US20200065882A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20200065882A1
Application number: US16/438,308
Authority: US
Inventors: Lorena Bueno Lobl
Original assignee: PayPal Inc
Current assignee: PayPal Inc
Priority date: 2014-11-03
Filing date: 2019-06-11
Publication date: 2020-02-27
Also published as: US10319024B2; US20160125507A1

Abstract

Methods and systems for facilitating collaborative shopping are described. A user creates and shares a shopping list containing desired items. The shopping list includes quantities of the items and deadlines for purchasing the items. When the user or one of his or her friends are at or near a location selling a desired item, they are alerted to purchase the item. As items are purchased by the user and his or her friends, the shopping list may be updated, and notes may be posted to the shopping list. Such updates and notes may include information regarding visited locations, prices of items, availability of items, restock or delivery dates, dates that locations were visited, etc.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/531,461, filed Nov. 3, 2014, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUNDField of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to in-store purchasing, and more particularly to facilitating collaborative shopping at one or more stores.

Related Art

Technology has allowed individuals to engage in a variety of collaborative activities. One area where collaboration is still needed, however, is in the area of shopping transactions. Typical shopping transactions, such as grocery shopping, are associated with a single individual, rather than a group. For online transactions, a single user generally has a single shopping cart associated with that user. Traditional shopping experiences prevent people in a same household or in other mutual beneficial relationships from collaboratively shopping with one another.

Thus, there exists a need to improve the process of collaborative shopping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for facilitating collaborative shopping according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a user device and/or friend device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for facilitating collaborative shopping according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system for implementing a device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, wherein showings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes systems and methods that facilitate collaborative shopping. The systems and methods allow multiple participants to collaborate on the purchase of items from a shopping list, update the shopping list, predict numbers of items needed on the shopping list, and post notes to the shopping list. A user can thus effectively manage the shopping list.

A user is able to share a shopping list with his or her friends. The shopping list can include various details such as items to purchase, places to purchase the items, prices for items, number of items to purchase, and deadlines for acquiring the items. In various embodiments, when a user or a friend is at or near a specified place, he or she is alerted to the items on the shopping list. As items are purchased, the shopping list can be updated and notes posted as to status of certain items. The shared shopping list can then be viewed by the user and his or her friends. The user can also post notes as to when stores are expected to receive inventory so that the user and/or friend can be alerted on the date. Instead of having to individually purchase every item on the list, the user is able to distribute the task of purchasing to a group, which saves both time and energy.

In exemplary embodiments, the shopping list includes predictions of what items and how many items will be needed at a future time or future periods of time. The predictions can be based, for example, on past shopping lists, previous sale history of an item, and current and/or predicted demand for an item. If a user or a friend comes across an item that can be pre-ordered and/or is available at the future time for a lower price (e.g., rainchecked items), the item can be pre-ordered and picked up at a later time. In some embodiments, the user or friend can indicate when a raincheck or pre-order can be used and/or for how long the raincheck or pre-order is valid.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a block diagram of a network-basedsystem100 adapted to facilitate collaborative shopping with auser device120 andfriend device140 over anetwork160. As shown,system100 may comprise or implement a plurality of servers and/or software components that operate to perform various methodologies in accordance with the described embodiments. Exemplary servers may include, for example, stand-alone and enterprise-class servers operating a server OS such as a MICROSOFT® OS, a UNIX® OS, a LINUX® OS, or other suitable server-based OS. It can be appreciated that the servers illustrated inFIG. 1 may be deployed in other ways and that the operations performed and/or the services provided by such servers may be combined or separated for a given implementation and may be performed by a greater number or fewer number of servers. One or more servers may be operated and/or maintained by the same or different entities.

As shown inFIG. 1, thesystem100 includes a user device120 (e.g., a smartphone), one or more merchant servers or devices130 (e.g., network server devices), a friend device140 (e.g., a smartphone), and at least one service provider server or device180 (e.g., network server device) in communication over thenetwork160. Thenetwork160, in one embodiment, may be implemented as a single network or a combination of multiple networks. For example, in various embodiments, thenetwork160 may include the Internet and/or one or more intranets, landline networks, wireless networks, and/or other appropriate types of communication networks. In another example, thenetwork160 may comprise a wireless telecommunications network (e.g., cellular phone network) adapted to communicate with other communication networks, such as the Internet.

