WO2016033631A1

WO2016033631A1 - A shopping services system and a method of providing shopping services oriented system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2016033631A1
Application number: PCT/AU2015/000275
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kwai Wah HO; Jason Rodney PROPOSCH; Michael Andrew BLACK
Original assignee: Collectme Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-09-03
Filing date: 2015-05-12
Publication date: 2016-03-10

Abstract

The present invention involves method and system of providing shopping services. The method, includes, at least, enabling one or more users to record information relating to one or more items of interest during one or more retail store shopping sessions; storing information relating to the one or more items and the one or more users; providing to the or each user the ability to view details relating to the one or more items; and enabling purchase of the one or more items, based on the information stored relating to the one or more items, by the or each user, or another user. A 'retail store shopping session', in the context of this invention, means a shopping session in a physical retail store. Therefore, the method and system provides a physical retail store, amongst other entities, with the ability to interact with consumers in a way that has not been previously available.

Description

A SHOPPING SERVICES SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF PROVIDING SHOPPING SERVICES ORIENTED SYSTEM AND METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a shopping services system and a method of providing shopping services.

BACKGROUND

Online shopping has become ubiquitous across many retail sectors. Retail companies having shops with a stocked retail presence, so called 'bricks and mortar' stores, can suffer from shoppers physically browsing products in store but then choosing to purchase using online stores. Once the shopper leaves the store, the retailer has limited opportunity to maintain contact with the shopper.

Furthermore, 'bricks and mortar' stores increasingly have to compete with online stores.

Online stores have a number of advantages including: Reduced overheads: no requirement for an expensive physical retail presence, in terms of staff, buildings and other costs;

Direct delivery: products are delivered direct to a shopper at their preferred address, no requirement to carry goods around; and

Direct access to social media and online advertising: products can be shared and advertised directly to consumers with, potentially, a single click taking them to a product purchase transaction. However, there are also a number of disadvantages for online stores including:

Products cannot be directly inspected, tested or sampled;

Lack of options for delivery of products: in particular the timing of delivery, and an increasing negative attitude from work places in having personal items delivered there; and

Lack of reputation: many online stores that do not have bricks and mortar equivalents lack the strength of reputation to ensure that consumers are happy to purchase through their stores.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing shopping services including: enabling one or more users to record information relating to one or more items of interest during one or more retail store shopping sessions; storing information relating to the one or more items and the one or more users; enabling the or each user the ability to view details relating to the one or more items; and enabling purchase; the purchase being of the one or more items; based on the information stored relating to the one or more items; and by the or each user, or another user.

It is to be understood that a 'retail store shopping session', in the context of this invention, means a shopping session in which the user(s) is physically present in a physical retail store. That is, it does not represent an online shopping session, e.g.

through an application. Preferred forms of the invention entail the recordal of information relating to physical items. Information related to shopper movement may also be recorded.

In at least one embodiment, the step of enabling one or more users to record

information includes enabling the or each user to perform one or more of the following actions: entering identifying information, either manually or electronically; taking a picture of the one or more items, or a label of the one or more items; selecting the one or more items from a list.

The enabling to record may be enabling to automatically record. By way of example a mobile phone (or other device) might wirelessly store a list of items in proximity to which a shopper has spent time (perhaps more than a threshold period of time) without immediate conscious input from the shopper; e.g. whilst the phone remains untouched in the shopper's pocket. The automatic recordal may involve the phone receiving information from identities (e.g. RFID tags) carried by the items, or potentially with the aid of some form of geographic mapping and a data set relating the shopper's location to items at or proximal that location. Thus the recorded information may be the shopper's location, and the ability to view details may be provided with the aid of the data set, i.e. the shopper's location may be related to the item(s) by the data set.

Partially automated information recordal is also contemplated, e.g. in the manner of an 'auto-populate' function. In one example the shopper's device might be configured to automatically populate its display with icons corresponding to items in the shopper's proximity such that information sufficient to identify an item may be recorded by simply pressing an icon corresponding to that item. By way of example, the mapping may entail GPS navigation (potentially augmented by inertial sensors that indicate the shopper's movement) and/or entail identifier's associated with portions of the store e.g. associated with a shelf on which items are stored.

In at least one embodiment, entering identifying information includes one or more of the following: typing, or otherwise entering, a code; scanning an RFID tag, scanning a bar code, scanning a QR code; scanning a Bluetooth™ or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device; entering a description.

In at least one embodiment, based on the recorded information, the method further includes retrieving from a data store details of the one or more items. In at least one embodiment, details of the one or more items retrieved from the data store include one or more of the following: an image, stock availability, stock location, retailer, price, weight, description, color, style, pattern, quantity, linked products and/or size.

It should be understood that retrieving details from a data store can include other actions and processes. For example, stock availability may be a summation of stock levels at different retail stores or may take into account other factors, such as proximity or delivery options.

In at least one embodiment, the step of storing information relating to the one or more items further includes storing one or more of the following details: time/date of recording, location, location history and/or retailer identification.

In at least one embodiment, the step of enabling purchase further includes enabling delivery options for the or each user based on pre-defined delivery settings.

In at least one embodiment, the pre-defined delivery settings include possible delivery locations and delivery options include one or more of the following: cost to deliver to the one or more locations; time to deliver to the one or more locations; and/or delivery supplier.

In at least one embodiment, the delivery options include collating the or each purchased item for a combined delivery. In at least one embodiment, the method further includes enabling the or each user to provide information relating to the one or more items to third party websites.

In at least one embodiment, the third party websites includes one or more of: social media websites and/or blog websites.

In at least one embodiment, the method further includes analyzing stored information relating to the one or more items and/or one or more users to determine if one or more pre-defined rules applies.

In at least one embodiment, the analysis of stored information is used to determine whether one or more pre-defined rules applies.

In at least one embodiment, if the or each pre-defined rule applies the method includes performing a pre-defined action.

In at least one embodiment, the user and/or another user can view the one or more items on an electronic device.

In at least one embodiment, the method further includes during a system set-up step, storing details of a plurality of items. In at least one embodiment, details stored of the plurality of items include one or more of the following: an image identification information, description, price, weight, size, colour, style, pattern, location(s), keyword(s), brand and/or discounts. In at least one embodiment, the method further includes, during a user set-up step, storing details of the or each user.

In at least one embodiment, details stored of the or each user include one or more of the following: name, home address, other delivery addresses, electronic device details, other contact details, preferences and/or social media details.

In at least one embodiment, the method further includes, during or after purchasing, enabling the or each user to choose to have the or each item delivered.

In at least one embodiment, if the or each user chooses to have the or each item delivered, arranging delivery of the or each items. In at least one embodiment, arranging delivery includes one or more of the following: placing, at least, a reference to the or each item in a dispatch queue; collating multiple purchased items for a single delivery; instructing a carrier to collect the or each item which requires to be collected; instructing a carrier to deliver the or each item; and/or amending a carrier's instructions on request by the or each user or by an authorized third party.

