Abstract:
Provided are a retail checkout system and method. A customer record includes registered identification information related to a store customer. An input device receives unique customer identification information from a purchaser card of the store customer. A customer identification analyzer verifies that the received unique customer identification information is included in the registered identification information of the customer record. An order linking module associates purchase data with the unique customer identification information of the purchaser card. A customer record processor updates the customer record to include the purchase data.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[S] 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PURCHASING FRESH FOOD ITEMS ONLINE,” Ser. No. 62/305,099, filed Mar. 8, 2016, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to online shopping, and more specifically, to systems and methods for purchasing fresh food items online. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    There are two primary shopping options available to a customer who wishes to purchase a fresh food items. The first includes the physical presence of the customer at a retail establishment, referred to as a “brick-and-mortar” store. Here, the customer can retrieve the fresh food item of interests from in-store inventory if the fresh food items are available, and purchase the fresh food items at a checkout counter at the store. The second shopping option is referred to as “online shopping” where the customer can purchase fresh food items over the internet. Here, the purchased fresh food items may be picked up by the online customer or delivered to a location designated by the online customer. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one aspect, provided is a system for online shopping for fresh food products, comprising: a server comprising a memory, a database stored in the memory, and a processor, wherein the database contains data for a plurality of fresh food products; and a computer coupled to the server wherein a user interfaces with the server through the computer, wherein the server is programmed to: display available fresh food products from the data for the plurality of fresh food products on the computer coupled to the server; receive from the computer a signal indicating selection of one of the available fresh food products; automatically create and display a set of user selectable characteristics related to the selected fresh food product; receive from the computer a signal indicating selection of characteristics related to the selected fresh food product; automatically store the selected characteristics related to the selected fresh food product in the database associating the characteristics with the particular user and the selected fresh food product; automatically convert the selected characteristics related to the selected fresh food product to a selection scale and store the selection scale in the database associated with the particular user and the selected fresh food product; and provide the selection scale for the particular user and the selected fresh food product for order filling. 
         [0005]    In another aspect, provided is a method for shopping for fresh food products, comprising: storing data for a plurality of fresh food products in a database of a server comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the database stored in the memory; coupling the server to a computer wherein a user interfaces with the server through the computer; displaying available fresh food products from the data for the plurality of fresh food products on the computer coupled to the server; receiving at the server from the computer a signal indicating selection of one of the available fresh food products; automatically creating at the server and display at the computer a set of user selectable characteristics related to the selected fresh food product; receiving at the server from the computer a signal indicating selection of characteristics related to the selected fresh food product; automatically storing the selected characteristics related to the selected fresh food product in the database associating the characteristics with the particular user and the selected fresh food product; automatically converting by the server the selected characteristics related to the selected fresh food product to a selection scale and storing the selection scale in the database associated with the particular user and the selected fresh food product; and providing the selection scale from the server for the particular user and the selected fresh food product for order filling. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, provided is a system for online shopping for items, comprising: a server comprising a memory, a database stored in the memory, and a processor, wherein the database contains data for a plurality of items for sale; and a computer coupled to the server wherein a user interfaces with the server through the computer, wherein the server is programmed to: display available items from the data for the plurality of items for sale on the computer coupled to the server; receive from the computer a signal indicating selection of one of the available items; automatically create and display a set of user selectable characteristics related to the selected item; receive from the computer a signal indicating selection of characteristics related to the selected item; automatically store the selected characteristics related to the selected item in the database associating the characteristics with the particular user and the selected item; automatically convert the selected characteristics related to the selected item to a selection scale and store the selection scale in the database associated with the particular user and the selected item; provide the selection scale for the particular user and the selected item for order filling; automatically retrieve and display selected characteristics related to the user and the selected item in response to the user accessing the system again through the computer; automatically display available modifications to the selected characteristics related to the user and the selected items; receive from the computer a signal indicating selection of modification to the selected characteristics related to the selected item; automatically store the modified selected characteristics related to the selected item in the database associating the characteristics with the particular user and the selected item; automatically convert the modified selected characteristics related to the selected item to a modified selection scale, wherein the modified selection scale is different from the selection scale; and store the modified selection scale in the database associated with the particular user and the selected item. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The above and further advantages of this invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system for online shopping for fresh food products, in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for online shopping for fresh food products, in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for picking an order for fresh food products a purchaser made online, in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing customer feedback, in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a system for online shopping for fresh food products and picking of the fresh food products, in accordance with some embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Many store customers prefer to shop online, while other store customers prefer to be physically present at a brick-and-mortar when shopping, referred to as being offline. These customers enjoy walking about the store, perusing items of interest, etc. Other customers may shop at a store out of necessity since they do not own a home computer or smartphone, or have access to an internet service. 
