System and method for order processing using customer location information

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9015069-B2
Application number	US-201313804905-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Apr 21, 2015
Grant date	Apr 21, 2015

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to electronic order processing of items in an electronic commerce environment. A geographic boundary associated with a physical location of a retail entity can be implemented using, for example, a geo-fence. An order for an item from the retail location can be received by a customer and a notification prioritizing processing of the order can be generated based on a location of the user relative to the geographic boundary.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. In an electronic commerce environment, a method of processing an order for an item, the method comprising:
executing code in an electronic commerce environment including one or more computing devices to create a geo-fence defining a geographic boundary associated with a physical location of a retail entity, the geographic boundary defined by the geo-fence being specified according to coordinates on a geographic map to encompass the physical location;
receiving, from a customer via the electronic commerce environment, an order for an item from the retail location;
receiving, by the one or more computing devices in the electronic commerce environment, an electronic message from a mobile device associated with the customer indicating that the customer intends to pick-up the order;
generating a notification by the one or more computing devices to fill the order in response to the electronic message received from the mobile device;
determining the customer is within the geographic boundary based on GPS-based tracking of the mobile device associated with the customer;
generating a notification to stage the order for the item by the one or more computing devices in the electronic commerce environment in response to determining the customer is within the geographical boundary;
controlling, via the one or more computing devices, an indicator affixed to the item to activate the indicator in response to generation of the notification to stage the order;
controlling, via the one or more computing devices, the indicator affixed to the item to deactivate the indicator subsequent to the staging of the order;
scanning an identifier when the customer arrives at the physical location of the retail entity to identify the item associated with the order; and
controlling, via the one or more computing devices, the indicator associated with the order to activate the indicator in response to scanning the identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the notification to fill the order comprises generating an electronic notification to prioritize fulfillment of the order.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the order is an electronic order received via a data communications network.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an electronic subscription to a location monitoring service from the customer, the subscription permitting determining whether the customer is within the geographic boundary.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a light source affixed to the item and controlling the indicator to activate the indicator comprises illuminating the light source.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending the identifier associated with the order to the customer for presentation via the mobile device,
wherein scanning the identifier comprises scanning the identifier presented via the mobile device when the customer arrives at the physical location of the retail entity to identify the item associated with the order.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store instructions executable by one or more processing devices, wherein execution of the instructions in an electronic commerce environment causes the one or more processing devices to implement a method of processing an order for an item comprising:
reading instructions to create a geo-fence defining a geographic boundary associated with a physical location of a retail entity, the geographic boundary defined by the geo-fence being specified according to coordinates on a geographic map to encompass the physical location;
receiving, from a customer via an electronic commerce environment, an order for an item from the retail location;
receiving, by the one or more processing devices, an electronic message from a mobile device of the customer subsequent to receipt of the order, the electronic message indicating that the customer intends to pick-up the order;
reading instructions to generate a notification by the one or more processing devices to fill the order in response to the electronic message received from the mobile device;
reading instructions to determine whether the customer is within the geographic boundary based on GPS-based tracking of the mobile device associated with the customer; and
reading instructions to generate a notification by the one or more processing devices to stage the item for pick-up based on determining whether the customer is within the geographical boundary;
reading instructions to control, via the one or more processing devices, an indicator affixed to the item to activate the indicator in response to generation of the notification to stage the order;
reading instructions to control, via the one or more computing devices, the indicator affixed to the item to deactivate the indicator subsequent to the staging of the order;
reading instructions to scan an identifier when the customer arrives at the physical location of the retail entity to identify the item associated with the order; and
reading instructions to control, via the one or more processing devices, the indicator associated with the order to activate the indicator in response to scanning the identifier.

8. The medium of claim 7 , wherein generating the electronic notification to fill the order comprises generating a notification to prioritize fulfillment of the order.

9. The medium of claim 7 , wherein the method implemented in response to execution of the instructions further comprises receiving a subscription to a location monitoring service from the customer, the subscription permitting determining whether the customer is within the geographic boundary.

10. The medium of claim 7 , wherein the method implemented in response to execution of the instructions further comprises controlling the indicator associated with the item to activate the indicator comprises illuminating a light source.

11. The medium of claim 7 wherein the method implemented in response to execution of the instructions further comprises sending the identifier associated with the order to the customer for presentation via the mobile device, and
wherein scanning the identifier comprises scanning the identifier presented via the mobile device when the customer arrives at the physical location of the retail entity to identify the item associated with the order.

12. An electronic commerce system for processing an order for an item comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable medium storing an order processing engine; and
one or more processing devices programmed to execute the order processing engine to:
create a geo-fence to define a geographic boundary associated with a physical location of a retail entity, the geographic boundary defined by the geo-fence being specified according to coordinates on a geographic map to encompass the physical location;
receive, from a customer, an electronic order for an item from the retail location; receive an electronic message from a mobile device associated with the customer subsequent to receipt of the order, the electronic message indicating that the customer intends to pick-up the order;
generate a notification to fill the order in response to the electronic message received from the mobile device;
determine whether the customer is within the geographic boundary based on GPS-based tracking of the mobile device associated with the customer; and
generate a notification to stage the order for pick-up based on determining whether the customer is within the geographical boundary;

control an indicator affixed to the item to activate the indicator in response to generation of the notification to stage the order;
control the indicator

Assignees

• Wal Mart Stores Inc

Inventors

• Brantley Travis
• Finster Bryan
• Rowse Ben
• Chander Khem
• Wind Anthony G

Classifications

• G06Q30/0635 Primary

  replenishment orders; recurring orders · CPC title