In at least one embodiment, the method further includes, during a delivery set-up, storing details of one or more carriers and/or storing details of one or more delivery agents. In at least one embodiment, the or each user can choose to have the or each items delivered to the or each delivery agent. In at least one embodiment, the method further includes enabling one or more users to record information relating to one or more items of interest based on another user's recorded information and/or items stored in a data store.

In at least one embodiment, the method further includes enabling social media activities based on the recorded information. In at least one embodiment, the social media activities include one or more of the following: providing an indication of approval (such as 'liking' an item of the recorded information), sharing an item of the recorded information, enabling a vote to be conducted in respect of an item of the recorded information, rating an item of the recorded information (typically out of a pre-defined minimum and maximum score) and/or commenting on an item of the recorded information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a shopping service system including: an application configured to enable one or more users to record details of one or more items of interest during one or more retail store shopping sessions; and a data store configured to store the details of the one or more items and the one or more users, wherein the application is configured to allow the or each user to view details relating to the one or more items and to enable purchase; the purchase being of the one or more items; based on the information stored relating to the one or more items; and by the or each user, or another user. In at least one embodiment, the system enables the or each user to perform one or more of the following actions: entering identifying information, either manually or electronically; taking a picture of the one or more items, or a label of the one or more items; selecting the one or more items from a list. In at least one embodiment, entering identifying information includes one or more of the following: typing, or otherwise entering, a code; scanning an RFID tag, scanning a bar code, scanning a QR code; scanning a Bluetooth™ or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device; entering a description.

In at least one embodiment, based on the recorded information, the application includes retrieving from a data store details of the one or more items.

In at least one embodiment, details of the one or more items retrieved from the data store include one or more of the following: an image, stock availability, stock location, retailer, price, weight, description, color, style, pattern, quantity, linked products and/or size. In at least one embodiment, details of the items stored in the data store include one or more of the following details: time/date of recording, location, location history and/or retailer identification.

In at least one embodiment, enabling purchase further includes enabling delivery options for the or each user based on pre-defined delivery settings. In at least one embodiment, the pre-defined delivery settings include possible delivery locations and delivery options include one or more of the following: cost to deliver to the one or more locations; time to deliver to the one or more locations; and/or delivery supplier.

In at least one embodiment, the delivery options include collating the or each purchased item for a combined delivery. In at least one embodiment, the system is configured to enable the or each user to provide information relating to the one or more items to third party websites.

In at least one embodiment, the third party websites includes one or more of: social media websites and/or blog websites. In at least one embodiment, the system is configured to analyze stored information relating to the one or more items and/or one or more users.

In at least one embodiment, the or each pre-defined rule applies performing a pre- defined action.

In at least one embodiment, the system is configured, during a system set-up step, to store details of a plurality of items. In at least one embodiment, details stored of the plurality of items include one or more of the following: an image, identification information, description, price, weight, size, colour, style, pattern, location(s), keyword(s), brand and/or discounts.

In at least one embodiment, the system is configured, during a user set-up step, to store details of the or each user. In at least one embodiment, details stored of the or each user include one or more of the following: name, home address, other delivery addresses, electronic device details, other contact details, preferences and/or social media details. In at least one embodiment, the system is configured, during or after purchasing, to enable the or each user to choose to have the or each item delivered.

In at least one embodiment, the system is configured, during a delivery set-up, to store details of one or more carriers and/or storing details of one or more delivery agents.

In at least one embodiment, the or each user can choose to have the or each items delivered to the or each delivery agent.

In at least one embodiment, the system is configured to enable one or more users to record information relating to one or more items of interest based on another users recorded information and/or items stored in a data store.

In at least one embodiment, the system is configured to enable social media activities to be performed on recorded information. In at least one embodiment, the social media activities include one or more of the following: providing an indication of approval (such as 'liking' an item of the recorded information), sharing an item of the recorded information, enabling a vote to be conducted in respect of an item of the recorded information, rating an item of the recorded information (typically out of a pre-defined minimum and maximum score) and/or commenting on an item of the recorded information. The foregoing features of the invention may be combined in any combination of features where features are not mutually exclusive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, either alone or in combinations of two or more, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the

accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram of a shopping services system according to one embodiment. Figure 2 is a flow diagram of a shopping services system according to one embodiment.

Figure 3 is a flow diagram of a shopping services system according to one embodiment.

Figure 4 is a conceptual diagram of a delivery management system of the shopping services system.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a shopping services system and its interaction with other systems.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagrammatic view of a network system in which embodiments of the present invention may be utilized. Figure 7 is a block diagram of a computing system (either a server or client, or both, as appropriate), with optional input devices (e.g. keyboard, mouse, touch screen, etc) and output devices, hardware, network connections, one or more processors, and

memory/storage for data and modules, etc which may be utilized in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the full scope of the present invention. The flow charts and screen shots are also representative in nature, and actual embodiments of the invention may include further features or steps not shown in the drawings. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following examples are intended to illustrate the scope of the invention and to enable reproduction and comparison. They are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any way.

Online shopping is, relatively, ubiquitous in many countries. Online shopping provides consumers control and convenience. In-store shopping, at a physical retail store, provides a physical and social experience. In-store shopping, ideally, should provide the same level of information and interaction as online.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, consumers are able to interact with a physical retail store in a similar manner to an online store. Referring now to Figure 1 , a schematic diagram of a portion of a shopping services system 10 is shown. A user 12 of the shopping services system 10 visits a plurality of retail stores 14, each being a physical retail store containing items for display and/or sale. During visiting any of the retail stores 14, the user 12 can record items of interest to an electronic device (not shown). The electronic device can be any electronic device which the user can use to operate the system 10. For example, the device can be a wearable device, such as a smart watch or Google Glass®, a mobile device, such as a smartphone, other cellular or Wi-Fi connected device or tablet, a kiosk (such as a shopping terminal) or Bluetooth™ or BLE device. As a result of recording items of interest to the electronic device, those items can be 'shared', via social media or in other ways, to other consumers 16 and, potentially, distributors of information 18, such as fashion writers, bloggers, journalists, etc.

As will be appreciated, a user of a shopping services system or method according to this invention will, at some point, have to provide one or more pieces of identifying

information to the system. The identifying information may be obtained substantially automatically or manually provided by the user. For example, an application on a smartphone could simply use the smartphone's telephone number. Obviously, a greater deal of information is preferable, such as a name, address and email address. As mentioned previously, this information may be available relatively automatically (such as by granting certain permissions to the application) or manually provided in any manner of ways. Referring now to Figure 2, a more detailed system diagram is shown of one embodiment of a shopping services system 20. A user (not shown) begins by visiting a retail store from which they may like to purchase items. If a user desires, they can record items of interest from the retail store.

