U.S. patent application number 16/796700 was filed with the patent office on 2020-06-18 for systems and methods for facilitating pick up of products ordered by a customer by a friend or family member of the customer.
The applicant listed for this patent is Walmart Apollo, LLC. Invention is credited to Balaraman Kirthigaivasan, Todd D. Mattingly, Sai Phaneendra Sri Harsha Viswanath Putcha, Bruce W. Wilkinson.
Application Number | 20200193376 16/796700 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60910922 |
Filed Date | 2020-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200193376 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilkinson; Bruce W. ; et
al. |
June 18, 2020 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING PICK UP OF PRODUCTS ORDERED BY
A CUSTOMER BY A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER OF THE CUSTOMER
Abstract
In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that
permit a customer to purchase products from a retailer and elect an
option for a friend or family member of the customer to pick up the
ordered products from the retail facility of the retailer
associated with the geographic location of the customer. If the
friend or family member of the customer agrees to pick up the
products for the customer, and if the customer agrees to have the
selected friend or family member of the customer pick up the
products for the customer, the friend or family member is allowed
to pick up the products at the retail facility associated with the
geographic location of the customer. The customer is then allowed
to either pick up the products from such a friend or family member
or the friend or family member may deliver the products to the
customer.
Inventors: |
Wilkinson; Bruce W.;
(Rogers, AR) ; Putcha; Sai Phaneendra Sri Harsha
Viswanath; (Bentonville, AR) ; Kirthigaivasan;
Balaraman; (Bentonville, AR) ; Mattingly; Todd
D.; (Bentonville, AR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Walmart Apollo, LLC |
Bentonville |
AR |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
60910922 |
Appl. No.: |
16/796700 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15646568 |
Jul 11, 2017 |
|
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16796700 |
|
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|
|
62360781 |
Jul 11, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0635 20130101;
G06Q 30/0633 20130101; G06Q 30/0601 20130101; G06Q 10/0836
20130101; G06Q 30/0631 20130101; G06Q 30/0639 20130101; G06Q
30/0261 20130101; G06Q 50/01 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/08 20060101
G06Q010/08; G06Q 30/06 20060101 G06Q030/06; G06Q 30/02 20060101
G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1. A system for facilitating pick up of products purchased over a
network by a customer from a retailer, the system comprising: an
electronic customer information database configured to store
electronic data associated with friends and family members of the
customer; an order processing server of the retailer configured to
process an order for a product placed by the customer, the order
processing server being configured to permit the customer to elect,
via a computing device of the customer, to designate a first friend
or a family member of the customer for picking up the product
ordered by the customer; a computing device of the retailer
including a processor-based control circuit, the computing device
configured to access the electronic customer information database
to obtain the electronic data associated with the friends and
family members of the customer, wherein the control circuit is
configured to: transmit a first electronic notification to a
computing device of the first friend or family member of the
customer designated by the customer for picking up the product
ordered by the customer, the first electronic notification being
configured to cause a first graphical interface to be displayed on
the computing device of the first friend or family member, the
first graphical interface requesting the first friend or family
member of the customer to select at least one input field within
the first graphical interface to indicate agreement to pick up, at
the retail facility of the retailer, the product ordered by the
customer; in response to a selection by the customer of the at
least one input field within the first graphical interface, receive
a response from the computing device of the first friend or family
member of the customer indicating agreement by the first friend or
family member of the customer to pick up, at the retail facility of
the retailer, the product ordered by the customer; and transmit a
second electronic notification to the computing device of the
customer, the second electronic notification being configured to
cause a second graphical interface to be displayed on the computing
device of the customer, the second graphical interface indicating
that the product ordered by the customer will be available for pick
up from the first friend or family member of the customer.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second electronic
notifications comprise at least one of: a mobile app notification,
a short-message-service (SMS) message, an electronic mail, and an
instant messenger message.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further
configured to receive a response from the computing device of the
first friend or family member of the customer indicating that the
first friend or family member of the customer does not agree to
pick up, at the retail facility of the retailer, the product
ordered by the customer.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the control circuit is further
configured to transmit a query to the customer to permit the
customer to designate at least a second friend or family member of
the customer for picking up the product ordered by the
customer.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the control circuit is further
configured to transmit a third electronic notification to a
computing device of the second friend or family member of the
customer, the third electronic notification requesting the second
friend or family member of the customer to indicate agreement to
pick up, at the retail facility of the retailer, the product
ordered by the customer.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured
to check authentication credentials of the first friend of family
member of the customer prior to authorizing the first friend or
family member to pick up the product ordered by the customer at the
retail facility of the retailer.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein, in response to receipt of data
indicating that the product ordered by the customer has been picked
up at the retail facility of the retailer by the first friend or
family member of the customer, the control circuit is further
configured transmit an alert to the computing device of the
customer to notify the customer that the product ordered by the
customer has been picked up from the retail facility of the
retailer by an authorized friend or family member of the
customer.
