System and method for processing items ordered for customer pickup at a brick-and-mortar store of a retail enterprise

Abstract

A system and method for processing items ordered for customer pickup from a brick-and-mortar store of a retail enterprise may determine that a customer has entered one of a plurality of geographic boundaries based on GPS tracking of the customer's mobile communication device, in response thereto, determine whether the entering customer has a completed order for pickup of at least one ordered item at the brick-and-mortar store associated with the geographic boundary, and in response thereto, control a display monitor located at an order pickup department of the store to display a message indicating that the customer has entered the one of the plurality of geographic boundaries and that the completed order to be picked up by the customer is complete.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of processing items ordered for customer pickup from a brick-and-mortar store of a retail enterprise, the method comprising:
 with a processor, storing in a database a plurality of brick-and-mortar store identification codes and associated geographic boundaries each identifying a different one of a plurality of brick-and-mortar stores of the retail enterprise and an associated geographic boundary defined at least partially about the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores or an order receiving area adjacent thereto,   with the processor, storing in the database a plurality of customer codes each identifying a different one of a plurality of customers of the retail enterprise,   with the processor, associating in the database with at least one of the plurality of customer codes (a) an order status code identifying a status of an order placed for at least one associated item for pickup by a corresponding one of the plurality of customers, and (b) one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar identification codes identifying the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores from which the order for the at least one associated item was placed,   with the processor, determining that one of the plurality of customers associated in the database with a corresponding one of the plurality of customer codes has entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries based on GPS tracking of a mobile communication device associated in the database with the corresponding one of the plurality of customer codes,   in response to determining that one of the plurality of customers has entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries, determining whether the one of the plurality of customer codes associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers is also associated in the database with an order status code indicative of a pending order for pickup by the entering one of the plurality of customers of the at least one associated item,   in response to determining that the one of the plurality of customer codes associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers is also associated in the database with an order status code indicative of a pending order for pickup by the entering one of the plurality of customers of at least one associated item, determining with the processor whether the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar store identification codes associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries is also associated in the database with the associated order status code, and   in response to determining that the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar store identification codes associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries is also associated in the database with the associated order status code and the associated order status code indicates that the pending order for the at least one associated item is complete, controlling, at least in part with the processor, a display monitor located at an order pickup department of the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores to display a first notification message including information indicating that the one of the plurality of customers associated with the determined order status code has entered the one of the plurality of geographic boundaries and that the order identified by the determined order status code is complete.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 with the processor, associating in the database each of the plurality of customer codes with communication information identifying a mobile communication device associated with a respective one of the plurality of customers, and   if the determined order status code indicates that the pending order for the at least one associated item is complete, wirelessly transmitting to the mobile communication device identified by the communication information associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers, under control of the processor, a first customer message for display on the identified mobile communication device, the first customer message including information indicating that a completed order for the at least one item associated with the determined order status code is ready for pick up.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 with the processor, further associating in the database with the one of the plurality of customer codes (d) a scheduled pickup time corresponding to at least one of a calendar date and time of day of a calendar at which the order for the at least one associated item is to be completed for pickup, and (e) an order completion time corresponding to an estimated time required by the order pickup department to complete the order for the at least one associated item, and   in response to determining that the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar store identification codes associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries is also associated in the database with the order status code indicative of the pending order for pickup of the at least one associated item, the determined order status code indicates that the pending order for pickup of the at least one associated item is not yet complete and a current calendar date or current time of day of a current calendar date is equal to or later than the scheduled pickup time, (iii) comparing the order completion time associated in the database with the order status code identifying the status of the order for pickup of the at least one associated item by the entering one of the plurality of customers to a predefined time, and (iv) if the order completion time is less than or equal to the predefined time, controlling, at least in part with the processor, the display monitor located at the order pickup department to display a second notification message including information indicating that the one of the plurality of customers associated with the determined order status code has entered the one of the plurality of geographic boundaries and that the order identified by the determined order status code is incomplete and overdue.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second notification message further includes instructions to complete the order for the at least one item associated with the determined order status code. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the predefined time is an estimated amount of time required for the entering one of the plurality of customers to travel from a location at which the entering one of the plurality of customers entered the one of the plurality of geographic boundaries to an order receiving area outside of the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein if the order completion time is greater than the predefined time, (v) determining, with the processor, a revised order pickup time, and (vi) controlling, at least in part with the processor, the display monitor located at the order pickup department to display a third notification message including information indicating that the order identified by the determined order status code is incomplete and overdue, the third notification message further including instructions to complete the order identified by the determined order status code by the revised order pickup time. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 with the processor, associating in the database each of the plurality of customer codes with communication information identifying a mobile communication device associated with a respective one of the plurality of customers, and
 if the order completion time is greater than the predetermined time, wirelessly transmitting to the mobile communication device identified by the communication information associated in the database with the one of the plurality of customer codes associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers, under control of the processor, a second customer message for display on the identified mobile communication device, the second customer message including the revised order pickup time, and information indicating that the order for the at least one item associated with the determined order status code is not complete but will be completed for pick up at a customer waiting area outside of the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries and at the revised order pickup time. 
   
