WO2018094445A1

WO2018094445A1 - Method and system for providing an online marketplace and analytics

Info

Publication number: WO2018094445A1
Application number: PCT/AU2017/000249
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chris William RUSSELL; Karl McKenzie BENNETT
Original assignee: Zellebrate Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-11-25
Filing date: 2017-11-24
Publication date: 2018-05-31

Abstract

A method for providing search results for a product and/or service is provided. The method comprises collecting online details for products and/or services offered for purchase by vendors within an online network; storing the collected products and/or services associated with a respective vendor address electronically; receiving a request for a product and/or service along with a geographical location from a user computing device; querying the database by the requested product and/or service and geographical location for matching products and/or services; and causing matching products and/or services to be displayed by geographical location on the user computing device. The method may further comprise determining trending products and/or services from stored data. The method may further comprise a rewards program.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN ONLINE

MARKETPLACE AND ANALYTICS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[00011 The present invention relates to a method and system for providing an online market place and analytics. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and system for analysing the provided online marketplace and determining a trend therein.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[00021 A large amount of transactions are being performed online. Along with online transactions, there is an increasing incidence of consumers visiting stores to inspect and size merchandise, before then searching online to find a more cost-effective supplier. Despite this behaviour many consumers still choose to buy in store for various reasons including confidence in the product, immediacy and personal interaction.

[0003] Just one impediment to buying instore is the time consuming nature. Shopping can be even more time consuming when consumers wish to inspect various alternatives before making a selection. The time inefficiencies of shopping can be compounded by crowded parking, aisles and the large size and the layout of shopping centres.

[00041 Retailers of bricks and mortar stores can use proximity tracking of consumers to monitor their instore behaviour. This data can be used to supplement the sales data. Online stores can also track their consumer behaviour on their store site and monitor sales.

[0005] There remains a need for improved methods of shopping and providing information on consumer behaviour.

[0006] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Generally, embodiments of the present inventi on relate to a method and system for providing an online market place and analytics therefor.

[0008] In a broad form, the invention relates to a method and system for analysing the provided online marketplace and detecting a trend therein. The present invention is of significant advantage because it allows trends to be detected across a plurality of retailers or providers and across a plurality of users. The present invention provides a powerful analytical tool as it can be tailored by a retailer or provider to generate market place analytics within a target area. [0009] In a first aspect, although it need not be the only or indeed the broadest aspect, the invention resides in a method for providing search results for a product and/or a service, the method comprising:

collecting online details for products and/or services offered for purchase by vendors within an online network;

storing the collected online details for products and/or services associated with a respective vendor address electronically;

receiving a request for online details for a product and/or service along with a geographical location from a user computing device;

querying the database by the requested product and/or service and geographical location for matching products and/or services; and

causing online details for matching products and/or services to be displayed by geographical location on the user computing device.

[0010] The method of the first aspect may further comprise determining trending products and/or services from stored data.

[0011] The stored data may comprise a plurality of received requests for a product and/or service.

[0012] The method may further comprise causing the user computing device to display online details for one or more trending product and/or service.

[0013] The trending may comprise one or more of an increase in received requests; matched products and/or services displayed; sales of products and/or services; additions to a user profile and/or messages sent.

[0014] The sales of products and/or services may be collected and/or stored electronically.

[0015] In a second aspect the invention provides, a method for determining a trend and/or change in online search behaviour comprising:

collecting electronic search data for a product and/or service associated with one or more user computer device within a geographic boundary from before a start time;

collecting electronic search data for a product and/or service associated with one or more user computer device within the geographic boundary from after the start time; and determining any variation in the electronic search data from before a start time compared to the electronic search data from after a start time to determine the trend and/or change in online search behaviour. [0016] The method of the first or second aspect may further comprise reporting the trending products and/or service or the variation in the search data. The reporting may include printing a report or sending an electronic message comprising the variation.

[0017] The stored data according to the first aspect or the electronic search data or variation in the electronic search data according to the second aspect may be provided to a vendor within an online network or a vendor outside an online network.

[0018] The method of the first or second aspect may further comprise receiving details for one or more promotional product and/or service.

[0019] The method of the second aspect may further comprise determining trending products and/or services from the electronic search data or variation in the electronic search data. The method of the second aspect may further comprise causing the user computing device to display online details for one or more trending product and/or service.

[0020] The electronic search data of the second aspect may comprise the received request or a plurality of received requests according to the first aspect.

[0021] The method of the first or second aspect may also comprise collecting the online details by crawling. In another embodiment of either the first or second aspect the collecting may be by submission by a vendor or reseller. The submission may be of details for one or more product and/or service offered for purchase outside an online network.

[0022] The display according to the first or second aspect may be by geographical location and price. The geographical location may be proximity to the user computing device. The display may further comprise one or more of distance; travel time; a map comprising one or more vendor or reseller location. The map may comprise route lines.

[0023] The method of the first or second aspect may further comprise adding one or more matched product and/or service to a list. The list may comprise a compare list, a shopping list, a watch list or a share list. The adding may comprise pressing on a screen of the user computing device.

[0024] The method of the first or second aspect may further include causing the user device to show the location of the vendors of the items in the compare list, shopping list or watch list on a map.

[0025] The method of the first or second aspect may further comprise receiving a request for further details of one or more matched product and/or service. In response to the received request for further details, the user computing device may be caused to display further details of the requested one or more matched product or service. The request may comprise a pressing on a screen of a user computing device. [0026] In a third aspect the invention provides, a system for providing search results for a product and/or a service, the system comprising:

a server for collecting online details for products and/or services offered for purchase by vendors within an online network;

an electronic memory for storing the collected online details for products and/or services associated with a respective vendor address;

a server for receiving a request for a product and/or service along with a geographical location from a user computing device;

a processor for querying the database by the requested product and/or service and geographical location for matching products and/or services; and

the processor causing online details for matching products and/or services to be displayed by geographical location on the user computing device.

[0027] The system of the third aspect may further comprise a processor for determining trending products and/or services from stored data. The stored data according to the third aspect may comprise a plurality of received requests for a product and/or sendee.

[0028] The system of the third aspect may further comprise causing the user computing device to display online details for one or more trending product and/or service.

[0029] In a fourth aspect the invention provides a system for detennining a trend and/or change in online search behaviour comprising:

a server for collecting electronic search data for a product and/or service associated with one or more user computer device within a geographic boundary from before a start time;

the server collecting electronic search data for a product and/or service associated with one or more user computer device within the geographic boundary from after the start time; and

a processor for determining any variation in the electronic search data from before the start time compared to the electronic search data from after the start time to detennine the trend and/or change in online search behaviour.

[0030] The system of the third or fourth aspect may further comprise a communication device for reporting the trending products and/or service or the variation in the search results. The reporting may include printing a report or sending an electronic message comprising the variation. [0031 ] The start time according to any above one of the above aspects may comprise the beginning of a sale or marketing campaign by a vendor of a product and/or service listed within a database queried by the user computer devices.

[0032] The search data according to any one of the above aspects may be used to determine a trend and/or change comprised within the electronic search data or variation in the electronic search data.

[0033] The search data according to any above aspect may comprise one or more of received requests; matched products and/or services displayed; sales of products and/or services; modification to a user profile and/or messages sent. The modification to a user profile may comprise addition to a list.

[0034] The electronic search data of the fourth aspect may comprise the received request according to the third aspect.

[0035] The stored data according to any one of the above aspects may be provided to a vendor within an online network or a vendor outside an online network.

[0036] The system of the third or fourth aspect may further comprise an electronic store for storing the received requests. The received requests may be provided to a vendor within an online network or a vendor outside an online network.

