Method for aggregated location-based services

Abstract

A method for operating an aggregated web service to display location-based items and services and allow for their remote purchase and pick-up or delivery. Algorithms provided to vendors allow for automated pricing adjustments to encourage purchase in competitive geographical locations.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 receiving on at least one computer information data associated with a selection made by a user from among a plurality of search options concurrently displayed to the user through a web browser; 
 receiving on the at least one computer information data associated with a geographical location of the user, such information data being produced by a device on which the web browser is displayed or provided by the user through the web browser; 
 receiving on the at least one computer information data associated with a geographical range of interest of the user; 
 prior to receiving the data associated with the selection, data associated with the geographical location of the user, and the data associated with the geographical range of the user:
 receiving on the at least one computer participating business data from a plurality of participating businesses, the participating business data being supplied by the plurality or participating businesses;   storing by the at least one computer the participating business data in at least one first portion of at least one data store;   fetching by the at least one computer one or more web pages,   extracting by the at least one computer non-participating business data for a plurality of non-participating businesses from the one or more web pages, wherein the extracting includes using a location scraper, and wherein the extracted non-participating business data includes location information of the plurality of non-participating businesses;   storing by the at least one computer the non-participating business data in at least one second portion of the at least one data store;   automatically updating by the at least one computer one or more records to include the participating business data and the non-participating business data;    
 processing on the at least one computer the information associated with the selection made, the geographical location, and the geographical range of interest querying by the at least one computer the at least one data store to determine a plurality of businesses of interest that are consistent with the user selected data and are located within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location, the plurality of businesses of interest including a one or more the plurality of participating businesses and one or more the plurality of non-participating businesses; 
 determining on the at least one computer a price of at least one service, at least one item, or a combination thereof associated with each of the plurality of businesses of interest identified by the querying from the one or more automatically updated records; 
 when afor each business from the plurality of businesses of interest that is a participating business and, determining the price associated with the participating business is not a lowest price of the prices associated with the plurality of businesses of interest,and automatically adjusting by the at least one computer the price associated with the participating business to a price different from a standard price; 
 when afor each business from the plurality of businesses of interest that is a non-participating business and the price associated with the non-participating business is not a lowest price of the prices associated with the plurality of businesses of interest, automatically deciding to not adjust the price associated with the non-participating business; and 
 sending by the at least one computer the price associated with each of the plurality of participating businesses of interest and non-participating businesses of interest identified by the querying to the web browser for display; 
 wherein a record associated with the participating business stored on the at least one computer in the at least one data store is updatable by at least one participating business computer in communication with the at least one computer. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein: the price associated with each of the plurality of businesses of interest is the price of a service, or a item, or both, provided by the plurality of businesses of interest, and the service, or the item, or both, the at least one service, the at least one item, or the combination thereof for which the price is determined, is based on the information data associated with the selection made by a user through the web browser. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining by the at least one computer the lowest price of the prices associated with the plurality of businesses of interest; and 
 adjusting by the at least one computer the price associated with at least one of the one or more plurality of participating businesses to be the lowest price when after determining the lowest price is higher than a minimum price provided by the at least one of the one or more the plurality of participating businesses. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 adjusting by the at least one computer the price associated with the at least one of the one or more plurality of participating businesses based on a predetermined percentage of a standard retail price or on a predetermined amount below the standard retail price to produce an adjusted price, 
