Online shopping system

Claim 1

An online shopping system comprising: a server having a list of data consisting of different locations for different geographical areas on a plurality of stations designated by an on-line shopping service provider, the list having been stored on the server before customers sign up for entering the online shopping system; at least one virtual store provided on the server, through the virtual store a retailer selling at least a commodity to deliver; a plurality of pieces of customers' terminal equipment electrically connected to the server, each customer's order for at least one commodity being sold by the retailer through the virtual store being made by each customer's terminal equipment to the server; and a plurality of the stations listed on the server having been designated by the on-line shopping service provider, for temporarily keeping the commodity when ordered by each customer and delivered by the retailer, with each station being a place that is remote from the retailer that sells the commodity ordered through the virtual store, wherein each customer selects one station located at a place that is most convenient for each customer by selecting only from the plurality of stations listed on the server as a place where the commodity ordered by the customer should be delivered from the retailer that sells the ordered commodity through the virtual store and as a place where the customer can pick up the ordered commodity any time when the customer orders the commodity via the customer's terminal equipment, information indicating the one station selected by the customer being sent to the server as the station that is selected by the customer.

Claim 14

A method of online shopping through an online shopping system having a server of an online shopping service provider, at least one virtual store provided on the server, through the virtual store a retailer selling at least a commodity to deliver; and a plurality of pieces of customers' terminal equipment electrically connected to the server, the method comprising the steps of: entering a member profile including customer's name and address by the customer's terminal equipment accessing the server; displaying an area list listing data on a plurality of areas on the customer's terminal equipment, the area list having been stored on the server before entering the member profile; selecting one area from the displayed area list; displaying a station list listing data consisting of different locations for different geographical areas on a plurality of stations in the selected area, on the customer's terminal equipment, the station list having been stored on the server before entering the member profile, each station having previously been designated by the on-line shopping service provider as a place where the commodity ordered by the customer should be delivered from the retailer that sells the ordered commodity through the virtual store and as a place where the customer can pick up the ordered commodity any time and also as a place that is different from the retailer that sells the ordered commodity through the virtual store; selecting one station located at a place that is convenient for the customer from only the station list being displayed on the customer's terminal equipment; transmitting order information for at least one commodity being sold by the retailer through the virtual store from the customer's terminal equipment to the server; displaying a delivery place list that lists delivery places including at least one station selected by the customer and the customer's place of residence on the customer's terminal equipment; and selecting a delivery place of the ordered commodity from the delivery place list displayed on the customer's terminal equipment.

Claim 15

A method of online shopping through an online shopping system having a server of an online shopping service provider, at least one virtual store provided on the server, through the virtual store a retailer selling at least a commodity to deliver; and a plurality of pieces of customers' terminal equipment electrically connected to the server, the method comprising the steps of: entering a member profile including customer's name and address by the customer's terminal equipment accessing the server; displaying an area list listing data on a plurality of areas on the customer's terminal equipment, the area list having been stored on the server before entering the member profile; selecting one area from the displayed area list; displaying a station list listing data consisting of different locations for different geographical areas on a plurality of stations in the selected area, on the customer's terminal equipment, the station list having been stored on the server before entering the member profile, each station having previously been designated by the on-line shopping service provider as a place where the commodity ordered by the customer should be delivered from the retailer that sells the ordered commodity through the virtual store and as a place where the customer can pick up the ordered commodity any time and also as a place that is different from the retailer that sells the ordered commodity through the virtual store; selecting one station located at a place that is convenient for the customer from only the station list being displayed on the customer's terminal equipment; transmitting order information for at least one commodity being sold by the retailer through the virtual store from the customer's terminal equipment to the server; displaying a delivery place list that lists delivery places including at least one station selected by the customer and the customer's place of residence on the customer's terminal equipment; and selecting a delivery place of the ordered commodity from the delivery place list displayed on the customer's terminal equipment.