CA2321145A1 - Method and apparatus for on-line purchasing - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for on-line purchasing Download PDFInfo
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- CA2321145A1 CA2321145A1 CA002321145A CA2321145A CA2321145A1 CA 2321145 A1 CA2321145 A1 CA 2321145A1 CA 002321145 A CA002321145 A CA 002321145A CA 2321145 A CA2321145 A CA 2321145A CA 2321145 A1 CA2321145 A1 CA 2321145A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
- H04L67/50—Network services
- H04L67/53—Network services using third party service providers
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
- H04L67/50—Network services
- H04L67/75—Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
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Abstract
Current methods of Internet shopping do not provide a useful interface for the shopper. The present invention provides a more effective shopper interface with a single web page for all transactions, pre-made shopping lists and product searching using virtual house and store metaphors.
Description
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ON-LINE PURCHASING
Technical Field The invention relates to Internet-based retail sales, and more particularly to a system and apparatus for purchase of grocery goods and services over the Internet.
Background Art The global network of computers known as the Internet involves communication between a first vast group of computers which are the source of information and documents, known as "servers", and a second vast group of computers which request such information and documents from servers, referred to as "clients". One of the most useful systems for exchanging information between clients and servers is the World Wide Web. Clients obtain documents containing graphics and text formatted in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) from servers over the Internet using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) by linking an HTML-compatible web browser to the server's Universal Resource Locator (URL). The browser then displays the requested Web page on the client terminal.
Internet-based purchase of goods and services over the World Wide Web has become an important means for selling goods and services. Payment is generally made by credit or debit card. A common method for a customer to purchase a number of items from the same merchant or vendor without carrying out separate credit card transactions for each item is to use a "shopping cart"
metaphor. See for example United States patent no. 5,745,681 issued April 28, 1998 to Sun Microsystems, Inc. Items are selected by the customer and added to the virtual shopping cart. When the customer has completed the selection of items, the customer "checks out" by providing payment and delivery information and the complete selection of purchases is ordered.
Sale of grocery items online and delivery of same to consumers is rapidly increasing, due to the gradual adaptation to consumers to the idea that personal attendance at a grocery store to select grocery items is an inefficient use of time. Some of the more popular grocery delivery sites are www.webvan.com, and www.homegrocer.com. These sites permit customers to order a selection of grocery items for home delivery during pre-selected times. Typically these sites involve selection of a generic product type, which then directs the customer to a list of different brands which are available and the price. The customer then adds the selection to her shopping cart. When finished shopping, the customer selects the delivery time and the total value of the purchased goods is charged to the customer's account.
A problem with existing systems is that the customer's interface is too complicated to encourage use of the service among those who would generally want to use the service. There is therefore a need for a more useful method of ordering groceries on-line.
Disclosure of Invention The present invention provides a method of on-line shopping comprising a) providing a shopping web site accessible to shoppers on the Internet via a plurality of client computer terminals and comprising a secure server capable of conducting electronic commerce transactions, the secure server being adapted to maintain a database; b) providing to the shopper a pre-determined shopping list from which to remove unwanted items. According to one aspect, the pre-determined shopping list is provided by the shopper selecting from one or more pre-determined shopping lists, and the shopper forms a final list by adding to or deleting from the pre-determined shopping list. The invention may further comprise the further steps of c) the shopper selecting from the pre-determined list a product type; d) displaying to the shopper available brands in that product type;
e) the shopper selecting a quantity of one of the brands for purchase and adding the quantity of one of the brands to a virtual shopping cart; and f) the shopper checking out the purchases by providing a delivery tome and address and payment for purchased products.
According to another aspect, the invention provides A method of on-line shopping comprising: a) providing a shopping web site accessible to shoppers on the Internet via a plurality of client computer terminals and comprising a secure server capable of conducting electronic commerce transactions, the secure server being adapted to maintain a database; b) providing to the shopper means for selecting product selections from either a virtual home or a virtual store metaphor.