8. A method of facilitating pick up of products purchased over a
network by a customer from a retailer, the method comprising:
providing an electronic customer information database configured to
store electronic data associated with friends and family members of
the customer; processing, at an order processing server, an order
for a product placed by the customer, and permitting, the customer
to elect, via a computing device of the customer, to designate a
first friend or a family member of the customer for picking up the
product ordered by the customer; accessing, via a computing device
of the retailer including a processor-based control circuit, the
electronic customer information database to obtain the electronic
data associated with the friends and family members of the
customer; transmitting, via the computing device of the retailer, a
first electronic notification to a computing device of the first
friend or family member of the customer designated by the customer
for picking up the product ordered by the customer, the first
electronic notification causing a first graphical interface to be
displayed on the computing device of the first friend or family
member, the first graphical interface requesting the first friend
or family member of the customer to select at least one input field
within the first graphical interface to indicate agreement to pick
up, at the retail facility of the retailer, the product ordered by
the customer; in response to a selection by the customer of the at
least one input field within the first graphical interface,
receiving, at the computing device of the retailer, a response from
the computing device of the first friend or family member of the
customer indicating agreement by the first friend or family member
of the customer to pick up, at the retail facility of the retailer,
the product ordered by the customer; and transmitting, from the
computing device of the retailer, a second electronic notification
to the computing device of the customer, the second electronic
notification causing a second graphical interface to be displayed
on the computing device of the customer, the second graphical
interface indicating that the product ordered by the customer will
be available for pick up from the first friend or family member of
the customer.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second electronic
notifications comprise at least one of: a mobile app notification,
a short-message-service (SMS) message, an electronic mail, and an
instant messenger message.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitting the first
electronic notification step further comprises receiving, at the
computing device of the retailer, a response from the computing
device of the first friend or family member of the customer
indicating that the first friend or family member of the customer
does not agree to pick up, at the retail facility of the retailer,
the product ordered by the customer.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the analyzing step further
comprises transmit a query to the customer to permit the customer
to designate at least a second friend or family member of the
customer for picking up the product ordered by the customer.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting a third
electronic notification to a computing device of the second friend
or family member of the customer, the third electronic notification
requesting the second friend or family member of the customer to
indicate agreement to pick up, at the retail facility of the
retailer, the product ordered by the customer.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising checking, via the
control circuit, authentication credentials of the first friend of
family member of the customer prior to authorizing the first friend
or family member to pick up the product ordered by the customer at
the retail facility of the retailer.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising, in response to
receipt of data indicating that the product ordered by the customer
has been picked up at the retail facility of the retailer by the
first friend or family member of the customer, transmitting from
the computing device of the retailer an alert to the computing
device of the customer to notify the customer that the product
ordered by the customer has been picked up from the retail facility
of the retailer by an authorized friend or family member of the
customer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 15/646,568, filed Jul. 11, 2017, which claims the benefit of
U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/360,781, filed Jul. 11, 2016,
each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates generally to providing products
purchased to customers and, in particular, to facilitating pick up
of products purchased by a customer from a retailer.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Customers often purchase products from retailers over the
internet. Generally, the products purchased by a customer are
delivered to an address provided by the customer. Some customers
elect to pick up the products they order from a retail facility of
the retailer. Delivery of products to an address provided by the
customer is associated with extra costs for the retailer and for
the customer. In addition, products delivered to a home address and
left on the property of the customer when the customer is not home
(e.g., at work) may be stolen and/or damaged by 3.sup.rd parties.
On the other hand, picking up products at the retail facility of
the retailer may be undesirable for customers because it is time
consuming and/or inconvenient for the customers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses,
methods, and systems pertaining to facilitating pick up of products
purchased by a customer from a retailer by a friend or family
member of the customer. This description includes drawings,
wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system of facilitating pick up of
products purchased by a customer from a retailer by a friend or
family member of the customer in accordance with some
embodiments;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a functional diagram of an exemplary computing
device usable with the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with some
embodiments; and
[0007] FIG. 3 is a flow chart diagram of a process of facilitating
pick up of products purchased by a customer from a retailer by a
friend or family member of the customer in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0008] Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and
clarity and have not been drawn to scale. For example, the
dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in
the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help
to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present
invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are
useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often
not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these
various embodiments of the present invention. Certain actions
and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of
occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such
specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The
terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical
meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons
skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where
different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth
herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] The following description is not to be taken in a limiting
sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general
principles of exemplary embodiments. Reference throughout this
specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or similar
language means that a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is
included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,
appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment,"
and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not
necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
[0010] Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems
and methods are provided for enabling a customer to purchase one or
more products from a retailer and elect an option for a friend or
family member of the customer to pick up the products ordered by
the customer from the retail facility of the retailer associated
with the geographic location of the customer. The customer is then
allowed to either pick up the products from such a friend or family
member or the friend or family member may deliver the products to
the customer.
[0011] In some embodiments, a system for facilitating pick up of
products purchased over a network by a customer from a retailer
includes an order processing server of the retailer configured to
process an order for a product placed by the customer. The system
also includes a computing device of the retailer including a
processor-based control circuit. The computing device is configured
to access at least one social media website to identify friends and
family members of the customer. The control circuit of the
computing device is configured to: analyze geographic locations of
the friends and family members of the customer to determine a first
friend or family member of the customer located at a geographic
location closest to a geographic location of a retail facility of
the retailer associated with a geographic location of the customer;
transmit a first electronic notification to a computing device of
the first friend or family member of the customer, the first
electronic notification requesting the first friend or family
member of the customer to indicate agreement to pick up, at the
retail facility of the retailer, the product ordered by the
customer; receive a response from the computing device of the first
friend or family member of the customer indicating agreement by the
first friend or family member of the customer to pick up, at the
retail facility of the retailer, the product ordered by the
customer; and transmit a second electronic notification to a
computing device of the customer, the second electronic
notification indicating that the product ordered by the customer
will be available for pick up at the geographic location of the
first friend or family member of the customer.
[0012] In other embodiments, a method of facilitating pick up of
products purchased over a network by a customer from a retailer
includes: processing, at an order processing server, an order for a
product placed by the customer; accessing, via a computing device
of the retailer including a processor-based control circuit, at
least one social media web site to identify friends and family
members of the customer; analyzing, via the computing device of the
retailer, geographic locations of the friends and family members of
the customer to determine a first friend or family member of the
customer located at a geographic location closest to a geographic
location of a retail facility of the retailer associated with a
geographic location of the customer; transmitting, via the
computing device of the retailer, a first electronic notification
to a computing device of the first friend or family member of the
customer, the first electronic notification requesting the first
friend or family member of the customer to indicate agreement to
pick up, at the retail facility of the retailer, the product
ordered by the customer; receiving, at the computing device of the
retailer, a response from the computing device of the first friend
or family member of the customer indicating agreement by the first
friend or family member of the customer to pick up, at the retail
facility of the retailer, the product ordered by the customer; and
transmitting, from the computing device of the retailer, a second
electronic notification to a computing device of the customer, the
second electronic notification indicating that the product ordered
by the customer will be available for pick up at the geographic
location of the first friend or family member of the customer.
