Method and system for providing retail-item purchasing data in a computer network environment

1. A method for providing retail-item-purchasing data in a computer network environment, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic representation of a list of one or more items, wherein receiving said electronic representation includes receiving said electronic representation that includes a digital data transmission over a communication network from a client device selected from the group comprising: a handheld device, a computer, a kiosk, an automobile two-way communication device, a telephone and a database, said handheld device is selected from the group comprising: a mobile phone, a pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), and a personal information manager (PIM);

referencing a commute path defined by a first location and a second location, said commute path is generated from input received from a selection from the group comprising:

an end-user,

a location-sensing device that includes a device equipped with a global-positioning component, and

a mapping component;

determining one or more providers of said one or more items within a distance, at most fifty miles, of said commute path, said distance is a parameter set by said end-user, wherein determining one or more providers includes identifying a business entity that offers said one or more items for sale and identifying said business entity includes referencing a selection from the group comprising: item-pricing data and item-availability data; and

communicating purchasing data based on said determination of said one or more providers in response to receiving said electronic representation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said distance is a default value.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein purchasing data includes a selection from the group comprising:

a price of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of alternative products related to said items;

an availability status of complementary products related to said items;

an availability status of generic alternatives to said items;

a product description; and

a sum of said prices.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein communicating purchasing data

includes presenting said purchasing data on said client device.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

receiving a purchase request from said end-user to order said one or more items from said one or more providers; and

transmitting said purchase request to said one or more providers.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising presenting a final commute path, wherein said final commute path includes said provider(s) to fulfill said purchase request.

7. The method of claim 3 , further comprising storing said electronic representation of said list of one or more items.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising storing a selection from the group comprising said list, said purchasing data, said commute path, said purchase request.

9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising receiving a promotional offer from said one or more providers.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising presenting said promotional offer to said end-user in response to receiving said electronic representation of said list of said one or more items.

11. A method for providing purchasing data in a computer network environment, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a list of one or more items to price, wherein receiving said list includes receiving said list as a digital data transmission over a communications network from a client device selected from the group comprising: a handheld device, a computer, a kiosk, an automobile two-way communication device, a telephone and a database, said handheld device is selected from the group comprising: a mobile phone, a pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), and personal information manager (PIM);

receiving location-information corresponding to a geographic area, wherein receiving said location-information includes referencing location-information generated from input provided by an end-user;

determining one or more providers of said one or more items, wherein said one or more providers are within a distance, at most fifty miles, from said geographic area, said distance is a parameter set by said end-user, wherein determining one or more providers includes identifying a business entity that offers said one or more items for sale, and identifying said business entity further includes referencing a selection from the group comprising: item-pricing data and item-availability data;

communicating purchasing information of said one or more items available from said one or more providers;

utilizing the purchasing information to generate a purchase request to order said one or more items; and

initiating a transaction with said one or more providers of the ordered one or more items included in the purchase request.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein referencing said location-information includes referencing location-information generated from input provided by a location-sensing device.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said location-sensing device includes a device equipped with a global-positioning component.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein referencing said location-information includes referencing geographic information received from a mapping component.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein said distance is a default value.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein purchasing data includes a selection from the group comprising:

a price of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of alternative products related to said items;

an availability status of complementary products related to said items;

an availability status of generic alternatives to said items;

a product description; and

a sum of said prices.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein communicating purchasing data includes presenting said purchasing data on said client device.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

receiving a purchase request from said end-user to order said one or more items from said one or more providers; and

transmitting said purchase request to said one or more providers.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising presenting a commute path, wherein said commute path includes a first location, said provider(s)'s location, and a destination location.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising storing a selection from the group comprising said list, said purchasing data, said location information, said purchase request.

21. The method of claim 18 , further comprising receiving a promotional offer from said one or more providers.

22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising presenting said promotional offer to said end-user in response to receiving said list of said one or more items.

