WO2001071456A2

WO2001071456A2 - Electronic commerce and information control system

Info

Publication number: WO2001071456A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/008810
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Lawson; Gene Dries
Original assignee: Found, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-03-20
Filing date: 2001-03-20
Publication date: 2001-09-27
Also published as: AU2001250885A1; WO2001071456A3

Abstract

ABSTRACT Systems and methods are disclosed for facilitating electronic commerce over a global communications network. A method of providing electronic commerce over a global communications network (28) includes the step of browsing a first web site (158) where the first web site is offering items for sale. The first web site is operated by a first company that also is affiliated with a physical store (160). The method includes the step of a consumer or user selecting an option to shop the physical store (160) via the global communications network (28). In addition, the method includes the step of offering a certain item at the physical store (160) for the certain item requested. The method for providing electronic commerce also includes the step of offering to the user, by the server system, the ability to purchase the certain item from the physical store (160). The method further includes the step of communicating to the physical store (160) information describing the certain item. The information may include the method of payment and means of fulfillment.

Description

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE SYSTEM AND METHODS WITH GLOBAL INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE AND WITH SPECIFIC INFORMATION AND CONTROL AVAILABLE

BACKGROUND The Field of the Invention

This invention relates to computer technology and commerce and, more particularly, to novel systems and methods for providing electronic commerce. The Background Art

In recent years there has been a great increase in the amount of computer technology that is involved in daily life. In today's world, computer technology is involved in many aspects of a person's day. Many devices being used today by consumers have a small computer inside of the device. These small computers come in varying sizes and degrees of sophistication. These small computers include everything from one microcontroller to a fully-functional complete computer system. For example, these small computers may be a one-chip computer, such as a microcontroller, a one-board type of computer, such as a controller, a typical desktop computer, such as an IBM-PC compatible, etc.

The computers, (which can be small or large computers depending on the particular need which is being met by the computer), almost always have one or more processors at the heart of the computer. The processor(s) usually are interconnected to different external inputs and outputs and function to manage the particular device. Computer software runs the processors of these computers and tells the processors what to do to carry out certain tasks.

With the explosion of computer technology, communications technology and the Internet, there has been a great increase in the amount of business being conducted electronically. The World Wide Web portion of the Internet is an example of the increase of business being conducted electronically. Many businesses now have web sites ioi pin chasing pioducts Some of these businesses αo not even

e

ιsιt but onh have an electronic piese ce on the Internet Other businesses which aie usualh the older and more established businesses ha\e vast net oiks of com entional stoies that consumers can ι phvsicallv visit A number of these businesses with manv com entional stoies

e attempted to establish electionic stoiefionts but find it difficult to effectively implement electionic commeice without huiting the sales of its conventional stores and damaging iβlationships with these stoies and 01 its distiibution channels BRIEF S MMARY AND OBJECT S Of THE INVFNTION 0 In

entιon to pioλide systems and methods toi effectively utilizing the benefits of electionic commerce hile also using the exiting and comentional stoies

C onsistent ith the toiegomg object and in accoi dance w ith the embodiments as embodied and broad described heiein systems and methods aie disclosed foi ^■**) ιdmg electionic commeice ovei a global communications net oik A method foi punidmg electionic commeice ovei a global communications network may include the step of bio ing a fust web site wheie the fust web site is olfeπng items for sale The fust web site

be opeiated by a fust compan) that also is affiliated with a physical stoie The method may also include the step of a consumer or user selecting 0 an option to shop the physical stoie \ιa the global communications netwoik In addition the method

include the step of offeimg to the usei a servei system, the ability to seaich foi the

ailabihtx of a ceitain item at the

sιcal stoie As a lesult the seι\eι system may peifoim the step of seaichmg a database of items axailablc at the physical stoie foi the ceitain item lequested Tne method for ^s* pioNiding electionic commerce may also include the step of offeimg to the usei

the seivei system, the ability to puichase the certain item fiom the physical store The method may further include the step of communicating to the physical store πfoimation descnbing the certain item The information may include the method of payment and means of fulfillment The embodiments herein provide systems and methods foi effectively utilizing the benefits of electionic commerce while also using the existing and conventional stoies

BRIEF DESCRIPTION Or THE DRAWINGS The foiegomg and othei objects and fcatui es of the piesent embodiments will become moie fully apparent fiom the follow ing descπption and appended claims, taken in conjunction w ith the accompanying di aw mgs Undeistandmg that these diaw mgs depict only typical embodiments and ai e theiefoie. not to be consideied limiting of the invention's scope, the embodiments w ill be descπbed w ith additional specificity and detail thiough use of the accompa mg diaw mgs in which

Figuie 1 is block diagiam of the majoi hai dw ai e components included in the embodiments

Figuie 2 is block diagiam of the majoi components included the embodiments that utilize the Internet, Tiguie 3 is a block diagram lllustiatmg \ anous electi onic communication means used w ith embodiments disclosed,

Figuie 4 is a block diagiam illustrating an embodiment s topology, Figuie 5 is a block diagiam lllustiatmg an embodiment's topology, 1 iguie 6 is block diagram of the majoi haidw aie components included m an embodiment of a computei,

Tigui e 7 is block diagiam of the majoi softw ai e components included m an embodiment of a consumer computei , f igure S is block diagram of the majoi softw ai e components included m an embodiment of a sei ver computei, Figure 9 is block diagiam of the majoi softw aie components included in an embodiment of a stoie computer,

Figuie 10 is block diagiam lllustiatmg the fields used b an embodiment of a database, f igure 1 1 is a flow diagiam illustrating steps follow ed m an embodiment. f iguie 1 2 is a flow diagiam lllustiatmg steps follow ed m an embodiment, Figuie 13 is a flow diagram lllustiatmg steps followed in an embodiment and lllustiatmg optional steps of either having a product shipped oi leserved,

