Network-based grocery store

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for a network-based grocery store. The invention provides for network-based order placement, fulfillment, and delivery.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A computer-implemented method for fulfilling a plurality of network-based product orders using a wheeled cart, comprising:
 storing, in a database, a plurality of network-based product orders;   using a processing system to perform the steps of:
 associating each of the orders with at least one of a plurality of totes in a wheeled cart or order fulfillment spaces contained in the wheeled cart by applying a printed bar code to each of the plurality of totes or order fulfillment spaces, each bar code associated with an order from the plurality of network-based product orders; 
 receiving, from an electronic scanner communicatively coupled to the processing system, data identifying at least one product to be retrieved; 
 receiving from the electronic scanner, data related to a scanned code associated with the at least one identified product to be retrieved for at least one of the plurality of network-based product orders, the at least one identified product located in an area proximate the wheeled cart; 
 transmitting a signal identifying one of the totes or order fulfillment spaces for the order that includes the at least one identified product associated with the data related to the scanned code; and 
 receiving a signal indicating the at least one identified product corresponding to the identified order has been added to the tote or order fulfillment space. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the received signal indicating the at least one identified product corresponding to the identified order has been added to the tote or order fulfillment space is associated with an indicator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one product to be retrieved is associated with an indicator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each product to be retrieved is associated with an indicator. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein upon fulfilling the network-based product order, the network-based product order is transported to a hub for aggregation with one or more other network-based product orders. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the data identifying at least one product to be retrieved is based on at least one scanned bar code from the printed bar codes. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the electronic scanner is cordless. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the wheeled cart receives the electronic scanner. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the area proximate the wheeled cart is an area with cold goods, produce, dry goods, bulk goods, and miscellaneous goods. 
     
     
         26 . A computer-implemented method for fulfilling a plurality of network-based product orders using a wheeled cart, comprising:
 storing, in a database, a plurality of network-based product orders;   printing a bar code for the plurality of the network-based product orders;   providing a plurality of actuable indicators coupled to a processor, each actuable indicator being associated with a product from the plurality of network-based product orders;   using the processor to associate each printed bar code with a tote in a wheeled cart or with an order fulfillment space contained in the wheeled cart, the wheeled cart configured to transport a plurality of totes or configured with a plurality of order fulfillment spaces, wherein each tote or order fulfillment space is associated with a product order of the plurality of network-based product orders;   using the processor to identify a product to be retrieved from an area proximate the wheeled cart, the identified product from the product order;   receiving at an electronic scanner coupled to the processor, data related to a scanned code for the identified product to be retrieved for the product order, the identified product located in the area proximate the wheeled cart;   receiving a signal at the processor that an actuable indicator provided for the identified product having the scanned code has been actuated, the actuated indicator indicating the identified product has been added to a corresponding tote or order fulfillment space for the product order.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein upon fulfilling the product order, the fulfilled order is transported to a hub for aggregation with one or more other fulfilled orders. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein upon fulfilling the product order, the fulfilled order is transported to a delivery area. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the data identifying at least one product to be retrieved is based on at least one scanned bar code from the printed bar codes. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the electronic scanner is cordless. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the wheeled cart receives the electronic scanner. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the area proximate the wheeled cart is an area with cold goods, produce, dry goods, bulk goods, and miscellaneous goods. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the area proximate the wheeled cart includes shelves. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the database receives the plurality of network-based product orders from a customer interface remote from the database. 
     
     
         35 . A network-based product order fulfillment system, comprising:
 a database that stores a plurality of network-based product orders;   a printer coupled to the database that prints a bar code for the plurality of the network-based product orders;   a processor coupled to the database that provides a plurality of actuable indicators, each actuable indicator being associated with a product from the plurality of network-based product orders,   wherein the processor associates each printed bar code with a tote in a wheeled cart or with an order fulfillment space contained in the wheeled cart, the wheeled cart configured to transport a plurality of totes or configured with a plurality of order fulfillment spaces, wherein each tote or order fulfillment space is associated with a product order of the plurality of network-based product orders,   wherein the processor identifies a product to be retrieved from an area proximate the wheeled cart, the identified product from the product order;   an electronic scanner coupled to the processor that receives data related to a scanned code for the identified product to be retrieved for the product order, the identified product located in the area proximate the wheeled cart, and   wherein the processor receives a signal that an actuable indicator provided for the identified product having the scanned code has been actuated, the actuated indicator indicating the identified product has been added to a corresponding tote or order fulfillment space for the product order.