System and method for facilitating off-line shopping in-transit using a mobile device of a traveler

Abstract

Mobile device and method for operating the same to implement a personal mobile retail environment for off-line shopping for a traveler. Prior to the departure time the mobile device receives a mobile store definition that describes goods or services available for purchase during the transit period and available for delivery during the transit period or at the destination arrival location. The mobile store definition was previously generated based on a travel itinerary of the traveler. The mobile device also receives a charge limit indication representing a monetary limit for purchases available via the personal mobile retail environment. The mobile device provides an interactive shopping experience for the traveler based on the mobile store definition, including facilitating selection by the traveler of goods or services for purchase, and enforcing the monetary limit based on the charge limit indication.

1 - 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A mobile device configured to implement a personal mobile retail environment for off-line shopping for a traveler, the personal mobile retail environment being associated with specific scheduled itinerary including a departure time, a departure location, a destination arrival time and a destination arrival location, and a transit period that exists when the mobile retail environment is traveling between the departure location and destination arrival location, the mobile device comprising:
 a mobile store inventory records module representing goods or services available for purchase during the transit period and available for delivery during the transit period or at the destination arrival location, wherein the mobile store definition was generated based on a travel itinerary of the traveler; and   a mobile store module configured to facilitate an interactive shopping experience for the traveler based on the goods or services represented in the mobile store inventory records module, the mobile store module including logic for facilitating selection, by the traveler, of the goods or services for purchase, and for enforcing a predetermined monetary limit on purchases available via the personal mobile retail environment.   
     
     
         4 . The mobile device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a data exchange module configured to provide sale information representing the selection of goods or services to a point-of-sale device, wherein the point-of-sale device is configured to verify the selection against a committed availability of the goods or services.   
     
     
         5 . The mobile device of  claim 4 , wherein the data exchange module is configured to display a bar code readable by the point-of-sale device. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile device of  claim 4 , wherein the data exchange module is configured to wirelessly communicate with the point-of-sale device over a vehicle network. 
     
     
         7 . A method for implementing a personal mobile retail environment for off-line shopping utilizing a mobile device of a traveler, the personal mobile retail environment being associated with specific scheduled itinerary including a departure time, a departure location, a destination arrival time and a destination arrival location, and a transit period that exists when the mobile retail environment is traveling between the departure location and destination arrival location, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the mobile device, prior to the departure time, a mobile store definition that describes goods or services available for purchase during the transit period and available for delivery during the transit period or at the destination arrival location, wherein the mobile store definition was generated based on a travel itinerary of the traveler;   receiving, by the mobile device, a charge limit indication representing a monetary limit for purchases available via the personal mobile retail environment; and   providing, by the mobile device, an interactive shopping experience for the traveler based on the mobile store definition, including facilitating selection by the traveler of goods or services for purchase, and enforcing the monetary limit based on the charge limit indication.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 by the mobile device, providing sale information representing the selection of goods or services to a point-of-sale device, wherein the point-of-sale device is configured to verify the selection against a committed availability of the goods or services.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing the sale information to the point-of-sale device includes displaying a barcode. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing the sale information to the point-of-sale device includes transmitting the sale information via a vehicle network.