 wherein when the adjusted price is set to the minimum price after determining the adjusted price is lower than a minimum price provided by the at least one of the one or more plurality of participating businesses, the adjusted price is set to the minimum price. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 when a business from the plurality of businesses of interest is a non-participating business, the price associated with the non-participating business is based on data collectedthe extracted non-participating business data is extracted from a web site associated with the non-participating business. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the price associated with the participating business is based on data received from the participating business, the data including data includes a standard retail price, or discount pricing information data, or both. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one computer determines a business is deemed to be a business of interest when that business has an available service or an available item associated with the selection made by the user and thereby determines that the business is a business of interest, the availability of the service or the availability of the item being determined based on data stored and associated with that business. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processing to determine the plurality of businesses of interest querying comprises:
 identifying by the at least one computer the geographical location of the one or more plurality of participating businesses and the one or more the plurality of non-participating businesses; 
 determining by the at least one computer whether the geographical location of the one or more plurality of participating businesses and the one or more plurality of non-participating businesses is within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location; 
 designating by the at least one computer the one or more plurality of participating businesses and the one or more plurality of non-participating businesses as the plurality of one or more businesses of interest when after determining the geographical location of the one or more plurality of participating businesses and the one or more the plurality of non-participating businesses is within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location; and 
 not designating by the at least one computer the one or more plurality of participating businesses and the one or more plurality of non-participating businesses as the plurality of businesses of interest when after determining the geographical location of the one or more plurality of participating businesses and the one or more the plurality of non-participating businesses is not within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of search options concurrently displayed to the user through the web browser comprises a plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of search options concurrently displayed to the user through the web browser further comprises a plurality of selectable search sub-categories displayed to the user through the web browser in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of search options further comprises a text entry interface displayed to the user through the web browser in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories and configured to enable text searches within the selected at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       12. A system, comprising:
 at least one server configured to execute an application to communicate with one or more web sites to collect data from the web sites; and 
 a storage device configured to store data, including the data collected from the web sites, 
 wherein the at least one server is configured to:
 receive participating business data from a plurality of participating businesses that have with the at least one computer, the participating business data being supplied by the plurality of participating businesses; 
 store the participating business data in at least one first portion of the storage device; 
 extract, with the application, non-participating business data for a plurality of non-participating businesses from the one or more web sites, the non-participating businesses being with the at least one computer, wherein the extracting includes using a location scraper, and wherein the extracted non-participating business data includes location information of the plurality of non-participating businesses; 
 store the non-participating business data in at least one second portion of the storage device; 
 automatically update one or more records to include the participating business data and the non-participating business data;  
 search the data stored in the storage device based on information data received associated with a selection made by a user from among a plurality of search options concurrently displayed to the user through a web browser, on a geographical location of the user, and on a geographical range of interest of the user, the at least one server being configured to 
 determine a plurality of businesses of interest based on the searched data, the plurality of businesses of interest that are consistent with the user selected data and are located within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location including one or more the plurality of participating businesses and one or more the plurality of non-participating businesses, the at least one server being configured to 
 determine a price of at least one service, at least one item, or a combination thereof associated with each of the plurality of businesses of interest from the one or more automatically updated records, the at least one server being configured to 
 for each business from the plurality of businesses of interest that is a participating business, automatically adjust the price associated with the participating business when a business from the plurality of businesses of interest is a participating business andto a price different from a standard price after determining the price associated with the participating business is not a lowest price of the prices associated with the plurality of businesses of interest, the at least one server being configured to 
 for each business from the plurality of businesses of interest that is a non-participating business, automatically decide not to adjust the price associated with the non-participating business when a business from the plurality of businesses of interest is a non-participating business and the price associated with the non-participating business is not a lowest price of the prices associated with the plurality of businesses of interest, and  
 
