Searching for merchandise presently unavailable on a computer network

Abstract

A method of searching and purchasing items comprises receiving, via an electronic device having a processor, one or more search queries associated with a user-specified item, and causing a search engine, in communication with the processor, to search one or more databases for the user-specified item using the one or more search queries, thereby generating a search result indicating whether the user-specified item is available or unavailable for purchase. In response to the search result indicating that the user-specified item is unavailable for purchase, the search engine repeatedly searches, the one or more databases at specified time intervals until the search result indicates that the user-specified item is available for purchase. In response to the search result indicating the user-specified item is available for purchase, the method communicates to a user, via the electronic device, that the item is available for purchase.

1 . A system for searching and purchasing items, the system comprising:
 an electronic device in communication with a search engine, the search engine configured to receive one or more search queries associated with a user-specified item and to search one or more databases for the user-specified item;   a processor in communication with the search engine, the processor configured to:
 instruct the search engine to search the one or more databases for the user-specified item; 
 determine whether a search result generated by the search engine indicates that the user-specified item is available or unavailable for purchase; and 
 in response to the search result indicating that the user-specified item is unavailable for purchase, instruct the search engine to continue searching the one or more databases at specified time intervals until the search result indicates that the user-specified item is available for purchase; and 
   a delivery unit in communication with the processor, the processor further configured to communicate the search result to the delivery unit in response to the search result indicating that the user-specified item is available for purchase, wherein the delivery unit is configured to communicate to a user that the user-specified item is available for purchase.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device further comprises a memory unit configured to store the one or more search queries associated with the user-specified item, and wherein the search engine is configured to access the one or more search queries stored in the memory unit. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic device further comprises a display unit in communication with the memory unit, the display unit configured to display the one or more search queries to the user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the memory unit is configured to be accessible by a third-party provider to provide access to the third-party provider to the one or more search queries. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the delivery unit is further configured to transmit a message from the third-party provider to the user regarding the user-specified item. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the memory unit is further configured to include a security level for controlling access to the one or more search queries by the third-party provider. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the memory unit is further configured to store and associate a flag with at least one of the one or more search queries, wherein the flag identifies at least one third-party provider from which the user would purchase the user-specified item. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine whether the search result generated by the search engine indicates that the user-specified item is available or unavailable for purchase from the at least one third-party provider identified by the flag; and   in response to the search result indicating that the user-specified item is unavailable for purchase from the at least one third-party provider, instruct the search engine to continue searching the one or more databases at specified time intervals until the search result indicates that the user-specified item is available for purchase from the at least one third-party provider.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the memory unit is further configured to store and associate a flag with at least one of the one or more search queries, wherein the flag identifies a delivery method for the user-specified item. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user-specified item includes one of goods, services, event tickets, vacation information, travel information, and entertainment programs. 
     
     
         11 . A method of searching and purchasing items, the method comprising:
 receiving, via an electronic device having a processor, one or more search queries associated with a user-specified item;   causing a search engine, in communication with the processor, to search one or more databases for the user-specified item using the one or more search queries, thereby generating a search result indicating whether the user-specified item is available or unavailable for purchase;   in response to the search result indicating that the user-specified item is unavailable for purchase, repeatedly searching, via the search engine, the one or more databases at specified time intervals until the search result indicates that the user-specified item is available for purchase; and   in response to the search result indicating the user-specified item is available for purchase, communicating to a user, via the electronic device, that the item is available for purchase.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storing the one or more search queries in a memory unit, and wherein the receiving step further comprises accessing, via the processor, the memory unit for at least one of the one or more search queries.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 displaying to the user, via the electronic device, the one or more search queries stored in the memory unit.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving a communication, via the electronic device, from a third-party provider regarding the user-specified item.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 storing a flag in the memory unit, wherein the flag identifies at least one third-party provider from which the user would purchase the user-specified item; and   associating the flag with at least one of the one or more search queries in the memory unit.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining, via the processor, whether the search result generated by the search engine indicates that the user-specified item is available or unavailable for purchase from the at least one third-party provider identified by the flag; and   in response to the search result indicating that the user-specified item is unavailable for purchase from the at least one third-party provider, repeatedly searching, via the search engine, the one or more databases at specified time intervals until the search result indicates that the user-specified item is available for purchase from the at least one third-party provider.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 storing a flag in the memory unit, wherein the flag identifies a delivery method for the user-specified item; and   associating the flag with at least one of the one or more search queries in the memory unit.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the user-specified item includes one of goods, services, event tickets, vacation information, travel information, and entertainment programs.