Theuser device120, in one embodiment, may be utilized by theuser102 to interact with themerchant device130 and/or theservice provider server180 over thenetwork160. For example, theuser102 may conduct financial transactions (e.g., account transfers) with theservice provider server180 via theuser device120. Theuser device120, in various embodiments, may be implemented using any appropriate combination of hardware and/or software configured for wired and/or wireless communication over thenetwork160. In various implementations, theuser device120 includes a wireless telephone (e.g., cellular or mobile phone), a tablet, a personal computer, a notebook computer, a wearable computing device, and/or various other generally known types of wired and/or wireless computing devices.

Theuser device120, in one embodiment, includes auser interface application122, which may be utilized by theuser102 to conduct transactions (e.g., shopping, purchasing, bidding, etc.) with themerchant device130 and/orservice provider server180 over thenetwork160. In one aspect, purchase expenses may be directly and/or automatically debited from an account related to theuser102 via theuser interface application122.

In one implementation, theuser interface application122 comprises a software program, such as a graphical user interface (GUI), executable by a processor that is configured to interface and communicate with theservice provider server180 via thenetwork160. In another implementation, theuser interface application122 comprises a browser module that provides a network interface to browse information available over thenetwork160. For example, theuser interface application122 may be implemented, in part, as a web browser to view information available over thenetwork160.

In an example, theuser102 is able to access merchant websites via the one ormore merchant servers130 to view and select items for purchase, and theuser102 is able to purchase items from the one ormore merchant servers130 via theservice provider server180. Accordingly, in one or more embodiments, theuser102 may conduct transactions (e.g., purchase and provide payment for one or more items) from the one ormore merchant servers130 via theservice provider server180.

Theuser device120, in various embodiments, may includeother applications124 as may be desired in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to provide additional features available touser102. In one example, suchother applications124 may include security applications for implementing client-side security features, programmatic client applications for interfacing with appropriate application programming interfaces (APIs) over thenetwork160, and/or various other types of generally known programs and/or software applications. In still other examples, theother applications124 may interface with theuser interface application122 for improved efficiency and convenience.

In various implementations, a user profile may be created using data and information obtained from cell phone activity over thenetwork160. Cell phone activity transactions may be used by theservice provider server180 to create at least one user profile for theuser102 based on activity from the user device120 (e.g., cell phone). The user profile may be updated with each financial and/or information transaction (e.g., payment transaction, purchase transaction, etc.) achieved through use of theuser device120. In various aspects, this may include the type of transaction and/or the location information from theuser device120. As such, the profile may be used for recognizing patterns of potential fraud, setting transaction limits on the user, etc.

Theuser device120, in one embodiment, may include at least one user identifier126, which may be implemented, for example, as operating system registry entries, cookies associated with theuser interface application122, identifiers associated with hardware of theuser device120, or various other appropriate identifiers. The user identifier126 may include one or more attributes related to theuser102, such as personal information related to the user102 (e.g., one or more user names, passwords, photograph images, biometric IDs, addresses, phone numbers, social security number, etc.) and banking information and/or funding sources (e.g., one or more banking institutions, credit card issuers, user account numbers, security data and information, etc.). In various implementations, the user identifier126 may be passed with a user login request to theservice provider server180 via thenetwork160, and the user identifier126 may be used by theservice provider server180 to associate theuser102 with a particular user account maintained by theservice provider server180.

Theuser device102, in one embodiment, includes a geo-location component adapted to monitor and provide an instant geographical location (i.e., geo-location) of theuser device120. In one implementation, the geo-location of theuser device120 may include global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, zip-code information, area-code information, street address information, and/or various other generally known types of geo-location information. In one example, the geo-location information may be directly entered into theuser device120 by theuser102 via a user input component, such as a keyboard, touch display, and/or voice recognition microphone. In another example, the geo-location information may be automatically obtained and/or provided by theuser device120 via an internal or external GPS monitoring component. In one aspect, when interfacing with theuser device120, theuser102 may elect to provide or may be prompted to provide permission for the release of geo-location information. Accordingly, theuser102 may have exclusive authority to allow transmission of geo-location information from theuser device120 to the one ormore merchant devices130 and/or theservice provider server180. In any instance, the one ormore merchant devices130 and/or theservice provider server180 may communicate with theuser device120 via thenetwork160 and request permission to acquire geo-location information from theuser device120 for geo-location based mobile commerce.