Figure 14 illustrates an embodiment wheie a particular company has a w eb site and one or moie physical store locations Figuie 15 lllustiates an embodiment of the enabling system shown in Figur

14

Figuie 16 illustrates an embodiment of a stoie location including an embodiment of a stoie computer, and

Figure 17 is a hybrid block diagram and flow diagram illustrating overall opei ation of an embodiment used to facilitate a transaction

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It will be leadily undeistood that the components of the embodiments, as geneiall} descπbed and lllustiated in the f igures heiein could be arranged and designed in a w ide -v ariety of diffeient configurations Thus, the following moie detailed desciiption of the embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed, as lepiesented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed but is merely representatπ e of the piesently pieferred embodiments

The presently preferred embodiments will be best understood by reference to the diawmgs wherein like parts are designated by like numeials thioughout Systems and methods aie disclosed foi piovid g electionic commerce over a global communications network The global communications network may be the Internet the Internet 2 oi any other large public-access computer network A method foi piovidmg electronic commerce ovei a global communications network

include the step of biowsmg a first web site wheie the fust web site is offering items foi sale The fust w eb site may be operated by a fust company that also is affiliated w ith a physical store The method may also include the step of a consumer or user selecting an option to shop the physical stoie via the global communications network In addition, the method may include the step of offeimg to the user, by a sen d λ stem, the abihtλ to search for the availability of a certain item at the physical store Λs a lesult, the seivei system may perform the step of searching a database of items ax ailable at the physical store for the certain item lequested The method for pioλ idmg electionic commerce ma\ also include the step of offeimg to the user b the sen er system, the ability to purchase the certain item from the physical store The method may further include the step of communicating to the physical store 5 infomiation describing the certain item The information may include the method of payment and means of fulfillment

A method practiced m accordance w ith the disclosed embodiments may optionall) include the step of instructing the physical stoie to deciement the item from the physical stoie's mventoiy In addition, the method may include the step of

10 lnstiuct g the physical store to prepare the certain item for the usei

A method is also disclosed foi facilitating commerce foi a first company thiough use of a global communications netwoik, w heie the first company operates a pluiahty of stoies at \ aπoιιs locations, and w heie a facihtatoi will facilitate the commeice The facilitator is a person, company, oigamzation oi the like that enables l -> the sale of items fiom the stores to a consumei \ ιa the global communications netwoik The facilitator provides at least one of the systems and methods as descnbed heiem to provide electronic communication between a consumer and a store oi stoies This method may include the step of aπangmg with the first company to piovide that the facilitator w ill interact w ith the first company on the global 0 communications network In addition, the method may also include the step of anangmg with the fust company to piovide that the facihtatoi w ill have electronic communication with the plurality of stoies A fust compa web site

be cooidinated with a facilitator w eb site such that commerce mvoh mg the plurahtv of stoies may be achieved through use of the facihtatoi w eb site Further, the method 5 may include the step of installing a store computer foi a stoie of the plurality of stoies When installing the store computer, communications may be established between the store computer and a point of sale system in the store In addition, communications between the store computei and a server sy stem

also be established Further, the method may include the step of communicating inventory 0 data fiom the stoie computer to the servei system A method practiced in accordance with the disclosed embodiments may optionally include the step of initiating a search of the inventory data for a certain item. The initiation of the search causes a search of the inventory data for the certain item to be performed. Methods may also include the step of offering the ability to purchase the certain item from the store. Further, infomiation describing the certain item may be communicated to the store.

The facilitator may generate revenue from facilitating sales and commerce. For example, methods practiced in accordance with the disclosed embodiments may optionally include the step of determining a commission for facilitating each sale and of deducting the commission from a purchase price of each sale. The first company may be regularly billed for the commission.

Referring to Figure 1. as shown, generally, an embodiment includes a server system 20 that facilitates electronic commerce between consumers and stores. The consumers use computers 22 to communicate with the server system 20. The consumer computers 22 may be any computer capable of communication with the server system 20 to allow useful transactions, as disclosed herein.

The server system 20 is in electronic communication with the consumer computers 22 to allow useful transactions to take place. The consumer computers 22 may be in various kinds of communication with the server system 20. For example, a consumer computer 22 may use a modem to directly dial the server system 20, it 22 may use a modem to connect to the Internet, which may also be in communication with the server system 20, it 22 may be connected to a LAN that is also connected to the server system 20, etc. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that there are a number of ways to achieve communication between two computers, and that these various ways could be implemented in the embodiments disclosed herein.

The electronic communication between the consumer computer 22 and the server system 20 need not be continuous. Typically, a consumer will establish electronic communication with the server system 20 when he or she desires. Thus, a consumer may only be connected for short periods of time when he or she is actually requesting information from and interacting with the server system 20. However, it w ill be appieciated that consumers may also be in situations where their computer is in constant electionic communication with the sei ei system 20 and/or a computer netwoik Foi example, a consumei computer 22 connected to a LAN may always be in electionic communication with the servei 20 if the server 20 were also continuousl^y connected to the LAN