[0013] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a system 100 for facilitating
pick up of products 190 purchased over a network by a customer 110
from a retailer. The retailer may be any entity operating as a
brick-and-mortar physical location and/or a website accessible, for
example, via the internet or another network, by way of which
products 190 may be ordered by a customer 110. A customer 110 may
be an individual or business entity. Exemplary products 190 that
may be ordered by the customer 110 via the system 100 may include,
but are not limited to, general-purpose consumer goods, as well as
consumable products, such as medications, food items, and dietary
supplements.
[0014] The exemplary system 100 depicted in FIG. 1 includes an
order processing server 130 of the retailer configured to process a
purchase order by the customer 110 for one or more products 190.
The order processing server 130 may be implemented as one server at
one location, or as multiple interconnected servers stored at
multiple locations operated by or for the retailer. As described in
more detail below, the order processing server 130 may communicate
with one or more electronic devices of system 100 via a network
125. The network 125 may be a wide-area network (WAN), a local area
network (LAN), a personal area network (PAN), a wireless local area
network (WLAN), or any other internet or intranet network, or
combinations of such networks. Generally, communication between
variously electronic devices of system 100 may take place over
hard-wired, cellular, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth networked components or
the like. In some embodiments, one or more electronic devices of
system 100 may include cloud-based features, such as cloud-based
memory storage.
[0015] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the order processing server 130
is coupled to a customer information database 140. In some
embodiments, the customer information database 140 may be
configured to store information associated with a customer 110 of
the retailer who orders products 190 from the retailer. In some
embodiments, the customer information database 140 may store
electronic information associated with the customer 110, such as
the customer's personal information, product order history, pending
order status, product order options, product delivery and/or
pick-up options, as well as personal information associated with
friends and family of the customer 110 (which may be obtained by
the retailer as described in more detail below). The customer
information database 140 may be stored, for example, on
non-volatile storage media (e.g., a hard drive, flash drive, or
removable optical disk) internal or external to the order
processing server 130, or internal or external to computing devices
separate and distinct from the order processing server 130. It will
be appreciated that the customer information database 140 may
likewise be cloud-based. In some embodiments, the order processing
server 130 may be also coupled to an electronic database configured
to store information associated with the inventory of products 190
available to the customer 110 for purchase from the retailer. In
other words, while the order processing server 130 is illustrated
in FIG. 1 as being coupled to one electronic database, it will be
appreciated that the order processing server 130 may be coupled to
two or more electronic databases configured to store customer
information and/or product inventory information.
[0016] In some embodiments, when a customer 110 initially sets up
an online account with the retailer, the system 100 (i.e., order
processing server 130 or another server on the system 100 dedicated
to new customer sign-up) is configured to permit the customer 110
to generate a customer profile including personal information of
the customer 110 (e.g., name, address, phone number, and the like),
payment methods (e.g., credit card information), as well as product
pick up settings of the customer 110 (e.g., list of friends and/or
family members of the customer 110 authorized to pick up products
190 for the customer 110 from the retail facility 180). It will be
appreciated that the customer 110 may select new options and/or
update previously selected options at any time after setting up the
account with the retailer. In some embodiments, the personal
information of the customer 110 and any product pick up-related
options selected by the customer 110 are stored in the customer
information database 140 and/or inventory management database 160
for subsequent retrieval by the order processing server 130 and/or
by a retailer computing device 150 (e.g., in response to a login
request or product order placement by the customer 110).
[0017] In some embodiments, as the customer 110 is connecting to
the retailer's website (e.g., via a login interface), the order
processing server 130 may request a verification of the identity
(e.g., username/password) of the customer 110. The order processing
server 130 may first verify the identity of the customer 110 (e.g.,
by comparing the username/password data entered by the customer 110
into the login interface against username/password data in the
profile of the customer 110 stored in the customer information
database 140). The order processing server 130 may then associate
the customer profile with the identity of the customer 110,
retrieve the customer profile from the customer information
database 140 based on information stored in the profile, and send
the retrieved customer account information to the customer
computing device 120, which includes a graphical interface 122
(described in more detail below) that permits the customer 110 to
customize various options relating to the ordering of products 190
from the retailer and/or relating to pick up options for the
products 190 at the retail facility 180 by friends or family
members of the customer 110.
[0018] The customer 110 may access the order processing server 130
of the retailer via a customer computing device 120, which may be a
stationary, portable, and/or hand-held electronic device, for
example, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a mobile
phone, or any other electronic, processor-based device that may be
configured for data entry and communication with the order
processing server 130. In some embodiments, the customer 110 may
access the order processing server 130 of the retailer via a
graphical interface 122 displayed to the customer 110 on the
customer computing device 120. The graphical interface 122 may
include one or more graphical input fields 124 in the form of menu
options and/or sub-interfaces that permit the customer 110 to place
an order for one or more products 190 and to select pick up options
for one or more products 190 ordered by the customer 110. In some
embodiments, the graphical interface 122 may be a
retailer-associated mobile application (app) installed on the
customer computing device 120 and configured to display various
above-described menu options, notifications, and/or alerts for the
customer 110. For example, electronic alerts may be transmitted to
the customer computing device 120 from the retailer computing
device 150 and/or from the order processing server 130 and
displayed via the graphical interface 122.
[0019] In some embodiments, after placing an on order for one or
more products 190 via the order processing server 130 using the
graphical interface 122 of the customer computing device 120, the
customer 110 does not select an option to have the products 190
delivered to the customer 110 and does not select an option to
personally pick up the ordered products 190 from a retail facility
180 associated with a geographic location of the customer 110.