As part of the shopping services system 20, an application (or 'app') can be installed on an electronic device, such as the user's cellular mobile device or wearable device. One method of recording an item of interest involves invoking the app on the cellular mobile device and recording 22 the item using the app. There are many methods that can be used to record the item depending on the desired set up of the system. For example, the item may have a bar code or QR (Quick Response) code associated with it, usually on a label, and the app can scan the code to obtain information relating to the item. However, whilst a bar code may identify an item or an item range, it may not contain any information as to the location of the retail store or other information about the item, such as color, price, stock levels or associated or linked products.

Other methods of recording an item are possible, such as RFID tags located on the items or close to the items, NFC (near-field communications) point (which is a form of RFID), Bluetooth™, image recognition of a picture (including a picture taken by the user of the item), entering a code (such as an alphanumeric string provided on or near the item) and/or selecting the item from a list. If an item is to be selected from a list, the list may be a 'smart' list, which updates or changes depending on external factors. For example, the list may change depending on the location of the user (location of the store they are in and/or location within the store).

As such the system 20, either using the app or information from the app, determines whether the code associated with the item is unique in step 24. If the code is not unique, step 26 is performed to determine other information, such as, the retail store where the item was recorded (step 22). In step 26, additional information about the environment is obtained, such as by the app. For example, the app may determine its location by obtaining information from the mobile device, such as GPS information, Wi-Fi information or other location sources.

Whilst not shown in this example, information about the environment can be obtained independent of the determination 24 as to whether the code associated with the item is unique. In particular, the location and time of the recordal 22 of the item would, typically, be obtained and, optionally, stored. In addition, information regarding the time, date and location of the user may be obtained and stored, with suitable permissions, even if an item is not recorded. This information can then be used to provide analytics of, for example, retail store usage or display/promotion success. Once step 24 and/or 26 has been completed, the item, or at least unique details regarding the item and the recordal of the item, is added to a user's shopping records in step 28.

Further item details, in step 30, can then be retrieved, if the item is present, from a pre- defined items storage (not shown) of the system 20.

The user's shopping records are, in this example, displayed to the user and, if desired, to other users, in the form of a shopping record in the app or through the apps of other users. Although, the user's shopping records can also be accessed through other means, such as a website. Pictures of the items, and/or other details, are displayed to the user in a manner which allows them to browse their shopping records.

Shopping records, in the context of this specification, refers to the act of having a shopping session and includes browsing and otherwise interacting with items which may be purchased, even if they are not actually purchased.

The user's shopping records can then be displayed to them in a number of different ways, such as, for example, by location of recordal, by time of recordal, by brand of the item, by type of item (shoes, dresses, etc), by complimentary type (displaying shoes with dresses, for example), by price, by estimated delivery date/time, etc.

Notably, users can add to their shopping records items found in other user's shopping records. That is, if a user allows, their shopping records can be browsed by other users and items in those shopping records added by the user that is browsing. The user may automatically allow their records to be viewed by other users for this purpose.

The system 20 can also be configured to allow users to browse all available items within the system 20. That is, users can opt to avoid physically visiting a retail store or browsing other user's shopping records and simply browse and record items within the system 20. In this manner, the system 20 also includes a marketplace for items, each item being able to be recorded to a user's shopping records and/or purchased. The system 20 also provides the user with the ability to perform a number of further steps, which, in this example, are: Perform social activities (step 32); Link to external resources (step 38); Take photos for reference (step 40); and Place order/purchase (step 42). Perform Social Activities

Step 32 provides the ability for the user to perform one or more social activities. For example, they can 'share' the item that they have recorded to other users of the system 20 and/or through one or more social media websites, such as Facebook®, Instagram® or Twitter®. The information shared allows users of the system 20, or users of the one or more social media websites that are able to view the 'share', to view the details of the item. The details can be restricted to general details of the item itself or additional details of the recordal of the item, such as the time and location of the recordal.

On viewing the 'share' (step 44), the social media user can add the item (step 46) to their own shopping records or purchase the item (as discussed in more detail below). Other social activities can also be performed. For example, in step 34, the system 20 provides the ability for the user to allow other users to cast a vote over an aspect of the item. For example, in step 36, the user may request other users to vote over whether the user should purchase the item. In another example, the user is provided with the ability to provide comments, 'like' and/or rate the item. Link to External Resources

Step 38 provides the ability for the user to link the item to external resources, such as an external product reference page hosted by an external party, a 3rd party information page or an aggregator engine.

Take Photos for Reference Step 40 provides the ability for the user to add their own photos relating to the item. For example, if the item is a pair of shoes, the user may take a photo of the user wearing the shoes, so that a decision on whether to purchase may be made more easily at a later date. Place order/Purchase

Step 42 provides the ability for the user to place an order for the item or to purchase the item. In the context of this specification, placing an order and purchasing are

synonymous.

Notably, the purchase may happen at any time after the item has been recorded. For example, the user may decide to record a number of similar items in a shopping session from multiple retail stores in multiple locations. After reflecting on which item the user preferred, the user can choose to purchase the item without having to revisit the original retail store.

If the user chooses to purchase the item, such as by touching or clicking a 'place order' or 'purchase' type button, the system 20 processes the purchase, or forwards the purchase to a third party for processing, and then, if the purchase is approved, enters the purchase order into a data store 48 before sending the purchase order to the retail company, or store, 50. The retail company 50, at step 52, confirms that the item is available. The confirmation may be automatic, that is, an electronic request and response that is made according to current stock levels, or it may be manually processed. In that case, the request and response may be electronic but the step of approving stock levels may be manual. For example, new orders for items may appear electronically on an operator's screen and the operator checks stock and takes an action to confirm, forward or delay the new order. If step 52 indicates that the item is not currently available from the retail company/store 50, the purchase order may be passed to other retail companies/stores, such as those in different locations but of the same chain of stores or of related ownership or with a mutual agreement, at step 54 to see if stock is available at those companies/stores. If step 54 also indicates that the item is not currently available, the purchase order is placed in a queue at the retail company/store 50. Other processes may be triggered at step 58 at this point such as a 'back order' to ensure that the item is allocated to the user when back in to stock and notification to the user of the delay.

It should be understood that the process described above is one example of how the system 20 can work. For example, the system 20 may, alternatively, retrieve and/or calculate stock availability and display the stock availability prior to purchase by the user.

If the item is confirmed as in stock and available at either step 52 or 54, a dispatch request 56 is made, according to dispatch and default delivery details held for the user or entered at purchase, and the purchase is added to a dispatch queue 60. Further processes for dispatch/delivery are discussed in further detail below. It should be noted that, if stock is present at the retail store from which the item was recorded, or another retail store, the user can also have the option to collect the item. For example, the user could choose to purchase the item through the system 20 whilst still physically in the retail store and collect the item from a sales point in the retail store.

Whilst in the dispatch queue 60, the system 20 allows the user to amend the default dispatch/delivery service at step 62. If the service is to be amended, such as by requesting a faster delivery, then the service update delivery is processed at step 66. If the service is not amended, or after the service has been amended, the purchase request is sent to the delivery agent so that delivery may be arranged at step 64.