T he seivei system 20 is also in electionic communication with stoie computei s 24 to allow useful transactions to take place The store computers 24 may be in vanous kinds of communication with the seiv er system 20 For example, a store computer 2 may use a modem to dnectly dial the serv ei system 20, it 24 may use a modem to connect to the Internet, w hich may also be in communication with the server system 20, it 24 may be connected to a LAN that is also connected to the seiver system 20. etc It will be appieciated by one skilled in the ait that there are a numbei of ^y ays to achieve communication betw een tw o computei s, and that these various ways could be implemented m the embodiments disclosed herein The electronic communication between the stoi e computei 24 and the server system 20 need not be continuous Typically, a stoie will systematically establish electionic communication with the serv er system 20 to update its status and to receive communication from the server system 20 Thus, a stoie computer 24 may only be connected foi short periods of time when it is actually updating the servei system 20. lequesting information fiom and mteiactmg w ith the sen ei system 20 It w ill be appieciated that theie may be situations wheie the stoie computers 24 would be in constant electionic communication w ith the sei ei system 20 and/or a computei netwoik Foi example, a stoie computei 24 may be connected to a WAN which

always be in electronic communication with the servei 20 if the servei 20 weie also continuously connected to the WAN

Referring to Figuie 2, an embodiment is lllustiated that uses the Internet in its implementation Figuie 2 also illustiates that various kinds of consumer computers 22 may be used with the embodiment For example a consumei may use an m-stote kiosk 22a to inteiact with the server system 20 Λs show n, the m-stoie kiosk 22a

be connected to the Internet 28 to facilitate communication between the consumei at the in-store kiosk 22a and the server system 20. In-store kiosks 22a are well known in the art, and commercially available kiosks have the hardware needed to establish an Internet connection.

Figure 2 also illustrates that personal computers 22b may be used with these embodiments. Many businesses and homes already have the necessary hardware. software and services to connect to the Internet 28. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that establishing an Internet connection with personal computers

22b is well known in the art.

Recently several companies have introduced cellular phones capable of accessing the Internet. These phones are commonly referred to as web phones 22c. A consumer may use a web phone 22c to interact with the server system 20. As illustrated, almost any computer capable of establishing electronic communication could be used with the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, a personal digital assistant (not shown) capable of establishing electronic communication with another computer could also be used with the embodiments. A Web TV (not shown) could also be used with the embodiments herein.

As shown, the consumer computers 22 include client software 26 capable of interacting with the server system 20. Typically with an embodiment using the Internet 28 as a means of communication, a web browser would be used as the client software 26. However, proprietary programs and other programs could also be used as the client software 26. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are a number of client-server packages and/ or systems available for implementing and establishing a client-server communication network. The client software 26c used with web phones 22c is not a typical web browser, although the web-phone client 26c has been programmed to behave similarly to a eb browser.

As shown, the server system 20 facilitates electronic commerce between consumers and stores. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the server system 20 includes a number of components. These components will be more fully disclosed herein. Briefly, however, the server system 20 may include a server computer 30. Computers capable of acting as server computers 30 are well known in the art. The server computei 30 includes server software 32 for receiving and processing requests leceiv ed fiom the consumer computeis 22 client software 26 The server computei 32 also includes collection software 34 for managing the data being transmitted to and leceiv ed fiom the stoie computers 24 This embodiment illustrates the server computer 30 being m electronic communication with the consumer computers 22 via the Internet 28 It will be appieciated that othei kinds of communications methods may be used betw een the consumei computeis 22 and the ser ei computer 30

The electronic communication between the consumer computer 22 and the seiv ei computei 30 need not be continuous In the embodiment shown m Figure 2, the m-stoie kiosk 22a is usually connected to the Internet 28 However, the personal computei 22b may only establish communication via the Internet 28 when the consumei, using its Internet service providei, establishes a connection Another peisonal computer 22b may have the luxury of being continually connected to the Internet 28 Foi example, a personal computer 22b may be connected to a LAIN which is continuously connected to the Internet 28 The web phone 22c typically only establishes connections with the Internet 28 when the user of the web phone 22c so desnes

It is pieferred that the server computei 30 be continuously connected to the Internet 28. when possible To service the many requests that will be received by consumers the server computer 30 should normally be connected to the Internet 28 Howevei, the embodiments as shown herein will also perform their functions if the seiv ei computei 30 establishes its connections penodically It is desired that the seivei computer 30 connect to the Internet 28 often enough to adequately serv ice consumei s lequesting information It will be appieciated by those skilled m the art that consumers may not be willing to wait for long periods of time for information to ainve at then computers 22 In the embodiment of Figuie 2, the server computer 30 is continually on the Internet 28 via a high-speed communications line

The stoie computers 24 may be m vanous kinds of communication with the seiv ei computei 30 For example, a store computei 24 may use a modem to directly dial the seiv ei computei 30, it 24 may use a modem to connect to the Internet 28, w hich may also be m communication with the servei computer 30, it 24 may be connected to a LAN that is also connected to the sei vei computei 30, etc It will be appieciated by one skilled m the ait that theie aie a numbei of ways to achieve communication betw een two computeis. and that these v anous w ays could be implemented m the embodiments disclosed herein

The embodiment of Figure 2 illustiates vanous stoies 23 being connected to the Internet 28 As show n, stoie A 23a may include a stoie A computer 24a on its piemises The stoie Λ computer 24a may include the necessary communication haidwaie and softw aie to establish an Internet connection Theie are commercially av ailable computers equipped to act as a store computei 24 Foi example, the Netia 1 -1 computei . available fiom Sun Microsy stems, can be used as the stoie computei computei that may be used as a stoi e computei 24 is a He lett Packard 9000 Senes Λ-Class seiv ei The stoie computei 24 w ill be moie fullv discussed herein Stoie B 23b also includes a computer 24b foi connecting to the Internet

Theie may be situations where the actual computei 24 being used by the store

23 is off site As show n m Figuie 2, store C's computei 24c is off-site Store C 23c may have all of its computer needs provided by an off-site facility In the embodiment of Figuie 2. stoie C 23c is in electionic communication with the store C computei 24c to update v aπous pieces of data being stoied thereon