Instead, the customer 110 selects an option to have the ordered
products 190 be picked up at the retail facility 180 by a friend or
family member of the customer 110 as discussed in more detail
below. In other words, the order processing server 130 is
configured to enable the customer 110 to permit a friend or family
member of the customer 110 to pick up the products 190 ordered by
the customer 110 from the retail facility 180 and to later pick up
the products 190 ordered by the customer 110 from such a friend or
family member.
[0020] In some embodiments, the order processing server 130 is
configured to receive and process an order by a customer 110 for a
product 190 from the customer computing device 120, to receive and
process payment for the product 190 from the customer 110, and to
transmit the customer's election of pick-up of the ordered products
190 by a friend or family of the customer 110 based on the
processed order (e.g., via the network 125) to a retailer computing
device 150 at the retail facility 180 associated with the
geographic location of the customer 110 who placed the order. It
will be appreciated that while the order processing server 130 and
the retailer computing device 150 may be located at separate
physical locations (e.g., regional/central data center, retail
facility 180, or the like), the system 100, in some embodiments,
may be confined to a single retail facility 180 of the
retailer.
[0021] The retailer computing device 150 located at the retail
facility 180 of the retailer may be a stationary or portable
electronic device, for example, a desktop computer, a laptop
computer, a tablet, a mobile phone, or any other electronic device
including a processor-based control circuit (i.e., control unit).
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the retailer computing device 150 is
configured for data entry and processing as well as for
communication with other devices of system 100 via the network 125
which, as described above, may be a wide-area network (WAN), a
local area network (LAN), a personal area network (PAN), a wireless
local area network (WLAN), or any other internet or intranet
network, or combinations of such networks. In some embodiments, as
will be described in more detail below, the retailer computing
device 150 is configured to access at least one social media
website to identify friends and family members of the customers 110
who order the products 190 from the retailer.
[0022] With reference to FIG. 2, an exemplary computing device 150
configured for use with exemplary systems and methods described
herein may include a control circuit or control unit 210 including
a processor (for example, a microprocessor or a microcontroller)
electrically coupled via a connection 215 to a memory 220 and via a
connection 225 to a power supply 230. The control unit 210 can
comprise a fixed-purpose hard-wired platform or can comprise a
partially or wholly programmable platform, such as a
microcontroller, an application specification integrated circuit, a
field programmable gate array, and so on. These architectural
options are well known and understood in the art and require no
further description here.
[0023] This control unit 210 can be configured (for example, by
using corresponding programming stored in the memory 220 as will be
well understood by those skilled in the art) to carry out one or
more of the steps, actions, and/or functions described herein. In
some embodiments, the memory 220 may be integral to the
processor-based control unit 210 or can be physically discrete (in
whole or in part) from the control unit 210 and is configured
non-transitorily store the computer instructions that, when
executed by the control unit 210, cause the control unit 210 to
behave as described herein. (As used herein, this reference to
"non-transitorily" will be understood to refer to a non-ephemeral
state for the stored contents (and hence excludes when the stored
contents merely constitute signals or waves) rather than volatility
of the storage media itself and hence includes both non-volatile
memory (such as read-only memory (ROM)) as well as volatile memory
(such as an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM))).
Accordingly, the memory and/or the control unit may be referred to
as a non-transitory medium or non-transitory computer readable
medium.
[0024] The control unit 210 of the retailer computing device 150 is
also electrically coupled via a connection 235 to an input/output
240 that can receive signals from the order processing server 130
(e.g., data from the customer information database 140 relating to
a product order placed by the customer 110) or from any other
source that can communicate with the retailer computing device 150
via a wired or wireless connection. The input/output 240 of the
customer computing device 120 can also send signals to the order
processing server 130 (e.g., data including product out-of-stock
information regarding the product for which an order is placed by
the customer 110 via the order processing server 130), or to any
other device in wired or wireless communication with the retailer
computing device 150.
[0025] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the processor-based
control unit 210 of the retailer computing device 150 is
electrically coupled via a connection 245 to a user interface 250,
which may include a visual display or display screen 260 (e.g., LED
screen) and/or button input 270 that provide the user interface 250
with the ability to permit an operator of the retailer computing
device 150 to manually control the retailer computing device 150 by
inputting commands via touch-screen and/or button operation and/or
voice commands to, for example, to associate the products 190
ordered by a customer 110 with the name of a friend or family
member of the customer 110 approved by the customer 110 to pick up
the products 190 ordered by the customer from the retail facility
180. It will be appreciated that the performance of such functions
by the processor-based control unit 210 of the retailer computing
device 150 is not dependent on a human operator, and that the
control unit 210 may be programmed to perform such functions
without a human operator.
[0026] In some embodiments, the display screen 260 of retailer
computing device 150 is configured to display various graphical
interface-based menus, options, and/or alerts that may be
transmitted to the retailer computing device 150 and displayed on
the display screen 260 in connection with various aspects of the
order placed by the customer 110. The inputs 270 of the retailer
computing device 150 may be configured to permit an operator to
navigate through the on-screen menus on the retailer computing
device 150 and make changes and/or updates to the friends and/or
family members of the customer 110 who will be picking up the
products 190 ordered by the customer 110 from the retail facility
180. It will be appreciated that the display screen 260 may be
configured as both a display screen and an input 270 (e.g., a
touch-screen that permits an operator to press on the display
screen 260 to enter text and/or execute commands.)