[0037] The system of the third or fourth aspect may further comprise a communications device for receiving details for one or more promotional product and/or service.

[0038] According to any one of the above aspects, the received promotional one or more product and service may be provided by a vendor within an online network or a vendor outside an online network. The details for the one or more promotional product and/or service may be provided in response to provision of stored data comprising a plurality of received requests.

[0039] The one or more promotional product and/or service according to any one of the above aspects may be selected based on the determined trending products and/or services.

[0040] The method of the third aspect may further comprise a processor for detennining trending products and/or services from the stored data.

[0041 ] The system of the third aspect may further comprise sending communications through a network causing the user computing device to display details for one or more trending product and/or service.

[0042] The system of the third or fourth aspect may also comprise a web crawler for collecting the online details. [0043] In another embodiment of any one of the above aspects the collecting may be by submission by a vendor or reseller. The submission may be of details for one or more product and/or service offered for purchase outside an online network.

[0044] The online details for the one or more products and/or services, including the one or more trending product and/or service, according to any one of the above aspects may comprise one or more of product and/or service type, product and/or service category, vendor or reseller category, vendor or reseller subcategory vendor or reseller name, location, price, stock image, user image, discount, written description, available types, available sizes, available colours, physical improvements to a store or changes to staff. The online details for a trending product and/or service may further comprise demographic sector associated with trend; and/or trend in consideration of product price, advertisement, promotion, marketplace or competitor price.

[0045] The request received according to any above aspect may comprise one or more user selected search parameters such as, locale, shopping centre, vendor category, and/or product subcategory. The user selected search parameter may comprise one or more of the components of the online details.

[0046] The display according to any one of the above aspects may be by geographical location and price. The geographical location may be proximity to the user computing device. The display may further comprise one or more of distance; travel time; a map comprising one or more vendor or reseller location. The map may comprise route lines.

[0047] According to any one of the above aspects, a matched product or service may be purchased by the operator of the user computer device. The purchase may comprise a selection of the matched product or service.

[0048] The method or system according to any one of the above aspects may further comprise causing the user computer device to display a mapping application when a displayed matched product and service is selected. The mapping application may be Google Maps.

[0049] The method or system according to any one of the above aspects may further comprise causing the user computer device to be directed to an online store of the vendor or reseller associated with a selected matched product and/or service.

[0050] The selection according to any one of the above aspects may comprise pressing on a screen of the user computing device.

[0051] The method or system of any one of the above aspects may further comprise adding one or more matched product and/or service to a list. The list may comprise a compare list, a shopping list, a watch list and/or a share list. The adding may comprise pressing on a screen of the user computing device.

[0052] The method or system of any one of the above aspects may further comprise causing the user computing device to show the location of the vendors of the items in one or more list on a map.

[0053] The method or system of any one of the above aspects may further comprise receiving a request for further details of one or more matched product and/or service. In response to the received request for further details, the user computing device may be caused to display further details of the requested one or more matched product or service. The request may comprise a pressing on a screen of a user computing device.

[0054] The method or system of any one of the above aspects may further comprise filtering the matched one or more product and/or service by price, price reduction, trend, shares by all other or shares by selected other users. The price reduction may be a temporal price reduction. The temporal price reduction may be within one day; within one week; or within one month .

[0055] The method of any above aspects may further comprise a user profile. The user profile may also comprise an age, gender and postcode.

[0056] The method of any one of the above aspects may further comprise filtering the matched one or more product and or service by user favourites. The user favourites may be stored in the user profile.

[0057] The user profile may comprise one or more shared product and/or service. The one or more shared product and/or service may be comprised in a share list. The one or more shared product and/or service may be viewable to selected other users or all other users. The one or more shared product and/or service may be selected from matched products and/or services displayed on the user computing device. The selected other users may be stored in a user profile.

[0058] The user profile may comprise a compare list. One or more product and/or service may be added to the compare list for comparison of parameters. The comparison parameters may be selected. The comparison parameters may comprise the online details or a subset thereof.

[0059] The user profile may comprise a shopping list. One or more product and/or service may be added to the shopping list for later purchase. [0060] The user profile may comprise a watch list comprising one or more product and/or service. A user may receive an alert when the online details of a product and/or service in a watch list change. The alert may be customised to selected online details.

[00611 The user profile may comprise one or more message sent and/or received. The one or more message sent and/or received may comprise the online details for one or more product and/or service. The one or more message may also comprise a photo captured with the user computing device. The photo may comprise a user-captured image of the product and/or service. The one or more message may also comprise a stock image of the one or more product and/or service.

[0062] The method of the first or second aspect may further comprise receiving one or more message from the user computing device comprising a photo captured with the user computing device. The photo may comprise a user-captured image of the product and/or service.

[0063] The electronic stored data may be comprised in a database or cloud infrastructure. The stored data may also comprise the time, data, location and user of any received request. The stored data may further comprise the time, data, location and user of any selected matched product and/or service. The location may comprise a name of a shopping or business precinct the user was located in at the relevant time. The stored data may further comprise metadata. The metadata may comprise one or more keyword used in during a request. The stored data may further comprise whether one or more of a displayed matched product and/or service; selected displayed matched product or service; or promotional product and/or service were selected and/or purchased.

[0064] The method or system of any one of the above aspects may further comprise receiving details for one or more employment position. The details of the one or more employment position may be displayed by geographical location on the user computing device.

[0065] The method or system of any one of the above aspects may further comprise receiving a booking for one or more product and/or service. The booking may be for a matched products and/or services. The service may comprise one or more of a restaurant booking, a hotel booking, a travel booking or a real estate viewing.

[0066] The method or system of any one of the above aspects may further comprise a rewards program. The rewards program may comprise rewards points. Rewards points may be accumulated by a user and/or stored in a user profile. Rewards points may be accumulated with user activity and/or purchases. [0067] Rewards points may be accumulated by user activity. The user activity may comprise one or more of a user sharing a product and/or service; a request for online details of a product and/or service; adding a product and/or service to a compare list, a shopping list, a watch list or a share list; and sending a message. The sharing of a product and/or service may be with selected other users in the user profile.

[0068] Rewards points may be accumulated when a user sends and/or receives one or more message. The message may comprise a photo of a user holding or wearing one or more product.

[0069] The method may further comprise receiving a message or notification when one or more online detail of a product or service in a compare list, a shopping list, a watch list or a share list change. The one or more online detail that changes may comprise a price. The message or notification may be received from an administrator or a vendor. The notification may comprise an advertisement.

[0070] The method may further comprise receiving a message or notification regarding a product or service in a compare list, a shopping list, a watch list or a share list change.

[0071] The number of rewards points accumulated may be proportional to downstream activity generated by a user. The downstream activity may comprise one or more of publicity for a retailers' products; how many recipients of user share put the product and/or services received in their compare list, shopping list, watch list or share list; how many users clicked through to the E-commerce page for the product and/or service in a user share; how many users visited the closest store selling a product and/or service in a user share; how many sales resulted from the user share.

[0072] The rewards points may be allocated on a sliding scale based on the purchase orientated value of user action.

[0073] The relative purchase orientated value of user activity may be determined by the determined trend and/or change in online search behaviour of the second or fourth aspects.

[0074] A user may be able to view a real-time or live tally of rewards points. A user may be able to view only their rewards points or be able to view all users. Retailers may also be provided with the rewards points details of all users.

[0075] The method of any above aspect may further comprise a retailer and/or non- retailer sending a message or notification to a user with rewards points. The message or notification may comprise a benefit. The benefit may be a discount and/or other financial reward. The notification may comprise an advertisement. [0076] The method of any above aspect may further comprise selecting a user to have a public profile. The public profile may be for the promotion of one or more product and/or service. The selection may be based on accumulated rewards points.