Now lefeπmg to Figure 3, an embodiment is lllustiated that uses several kinds of electionic communication to establish connections with consumei s and stores The embodiment of Figui e 3 uses the Internet 28 to communicate w ith some computeis. which may be either stoie computeis 24 oi consumer computei s 22 In addition. Figuie 3 illustiates that the seiver system 20 may also be connected to a gatewav computei 36 that allow s access to an intranet 38 T he tianet 38 may be the mtianet 38 of a particular business oi oiganization By being in communication with the mtianet 38. useis of the intranet 38 will typically have access to the serv er system 20

Also shown in Figuie 3 is a LAN 40 The seivei svstem 20 is also m electionic communication with the LAN 40 thereby facilitating electronic communication between the server system 20 and the users of the LAN 40 The seivei system 20 may also include a modem bank 42 allowing useis to dial in directly to the seivei sv stem 20 Figuie 3 has thus lllustiated that theie aie a number of ways that consumei s and stores may establish electionic communication with the server system 20

The seiv ei system 20 may comprise a plutalitv, of computers Figure 4 illustiates a sei vei system 20 comprised of a numbei of computeis It will be appieciated bv those skilled the ait that, depending upon the demands placed on the piesent embodiments, it may be necessaiy to mciease the capacity of the server system 20 by using a number of computeis to achieve the functions of the server system 20

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 a dispatch seiver 44 first receives communications fiom the consumei computeis 22 Fhe dispatch server 44 locates a seivei computei 30a to receive and process the lequest fiom the consumer computeis 22 A numbei of factors may be considered bv the dispatch server 44 to decide on which seiver computer 30 should be chosen F oi example, the tiaffic being handled by the seivei computei 30, the geographic area of the seivei computer 30, the history of the paiticulai consumer and the availability of the seiver computer 30 are all factois that may be consideied Using sev ei al sei v ers to seivice lequests is well know n m the art

The embodiment of Figure 4 includes a plui ahtv of stoie managei computeis 46 Each stoi e managei computei 46 is in electi onic communication with a numbei of stoie computeis 24 and operates to send, leceiv e and process infomiation to and fiom the stoi e computes 24 Each store managei computer 46 stores the information leceived from the stoie computers 24 m a database 48

A mastei database computei 50 has access to all the databases 48, database 1 48a thiough N 48c Accoid gly, to access information fiom store computers 24. a seiv ei computei 30 may query the database mastei 50 The database master computei 50 mav then queiy the plurality of database computers 48 to access the desired infomiation A stoie master computer 52 ma) also be used to send and receive information and commands to the store managing computers 46. w hich m turn may send and leceive information and commands to the store computers 24

Now lefemng to Figure 5, an embodiment may a include plurality of dispatch seiveis 44a. 44b In addition, back-up dispatch seπ eis 44c. 44d, or redundant dispatch seivers 44c, 44d, may also be used to act as a back up to the dispatch servers 44a, 44b

The dispatch servers 44a, 44b may receive the fust lequest from the consumei computeis 22 and may then select an appropriate server 30 to interact with and service the consumer computer 22 requests In the embodiment of Figure 5, web servers 3 ' may be employed and used Once the dispatch seivei 44a. 44b selects an appiopπate w eb seivei 31 , the consumer then mteiacts with the particular web server 31

A pluiality of web servers 31 aie in electronic communication with a database seiver and disk farm 54 The database seiver and disk farm 54 stoies various pieces of information being received from and sent to the stoie computers 24

The embodiment of Figure 5 may be divided into regions 56 Each region 56 may include dispatch servers 44 and a plurality of web servers 31 As shown, the pluiality of web seiveis 31 may be in electronic communication with a database seivei and disk farm 54 The regions 56 may be chosen in a way that best suits the business needs of the piovider For example, the legions 56 may be chosen based on geographic area Foi example, one region 56a may be implemented to seiv e the needs of the United States, while another region 56b may be chosen and implemented to serve the needs of Europe On a more refined scale, regions 56 may be chosen based on product types, brand names, costs, etc It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein may be configured in a variety of ways to best serve the needs of the consumers and of the businesses

Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of the majoi components of a computer that may be used with the embodiments disclosed herein The computer of Figure 6 may be used as either a consumer computer 22, a store computer 24, a servei computer 30, or the like. Computers are well-known in the art and are readily available for purchase. The computer typically includes a processor 58, a memory^* 60 (e.g., RAM), a long-term storage device 62 (e.g., hard drive, CD-RW drive, etc.), input devices 64 (e.g., keyboard, mouse, keypad, switches, touch screens, etc.), output devices 66 (e.g., monitors, printers, speakers, LCDs, etc.), a sound card 68 for driving any speakers, a video card 70 for driving any output displays and communications components 72 (e.g., modem, network card, communications port, etc.) As discussed many different kinds of computers can be used with the present invention, including personal computers, workstations, personal digital assistants, cellular phones, web TVs. m-store kiosks, etc.

The computers herein are broadly defined digital computers. A computer, as used herein, is any device that includes a digital processor capable of receiving and processing data. A computer includes the broad range of digital computers including microcontrollers, hand-held computers, personal computers, servers, mainframes. supercomputers, and any variation, combination or related device thereof.

The input and output devices include any component, element, mechanism, appliance, or the like capable of receiving and/or generating an electronic signal.