[0027] In some embodiments, the control circuit 210 of the retailer
computing device 150 is programmed to cause the retailer computing
device 150 to access at least one social media website (e.g.,
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) to identify friends
and family members of the customer 110 who placed the order for one
or more products 190 via the order processing server 130. In one
aspect, the control circuit 210 may be programmed to analyze
geographic locations of the friends and family members of the
customer identified via the accessing of the one or more social
media websites to determine a first friend or family member of the
customer 110 who is located at a physical address that is closest
to (i.e., the shortest distance from) a geographic location of the
retail facility 180 associated with a geographic location of the
customer 110 who placed the order. In other words, in some
embodiments, after a customer 110 places an order for one or more
products 190 via the order processing server 130, the retailer
computing device 150 accesses one or more social media website to
identify friends and family members of the customer 110 and then
determines the friend or family member that is located the shortest
distance from the retail facility 180 closest to the geographic
location of the customer 110.
[0028] In some embodiments, the control circuit 210 of the retailer
computing device 150 is programmed to generate customer alerts in
connection with the products 190 ordered by the customer 110 via
the order processing server 130. The customer alerts may be
generated by the retailer computing device 150 based on information
received from the order processing server 130 and/or from the
customer information database 140 and/or from the inventory
management database 160 and/or from a computing device 115a or 115b
of a friend or family member of the customer 110. In the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1, the customer alerts may be transmitted from the
retailer computing device 150 via the network 125 to the customer
computing device 120, and the customer computing device 120 may
transmit data responsive to the customer alerts and/or other data
to the retailer computing device 150 via the network 125. For
example, the retailer computing device 150 may transmit a signal
over the network 125 to the customer computing device 120 including
an alert identifying a friend or family member of the customer who
agreed to pick up the products 190 ordered by the customer 110 from
the retail facility 180 associated with the geographic location of
the customer 110. In some embodiments, customer alerts sent to the
customer computing device 120 may include but are not limited to
short message service (SMS) messages, electronic mail (e-mail)
messages, instant messenger messages, voice mail messages, and/or
push notifications (to a mobile application installed on the
customer computing device 120).
[0029] In some embodiments, the control circuit 210 of the retailer
computing device 150 may be programmed to transmit, via the network
125, a first electronic notification (i.e., an alert) including a
query (e.g., via SMS, email, mobile app push notification,
electronic mail, instant messenger, or the like) to a computing
device 115a of a first friend or family member of the customer 110
determined to be located a shortest distance from the retail
facility 180. For example, such an electronic query may request
that the first friend or family member of the customer 110 indicate
agreement or disagreement to pick up, at the retail facility 180 of
the retailer, one or more products 190 ordered by the customer 110
from the retailer. The first friend or family member of the
customer 110 may then use his or her computing device 115a to
respond to this electronic notification or query by indicating
(e.g., via the graphical interface 117a and/or input fields 119a of
the computing device 115a) agreement or disagreement with picking
up the products 190 for the customer 110 at the retail facility 180
of the retailer associated with a geographic location of the
customer 110.
[0030] In one aspect, the control circuit 210 is configured to
receive a response from the computing device 115a of the first
friend or family member of the customer 110 indicating agreement by
the first friend or family member of the customer 110 to pick up,
at the retail facility 180 of the retailer, the products 190
ordered by the customer 110. In response to receiving a response
indicating agreement to pick up the products 190 from the computing
device 115a of the first friend or family member of the customer
110, the control circuit 210 of the retailer computing device 150
is programmed to transmit a second electronic notification to the
customer computing device 120 to indicate to the customer 110 that
the products 190 ordered by the customer 110 will be available for
pick up at the geographic location of the first friend or family
member of the customer 110.
[0031] In another aspect, the control circuit 210 is configured to
receive a response from the computing device 115a of the first
friend or family member of the customer 110 indicating disagreement
by the first friend or family member of the customer 110 to pick
up, at the retail facility 180 of the retailer, the products 190
ordered by the customer 110. In response to receiving a response
indicating disagreement to pick up the products 190 from the
computing device 115a of the first friend or family member of the
customer 110, the control circuit 210 of the retailer computing
device 150 is programmed to analyze geographic locations of other
friends and family members of the customer 110 to determine a
second friend or family member of the customer 110 located at a
geographic location that is second closest (after the first friend
or family member of the customer 110) to a geographic location of
the retail facility 180 associated with a geographic location of
the customer 110.
[0032] In one aspect, upon determining the second friend of family
member of the customer 110 that is located second closest to the
geographic location of the retail facility 180 associated with a
geographic location of the customer 110, the control circuit 210 of
the retailer computing device 150 is programmed to transmit (a
third) electronic notification to the computing device 115b of the
second friend or family member of the customer 110 requesting that
the second friend or family member of the customer 110 indicate
agreement or disagreement to pick up, at the retail facility 180,
one or more products 190 ordered by the customer 110. Depending on
whether the second friend or family member of the customer 110
agrees or disagrees to pick up the products 190 ordered by the
customer 110 from the retail facility 180, the control unit 210 of
the computing device is programmed to either perform an analysis as
described above to determine a third friend or family member of the
customer 110 located at a geographic location that is third closest
(after the first and second friend or family member) to the
geographic location of the retail facility 180 associated with a
geographic location of the customer 110, or to notify the customer
110 to pick up the products 190 from the geographic location of the
second friend or family member of the customer 110.
[0033] In some embodiments, the control unit 210 of the retailer
computing device 150 may be programmed to send an electronic
notification or alert including a query (e.g., via SMS, email,
mobile app push notification, electronic mail, instant messenger,
or the like) to the customer computing device 120. For example,
such an electronic query may accompany an electronic customer alert
indicating that a friend or family member of the customer agreed to
pick up the products 190 ordered by the customer 110 from the
retail facility 180 associated with the geographic location of the
customer 110, and asking the customer 110 to respond via a
graphical interface 122 on a display screen of the customer
computing device 120 by indicating whether the customer 110 agrees
with having this friend or family member pick up the products 190
for the customer 110 at the retail facility 180.