[0077| The rewards points may be used to provide a discount to the fee charged to users who place second hand goods for sale.

[0078] The rewards points may be used to provide advance notification of any product deals of interest that are about to be listed. The notification may comprise an advertisement.

[0079] Any advantage that can be offered to a user may be provided to users identified through rewards points number.

[0080] The method of any above aspect may further comprise identifying a user who has been purchasing and/or promoting a good and/or service from a particular local shopping precinct. The identified user may be allocated rewards points and offered additional benefits.

[0081] The method of any above aspect may further comprise publishing a user's rewards points and/or user rewards points rankings so that local retailers and non-retailers can also seek to reward these users.

[0082] Further aspects and/or features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to identical elements. The drawings are provided by way of example only, wherein:

[0084] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the steps according one embodiment of the method of the invention;

[0085] FIGS. 2 A and 2B are diagrams showing one embodiment of a user computing device and computer system according to the invention.

[0086] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show onscreen displays according to embodiments of the invention.

[0087] FIG. 4 shows an onscreen display according to another embodiment of the invention. [0088] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show further onscreen displays according to further embodiments of the invention.

[0089] FIGS. 6 to 20 show additional onscreen displays according to additional embodiments of the invention.

[0090] FIGS. 21 to 26 show yet more onscreen displays according to yet other embodiments of the invention.

[0091] The Applicant does not own and is not associated with any of the trade marks or business names shown in FIGS. 3 to 26. The trade marks and business names shown in FIGS. 3 to 26 are well-known to those skilled in the relevant art.

[0092] Skilled addressees will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the relative dimensions of some elements in the drawings may be distorted to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0093] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for providing an online market place and analytics therefor. Although not limited thereto, the invention provides a method and system for analysing the provided online marketplace and detecting a trend therein.

[0094] The present invention is of significant advantage because it allows trends to be detected across a plurality of retailers or providers and across a plurality of users. The present invention provides a powerful analytical tool as it can be tailored by a retailer or provider to generate market place analytics within a target area.

[0095] Unlike other conventional data analytics tools, the present invention is not limited by provider data and instead may provide inter-retailer data.

[0096] The present invention may provide saturation (publishing) coverage of bricks & mortar retail and/or non-retail outlets resident in local business communities and all products & services offered for sale within their walls - including images, details and prices.

[0097] The present invention makes possible the collection of this information automatically from websites representing retailers and non-retailers. The collection may be by computer code sent to websites. In another embodiment, the information may be received from businesses and/or individuals who manually or automatically choose to upload products and/or services content themselves. [0098] In one particular embodiment, the information is collected by web crawling.

[0099] As used herein "web crawling", in one embodiment, is using an internet bot to systematically browse the world wide web, or other network, typically for the purpose of indexing (web spidering) and collection of data. Web search engines and some other sites use web crawling or spidering software to update their web content or indices of others sites' web content. Web crawlers can copy all the pages they visit for later processing by a search engine which indexes the downloaded pages so the users can search much more efficiently. The web crawler(s) may consume resources on the systems they visit and may visit sites without tacit approval.

[0100] In another embodiment, the information is collected by a combination of web crawling and submission.

[0101] The product and/or service information may be published by way of a software app or application that is accessible on user computing devices such as, smartphones and computer tablets. The information collected may be stored and processed within a commercial server or server farm environment and regularly updated information may be published from the server farm.

[0102] In one embodiment, the invention is rigorously GPS centric. Advantageously, the present invention may focus on the proximity of the local stores and businesses supplying products and services relevant to that of the app or application user at all times.

[0103] The present invention comprises many features in order to motivate consumers to use it. Just some of the many advantages of the present invention are the considerable time savings, convenience and cost savings it may deliver for consumers.

[0104] In one embodiment the method and system of the invention comprise their own e- commerce platform. This allows users of the invention to purchase products and/or services online as well as by travelling to a store or other location associated with matched products and/or services.

[0105] The present invention may record all key actions taken by users and by doing so can record the real-time popularity of products and services being supplied by business outlets around the country and internationally.

[0106] This makes possible Big Data analytics that businesses will be able to access in order to evaluate their marketing campaigns and other such influences on their business. For example, price drops across a competitor's products compared to their own; or physical improvements to their store; or changes to staff are factors the present invention will be able to assess. [0107] The present invention also makes possible a secondary market for products consumers have originally bought on the application or app first hand. Users may post up the same images and details of products from the original sale to re-sell them back to other consumers using the application or app.

|0108] Users of the application or app may also create their own stores for promoting products. Friends, or even the general public, will be able to 'follow' what products and/or services users have found on the application or app that they wish to share with others. Users will be able to generate public profiles on the application or app as a front ('store') by which they can recommend products on a commercial arrangement basis with retailers and/or non-retailers as well.

[0109] The invention also allows the search for non-product orientated offers such as, job listings for local businesses; booking services such as, for restaurants; and even public transport 'stops' and timetables.

[0110] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a method 100 for providing search results for a product and/or a service according to the invention. In step 102 information such as, online details for products and/or services offered for purchase by vendors within an online network 220 are collected. In step 104 the collected products and/or services associated with a respective vendor address are stored electronically in a database 294. In other embodiments the collected products and/or services are stored electronically in cloud storage. In step 106 request(s) for a product and/or service along with a geographical location from a user computing device 200 are received. In step 108 the database is queried by the requested product and/or service and geographical location for matching products and/or services. In step 1 10, matching products and/or services are caused to be displayed by geographical location on the user computing device 200.

[0111] Method 100 may further comprise step 1 12, in which trending products and/or services are determined from stored data comprising a plurality of received requests for a product and/or service.

[0112] Another optional step is 1 14, causing the user computing device 200 to display details for one or more trending product and/or service.

[0113] The trending may comprise one or more of an increase in received requests; matched products and/or services displayed; sales of products and/or services; additions to a user profile and/or messages sent. These may be collected and/or stored in the database 294. [0114] The invention also provides a method 120 for determining a trend and/or change in online search behaviour. Method 120 may comprise a step 122 of collecting search data for a product and/or service associated with one or more user computer device within a geographic boundary from before a start time. Method 120 may also comprise a step 124 of collecting search data for a product and/or service associated with one or more user computer device within the geographic boundary from after the start time. The search data collected in steps 122 and 124 may comprise the requests received in step 106.

[0115] Method 120 may also comprise step 126 of determining any variation in the search data from before a start time compared to the search data from after a start time to determine the trend and/or change in online search behaviour.

[0116] One optional further step of method 120 is step 128, reporting the variation in the search results. The reporting may include printing a report or sending an electronic message comprising the variation.

[0117] Method 120 allows the start time to be set. For example, the start time may comprise the beginning of a sale or marketing campaign by a vendor of a product and/or service listed within a database queried by the user computer devices. The start time may be received through network 220.

[0118] Methods 100, 120 may further comprise storing the received requests. The stored requests may be saved in database 294.

[0119] The received requests may be provided to a vendor within an online network 220 or a vendor outside such a network.

[0120] Methods 100, 120 may further comprise receiving online details for one or more promotional product and/or service. The online details for one or more promotional product and/or service may be displayed by geographical location on the user computing device 200. The details may be received through network 220.

[0121] Like the received requests, the received promotional one or more product and service may be provided by a vendor within an online network 220 or a vendor outside such a network.

[0122] The details for the one or more promotional product and/or service may be provided in response to provision of stored data comprising a plurality of received requests.