 wherein the at least one server is configured to send the price associated with each of the plurality of businesses of interest to the web browser for display, and 
 wherein a record associated with the participating business stored on the storage device is updatable by at least one participating business computer in communication with the at least one server. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein: the price associated with each of the plurality of businesses of interest is the price of a service, or a item, or both, provided by the plurality of businesses of interest, and the service, or the item, or both, the at least one service, the at least one item, or the combination thereof for which the price is determined, is based on the information data associated with the selection made by a user through the web browser. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the at least one server is configured to determine a lowest price from the prices associated with the plurality of businesses of interest, and 
 the at least one server is configured to adjust the price associated with the at least one of the one or more plurality of participating businesses to be the lowest price when after determining the lowest price is above a minimum price provided by the at least one of the one or more plurality of participating businesses. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the at least one server is configured to adjust the price associated with the at least one of the one or more plurality of participating businesses based on a predetermined percentage of a standard retail price or on a predetermined amount below the standard retail price to produce an adjusted price, 
 wherein when the adjusted price is set to the minimum price after determining the adjusted price is lower than a minimum price provided by the at least one of the one or more plurality of participating businesses, the adjusted price is set to the minimum price. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 when a business from the plurality of businesses of interest is a non-participating business, the price associated with the non-participating business is based on data collected by the first serverthe extracted non-participating business data is extracted from a web site associated with the non-participating business. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the price associated with the participating business is based on data stored in the storage device and received from the participating business, the data including data includes a standard retail price, or discount pricing information data, or both. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the at least one server is configured to execute the application to communicate with the one or more web sites to collect data from the web sites according to a predetermined schedule. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the data collected from the web sites includes store location and address, or a location name, or a location type, or a phone number, or hours of operation, or mail pick-up times, or package pick-up times, or an item price, or a service price, or inventory quantities, or a product name, or a product number, or a universal product code (UPC), or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the at least one server is configured to authenticate a communication with a participating business to store data associated with that participating business in the storage device, and 
 the data associated with that participating business includes store location and address, or a location name, or a location type, or a phone number, or hours of operation, or mail pick-up times, or package pick-up times, or an item price, or a service price, or inventory quantities, or a product name, or a product number, or a universal product code (UPC), or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 12 , wherein determining the plurality of businesses of interest comprises:
 identifying the geographical location of the one or more plurality of participating businesses and the one or more plurality of non-participating businesses; 
 determining whether the geographical location of the one or more plurality of participating businesses and the one or more plurality of non-participating businesses is within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location; 
 designating the one or more plurality of participating businesses and the one or more plurality of non-participating businesses as the plurality of businesses of interest when after determining the geographical location of the one or more plurality of participating businesses and the one or more plurality of non-participating businesses is within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location; and 
 not designating the one or more plurality of participating businesses and the one or more non-participating businesses as the plurality of businesses of interest when after determining the geographical location of the one or more plurality of participating businesses and the one or more plurality of non-participating businesses is not within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location. 
 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of search options concurrently displayed to the user through the web browser comprises a plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of search options concurrently displayed to the user through the web browser further comprises a plurality of selectable search sub-categories displayed to the user through the web browser in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of search options further comprises a text entry interface displayed to the user through the web browser in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories and configured to enable text searches within the selected at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       25. A method, comprising:
 receiving on at least one computer information data associated with a selection made by a user from among a plurality of search options concurrently displayed to the user through a web browser; 
 receiving on the at least one computer information data associated with a geographical location of the user, such information data being produced by a device on which the web browser is displayed or provided by the user through the web browser; 
 receiving on the at least one computer information data associated with a geographical range of interest of the user; 
 prior to receiving the data associated with the selection, data associated with the geographical location of the user, and the data associated with the geographical range of the user:
