Oct 1, 2001Jan 20, 2004Secubay CorporationIntegrated customer management system and method using wireless barcodeUS6873968Feb 10, 2001Mar 29, 2005International Business Machines CorporationSystem, method and computer program product for on-line real-time price comparison and adjustment within a detachable virtual shopping cartUS7177825 *May 10, 2000Feb 13, 2007Borders Louis HIntegrated system for ordering, fulfillment, and delivery of consumer products using a data networkUS7181418 *May 13, 2000Feb 20, 2007John Todd ZuckerInternet customer service method and systemUS7472081 *Jan 27, 2008Dec 30, 2008International Business Machines CorporationMethod for shopping using wireless communicationUS20010042515 *Jun 16, 1999Nov 22, 2001Jeffrey C. GallagherMilking parlor systems and methodsUS20020133466 *Mar 13, 2001Sep 19, 2002Pugh James B.Internet payment systemUS20020143660 *Mar 29, 2001Oct 3, 2002International Business Machines CorporationMethod and system for online shoppingUS20020162009 *Mar 9, 2001Oct 31, 2002Shimon ShmueliPrivacy assurance for portable computingUS20030046172 *Aug 30, 2001Mar 6, 2003International Business Machines CorporationShopping cart merchandise pickupUS20030139974May 25, 2001Jul 24, 2003Keun-Woo LeeMethod of purchasing goods on internet through identification of actual objectUS20080004988 *Sep 11, 2007Jan 3, 2008Apple Inc.Stored order system for electronic commerceUS20090043674 *Feb 13, 2008Feb 12, 2009Claudia Juliana MinskyDynamic Interactive Shopping Cart for e-CommerceUS20090167553 *Dec 29, 2008Jul 2, 2009Jin HongOpen Mobile Online Reservation and Ordering SystemsWO2001090984A1May 25, 2001Nov 29, 2001Lee Keun WooMethod of purchasing goods on internet through identification of actual object* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8386322Mar 31, 2010Feb 26, 2013Gilbarco Inc.Integrated point of sale terminalUS9047596Feb 19, 2013Jun 2, 2015Gilbarco Inc.Integrated point of sale terminalUS20100325003 *Mar 31, 2010Dec 23, 2010Gilbarco Inc.Integrated point of sale terminal* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification235/383, 235/382International ClassificationG06K5/00, G06K15/00Cooperative ClassificationG06Q20/208, G06Q20/12, G06Q30/0601, G06Q30/0603, G06Q10/087European ClassificationG06Q20/12, G06Q10/087, G06Q30/0603, G06Q20/208, G06Q30/0601Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionApr 5, 2006ASAssignmentOwner name: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, NEW YFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:APPLEYARD, JAMES P.;HE, CHANG-REN;MATHAI, SHIJU;REEL/FRAME:017423/0272Effective date: 20060329Sep 4, 2012ASAssignmentEffective date: 20120731Free format text: PATENT ASSIGNMENT AND RESERVATION;ASSIGNOR:INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:028895/0935Owner name: TOSHIBA GLOBAL COMMERCE SOLUTIONS HOLDINGS CORPORAFeb 12, 2014FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services