The invention, an embodiment of which is described above, provides bricks and mortar stores with the ability to turn their physical store into an online social store. This creates the opportunities for retailers to capitalize on the popularity of mobile and social shopping to become a brand and products showroom; more than just the four walls of a store. The invention improves choice, convenience, control and flexibility of shopping and provides in-store experiences which are able to convert window shopping to online recordal and sharing, which can lead to purchasing at a later date, an opportunity which is currently not available in a connected manner. In one illustrative embodiment of the invention the system 20 is pre-loaded with a retail company's, or store's, product (item) information. Step 22, as described above, will then allow consumers to record items by, for example, scanning existing barcodes, and the system 20 also enabling the user to take photos of an item and store items of interest.

By capturing and storing items, users are able to stay connected to the retailer's store, even after they have physically left, and interact socially and/or place an order for the items. This creates a direct marketing and communication channel between retailers and customers.

Referring now to Figure 3, one embodiment of a shopping services system 70 is shown. In this embodiment, features which have been previously described with relation to Figure 2 are given like numerals. In particular, recording 22 an item, via an app or otherwise, adding an item from a 'share' or other location and shopping records 28 are shown. Other steps and processes as described in relation to Figure 2 may also be present in this embodiment but are not specifically shown.

The system 70 also includes a data store 72 for storing users' shopping records 28. Based on the information in the data store 72, process 74 analyses item statistics. For example, process 74 can collate information such as the number of times a particular item has been recorded by users over a particular period, the number of times a particular item was purchased, the number of 'shares' an item received after being recorded, a summary of the locations items were recorded, etc. Item analysis information is then passed to a further process 76. Process 76 applies predefined promotion rules as set by, for example, a retailer of an item. A pre-defined promotion rule could be, for example, that users who have recorded items in a particular location are offered a discount off their next purchase from the retailer, or, if an item is recorded a pre-defined number of times, the item is offered at reduced rate to those users who achieve sufficient 'shares' or 'likes'. Obviously, many different pre-defined rules could be set and the rules are not limited to the examples here and do not, necessarily require to be set by the statistics from the process 74. For example, the rules could be time based and an offer is provided to users at a pre-defined time.

Rather, the process 74 provides a different marketing opportunity than would normally be available.

Item analysis information may also be used without involvement of a pre-defined promotion rule. For example, analytics of the item information may be provided to retail stores to better understand their customers and potential customers. Analytics may also be provided to entities such as shopping malls, to give them a better understanding of the movement of customers and sites within the mall that could be considered premium sites for retail stores. Furthermore, analytical information on a particular set of items, such as items or products from a particular brand, which may be independent of the physical retail store, can be provided, perhaps providing an understanding of the brand demographics. Any of the above information may also be used to trigger a pre-defined promotion rule.

Process 78 takes a predefined rule which has been matched and implements the rule by notifying users. Process 80 represents the receipt of the implementation by the user of the system 70. It would then be possible for the user to choose to accept the offer by purchasing or sharing as required.

In this manner, retail stores have an opportunity to more directly market to their customers, or potential customers who have physically browsed their stores.

Particularly, the use of a system as herein described provides an opportunity to market to users who have not visited the retail store or who have left without purchasing, gather information on the popularity of an item prior to purchase, as well as opening a communication channel which was not previously available. The shopping services systems 20, 70 as described above provide the option for the user to have a purchased item delivered. A delivery management system forms part of one embodiment of the present invention which manages delivery of one or more purchased items. The delivery management system may include one or more items described above.

If a purchased item is to be delivered, the delivery management system allows the user to choose to delay delivery pending the addition of other purchased items. Preferred forms of the system allow other purchased items to be added up until the purchased item is picked up. In this manner, delivery cost can be reduced. Furthermore, the system enables unconnected retailers to have a common delivery method. That is, retail stores participating in the shopping services system 20, 70 enable purchase of items through the system 20, 70 and the system manages the delivery of all purchased items, even if the retail stores have no other connection. As indicated in Figure 2, the delivery management system manages the data store 48 and dispatch queue 60. As such, purchased items in the data store 48 or dispatch queue 60 can, if requested, be grouped for delivery. When the user indicates that there are no further items to be added to the delivery, the delivery management system can instruct both pickup of purchased items, or that the purchased items are sent to a central location, and delivery of the purchased items. The delivery management system, thereby, reduces the burden to the user of managing multiple deliveries.

In general, the system 20, 70 using the delivery management system for purchased items described above has a number of advantages, including: when carrying shopping around is inconvenient; when the weather has turned bad whilst the user is shopping; when a user had a disability that makes it hard to manage having bags and being mobile; or when a user is travelling and there is insufficient room in the user's luggage.

Furthermore, the delivery management system can be utilized even if the user chooses to purchase items from the retail store directly, rather than through the system 20, 70. The retail store can simply add the purchase to the user's account, handing delivery management of the purchased item back to the delivery management system.

Additionally, many consumers experience the frustration of failed deliveries because no one is at home to receive them. Some consumers resort to having deliveries directed to their place of work but this, potentially, still leaves the issue of getting the deliveries home. Furthermore, many work places are no longer accepting personal deliveries, as the volume or distraction is unacceptable.

Referring now to Figure 4 a delivery management system 90 according to one embodiment is shown, which includes the processes described above in relation to delivery. In addition, the delivery management system 90 provides for multiple delivery options including, but not limited to, a residential home address 92, a trusted friend 94, a registered delivery agent 96, a delivery parcel box 98, a concierge service 100 or parcel collection points 102.

In this example, the residential home address 92, trusted friend 94, registered delivery agent 96, and delivery parcel box 98 represent a local delivery area 104. That is an area 104 local to the user's home. However, whilst the trusted friend 94, registered delivery agent 96 and delivery parcel box 98 are in a 'local' delivery area in this example, this does not need to be the case. For example, the trusted friend 94 may be in another area which is convenient for the user, such as on the way home from work. The user can choose to nominate delivery to a trusted friend 94 being a delivery location which has been pre-registered as a delivery address for the user's items and to which the user has a personal relationship which allows delivery of those items.

A registered delivery agent 96 is an agent registered with the delivery management system 90 and pre-approved to receive deliveries for any user. A suitable registration process for an agent 96 enables those agents to charge a fee for use of their address as a delivery point. Therefore, people working from home or who otherwise are available at home during normal delivery hours can provide a service to the local neighborhood. A delivery parcel box 98 represents a suitable and secure parcel receiving means. For example, some postal companies now provide parcel delivery boxes at a central location which enable users to pick up their deliveries at a convenient time. The box 98 may also represent a parcel delivery box at the user's home which is accessible to the deliverer of the parcel.

