System and method for an enhanced shopping experience

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for creating a virtual shopping area. The method includes receiving a query from a user and an automated input specific to the user from a computing device, generating a list of merchants based on the query and the automated input, generating a virtual shopping area from the list of merchants and based on one or more constraints, and displaying the virtual shopping area on the computing device. One optional step is presenting to the user an interface to purchase query-related items from merchants in the virtual shopping area. The method optionally includes receiving an indication of intent to purchase an item from the user, displaying an image of the item to the user, and dynamically updating the displayed image of the item as the user specifies item-specific details. The list of merchants can be restricted to merchants geographically close to the user.

1 . A method comprising:
 prior to purchase of an item, generating a list of merchants based on a user query; and   generating a virtual shopping area from the list of merchants, the virtual shopping area comprising:
 a virtual building associated with each merchant on the list of merchants, wherein the virtual building associated with each merchant has an attribute specific to each merchant, the attribute comprising at least one of a size, a shape, a décor, and a color; and 
 automatically generated recommendation markings identifying at least one of a recommended product, a recommended service, a recommended merchant from the list of merchants, and a merchant from the list of merchants providing at least one of the recommended product and the recommended service. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a map of the virtual shopping area indicating a location at least one merchant. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising indicating a position of a user on the map. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the list of merchants is restricted to merchants geographically close to a user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying the virtual shopping area on a mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user query is a natural language query. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user query is for a general product type and the list of merchants comprises only those merchants having inventory matching the general product type. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the list of merchants is further based on an automated user input. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
 prior to purchase of an item, generating a list of merchants based on a user query; and 
 generating a virtual shopping area from the list of merchants, the virtual shopping area comprising:
 a virtual building associated with each merchant on the list of merchants, wherein the virtual building associated with each merchant has an attribute specific to each merchant, the attribute comprising at least one of a size, a shape, a décor, and a color; and 
 automatically generated recommendation markings identifying at least one of a recommended product, a recommended service, a recommended merchant from the list of merchants, and a merchant from the list of merchants providing at least one of the recommended product and the recommended service. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising generating a map of the virtual shopping area indicating a location at least one merchant. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising indicating a position of a user on the map. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the list of merchants is restricted to merchants geographically close to a user. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising displaying the virtual shopping area on a mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the user query is a natural language query. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the user query is for a general product type and the list of merchants comprises only those merchants having inventory matching the general product type. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein generating the list of merchants is further based on an automated user input. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
 prior to purchase of an item, generating a list of merchants based on a user query; and   generating a virtual shopping area from the list of merchants, the virtual shopping area comprising:
 a virtual building associated with each merchant on the list of merchants, wherein the virtual building associated with each merchant has an attribute specific to each merchant, the attribute comprising at least one of a size, a shape, a décor, and a color; and 
 automatically generated recommendation markings identifying at least one of a recommended product, a recommended service, a recommended merchant from the list of merchants, and a merchant from the list of merchants providing at least one of the recommended product and the recommended service. 
   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17  storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising generating a map of the virtual shopping area indicating a location at least one merchant. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18  storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising indicating a position of a user on the map. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the list of merchants is restricted to merchants geographically close to a user.