IP Library Granted Patent US 10,748,196
Granted Patent B2
US 10,748,196 · App. 15/628,757 · Granted Aug 18, 2020

System and method for fresh online experience

Inventors: Shawn Branham (Bentonville, AR); William Ross Allen (Pea Ridge, AR); Richard M. Blair, II (Bentonville, AR)
Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
G06Q30/0603G06Q30/0627G06Q30/0633G06Q30/0643
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,748,196
App. No.
15/628,757
Granted
Aug 18, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for visually verifying the exact item a customer will be receiving through the online grocery pick up of a retail store. The system allows for customers to order a fresh item, such as apples, and view images of the exact fresh item online before finalizing purchase for retail store pickup. The exact fresh item is scanned using three dimensional scanning. The customer views the images and approves or rejects the exact fresh item before finalizing purchase.

Claims (34)

1. A system for ordering at least one actual fresh item online for store pick up comprising:

an internet customer interface wherein a customer selects a fresh item type based on a stock image and/or description;

a scanning module comprising a scanner, wherein the scanner is used by a store associate to scan a first actual fresh item for purchase, and wherein the scanner uses three dimensional imaging;

a store associate interface connected to the scanning module to allow a store associate to view and post a scan of the first actual fresh item;

a communications module to send notification to the customer to approve or reject the scan of the first actual fresh item;

a timing function connected to the communications module wherein the customer is allowed a fixed amount of time in which to approve or reject the scan of the first actual fresh item;

wherein if the scan of the first actual fresh item is not approved or if the scan of the first actual fresh item is rejected, the communications module will notify the store associate to scan an additional actual fresh item,

an edible watermark application module, wherein an edible watermark is applied to the first actual fresh item and/or the additional actual fresh item prior to the scan; and

a limiting function connected to the communication module wherein the customer is allowed a fixed number of attempts to approve the scan of the additional actual fresh item,

wherein once the system receives approval of the scan of either the first actual fresh item or the additional actual fresh item, the store associate finalizes the order and the pickup of the fresh item that corresponds with the approved scan of either the first actual fresh item or the additional actual fresh item.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the customer selects more than one fresh item type.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein once the system receives approval of the scan of either the first actual fresh item or the additional actual fresh item of each of the selected fresh item types, the store associate finalizes the order and the pickup of the actual fresh items that correspond with the approved scans of either the first actual fresh item or the additional actual fresh item.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the internet customer interface is a mobile application.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the internet customer interface is a web browser.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first actual fresh item and/or the additional actual fresh item is retrieved to scan via an item hopper.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first actual fresh item and/or the additional actual fresh item is retrieved to scan via a vending machine.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actual fresh item is produce.

9. A method for ordering at least one actual fresh item online for store pick up comprising:

selecting by a customer through an internet customer interface a fresh item type based on a stock image and/or description;

scanning by a store associate a first actual fresh item for purchase, wherein the scanning uses three dimensional imaging;

viewing and posting by the store associate through a store associate interface a scan of the first actual fresh item;

sending notification through a communications module to the customer to approve or reject the scan of the first actual fresh item;

wherein the customer is allowed a fixed amount of time in which to approve or reject the scan of the first actual fresh item;

wherein if the scan of the first actual fresh item is not approved or if the scan of the first actual fresh item is rejected, the communications module will notify the store associate to scan an additional actual fresh item;

wherein the customer is allowed a fixed number of attempts to approve the scan of the additional actual fresh item;

applying an edible watermark to the first actual fresh item and/or the additional actual fresh item prior to the scan; and

finalizing the order and the pickup of the actual fresh item that corresponds with the approved scan of either the first actual fresh item or the additional actual fresh item once the system receives approval of the scan of either the first actual fresh item or the additional actual fresh item.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising selecting more than one fresh item type.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein once the system receives approval of the scan of either the first actual fresh item or the additional actual fresh item of each of the selected fresh item types, the store associate finalizes the order and the pickup of the actual fresh items that correspond with the approved scans of either the first actual fresh item or the additional actual fresh item.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the internet customer interface is a mobile application.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the internet customer interface is a web browser.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first actual fresh item and/or the additional actual fresh item is retrieved to scan via a item hopper.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first fresh actual item and/or the additional actual fresh item is retrieved to scan via a vending machine.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the actual fresh item is produce.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2018
From: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
To: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
Reel/Frame 045790/0294 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2018
From: BRANHAM, SHAWN; ALLEN, WILLIAM ROSS; BLAIR II, RICHARD M.
To: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
Reel/Frame 045093/0992 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62353610 · Jun 23, 2016
Related Publication 20170372388A1 · Dec 28, 2017