 receiving on the at least one computer participating business data from a plurality of participating businesses, the participating business data being supplied by the plurality of participating businesses;   storing by the at least one computer the participating business data in at least one first portion of at least one data store;   fetching by the at least one computer one or more web pages,   extracting by the at least one computer non-participating business data for a plurality of non-participating businesses from the one or more web pages, wherein the extracting includes using a location scraper, and wherein the extracted non-participating business data includes location information of the plurality of non-participating businesses;   storing by the at least one computer the non-participating business data in at least one second portion of the at least one data store;   automatically updating by the at least one computer one or more records to include the participating business data and the non-participating business data;   
 processing on the at least one computer the information associated with the selection made, the geographical location, and the geographical range of interestquerying by the at least one computer the at least one data store to determine one or more businesses of interest that are consistent with the user selected data and are located within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location; 
 generating a timing information data by the at least one computer from the one or more automatically updated records, the timing data associated with a time remaining before a pick up time at that business, and at least one of a time remaining before a closing time of a business from the one of more businesses of interest, or with a time remaining before an opening time of that business, or with a time remaining before a pick up time at that business, the timing information data comprising a numeric time value having associated a color; 
 updating the timing information data comprising the numeric time value periodically continuously and automatically by the at least one computer, the updating comprising automatically changing the numeric time value to reflect a change in the time remaining between the updated current time and the pick up time at the business, and at least one of a change in the time remaining between the updated current time and the of the closing time of that business or a change in the time remaining between the updated current time and the opening time of that business; 
 sending by the at least one computer the timing information data comprising the numeric time value to the web browser for display; and 
 periodically sending an the updated timing information data by the at least one computer comprising the numeric time value to the web browser for display, the updated timing data comprising a different numeric time value from the timing data prior to the updating. 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25 , wherein:
 whenthe timing data is green for the one or more automatically updated records having the time remaining before the closing time or before the pick up time that is more than a predetermined time, the color associated with the timing information is green. 
 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 25 , wherein:
 whenthe timing data is amber or yellow for the one or more automatically updated records having the time remaining before the closing time or before the pick up time that is less than a predetermined time, the color associated with the timing information is amber or yellow. 
 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the color associated with the time remaining before the opening time, or when for the one or more automatically updated records having the next pick-up time that is not the same day, is red. 
 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 sending by the at least one computer at least a subset of the participating business data or non-participating business data the price associated with each of the one or more businesses of interest to the web browser for display; 
 receiving on the at least one computer a selection of one of the one or more businesses of interest; and 
 generating by the at least one computer the timing information data for the selected business from the one or more businesses of interest. 
 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of search options concurrently displayed to the user through the web browser comprises a plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of search options concurrently displayed to the user through the web browser further comprises a plurality of selectable search sub-categories displayed to the user through the web browser in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of search options further comprises a text entry interface displayed to the user through the web browser in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories and configured to enable text searches within the selected at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       33. A method, comprising:
 receiving on at least one computer data associated with a selection made by a user from among a plurality of search options displayed to the user through a web browser;   receiving on the at least one computer data associated with a geographical location of the user, such data being produced by a device on which the web browser is displayed or provided by the user through the web browser;   receiving on the at least one computer data associated with a geographical range of interest of the user;   prior to receiving the computer data associated with the selection, the computer data associated with the geographical location of the user, and the computer data associated with the geographical range of the user:
 receiving on the at least one computer participating business data from a plurality of participating businesses, the participating business data being supplied by the plurality of participating businesses; 
 storing by the at least one computer the participating business data in at least one first portion of at least one data store; 
 fetching by the at least one computer one or more web pages;
 extracting by the at least one computer non-participating business data for a plurality of non-participating businesses from the one or more web pages, wherein the extracting includes using a location scraper, and wherein the extracted non-participating business data includes location information of the plurality of non-participating businesses; 
 
