System for notifying an online client of a mobile vendor

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein establishing personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers comprises establishing a connection over a network with the multiple client systems such that the potential customers are capable of receiving an instant message.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein establishing personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers comprises establishing a connection over a network between the multiple client systems and the host system configured to provide presence-based personal messing services.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a location of the multiple potential customers.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein determining the location of the multiple potential customers includes using an Internet Protocol address to determine location information.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 wherein determining the location of the multiple potential customers includes using a telephone number to determine location information.

Claim 8

The method of claim 4 wherein determining the location of the multiple potential customers includes using a Global Positioning System to determine locating information.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 further comprising determining preferences of the multiple potential customers, wherein selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers includes selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers based on the preferences.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8 wherein determining the preferences includes tracking addresses requested by the client.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8 wherein the preferences include information about contacting the one or more potential customers.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the mobile vendor has an available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers, wherein sending, using the host system, the personal messaging communication is conditioned on the mobile vendor having an available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 wherein determining that the mobile vendor is in the second area includes determining that the mobile vendor is in the second area by referencing the location of the mobile vendor relative to an established route.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the second group of potential customers includes calculating the distance between a current location associated with at least one of the multiple potential customers and an estimated location of the mobile vendor along an established route.

Claim 15

The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the second group of potential customers includes identifying the multiple potential customers that are proximate to the second area based on a default location of at least one of the multiple potential customers.

Claim 16

The method of claim 1 wherein establishing personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers includes determining whether a client system associated with each of the multiple potential customers is connected to the host system configured to provide presence-based personal messing services.

Claim 17

The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a response personal messaging communication, from the selected potential customer, over the established personal messaging communication corresponding to the selected potential customer, the response personal messaging communication indicating an order by the selected potential customer of an available good or service offered by the mobile vendor.

Claim 18

The method of claim 1 further comprising determining at least one of available goods and services offered by the mobile vendor, wherein sending, using the host system, the personal messaging communication includes sending, using the host system, a personal messaging communication that includes information informing the at least one potential customer of at least one good or service offered by the mobile vendor.

Claim 19

The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the second group of potential customers that are proximate to the second area further comprises determining a distance between the mobile vendor and a location associated with at least one of the multiple potential customers.

Claim 20

The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a graphical user interface to a client system with the selected potential customer.

Claim 21

The method of claim 19 wherein transmitting the graphical user interface includes providing a map depicting the second location of the mobile vendor.

Claim 22

The method of claim 20 wherein the map shows updated positions of the mobile vendor.

Claim 23

The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying the mobile vendor of an order from the selected potential customer.

Claim 24

The method of claim 22 wherein notifying the mobile vendor includes providing directions to a physical location of the selected potential customer.

Claim 25

The method of claim 1 further comprising retrieving a profiles associated with potential customers included in the second group of potential customers, wherein selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers includes selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers based on the retrieved profiles.

Claim 26

The method of claim 24 wherein the profiles include a schedule for receiving notification, wherein selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers includes selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers based on the schedule for receiving notifications.

Claim 27

The method of claim 24 wherein the profiles include preferences, wherein selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers includes selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers based on the preferences included in the profiles.

Claim 28

The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying the at least one potential customer of different vendors.

Claim 29

The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile vendor is assigned at least one primary service and at least one secondary service.

Claim 30

The method of claim 1 further comprising determining that at least one of the multiple potential customers is at a non-default location.

Claim 31

The method of claim 29 wherein determining that the at least one potential customer is at the non-default location comprises receiving location information from a carrier providing mobile services.

Claim 32

The method of claim 29 wherein determining that the at least one potential customer is located at the non-default location includes determining that an account is being accessed from a mobile device instead of a desktop computer.

Claim 33

The method of claim 11 wherein determining whether the mobile vendor has an available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers includes determining whether the mobile vendor has the available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers based on a non-default location of at least one potential customer.

Claim 34

The method of claim 22 wherein notifying the mobile vendor comprises transmitting a graphical user interface to a computer associated with the mobile vendor.

Claim 35

The method of claim 33 wherein transmitting the graphical user interface includes providing a map depicting a location of the selected potential customer.

Claim 36

The method of claim 34 wherein the map shows updated positions of the selected potential customer.