[0123] The one or more promotional product and/or service may be selected based on the determined trending products and/or services. [0124] Like methods 100, method 120 may further comprise determining trending products and/or services from the stored data.

[0125] The search data may be comprised within the stored data. The search data may comprise one or more of received requests; matched product and/or services displayed; sales of products and/or services; modifications to a user profi le; and/or messages sent. The modification to a user profile may comprise addition to a list.

[0126] Methods 100, 120 may also comprise causing the user computing device 200 to display details for one or more trending product and/or service.

[0127] Methods 100, 120 may also comprise collecting the online details by crawling. In another embodiment of either the first or second aspect the collecting may be by submission by a vendor or reseller. The submission may be of details for one or more product and/or service offered for purchase outside an online network. The submission may be received through network 220.

[0128] The online details for products and services, including trending products and/or services, may comprise one or more of: product and/or service type; product and/or service category; vendor or reseller name; vendor or reseller category; vendor or reseller subcategory; location; price; stock image; user image; discount; written description; available types; available sizes; available colours; physical improvements to a store; or changes to staff.

[0129] The display may be by geographical location and price. The geographical location may be proximity to the using computing device. The display may further comprise one or more of distance; travel time; a map comprising one or more vendor or reseller location. The map may comprise route lines.

[0130] One example of an onscreen display 300 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 3A. Display 300 is a product search onscreen display and comprises menu bar 302 which comprises menu buttons 304. The menu buttons may be selected by pressing a touch screen 214 or by clicking a mouse 203 associated with a cursor displayed over menu button 304. In FIG. 3A, menu button 304a has been selected to display "Products". Other buttons 304 may be selected such as, "Compare" button 304b; "$ Drops" (discount) button 304c; or "Favourites" button 304d.

[0131] Although search box 306 is shown not to comprise any text, one or more search terms may be entered to conduct a search. Instead of showing results of a search by a search term, FIG. 3 A shows the products and/or services offered by the vendor associated with the user selected search parameter 310. In the example shown in FIG. 3A, the vendor selected is "Zelows". Along with vendor, other user selected search parameters 310 may be used such as, local shopping centre, vendor categoiy, and/or product subcategory. The user selected search parameter may comprise one or more of the components of the online details described above.

|0132] The products and/or services offered by the user selected search parameter 310 are shown in the product display window 320. The various product displays 322 can be cycled through or interchanged by for example, swiping touchscreen 214, to scroll through a reel 344. From FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B, the user of personal computing device 200 has cycled from product display 322a "Sabini burgundy bucket bag", past product display 322b "Sabini Bowler & Wallet" to display product display 322c "Modapelle Long Strap Tote".

[0133] FIGS. 3A and 3B also display a vendor list 324, which comprises a list of other vendors 326. Accompanying the vendors 326, is vendor location 328. FIGS. 3A and 3B show that vendor 328a "OPSM" is twenty-nine metres away and that vendor 328b "Dymocks" is 48 metres away. In other embodiments, instead of a distance to travel to vendor 326, vendor location 328 may comprise a time, or a location on a map. The location on a map may also show the personal computing device 200 present location.

[0134] A matched product or service may be purchased by the operator of the user computer device 200. The purchase may comprise a selection of the matched product or service.

[0135] When a product is selected, for example by clicking or pressing on product display 322c shown in FIG. 3B, the onscreen display 214 may be caused to change to that shown in FIG. 3C. Menu bar 302 has been replaced with product bar 340 which comprises buttons 342a, 342b and 342c and product display window 320 has been replaced with selected product display window 350.

[0136] "Watch" button 342a may be selected to place the product in a watch list to allow a user to readily observe any changes such as, price changes. A user may receive an alert when the online details of a product and/or service in the watch list change. The alert may be customised to selected online details. The alert may comprise an SMS message or an email.

[0137] "Shopping" button 342b may be selected to add to a Shopping List. "Buy" button 342c may be selected to purchase the product. The purchase may be made through the vendor or reseller e-commerce site, through an e-commerce site operated by the provider of method 100, 120 or through a third party e-commerce site. [0138] This highlights another advantage of the invention, which is to funnel users to selected e-commerce sites or to allow them to buy directly from within the method 100, 120 and system 500 of the invention.

[0139] Selected product display window 350 comprises a larger picture or photo of the selected product. In FIG. 3C, as in the product display 322 of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the price and product name are also included in the selected product display 352.

[0140] FIG. 3C also shows vendor details 354, which includes vendor name 356, vendor street address 358 and vendor location 360. As with vendor location 328, instead of a time to travel to vendor, vendor location 360 may comprise a distance, or a location on a map. The same is true of all locations in this example.

[0141] The display 300 of FIG. 3C also includes vendor list 362, which includes vendor name 364 and vendor location 366. The vendor list 362 provides information on vendors of products and/or services that have been of interest to others that have viewed, searched for and/or purchased the product shown in the selected product display 352.

[0142] Another onscreen display 300 is shown in FIG. 4, which shows vendors nearby. To reach this vendor nearby onscreen display 300, a user has pressed the "Nearby" menu button 304e. The vendor list 324 in FIG. 4 also comprises vendors 326 and vendor location 328. The list of vendors is driven by GPS coordinates and advantageously may have saturation coverage to advantageously report all nearby vendors to a user.

[0143] The onscreen display 300 of FIG. 5A shows products from vendor 326k listed in FIG. 4. The onscreen display 300 of FIG. 5A was reached by selecting vendor 326k by touching screen 214. A user can view all the products offered by vendor 326k by swiping product display window 320 to move between products displayed side by side across the page in reel 344.

[0144] By pressing the compare check box 330 a product can be added to a compare list within a user profile. By adding products and/or services into the compare list their parameters may be compared. The parameters for comparison may be selected by a user from for example, the online details or a subset thereof.

[0145] FIG. 5A also illustrates product category buttons 368, which may be selected to view products by category offered by a selected vendor. Those shown are 368a Accessories; 368b Clothing; 368c New Arrivals; 368d Sale; 368e Beauty; and 368f Shoes. Advantageously, these product categories may be the same as included in a vendors website. [0146] In FIG. 5A, 368f Shoes has been selected, which displays the product subcategory 369. For the product category 368 of shoes 368f, these are heels 369a; flats 369b; and boots 369c. The product categories can differ with the product.

[0147| FIG. 5B shows another embodiment of a selected product display window 350, this time showing a product selected from FIG. 5 A.

[0148] FIG. 5C shows the onscreen display 300 a user views when scrolling down from that shown in FIG. 5B to reveal a map 380 showing the location 382 of the respective vendor compared to the position 384 of user computing device 200.

[0149] Moving to FIG. 6, this figure illustrates the results of a product search using the search term "cocktail dresses" in search box 306. The resulting onscreen display 300 shows vendors 326 that sell cocktail dresses along with their vendor location 328, as selected with the nearby button 304e. The specific vendors 326 can be selected to see results in only that store of interest.

[0150] Although not illustrated in FIG. 6, it is possible to also add a remote location into search box 306. When a remote location is combined with a product search term, such as, "cocktail dress", the results displayed will be those at or near the remote location. This feature is of advantage to a user at home, who is planning their shopping at a particular shopping centre or location. Further, a specific store at the remote location may be added to further limit the results.

[0151] The searches and onscreen displays 300 can be combined with a filter. As well as the filters provided by menu buttons 304, other filters may be provided in a filter box 390. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, filter box 390 includes a price drop (discount) filter 392 and a price range filter 394.

[0152] Filter box 390 also comprises an add to favourites button 396.

