System and method for interactive shopping

Abstract

A method and associated system is provided for providing an interactive checklist and collaborative shopping session. The method includes displaying desired items on an interactive checklist. A primary user may designate which users can view specific items and should purchase specific items. The method also includes the option for the primary user to send an email to a secondary user with information, extracted from a checklist or registry, with a wish list of items that the recipient can buy with a click to a shopping cart. The primary user may also initiate a real-time or static collaborative shopping session where multiple users can suggest, comment on and purchase items. The primary user may “return” a gift item before the item is shipped and receive credit or cash.

1 . A method for providing an interactive checklist, the method comprising:
 creating an account for a primary user, the primary user designated to be the organizer of the interactive checklist;   creating one or a plurality of accounts for one or a plurality of secondary users, the one or plurality of secondary users designated to be participants in interactive shopping via the interactive checklist;   providing a user interface to assist the primary user in organizing the interactive checklist, the interactive checklist including any number of desired items;   allowing the primary user to add an item to the interactive checklist, remove an item from the interactive checklist, comment on an item in the interactive checklist, or purchase any item on the interactive checklist;   allowing the primary user to customize the interactive checklist;   allowing the primary user to give the secondary users various levels of read access and write access to the interactive checklist, the read access including the option to view one or more of the desired items, and the write access including the option to add, remove, comment on, or purchase one or more of the desired items;   displaying at least one of product images and product information on the interactive checklist for each of the one or more desired items;   updating the interactive checklist when an item has been added, removed, commented on, or purchased; and   allowing the primary user to associate particular secondary users with particular desired items in order to designate one or more desired purchasers for the desired items.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the interactive checklist includes default or suggested desired items, the default or suggested desired items predetermined based on the primary user's stated profile, preferences, and budget. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the default desired items are predetermined based on at least one of specifications selected from the group or category to which the primary user belongs, such as the primary user's college dormitory, camp requirements, taste in particular types of wines, taste in particular styles of decor, and personal interests. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 allowing the primary user to designate a wish list to be emailed to a recipient, the wish list created by clicking on any number of desired items or otherwise directing that any number of desired items be included in the email; and   emailing the wish list including the interactive checklist or a subset of the interactive checklist to one or a plurality of email recipients at email addresses specified by the primary user,   wherein the emailed wish list including the interactive checklist or the subset of the interactive checklist contains at least one of a textual and visual description of the any number of desired items and a selectable option for the email recipient to purchase any of the desired items on the interactive checklist or subset of the interactive checklist.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of notification of changes to an interactive checklist, an updated interactive checklist, and an updated subset of the interactive checklist is emailed to the one or a plurality of email recipients at email addresses specified by the primary user when the interactive checklist is updated, or when one or more items on the emailed interactive checklist or subset of the interactive checklist are updated. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 notifying the primary user of the purchase of an item that is either not on the interactive checklist or that had been previously purchased; and   allowing the primary user to either accept the item or to return the item,   wherein accepting the item includes forwarding purchase information to a vendor to effect delivery of the item, and returning the item includes granting the primary user cash or credit instead of the item.   
     
     
         7 . A system for providing an interactive checklist, the system comprising:
 a primary account module for creating an account for a primary user, the primary user designated to be the organizer of an interactive checklist;   a secondary account module for creating one or a plurality of accounts for one or a plurality of secondary users, the one or plurality of secondary users designated to be participants in interactive shopping via the interactive checklist;   a user interface module for providing a user interface to assist the primary user in organizing the interactive checklist, the interactive checklist including any number of desired items;   a list module for allowing the primary user to add an item to the interactive checklist, remove an item from the interactive checklist, comment on an item in the interactive checklist, or purchase any item on the interactive checklist;   a customizing module for allowing the primary user to customize the interactive checklist;   an access module for allowing the primary user to give the secondary users various levels of read access and write access to the interactive checklist, the read access including the option to view one or more of the desired items, and the write access including the option to add, remove, comment on, or purchase one or more of the desired items;   an information module for displaying at least one of product images and product information on the interactive checklist for each of the one or more desired items;   an updating module for updating the interactive checklist when an item has been added, removed, commented on, or purchased; and   an association module for allowing the primary user to associate particular secondary users with particular desired items in order to designate a desired purchaser for the desired items.   
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the interactive checklist includes default or suggested desired items, the default or suggested desired items predetermined based on the primary user's stated profile, preferences, and budget. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the default desired items are predetermined based on at least one of specifications selected from the group or category to which the primary user belongs, such as the primary user's college dormitory, camp requirements, taste in particular types of wines, taste in particular styles of decor, and personal interests. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a designation module for allowing the primary user to designate a wish list to be emailed to a recipient, the wish list created by clicking on any number of desired items or otherwise directing that any number of desired items be included in the email; and   an emailing module for emailing the wish list including the interactive checklist or a subset of the interactive checklist to one recipient or a plurality of email recipients at email addresses specified by the primary user,   wherein the emailed wish list including the interactive checklist or the subset of the interactive checklist contains at least one of a textual and visual description of the any number of desired items and a selectable option for the email recipient to purchase any of the desired items on the interactive checklist or subset of the interactive checklist.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of notification of changes to an interactive checklist, an updated interactive checklist, and an updated subset of the interactive checklist is emailed to the one or a plurality of email recipients at email addresses specified by the primary user when the interactive checklist is updated, or when one or more items on the emailed interactive checklist or subset of the interactive checklist are updated. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a notification module for notifying the primary user of the purchase of an item that is either not on the interactive checklist or that had been previously purchased; and   an acceptance module for allowing the primary user to either accept the item or to return the item,   wherein accepting the item includes forwarding purchase information to a vendor to effect delivery of the item, and returning the item includes granting the primary user cash or credit instead of the item.   
     
     
         13 . A method for providing a collaborative shopping interface, the method comprising:
 creating an account for a primary user, the primary user designated to be the organizer of an interactive checklist;   creating one or a plurality of accounts for one or a plurality of secondary users, the one or plurality of secondary users designated to be participants in interactive shopping via the interactive checklist;   facilitating the primary user in initiating an interactive collaborative shopping session by designating which of the one or a plurality of secondary users to invite to the session;   sending an invitation to the designated one or a plurality of secondary users;   providing a commonly viewed page for all participating users to view;   providing the interactive checklist on the commonly viewed page;   allowing the participating users to search for items to add to the interactive checklist;   allowing the participating users to place an item from the interactive checklist or from a search or from the participant's own items a common area;   allowing the participants to type or speak comments on an item in the common area; and   allowing the participants to determine who should purchase the items.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled)