Method and system for providing retail-item-purchasing data in a computer network environment
View Patent ↗A method and system for communicating retail-item-purchasing data in a computer network environment is provided. Commute information is leveraged to provide purchasing options to end-users and to permit customers to automatically search for various products available at local businesses without having to visit each business. The commute information can be a commute path or a location reference. One or more providers of the items within a distance of the commute path are identified. Purchasing data is communicated based on the determination of the providers.
1. A method for accepting a request for retail product information from an end-user, comprising:
presenting a first prompt on a client device for communicating a request for information regarding one or more items;
presenting a second prompt for communicating a commute route; and
presenting purchasing data related to said one or more items to said end-user, wherein said purchasing data includes prices of said one or more items offered by one or more providers within a distance from said commute route.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said client device includes a selection from the group comprising: a handheld device, a computer, a kiosk, an automobile two-way communication device, a telephone and a database.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said handheld device includes a selection from the group comprising: a mobile phone, a pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), and personal information manager (PIM).
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said commute route is generated from input provided by said end-user.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein said commute route is generated from input provided by a location-sensing device.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said location-sensing device includes a device equipped with a global-positioning component.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein said commute route includes data received from a mapping component.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein said distance is at most fifty miles.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said distance is a parameter received from said end-user.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said distance is a default value.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein said 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.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein presenting said purchasing data includes presenting said purchasing data on said client device.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
presenting a third prompt for receiving a purchase request from said end-user to order said one or more items from said one or more providers; and
presenting a confirmation prompt that said purchase request was transmitted to said one or more providers.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising presenting a final commute path, wherein said final commute path includes said provider(s) to fulfill said purchase request.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising presenting a promotional offer from said one or more providers.
16. Computer-storage media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for implementing a system for accepting a request for retail product information from an end-user, comprising:
a list-processing component that presents a first prompt on a client device for communicating a request for information regarding one or more items;
a route-processing component that presents a second prompt for communicating a commute route; and
a purchasing-data component that presents purchasing data related to said one or more items to said end-user, wherein said purchasing data includes prices of said one or more items offered by one or more providers within a distance from said commute route.
17. Computer-storage media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for a method of providing retail product information on a list of one or more items, the method comprising the steps of:
providing for the creation of an end-user account;
associating a first retail sale of one or more items from a first business with said end-user account; and
associating a second retail sale of one or more items from a second business with said end-user account.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein said first retail sale comprises items to be received by said end-user from said first business.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein said second retail sale comprises items to be received by said end-user from said second business.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising:
storing said retail sales;
associating payment information of said end-user with said end-user account;
presenting one or more of said stored retail sales to said end-user;
managing said stored retail sales, wherein said managing includes a selection from a group comprising:
(1) sharing said stored retail sales with other retailers,
(2) reviewing a history of said stored retail sales,
(3) organizing said stored retail sales, and
(4) communicating said stored retail sales to a remote device.