 storing by the at least one computer the non-participating business data in at least one second portion of the at least one data store; 
 automatically updating by the at least one computer one or more records to include the participating business data and the non-participating business data; 
   querying by the at least one computer the at least one data store to determine a plurality of businesses of interest that are consistent with the user selected data and are located within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location, the plurality of businesses of interest including a plurality of participating businesses and a plurality of non-participating businesses;   determining on the at least one computer a price of at least one service, at least one item, or a combination thereof associated with each of the plurality of businesses of interest identified by the querying from the one or more automatically updated records;   for each business from the plurality of businesses of interest that is a participating business, determining a condition, including a price condition and a location condition, associated with the participating business is satisfied and automatically adjusting by the at least one computer the price associated with the participating business to a price different from a standard price;   for each business from the plurality of businesses of interest that is a non-participating business determining the condition, including the location condition, associated with the non-participating business is satisfied and not adjusting by the at least one computer the price associated with the non-participating business; and   sending by the at least one computer the price associated with each of the plurality of businesses of interest identified by the querying to the web browser for display;   wherein a record associated with the participating business stored in the at least one data store is updatable by at least one participating business computer in communication with the at least one computer.   
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 33 , wherein the condition comprises the price associated with the business of interest not being a lowest price of the prices associated with the plurality of businesses of interest. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one service, the at least one item, or the combination thereof for which the price is determined is based on the data associated with the selection made by a user through the web browser. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 determining by the at least one computer the lowest price of the prices associated with the plurality of businesses of interest; and   adjusting by the at least one computer the price associated with at least one of the plurality of participating businesses to be the lowest price after determining the lowest price is higher than a minimum price provided by the at least one of the plurality of participating businesses.   
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 adjusting by the at least one computer the price associated with the at least one of the plurality of participating businesses based on a predetermined percentage of a standard retail price or on a predetermined amount below the standard retail price to produce an adjusted price,   wherein the adjusted price is set to the minimum price after determining the adjusted price is lower than a minimum price provided by the at least one of the plurality of participating businesses.   
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the extracted non-participating business data is extracted from a web site associated with the non-participating business.   
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the received participating business data includes standard retail price, or discount pricing data, or both.   
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the at least one computer determines a business to be a business of interest after determining that business has an available service or an available item associated with the selection made by the user, the availability of the service or the availability of the item being determined based on data stored and associated with that business.   
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 33 , wherein the querying comprises:
 identifying by the at least one computer the geographical location of the plurality of participating businesses and the plurality of non-participating businesses;   determining by the at least one computer whether the geographical location of the plurality of participating businesses and the plurality of non-participating businesses is within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location;   designating by the at least one computer the plurality of participating businesses and the plurality of non-participating businesses as the plurality of one or more businesses of interest after determining the geographical location of the plurality of participating businesses and the plurality of non-participating businesses is within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location; and   not designating by the at least one computer the plurality of participating businesses and the plurality of non-participating businesses as the plurality of businesses of interest after determining the geographical location of the plurality of participating businesses and the plurality of non-participating businesses is not within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location.   
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of search options displayed to the user through the web browser comprises a plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 42 , wherein the plurality of search options displayed to the user through the web browser further comprises a plurality of selectable search sub-categories displayed to the user through the web browser in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 42 , wherein the plurality of search options further comprises a text entry interface displayed to the user through the web browser in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories and configured to enable text searches within the selected at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       45. A system, comprising:
 at least one server configured to execute an application to communicate with one or more web sites to collect data from the web sites; and   a storage device configured to store data, including the data collected from the web sites,   wherein the at least one server is configured to:
 receive participating business data from a plurality of participating businesses, the participating business data being supplied by the plurality of participating businesses; 
 store the participating business data in at least one first portion of the storage device; 
 extract, with the application, non-participating business data for a plurality of non-participating businesses from the one or more web sites, wherein the extracting includes using a location scraper, and wherein the extracted non-participating business data includes location information of the plurality of non-participating businesses; 
 store the non-participating business data in at least one second portion of the storage device; 
 automatically update one or more records to include the participating business data and the non-participating business data; 
 search the data stored in the storage device based on data received associated with a selection made by a user from among a plurality of search options displayed to the user through a web browser, on a geographical location of the user, and on a geographical range of interest of the user, 
 determine a plurality of businesses of interest based on the searched data, the plurality of businesses of interest that are consistent with the user selected data and are located within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location including a plurality of participating businesses and plurality of non-participating businesses, 
 determine a price of at least one service, at least one item, or a combination thereof associated with each of the plurality of businesses of interest from the one or more automatically updated records, 
 for each business from the plurality of businesses of interest that is a participating business, automatically adjust the price associated with the business to a price different from a standard price after determining a condition, including a price condition and a location condition, associated with the participating business is satisfied, 
 for each business from the plurality of businesses of interest that is a non-participating business, maintaining the price associated with the non-participating business after determining the condition, including the price condition and the location condition, associated with the participating business is satisfied, and 
 send the price associated with each of the plurality of businesses of interest to the web browser for display, and 
   wherein a record associated with the participating business stored on the storage device is updatable by at least one participating business computer in communication with the at least one server.   
     