In certain embodiments, theuser device120 includes acollaborative shopping application128.Collaborative shopping application128 may correspond to one or more processes to execute modules ofuser device120 to receive, update, predict, and transmit shopping list information touser102 and/orfriend104. In this regard,collaborative shopping application128 may be utilized to, for example, provide a convenient interface to permituser102 to browse information available over thenetwork160 and utilize services available from service providers, such asservice provider server180. In one embodiment, a service provider distributes thecollaborative shopping application128 to theuser device120 over thenetwork160. In some embodiments, thecollaborative shopping application128 receives shopping list information from theuser102 and stores the shopping list locally on theuser device120. In other embodiments, thecollaborative shopping application128 creates a shopping list for theuser102, anduser102 can accept or change the items, quantities of items, deadlines for items, maximum prices of items, etc. on the shopping list.

Friend device

140 may be configured similarly touser device120, and have similar applications and modules asuser device120. Although not shown,friend device140 may also include one or moreuser interface applications122 andcollaborative shopping application128 to provide a convenient interface to permitfriend104 to browse information (e.g., a shopping list) and perform tasks overnetwork160. For example, in one embodiment,collaborative shopping application128 may be implemented as a web browser configured to view information available over thenetwork160 and communicate withservice provider server180 to receive, send, and update information about items on the shopping list.

Friend device

140 may further includeother applications124 such as security applications for implementing client-side security features, programmatic client applications for interfacing with appropriate application programming interfaces (APIs) overnetwork160, or other types of applications.Applications124 may also include email, text, IM, and voice applications that allowfriend104 to communicate throughnetwork160, receive messages fromuser102, and send messages touser102.Friend device140 includes one or more user identifiers126 which may be implemented, for example, as operating system registry entries, cookies associated withuser interface application122, identifiers associated with hardware offriend device140 such as location address or GPS coordinates, or other appropriate identifiers, such as used for payment/recipient/device authentication, e.g., the phone number associated withfriend device140. Identifiers may be used by a service provider to associatefriend104 with a particular account maintained by the service provider and/oruser102.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of auser device120 andfriend device140. The

devices

120 and140 include several components or modules, such as acommunication module202,shopping module204,payment module206,geolocation module208,display module210,notification module212,posting module214, andstorage module216.

The

devices

120 and140 include acommunication module202 that is coupled to thenetwork218 and to any or all of ashopping module204,payment module206,geolocation module208,display module210,notification module212, andposting module214, any of which may be coupled to astorage module216. Any or all of the modules202-214 may be implemented as a subsystem of theuser device120 and/orfriend device140 including for example, a circuit, a hardware component, a hardware subcomponent, and/or a variety of other subsystems known in the art. Furthermore, any or all of the modules202-214 may be preconfigured to perform their disclosed functionality, or may be configured by a processing system “on-the-fly” or as needed to perform their disclosed functionality. As such, any or all of the modules202-214 may include pre-configured and dedicated circuits and/or hardware components of theuser device120 and/orfriend device140, or may be circuits and/or hardware components that are configured as needed.

For example, any or all of the modules202-214 may be provided via one or more circuits that include resistors, inductors, capacitors, voltage sources, current sources, switches, logic gates, registers, and/or a variety of other circuit elements known in the art. One or more of the circuit elements in a circuit may be configured to provide the circuit(s) that causes the modules202-214 to perform the functions described below. As such, in some embodiments, preconfigured and dedicated circuits may be implemented to perform the functions of the modules202-214. In other embodiments, a processing system may execute instructions on a non-transitory, computer-readable medium to configure one or more circuits as needed to perform the functions of the modules202-214.

The one ormore merchant servers130, in various embodiments, may be maintained by one or more business entities (or in some cases, by a partner of a business entity that processes transactions on behalf of business entities). Examples of businesses entities include merchant sites, resource information sites, utility sites, real estate management sites, social networking sites, etc., which offer various items for purchase and payment. In some embodiments, business entities may need registration of the user identity information as part of offering items to theuser102 and/orfriend104 over thenetwork160. As such, each of the one ormore merchant servers130 may include amerchant database132 for identifying available items, which may be made available to theuser device120 and/orfriend device140 for viewing and purchase by theuser102 and/orfriend104. In one or more embodiments,user102 and/orfriend104 may complete a transaction such as purchasing the items viaservice provider server180.

Each of themerchant servers130, in one embodiment, may include amarketplace application134, which may be configured to provide information over thenetwork160 to theuser interface application122 of theuser device120 and/orfriend device140. For example,user102 may interact with themarketplace application134 through theuser interface application122 over thenetwork160 to search and view various items available for purchase in themerchant database132.