Figure 7 illustrates the software components that may be used with the embodiments herein on a consumer computer 22. An operating system 74 may be installed and running on the consumer computer 22. The consumer computer 22 may also be running client software 76 to communicate with the server computer 30. The client software 76 may access various other data/software components when used, such as, for example, configuration data 78, client libraries 80. client plug-ins 82, history data 84. etc. In an embodiment, the client software 76 may be a web browser, such as

Microsoft's Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. As known in the art, these browsers can use and call libraries 80 and plug-ins 82. In addition, a brow ser accesses configuration 78 to configure itself for the particular user. In addition, the browser may store history data 84 to indicate where the user has been on the Internet 28 and what activities have taken place. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other client software 76 may be used w ith the embodiments herein and that the Internet 28 and world wide eb ai e not the only means for communications w ith the piesent invention Although othei means of communication are available and can be used, it is preferred that the

"^*• Internet 28 be used

Figuie 8 illustrates softwaie components that may be used with the server computei 30 An operating system 86 will be installed on the server computer 30 Vanous operating sy stems 86 may be used with the computer herein, including Microsoft Windows 95 98/2000, Microsoft Window s NT, Linux. UNIX, MacOS, etc Virtually any operating system 86 capable of 1 tinning the necessaiy components theieon may be used w ith the computei disclosed heiem λX\ In current design, the sei v ei computei 30 is typically an IBM-compatible pei sonal c omputer mnmng the iciosoft Windows N T operating system 86 In addition, the seiv er computer 30 may also be I mining the Miciosoft Windows 95/98 2000 opeiatmg system In the embodiment of Figure 8, web serv ei softwaie 88 is used to receive and seivice l equests fiom the consumers A numbei of web serv et s 88 are currently and commercially available and can be used with the embodiments herein For example, the Apache Web Sen ei could be used

Figuie 8 discloses database softwaie 90 for managing the databases 48 on oi in communication w ith the seivei computei 30 A numbei of database programs aie cunently available and can be used with the embodiments heiem f or example, an Informix database may be used

The seivei computer 30 also includes softw aie 92 to mteiface with the stoie computeis 24 The store interface software 92 opeiates to send and receive data to and fiom one or more stoie computers 24 The stoie mteiface software 92 may leceive and/or lequest data from a store computei 24 and then enter the data into the database 48

As shown heiem. the softwaie components shown m the servei computer 30 of Figuie 8 need not all be on one computer, and m many contexts the software components illustiated m Figure 8 will actually be installed and mnmng on a number of computeis The softwaie components illustrated in Figure 8 would be accomplished by and distributed among the vanous computeis seivmg as the seivei system 20 Λccoidmgly, the components show n in Figuie 8 need not all be resident on the same computei Figuie 9 illustrates softwaie components that may be used with the stoic computeis 24 An operating system 94 will be installed on the store computei 24 Vanous opeiatmg systems 94 may be used w ith the stoie computers 24 herein, including Miciosoft Windows. Microsoft Window s NT, Linux, UNIX, MacOS, etc Virtually a opeiatmg system 94 capable of l unnmg the necessaiy components theieon may be used with a stoie computei 24 disclosed heiem

Figuie 9 discloses database softwaie 96 foi managing the databases 48 on the stoie computei 24 A numbei of database progiams aie currently available and can be used with the embodiments herein In addition, a custom database may be used w ith the embodiment in Figure 9 The database softwaie 96 on the stoi c computei 24 may be used to stoie inventory data, sales data, customer data, product data and the like The embodiment of Figuie 9 includes an inventory database 48m hich includes infomiation about the vanous items available at the store, including pi ice, product type, brand, sales data, etc A customei database 48n may also be used to tiack info iation about customeis Snnilail) . a consumei database 48o may be used to tiack infomiation about consumei s

The stoie computei 24 also includes softw aie for input processing 98 to the stoie computei s 24 Foi example, typical cash legistcis include an interface foi a scannei foi scanning items being sold A similai scanner may be used with the stoie computei 24 to lecoid products entering into and exiting the stoie Of course, it will be appreciated that input into the store computer 24 may be entered via keypad, a mouse, by voice, etc

The stoie computer 24 may also include a payment processing component 100 The payment processing component 100 may be a conventional cash register as in commonly used today Such payment processing components 100 would include the necessaiy functionality to process ciedit card payments, to compute the total money due. to calculate change, etc The payment piocessmg component 100 may be accomplished on a sepaiate device that is in electronic communication with the store computer 24 Foi example, the pay ment piocessmg component 100 may be a conventional cash legister that is connected via a parallel oi serial cable to the stoie computei 24 Payment processing systems and devices aie well known in the art

