System and method for interactive shopping

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for providing interactive checklist functionality to a primary user; the interactive checklist functionality is managed by a computer for the primary user. The method includes creating an interactive checklist, responsive to input from the primary user, which includes a list of items that the primary user may desire to purchase and accommodates entries of product information for particular items that satisfy items of the interactive checklist, and the entries, removals, and purchases are updated automatically by the computer. Also, the method includes enabling the primary user to shop through the interactive checklist, the interactive checklist functionality, which is responsive to input from the primary user, includes searching through the interactive checklist for at least one of the particular items that satisfy the items of the interactive checklist, selecting the at least one of the particular items that satisfy the items of the interactive checklist, and purchasing the at least one of the particular items that satisfy the items of the interactive checklist. Additionally, the method includes associating at least one of the particular items purchased by the primary user with at least one interactive checklist item, the interactive checklist is updated automatically to indicate that the interactive checklist item has been satisfied.

1 . A computer-based method for providing interactive checklist functionality to a primary user, wherein the interactive checklist functionality is managed by a computer for the primary user, the method comprising:
 responsive to input from the primary user, creating an interactive checklist by the computer, wherein the interactive checklist includes a list of items that the primary user may desire to purchase and accommodates entries of product information for particular items that satisfy items of the interactive checklist, and wherein entries, removals, and purchases are updated automatically by the computer;   enabling the primary user to shop through the interactive checklist, wherein the interactive checklist functionality for shopping through the interactive checklist includes, responsive to input from the primary user,
 searching through the interactive checklist for at least one of the particular items that satisfy the items of the interactive checklist, 
 selecting the at least one of the particular items that satisfy the items of the interactive checklist, and 
 purchasing the at least one of the particular items that satisfy the items of the interactive checklist; and 
   responsive to input from the primary user, associating the at least one of the particular items purchased by the primary user with at least one interactive checklist item, wherein the interactive checklist is updated automatically by the computer to indicate that the at least one interactive checklist item has been satisfied.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the list of items is organized by categories. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein responsive to input from the primary user, a set of processes managed by the computer for the primary user includes modifying the entries, removals, and purchases of particular items and wherein entries, removals, and purchases are updated automatically by the computer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein responsive to input from the primary user, a set of processes managed by the computer for the primary user includes adding, removing and modifying the list of items. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein responsive to input from the primary user, a set of processes managed by the computer for the primary user includes providing a user interface to assist the primary user in organizing and customizing the interactive checklist. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein product information for particular items selected by the primary user is displayed in the interactive checklist. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the list of items relates to services to be purchased by the primary user, wherein information concerning such services is displayed in the interactive checklist. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive checklist functionality includes enabling the primary user to purchase, at the same time, all of the items of the interactive checklist that have been designated for purchase. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary user can designate all or a subset of the particular items whose product information is displayed in the interactive checklist for action, including pricing, comparison to budget, further consideration and purchase. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive checklist functionality includes providing the primary user with at least one existing interactive checklist having a plurality of pre-populated particular items relating to a shopping objective of the primary user. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive checklist functionality includes providing the primary user with at least one customized interactive checklist pre-populated with particular items based on information concerning the primary user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive checklist functionality includes:
 enabling the primary user to specify a budget total for particular items designated by the primary user,   responsive to input from the primary user, comparing automatically by the computer a total cost for the particular items designated by the primary user against a budget total of the primary user,   monitoring automatically by the computer a total price of the particular items designated by the primary user, and   notifying automatically by the computer the primary user when the total price exceeds the budget total.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive checklist functionality includes:
 creating one or a plurality of accounts on the computer for one or a plurality of secondary users, the one or plurality of secondary users designated to be participants in interactive shopping via an interactive checklist,   enabling the primary user to give the one or plurality of secondary users various levels of read access and write access to the interactive checklist, the read access including an option to view one or more of the list of items, and the write access including an option to add, remove, comment on, or purchase one or more of the list of items, and   enabling the primary user to associate, via the computer, a first secondary user with a first subset of the list of items and a second secondary user with a second subset of the list of items, wherein the first and second subsets of the list of items differ.   
     
     
         14 . A computer-based method for providing collaborative shopping functionality to a plurality of users, wherein at least one of the users is a primary user, and wherein the collaborative shopping functionality is managed by a computer for the plurality of users, the method comprising:
 providing a collaborative shopping interface to the plurality of users, wherein such interface includes an interactive list of items and a commonly viewed page;   responsive to input from the primary user, creating the interactive list of items by the computer, wherein the interactive list of items accommodates entries of product information for the items, and wherein entries, removals, and purchases are updated automatically by the computer;   responsive to input from the primary user, permitting at least one secondary user from the plurality of users to participate in a collaborative shopping session; and   enabling the plurality of users to shop through the collaborative shopping interface, wherein shopping through the collaborative shopping interface includes, responsive to input from a user,
 searching for at least one of the items whose product information will be entered into the interactive list of items, 
 selecting the at least one of the items for inclusion in the interactive list of items, 
 purchasing the at least one of the items for the primary user, 
 responsive to input from the primary user, providing the commonly viewed page for all participating users to interact with the page and with each other, and 
 responsive to input from the primary user, integrating the interactive list of items with the commonly viewed page, wherein an item selected by a user can be displayed on the commonly viewed page for viewing by other users, 
   wherein the interactive list of items is updated automatically by the computer to indicate actions by the users.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the collaborative shopping functionality includes, responsive to input from a user,
 searching through at least one requirement of the interactive list of items for at least one of the items that satisfies the at least one requirement, and   selecting the at least one of the items that satisfies the at least one requirement, and   purchasing the at least one of the items that satisfies the at least one requirement, and   associating the at least one of the items purchased by the user with at least one item in the interactive list of items, wherein the interactive list of items is updated automatically by the computer to indicate that the at least one requirement has been satisfied.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the collaborative shopping functionality includes enabling the plurality of users to make comments concerning at least one item presented in the commonly viewed page. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the collaborative shopping functionality includes enabling the plurality of users to determine collectively which users should purchase which items.