         [0014]    Online customers enjoy a customized and expedient shopping experience that is typically not offered at a brick-and-mortar store. For example, online customers can order items online at any time, thereby avoiding the time-consuming effort of being physically present at the store to select items of interest from shelves and waiting in line at the store checkout to purchase the items especially at peak times. Also, online customers typically have immediate access to their purchase history, and can receive a display of recommended items for purchase based on shopping patterns or other purchase history information. 
         [0015]    A customer shopping online may not seek to purchase fresh food items because those items generally include additional care in selecting the fresh food item based on various factors that may be considered regarding the fresh food item. A fresh food item may include produce, vegetables, meats, cheese and/or fresh baked goods. Because an online customer cannot feel, smell, see, listen to or other forms and senses utilized in selecting fresh food items, it is difficult to shop online for fresh food items. 
         [0016]    The present inventive concepts provide a system for a customer to order fresh food products online and provide information to accurately pick fresh food items in accordance to the customer&#39;s preferences. Accordingly, the customer can use the system to purchase fresh food items online and still provide the input necessary to obtain the fresh food items that are to the customer specifications. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system  100  for online shopping for fresh food products. 
         [0018]    The system  100  may include a customer  102 , a customer computer  103 , an online store  104 , and a server  106 . The server  106  may include a processor  108  and a memory  110  that includes a database  112 . The memory  110  may also include a software application  111 , wherein the software application provides programming to the server for performing certain functions in accordance with operation of the present invention. The database  112  may contain data for a plurality of fresh food products or other items for sale. Fresh food product may include, but are not limited to produce, such as fruits and vegetables. 
         [0019]    The computer  103  may include a display and may be coupled to the server  106  wherein a user interfaces with the server  106  through the computer  106 . This may be accomplished by the computer  103  accessing the server  106  through the online store  104 , 
         [0020]    The server  106  may be programmed with or otherwise store software application  111  in the memory  110  for the processor to access and interpret the instructions of the program embodied in the software application  111  in order for the server  106  to perform certain functions. 
         [0021]    The server  106  may be programmed to display available fresh food products and/or available items for sale from the data for the plurality of fresh food products and/or items for sale on the computer  103  coupled to the server  106 . Further, the server  106  may be programmed to receive from the computer  103  a signal indicating selection of one of the available fresh food products and/or items. The selection of one of the available fresh food products and or items may include the customer  102  selecting the fresh food product and/or item from the online store  104 . The server  106  may be programmed to automatically create and display a set of user selectable characteristics related to the selected fresh food product or item. The server  106  may be programmed to receive from the computer a signal indicating selection of characteristics related to the selected fresh food product and/or item and automatically store the selected characteristics related to the selected fresh food product and/or item in the database associating the characteristics with the particular user and the selected fresh food product and/or item. 
         [0022]    After receiving the selection of characteristics related to the selected fresh food product and/or item, the server  106  may be programmed to automatically convert the selected characteristics related to the selected fresh food product and/or item to a selection scale and store the selection scale in the database associated with the particular user and the selected fresh food product and/or item. The server  106  may then provide the selection scale for the particular user and the selected fresh food product and/or item for order filling. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is flow diagram illustrating a method  10  for online shopping for fresh food products, in accordance with some embodiments. Some or all of the method  10  can be performed utilizing the system  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, in describing the method  10 , reference is made to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]    The customer  102  shops online for items of interest, including fresh food products utilizing the computer  103 . The customer  102  may access the server  106  by accessing the online store  104  associated with the server  106 . The method  10  can be initiated at block  11 , by the customer  102  accessing the server  106  by using the computer  103  to access the online store  104 . The method  10  continues at block  12 , wherein the customer  102  adds an item to the online cart. At decision diamond  14 , the server  106 , operating the software application  111  or shopping application  111 , automatically makes a determination whether the item includes customizable characteristics. This is of particular use when the selected item is a fresh food product. If the item does not include customizable characteristics, the method then stops at block  27 . If item includes customizable characteristics, the method continues. 
