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US6246997B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electronic commerce site with query interface

Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1998-03-26
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Granted: 2001-06-12
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Expires: 2018-03-26
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Abstract

Abstract An electronic commerce site, comprising: a point of sale (POS) system, having a POS loyalty database and a POS purchase history database; a list builder tool having an on-line shopping history database; a query interface between the POS system and the list builder tool, the POS system accepting data from an on-line shopper received by the list builder tool and routed through the query interface; the list builder tool returning at least one historical shopping list from the on-line shopping history database to the network browser through the query interface responsive to the on-line shopper's request; and, the on-line shopping history database of the list builder tool being updated with information from the POS system transmitted through the query interface. Communications between the query interface and the list builder tool can be over one or more of the Internet, a wide area network and a local area network.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard C. Cybul
  • 👤 Robert M. Szabo
  • 👤 James J. Toohey

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 11:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/12; G06Q20/20; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/387; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0641; G07; G07G; G07G1/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 130 words
A method for engaging in electronic commerce (e-commerce) at an e-commerce site, comprising the steps of: establishing a point of sale (POS) system, having a POS loyalty database and a POS purchase history database; establishing a list builder tool at said e-commerce site having an on-line shopping history database separate from said POS purchase history database; establishing a query interface enabling communications between said POS system and said list builder tool; accepting data from an on-line shopper accessing said list builder tool; enabling said on-line shopper to recall at least one historical shopping list from said on-line shopping history database; capturing information generated by on-line shopping said e-commerce site; and, updating said on-line shopping history database and said POS purchase history database with said captured information from said on-line shopping.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 130 words
A method for engaging in electronic commerce (e-commerce) at an e-commerce site, comprising the steps of: establishing a point of sale (POS) system, having a POS loyalty database and a POS purchase history database; establishing a list builder tool at said e-commerce site having an on-line shopping history database separate from said POS purchase history database; establishing a query interface enabling communications between said POS system and said list builder tool; accepting data from an on-line shopper accessing said list builder tool; enabling said on-line shopper to recall at least one historical shopping list from said on-line shopping history database; capturing information generated by on-line shopping said e-commerce site; and, updating said on-line shopping history database and said POS purchase history database with said captured information from said on-line shopping.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of establishing a POS authentication database for said POS system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: capturing information generated by in-store shopping; and, updating said databases with said captured information from said in-store shopping.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of enabling communications between said query interface and said list builder tool over at least one of the Internet, a wide area network and a local area network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of enabling communications between said query interface and said list builder tool over at least two of the Internet, a wide area network and a local area network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of loading said POS loyalty database with a frequent shopper identification (FSID), at least one preferred payment method and demographic information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 45 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of loading said POS purchase history database with a purchase time stamp and a list of items purchased, and for each item on a given list, the universal product code (UPC), quantity and purchase price.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of loading said on-line shopping history database with purchase histories returned by said POS system through said query interface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 84 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: loading said POS loyalty database with a frequent shopper identification (FSID), at least one preferred payment method and demographic information; loading said POS purchase history database with a purchase time stamp and a list of items purchased, and for each item on a given list, the universal product code (UPC), quantity and purchase price; and, loading said on-line shopping history database with purchase histories returned by said POS system through said query interface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 163 words
An electronic commerce (e-commerce) site, comprising: a point of sale (POS) system remote from said e-commerce site, having a POS loyalty database and a POS purchase history database; a list builder tool at said e-commerce site having an on-line shopping history database separate from said POS purchase history database; a query interface between said POS system and said list builder tool, said POS system accepting data from an on-line shopper received by said list builder tool and routed through said query interface; said list builder tool returning at least one historical shopping list from said on-line shopping history database to a network browser through said query interface responsive to said on-line shopper's request; said e-commerce site capturing information generated by on-line purchase transactions; said POS system capturing information generated by in-store purchase transactions, and, said on-line shopping history database of said list builder tool and said purchase history database of said POS system being updated with said captured information through said query interface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 163 words
An electronic commerce (e-commerce) site, comprising: a point of sale (POS) system remote from said e-commerce site, having a POS loyalty database and a POS purchase history database; a list builder tool at said e-commerce site having an on-line shopping history database separate from said POS purchase history database; a query interface between said POS system and said list builder tool, said POS system accepting data from an on-line shopper received by said list builder tool and routed through said query interface; said list builder tool returning at least one historical shopping list from said on-line shopping history database to a network browser through said query interface responsive to said on-line shopper's request; said e-commerce site capturing information generated by on-line purchase transactions; said POS system capturing information generated by in-store purchase transactions, and, said on-line shopping history database of said list builder tool and said purchase history database of said POS system being updated with said captured information through said query interface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 17 words
The e-commerce site of claim 10 , wherein said POS system further comprises a POS authentication database.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 36 words
The e-commerce site of claim 10 , wherein communications are enabled between said query interface and said list builder tool over at least one of the Internet, a wide area network and a local area network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 36 words
The e-commerce site of claim 10 , wherein communications are enabled between said query interface and said list builder tool over at least two of the Internet, a wide area network and a local area network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 33 words
The e-commerce site of claim 10 , wherein said POS loyalty database is loaded with a frequent shopper identification (FSID), at least one preferred payment method and demographic information for each frequent shopper.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 45 words
The e-commerce site of claim 10 , wherein said POS purchase history database is loaded with a purchase time stamp and a list of items purchased, and for each item on a given list, a universal product code (UPC), a quantity and a purchase price.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 27 words
The e-commerce site of claim 10 , wherein said on-line shopping history database is loaded with purchase histories returned by said POS system through said query interface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 90 words
The e-commerce site of claim 10 , wherein: said POS loyalty database is loaded with a frequent shopper identification (FSID), at least one preferred payment method and demographic information for each frequent shopper; said POS purchase history database is loaded with a purchase time stamp and a list of items purchased, and for each item on a given list, a universal product code (UPC), a quantity and a purchase price; and, said on-line shopping history database is loaded with purchase histories returned by said POS system through said query interface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 18 words
The e-commerce site of claim 10 , embodied in a computer programmed with a routine set of instructions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 24 words
The e-commerce site of claim 10 , embodied in a computer network, having at least two computers programmed with respective routine sets of instructions.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2004-06-11 2004-12-11 2005-06-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2008-06-11 2008-12-11 2009-06-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2012-06-11 2012-12-11 2013-06-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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