Each of themerchant servers130, in one embodiment, may include at least onemerchant identifier136, which may be included as part of the one or more items made available for purchase so that, e.g., particular items are associated with particular merchants. In one implementation, themerchant identifier136 may include one or more attributes and/or parameters related to the merchant, such as business and banking information. Themerchant identifier136 may include attributes related to the merchant server ordevice130, such as identification information (e.g., a serial number, a location address, GPS coordinates, a network identification number, etc.). In various embodiments,user102 and/orfriend104 may conduct transactions (e.g., searching, selection, monitoring, purchasing, and/or providing payment for items) with eachmerchant server130 via theservice provider server180 over thenetwork160.

A merchant website may also communicate (for example, using merchant server130) with the service provider throughservice provider server180 overnetwork160. For example, the merchant website may communicate with the service provider in the course of various services offered by the service provider to a merchant website, such as payment intermediary between customers of the merchant website and the merchant website itself. For example, the merchant website may use an application programming interface (API) that allows it to offer sale of goods in which customers are allowed to make payment through the service provider, whileuser102 and/orfriend104 may have an account with the service provider that allowsuser102 and/orfriend104 to use the service provider for making payments to merchants that allow use of authentication, authorization, and payment services of the service provider as a payment intermediary. The merchant website may also have an account with the service provider.

Theservice provider server180, in one embodiment, may be maintained by a transaction processing entity or an online service provider, which may provide processing for financial transactions and/or information transactions between theuser102 and/orfriend104 and one or more of themerchant servers130. As such, theservice provider server180 includes aservice application182, which may be adapted to interact with theuser device120 and/orfriend device140 over thenetwork160 to facilitate the searching, selection, purchase, and/or payment of items by theuser102 and/orfriend104 from the one ormore merchant servers130. In one example, theservice provider server180 may be provided by PayPal®, Inc., eBay® of San Jose, Calif., USA, and/or one or more financial institutions or a respective intermediary that may provide multiple point of sale devices at various locations to facilitate transaction routings between merchants and, for example, financial institutions.

Theservice application182, in one embodiment, utilizes a payment processing application184 to process purchases and/or payments for financial transactions between theuser102 and/orfriend104 and each of themerchant servers130. In one implementation, the payment processing application184 assists with resolving financial transactions through validation, delivery, and settlement. As such, theservice application182 in conjunction with the payment processing module184 settles indebtedness between theuser102 and/orfriend104 and each of themerchant servers130, wherein accounts may be directly and/or automatically debited and/or credited of monetary funds in a manner as accepted by the banking industry.

Theservice provider server180, in one embodiment, may be configured to maintain one or more user accounts and merchant accounts in anaccount database186, each of which may includeaccount information188 associated with one or more individual users (e.g.,user102 and friend104) and merchants. For example, accountinformation188 may include private financial information ofuser102,friend104, and merchants (e.g., one or more merchants associated with merchant servers130), such as one or more account numbers, passwords, credit card information, banking information, or other types of financial information, which may be used to facilitate financial transactions betweenuser102 and/orfriend104, and one or more merchants associated with themerchant servers130. In various aspects, the methods and systems described herein may be modified to accommodate users and/or merchants that may or may not be associated with at least one existing user account and/or merchant account, respectively.

In one implementation, theuser102 and/orfriend104 may have identity attributes stored with theservice provider server180, anduser102 and/orfriend104 may have credentials to authenticate or verify identity with theservice provider server180. User attributes may include personal information, banking information and/or funding sources. In various aspects, the user attributes may be passed to theservice provider server180 as part of a login, search, selection, purchase, and/or payment request, and the user attributes may be utilized by theservice provider server180 toassociate user102 and/orfriend104 with one or more particular user accounts maintained by theservice provider server180.

In various embodiments, theservice provider server180 includes a collaborativeshopping manager application190. The collaborativeshopping manager application190 is configured to register theuser102 andfriend104 with a shopping collaboration service and is configured to receive shopping list information for a shopping transaction of theuser102. The collaborativeshopping manager application190 is also configured to assign one or more friends to the shopping transaction and record, receive, and communicate information related to the shopping transaction between theuser102 and the one ormore friends104.