The stoie computer 24 may be accomplished by a number of computeis connected via a computer netwoik Foi example, theie may be a plurality of payment piocessmg systems (e g, cash legisteis) netw orked together to a central store computei 24 that holds the database mfoimation In addition, input processing computei means may be located at the dock of a paiticulai stoie to quickly enter what pioducts aie entering the store It w ill also be appieciated that the database and/oi components of the store computer 24 in Figure 9 could be distributed across a numbei of computeis and could also be distributed to computers off-site Thus, those skilled m the ait will appreciate that a variety of means may be used to accomplish the functions requned by a store computer 24 or store computers 24 The store computer 24 may include communications softwaie 102 foi communicating with other computeis and/oi devices m the stoie and for communicating with the server system 20 Now leferring to Figure 10, a data structuie 104 is illustrated that may be used with the embodiments shown herein For example, the data structure 104 of Figure 10 may lllustiate lecoids 104 stored m the databases 48 at the stoie computei 24 or at the servei computei 30 The embodiment of Figuie 10 includes a pioduct type field 104a The product type field 104a may be used to indicate what type of product it is. foi example, clothing, electronics, etc A product I D field 104b may identify the paiticulai product being identified by the record 104 A location available field 104c may identify the particular geographic locatιon(s) at which the item is available A cost field 104d may include the cost of the item An availability field 104e may indicate whethei the item is available A leseivation possible field 104f may indicate whether the item mav be leseiv ed by a consumei A brand name field 104g may store the brand name or manufacturei of the particular item A numbei items field 104h may include the numbei of items available A discount field 104ι may indicate w hether discounts 01 coupons aie accepted, and if so, what particular discounts 01 coupons are accepted A shipping method 104j field may indicate what shipping methods are available to mail 01 send the particular items A number of other fields may be included m the database lecoid 104 In addition other records may be used with the embodiments herein foi the stoi g and accessing of data Figuie 1 1 illustrates a flow diagram of the general steps involved m embodiments disclosed herein In embodiments disclosed herein, a consumer accesses the seiver system 20 to search for and/oi purchase consumer items When connecting to and interacting with the server system 20, the steps illustrated in Figure 1 1 may be accomplished A consumer may input 106 selection data The selection data comprises a product identification For example, the user may select a particular letail softwaie package The server system 20 receives 108 this selection data and then queues 1 10 the inventory database(s) 48 regarding the selection data In embodiments disclosed herein, this step may include accessing one or more databases 48 at one or moie locations through a database fiont end After the server system 20 has queried 1 10 for the inventory data available the seivei system 20 will receive 1 12 the results of its search request The server sy stem 20 then sends 1 14 the results, in whole or in part, to the consumer at the consumer computei 22 The consumer computer 22 then provides 1 16 the results to the consumer The consumer may then either order the item, continue refining his or hei seaich, or may begin a new search If the consumei wishes to order the item, the embodiments illustrated herein may provide 1 18 order processing

In embodiments disclosed herein, the World Wide Web portion of the Internet 28 may be used to practice the embodiments Figure 12 illustrates steps that mav be accomplished piacticmg an embodiment using the Woild Wide Web A consumer may fust access 120 a search page Search pages are well known m the art and examples of the same can be seen at a v ariety of w eb sites, including w y ahoo com, w snap com, wvvw lvcos com, etc The consumer enters in a seaich at the seaich page Seaich results aie then displayed 122 to the consumei If using the w oi ld w ide w eb. the seaich results w ill to pically be displayed using a web

The consumei may then select and identify 124 a product to purchase The pioduct w ill ty pically be in the list of search lesults being displayed to the user The pioduct selected by the consumer may then be entered 126 into an electronic shopping cart Shopping carts aie well known the art and can be seen at a number of web sites offeimg electionic commeice seivices In addition, off-the-shelf development tools ai e av ailable that include tools to implement and use an electionic shopping cart

1 he sen ei system 20, oi web seiver in this embodiment, may then cause to be displayed to the consumei a peisonal information page wherein the consumer is asked to entei 128 his or her personal information Much of this information may be used to confirm any oideis and foi credit card piocessmg

Once the consumer has ordered an item, the system may confirm 130 the oidei. and may ev en prov ide a confirmation numbei Embodiments disclosed herein mav also send 1 32 a notification to the usei confirming the oidei The notification mav also include additional information, such as a hypeilmk to check on the order status shipping status leseivation status, a phone numbei to cab tor status information, etc

Embodiments heiem allow the consumer to fulfill 134 oi consummate any tiansactions Fulfillment 134 may be accomplished in a sevei al w ays, for example, a consumer may leceive the item through the mail or by a courier service, the consumei may go to a particular store and pick up the item, etc

1 iguie 13 illustrates an embodiment wheie a consumei oider may either hav e a pioduct shipped to an addiess or may have the pioduct leserved at a particular stoi e foi pickup Once an ordei has been initially placed, the consumer mav be prompted 1 36 to indicate w hethei the product w ill be shipped to an addiess If the product is to be shipped to an addiess, the server computer(s ) may then leceive 138 the order The embodiment of Figuie 13 may then piocess 140 payment for the order Aftei the payment has been processed, the order and payment indication may be sent 142 to the sellei of the item For example, if a consumer ordeis a book, the server computer(s ) may send this ordei to a particular bookstore and may also send payment or payment infomiation to the bookstore

The embodiment of Figure 13 also piocesses 144 shipping information Foi example, the consumer may be asked w hethei he or she would like the item shipped via U S Mail, using UPS, oi using Federal Fxpiess The consumer may also be piompted to indicate the type of shipping method, foi example, regular, 3-day, overnight, etc The embodiment of Figuie 13 may then notify the seller of the shipping information and/or may also notify the shipping entity of the shipment ordei

Finally, the embodiment of Figuie 13 may send 146 a notification to the consumei confirming the order and including status infomiation The notification may be sent a vanety of ways The notification may be sent via e-mail, by facsimile, by voice mail, by pager, etc The consumei may then continue on with any othei piocessmg 148 If no other processing is to be accomplished, the consumer will typically be done using the facilities and sen ices being provided and may exit 1 50 the service

If the consumer does not wish to hav e the oider shipped, the consumer may then be piompted 152 as to whethei he oi she w ould like to leseiv e the item If the consumei w ishes to leseive the item, the sen ei computcι( s) may then leceive the oidei 138 T he embodiment of Figure 13 mav then piocess 140 payment for the older Alternatively, the particular store that w ill be holding the item may process payment at pickup The order and possibly the payment indication (if it was taken) may be sent 142 to the seller of the item. Similar to the example above, if a consumer oideis a book, the server computer(s) may send this order to a particular bookstore and may also send payment or payment infomiation to the bookstore Along with the oidei mfoimation, the embodiment of Figuie 13 also sends an indication that the consumei would like the product to be reseived or placed on hold for pickup

The particular store involved mav leceive the oider. the leservation request, and possibly the payment infomiation The stoie may then process 154 the order, leseivation request and/or the payment The store may then send 156 a notification including confirmation infomiation and pickup information In some embodiments heiem, the notification and pickup infomiation will be sent fiom the store to the servei computei (s) and then to the consumer computei 22 In some embodiments pickup information and the like may alread be stored in a database accessible bv the seiv ei computers ) In these embodiments, the seivei computer(s) may access the database for this information and then send it to the consumer

