Systems and methods for delivering item price notification to a mobile device

Abstract

An exemplary system for delivering an item price notification to a mobile device can include a processor, an inventory database including a plurality of inventory items, and a memory that is in communication with the processor. The memory can be configured to store instructions that, when executed, perform the steps of an exemplary method. An exemplary method can include querying the inventory database to determine if an inventory item meets a price reduction threshold, generating the item price notification including a sale price for the inventory item, if the inventory item meets the price reduction threshold, and transmitting the item price notification to the mobile device. The query can be invoked by the mobile device being proximate the inventory item, such as the mobile device being located at a merchant premises.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for delivering an item price notification to a mobile device, the method comprising:
 an inventory management system monitoring, in response to receiving a shopping list from the mobile device, an inventory database to determine if a quantity of an inventory item identified in the shopping list meets or exceeds a quantity threshold assigned to the inventory item, wherein the quantity threshold comprises an overstock quantity for the inventory item;   determining, by the inventory management system, that the quantity meets or exceeds the quantity threshold assigned to the inventory item and, in response, the inventory management system:
 changing a price associated with the inventory item to a sale price for the inventory item; 
 generating an item price notification comprising the sale price for the inventory item; and 
 transmitting the item price notification to the mobile device. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the inventory management system updating the inventory database to reflect the sale price for the inventory item. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the updating comprises the inventory management system updating the inventory database to temporarily reflect the sale price for the inventory item. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the inventory management system instructing the inventory database to return the price for the inventory item to an original price, if a specific quantity for the inventory item is sold. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the updating comprises the inventory management system updating the inventory database to permanently reflect the sale price for the inventory item. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the inventory system being notified that a customer information card has been swiped at a terminal that is in communication with the inventory management system and, in response, requesting the shopping list from the mobile device. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the inventory management system transmitting the item price notification to the mobile device comprises the inventory management system transmitting the item price notification to the mobile device via a wireless connection, the wireless connection being selected from a group of wireless connections consisting of: an IEEE 802.11x connection established between the mobile device and a merchant network in which the inventory management system operates; and a wireless connection established between the mobile device and the inventory management system via a cellular network. 
     
     
         28 . A computer-readable medium of an inventory management system, the computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of the inventory management system, cause the processor to perform steps of a method, comprising
 monitoring, in response to receiving a shopping list from a mobile device, an inventory database to determine if a quantity of an inventory item identified in the shopping list meets or exceeds a quantity threshold assigned to the inventory item, the quantity threshold comprising an overstock quantity for the inventory item;   determining that the quantity meets or exceeds the quantity threshold assigned to the inventory item and, in response:
 changing a price associated with the inventory item to a sale price for the inventory item; 
 generating an item price notification comprising the sale price for the inventory item; and 
 transmitting the item price notification to the mobile device. 
   
     
     
         29 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform an additional step of updating the inventory database to reflect the sale price for the inventory item. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 29 , wherein the instructions for updating further comprise instructions for updating the inventory database to temporarily reflect the sale price for the inventory item. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , further comprising instructions for instructing the inventory database to return the price for the inventory item to an original price, if a specific quantity for the inventory item is sold. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 29 , wherein the instructions for updating further comprise instructions for updating the inventory database to permanently reflect the sale price for the inventory item. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform an additional step of the inventory management system being notified that a customer information card has been swiped at a terminal that is in communication with the inventory management system and, in response, requesting the shopping list from the mobile device. 
     
     
         34 . An inventory management system for delivering an item price notification to a mobile device, the system comprising:
 a processor;   a memory, in communication with the processor, the memory being configured with:
 an inventory database comprising a price for an inventory item; and 
 instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform the steps of: 
 monitoring, in response to receiving a shopping list from the mobile device, an inventory database to determine if a quantity of an inventory item identified in the shopping list meets or exceeds a quantity threshold assigned to the inventory item, the quantity threshold comprising an overstock quantity for the inventory item; 
 determining that the quantity meets or exceeds the quantity threshold assigned to the inventory item and, in response: 
 changing a price associated with the inventory item to a sale price for the inventory item; 
 generating an item price notification comprising the sale price for the inventory item; and 
 transmitting the item price notification to the mobile device. 
   
     
     
         35 . The inventory management system of  claim 34 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform an additional step of updating the inventory database to reflect the sale price for the inventory item. 
     
     
         36 . The inventory management system of  claim 35 , wherein the instructions for updating further comprise instructions for updating the inventory database to temporarily reflect the sale price for the inventory item. 
     
     
         37 . The inventory management system of  claim 36 , further comprising instructions for instructing the inventory database to return the price for the inventory item to an original price, if a specific quantity for the inventory item is sold. 
     
     
         38 . The inventory management system of  claim 35 , wherein the instructions for updating further comprise instructions for updating the inventory database to permanently reflect the sale price for the inventory item. 
     
     
         39 . The inventory management system of  claim 34 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform an additional step of the inventory management system being notified that a customer information card has been swiped at a terminal that is in communication with the inventory management system and, in response, requesting the shopping list from the mobile device. 
     
     
         40 . The inventory management of  claim 34 , wherein the instructions for transmitting the item price notification to the mobile device further comprise instructions for transmitting the item price notification to the mobile device via a wireless connection, the wireless connection being selected from a group consisting of: an IEEE 802.11x connection established between the mobile device and a merchant network in which the inventory management system operates; and a wireless connection established between the mobile device and the inventory management system via a cellular network.