     
       46. The system of  claim 45 , wherein the condition comprises the price associated with the business of interest not being a lowest price of the prices associated with the plurality of businesses of interest. 
     
     
       47. The system of  claim 45 , wherein the at least one service, the at least one item, or the combination thereof for which the price is determined is based on the data associated with the selection made by a user through the web browser. 
     
     
       48. The system of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the at least one server is configured to determine a lowest price from the prices associated with the plurality of businesses of interest, and   the at least one server is configured to adjust the price associated with the at least one of the plurality of participating businesses to be the lowest price after determining the lowest price is above a minimum price provided by the at least one of the plurality of participating businesses.   
     
     
       49. The system of  claim 48 , wherein:
 the at least one server is configured to adjust the price associated with the at least one of the plurality of participating businesses based on a predetermined percentage of a standard retail price or on a predetermined amount below the standard retail price to produce an adjusted price,   wherein the adjusted price is set to the minimum price after determining the adjusted price is lower than a minimum price provided by the at least one of the plurality of participating businesses.   
     
     
       50. The system of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the extracted non-participating business data is extracted from a web site associated with the non-participating business.   
     
     
       51. The system of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the participating business data includes a standard retail price, or discount pricing data, or both.   
     
     
       52. The system of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the at least one server is configured to execute the application to communicate with the one or more web sites to collect data from the web sites according to a predetermined schedule.   
     
     
       53. The system of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the data collected from the web sites includes store location and address, or a location name, or a location type, or a phone number, or hours of operation, or mail pick-up times, or package pick-up times, or an item price, or a service price, or inventory quantities, or a product name, or a product number, or a universal product code (UPC), or a combination thereof.   
     
     
       54. The system of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the at least one server is configured to authenticate a communication with a participating business to store data associated with that participating business in the at least one first portion of the storage device, and   the data associated with that participating business includes store location and address, or a location name, or a location type, or a phone number, or hours of operation, or mail pick-up times, or package pick-up times, or an item price, or a service price, or inventory quantities, or a product name, or a product number, or a universal product code (UPC), or a combination thereof.   
     
     
       55. The system of  claim 45 , wherein determining the plurality of businesses of interest comprises:
 identifying the geographical location of the plurality of participating businesses and the plurality of non-participating businesses;   determining whether the geographical location of the plurality of participating businesses and the plurality of non-participating businesses is within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location;   designating the plurality of participating businesses and the plurality of non-participating businesses as the plurality of businesses of interest after determining the geographical location of the plurality of participating businesses and the plurality of non-participating businesses is within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location; and   not designating the plurality of participating businesses and the plurality of non-participating businesses as the plurality of businesses of interest after determining the geographical location of the plurality of participating businesses and the plurality of non-participating businesses is not within the geographical range of interest from the geographical location.   
     
     
       56. The system of  claim 45 , wherein the plurality of search options displayed to the user through the web browser comprises a plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       57. The system of  claim 56 , wherein the plurality of search options displayed to the user through the web browser further comprises a plurality of selectable search sub-categories displayed to the user through the web browser in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       58. The system of  claim 56 , wherein the plurality of search options further comprises a text entry interface displayed to the user through the web browser in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories and configured to enable text searches within the selected at least one of the plurality of selectable search categories. 
     
     
       59. The method of  claim 25 , wherein:
 updating the timing data further comprises changing the color; and   the updated timing data periodically sent to the web browser for display further comprises a different color from the timing data prior to the updating.