[0153] FIG. 7 shows an onscreen display 300 showing a map 380 identifying the mapped vendor locations 382 for those vendors identified in the search. For example, the map 380 may show the location of the vendors 326 in product display window 320. The onscreen display 300 is reached by selecting a map display 380 in FIG. 5C.

[0154] FIG. 8 shows an onscreen display 300 illustrating one embodiment of a compare list according to the invention. The product display window 320 of FIG. 8, shows a dress 322d and lounge 322e in reel 344 of product display window 320. The respective vendors 326d,e are also shown. [0155] In this embodiment, the compare list is viewed by selecting lists menu button 304f and then selecting compare menu button 304g. Products can be removed from the compare list by selecting a respective delete button 346.

[0156] From the compare list, a product may be selected to be viewed in a selected product display window 350 from where it is possible to add the product to a shopping list, a watch list or to share the product by adding it to a share list.

[0157] FIG. 9 shows an onscreen display 300 illustrating one embodiment of a watch list according to the invention. Conveniently, price drop (discount) filter 392 can be selected to see which products have dropped in price overnight.

[0158] The watch list is viewed by again selecting lists menu button 304f and then selecting watch list menu button 304h.

[0159] When added to the watch list, a user may receive an alert when the online details of a product and/or service in the watch list change. The alert may be customised to be generated only when selected online details change. The alert may comprise an SMS or email.

[0160] FIG. 10 shows an onscreen display 300 illustrating one embodiment of a shopping list according to the invention. The shopping list is viewed by selecting lists menu button 304f and then selecting shopping list menu button 304i. As mentioned above, products and/or services added to the shopping list may be readily purchased through the vendor or reseller e-commerce site, through an e-commerce site operated by the provider of method 100, 120, through a third-party e-commerce site, depending on the configuration implemented or in-store at the closest provider's bricks n mortar outlet location.

[0161] FIG. 1 1 allows a user to see products and/or services that are trending. The trend data may be across one or more of the entire platform, a geographically limited area, temporally limited and for a demographic. The trending products and/or services are viewed by selecting trending button 304j to present onscreen display 300 shown in FIG. 11.

[0162] The trending feature allows users to view the most popular items according to user activity. The trending display may be filtered by a user selected filter that may comprise one or more of the online details. In one example, a user may filter the trending products by product type such as, cocktail dresses. The trending products can additionally be viewed within specific vendors 326 or the favourites filter 396, or another filter 392, 394, may be selected. Selecting the favourites filter 396 only displays trending products from vendors in a user selected favourites list. [0163] Another advantage of the present invention is that it marries together the convenience and appeal of both online shopping and social media. Just some of these features are shown in FIG. 12 which shows an onscreen display 300 reached after selecting the follow menu button 304k. The follow menu link shows and/or gives access to what friends, or other users being followed, have found and interacted with.

[0164] The alert 3041 in FIG. 12 shows that there are 29 new notifications that may be viewed within the follow menu link. Additionally, a user can comment on items so that the comments can be seen by followers only or generally.

[0165] Followers can be added by pulling contacts through from other social media applications running on user computing device 200. Those without a user profile can be invited to set one up.

[0166] A user can also take a photo of a product and/or service and add that to their user profile so that their followers or users generally can view the photo. For example, the photo may be of a user wearing a purchased cocktail dress.

[0167] Additionally a messaging or chat function can be accessed by selecting a user 372. Messages or chat communications can be sent with any of the features or information detailed herein.

[0168] A user may be, or may become, through use of the invention, a leading fashion blogger or celebrity and can share their finds with other users generally or their followers.

[0169] FIG. 13 shows one embodiment of product and/or service sharing. The onscreen display 300 of FIG. 13 is reached by selecting a share icon 348 (see FIG. 12). Selecting share icon 348 generates a share message 349 sending the online details, or a subset thereof, to one or more friends.

[0170] When a product and/or service is shared it may be viewable to selected other users or all other users. The one or more shared product and/or service may be selected from matched products and/or services displayed on the user computing device 200. Those selected other users authorised to view items in the shared list may be stored in a user profile.

[0171] FIG. 14 shows one embodiment of received share messages 349. A user may be made aware of a received message by an alert such as a sound, icon or light on user computing device 200, which may be customised by a user.

[0172] The friend or follower to whom the message 349 is sent instantly receives the message and may reply. The message sent may include a photo of the sender wearing the product. [0173] FIG. 15 shows a selected product display window 350 that may be reached by selecting a photo of a product displayed in a message. From the product display window 350 the product and/or service may be added to a compare, watch or shopping list. Importantly, the product display window 350 generated from a received message comprises the address of the nearest respective vendor to the user computing device 200.

[0174] FIG. 16 shows another function comprising a user generated photo 400 showing a product (sunglasses) being worn by a user. The photo may be generated by selecting a photo icon next to a product and/or service in a product display window 320 or a selected product display window 350. The selection may open a camera comprised within user computing device 200.

[0175] FIG. 17 shows one embodiment of a message 410 comprising user generated photo 400, message text 412 and a recipient 414. Message 410 may be sent to one or more recipients 414.

[0176] FIG. 18 shows one embodiment of a received message 410. The onscreen display 300 in FIG. 18 is of a larger view of photo 400 accessed by selecting the photo within the received message.

[0177] FIG. 18 also shows indexed product and/or service icon 416 included with the received message. The indexing may be performed by the sender, recipient or automatically. When the indexed product and/or service 416 icon is selected the onscreen display 300 shown in FIG. 19 is displayed which comprises a product display window 320.

[0178] These features allow users to see what their friend looks like when wearing a product and what the product looks like in isolation. This gives users more information to determine whether they like a product and/or service or not.

[0179] FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate a local deals feature of the invention which is accessed using the deals menu tab 304m. In the deals product display window 320, the details of local deals may be viewed in real-time. As with they other product display windows 320, this one may also be searched using search box 306 and the other menu tabs.

[0180] Method 100, 120 may further comprise causing the user computer device 200 to display a mapping application when a displayed matched product and service is selected. The mapping application may be Google Maps.

[0181] Method 100, 120 may further allow a user to add one or more matched product and/or service to a compare list, a shopping list or a watch list. The adding may comprise pressing on a screen of the user computing device. [0182] The user computing device 200 may be used to show the location of the vendors of the items in the compare list, shopping list or watch list on a map.

[0183] Methods 100, 120 may further comprise a step of receiving a request for further details of one or more matched product and/or service. In response to the received request for further details, the user computing device 200 may be caused to display further details of the requested one or more matched product or service. The request may comprise a pressing on a screen of a user computing device.

[0184] According to methods 100, 120 the matched one or more product and/or service may be filtered by one or more of the online details or for example by price, price reduction, trend, shares by all other and shares by selected other users. The price reduction may be a temporal price reduction. The temporal price reduction may be within one day; within one week; or within one month.

[0185] The matched one or more product and or service may also be filtered by user favourites. The user favourites may be stored in a user profile. The user profile may also comprise an age, gender and postcode.

[0186] The user profile may comprise one or more shared product and/or service. The one or more shared product and/or service may be viewable to selected other users or all other users. The one or more shared product and/or service may be selected from matched products and/or services displayed on the user computing device. The selected other users may be stored in a user profile.

[0187] The stored data may be comprised in a database 294. The stored data may also comprise the time, data, location and user of any received request. The stored data may further comprise the time, data, location and user of any selected matched product and/or service and whether it was put in a list. The location may comprise a name of a shopping or business precinct the user was located in at the relevant time. The stored data may further comprise metadata. The metadata may comprise one or more keyword used in during a request. The stored data may further comprise whether one or more of a displayed matched product and/or service; selected displayed matched product or service; or promotional product and/or service were selected and/or purchased.

[0188] The method of the invention may also be used to find employment or to fill a vacant position. In this embodiment, the method 100, 120 may further comprise receiving details for one or more employment position. The details of the one or more employment position may be displayed by geographical location on the user computing device. [0189] Yet another application of the present methods 100, 120 is to receive a booking for one or more product and/or service. The booking may be for a matched products and/or services. The service may comprise one or more of a restaurant booking, a hotel booking, a travel booking or a real estate viewing.

|0190] FIGS. 22 to 26 show a modified GUI 300. Although not all features that are shown in FIGS. 3 to 21 are illustrated on FIGS. 22 to 26, the modified GUI may still implement all the features described with reference to those Figures and described herein. In one sense, FIGS. 22 to 26 are included merely to illustrate cosmetically how GUI 300 may look.

[0191 ] The modified GUI 300 shown in FIG. 22 can be compared with that shown in FIG. 4. Rather than displaying filter box 390, the GUI 300 in FIG. 22 comprises menu buttons 304 at the bottom, including lists 304f.

[0192] FIG. 23 illustrates the onscreen display 300 when a search in search box 306 by a vendor is conducted. Along with entry of the vendor name into search box 306, this search may be conducted by tapping a vendor 326 logo. These results may be filtered and scrolled through horizontally.

[0193] FIG. 24 illustrates that search box 306 may use predictive text.

[0194] FIGS. 25 and 26 show other embodiments of onscreen display 300.

[0195] In one form the present invention, electronically gathers information such as the online details from bricks & mortar retailers' products and services and collates this information into a database environment. The information may include prices, descriptions and images.

[0196] The information is then delivered to a software application on a mobile digital device such as, a smartphone, presenting the same products and services, for example on a store by store basis, guided by the GPS location of these stores at the time relative to the mobile device's location.

[0197] The database may be searchable. Searches may be performed on a collective product basis, that is the search results are presented to users on their mobile device irrespective of the specific retailers selling them. Although reference may still be made to the retailers and their GPS locations relative to the user at the time. In this way the search results represent matches based on the closest locations of the products which may be anchored by the store they are stocked in.

[0198] When the GUI 300 is displayed onscreen, a tap (touchscreen) or click (mouse) on a displayed product of interest may display bigger images and more descriptive data; put the products into a Shopping List or like list; put products they like but they do not wish to purchase immediately, for example they are deemed too expensive, in a Watch list; share the products they like with their friends who are using the same application; share the products they like with their friend via other social media; take photos of themselves holding or wearing the product of interest and sharing it with friends via the application; click the Buy button to go through to an E-commerce page to buy the product online if they choose; and tap on any other element of the app representing a heightened interest level in a products or product line or search keywords (and all associated retail suppliers at the time) is recorded and sent to Zellebrate databases as it occurs or in some cases at regular intervals during the day

[0199] This illustrates just one advantageous and practical effects of the invention, the real-time or live popularity of products and services being sold at bricks & mortar retail outlets is recorded and can be displayed. By association, the popularity, of the physical retail outlets supplying the products, are measured also.

[0200] This popularity can then be benchmarked, so real-time product popularity can be measured against the popularity of same or like products or product lines at competing retail outlets. This can in turn be benchmarked against price points for each of the products as well so the overall popularity of products and services being sold at bricks & mortar stores can be one big live measurement relative to pricing.

[0201] The present invention allows sales and/or marketing strategies within each of the stores to measure the impact of price changes across product lines and products in individual stores or groups of individual stores such as, shopping centres or precincts. This impact may be with respect to the popularity of items and/or stores by comparison to other stores or clusters of stores. The impact may be measured with respect to competing stores or stores within the same group, i.e. common ownership or common franchise. The impact may be measured between shopping centres and/or retail chain competitors.

[0202] This reporting, as well as the data collected, can then be provided to bricks and mortar stores' management for evaluation. The evaluation may be performed live to adapt marketing and sales strategies in place at any one time; view the impact of a factor. The factor may be one or more of: personnel changes in the store; the live impact on shopping centre/mall management events in place; the weather; the economy; and other factors including.

[0203] Any variable affecting the performance of individual bricks & mortar stores can be evaluated and/or quantified on an individual store performance basis (or clusters such as shopping centres and the like) and then benchmarked across competitors to get a true reading on performance.

|0204] This measured impact can also be used by corporates, government bodies, business advisors, shopping centre/mall management, big retail chains, etc including any group desiring to know the live performance of retailers at any given point in time.

[0205] The invention can also provide data to additional economic models that use Point of Sale data and other economic data such as, card payment transactions to measure how businesses or clusters of businesses or business precincts are performing at the time and working out what might be the cause for a drop in performance or an increase in performance.

[0206] Sharing items with others: the invention allows a user to connect with friends or followers. Anyone who downloads the application can easily connect to another party having the application. FIG. 12 shows a user profile window 308, visualising the user name 312 and user image 316. While the user image 316 is shown to be a photo of the user, in other embodiments user image 316 can be an avatar, a provided image or other user generated image. Also shown in FIG. 12 is a user discoveries 314 section which can be clicked on to show the 12 items saved as a discovery by this user.

[0207] At the bottom of FIG. 12, other users 372 being followed in this user profile are shown.

[0208] The user profile window 308 may be displayed on all screen images, including that of FIG. 1, so that an individual with multiple user profiles may readily discern which profile they are within.

[0209] Whenever a user finds an item of interest they want to share, they simply tap on the app's share 348 icon and choose which of their followers they want to share it with.

[0210] In turn, as displayed here, a user can see instantly what's been shared and interrogate it.

[0211] When a user taps on an item being shared with them to investigate it more deeply not only will it show all other descriptive details but, as all listed products are linked to physical bricks and mortar store retailers and/or non-retailers, it will show the closest store the user can buy that product at also.

[0212] That user may then choose to buy it online using the method of the invention or add it to a watch list, shopping list or like list in the application or go to the store and physically buy it. [0213] The user may also choose to on-share an item with their network of friends and followers on whereupon they can buy it online, put in a list and so on.

[0214] Sharing can also be performed via instant message: A user may also choose to share products they've found via an instant messaging feature. A user can send it to as many users as they like and apply a message.

[0215] The recipients, followers and friends, once again will be able to instantly see all details associated with the product, the closest store to them distributing it, buy it online via the invention and so on.

[0216] They will also be able to on-share it with their sets of friends and followers and respond to the message with their own message back, all without the inconvenience of leaving the app

[0217] Receiving an instant message: recipients of the instant message, followers and friends, will be able to instantly see all details associated with the product, the closest store to them distributing it, buy it online via the invention and so on.

[0218] They will also be able to on-share it with their sets of friends and followers and respond to the message with their own message back - all without leaving the app

[0219] Instant photo sharing: By tapping on a camera icon or the like in the app a user can take a photo of themselves wearing or holding the product they've found in-store, and on the application, before or after they've found it, and send it off as an instant chat message within Zellebrate to their friends and followers.

[0220] The camera icon is located on Zellebrate next to the actual product listing on the app representing the item in the photo. So users know exactly where it came from and is being sold.

[0221] Instant photo message: The message from the sender can be asking whether they like the product being purchased (or that they've just purchased) or they could be recommending it to them for their own purchase opportunity as well.

[0222] The invention may further comprise a rewards program which may include rewards points. Rewards points may be accumulated by a user and/or stored in a user profile. Rewards points may be accumulated by various mechanisms such as, with activity and/or with purchases.

