Patent ID: 8150741

Claim:
An adaptive shopping server system configured to generate, for display on a shopping client device, an efficient travel route to a location of a user- requested merchandise item, the efficient travel route being advantageously distinct relative to other potential travel routes in consideration of a route efficiency selection criterion received from the shopping client device, the system comprising: a logic subsystem; and a data-holding subsystem holding instructions executable by the logic subsystem to: provision a shopping database with facility and inventory information for one or more merchandise locations; from the shopping client device, receive a request for a requested merchandise item; from the shopping client device, receive the route efficiency selection criterion; use the route efficiency selection criterion as a key for filtering the facility and inventory information, calculate an initial travel route originating at a current location of the shopping client device and including a stop at a selected requested merchandise location identified within the shopping database from one of a plurality of possible requested merchandise locations having the requested merchandise item; send the initial travel route to the shopping client device for display on the shopping client device; responsive to a real-time change in retail conditions, receive a report generated by a participating merchant that indicates updated retail conditions, generate an updated travel route to a different merchandise location at a different site for obtaining the requested merchandise item in view of the updated retail conditions; and send the updated travel route to the shopping client device for display on the shopping client device.