23. A computer-readable medium having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon that when implemented cause a method of providing retail product information on a list of one or more items, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic representation of said list, wherein the step of receiving said electronic representation includes receiving said electronic representation as a digital data transmission over a communication network from a client device selected from the group comprising: a handheld device, a computer, a kiosk, an automobile two-way communication device, a telephone and a database, and said handheld device is selected from the group comprising: a mobile phone, a pager, a kiosk, a personal data assistant (PDA), and personal information manager (PIM);

referencing a commute path, wherein said commute path is generated from input received from a selection from the group comprising:

an end-user,

a location-sensing device that includes a device equipped with a global-positioning component, and

a mapping component;

determining one or more providers of said one or more items within a distance, at most fifty miles, of said commute path, said distance is a parameter set by said end-user, wherein determining one or more providers includes identifying a business entity that offers said one or more items for sale and identifying said business entity includes referencing a selection from the group comprising: item-pricing data and item-availability data; and

communicating product information related to said one or more items based on said determination of said one or more providers.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein said distance is a default value.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein purchasing data includes a selection from the group comprising:

a price of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of alternative products related to said items;

an availability status of complementary products related to said items;

an availability status of generic alternatives to said items;

a product description; and

a sum of said prices.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 , wherein communicating product information includes presenting said purchasing data on said client device.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 , further comprising:

receiving a purchase request from said end-user to order said one or more items from said one or more providers; and

transmitting said purchase request to said one or more providers.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27 , further comprising presenting a final commute path, wherein said final commute path includes said provider(s) to fulfill said purchase request.

29. The method of claim 25 , further comprising storing a selection from the group comprising said list, said purchasing data, said commute path, said purchase request.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 27 , further comprising receiving a promotional offer from said one or more providers.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 , further comprising presenting said promotional offer to said end-user in response to receiving said electronic representation of said list of said one or more items.

32. A computer system comprising one or more computers programmed to cause a method for providing product information relating to a list of one or more items to be performed, said method comprising:

receiving an electronic representation of said list, wherein the step of receiving said electronic representation includes receiving said electronic representation as a digital data transmission over a communications network from a client device selected from the group comprising: a handheld device, a computer, a kiosk, an automobile two-way communication device, a telephone and a database, said handheld device is selected from the group comprising: a mobile phone, a pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), and personal information manager (PIM);

receiving a commute path defined by a first location and a second location, said commute path is generated from input received from a selection from the group comprising:

an end-user,

a location-sensing device that includes a device equipped with a global-positioning component, and

a mapping component;

identifying one or more providers of said one or more items within a distance, at most fifty miles, of said commute path, said distance is a parameter set by said end-user, wherein identifying one or more providers includes referencing a selection from the group comprising: item-pricing data, item-availability data, and historical data captured from prior purchases; and

communicating product information related to said one or more items based on said identification of said one or more providers.

33. The computer system of claim 32 , wherein said distance is a default value.

34. The computer system of claim 32 , wherein purchasing data includes a selection from the group comprising:

a price of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of said one or more items offered by said one or more providers;

an availability status of alternative products related to said items;

an availability status of complementary products related to said items;

an availability status of generic alternatives to said items;

a product description; and

a sum of said prices.

35. The computer system of claim 34 , wherein communicating purchasing data includes presenting said purchasing data on said client device.

36. The computer system of claim 35 , further comprising:

receiving a purchase request from said end-user to order said one or more items from said one or more providers; and

transmitting said purchase request to said one or more providers.

37. The computer system of claim 36 , further comprising presenting a final commute path, wherein said final commute path includes said provider(s) to fulfill said purchase request.

38. The computer system of claim 34 , further comprising storing a selection from the group comprising said list, said purchasing data, said commute path, said purchase request.

39. The computer system of claim 36 , further comprising receiving a promotional offer from said one or more providers.

40. The computer system of claim 37 , further comprising presenting said promotional offer to said end-user in response to receiving said electronic representation of said list of said one or more items.