Referring now toFIG. 3, aflowchart300 of a method for facilitating collaborative shopping is illustrated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, theuser102 registers with a service provider for a collaborative shopping service. Registration may include signing up for the service and agreeing to any terms required by the service provider, such as throughuser device120. In one embodiment, theuser device120 is a mobile computing device, such as a smart phone, a PC, or a computing tablet. In some embodiments, registration may be done completely through theuser device120, partially through theuser device120, or without using theuser device120, such as through a phone call or in-person visit to a representative of the service provider.

Theuser102 may be requested to provide specific information for registration, such as, but not limited to, a name, address, phone number, email address, picture, a user name for the account, and a password or PIN for the account. In various embodiments, theuser102 also provides a list of family, friends, and/or social contacts that theuser102 wants to be notified about his or her shopping list. These family, friends, and/or social contacts can then be invited by the service provider to sign up for the collaborative shopping service. Alternatively, they can independently sign up for the service, and theuser102 can designate who he or she wants to be a shopper in his or her collaborative shopping group. As used herein, “member,” “member of the group,” “member of the shopping group,” or “member of the collaborative shopping group” is meant to designate both theuser102 and the shoppers designated by the user102 (e.g., the user's family, friends, and/or social contacts).

The type of information requested may depend on whether theuser102 already has an account with the service provider. Requested information may be entered through theuser device120 or other means, including voice or manual key entry. Once all the requested information is received and confirmed, the service provider may create an account for the user.

Buying and selling merchandise and services via the Internet has become more widely accepted and more secure in recent years. Aside from established merchants and commercial retailers, individuals have found a marketplace online for shopping or peddling their new or used merchandise, as well as seeking or offering a variety of services. In various embodiments,user102 is an individual who is an online seller of merchandise. In certain embodiments,user102 is a “power seller,” or a seller that consistently sells a significant volume of items, provides a high level of service to their buyers, and maintains a positive feedback score.

Atstep302, theshopping module204 receives or obtains a shopping list from theuser102. The shopping list can be obtained via selections from lists presented to theuser102, via free text entry by theuser102, via searching of repositories presented to theuser102, and/or via questions asked in automated fashion to theuser102.

In certain embodiments, the shopping list includes one or more of a budget, a specific maximum price, a geographic region for the shopping transaction, a specific brand for an item, a specific company/store providing the item, and/or a specific attribute for the item. In some embodiments, theuser102 specifies the desired items, locations to buy the items (e.g., specific stores or specific store locations), maximum prices of the items, and deadlines for purchasing the items.

In some embodiments, theshopping module204 creates the shopping list for theuser102. Theshopping module204 can access thestorage module216, which can storeuser102′s prior selling or buying habits, to determine what theuser102 may need and in what quantities. Theuser102 can then view the shopping list and confirm or change the items, quantities, and other details in the shopping list. For example, if theuser102 previously bought or sold100 bead bracelets in December, theshopping module204 can include100 bead bracelets in the shopping list and indicate the deadline for purchasing the bracelets as late November or early December. Moreover, theshopping module204 can examine what theuser102 is selling and/or how fast or slow items are being sold, both by the user and by others. Amounts and deadlines in the shopping list can then be adjusted so that theuser102 can keep up with demand and not have to store a lot of inventory or be under stocked. Price changes may also be predicted, such as for items where demand may be high (or low) over a certain period of time and what price may generate the most sales and/or most profit, which can depend on the user's goals or preferences.

Theuser102 can also indicate whether items can be pre-ordered, the quantities and maximum prices of pre-ordered items, dates when pre-ordered items need to be available at the store, and/or dates when pre-ordered items will no longer be available at the store. Theuser102 can thus include a timeframe that indicates when the pre-order can begin to be redeemed and a deadline that indicates when the pre-order is no longer available. The shopping list can indicate all these details. Based on this information, members of the collaborative shopping group can be notified when they are near an item that can be pre-ordered and order the item before it is actually needed. For example, if a member visits a merchant store and discovers that an item is not available, but will be available in the future, the member can pre-order the item and come back for it at a later date.