     
     
         8 . One or more non-transitory computer readable media containing instructions for processing items ordered for customer pickup from a brick-and-mortar store of a retail enterprise, wherein execution of the instructions by one or more processors of a computing system cause the one or more processors to:
 store in a database a plurality of brick-and-mortar store identification codes and associated geographic boundaries each identifying a different one of a plurality of brick-and-mortar stores of the retail enterprise and an associated geographic boundary defined at least partially about the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores or an order receiving area adjacent thereto,   store in the database a plurality of customer codes each identifying a different one of a plurality of customers of the retail enterprise,   associate in the database with at least one of the plurality of customer codes (a) an order status code identifying a status of an order placed for at least one associated item for pickup by a corresponding one of the plurality of customers, and (b) one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar identification codes identifying the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores from which the order for the at least one associated item was placed,   determine that one of the plurality of customers associated in the database with a corresponding one of the plurality of customer codes has entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries based on GPS tracking of a mobile communication device associated in the database with the corresponding one of the plurality of customer codes,   in response to determining that one of the plurality of customers has entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries, determine whether the one of the plurality of customer codes associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers is also associated in the database with an order status code indicative of a pending order for pickup by the entering one of the plurality of customers of the at least one associated item,   in response to determining that the one of the plurality of customer codes associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers is also associated in the database with an order status code indicative of a pending order for pickup by the entering one of the plurality of customers of at least one associated item, determine whether the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar store identification codes associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries is also associated in the database with the associated order status code, and   in response to determining that the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar store identification codes associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries is also associated in the database with the associated order status code and the associated order status code indicates that the pending order for the at least one associated item is complete, control a display monitor located at an order pickup department of the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores to display a first notification message including information indicating that the one of the plurality of customers associated with the determined order status code has entered the one of the plurality of geographic boundaries and that the order identified by the determined order status code is complete.   
     
     
         9 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 8 ,
 wherein execution of the instructions by the one or more processors of the computing system further cause the one or more processors to:   associate in the database each of the plurality of customer codes with communication information identifying a mobile communication device associated with a respective one of the plurality of customers, and   if the determined order status code indicates that the pending order for the at least one associated item is complete, wirelessly transmit to the mobile communication device identified by the communication information associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers, under control of the-processor, a first customer message for display on the identified mobile communication device, the first customer message including information indicating that a completed order for the at least one item associated with the determined order status code is ready for pick up.   
     
     
         10 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 8 , wherein execution of the instructions by the one or more processors of the computing system further cause the one or more processors to:
 associate in the database with the one of the plurality of customer codes (d) a scheduled pickup time corresponding to at least one of a calendar date and time of day of a calendar at which the order for the at least one associated item is to be completed for pickup, and (e) an order completion time corresponding to an estimated time required by the order pickup department to complete the order for the at least one associated item, and   in response to determining that the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar store identification codes associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries is also associated in the database with the order status code indicative of the pending order for pickup of the at least one associated item, the determined order status code indicates that the pending order for pickup of the at least one associated item is not yet complete and a current calendar date or current time of day of a current calendar date is equal to or later than the scheduled pickup time, (iii) compare the order completion time associated in the database with the order status code identifying the status of the order for pickup of the at least one associated item by the entering one of the plurality of customers to a predefined time, and (iv) if the order completion time is less than or equal to the predefined time, control the display monitor located at the order pickup department to display a second notification message including information indicating that the one of the plurality of customers associated with the determined order status code has entered the one of the plurality of geographic boundaries and that the order identified by the determined order status code is incomplete and overdue.   
     
     
         11 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the second notification message further includes instructions to complete the order for the at least one item associated with the determined order status code. 
     
     
         12 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the predefined time is an estimated amount of time required for the entering one of the plurality of customers to travel from a location at which the entering one of the plurality of customers entered the one of the plurality of geographic boundaries to an order receiving area outside of the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries. 
     
     
         13 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 10 , wherein execution of the instructions by the one or more processors of the computing system further cause the one or more processors to: if the order completion time is greater than the predefined time, (v) determine a revised order pickup time, and (vi) control the display monitor located at the order pickup department to display a third notification message including information indicating that the order identified by the determined order status code is incomplete and overdue, the third notification message further including instructions to complete the order identified by the determined order status code by the revised order pickup time. 
     
     
         14 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 13 , wherein execution of the instructions by the one or more processors of the computing system further cause the one or more processors to:
 associate in the database each of the plurality of customer codes with communication information identifying a mobile communication device associated with a respective one of the plurality of customers, and   if the order completion time is greater than the predetermined time, wirelessly transmit to the mobile communication device identified by the communication information associated in the database with the one of the plurality of customer codes associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers, under control of the processor, a second customer message for display on the identified mobile communication device, the second customer message including the revised order pickup time, and information indicating that the order for the at least one item associated with the determined order status code is not complete but will be completed for pick up at a customer waiting area outside of the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries and at the revised order pickup time.   
     