In addition to local options, the concierge service 100 and parcel collection points 102 represent alternative delivery options. Similar to the registered delivery agent 96, the concierge service 100 and parcel collection points 102 represent pre-registered locations which accept parcel deliveries. In this manner, alternative delivery options are provided so that a user can avoid having to have a purchased item delivered to, for example home or work.

As such, a deliverer 106 may be instructed to deliver purchased items from the system 20, 70 to one or more of the delivery options. In an embodiment, the deliverer 106 may be directed to deliver the purchased items to an alternative delivery option right up until the point at which the purchased items are actually delivered.

Registered delivery agents, such as the registered delivery agent 96, concierge service 100 and parcel collection points 102, declare their availability for receiving items as well as their maximum capacity to store items. By providing this information, delivery management system 90 is able to ensure that no individual delivery agent is overloaded with deliveries, whilst still providing convenient locations for users to receive deliveries.

Ideally, a user of the system 20, 70 will be enabled to provide one or more delivery addresses, which can then be options for delivery of items. This can include options such as registered delivery agents, trusted friends and/or parcel collection points.

Obviously, these addresses can be modified at a later date by the user if they wished. Referring now to Figure 5, a shopping services system 110, as described in any of the previous embodiments, is shown. The shopping services system 1 10 includes a data store 1 12 and processor 1 14. The data store 1 12 may be a distributed data store including one or more other data stores in one or more locations. The processor 1 14 may be one or more processors in one or more locations. The processor 1 14 and data store 112 are configured to provide the shopping services system 110.

The shopping services system 1 10 is configured, using the processor 1 14, data store 112, if required, and any other hardware, if required, to communicate 1 16 across one or more networks 1 18. The other hardware may include sensors. In many embodiments, the networks 1 18 include the internet. A user 120, for example without limitation, using a mobile device 120, is capable of communicating 122 across the one or more networks 118. A retail store 124, having previously provided item data 126 to the system 1 10 and being connected 128 to the one or more networks 1 18, may then be visited by the user 120.

The user and/or mobile device 120, either by directly communicating with the system 110 or via an installed application ('app') on the device, interacts with the store 130 by recording one or more items (as described in detail above). Also as described above, the system 1 10 communicates with the retail store 124 and user 120 regarding the purchased items and delivery options and processes.

The features of the invention described or mentioned in this document may be combined in any combination of features where features are not mutually exclusive. Some of the described features can be usefully applied without other of the described features. By way of example, aspects of the described system and method that allow a user to purchase, and/or perform social activities in relation to, an item based on information recorded by another user can be applied in relation to information recorded other than during one or more retail store shopping sessions. By way of example, aspects of the described system and method may entail a user purchasing an item based on information recorded during an online shopping session.

While the above description refers to one embodiment of a shopping services method and system, it will be appreciated that other embodiments can be adopted by way of different combinations of features. Such embodiments fall within the spirit and scope of this invention.

The term 'comprises' and its grammatical variants have a meaning that is determined by the context in which it appears. Accordingly, the term should not be interpreted restrictively unless the context dictates so.

The detailed descriptions of this disclosure are presented in part in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory representing alphanumeric characters or other information. A computer generally includes a processor for executing instructions and memory for storing instructions and data. When a general purpose computer has a series of machine encoded instructions stored in its memory, the computer operating on such encoded instructions may become a specific type of machine, namely a computer particularly configured to perform the operations embodied by the series of instructions. Some of the instructions may be adapted to produce signals that control operation of other machines and thus may operate through those control signals to transform materials far removed from the computer itself. These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the art of data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art.

An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. These steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic pulses or signals capable of being stored, transferred,

transformed, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It proves convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, symbols, characters, display data, terms, numbers, or the like as a reference to the physical items or manifestations in which such signals are embodied or expressed. It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely used here as convenient labels applied to these quantities.

Some algorithms may use data structures for both inputting information and producing the desired result. Data structures greatly facilitate data management by data processing systems, and are not accessible except through sophisticated software systems. Data structures are not the information content of a memory, rather they represent specific electronic structural elements which impart or manifest a physical organization on the information stored in memory. More than mere abstraction, the data structures are specific electrical or magnetic structural elements in memory which simultaneously represent complex data accurately, often data modeling physical characteristics of related items, and provide increased efficiency in computer operation.

Further, the manipulations performed are often referred to in terms, such as comparing or adding, commonly associated with mental operations performed by a human operator. No such capability of a human operator is necessary, or desirable in most cases, in any of the operations described herein which form part of embodiments of the present invention; the operations are machine operations. Useful machines for performing the operations of one or more embodiments of the present invention include general purpose digital computers or other similar devices. In all cases the distinction between the method operations in operating a computer and the method of computation itself should be recognized. One or more embodiments of present invention relate to methods and apparatus for operating a computer in processing electrical or other (e.g. mechanical, chemical) physical signals to generate other desired physical

manifestations or signals. The computer operates on software modules, which are collections of signals stored on a media that represents a series of machine instructions that enable the computer processor to perform the machine instructions that implement the algorithmic steps. Such machine instructions may be the actual computer code the processor interprets to implement the instructions, or alternatively may be a higher level coding of the instructions that is interpreted to obtain the actual computer code. The software module may also include a hardware component, wherein some aspects of the algorithm are performed by the circuitry itself rather as a result of an instruction.

Some embodiments of the present invention also relate to an apparatus for performing these operations. This apparatus may be specifically constructed for the required purposes or it may comprise a general purpose computer as selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. The algorithms presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus unless explicitly indicated as requiring particular hardware. In some cases, the computer programs may communicate or relate to other programs or equipments through signals configured to particular protocols which may or may not require specific hardware or programming to interact. In particular, various general purpose machines may be used with programs written in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove more convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these machines will appear from the description below.

Embodiments of the present invention may deal with 'object-oriented' software, and particularly with an Object-oriented' operating system. The Object-oriented' software is organized into Objects', each comprising a block of computer instructions describing various procedures ('methods') to be performed in response to 'messages' sent to the object or 'events' which occur with the object. Such operations include, for example, the manipulation of variables, the activation of an object by an external event, and the transmission of one or more messages to other objects.

Messages are sent and received between objects having certain functions and knowledge to carry out processes. Messages are generated in response to user instructions, for example, by a user activating an icon. An icon might be activated by, for example, touching the icon on a touch screen or by using a pointing device such as a 'mouse', stylus or pen to select the icon. Also, messages may be generated by an object in response to the receipt of a message. When one of the objects receives a message, the object carries out an operation (a message procedure) corresponding to the message and, if necessary, returns a result of the operation. Each object has a region where internal states (instance variables) of the object itself are stored and where the other objects are not allowed to access. One feature of the object-oriented system is inheritance. For example, an object for drawing a 'circle' on a display may inherit functions and knowledge from another object for drawing a 'shape' on a display.