In an exemplary embodiment, if a member of the shopping group brings an advertisement that shows a product as “on sale” for a specific reduced sale price at a retail store, and the member goes to that store and attempts to purchase the “on sale” item only to find that the particular item is sold out (i.e., not on the shelf or in inventory), the member may obtain a raincheck from the store. The raincheck allows the member to purchase that same item in the future at the currently advertised sale price. The raincheck typically identifies the “on sale” item, the sale price and date, thereby allowing the member to return to the store in the future and purchase the “on sale” item at the sale price. The raincheck may also provide information such as the SKU number and/or UPC code for the particular item. When the rainchecked item is available, the store generally lets the member know. When theuser102 finds out about a rainchecked item, theuser102 can update the shopping list to inform other members of the group and let them know when the rainchecked item is available and/or how long the rainchecked item will be available. For example, theuser102 can provide an expiration date for the raincheck so that members know how long the raincheck is valid.

In some embodiments, theuser102 notes that one or more items are associated with a raincheck and provides the other members of the group access to the raincheck so that they can pick up an item when it becomes available. In various embodiments, the raincheck may be used only at a certain store location. Thus, theuser102 is able to manage his or her inventory of items based on the quantities of items, current or anticipated needs of customers, current inventory, availability of items, and price of items.

In several exemplary embodiments, the items on the shopping list are geo-tagged. For example, theuser102 can geo-tag all locations of Store W for X item at Y price until Z Date. The geo-tag allows theuser102 to associate a geographical location with an item on the shopping list. In certain embodiments, thegeolocation module208 can check for any matches between the geo-tagged items on the list and the location of a member of the shopping group. Thegeolocation module208 then determines possible matches and then communicates these matches to thenotification module212 to alert a member to any matches. Thus, whenuser102 or any member of his or her collaborative shopping group are near a location or within a predetermined distance of a location associated with an item on the shopping list, he or she can be notified to purchase the item.

As used herein, “geo-tag” and “geo-tagging” refers to the adding of geographical metadata, or other geographical identifier(s) identifying a geographical location, to various types of media such as, without limitation, audio, text files, pictures, video, SMS messages, MMS messages, RSS feeds, and the like. As used herein, geo-tag and geo-tagging may also refer to the storing of a file, or an identifier that identifies a file, in association with one or more geographical identifiers (e.g., in a database). In one example, a geo-tag or geographical metadata or geographical identifier(s) for a particular file may include a latitude coordinate and a longitude coordinate. In another example, a geo-tag may include, alternatively or in addition, one or more of an altitude, bearing, distance, accuracy data and/or place name(s) (e.g., Times Square; Eiffel Tower).

In some embodiments, the items on the shopping list are not geo-tagged. For example, theuser102 may provide a list of desired items, maximum prices of the desired items, quantities of the desired items, and deadlines for purchasing the desired items, without specifying a location to buy the items. Thegeolocation module208 can take the shopping list and determine what stores provide the desired items at the prices, quantities, and deadlines specified by theuser102. For example, thegeolocation module208 can access a store's website and/or receive information from the store to determine if the store has what theuser102 is looking for. In these embodiments, when theuser102 orfriend104 is at or near a store selling an item on the shopping list, thenotification module212 can alert theuser102 orfriend104 to purchase the item.

Atstep304, theshopping module204 creates a shopping transaction using the shopping list. The shopping transaction identifies the shopping list and the members assigned to the shopping list. In an embodiment, the shopping transaction is a series of subtransactions that are conducted by theuser102 and other members of the shopping group over a period of time. The period of time may be bounded. In other cases, the subtransactions can occur until a specific event occurs (e.g., everything on the list is purchased). Thedisplay module210 presents the shopping list to individual members of the shopping group.

Atstep306, thenotification module212 notifies members of the shopping group of the shopping transaction. For example, the collaborativeshopping manager application190 sends a communication (e.g., email, instant message, etc.) to each member of the group informing them that theuser102 has listed them as designated shoppers and providing each of them with the shopping list.

In some embodiments, members of the group can be alerted that they are near a store that sells an item (e.g., geo-tagged item). Members are notified by thenotification module212 when a nearby business has in its inventory an item from the shopping list when a member is close enough to act on that information. For example, thegeolocation module208 can determine a location of a member and thenotification module212 can send an alert to a specific member based on the physical location of the member. So, when a member is determined as being in a specific store or near a specific store, an alert or notification can be sent to the member. The member can then purchase the item and update the shopping list.

Atstep308, thepayment module206 processes payments requests made by members of the shopping group as they purchase the items on the shopping list. As members of the group visit different store locations and purchase different items off the list, the list can be updated to reflect any changes. For example, items from the list can be crossed off once purchased. In addition, members of the group can post notes to the list, indicating that certain store locations do not have an item as of a certain date, that they cleaned out all the stock at a certain store as of a certain date, or that a new shipment of an item is expected on a certain date. The notes and updates are displayed by thedisplay module210 on a centralized list that is viewable by all members in the group. In this way, shopping for items on the list is made efficient and hassle-free. Members of the group know which locations have already been visited and which have not so that efforts are not duplicated and time is not wasted.