         [0025]    If the item includes customizable characteristics, the method  10  includes at decision diamond  16  a decision regarding whether the item has been rated before. If the server  106  determines that it has not been rated before, the method  10  continues to block  18 . At block  18  the server  106  presents to the customer  102  through the computer  103  a request to enter the preference of the customer  102  through the computer  103 . At block  22  the customer  102  enters his or her preferences regarding that item using the computer  103 . The server  106  receives the preferences of the customer  102  from the computer  103  and the server  106  automatically saves the customer preferences in the database  112  as depicted in block  26 . After the customer preferences are saved the method stop as shown at block  27 . In operation, the system may provide guided questions to allow the customer to input natural preferences or customizable characteristics of the selected item. 
         [0026]    If at decision diamond  16  the server  106  determines that the item has been rated before, the method  100  continues to block  20 . At block  20  the server  106  presents to the customer  102  through the computer  103  a request to update the preference of the customer  102  through the computer  103 . At block  24  the customer  102  enters his or her updates to the preferences regarding that item using the computer  103 . This update is generally based on the characteristics of the actual item delivered in a previous order. For example, the customer may be reordering apples and updating the characteristics based on the actual apples delivered to the customer. The server  106  receives the updated preferences of the customer  102  from the computer  103  and the server  106  automatically saves the customer preferences in the database  112  as depicted in block  26 . After the customer preferences are saved the method stop as shown at block  27 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  depicts a flow diagram illustrating a method  30  for picking an order for fresh food products a purchaser made online. Some or all of the method  30  can be performed utilizing the system  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, in describing the method  30 , reference is made to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    The method  30  can be initiated at block  31 , by an associate accessing the server  106  by using a computer to access the server  106 . The method  30  continues at block  32 , wherein the associate receives the pick order for the item selected by customer  102  through the system  100 . At decision diamond  14 , the server  106 , operating the software application  111  or shopping application  111 , automatically makes a determination whether the item includes customizable characteristics. This is of particular use when the selected item is a fresh food product. If the item does not include customizable characteristics, the method  30  then stops at block  39 . If item includes customizable characteristics, the method continues. 
         [0029]    If the item includes customizable characteristics, the method  30  includes at block  36  an action to automatically display the preferred characteristics for the item based on the customer input using system  100 . At block  38  the associate picks the item in accordance with the preferred characteristics and places the item in a bag. At this point method  30  is completed and is stopped as shown at block  39 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  depicts a flow diagram illustrating a method  40  for providing customer feedback, in accordance with some embodiments. Some or all of the method  40  can be performed utilizing the system  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, in describing the method  40 , reference is made to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]    The method  40  can be initiated at block  41 , by a customer  102  accessing the server  106  by using the computer  103  to access the server  106 . The method  40  continues at block  42 , wherein the customer  102  receives at the computer  103  from the server  106  a survey for the items that were ordered. At decision diamond  44 , the server  106 , operating the software application  111  or shopping application  111 , presents the customer with a request to indicate whether the item matched the preferences of the customer  102  that he or she entered as the customizable characteristics. This is of particular use when the selected item is a fresh food product. If the customer  102  indicates that the item did match the preferences, the method  40  continues at block  48  to provide a thank you message to the customer  102 . Further method  40  continues to block  54 , wherein the server  106  automatically saves in the database  112  the indication from the customer  102  that the customer  102  liked and determined that the item matched of the preferences. The method  14  then stops as shown at block  54 . If item includes customizable characteristics, the method continues. 
         [0032]    If the customer  102  indicates that the item did match the preferences, the method  40  continues at block  46  to request the customer  102  to enter his or her update to the preferences for the item that did not match. Further method  40  continues to block  50 , wherein the server  106  automatically displays to the customer  102  on the computer  103  an interface for the customer to enter their preferences or update to the preferences regarding the item. The method then continues to block  52  wherein the server  106  automatically saves in the database  112  the received updated preferences of the customer  102 . The method  14  then stops as shown at block  54 . 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , a method for shopping for fresh food products may include storing data for a plurality of fresh food products in a database of a server comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the database stored in the memory; coupling the server to a computer wherein a user interfaces with the server through the computer; displaying available fresh food products from the data for the plurality of fresh food products on the computer coupled to the server; receiving at the server from the computer a signal indicating selection of one of the available fresh food products; automatically creating at the server and display at the computer a set of user selectable characteristics related to the selected fresh food product; receiving at the server from the computer a signal indicating selection of characteristics related to the selected fresh food product; automatically storing the selected characteristics related to the selected fresh food product in the database associating the characteristics with the particular user and the selected fresh food product; automatically converting by the server the selected characteristics related to the selected fresh food product to a selection scale and storing the selection scale in the database associated with the particular user and the selected fresh food product; and providing the selection scale from the server for the particular user and the selected fresh food product for order filling. 