Claim 37

A computer program for transferring electronic data from a communications system, the computer program being stored on a computer readable medium and comprising instructions for: establishing, at a host system configured to provide presence-based personal messaging services, personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers; accessing location information indicative of a first location of a mobile vendor in transit, wherein the mobile vendor has available goods or services; determining that the mobile vendor is in a first area based on the location information indicative of the first location of the mobile vendor; identifying a first group of potential customers, the first group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the first area; accessing location information indicative of a second location of the mobile vendor in transit; determining that the mobile vendor is in a second area based on the location information indicative of the second location of the mobile vendor, the second area being different than the first area; identifying a second group of potential customers, the second group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area and the second group of potential customers including at least one customer not included in the first group of potential customers; selecting a potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area; and sending, using the host system, a personal messaging communication over an established personal messaging communication session corresponding to the selected potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area, the personal messaging communication offering an available good or service provided by the mobile vendor to the selected potential customer.

Claim 38

A computer program for transferring electronic data from a communications system, the computer program being stored on a computer readable medium and comprising instructions for: establishing, at a host system configured to provide presence-based personal messaging services, personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers; accessing location information indicative of a first location of a mobile vendor in transit, wherein the mobile vendor has available goods or services; determining that the mobile vendor is in a first area based on the location information indicative of the first location of the mobile vendor; identifying a first group of potential customers, the first group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the first area; accessing location information indicative of a second location of the mobile vendor in transit; determining that the mobile vendor is in a second area based on the location information indicative of the second location of the mobile vendor, the second area being different than the first area; identifying a second group of potential customers, the second group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area and the second group of potential customers including at least one customer not included in the first group of potential customers; selecting a potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area; and sending, using the host system, a personal messaging communication over an established personal messaging communication session corresponding to the selected potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area, the personal messaging communication offering an available good or service provided by the mobile vendor to the selected potential customer.

Claim 39

The computer program of claim 36 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a disk.

Claim 40

The computer program of claim 36 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a client device.

Claim 41

The computer program of claim 36 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a host device.

Claim 42

The computer program of claim 36 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a propagated signal.

Claim 43

The computer program of claim 36 wherein the communication system comprises an online service provider.

Claim 44

The computer program of claim 36 wherein the computer program comprises a vendor computer program.

Claim 45

The computer program of claim 36 wherein identifying the second group of potential customers that are proximate to the second area includes receiving location information from a carrier providing mobile services.

Claim 46

The computer program of claim 36 further comprising instructions for determining that at least one of the multiple potential customers is at a non-default location.

Claim 47

The computer program of claim 44 wherein determining that at least one of the potential customers is located at the non-default location includes determining that an account is being accessed from a mobile device instead of a desktop computer.

Claim 48

The computer program of claim 36 further comprising instructions for determining whether the mobile vendor an available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers wherein sending, using the host system, the personal messaging communication is conditioned on the mobile vendor having an available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers.

Claim 49

The computer program of claim 46 wherein determining whether the mobile vendor has the available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers includes determining whether the mobile vendor has available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers based on a non-default location of at least one potential customer.

Claim 50

The computer program of claim 36 further comprising instructions for notifying the mobile vendor of an order from the selected potential customer.

Claim 51

The computer program of claim 48 wherein notifying the mobile vendor comprises transmitting a graphical user interface to a computer associated with the mobile vendor.

Claim 52

The computer program of claim 49 wherein providing the graphical user interface includes providing a map depicting a location of the selected potential customer.

Claim 53

The computer program of claim 50 wherein the map shows updated positions of the selected potential customer.

Claim 54

A communications apparatus for transferring electronic data from a communication system, the apparatus configured to: establish, at a host system configured to provide presence-based personal messaging services, personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers; access location information indicative of a first location of a mobile vendor in transit, wherein the mobile vendor has available goods or services; determine that the mobile vendor is in a first area based on the location information indicative of the first location of the mobile vendor; identifying a first group of potential customers, the first group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the first area; access location information indicative of a second location of the mobile vendor in transit; determining that the mobile vendor is in a second area based on the location information indicative of the second location of the mobile vendor, the second area being different than the first area; identify a second group of potential customers, the second group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area and the second group of potential customers including at least one customer not included in the first group of potential customers; select a potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area; and send, using the host system, a personal messaging communication over an established personal messaging communication session corresponding to the selected potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area, the personal messaging communication offering an available good or service provided by the mobile vendor to the selected potential customer.

Claim 55

A communications apparatus for transferring electronic data from a communication system, the apparatus configured to: establish, at a host system configured to provide presence-based personal messaging services, personal messaging communication sessions with multiple client systems associated with multiple potential customers; access location information indicative of a first location of a mobile vendor in transit, wherein the mobile vendor has available goods or services; determine that the mobile vendor is in a first area based on the location information indicative of the first location of the mobile vendor; identifying a first group of potential customers, the first group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the first area; access location information indicative of a second location of the mobile vendor in transit; determining that the mobile vendor is in a second area based on the location information indicative of the second location of the mobile vendor, the second area being different than the first area; identify a second group of potential customers, the second group of potential customers including the multiple potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area and the second group of potential customers including at least one customer not included in the first group of potential customers; select a potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area; and send, using the host system, a personal messaging communication over an established personal messaging communication session corresponding to the selected potential customer from among the second group of potential customers that have established personal messaging communication sessions and are proximate to the second area, the personal messaging communication offering an available good or service provided by the mobile vendor to the selected potential customer.