Based on information provided by members of the group, theuser102 can set reminders or alerts to periodically check specific stores, such as times when a store is typically restocked. For example, for stores that restock on a specific schedule, reminders can be sent out by thenotification module212 to check certain store location for refilled stock. In addition, item history, such as where a member was able to acquire items, quantity, price, and inventory can help theuser102 to manage the shopping list.

Atstep310, once items are bought, theposting module214 can immediately post the items to an online store, such as eBay or Craigslist, and made available for purchase.

In various embodiments, data obtained and aggregated by the collaborativeshopping manager application190 is made available to merchants. The data may include information regarding popular merchant items, competitor prices, and popular merchant locations. The merchant can use this data to track competitor items and prices, and modify their own inventory and prices.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of acomputer system400 suitable for implementing one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, including theuser device120,merchant server130, and theservice provider server180. In various implementations, theuser device120 may comprise a mobile cellular phone, personal computer (PC), laptop, wearable computing device, etc. adapted for wireless communication, and themerchant server130 andservice provider server180 may comprise a network computing device, such as a server. Thus, it should be appreciated that the

devices

120,130, and180 may be implemented ascomputer system400 in a manner as follows.

Computer system

400 includes a bus412 or other communication mechanism for communicating information data, signals, and information between various components ofcomputer system400. Components include an input/output (I/O)component404 that processes a user (i.e., sender, recipient, service provider) action, such as selecting keys from a keypad/keyboard, selecting one or more buttons or links, etc., and sends a corresponding signal to bus412. I/O component404 may also include an output component, such as adisplay402 and a cursor control408 (such as a keyboard, keypad, mouse, etc.). An optional audio input/output component406 may also be included to allow a user to use voice for inputting information by converting audio signals. Audio I/O component406 may allow the user to hear audio. A transceiver or network interface420 transmits and receives signals betweencomputer system400 and other devices, such as another user device, a merchant server, or a service provider server vianetwork422. In one embodiment, the transmission is wireless, although other transmission mediums and methods may also be suitable. Aprocessor414, which can be a micro-controller, digital signal processor (DSP), or other processing component, processes these various signals, such as for display oncomputer system400 or transmission to other devices via acommunication link424.Processor414 may also control transmission of information, such as cookies or IP addresses, to other devices.

Components ofcomputer system400 also include a system memory component410 (e.g., RAM), a static storage component416 (e.g., ROM), and/or adisk drive418.Computer system400 performs specific operations byprocessor414 and other components by executing one or more sequences of instructions contained insystem memory component410. For example,processor414 can receive payment requests, detect that a user profile is stored on a user device, receive authentication information from a user, and automatically present a user with an option to make a payment using one or more funding sources. Logic may be encoded in a computer readable medium, which may refer to any medium that participates in providing instructions toprocessor414 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. In various implementations, non-volatile media includes optical or magnetic disks, volatile media includes dynamic memory, such assystem memory component410, and transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire, and fiber optics, including wires that comprise bus412. In one embodiment, the logic is encoded in non-transitory computer readable medium. In one example, transmission media may take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave, optical, and infrared data communications.

Some common forms of computer readable media includes, for example, floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, RAM, PROM, EPROM, FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer is adapted to read.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, execution of instruction sequences to practice the present disclosure may be performed bycomputer system400. In various other embodiments of the present disclosure, a plurality ofcomputer systems400 coupled bycommunication link424 to the network (e.g., such as a LAN, WLAN, PTSN, and/or various other wired or wireless networks, including telecommunications, mobile, and cellular phone networks) may perform instruction sequences to practice the present disclosure in coordination with one another.

Where applicable, various embodiments provided by the present disclosure may be implemented using hardware, software, or combinations of hardware and software. Also, where applicable, the various hardware components and/or software components set forth herein may be combined into composite components comprising software, hardware, and/or both without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Where applicable, the various hardware components and/or software components set forth herein may be separated into sub-components comprising software, hardware, or both without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, where applicable, it is contemplated that software components may be implemented as hardware components and vice-versa.