[0034] In one aspect, the customer 110 may then use the graphical
interface 122 of his or her computing device 120 to respond to this
query by indicating (e.g., by checking one or more appropriate
input fields 124 of the graphical interface 122) that the customer
110 agrees to have the first friend or family member selected by
the retailer computing device 150 pick up the products 190 for the
customer 110. In response to receiving an indication of agreement
(by the customer 110 that the first friend or family member of the
customer 110 pick up the products 190) from the customer computing
device 120, the control circuit 210 of the retailer computing
device 150 is programmed to transmit an electronic notification to
the computing device 115a of the first friend or family member of
the customer 110 to notify the first friend or family member to go
pick up the product 190 ordered by the customer 110 from the retail
facility 180 associated with the geographic location of the
customer 110. In another aspect, the customer 110 may use the
customer computing device 120 to respond to this query by
indicating (e.g., by checking one or more appropriate input fields
124 of the graphical interface 122) that the customer 110 does not
agree to have the first friend or family member selected by the
retailer computing device 150 pick up the products 190 for the
customer 110 at the retail facility 180. In response to receiving
an indication of disagreement (by the customer 110 that the first
friend or family member of the customer 110 pick up the products
190) from the customer computing device 120, the control circuit
210 of the retailer computing device 150 is programmed to analyze
geographic locations of other friends and family members of the
customer 110 to determine a second friend or family member of the
customer 110 located at a geographic location closest to a
geographic location of the retail facility 180 associated with a
geographic location of the customer 110.
[0035] In one aspect, upon determining the second friend or family
member of the customer 110, and after receiving confirmation from
the computing device 115b of the second friend or family member of
the customer 110 of agreement to pick up the product 190 ordered by
the customer 110 from the retail facility 180, the control circuit
210 is programmed to transmit (a third) electronic notification to
the customer computing device 120 requesting that the customer 110
indicate agreement or disagreement to have the second friend or
family member of the customer 110 pick up, at the retail facility
180, the one or more products 190 ordered by the customer 110.
Depending on whether the customer 110 agrees or disagrees with
having the second friend or family member of the customer 110 pick
up the products 190 ordered by the customer 110 from the retail
facility 180, the control unit 210 of the retailer computing device
150 is programmed to either perform an analysis as described above
to determine a third friend or family member of the customer 110
located at a geographic location that is third closest (after the
first and second friend or family member) to the geographic
location of the retail facility 180 associated with a geographic
location of the customer 110, or to notify the second friend or
family member of the customer 110 (as described above) to pick up
the products 190 from the retail facility 180 associated with the
geographic location of the customer 110.
[0036] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the retailer computing
device 150 is coupled to an inventory management database 160. The
retailer computing device 150 and the inventory management database
160 may be implemented as a single device at the retail facility
180 of the retailer as illustrated in FIG. 1. It will be
appreciated, however, that the retailer computing device 150 and
the inventory management database 160 may be separate devices, and
may be located at different physical locations. In some
embodiments, the inventory management database 160 may be stored,
for example, on non-volatile storage media (e.g., a hard drive,
flash drive, or removable optical disk) internal or external to the
retailer computing device 150, or internal or external to computing
devices separate and distinct from the retailer computing device
150. In some embodiments, the inventory management database 160 may
be cloud-based.
[0037] The exemplary inventory management database 160 of FIG. 1 is
configured to store electronic data associated with the products
190 ordered by the customer 110 and being picked up for the
customer 110 at the retail facility 180 by a friend or family
member of the customer 110. Some exemplary electronic data that may
be stored in the inventory management database 160 may include, but
is not limited to: electronic data indicating an inventory of
available products 190 at the retail facility 180; electronic data
indicating an identity of a friend or family member who agreed to
pick up one or more products 190 for the order-placing customer 110
from the retail facility 180, and who was approved as a pick up
person by the customer 110. For example, the inventory management
database 160 may include electronic data identifying all products
190 ordered by a customer 110 in association with the name of a
person (i.e., friend or family member of the customer 110) who was
authorized by the customer 110 to pick up such products 190 for the
customer 110 from the retail facility 180.
[0038] In some embodiments, the customer 110 may access, review,
and/or update the electronic data in the customer information
database 140 and/or the inventory management database 160 via the
graphical interface 122 displayed to the customer 110 on the
customer computing device 120. The graphical interface 122 may
include one or more graphical input fields 124 in the form of menu
options and/or sub-interfaces that permit the customer 110 to:
manage product orders (e.g., by adding or removing one or more
products 190 to or from the order of the customer 110 stored in the
inventory management database 160); manage friends and family
members of the customer 110 (e.g., by adding or removing one or
more friend or family member to or from the list of friends and
family members of the customer 110 stored in the customer
information database 140); by pre-granting permission to one or
more friends or family members of the customer 110 (stored in the
customer information database 140) to pick up one or more products
190 ordered by the customer 110 from the retailer facility 180; to
provide a list of social media and networking websites that the
customer 110 is a member of; and to update the customer's account
information, alert notifications, as well as pick up options for
products 190 ordered by the customer 110 from the retailer via the
order processing server 130.
[0039] In some embodiments, the graphical interface 122 is
configured with input fields 124 that permit the customer 110 to
set and/or modify pick-up and/or alert options for one or more
orders placed by the customer 110, as well as for any special
instructions for any of the individual products 190 in such orders.
For example, the customer 110 may utilize the graphical interface
122 of the customer computing device 120 to: define a specific date
on which the products 190 are to be picked up by the friend or
family member for the customer from the retail facility 180; define
an interval for periodic pick up, by the friend or family member,
of the products 190 ordered by the customer 110 from the retail
facility 180; and define an identity (e.g., first and last name) of
friends or family members of the customer 110 who are authorized
(or not authorized) to pick up products 190 at the retail facility
180 for the customer 110.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an exemplary method 300 of
facilitating pick up of products 190 purchased by a customer 110
over a network from a retailer. After a customer 110 purchases one
or more products 190 from the retailer via an order processing
server 130 of the retailer, the embodiment of the method 300 of
FIG. 3 includes processing, at the order processing server 130 of
the retailer, the purchase order placed by the customer 110 for the
one or more products 190 (step 310). As discussed above, in the
method 300 of FIG. 3, the customer 110 does not elect to have the
ordered products 190 delivered by the retailer to the customer 110
or to personally pick up the ordered products 190 from the retail
facility 180, but instead elects (via the graphical interface 122
of the customer computing device 120) to have the products 190
ordered by the customer 110 picked up from the retail facility 180
associated with the geographic location of the customer 110 by a
friend or family member of the customer 110.