Claim 56

The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the communications system comprises an online service provider.

Claim 57

The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the communications system comprises a vendor system.

Claim 58

The apparatus of claim 52 wherein identifying the second group of potential customers that are proximate to the second area includes receiving location information from a carrier providing mobile services.

Claim 59

The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising determining that at least one of the multiple potential customers is at a non-default location.

Claim 60

The apparatus of claim 56 wherein determining that the at least one potential customer is located at the non-default location includes determining that an account is being accessed from a mobile device instead of a desktop computer.

Claim 61

The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising determining whether the mobile vendor an available good or service to offer to multiple potential, wherein sending, using the host system, the personal messaging communication is conditioned on the mobile vendor having an available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers.

Claim 62

The apparatus of claim 58 wherein determining whether the mobile vendor has the available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers includes determining whether the mobile vendor has available good or service to offer to multiple potential customers based on a non-default location of at least one potential customer.

Claim 63

The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising notifying the mobile vendor of an order from the selected potential customer.

Claim 64

The apparatus of claim 60 wherein notifying the mobile vendor comprises transmitting a graphical user interface to a computer associated with the mobile vendor.

Claim 65

The apparatus of claim 61 wherein providing the graphical user interface includes providing a map depicting a location of the selected potential customer.

Claim 66

The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the map shows updated positions of the selected potential customer.

Claim 67

The method of claim 1 wherein accessing location information indicative of a mobile vendor in transit includes accessing an actual location for the mobile vendor.

Claim 68

The method of claim 1 wherein accessing location information includes accessing information other than an actual location.

Claim 69

The method of claim 65 wherein accessing the information other than an actual location includes accessing a route.

Claim 70

The method of claim 65 wherein accessing the information other than an actual location includes accessing an elapsed time since the mobile vendor was at a specified location.

Claim 71

The computer program of claim 36 wherein accessing the location information indicative of a mobile vendor in transit includes accessing an actual location for the mobile vendor.

Claim 72

The computer program of claim 36 wherein accessing the location information includes accessing information other than an actual location.

Claim 73

The computer program of claim 69 wherein accessing the information other than an actual location includes accessing a route.

Claim 74

The computer program of claim 69 wherein accessing the information other than an actual location includes accessing an elapsed time since the mobile vendor was at a specified location.

Claim 75

The apparatus of claim 52 wherein accessing the location information includes accessing an actual location for the mobile vendor.

Claim 76

The apparatus of claim 52 wherein accessing the location information includes accessing information other than an actual location.

Claim 77

The apparatus of claim 73 wherein accessing the information other than an actual location includes accessing a route.

Claim 78

The apparatus of claim 73 wherein accessing the information other than an actual location includes accessing an elapsed time since the mobile vendor was at a specified location.

Claim 79

The method of claim 1 furthering comprising receiving, at the host system, an alert from the mobile vendor so that determining that the mobile vendor is in the second area, identifying the second group of potential customers, selecting the potential customer from among the second group of potential customers, and sending, using the host system, the personal messaging communication are triggered based on receipt of the alert.

Claim 80

The method of claim 76 wherein the mobile vendor sends the alert in response to updating location information for the mobile vendor.

Claim 81

The method of claim 76 wherein the mobile vendor sends the alert in response to updating inventory status for the mobile vendor.

Claim 82

The computer program of claim 36 furthering comprising instructions for receiving, at the host system, an alert from the mobile vendor so that determining that the mobile vendor is in the second area, identifying the second group of potential customers, selecting the potential customers from among the second group of potential customers, and sending, using the host system, the personal messaging communication are triggered based on receipt of the alert.

Claim 83

The computer program of claim 79 wherein the mobile vendor sends the alert in response to updating location information for the mobile vendor.

Claim 84

The computer program of claim 79 wherein the mobile vendor sends the alert in response to updating inventory status for the mobile vendor.

Claim 85

The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the apparatus is configured to receive, at the host system, an alert from the mobile vendor, the receipt of the alert triggering the apparatus to determine that the mobile vendor is in the second area, identify the second group of potential customers, select the potential customers from among the second group of potential customers, and send, using the host system, the personal messaging communication.

Claim 86

The apparatus of claim 82 wherein the mobile vendor sends the alert in response to updating location information for the mobile vendor.

Claim 87

The apparatus of claim 82 wherein the mobile vendor sends the alert in response to updating inventory status for the mobile vendor.