[0223] Examples of the type of user activity that may accumulate rewards points include: one or more of a user sharing a product and/or service; a request for online details of a product and/or service; adding a product and/or service to a compare list, a shopping list, a watch list or a share list; and sending a message. The sharing of a product and/or service may be with selected other users in the user profile.

|0224] Rewards points may be accumulated when a user sends and/or receives one or more message. The message may comprise a photo of a user holding or wearing one or more product.

[0225] As noted above, the present invention makes it possible for users to share products and offerings with their contacts such as, with the selected other users in the user profile. To facilitate social interaction and this type of product 'sharing', users can set up their own networks of friends and followers. This allows users to expose products of interest they find instantly to others.

[0226] While not limited to the following examples, the present invention includes three ways this exposure is facilitated. In a first example, users can re-publish products they find to their share list. In this way, all of a user's network will see these products. In another example, users re-publish products they find to select members of their Zellebrate network via the messaging capability. In yet another example, a user may take a photo of themselves holding or wearing one or more product that they've since physically found or purchased in-store. The user can send off such a photos or photos using the messaging component to select members of their network.

[0227] The recipients of this virtual product sharing benefit in a number of ways including: they are made aware of products, including their current prices, descriptive details and images, they may be interested in purchasing; they receive a direct link to the E-commerce page for the product so they can instantly buy it online; they are instantly shown the closest store location to them at the time; they can instantly put the product promotions of interest into their shopping or like lists in lien of taking action later on; they can put products of interest into their watch list; any recipients of these shared product exposures can in turn on-share them with their own network, with the same benefits repeated; and this sequence of events represents significant benefits to retailers due to the increase in exposure of their products and the action points Zellebrate allows that promote immediate purchase orientated decision making by consumers.

[0228] Adding items to the watch list, not only results in notification when the price drops in the future but, also opens up the possibility of the retailer themselves directly offering the user a better deal for the product through the app too at some point

[0229] The method may further comprise recei ving a message or notification when one or more online detail of a product or service in a compare list, a shopping list, a watch list or a share list change. The one or more online detail that changes may comprise a price. The message or notification may be received from an administrator or a vendor.

[0230] The method may further comprise receiving a message or notification regarding a product or service in a compare list, a shopping list, a watch list or a share list change.

[0231] The number of rewards points accumulated may be proportional to downstream activity generated by a user. Rewards points can be accumulated for example by: a user whose 'share' action(s) have led to additional publicity for retailers' products; how many recipients of the 'shared' interactions put the product received in their watch, shopping or like lists; how many users went through to the Ecommerce page for the product when notified by another user; how many users ended up visiting the closest store selling a product of which notification was received from another user; how many sales resulted from share action.

[0232] The notifications issued and received may comprise one or more advertisement. The one or more advertisement may be for the product and/or service.

[0233] The actions by share recipients can be measured and rewards points allocated to the originator of the shared message so they are rewarded for their re-publishing efforts and the direct benefit it had for the retailer or non retailer linked to the product at the time. The rewards points may be allocated on a sliding scale. The sliding scale may be dependant on how purchase orientated the recipient's action was.

[0234] By using the capacity to determine a trend of the present claimed invention, the effectiveness of any publicity generated by a user's share action(s) may be determined.

[0235] A user may be able to view a real-time or live tally of rewards points. A user may be able to view only their rewards points or be able to view all users. Retailers may also be provided with the rewards points details of all users.

[0236] This reporting will clearly highlight to retailers those specific users influencing product exposure and allow quantification of the influence. Through Zellebrate the retailers (and non-retailers when relevant) will be able to post a message to these consumers directly so they may offer them rewards (financial benefits, for example) for their efforts so far and establish an agreement for same continuing into the future.

[0237] This reporting may also be used by to identify users to promote. The degree of promotion may be directly proportional to how many rewards points a user has accumulated. A user may be selected to have their own public profile promoting their own products or those of other retailers. In view of the proportionality, a user with a higher rewards ranking will receive a higher listing and exposure than a user with few reward rankings.

[0238] The reporting may be used to provide a discount to the fee charged to users who place second hand goods for sale.

[0239] The reporting may be used to provide advance warning of any product deals of interest that are about to be listed.

[0240] Any advantage that can be offered to a user may be provided to users identified through this reporting.

[0241 J Another advantage of the invention is that shopping precincts will benefit from the Rewards program. A similar rewards program to that outlined above for users, may be operated highlighting those users who have been purchasing and/or promoting goods from particular local shopping precincts. Those users can be identified and allocated rewards points and offered additional benefits, as described above. A user's rewards points and rankings may also be published so that local retailers and non-retailers can also seek to reward these users for their loyalty.

[0242] The sentiment of this element of the Zellebrate Rewards system is to encourage more local shopping and local community involvement by users and general consumers residing in the local area. This highlights yet another advantage of the present invention which is to promote community loyalty and fight back against the pure online retailing threatening to reduce consumer patronage within local business communities.

[0243] Advantageously, the present invention represents a unique retailer to consumer rewards capability for mobile device users.

[0244] Hitherto it was not possible to know which user shared a product and/or service with friends and/or followers, who the recipients are and who clicked through to add to a list, obtain more information or to purchase. The present invention makes possible this identification of a user who shares a product and/or service with friends and followers, identification of who receives a shared product and/or service and identification of who clicked to add to a list, obtain more information or to purchase.

[0245] The invention allows continuous reporting to retailers of which users share a product and/or service successfully and to what degree those influencers successfully promote a product and/or service to others. An example of the type of information that can be obtained is, four out of ten recipients of a user share may have put products in their watch list; and three recipients may have clicked through to the E-commerce page. [0246] The information provided by the invention has a direct link to value that a retailer would be willing to reward a consumer for. This type of information is additional to conventional rewards programs which can not provide this type of iformation.

[0247| Any recipient may go on to share details of a product and/or service with their own network and the cycle of promotion continues.

[0248] The ability of the present invention to allow retailers to then communicate and digitally directly with users advantageously allows a retailer to assist in sharing activities and to motivate a user to promote even more of their products.

[0249] Another advantage of the present invention is that a retailer can report on exactly which users receive a shared product and/or service ultimately purchased the product and/or service. This allows an adjustment and further report back to retailers on rewards points relevant to which user was the influencer who initially shared the product and/or service.

[0250] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a sliding points scale for all user recipient activity. Point rankings may be based on the purchase potential of a user's actions, e.g. putting a product in a watch list is worth more points than a message recipient opening up the message to get more details and stopping there. A rewards points summary for each user can be generated to establish the equi valent financial remuneration by way of rewards points a retailer should reward them with. In this way users who are influencers may be identified, tracked and/or measured. Advantageously, this identification, treacking and measurement can be done without paid online advertisements.

[0251] Advantageously, the present invention allows user influence to be identified, tracked and/or measured. One embodiment of a personal computing device 200 suitable for use in the present invention is shown in Figs. 2A and 2B. In the embodiment shown personal computing device 200 comprises a computer module 201 comprising input devices such as a keyboard 202, a mouse pointer device 203, a scanner 226, an external hard drive 227, and a microphone 280; and output devices including a printer 215, a display device 214 and loudspeakers 217. In some embodiments video display 214 may comprise a touchscreen.