[0041] After the purchase order of the customer 110 for one or more
products 190 is processed at the order processing server 130, the
exemplary method 300 further includes accessing, via a retailer
computing device 150 including a processor-based control circuit
210, at least one social media website to identify friends and
family members of the customer 110 (step 320). In one aspect, after
a customer 110 elects pick up of the products 190 ordered by the
customer 110 from the retail facility 180 by a friend or family
member of the customer 110, the retailer computing device 150
queries the customer information database 140 to determine whether
a list of friends and family members of the customer 110 is stored
in the customer information database 140. In some embodiments, if
the customer information database 140 already includes a list of
friends and family members of the customer 110 accumulated, based
on either the retailer computing device 150 accessing social media
websites to identify friends and family members of the customer
110, or based on the customer 110 expressly identifying his or her
friends and family members when setting up an account with the
retailer. In some embodiments, the customer information database
140 does not yet include a list of friends and family members of
the customer 110 (e.g., the customer 110 is a new customer of the
retailer), and the retailer computing device 150 is configured to
access one or more social media websites such as Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, or the like to identify friends and
family members of the customer 110.
[0042] After the friends and family members of the customer 110
placing an order via the order processing server 130 of the
retailer are identified by the retailer computing device 150, the
exemplary method 300 of FIG. 3 includes analyzing, via the retailer
computing device 150, geographic locations of the friends and
family members of the customer 110 to determine a first friend or
family member of the customer 110 located at a geographic location
closest to a geographic location of a retail facility 180 of the
retailer associated with a geographic location of the customer 110
(step 330). In one aspect, this analysis is performed by obtaining
publicly available addresses of the friends and family members of
the customer 110 who were identified when accessing the social
media websites, and by using map-based analytics to measure a
distance from the address of each identified friend or family
members of the customer 110 to the address of the retail facility
180 of the retailer associated with the geographic location of the
customer 110. In some embodiments, if the customer information
database 140 already includes a list of friends and family members
of the customer 110, the friends and family members of the customer
may be ranked in order of being closest to furthest (distance-wise)
to a retail facility 180 of the retailer associated with the
geographic location of the customer 110.
[0043] After the retailer computing device 150 determines which
friend or family member of the customer 110 who ordered products
190 from the retailer is located geographically closest to the
retail facility 180 associated with the geographic location of the
customer 110, this friend or family member is designated in the
customer information database 140 as the first friend or family
member of the customer, and the friend or family member of the
customer 110 is located geographically second closest to the retail
facility 180 is designated in the customer information database 140
as the second friend or family member of the customer 110, and so
on. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, after the first friend
or family member of the customer 110 is determined by the retailer
computing device 150, the method 300 includes the step of
transmitting, via the retailer computing device 150, a first
electronic notification to a computing device 115a of the first
friend or family member of the customer 110, with the first
electronic notification requesting the first friend or family
member of the customer 110 to indicate agreement to pick up, at the
retail facility 180, the product 190 (or products 190) ordered by
the customer 110 (step 340). As described above, in some
embodiments, such a transmission may be made by the retailer
computing device 150 to the computing device 115a of the first
friend or family member of the customer 110 via the network 125
(which may be an internet-based or an intranet-based network).
[0044] In one aspect, after the first friend or family member of
the customer 110 receives the above-described first electronic
notification from the retailer computing device 150 over the
network 125 and uses the graphical interface 117a of his or her
computing device 115a to indicate agreement or disagreement to pick
up the products 190 for the customer 110, this agreement or
disagreement by the first friend or family member of the customer
110 is transmitted from the computing device 115a of the first
friend or family member of the customer 110 via the network 125 to
the retailer computing device 150. Then, in some embodiments, the
method 300 of FIG. 3 further includes receiving, at the retailer
computing device 150, a response from the computing device 115a of
the first friend or family member of the customer 110 indicating
agreement by the first friend or family member of the customer 110
to pick up, at the retail facility 180, the product 190 (or
products 190) ordered by the customer 110 (step 350).
[0045] In some embodiments, the method 300 may include receiving,
at the retailer computing device 150 of the retailer, a response
from the computing device 115a of the first friend or family member
of the customer 110 indicating that the first friend or family
member of the customer 110 does not agree to pick up, at the retail
facility 180, the product 190 (or products 190) ordered by the
customer 110. If the first friend or family member of the customer
110 does not agree to pick up the products 190 ordered by the
customer 110 from the retail facility 180 for whatever reason
(e.g., traveling, no longer residing at the publicly listed
address, or no longer friends with the customer 110), the method
300 may include analyzing, via the retailer computing device 150
(e.g., via accessing the customer information database 140),
geographic locations of other friends and family of the customer
110 to determine at least a second friend or family member of the
customer 110 located at a geographic location that is second
closest to the geographic location of the retail facility 180 after
the geographic location of the first friend or family member of the
customer 110 determined to be the closest, but who did not agree to
pick up the products 190 for the customer 110 from the retail
facility 180. In one aspect, after a determination of such a second
friend or family member of the customer 110 is made by the retailer
computing device 150, the method 300 may include transmitting a
third electronic notification to a computing device 115b of the
second friend or family member of the customer 110, with the third
electronic notification requesting the second friend or family
member of the customer 110 to indicate agreement to pick up, at the
retail facility 180, the product 190 (or products 190) ordered by
the customer 110 from the retailer.