A programmer 'programs' in an object-oriented programming language by writing individual blocks of code each of which creates an object by defining its methods. A collection of such objects adapted to communicate with one another by means of messages comprises an object-oriented program. Object-oriented computer

programming facilitates the modeling of interactive systems in that each component of the system can be modeled with an object, the behavior of each component being simulated by the methods of its corresponding object, and the interactions between components being simulated by messages transmitted between objects. An operator may stimulate a collection of interrelated objects comprising an

object-oriented program by sending a message to one of the objects. The receipt of the message may cause the object to respond by carrying out predetermined functions which may include sending additional messages to one or more other objects. The other objects may in turn carry out additional functions in response to the messages they receive, including sending still more messages. In this manner, sequences of message and response may continue indefinitely or may come to an end when all messages have been responded to and no new messages are being sent. When modeling systems utilizing an object-oriented language, a programmer need only think in terms of how each component of a modeled system responds to a stimulus and not in terms of the sequence of operations to be performed in response to some stimulus. Such sequence of operations naturally flows out of the interactions between the objects in response to the stimulus and need not be preordained by the programmer. Although object-oriented programming makes simulation of systems of interrelated components more intuitive, the operation of an object-oriented program is often difficult to understand because the sequence of operations carried out by an object-oriented program is usually not immediately apparent from a software listing as in the case for sequentially organized programs. Nor is it easy to determine how an object-oriented program works through observation of the readily apparent manifestations of its operation. Most of the operations carried out by a computer in response to a program are 'invisible' to an observer since only a relatively few steps in a program typically produce an observable computer output. In this description, several terms which are used frequently have specialized meanings in the present context. The term Object' relates to a set of computer instructions and associated data which can be activated directly or indirectly by the user. The terms 'windowing environment', 'running in windows', and 'object oriented operating system' are used to denote a computer user interface in which information is manipulated and displayed on a video display such as within bounded regions on a raster scanned video display. The terms 'network', 'local area network', 'LAN', 'wide area network', or 'WAN' mean two or more computers which are connected in such a manner that messages may be transmitted between the computers. In such computer networks, typically one or more computers operate as a 'server', a computer with large storage devices such as hard disk drives and communication hardware to operate peripheral devices such as printers or modems. Other computers, termed 'workstations', provide a user interface so that users of computer networks can access the network resources, such as shared data files, common peripheral devices, and inter-workstation communication. Users activate computer programs or network resources to create 'processes' which include both the general operation of the computer program along with specific operating characteristics determined by input variables and its environment. Similar to a process is an agent (sometimes called an intelligent agent), which is a process that gathers information or performs some other service without user intervention and on some regular schedule. Typically, an agent, using parameters typically provided by the user, searches locations either on the host machine or at some other point on a network, gathers the information relevant to the purpose of the agent, and presents it to the user on a periodic basis. A 'module' refers to a portion of a computer system and/or software program that carries out one or more specific functions and may be used alone or combined with other modules of the same system or program. The term 'desktop' means a specific user interface which presents a menu or display of objects with associated settings for the user associated with the desktop. When the desktop accesses a network resource, which typically requires an application program to execute on the remote server, the desktop calls an Application Program Interface, or 'API', to allow the user to provide commands to the network resource and observe any output. The term 'Browser' refers to a program which is not necessarily apparent to the user, but which is responsible for transmitting messages between the desktop and the network server and for displaying and interacting with the network user. Browsers are designed to utilize a communications protocol for transmission of text and graphic information over a world wide network of computers, namely the 'World Wide Web' or simply the 'Web'. Examples of browsers compatible with one or more embodiments of the present invention include the Chrome browser program developed by Google Inc. of Mountain View, California (Chrome is a trademark of Google Inc.), the Safari browser program developed by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California (Safari is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.), Internet Explorer program developed by Microsoft Corporation (Internet Explorer is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation), the Opera browser program created by Op. era Software ASA, or the Firefox browser program distributed by the Mozilla Foundation (Firefox is a registered trademark of the Mozilla Foundation).

Although the following description details such operations in terms of a graphic user interface of a browser, one or more embodiments of the present invention may be practiced with text based interfaces, or even with voice or visually activated interfaces, that have many of the functions of a graphic based browser.

Browsers display information which is formatted in a Standard Generalized Markup Language ('SGML') or a HyperText Markup Language ('HTML'), both being scripting languages which embed non-visual codes in a text document through the use of special ASCII text codes. Files in these formats may be easily transmitted across computer networks, including global information networks like the Internet, and allow the browsers to display text, images, and play audio and video recordings. The Web utilizes these data file formats to conjunction with its communication protocol to transmit such information between servers and workstations. Browsers may also be programmed to display information provided in an extensible Markup Language ('XML') file, with XML files being capable of use with several Document Type Definitions ('DTD') and thus more general in nature than SGML or HTML. The XML file may be analogized to an object, as the data and the stylesheet formatting are separately contained (formatting may be thought of as methods of displaying information, thus an XML file has data and an associated method). Similarly, JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) may be used to convert between data file formats.

The terms 'personal digital assistant' or 'PDA', as defined above, means any handheld, mobile device that combines computing, telephone, fax, e-mail and networking features. The terms 'wireless wide area network' or 'WWAN' mean a wireless network that serves as the medium for the transmission of data between a handheld device and a computer. The term 'synchronization' means the exchanging of information between a first device, e.g. a handheld device, and a second device, e.g. a desktop computer, either via wires or wirelessly. Synchronization ensures that the data on both devices are identical (at least at the time of synchronization).

Data may also be synchronized between computer systems and telephony systems. Such systems are known and include keypad based data entry over a telephone line, voice recognition over a telephone line, and voice over internet protocol ('VoIP'). In this way, computer systems may recognize callers by associating particular numbers with known identities. More sophisticated call center software systems integrate computer information processing and telephony exchanges. Such systems initially were based on fixed wired telephony connections, but such systems have migrated to wireless technology. In wireless wide area networks, communication primarily occurs through the

transmission of radio signals over analog, digital cellular or personal communications service ('PCS') networks. Signals may also be transmitted through microwaves and other electromagnetic waves. At the present time, most wireless data communication takes place across cellular systems using second generation technology such as code- division multiple access ('CDMA'), time division multiple access ('TDMA'), the Global System for Mobile Communications ('GSM'), Third Generation (wideband or '3G'), Fourth Generation (broadband or '4G'), personal digital cellular ('PDC'), or through packet-data technology over analog systems such as cellular digital packet data ('CDPD') used on the Advance Mobile Phone Service ('AMPS').

The terms 'wireless application protocol' or 'WAP' mean a universal specification to facilitate the delivery and presentation of web-based data on handheld and mobile devices with small user interfaces. 'Mobile Software' refers to the software operating system which allows for application programs to be implemented on a mobile device such as a mobile telephone or PDA. Examples of Mobile Software are Java and Java ME (Java and JavaME are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. of Santa Clara, California), BREW (BREW is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated of San Diego, California), Windows Mobile (Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington), Palm OS (Palm is a registered trademark of Palm, Inc. of Sunnyvale, California), Symbian OS (Symbian is a registered trademark of Symbian Software Limited Corporation of London, United Kingdom), ANDROID OS (ANDROID is a registered trademark of Google, Inc. of Mountain View, California), and iPhone OS (iPhone is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, California) , and Windows Phone 7. 'Mobile Apps' refers to software programs written for execution with mobile software.