The shopper may be displayed a plurality of household room or area buttons, selection of which causes to be displayed a plurality of product types available in the household room or area, and/or the shopper is displayed a plurality of store aisles or area buttons, selection of which causes to be displayed a plurality of product types available in the store aisles or area.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a method of on-line shopping comprising: a) providing a shopping web site accessible to shoppers on the Internet via a plurality of client computer terminals and comprising a secure server capable of conducting electronic commerce transactions, the secure server being adapted to maintain a database; b) providing to the shopper a single shopping web page from which all transactions are conducted using interactive pull-down screens. The transactions may comprise selecting a delivery schedule, entering payment information,product search and product selection.
Brief Description of Drawing-s In drawings which disclose apreferred embodiment ofthe invention, Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a computer network for carrying out the invention; and Fig. 2 through 18 are web pages illustrating the method of the invention.
Best Mode(sl For Carrying Out the Invention With reference to Figure l, one or more users have access to the Internet network 10 via remote client computer terminals 12 using Internet browser software. The grocer web site 14 consisting of a web server 16 accessible to the Internet and secure servers 18, 20, 22 and 24 which are protected from the Internet access by firewall 26. A user at terminal 12 accesses the web site 14 by pointing his or her browser at the grocery store web site URL. Firewall 26 reduces the possibility that hackers can access a sensitive server to modify or intercept signals, or alter account information. Servers 18, 20, 22 and 24 may be adminis-tration services, transportation management systems, warehouse management systems and mufti-level marketing administration respectively. Various local workstations 32 are networked to servers 18 through 24 to carry out customer service operations, for example. A telecommunication connection is also established with bank or other financial computers 28, 30 to carry out electronic commerce transactions. Database storage for the various servers is shown at 34.
In the present invention, the shopper addresses her browser to the grocer web site (e.g. www.quick.com) and is displayed a single web page on which all transactions take place. Thus, for simplicity and efficiency of the process, the shopper does not move between different web pages, nor is there a "back" arrow or scroll bars. Fig. 2 illustrates the home page 40 which is displayed to the customer when web site 14 is accessed by the customer's browser.
Shopping page 40 is divided into a product search section 42, product selection section 44 and shopping list section 46. It has a number of slide-down screen tabs 50, 51 and a section 48 for displaying a rotating advertising box promoting product specials, including an image 49 of the product. There is a box 52 in which the shopper can enter a search term, a shopping list menu button 53, and a display 54 of the total value of the order. When a shopper first displays the page a sign-in screen 56 as shown in Fig. 3 is super-imposed on page 40. The shopper enters a user name and password if previously registered, or selects the delivery area if a new user, and screen 56 then drops away from the home shopping page 40.
As indicated above, in the present invention, rather than moving back and forth between different web pages to select delivery times, enter payment information etc. as in prior systems, the various steps in the shopping process are all carried out on a single page, using pull-down screens on which intermediate steps are taken. Such pull-down screens differ from prior pull-down menus in existing graphical user interfaces in that users enter information from their keyboard on the pull-down screens, rather than simply selecting an option with a mouse-click. For example, by clicking tab 57, a rectangular screen 60 descends, superimposed on page 40, as shown in Fig. 4, and the tab 57 changes to the "close" tab 62. The shopper enters address information for up to three delivery addresses in box 61 and selects a delivery time in chart 63 from among available times. By clicking the "close" tab 62, the screen 60 ascends to the original hidden position and the information is communicated to web site 14. At any point during the shopping process before checking out, the shopper can complete the delivery information as shown in Fig. 4 by pulling down the delivery screen. Check-out is not possible without that information. Similarly, at any point during the process before check-out, the shopper can complete the personal profile and payment information as shown in Fig. 5 by clicking the "About you" tab 55. The shopper then enters name, address, username and password information and credit card information on superimposed screen 64. As further described below, the credit card information is taken as security in case a customer orders a delivery time but does is not available to accept delivery. Actual payment for the groceries is made in person to the delivery person at time of delivery of the groceries. By clicking the "close" tab 65, the screen 60 ascends to the original hidden position and the information is communicated to web site 14.