The notification may be sent to the consumei confirming the order and including status infomiation a variety of ways As discussed, the notification may be sent via e-mail, by facimile, by voice mail, by pagei, etc The consumer may then continue on with any othei processing 148 If no other processing is to be accomplished, the consumer will typicallv be done using the facilities and services being piovided and may exit 150 the service

Figuie 14 illustrates an embodiment where a particular company has a web site 158 and one oi more physical store locations 160 An embodiment as described heiem may enable communication and cooperation between a particular store's web site 158 and its physical stores 160 and enable consumers to find what is available at a paiticulai store 160 and to also pui chase items oi pioducts from that paiticulai physical stoie 160 Consumeis may brow se the web and visit a particular store s web site 158 Accessible via the store s web site 158 may be an enabling system 20 that enables specific items to be found and or puichased at specific locations 160 A usei may be given an opportunity to shop at specific locations or aieas In an embodiment, the system may facilitate the user's searching of specific items and also the user's puichase of specific items

An embodiment of the enabling system 20 of Figure 14 is illustrated m Figure 15 One or moie web servers 31 may be used to service requests from consumers browsing the web and to service other requests for data and/or information. One or more database servers 54 may be used for storing, searching and/or accessing the data of the embodiment. The one or more database servers 54 may be used in conjunction with one or more databases 48. Infomiation gathering tools 162 may be used by the system 20. These infomiation gathering tools 162 may gather infomiation from across the web, or they may gather infomiation from the various store computers 24 in electronic communication with the system, or both. The infomiation gathering tools 162 may comprise web crawlers, eb spiders, robots (or "bots") and the like for searching and gathering information from the web and store computers 24. The programs used as part of the tools 162 may search the various pieces of information available to it and index the infomiation found based on certain criteria. Conventional web crawlers, web spiders and bots are known in the art. The infomiation gathered by the infomiation gathering tools 162 may be entered into one or more databases 48. A collection server 164 may be used to collect the infomiation from the various tools 162 and enter them into the databases 48. One or more communications managers 166 may be used to communicate with the store computers 24 Communications software and packages are readily available that may be used with communications managers 166 to achieve communications with the store computers 24. The communication managers 166 may also be used manage queries to the store computers 24 and to manage updates received from the store computers 24.

Figure 16 illustrates an embodiment of a store location 160 including an embodiment of a store computer 24. The store computer 24 may be in electronic communication with one or more point of sale systems 168. Point of sale systems 168 are well known in the art and used by stores on a daily basis. Point of sale systems 168 that may be used with the embodiments herein include systems 168 from companies like IBM, NCR, Siemens and Micros. These systems 168 typically include a communications port for connecting to a computer or another electronic device. Typical connection methods include parallel connections, serial connections or a network connection. When a transaction is confirmation, the point of sale system 168 may generate a confirmation ticket 170 for the consumer and or for the store.

The store computer 24 includes a point of sale ("POS") interface 172. Typically POS systems 168 simply generate data and send it over a communications port when some action or event takes place at the POS 168. For example, if an item is purchased, the POS 168 typically sends data indicating what item was purchased and for what price across its communications channels The POS interface 172 receives any such data from the POS 168 and sends it to a store manager component 174. The store manager software 174 then enters any necessaiy data into the local database 176 and updates the local database 176. Communications software 178 enables communications between the store computer 24 and the server system 20. Through the communications software 178 and the store managing software 174 on the store computer 24, the server system 20 may access/modify any data in the local database 1 76 and may also record transactions that have been facilitated v ia the server system 20.

Figure 17 is a hybrid block diagram and flow diagram illustrating overall operation of an embodiment used to facilitate a transaction. The sen^*er system 20 allows a user to conduct a product search 180. In accomplishing the product search 180, infomiation from multiple retailers 182 is accessed and searched. As shown, each retailer 1 82 may have one or more retail outlets 1 84 at various locations. In the embodiment of Figure 1 7, not only is information from multiple retailers 182 accessed and searched, but information from multiple outlets 184 of each retailer 1 2 is accessed and searched. Thus, information from a number of electronic sources and from a number of separate physical store locations is accessed and searched to produce search results 186.

Once the consumer has viewed the search results 186, he or she may then make a product selection 1 88. The product selection 1 88 may be ordered from a specific retail outlet location 1 84, or it may be placed on hold, or it may be ordered from a store not having any physical presence other than on the Internet. Thus, a consumer has not only opportunities to order an item online, but can locate the item m a specific geogiaphic area place the item on hold and then pick the item up in peison I he consumei mav, be given availability and v erification information 190 Finally the tiansaction 192 may occur

An embodiment herein may include a geogiaphic pricing module (not shown) I he geogiaphic pncing module may allow a meichant to determine the geographic location of the Internet based shopper and then set pricing ciiteπa accordingly Bv use of this module a letailer or meichant can determine and implement a competitive pncing module foi a specific maiket and piesent to the consumer pncing that is lelev ant to his oi hei location maiket In addition a meichant can localize catalogs 0 foi display fhe geographic pricing module places a cookie on the consumer's computei 22 that is based upon his oi her home zip code Later than cookie can be used bv the geographic pncing module to determine the propei catalog and pricing model to display foi that specific consumer

Implementeis of the embodiments herein may generate levenue in a vanetv of ~> wa> s Toi example implementeis of the system 20 may simply take a percentage off of the pi ice of each item sold thiough the system 20 as a commission The system 20 ma) snnpl) take the corresponding amount off of the total amount paid by the consumei befoie foiwardmg on the lest of the amount of the meichant This mode of opeiation is similai to the way seveial credit cai d companies generate revenue when 0 consumei s use then particular credit card