In this specification, the term 'social network' may be used to refer to a multiple user computer software system that allows for relationships among and between users (individuals or members) and content assessable by the system. Generally, a social network is defined by the relationships among groups of individuals, and may include relationships ranging from casual acquaintances to close familial bonds. In addition, members may be other entities that may be linked with individuals. The logical structure of a social network may be represented using a graph structure. Each node of the graph may correspond to a member of the social network, or content assessable by the social network. Edges connecting two nodes represent a relationship between two individuals. In addition, the degree of separation between any two nodes is defined as the minimum number of hops required to traverse the graph from one node to the other. A degree of separation between two members is a measure of relatedness between the two members. Social networks may comprise any of a variety of suitable arrangements. An entity or member of a social network may have a profile and that profile may represent the member in the social network. The social network may facilitate interaction between member profiles and allow associations or relationships between member profiles. Associations between member profiles may be one or more of a variety of types, such as friend, co-worker, family member, business associate, common-interest association, and common-geography association. Associations may also include intermediary relationships, such as friend of a friend, and degree of separation relationships, such as three degrees away. Associations between member profiles may be reciprocal associations. For example, a first member may invite another member to become associated with the first member and the other member may accept or reject the invitation. A member may also categorize or weigh the association with other member profiles, such as, for example, by assigning a level to the association. For example, for a friendship-type association, the member may assign a level, such as acquaintance, friend, good friend, and best friend, to the associations between the member's profile and other member profiles.

Each profile within a social network may contain entries, and each entry may comprise information associated with a profile. Examples of entries for a person profile may comprise contact information such as an email addresses, mailing address, instant messaging (or IM) name, or phone number; personal information such as relationship status, birth date, age, children, ethnicity, religion, political view, sense of humor, sexual orientation, fashion preferences, smoking habits, drinking habits, pets, hometown location, passions, sports, activities, favorite books, music, TV, or movie preferences, favorite cuisines; professional information such as skills, career, or job description;

photographs of a person or other graphics associated with an entity; or any other information or documents describing, identifying, or otherwise associated with a profile. Entries for a business profile may comprise industry information such as market sector, customer base, location, or supplier information; financial information such as net profits, net worth, number of employees, stock performance; or other types of information and documents associated with the business profile.

A member profile may also contain rating information associated with the member. For example, the member may be rated or scored by other members of the social network in specific categories, such as humor, intelligence, fashion, trustworthiness, sexiness, and coolness. A member's category ratings may be contained in the member's profile. In one embodiment of the social network, a member may have fans. Fans may be other members who have indicated that they are 'fans' of the member. Rating information may also include the number of fans of a member and identifiers of the fans. Rating information may also include the rate at which a member accumulated ratings or fans and how recently the member has been rated or acquired fans. A member profile may also contain social network activity data associated with the member. Membership information may include information about a member's login patterns to the social network, such as the frequency that the member logs in to the social network and the member's most recent login to the social network. Membership information may also include information about the rate and frequency that a member profile gains associations to other member profiles. In a social network that comprises advertising or sponsorship, a member profile may contain consumer information.

Consumer information may include the frequency, patterns, types, or number of purchases the member makes, or information about which advertisers or sponsors the member has accessed, patronized, or used. A member profile may comprise data stored in memory. The profile, in addition to comprising data about the member, may also comprise data relating to others. For example, a member profile may contain an identification of associations or virtual links with other member profiles. In one embodiment, a member's social network profile may comprise a hyperlink associated with another member's profile. In one such association, the other member's profile may contain a reciprocal hyperlink associated with the first member's profile. A member's profile may also contain information excerpted from another associated member's profile, such as a thumbnail image of the associated member, his or her age, marital status, and location, as well as an indication of the number of members with which the associated member is associated. In one

embodiment, a member's profile may comprise a list of other social network members' profiles with which the member wishes to be associated.

An association may be designated manually or automatically. For example, a member may designate associated members manually by selecting other profiles and indicating an association that may be recorded in the member's profile. According to one embodiment, associations may be established by an invitation and an acceptance of the invitation. For example, a first user may send an invitation to a second user inviting the second user to form an association with the first user. The second user may accept or reject the invitation. According to one embodiment, if the second user rejects the invitation, a one-way association may be formed between the first user and the second user. According to another embodiment, if the second user rejects the association, no association may be formed between the two users. Also, an association between two profiles may comprise an association automatically generated in response to a predetermined number of common entries, aspects, or elements in the two members' profiles. In one embodiment, a member profile may be associated with all of the other member profiles comprising a predetermined number or percentage of common entries, such as interests, hobbies, likes, dislikes, employers and/or habits. Associations designated manually by members of the social network, or associations designated automatically based on data input by one or more members of the social network, may be referred to as user established associations. Examples of social networks include, but are not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Linkedln, Google Plus, Google Circles, and other systems. The exact terminology of certain features, such as associations, fans, profiles, etc may vary from social network to social network, although there are several functional features that are common to the various terms. Thus, a particular social network may have more of less of the common features described above. In terms of the following disclosure, generally the use of the term 'social network' encompasses a system that includes one or more of the foregoing features or their equivalents.

Figure 6 is a high-level block diagram of a computing environment 600 according to one embodiment. Figure 6 illustrates server 610 and three clients 612 connected by network 614. Only three clients 612 are shown in Figure 6 in order to simplify and clarify the description. Embodiments of computing environment 600 may have thousands or millions of clients 612 connected to network 614, for example the Internet, a telephony system, a satellite relay system, etc. Users (not shown) may operate software 616 on one of clients 612 to both send and receive messages network614 via server 610 and its associated communications equipment and software (not shown).

Figure 7 depicts a block diagram of computer system 210 suitable for implementing server 610 or client 612. Computer system 210 includes bus 212 which interconnects major subsystems of computer system 210, such as central processor 214, system memory 217 (typically RAM, but which may also include ROM, flash RAM, or the like), input/output controller 218, external audio device, such as speaker system 220 via audio output interface 222, external device, such as display screen 224 via display adapter 226, serial ports 228 and 230, keyboard 232 (interfaced with keyboard controller 233), storage interface 234, disk drive 237 operative to receive floppy disk 238, host bus adapter (HBA) interface card 235A operative to connect with Fibre Channel network 290, host bus adapter (HBA) interface card 235B operative to connect to SCSI bus 239, and optical disk drive 240 operative to receive optical disk 242. Also included are mouse 246 (or other point-and-click device, coupled to bus 212 via serial port 228), modem 247 (coupled to bus 212 via serial port 230), and network interface 248 (coupled directly to bus 212).