I. Shopping list Creation A shopper may first create a shopping list prior to initiating the shopping process. By clicking on button 53, a pull-down menu 66 (Fig. 6) gives the shopper a choice of preparing a new shopping list, or retrieving a previously saved list from another file or a previous order. If a new list is created, the shopper is presented with a super-imposed card 68 shown in Fig. 7. The system has pre-made lists of typical grocery items required for a man, woman, boy, girl, baby, cat and dog. The shopper selects which of these types of persons/pets is desired to be shopped for. Fig. 8 shows a selection for a man, woman and baby, and the pre-made list of items 69 is retrieved for such persons and combined, removing duplications, and displayed in the shopping list section 46 as shown in Fig. 8. The shopper can preview the list and add additional items to the pre-made list 69 by adding such items in box 70 (Fig. 9, where "butter" has been added), or the shopper can create a completely customized list in box 70.
Once the shopping list 69 has been finalized, the shopper clicks on the "go shopping" button, the card 68 disappears and the products listed in the list 69 are linked to the product descriptions in the database as shown in Fig. 10 and unwanted items can be removed from the shopping list by a mouse click. Once the list 69 is finalized, the shopper proceeds to the product selection step.
Technical Field The invention relates to Internet-based retail sales, and more particularly to a system and apparatus for purchase of grocery goods and services over the Internet.
Background Art The global network of computers known as the Internet involves communication between a first vast group of computers which are the source of information and documents, known as "servers", and a second vast group of computers which request such information and documents from servers, referred to as "clients". One of the most useful systems for exchanging information between clients and servers is the World Wide Web. Clients obtain documents containing graphics and text formatted in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) from servers over the Internet using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) by linking an HTML-compatible web browser to the server's Universal Resource Locator (URL). The browser then displays the requested Web page on the client terminal.
Internet-based purchase of goods and services over the World Wide Web has become an important means for selling goods and services. Payment is generally made by credit or debit card. A common method for a customer to purchase a number of items from the same merchant or vendor without carrying out separate credit card transactions for each item is to use a "shopping cart"
metaphor. See for example United States patent no. 5,745,681 issued April 28, 1998 to Sun Microsystems, Inc. Items are selected by the customer and added to the virtual shopping cart. When the customer has completed the selection of items, the customer "checks out" by providing payment and delivery information and the complete selection of purchases is ordered.
Sale of grocery items online and delivery of same to consumers is rapidly increasing, due to the gradual adaptation to consumers to the idea that personal attendance at a grocery store to select grocery items is an inefficient use of time. Some of the more popular grocery delivery sites are www.webvan.com, and www.homegrocer.com. These sites permit customers to order a selection of grocery items for home delivery during pre-selected times. Typically these sites involve selection of a generic product type, which then directs the customer to a list of different brands which are available and the price. The customer then adds the selection to her shopping cart. When finished shopping, the customer selects the delivery time and the total value of the purchased goods is charged to the customer's account.
A problem with existing systems is that the customer's interface is too complicated to encourage use of the service among those who would generally want to use the service. There is therefore a need for a more useful method of ordering groceries on-line.
Disclosure of Invention The present invention provides a method of on-line shopping comprising a) providing a shopping web site accessible to shoppers on the Internet via a plurality of client computer terminals and comprising a secure server capable of conducting electronic commerce transactions, the secure server being adapted to maintain a database; b) providing to the shopper a pre-determined shopping list from which to remove unwanted items. According to one aspect, the pre-determined shopping list is provided by the shopper selecting from one or more pre-determined shopping lists, and the shopper forms a final list by adding to or deleting from the pre-determined shopping list. The invention may further comprise the further steps of c) the shopper selecting from the pre-determined list a product type; d) displaying to the shopper available brands in that product type;
e) the shopper selecting a quantity of one of the brands for purchase and adding the quantity of one of the brands to a virtual shopping cart; and f) the shopper checking out the purchases by providing a delivery tome and address and payment for purchased products.
According to another aspect, the invention provides A method of on-line shopping comprising: a) providing a shopping web site accessible to shoppers on the Internet via a plurality of client computer terminals and comprising a secure server capable of conducting electronic commerce transactions, the secure server being adapted to maintain a database; b) providing to the shopper means for selecting product selections from either a virtual home or a virtual store metaphor.