     
         15 . A system for processing items ordered for customer pickup from a brick-and-mortar store of a retail enterprise, the system comprising:
 at least one database having stored therein a plurality of brick-and-mortar store identification codes and associated geographic boundaries each identifying a different one of a plurality of brick-and-mortar stores of the retail enterprise and an associated geographic boundary defined at least partially about the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores or an order receiving area adjacent thereto, the at least one database further having stored therein a plurality of customer codes each identifying a different one of a plurality of customers of the retail enterprise,   at least one processor, and   at least one memory having instructions stored therein which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:   associate in the database with at least one of the plurality of customer codes (a) an order status code identifying a status of an order placed for at least one associated item for pickup by a corresponding one of the plurality of customers, and (b) one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar identification codes identifying the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores from which the order for the at least one associated item was placed,   determine that one of the plurality of customers associated in the database with a corresponding one of the plurality of customer codes has entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries based on GPS tracking of a mobile communication device associated in the database with the corresponding one of the plurality of customer codes,   in response to determining that one of the plurality of customers has entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries, determine whether the one of the plurality of customer codes associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers is also associated in the database with an order status code indicative of a pending order for pickup by the entering one of the plurality of customers of the at least one associated item,   in response to determining that the one of the plurality of customer codes associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers is also associated in the database with an order status code indicative of a pending order for pickup by the entering one of the plurality of customers of at least one associated item, determine whether the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar store identification codes associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries is also associated in the database with the associated order status code, and   in response to determining that the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar store identification codes associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries is also associated in the database with the associated order status code and the associated order status code indicates that the pending order for the at least one associated item is complete, control a display monitor located at an order pickup department of the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores to display a first notification message including information indicating that the one of the plurality of customers associated with the determined order status code has entered the one of the plurality of geographic boundaries and that the order identified by the determined order status code is complete.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions stored in the at least one memory further include instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 associate in the database each of the plurality of customer codes with communication information identifying a mobile communication device associated with a respective one of the plurality of customers, and   if the determined order status code indicates that the pending order for the at least one associated item is complete, wirelessly transmit to the mobile communication device identified by the communication information associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers, under control of the-processor, a first customer message for display on the identified mobile communication device, the first customer message including information indicating that a completed order for the at least one item associated with the determined order status code is ready for pick up.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions stored in the at least one memory further include instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 associate in the database with the one of the plurality of customer codes (d) a scheduled pickup time corresponding to at least one of a calendar date and time of day of a calendar at which the order for the at least one associated item is to be completed for pickup, and (e) an order completion time corresponding to an estimated time required by the order pickup department to complete the order for the at least one associated item, and   in response to determining that the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar store identification codes associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries is also associated in the database with the order status code indicative of the pending order for pickup of the at least one associated item, the determined order status code indicates that the pending order for pickup of the at least one associated item is not yet complete and a current calendar date or current time of day of a current calendar date is equal to or later than the scheduled pickup time, (iii) compare the order completion time associated in the database with the order status code identifying the status of the order for pickup of the at least one associated item by the entering one of the plurality of customers to a predefined time, and (iv) if the order completion time is less than or equal to the predefined time, control the display monitor located at the order pickup department to display a second notification message including information indicating that the one of the plurality of customers associated with the determined order status code has entered the one of the plurality of geographic boundaries and that the order identified by the determined order status code is incomplete and overdue.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions stored in the at least one memory further include instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the predefined time as an estimated amount of time required for the entering one of the plurality of customers to travel from a location at which the entering one of the plurality of customers entered the one of the plurality of geographic boundaries to an order receiving area outside of the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions stored in the at least one memory further include instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 if the order completion time is greater than the predefined time, (v) determine a revised order pickup time, and (vi) control the display monitor located at the order pickup department to display a third notification message including information indicating that the order identified by the determined order status code is incomplete and overdue, the third notification message further including instructions to complete the order identified by the determined order status code by the revised order pickup time.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions stored in the at least one memory further include instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 associate in the database each of the plurality of customer codes with communication information identifying a mobile communication device associated with a respective one of the plurality of customers, and   if the order completion time is greater than the predetermined time, wirelessly transmit to the mobile communication device identified by the communication information associated in the database with the one of the plurality of customer codes associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers, under control of the processor, a second customer message for display on the identified mobile communication device, the second customer message including the revised order pickup time, and information indicating that the order for the at least one item associated with the determined order status code is not complete but will be completed for pick up at a customer waiting area outside of the one of the plurality of brick-and-mortar stores associated in the database with the entered one of the plurality of geographic boundaries and at the revised order pickup time.