Implementeis of the present systems mav also set up a flat fee structure for each meichant w heie a certain fee is due for pai ticulai amounts of volume facilitated bv the sy stem In this embodiment, periodically implementers of the embodiments heiem may bill the merchant(s) for the appiopnate amounts based on the transactions s facilitated Anothei w ay that users of the embodiments heiem may generate revenues is thiough bannei advertising on web pages This method of generating levenue is also w ell know n m the art It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there aie a v ariety of ways m which revenue can be generated using the present embodiments From the above discussion, it w ill be appreciated that the embodiments disclosed piovide systems and methods for effectively utilizing the benefits of electronic commerce while also using the existing and conventional stores

The present embodiments may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from their spirit or essential characteristics The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects onh as illustrative, and not restrictiv e. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope What is claimed is.

Claims

1 A method foi providing electronic commerce over a global communications netwoik, the method comprising the steps of biowsmg a fhst w eb site, where the first web site is opeiated by a first company that also is affiliated with a physical stoie selecting, by a user, an option to shop the physical stoie via the global communications network offeimg to the user, by a server system, the ability to seaich for the availability of an item at the physical store, seaichmg, by the server system, a database of items av ailable at the physical stoie for the item requested, offeimg to the user, by the server system, the ability to purchase the item from the physical store, and communicating to the physical stoie infomiation describing the item

2 The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of instructing the physical store to deciement the item from the physical store's inventory

3 The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of instructing the physical store to piepaie the item for the user

4 The method of claim 1 wherein the infomiation includes the method of payment and means of fulfillment

5 The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of instructing the physical store to decrement the item from inventory and to physically prepare the item for the user

6 The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of instructing the physical store to ship the item to the user T he method of claim 1 further compnsmg the step of msti uctmg the physical stoie enerate a confirmation ticket

8 A method foi facilitating commeice foi a fu st company thiough use of a global communications netwoik, wherein the fust company opeiates a plurality of stores at v anous locations, and wheiem a facihtatoi w ill facilitate the commerce, the method compnsmg the steps of ai ranging w ith the first company to pi ov ide that the facilitator will interact w ith the first company on the global communications network, anangmg w ith the fust company to piov ide that the facilitator will have electionic communication w ith the pluiahtv of stoies, cooidinatmg a first company w eb site w ith a facilitator web site such that commeice involving the pluiahtv of stoies may be achieved thiough use of the facihtatoi w eb site installing a stoie computer foi a stoie of the pluiality of stores, establishing communications betw een the stoi c computei and a point of sale system in the store, establishing communications between the stoi e computei and a server system, and communicating mventoiy data fiom the stoie computei to the server system

9 The method of claim 8 furthei comprising the step of initiating a search of the mventoiy data foi an item

10 The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of searching the inventory data

1 1 T he method of claim 10 further compnsmg the step of offering the ability to put chase the item fiom the stoie

12 The method of claim 1 1 further compnsmg the step of communicating to the stoie information describing the item 13 The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of detemimmg a commission foi facilitating sales

14 The method of claim 13 furthei compnsmg the step of deducting the commission fi om a pin chase price of each sale

1 5 The method of claim 13 furthei compnsmg the step of legulaily billing the fust company for the commission

16 A method foi facilitating commerce foi a plurality of diffeient physical stores located at vanous and distinct locations through use of a global communications netwoik, wheiein the stores aie owned by a plurality of diffeient companies, and w heie a facihtatoi w ill facilitate the commerce, the method comprising the steps of installing a stoie computei foi each physical stoie, establishing electronic communications between each stoie computer installed for a particular physical store and a point of sale system of the particular physical stoie, installing fust computer progiam instructions on each store computer that the stoie computer is capable of receiving data generated at the point of sale sv stem in communication with the stoie computer, establishing electronic communications between each stoie computer and the global communications network, installing second computer progiam instructions on each stoie computei such that the store computer is capable of communicating over the global communications network, establishing electronic communications between the store computers and a seivei system through the global communications network, wherein the seiv er system comprises database software for storing mventoiy data, the v entory data being created fiom stoie inventory data that is receiv ed from the store computers, database search software for searching the inventory data, seivei software for servicing requests sent by consumer computers, and collection software for receiving the store inventor) data from the store computers and for relaying the store mv entory data to the database software, communicating the stoie mventoiy data fiom the stoie computers to the collection softw are of the seivei sv stem lelav mg the stoie inv entory data fiom the collection softw aie to the database softwaie and stonng the stoie mv entoiy data m a database

1 7 The method of claim 16 furthei compnsmg the step of initiating a search of the mv entoi) data foi an item

1 8 T he method of claim 1 ^" furthei compnsmg the step of seaichmg the inventory data foi the item

19 The method of claim 18 furthei compnsmg the step of offeimg the ability to puichase the item fiom one of the physical stores

20 The method of claim 19 further compnsmg the step of communicating to one of the physical stoies infomiation descnbing the item

21 fhe method of claim 20 further compnsmg the step of detemimmg a commission foi facilitating each sale and deducting the commission from a puichase price of each sale

22 The method of claim 21 furthei compnsmg the step oi legulaily billing the fust company foi the commission

23 The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of anangmg with the companies to piovide that the facilitator will mteiact w ith the companies on the global communications network 24 The method of claim 23 further compnsmg the step of biowsmg a first web site heie the fust web site is offeimg items foi sale thiough the fust web site, and wheie the fust web site is opeiated by a f st compaii) of the pluiahtv of companies