The shopper may be displayed a plurality of household room or area buttons, selection of which causes to be displayed a plurality of product types available in the household room or area, and/or the shopper is displayed a plurality of store aisles or area buttons, selection of which causes to be displayed a plurality of product types available in the store aisles or area.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a method of on-line shopping comprising: a) providing a shopping web site accessible to shoppers on the Internet via a plurality of client computer terminals and comprising a secure server capable of conducting electronic commerce transactions, the secure server being adapted to maintain a database; b) providing to the shopper a single shopping web page from which all transactions are conducted using interactive pull-down screens. The transactions may comprise selecting a delivery schedule, entering payment information,product search and product selection.
Brief Description of Drawing-s In drawings which disclose apreferred embodiment ofthe invention, Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a computer network for carrying out the invention; and Fig. 2 through 18 are web pages illustrating the method of the invention.
Best Mode(sl For Carrying Out the Invention With reference to Figure l, one or more users have access to the Internet network 10 via remote client computer terminals 12 using Internet browser software. The grocer web site 14 consisting of a web server 16 accessible to the Internet and secure servers 18, 20, 22 and 24 which are protected from the Internet access by firewall 26. A user at terminal 12 accesses the web site 14 by pointing his or her browser at the grocery store web site URL. Firewall 26 reduces the possibility that hackers can access a sensitive server to modify or intercept signals, or alter account information. Servers 18, 20, 22 and 24 may be adminis-tration services, transportation management systems, warehouse management systems and mufti-level marketing administration respectively. Various local workstations 32 are networked to servers 18 through 24 to carry out customer service operations, for example. A telecommunication connection is also established with bank or other financial computers 28, 30 to carry out electronic commerce transactions. Database storage for the various servers is shown at 34.
In the present invention, the shopper addresses her browser to the grocer web site (e.g. www.quick.com) and is displayed a single web page on which all transactions take place. Thus, for simplicity and efficiency of the process, the shopper does not move between different web pages, nor is there a "back" arrow or scroll bars. Fig. 2 illustrates the home page 40 which is displayed to the customer when web site 14 is accessed by the customer's browser.
Shopping page 40 is divided into a product search section 42, product selection section 44 and shopping list section 46. It has a number of slide-down screen tabs 50, 51 and a section 48 for displaying a rotating advertising box promoting product specials, including an image 49 of the product. There is a box 52 in which the shopper can enter a search term, a shopping list menu button 53, and a display 54 of the total value of the order. When a shopper first displays the page a sign-in screen 56 as shown in Fig. 3 is super-imposed on page 40. The shopper enters a user name and password if previously registered, or selects the delivery area if a new user, and screen 56 then drops away from the home shopping page 40.
As indicated above, in the present invention, rather than moving back and forth between different web pages to select delivery times, enter payment information etc. as in prior systems, the various steps in the shopping process are all carried out on a single page, using pull-down screens on which intermediate steps are taken. Such pull-down screens differ from prior pull-down menus in existing graphical user interfaces in that users enter information from their keyboard on the pull-down screens, rather than simply selecting an option with a mouse-click. For example, by clicking tab 57, a rectangular screen 60 descends, superimposed on page 40, as shown in Fig. 4, and the tab 57 changes to the "close" tab 62. The shopper enters address information for up to three delivery addresses in box 61 and selects a delivery time in chart 63 from among available times. By clicking the "close" tab 62, the screen 60 ascends to the original hidden position and the information is communicated to web site 14. At any point during the shopping process before checking out, the shopper can complete the delivery information as shown in Fig. 4 by pulling down the delivery screen. Check-out is not possible without that information. Similarly, at any point during the process before check-out, the shopper can complete the personal profile and payment information as shown in Fig. 5 by clicking the "About you" tab 55. The shopper then enters name, address, username and password information and credit card information on superimposed screen 64. As further described below, the credit card information is taken as security in case a customer orders a delivery time but does is not available to accept delivery. Actual payment for the groceries is made in person to the delivery person at time of delivery of the groceries. By clicking the "close" tab 65, the screen 60 ascends to the original hidden position and the information is communicated to web site 14.
