Persistent virtual shopping cart

Abstract

In some examples, a service computing device receives an indication that a buyer associated with a buyer profile has selected a first item to purchase from a first merchant site. The service computing device associates information related to the first item with a persistent virtual cart associated with the buyer profile. The service computing device receives an indication that the buyer has selected a second item to purchase from the second merchant site. The service computing device associates information related to the second item with the buyer profile. The service computing device receives, from a buyer device, an indication of intention to purchase the items in the persistent virtual cart. Consequently, the service computing device may send an order for the first item to a computing device associated with the first merchant and an order for the second item to a computing device associated with the second merchant.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A payment service system comprising:
 one or more memories having computer-readable instructions stored therein; and   one or more processors configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:
 generate, at the payment service system, a persistent virtual shopping cart in association with a buyer profile of a buyer; 
 maintain, in the persistent virtual shopping cart, records of multiple items selected from different merchant sites by the buyer using a mobile device associated with the buyer, wherein the persistent virtual shopping cart is accessible to the buyer via the different merchant sites; 
 display, on a graphical user interface of the persistent virtual shopping cart, the multiple items selected by the buyer for purchase, wherein the display includes a breakdown of each item and an identification of a corresponding merchant from among merchants associated with the different merchant sites; 
 present, on the graphical user interface, a single command for placing a separate order for each of the multiple items with the corresponding merchant; 
 receive, via the graphical user interface, a selection of the single command; 
 place the separate order for each of the multiple items with the corresponding merchant; and 
 transmit a notification to the corresponding merchant associated with each to complete a processing of a corresponding one of the multiple items. 
   
     
     
         22 . The payment service system of  claim 21 , wherein the single command enables a single payment for the multiple items, and
 the one or more processors are configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to electronically process a corresponding portion of the payment with the corresponding merchant as part of placing the separate order for each of the multiple items.   
     
     
         23 . The payment service system of  claim 21 , the one or more processors are configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:
 present, on the graphical user interface, (1) a corresponding purchase option for each of the multiple items to allow the buyer to pay for a corresponding one of the multiple items in person or via the persistent virtual shopping cart and (2) a corresponding delivery or pickup option for each of the multiple items.   
     
     
         24 . The payment service system of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to place the separate order for each of the multiple items by electronically processing a payment for each of the multiple items according to the corresponding purchase option, the payment being electronically processed after (i) a payment processing request is received via the persistent virtual shopping cart or (ii) a corresponding payment is made by the buyer in person. 
     
     
         25 . The payment service system of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to present, on the graphical user interface, a virtual control for adding a gratuity to at least one of the multiple items. 
     
     
         26 . The payment service system of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to generate the graphical user interface by receiving textual data for the multiple items and formatting the textual data for visual presentation as virtually selectable icons on the mobile device of the buyer. 
     
     
         27 . The payment service system of  claim 26 , wherein the graphical user interface generated for each of the different merchant sites includes a corresponding sub-window providing transaction summary for one or more items selected for purchase from a corresponding merchant site of the different merchant sites. 
     
     
         28 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-readable instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of a payment service system, cause the payment service system to:
 generate, at the payment service system, a persistent virtual shopping cart in association with a buyer profile of a buyer;   maintain, in the persistent virtual shopping cart, records of multiple items selected from different merchant sites by the buyer using a mobile device associated with the buyer, wherein the persistent virtual shopping cart is accessible to the buyer via the different merchant sites;   display, on a graphical user interface of the persistent virtual shopping cart, the multiple items selected by the buyer for purchase, wherein the display includes a breakdown of each item and an identification of a corresponding merchant from among merchants associated with the different merchant sites;   present, on the graphical user interface, a single command for placing a separate order for each of the multiple items with the corresponding merchant;   receive, via the graphical user interface, a selection of the single command;   place the separate order for each of the multiple items with the corresponding merchant; and   transmit a notification to the corresponding merchant associated with each to complete a processing of a corresponding one of the multiple items.   
     
     
         29 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 28 , wherein the single command enables a single payment for the multiple items, and
 the execution of the computer-readable instructions cause the payment service system to electronically process a corresponding portion of the payment with the corresponding merchant as part of placing the separate order for each of the multiple items.   
     
     
         30 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 28 , wherein the execution of the computer-readable instructions cause the payment service system to:
 present, on the graphical user interface, (1) a corresponding purchase option for each of the multiple items to allow the buyer to pay for a corresponding one of the multiple items in person or via the persistent virtual shopping cart and (2) a corresponding delivery or pickup option for each of the multiple items.   
     
     
         31 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 30 , wherein the execution of the computer-readable instructions cause the payment service system to place the order by electronically processing a payment for each of the multiple items according to the corresponding purchase option, the payment being electronically processed after (i) a payment processing request is received via the persistent virtual shopping cart or (ii) a corresponding payment is made by the buyer in person. 
     
     
         32 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 28 , wherein the execution of the computer-readable instructions cause the payment service system to present, on the graphical user interface, a virtual control for adding a gratuity to at least one of the multiple items. 
     
     
         33 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 32 , wherein the execution of the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more processors to generate the graphical user interface by receiving textual data for the multiple items and formatting the textual data for visual presentation as virtually selectable icons on the mobile device of the buyer. 
     
     
         34 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 33 , wherein the graphical user interface generated for each of the different merchant sites includes a corresponding sub-window providing transaction summary for one or more items selected for purchase from a corresponding merchant site of the different merchant sites. 
     
     
         35 . A method comprising:
 generating a persistent virtual shopping cart in association with a buyer profile of a buyer;   maintaining, in the persistent virtual shopping cart, records of multiple items selected from different merchant sites by the buyer using a mobile device associated with the buyer, wherein the persistent virtual shopping cart is accessible to the buyer via the different merchant sites;   displaying, on a graphical user interface of the persistent virtual shopping cart, the multiple items selected by the buyer for purchase, wherein the display includes a breakdown of each item and an identification of a corresponding merchant from among merchants associated with the different merchant sites;   presenting, on the graphical user interface, a single command for placing a separate order for each of the multiple items with the corresponding merchant;   receiving, via the graphical user interface, a selection of the single command;   placing the separate order for each of the multiple items with the corresponding merchant; and   transmitting a notification to the corresponding merchant associated with each to complete a processing of a corresponding one of the multiple items.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the single command enables a single payment for the multiple items, and
 placing the separate order for each of the multiple items includes electronically processing a corresponding portion of the payment with the corresponding merchant.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 presenting, on the graphical user interface, (1) a corresponding purchase option for each of the multiple items to allow the buyer to pay for a corresponding one of the multiple items in person or via the persistent virtual shopping cart and (2) a corresponding delivery or pickup option for each of the multiple items.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein placing the separate order for each of the multiple items includes electronically processing a payment for each of the multiple items according to the corresponding purchase option, the payment being electronically processed after (i) a payment processing request is received via the persistent virtual shopping cart or (ii) a corresponding payment is made by the buyer in person. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein further comprising:
 presenting, on the graphical user interface, a virtual control for adding a gratuity to at least one of the multiple items.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the graphical user interface is generated by receiving textual data for the multiple items and formatting the textual data for visual presentation as virtually selectable icons on the mobile device of the buyer.