[0046] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, after the first friend or
family member of the customer 110 indicates agreement to pick up
the products 190 ordered by the customer 110 from the retail
facility 180 associated with the geographic location of the
customer 110, and such agreement is transmitted via the network 125
from the computing device 115a of the first friend or family member
of the customer 110 to the retailer computing device 150, the
method 300 includes transmitting, from the retailer computing
device 150 of the retailer, a second electronic notification to a
customer computing device 120, with the second electronic
notification indicating that the product 190 ordered by the
customer 110 will be available for pick up at the geographic
location of the first friend or family member of the customer 110.
In some embodiments, when the first friend or family member arrives
at the retail facility 180 to pick up the products 190 for the
customer 110, the method 300 may further include checking
authentication credentials of the first friend or family member of
the customer 110 to verify an identify of the first friend or
family member of the customer 110 to ensure that the person
attempting to pick up the products 190 for the customer 110 at the
retail facility 180 is in fact authorized to pick up the products
190. In one aspect, after the products 190 are picked up by the
first friend or family member of the customer from the retail
facility 180, the method 300 may further include transmitting, from
the retailer computing device 150, an electronic notification to
the customer computing device 120 to alert the customer 110 that
the products 190 ordered by the customer were picked up by an
authorized friend or family member of the customer 110 from the
retail facility 180.
[0047] In one aspect, the customer 110 is given an option to accept
or not accept the first friend or family member chosen by the
retailer computing device 150 for pick-up of the products 190
ordered by the customer 110 from the retailer. To that end, the
second electronic notification transmitted by the retailer
computing device 150 to the customer computing device 120 includes
a graphical interface 122 including input fields 124 configured to
enable the customer 110 to indicate agreement or disagreement with
picking up the product ordered by the customer 110 from the first
friend or family member of the customer 110.
[0048] In some embodiments, upon receiving, at the retailer
computing device 150, a response from the customer computing device
120 indicating that the customer 110 does not agree to pick up the
product 190 ordered by the customer 110 from the first friend or
family member of the customer 110, the method 300 may further
include analyzing geographic locations of the friends and family of
the customer 110 (e.g., stored in the customer information database
140) to determine at least a second friend or family member of the
customer 110 located at a geographic location that is second
closest to the geographic location of the retail facility 180
associated with the geographic location of the customer 110 after
the geographic location of the first friend or family member of the
customer 110 who was disapproved by the customer 110 for picking up
the products 190 ordered by the customer 110. When the retailer
computing device 150 determines the identity of a second friend or
family member of the customer 110 who is located second closest
distance-wise to the retail facility 180 associated with the
geographic location of the customer 110, the method 300 may further
include transmitting a third electronic notification to a computing
device 115b of the second friend or family member of the customer
110, with the third electronic notification requesting the second
friend or family member of the customer 110 to confirm whether the
second friend or family member of the customer 110 agrees to pick
up, at the retail facility 180, the product 190 (or products 190)
ordered by the customer 110.
[0049] In one aspect, after the retailer computing device 150 of
the retailer determines the second friend of family member of the
customer 110 who may pick up products 190 for the customer 110 at
the retail facility 180, the method 300 may include transmitting,
from the retailer computing device 150 via the network 125, a third
electronic notification to the computing device 115b of the second
friend or family member of the customer 110, with the third
electronic notification requesting that the second friend or family
member of the customer 110 indicate agreement or disagreement to
pick up, at the retail facility 180, one or more products 190
ordered by the customer 110. Depending on whether the second friend
or family member of the customer 110 agrees or disagrees to pick up
the products 190 ordered by the customer 110 from the retail
facility 180, the method 300 may further include either an
analyzing step akin to step 330 to determine a third friend or
family member of the customer 110 located at a geographic location
that is third closest (after the first and second friend or family
member) to the geographic location of the retail facility 180
associated with a geographic location of the customer 110, or a
transmitting step akin to step 360 to notify the customer 110 (as
described below) to pick up the products 190 from the second friend
or family member.
[0050] In one aspect, upon determining the second friend or family
member of the customer 110, and after receiving confirmation from
the computing device 115b of the second friend or family member of
the customer 110 of agreement to pick up the product 190 ordered by
the customer 110 from the retail facility 180, the method 300 may
include transmitting, from the retailer computing device 150 via
the network 125, a third electronic notification to the customer
computing device 120, with the third electronic notification
requesting that the customer 110 indicate agreement or disagreement
to have the second friend or family member of the customer 110
pick-up, at the retail facility 180, the one or more products 190
ordered by the customer 110. Depending on whether the customer 110
agrees or disagrees with having the second friend or family member
of the customer 110 pick up the products 190 ordered by the
customer 110 from the retail facility 180, the method 300 may
include an analyzing step akin to step 330 to determine a third
friend or family member of the customer 110 located at a geographic
location that is third closest (after the first and second friend
or family member) to the geographic location of the retail facility
180 associated with a geographic location of the customer 110, or a
transmitting step akin to step 360 to notify the second friend or
family member of the customer 110 (as described above) to pick up
the products 190 from the retail facility 180 associated with the
geographic location of the customer 110.
[0051] The systems and methods described herein advantageously
allow customers to purchase products from a retailer and have a
friend or family member pick up such products from the retail
facility of the retailer associated with the geographic location of
the customer 110. Accordingly, the customers are provided with an
ability to either pick up the products they order from their
friends or family members instead of the retail facility, or to
have such products delivered to their home by their friends or
family members. Such systems and methods provide a significant time
savings and convenience for the customers of the retailer and are
likely to increase customer loyalty to the retailer.
[0052] Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety
of other modifications, alterations, and combinations can also be
made with respect to the above described embodiments without
departing from the scope of the invention, and that such
modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as
being within the ambit of the inventive concept.
* * * * *