I. Shopping list Creation A shopper may first create a shopping list prior to initiating the shopping process. By clicking on button 53, a pull-down menu 66 (Fig. 6) gives the shopper a choice of preparing a new shopping list, or retrieving a previously saved list from another file or a previous order. If a new list is created, the shopper is presented with a super-imposed card 68 shown in Fig. 7. The system has pre-made lists of typical grocery items required for a man, woman, boy, girl, baby, cat and dog. The shopper selects which of these types of persons/pets is desired to be shopped for. Fig. 8 shows a selection for a man, woman and baby, and the pre-made list of items 69 is retrieved for such persons and combined, removing duplications, and displayed in the shopping list section 46 as shown in Fig. 8. The shopper can preview the list and add additional items to the pre-made list 69 by adding such items in box 70 (Fig. 9, where "butter" has been added), or the shopper can create a completely customized list in box 70.
Once the shopping list 69 has been finalized, the shopper clicks on the "go shopping" button, the card 68 disappears and the products listed in the list 69 are linked to the product descriptions in the database as shown in Fig. 10 and unwanted items can be removed from the shopping list by a mouse click. Once the list 69 is finalized, the shopper proceeds to the product selection step.
2. Product Selection The shopper clicks on one of the product types in the shopping list ("eggs" in Fig. 11 ) to select a product for purchase. This causes the product type to be entered in the search box 52 and a search of the database is conducted for all product brands having that search term and the located product brands 72 are displayed in product selection window 44. An image 73 of each particular brand available under the selected product type is shown with the product trademark or brand, generic description, size and price. As shown in Fig. 12, clicking on the product image 73 causes a panel 75 to be superimposed on which the shopper can select to see details of the brand (ingredients etc.) and can select the desired quantity. By then clicking on the "OK" button, the item is added to the customer's shopping cart, as indicated by icon 76 in Fig. 13.
Products can also be selected for display and purchase in the product selection column by the "specials" tab or from the promotional box 48.
Referring to Fig. 14, clicking on tab 51 causes slide-down panel 74 to descend and the customer product specials to be shown in section 42. Selecting one of the specials causes that particular brand to be displayed in the product selection section 44 as described above. Clicking on the product image 73 again causes panel 75 to be superimposed on page 40, on which the shopper can select to see details of the brand and can select the desired quantity. Again, by then clicking on the "OK"
button, the item is added to the customer's shopping cart, and the selected items 77 are added to list 69 (see Fig. 15) along with quantity and price, and the total price 54 of the order is adjusted.
3. Product Search A shopper can search for particular product types where the shopper wishes to look for specific products rather than work from a shopping list.
The shopper can enter a product type in the search box 52. The server searches for the term and if it locates a corresponding term in the database, displays in section 44 the specific brands which are listed in the database. The shopper can then select one of the specific product brands for purchase.
Alternatively, the shopper can browse through available products by selecting either house icon 56 or store icon 58 (Fig. 2). By clicking on house icon 56, a series of buttons 80 (Fig. 16) are presented to the shopper with images representing the different rooms or areas of a house: e.g. kitchen, supply cupboard, laundry room, work bench, bathroom, medicine chest, baby's room etc.
Then by clicking on a particular button, 82 for example representing the bathroom, a second series of buttons 84 (Fig. 17) are presented to the shopper each with an image a different product type available in that room or area of the house (bathroom in this example). So in the case of the bathroom, there will be buttons representing toothpaste, soap, shampoo etc. Selecting one of the buttons 84 causes a product search to be done on the database for that word and the specific product brands which match that description are displayed in section 42 as described above. Once the shopper selects a particular brand, the shopper can view details and select a quantity and add to the shopping cart as above.
The store icon 58 similarly allows the shopper to browse through aisles of a store with products organized as they would be in a brick-and-mortar store. As with the house icon, by clicking on store icon 58, a series of buttons 80 are presented to the shopper with images representing the different aisles or areas of a grocery store: e.g. baked goods, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, etc.