Software in accordance with the present disclosure, such as program code and/or data, may be stored on one or more computer readable mediums. It is also contemplated that software identified herein may be implemented using one or more general purpose or specific purpose computers and/or computer systems, networked and/or otherwise. Where applicable, the ordering of various steps described herein may be changed, combined into composite steps, and/or separated into sub-steps to provide features described herein.

The various features and steps described herein may be implemented as systems comprising one or more memories storing various information described herein and one or more processors coupled to the one or more memories and a network, wherein the one or more processors are operable to perform steps as described herein, as non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a plurality of machine-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, are adapted to cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising steps described herein, and methods performed by one or more devices, such as a hardware processor, user device, server, and other devices described herein.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A system, comprising:

a non-transitory memory; and

one or more hardware processors coupled to the non-transitory memory and configured to read instructions from the non-transitory memory to cause the system to perform operations comprising:

accessing transaction information of transactions associated with a first item conducted through a website;

predicting a purchase recommendation for a second item corresponding to the first item based on analyzing the transaction information, wherein the purchase recommendation comprises a quantity and a date for purchasing the second item;

accessing a plurality of merchant servers to determine one or more merchant locations that offer the second item for sale;

determining that a particular member from a group of members is available to purchase the second item based on a detected location of the particular member being within a threshold distance from one of the one or more merchant locations;

transmitting a notification to a user device of the particular member notifying the particular member to purchase the second item from the one of the one or more merchant locations;

determining that the quantity of the second item has been purchased; and

in response to determining that the quantity of the second item has been purchased, automatically updating the website to indicate an availability of the first item for sale.

3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing, on a user device, a user interface for adding members to the group of

4. The system ofclaim 3, wherein the user interface displays one or more contacts stored on the user device for adding to the group of members.

5. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a recommended retail price for the first item based on the analyzing the transaction information; and

updating the website based on the determined recommended retail price.

6. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the user device of the particular member, an indication that a raincheck for the second item has been issued by the one of the one or more merchant locations; and

providing the indication to a device of at least one other member in the group of members.

7. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the quantity is a first quantity, and wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the user device of the particular member, an indication that the particular member has purchased a second quantity of the second item from the one of the one or more merchant locations, wherein the second quantity is less than the first quantity; and

updating the first quantity in the purchase recommendation based on the second quantity.

8. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting the purchase recommendation to a plurality of devices associated with the group of members.

9. A method, comprising:

obtaining, by one or more hardware processors, information related to transactions associated with a first item conducted through a website;

analyzing the information;

determining, based on the analyzing, a purchase recommendation for purchasing a first quantity of a second item corresponding to the first item;

accessing a plurality of merchant servers associated with a plurality of merchants;

determining one or more merchant locations that offer the second item for sale based on the accessing;

transmitting, by the one or more hardware processors, a notification to a user device of the particular member notifying the particular member to purchase the second item from the one of the one or more merchant locations; and

in response to determining that the first quantity of the second item has been purchased, automatically updating, by the one or more hardware processors, the website to indicate an availability of the first item for sale.

10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the information related to the transactions is obtained from a web server associated with the website.

11. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising transmitting the purchase recommendation to a plurality of user devices associated with the group of members.

12. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising:

receiving an update from a member of the group of members; and

updating the purchase recommendation based on the update.

13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the update comprises at least one of information regarding a second quantity of the second item that is available at a merchant location, a price of the second item at the merchant location, a date that the merchant location was visited by the member, or an expected delivery date of the second item at the merchant location.

14. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the update comprises the expected delivery date of the second item at the merchant location, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting a reminder alert to the plurality of user devices based on the expected delivery date.

15. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising updating the purchase recommendation based on the update.

16. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-readable instructions executable to cause a machine to perform operations comprising:

predicting a purchase recommendation for a second item corresponding to the first item based on analyzing the transaction information, wherein the purchase recommendation comprises a quantity;

transmitting a notification to a user device of the particular member notifying the particular member to purchase the second item from the one of the one or more merchant locations; and

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

accessing second transaction information of second transactions associated with the first item conducted through a second website; and

analyzing the second transaction information, wherein the purchase recommendation is predicted further based on the analyzing the second transaction information.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing, on a user device, a user interface for adding members to the group of members.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 18, wherein the user interface displays one or more contacts stored on the user device for adding to the group of members.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

updating the website based on the determined recommended retail price.

21. The non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing the indication to at least one other device of at least one other member in the group of members.