         [0034]    The method may further include automatically retrieving at the server and displaying at the computer, selected characteristics related to the user and the selected fresh food product; and automatically displaying at the computer available modifications to the selected characteristics related to the user and the selected fresh food product. 
         [0035]    Additionally, the method may include receiving from the computer by the server a signal indicating selection of modification to the selected characteristics related to the selected fresh food product; and automatically storing the modified selected characteristics related to the selected fresh food product in the database associating the characteristics with the particular user and the selected fresh food product. 
         [0036]    The method may also include automatically converting by the server the modified selected characteristics related to the selected fresh food product to a modified selection scale, wherein the modified selection scale is different from the selection scale, and store the modified selection scale in the database associated with the particular user and the selected fresh food product; and providing the modified selection scale by the server for the particular user and the selected fresh food product for order filling. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  a schematic diagram of the system  100  for online shopping for fresh food products and picking of the fresh food products, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         [0038]    With further references to  FIG. 1 , the system  100  includes a database  112 , wherein the database  112  may a plurality of databases  126 ,  128  and  130 , wherein database  126  is a customer item property database  126 , database  128  is a customer order database  128  and database  130  is store item property database. 
         [0039]    In system  100 , the customer  102  enters preferences for items, such as fresh food products through an online store  104  using a computer  103 . The customer may then place an order through the online store by selecting items to add to a virtual cart. The customer&#39;s order is stored in the customer order database  128 . The server  106  converts the preferences to a selection scale, such as a numerical scale from 1 to 10, a scale of 1 to 4, or even a scale that is photo driven or some other scale factor and stores the selection scale in the store item property database  130 . Physical items at the store are sorted by the properties for that item, wherein the properties correspond to the selectable characteristics of the item such as a fresh food product and further may be sorted based on the scale employed. 
         [0040]    At the store, an associate  120  will see the customer&#39;s order from the customer order database  128 . Any items with customer properties will be displayed with the associated scale value through a look up from the customer item property database. The associate  120  may then pack the order and send it to the customer  102 . 
         [0041]    Once the customer receives the items, the customer  102  may report on the differences between what he or she received and what he or she expected to receive for any items with customer selected characteristics, and the data stored in the customer item characteristic database is adjusted to match a new value in the store item property database based on the changes in the customer selected properties. In this way, the next time the customer orders an item from the online store  104  of that type, the new values for the item&#39;s properties are used by the associate  120 . For example, the server  106  may be programmed to automatically retrieve and display selected characteristics related to the customer and the selected item in response to the customer accessing the system  100  again through the computer  103 . The server  106  may be programmed to automatically display available modifications to the selected characteristics related to the customer and the selected items. This may be done in a form of follow up questions presented by the server  106  to the display of the computer  103 . The answers to the questions may then produce a signal and the server may be programmed to receive from the computer  103  a signal indicating selection of modification to the selected characteristics related to the selected item, and automatically store the modified selected characteristics related to the selected item in the database associating the characteristics with the particular customer and the selected item. The server may be programmed to automatically convert the modified selected characteristics related to the selected item to a modified selection scale, wherein the modified selection scale is different from the selection scale. Additionally, the server may be programmed to store the modified selection scale in the database associated with the particular user and the selected item. 
         [0042]    Further still, the server  106  may be programmed to automatically adjust a scale of a second selected item by the user of the plurality of items for sale based processing the stored user selected characteristics and the stored modified selected characteristics for the user. The system of claim  16 , wherein the server is further programmed to provide the modified selection scale for the particular user and the selected item for order filling. 
         [0043]    As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method, or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon. 
         [0044]    Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
         [0045]    A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
         [0046]    Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wire-line, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. 
         [0047]    Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). 
         [0048]    Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0049]    These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0050]    The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, cloud-based infrastructure architecture, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0051]    The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
         [0052]    While the invention has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.