Then by clicking on a particular button, 82 for example representing dairy products, a second series of buttons 84 are presented to the shopper each with an image a different product type available in that aisle or area of the store (dairy products in this example). So in the case of the dairy products there will be buttons representing milk, eggs, butter, cream etc. Selecting one of the buttons 84 causes a product search to be done on the database for that word and the specific product brands which match that description are displayed in section 42 as described above. Once the shopper selects a particular brand, the shopper can view details and select a quantity and add to the shopping cart as above.
4. Check Out Once the shopper has added all the desired items to the shopping cart, the shopper pulls down the check-out screen 78 (Fig. 18). The customer is prompted as shown in Fig. 18 to fill out the customer profile and payment _ g _ information, and delivery information if that has not already been done. Once that information is complete and the customer selects the "check-out" button 78, the order is processed for delivery. The customer pays for the goods on delivery, unless the customer is not at home for delivery in which case the groceries are returned to the warehouse and the customer's account is charged a penalty charge for proceeding and attempted delivery. Thus, actual payment for the groceries is made in person to the delivery person at time of delivery of the groceries, and the credit card information is kept for security purposes.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
Products can also be selected for display and purchase in the product selection column by the "specials" tab or from the promotional box 48.
Referring to Fig. 14, clicking on tab 51 causes slide-down panel 74 to descend and the customer product specials to be shown in section 42. Selecting one of the specials causes that particular brand to be displayed in the product selection section 44 as described above. Clicking on the product image 73 again causes panel 75 to be superimposed on page 40, on which the shopper can select to see details of the brand and can select the desired quantity. Again, by then clicking on the "OK"
button, the item is added to the customer's shopping cart, and the selected items 77 are added to list 69 (see Fig. 15) along with quantity and price, and the total price 54 of the order is adjusted.
3. Product Search A shopper can search for particular product types where the shopper wishes to look for specific products rather than work from a shopping list.
The shopper can enter a product type in the search box 52. The server searches for the term and if it locates a corresponding term in the database, displays in section 44 the specific brands which are listed in the database. The shopper can then select one of the specific product brands for purchase.
Alternatively, the shopper can browse through available products by selecting either house icon 56 or store icon 58 (Fig. 2). By clicking on house icon 56, a series of buttons 80 (Fig. 16) are presented to the shopper with images representing the different rooms or areas of a house: e.g. kitchen, supply cupboard, laundry room, work bench, bathroom, medicine chest, baby's room etc.
Then by clicking on a particular button, 82 for example representing the bathroom, a second series of buttons 84 (Fig. 17) are presented to the shopper each with an image a different product type available in that room or area of the house (bathroom in this example). So in the case of the bathroom, there will be buttons representing toothpaste, soap, shampoo etc. Selecting one of the buttons 84 causes a product search to be done on the database for that word and the specific product brands which match that description are displayed in section 42 as described above. Once the shopper selects a particular brand, the shopper can view details and select a quantity and add to the shopping cart as above.
The store icon 58 similarly allows the shopper to browse through aisles of a store with products organized as they would be in a brick-and-mortar store. As with the house icon, by clicking on store icon 58, a series of buttons 80 are presented to the shopper with images representing the different aisles or areas of a grocery store: e.g. baked goods, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, etc.
Then by clicking on a particular button, 82 for example representing dairy products, a second series of buttons 84 are presented to the shopper each with an image a different product type available in that aisle or area of the store (dairy products in this example). So in the case of the dairy products there will be buttons representing milk, eggs, butter, cream etc. Selecting one of the buttons 84 causes a product search to be done on the database for that word and the specific product brands which match that description are displayed in section 42 as described above. Once the shopper selects a particular brand, the shopper can view details and select a quantity and add to the shopping cart as above.