Bus 212 allows data communication between central processor 214 and system memory 217, which may include read-only memory (ROM) or flash memory (neither shown), and random access memory (RAM) (not shown), as previously noted. RAM is generally the main memory into which operating system and application programs are loaded. ROM or flash memory may contain, among other software code, Basic Input-Output system (BIOS) which controls basic hardware operation such as interaction with peripheral components. Applications resident with computer system 210 are generally stored on and accessed via computer readable media, such as hard disk drives (e.g. fixed disk 244), optical drives (e.g. optical drive 240), floppy disk unit 237, or other storage medium. Additionally, applications may be in the form of electronic signals modulated in accordance with the application and data communication technology when accessed via network modem 247 or interface 248 or other telecommunications equipment (not shown).

Storage interface 234, as with other storage interfaces of computer system 210, may connect to standard computer readable media for storage and/or retrieval of information, such as fixed disk drive 244. Fixed disk drive 244 may be part of computer system 210 or may be separate and accessed through other interface systems. Modem 247 may provide direct connection to remote servers via telephone link or the Internet via an internet service provider (ISP) (not shown). Network interface 248 may provide direct connection to remote servers via direct network link to the Internet via a POP (point of presence). Network interface 248 may provide such connection using wireless techniques, including digital cellular telephone connection, Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) connection, digital satellite data connection or the like.

Many other devices or subsystems (not shown) may be connected in a similar manner (e.g. document scanners, digital cameras and so on). Conversely, all of the devices shown in Figure 7 need not be present to practice the present disclosure. Devices and subsystems may be interconnected in different ways from that shown in Figure 7.

Operation of a computer system such as that shown in Figure 7 is readily known in the art and is not discussed in detail in this application. Software source and/or object codes to implement the present disclosure may be stored in computer-readable storage media such as one or more of system memory 217, fixed disk 244, optical disk 242, or floppy disk 238. The operating system provided on computer system 210 may be a variety or version of either MS-DOS® (MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington), WINDOWS® (WINDOWS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington), OS/2® (OS/2 is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation of Armonk, New York), UNIX® (UNIX is a registered trademark of X/Open Company Limited of Reading, United Kingdom), Linux® (Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds of Portland, Oregon), or other known or developed operating system. In some embodiments, computer system 210 may take the form of a tablet computer, typically in the form of a large display screen operated by touching the screen. In tablet computer alternative embodiments, the operating system may be iOS® (iOS is a registered trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. of San Jose, California, used under license by Apple Corporation of Cupertino, California), Android® (Android is a trademark of Google Inc. of Mountain View, California), Blackberry® Tablet OS (Blackberry is a registered trademark of Research In Motion of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada), webOS (webOS is a trademark of Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. of Texas), and/or other suitable tablet operating systems.

Moreover, regarding the signals described herein, those skilled in the art recognize that a signal may be directly transmitted from a first block to a second block, or a signal may be modified (e.g. amplified, attenuated, delayed, latched, buffered, inverted, filtered, or otherwise modified) between blocks. Although the signals of the above described embodiments are characterized as transmitted from one block to the next, other embodiments of the present disclosure may include modified signals in place of such directly transmitted signals as long as the informational and/or functional aspect of the signal is transmitted between blocks. To some extent, a signal input at a second block may be conceptualized as a second signal derived from a first signal output from a first block due to physical limitations of the circuitry involved (e.g. there will inevitably be some attenuation and delay). Therefore, as used herein, a second signal derived from a first signal includes the first signal or any modifications to the first signal, whether due to circuit limitations or due to passage through other circuit elements which do not change the informational and/or final functional aspect of the first signal.

While one or more embodiments of this invention have been described as having an illustrative design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of providing shopping services including: enabling one or more users to record information relating to one or more items of interest during one or more retail store shopping sessions; storing information relating to the one or more items and the one or more users; enabling the or each user the ability to view details relating to the one or more items; and enabling purchase; the purchase being of the one or more items; based on the information stored relating to the one or more items; and by the or each user, or another user.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of enabling one or more users to record information includes enabling the or each user to perform one or more of the following actions: entering identifying information, either manually or electronically; taking a picture of the one or more items, or a label of the one or more items; selecting the one or more items from a list.

3. A method as claimed in claiml , wherein, based on the recorded information, the method further includes retrieving from a data store details of the one or more items.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of storing information relating to the one or more items further includes storing one or more of the following details: time/date of recording, location, location history and/or retailer identification.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of enabling purchase further includes enabling delivery options for the or each user based on pre-defined delivery settings.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further including enabling the or each user to provide information relating to the one or more items to third party websites.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further including, during or after purchasing, enabling the or each user to choose to have the or each item delivered.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, if the or each user chooses to have the or each item delivered, arranging delivery of the or each items.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein arranging delivery includes one or more of the following: a. placing, at least, a reference to the or each item in a dispatch queue; b. collating multiple purchased items for a single delivery; c. instructing a carrier to collect the or each item which requires to be collected; d. instructing a carrier to deliver the or each item; and/or e. amending a carrier's instructions on request by the or each user or by an

authorized third party.

10. A shopping service system including: an application configured to enable one or more users to record details of one or more items of interest during one or more retail store shopping sessions; and a data store configured to store the details of the one or more items and the one or more users, wherein the application is configured to allow the or each user to view details relating to the one or more items and to enable purchase; the purchase being of the one or more items; based on the information stored relating to the one or more items; and by the or each user, or another user.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the system enables the or each user to perform one or more of the following actions: entering identifying information, either manually or electronically; taking a picture of the one or more items, or a label of the one or more items; selecting the one or more items from a list.

12. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein, based on the recorded information, the application includes retrieving from a data store details of the one or more items.

13. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein details of the items stored in the data store includes one or more of the following details: time/date of recording, location, location history and/or retailer identification.

14. A system as claimed in claim 10, enabling purchase further includes enabling delivery options for the or each user based on pre-defined delivery settings.

15. A system as claimed in claim 10, configured to enable the or each user to provide information relating to the one or more items to third party websites.

16. A system as claimed in claim 10, configured, during or after purchasing, to enable the or each user to choose to have the or each item delivered.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein, if the or each user chooses to have the or each item delivered, arranging delivery of the or each items.

18. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein arranging delivery includes one or more of the following: a. placing, at least, a reference to the or each item in a dispatch queue; b. collating multiple purchased items for a single delivery; c. instructing a carrier to collect the or each item which requires to be collected; d. instructing a carrier to deliver the or each item; and/or e. amending a carrier's instructions on request by the or each user or by an

authorized third party.

19. A system as claimed in claim 16, configured, during a delivery set-up, to store details of one or more carriers and/or storing details of one or more delivery agents.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein, the or each user can choose to have the or each items delivered to the or each delivery agent.