IP Library Granted Patent US 12,333,482
Granted Patent B2
US 12,333,482 · App. 18/425,278 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Order fulfillment systems and methods with customer location tracking

Inventors: Varun Reddy Agasti (Schaumburg, IL); Leena Munjal (Algonquin, IL)
Assignee: TRANSFORM SR BRANDS LLC
G06Q10/0836H04W4/029H04W4/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,333,482
App. No.
18/425,278
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed that provide a pickup process for items purchased from a store. In some embodiments, a mobile computing device of a customer may determine whether the mobile computing device and therefore the customer are in a pickup zone for a store. In response to determining that the mobile computing device is in the pickup zone, the mobile computing device may notify the customer and request whether the customer wishes to initiate pickup of purchased items from the store. The mobile computing device may notify a merchandise pickup system of the customer's desire to pickup the purchased items.

Claims (83)

1. A method, the method comprising:

via a mobile computing device:

receiving an order confirmation for an item;

checking for an indication that the item is ready for pickup;

increasing a frequency of the checking;

receiving the indication that the item is ready for pickup;

determining a current location of the mobile computing device via a GPS receiver;

determining a pickup zone for the item according to the current location of the mobile computing device;

inquiring whether a user of the mobile computing device desires to initiate a pickup of the item; and

automatically declining the pickup of the item if the user fails to respond to the inquiry after spending a preset amount of time in the pickup zone.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

initiating a timer that reflects an elapse of time since entering the pickup zone; and

presenting the timer via the mobile computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

receiving content targeted to a customer associated with the item for pickup in response to initiating the pickup; and

presenting the targeted content via the mobile computing device.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

receiving pickup instructions in response to requesting pickup; and

presenting the instructions via the mobile computing device.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

receiving an order confirmation for the item; and

altering one or more power management features of the mobile computing device in response to receiving the order confirmation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the pickup zone comprises:

monitoring the current location of the mobile computing device; and

comparing the current location of the mobile computing device to the pickup zone.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the pickup zone comprises:

receiving a short range signal transmitted from a particular location; and

determining the current location of the mobile computing device corresponds to the pickup zone according to a receipt of the short range signal from the particular location.

8. A computer readable storage device comprising a plurality of instructions, that in response to being executed, cause a mobile computing device to:

receive an order confirmation for an item;

check for an indication that the item is ready for pickup;

increase a frequency of the checking;

receive the indication that the item is ready for pickup;

determine a current location of the mobile computing device via a GPS receiver;

determine a pickup zone for the item according to the current location of the mobile computing device;

inquire whether a user of the mobile computing device desires to initiate a pickup of the item; and

automatically decline the pickup of the item if the user fails to respond to the inquiry after spending a preset amount of time in the pickup zone.

9. The computer readable storage device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the mobile computing device to:

initiate a timer that reflects an elapse of time since entering the pickup zone; and

present the timer.

10. The computer readable storage device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the mobile computing device to:

receive content targeted to a customer associated with the item for pickup in response to initiating the pickup; and

present the targeted content.

11. The computer readable storage device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the mobile computing device to:

receive pickup instructions in response to requesting pickup; and

present the instructions.

12. The computer readable storage device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the mobile computing device to:

receive an order confirmation for the item; and

alter one or more power management features of the mobile computing device in response to receiving the order confirmation.

13. The computer readable storage device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the mobile computing device to:

monitor the current location of the mobile computing device; and

compare the current location of the mobile computing device to the pickup zone.

14. The computer readable storage device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the mobile computing device to:

receive a short range signal transmitted from a particular location; and

determine the current location of the mobile computing device corresponds to the pickup zone based on receipt of the short range signal from the particular location.

15. A system, comprising:

an application stored on a physical memory of a mobile computing device, wherein the application is executed by a processor that configures the mobile computing device to:

receive an order confirmation for an item;

check for an indication that the item is ready for pickup;

increase a frequency of the checking;

receive the indication that the item is ready for pickup;

determine a current location of the mobile computing device via a GPS receiver;

determine a pickup zone for the item according to the current location of the mobile computing device;

inquire whether a user of the mobile computing device desires to initiate a pickup of the item; and

automatically decline the pickup of the item if the user fails to respond to the inquiry after spending a preset amount of time in the pickup zone.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor configures the mobile computing device to:

initiate a timer that reflects an elapse of time since entering the pickup zone; and

present the timer.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor configures the mobile computing device to:

receive content targeted to a customer associated with the item for pickup in response to initiating the pickup; and

present the targeted content.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor configures the mobile computing device to:

receive pickup instructions in response to requesting pickup; and

present the instructions.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor configures the mobile computing device to:

receive an order confirmation for the item; and

alter one or more power management features of the mobile computing device in response to receiving the order confirmation.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor configures the mobile computing device to:

monitor the current location of the mobile computing device; and

compare the current location of the mobile computing device to the pickup zone.

21. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor configures the mobile computing device to:

receive a short range signal transmitted from a particular location; and

determine the current location of the mobile computing device corresponds to the pickup zone based on receipt of the short range signal from the particular location.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2024
From: TRANSFORM SR BRANDS LLC
To: JPP, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 067063/0523 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2024
From: TRANSFORM SR BRANDS LLC
To: CANTOR FITZGERALD SECURITIES, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 067063/0561 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 18113540 · Feb 23, 2023
Continuation 16654573 · Oct 16, 2019
Continuation 14831218 · Aug 20, 2015
Continuation 13923695 · Jun 21, 2013
Related Publication 20240169309A1 · May 23, 2024
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