4. Check Out Once the shopper has added all the desired items to the shopping cart, the shopper pulls down the check-out screen 78 (Fig. 18). The customer is prompted as shown in Fig. 18 to fill out the customer profile and payment _ g _ information, and delivery information if that has not already been done. Once that information is complete and the customer selects the "check-out" button 78, the order is processed for delivery. The customer pays for the goods on delivery, unless the customer is not at home for delivery in which case the groceries are returned to the warehouse and the customer's account is charged a penalty charge for proceeding and attempted delivery. Thus, actual payment for the groceries is made in person to the delivery person at time of delivery of the groceries, and the credit card information is kept for security purposes.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
Claims (9)
1. A method of on-line shopping comprising:
a) providing a shopping web site accessible to shoppers on the Internet via a plurality of client computer terminals and comprising a secure server capable of conducting electronic commerce transactions, said secure server being adapted to maintain a database;
b) providing to said shopper a pre-determined shopping list from which to remove unwanted items.
a) providing a shopping web site accessible to shoppers on the Internet via a plurality of client computer terminals and comprising a secure server capable of conducting electronic commerce transactions, said secure server being adapted to maintain a database;
b) providing to said shopper a pre-determined shopping list from which to remove unwanted items.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said pre-determined shopping list is provided by said shopper selecting from one or more pre-determined shopping lists.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said shopper forms a final list by adding to or deleting from said pre-determined shopping list.
4. The method of claim 1 comprising the further steps of:
c) said shopper selecting from said pre-determined list a product type;
d) displaying to said shopper available brands in that product type;
e) said shopper selecting a quantity of one of said brands for purchase and adding said quantity of one of said brands to a virtual shopping cart;
f) said shopper checking out said purchases by providing a delivery tome and address and payment for purchased products.
c) said shopper selecting from said pre-determined list a product type;
d) displaying to said shopper available brands in that product type;
e) said shopper selecting a quantity of one of said brands for purchase and adding said quantity of one of said brands to a virtual shopping cart;
f) said shopper checking out said purchases by providing a delivery tome and address and payment for purchased products.
5. A method of on-line shopping comprising:
a) providing a shopping web site accessible to shoppers on the Internet via a plurality of client computer terminals and comprising a secure server capable of conducting electronic commerce transactions, said secure server being adapted to maintain a database;
b) providing to said shopper means for selecting product selections from either a virtual home or a virtual store metaphor.
a) providing a shopping web site accessible to shoppers on the Internet via a plurality of client computer terminals and comprising a secure server capable of conducting electronic commerce transactions, said secure server being adapted to maintain a database;
b) providing to said shopper means for selecting product selections from either a virtual home or a virtual store metaphor.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said shopper is displayed a plurality of household room or area buttons, selection of which causes to be displayed a plurality of product types available in said household room or area.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein said shopper is displayed a plurality of store aisles or area buttons, selection of which causes to be displayed a plurality of product types available in said store aisles or area.
8. A method of on-line shopping comprising:
a) providing a shopping web site accessible to shoppers on the Internet via a plurality of client computer terminals and comprising a secure server capable of conducting electronic commerce transactions, said secure server being adapted to maintain a database;
b) providing to said shopper a single shopping web page from which all transactions are conducted using interactive pull-down screens.
a) providing a shopping web site accessible to shoppers on the Internet via a plurality of client computer terminals and comprising a secure server capable of conducting electronic commerce transactions, said secure server being adapted to maintain a database;
b) providing to said shopper a single shopping web page from which all transactions are conducted using interactive pull-down screens.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said transactions comprise selecting a delivery schedule, entering payment information, product search and product selection.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002321145A CA2321145A1 (en) | 2000-09-27 | 2000-09-27 | Method and apparatus for on-line purchasing |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002321145A CA2321145A1 (en) | 2000-09-27 | 2000-09-27 | Method and apparatus for on-line purchasing |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2321145A1 true CA2321145A1 (en) | 2002-03-27 |
Family
ID=4167248
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002321145A Abandoned CA2321145A1 (en) | 2000-09-27 | 2000-09-27 | Method and apparatus for on-line purchasing |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2321145A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112613885A (en) * | 2020-12-31 | 2021-04-06 | 深圳市辰宝信息服务有限公司 | Transaction settlement delivery method, system and readable storage medium for bulk goods |
-
2000
- 2000-09-27 CA CA002321145A patent/CA2321145A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112613885A (en) * | 2020-12-31 | 2021-04-06 | 深圳市辰宝信息服务有限公司 | Transaction settlement delivery method, system and readable storage medium for bulk goods |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| FZDE | Discontinued |