Method and apparatus to facilitate picking up a retail item

Abstract

A central computer system for a retail shopping facility automatically determines that a customer having a retail item available for pickup at the facility is currently proximal to the facility and automatically responds by sending the customer a message that includes an opportunity for the customer to indicate that they will now pick up the retail item. Upon receiving information indicating that the customer utilized the aforementioned opportunity to indicate that they will now pick up the retail item, the central computer system can instigate a transmission of a message to at least one associate of the retail shopping facility to prompt the associate to move the retail item from a first area of the retail shopping facility (such as a non-public storage area) to a second area of the retail shopping facility (such as a designated pick-up area).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a retail shopping facility;   a network interface;   a central computer system operably coupled to the network interface and configured to:
 automatically determine that a customer having a retail item available for pickup at the retail shopping facility is currently proximal to the retail shopping facility and automatically responding to that determination by sending the customer a message wherein the message includes an opportunity for the customer to indicate that they will now pick up the retail item at the retail shopping facility. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the central computer system is configured to automatically determine that the customer is currently proximal to the retail shopping facility by comparing a present location of the customer to a predetermined distance threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the central computer system is configured to receive, via the network interface, the information regarding the present location of the customer from a mobile communications device associated with the customer. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the retail item available for pickup at the retail shopping facility was ordered on behalf of the customer. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the retail item available for pickup at the retail shopping facility was ordered via an online shopping service. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the opportunity for the customer to indicate that they will now pick up the retail item at the retail shopping facility comprises a touch-based user interface on a mobile communications device associated with the customer. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the central computer system is further configured to:
 receive information indicating that the customer utilized the opportunity to indicate that they will now pick up the retail item at the retail shopping facility. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the central computer system is further configured to:
 transmit a message to at least one associate of the retail shopping facility to prompt the associate to move the retail item from a first area of the retail shopping facility to a second area of the retail shopping facility. 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the first area of the retail shopping facility comprises a non-public storage area. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the central computer system is further configured to:
 maintain a history regarding at least one duration of time pertaining to making the retail item available for pickup by the customer at the retail shopping facility. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 by a central computer system for a retail shopping facility that is operably coupled to the network interface:   automatically determining that a customer having a retail item available for pickup at the retail shopping facility is currently proximal to the retail shopping facility and automatically responding to that determination by sending the customer a message wherein the message includes an opportunity for the customer to indicate that they will now pick up the retail item at the retail shopping facility.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein automatically determining that the customer is currently proximal to the retail shopping facility comprises, at least in part, comparing a present location of the customer to a predetermined distance threshold. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein automatically determining that the customer is currently proximal to the retail shopping facility comprises, at least in part, receiving information regarding the present location of the customer from a mobile communications device associated with the customer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the retail item available for pickup at the retail shopping facility was ordered on behalf of the customer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the retail item available for pickup at the retail shopping facility was ordered via an online shopping service. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the opportunity for the customer to indicate that they will now pick up the retail item at the retail shopping facility comprises a touch-based user interface on a mobile communications device associated with the customer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 receiving information indicating that the customer utilized the opportunity to indicate that they will now pick up the retail item at the retail shopping facility. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 transmitting a message to at least one associate of the retail shopping facility to prompt the associate to move the retail item from a first area of the retail shopping facility to a second area of the retail shopping facility. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the first area of the retail shopping facility comprises a non-public storage area. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 maintaining a history regarding at least one duration of time pertaining to making the retail item available for pickup by the customer at the retail shopping facility.