[0252] A Modulator-Demodulator (Modem) transceiver device 216 may be used by the computer module 201 for communicating to and from a communications network 220 via a connection 221 . The network 220 may be a wide-area network (WAN), such as the Internet, a cellular telecommunications network, or a private WAN. Through the network 220, computer module 201 may be connected to other similar personal devices 290 or server computers 291 . Where the connection 221 is a telephone line, the modem 216 may be a traditional "dial-up" modem. Alternatively, where the connection 221 is a high capacity (e.g.: cable) connection, the modem 216 may be a broadband modem. A wireless modem may also be used for wireless connection to network 220.

|0253] The computer module 201 typically includes at least one processor 205, and a memory 206 for example formed from semiconductor random access memory (RAM) and semiconductor read only memory (ROM). The module 201 also includes a number of input/output (I/O) interfaces including: an audio-video interface 207 that couples to the video display 214, loudspeakers 217 and microphone 280; an I/O interface 213 for the keyboard 202, mouse 203, scanner 226 and external hard drive 227; and an interface 208 for the external modem 216 and printer 215. In some implementations, modem 216 may be incorporated within the computer module 201 , for example within the interface 208. The computer module 201 also has a local network interface 21 1 which, via a connection 223, pennits coupling of the personal device 200 to a local computer network 222, known as a Local Area Network (LAN).

[0254] As also illustrated, the local network 222 may also couple to the wide network 220 via a connection 224, which would typically include a so-called "firewall" device or device of similar functionality. The interface 21 1 may be formed by an Ethernet circuit card, a Bluetooth wireless arrangement or an IEEE 802.1 1 wireless arrangement or other suitable interface.

[0255] The I/O interfaces 208 and 213 may afford either or both of serial and parallel connectivity, the former typically being implemented according to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standards and having corresponding USB connectors (not illustrated).

[0256] Storage devices 209 are provided and typically include a hard disk drive (HDD) 210. Other storage devices such as, an external HD 227, a disk drive (not shown) and a magnetic tape drive (not shown) may also be used. An optical disk drive 212 is typically provided to act as a non-volatile source of data. Portable memory devices, such as optical disks (e.g.: CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-Ray Disc), USB -RAM, external hard drives and floppy disks for example, may be used as appropriate sources of data to the personal computing device 200. Another source of data to personal computing device 200 is provided by the at least one server computer 291 through network 220.

[0257] Sever computer 291 may collect online details for products and/or services offered for purchase by vendors within the network 220. Sever computer 291 may also receive requests for a product and/or service along with a geographical location from a user computing device 200.

[0258] Another function that may be performed by server computer 291 is the collection of search data for a product and/or service associated with one or more user computer device within a geographic boundary from before a start time and from after the start time.

[0259] Server computer 291 is operatively connected to database 294. Database 294 may store the collected products and/or services associated with a respective vendor address.

[0260] Server 291 may comprise or be operatively connected to a processor (not shown) which determines any variation in the search data from before the start time compared to the search results from after the start time to determine the trend and/or change in online search behaviour.

[0261] The components 205 to 213 of the computer module 201 typically communicate via an interconnected bus 204 in a manner that results in a conventional mode of operation of personal device 200. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, processor 205 is coupled to system bus 204 through connections 218. Similarly, memory 206 and optical disk drive 212 are coupled to the system bus 204 by connections 219. Examples of personal computing devices 200 on which the described arrangements can be practiced include IBM-PC's and compatibles, Sun Sparc stations, Apple computers; smart phones; tablet computers or like a device comprising a computer module like computer module 201 . It is to be understood that when personal computing device 200 comprises a smart phone or a tablet computer, display device 214 may comprise a touchscreen and other input and output devices may not be included such as, mouse pointer device 201 ; keyboard 202; scanner 226; and printer 215.

[0262] Fig. 2B is a detailed schematic block diagram of processor 205 and a memory 234. The memory 234 represents a logical aggregation of all the memory modules, including the storage device 209 and semiconductor memory 206, which can be accessed by the computer module 201 in Fig. 2 A.

[0263] Processor 205 may query database 294 by the requested product and/or service and geographical location for matching products and/or services. Processor 205 may also cause matching products and/or services to be displayed by geographical location on the user computing device 200.

[0264] The methods of the invention may be implemented using personal computing device 200 wherein the methods may be implemented as one or more software application programs 233 executable within computer module 201. In particular, the steps of the methods of the invention may be effected by instructions 231 in the software carried out within the computer module 201

[0265] The software instructions 231 may be formed as one or more code modules, each for performing one or more particular tasks. The software 233 may also be divided into two separate parts, in which a first part and the corresponding code modules performs the method of the invention and a second part and the corresponding code modules manage a graphical user interface between the first part and the user.

[0266] The software 233 may be stored in a computer readable medium, including in a storage device of a type described herein. The software is loaded into the personal computing device 200 from the computer readable medium or through network 221 or 223, and then executed by personal computing device 200. Software 233 is typically stored in the HDD 210 or the memory 206.

[0267] A computer readable medium having such software 233 or computer program recorded on it is a computer program product. The use of the computer program product in the personal computing device 200 preferably effects a device or apparatus for implementing the methods 100, 120 of the invention.

[0268] In some instances, the software application programs 233 may be supplied to the user encoded on one or more disk storage medium 225 such as a CD-ROM, DVD or Blu- Ray disc, and read via the corresponding drive 212, or alternatively may be read by the user from the networks 220 or 222. Still further, the software 233 can also be loaded into the personal computing device 200 from other computer readable media. Computer readable storage media refers to any non-transitory tangible storage medium that provides recorded instructions and/or data to the computer module 201 or personal computing device 200 for execution and/or processing. Examples of such storage media include floppy disks, magnetic tape, CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, a hard disk drive, a ROM or integrated circuit, USB memory, a magneto-optical disk, or a computer readable card such as a PCMCIA card and the like, whether or not such devices are internal or external of the computer module 201. Examples of transitory or non-tangible computer readable transmission media that may also participate in the provision of software application programs 233, instructions 231 and/or data to the computer module 201 include radio or infra-red transmission channels as well as a network connection 221 , 223, 334, to another computer or networked device 290, 291 and the Internet or an Intranet including email transmissions and information recorded on Websites and the like. [0269] The second part of the application programs 233 and the corresponding code modules mentioned above may be executed to implement one or more GUIs to be rendered or otherwise represented upon display 214. Through manipulation of, typically, keyboard 202, mouse 203 and/or screen 214 when comprising a touchscreen, a user of personal device 200 and the methods of the invention may manipulate the interface in a functionally adaptable manner to provide controlling commands and/or input to the applications associated with the GUI(s). Other forms of functionally adaptable user interfaces may also be implemented, such as an audio interface utilizing speech prompts output via loudspeakers 217 and user voice commands input via microphone 280. The manipulations including mouse clicks, screen touches, speech prompts and/or user voice commands may be transmitted via network 220 or 222.

|0270] When the computer module 201 is initially powered up, a power-on self-test (POST) program 250 may execute. The POST program 250 is typically stored in a ROM 249 of the semiconductor memory 206. A hardware device such as the ROM 249 is sometimes referred to as firmware. The POST program 250 examines hardware within the computer module 201 to ensure proper functioning, and typically checks processor 205, memory 234 (209, 206), and a basic input-output systems software (BIOS) module 251, also typically stored in ROM 249, for correct operation. Once the POST program 250 has run successfully, BIOS 251 activates hard disk drive 210. Activation of hard disk drive 210 causes a bootstrap loader program 252 that is resident on hard disk drive 210 to execute via processor 205. This loads an operating system 253 into RAM memory 206 upon which operating system 253 commences operation. Operating system 253 is a system level application, executable by processor 205, to fulfill various high level functions, including processor management, memory management, device management, storage management, software application interface, and generic user interface.

[0271] Operating system 253 manages memory 234 (209, 206) in order to ensure that each process or application running on computer module 201 has sufficient memory in which to execute without colliding with memory allocated to another process. Furthermore, the different types of memory available in the personal computing device 200 must be used properly so that each process can run effectively. Accordingly, the aggregated memory 234 is not intended to illustrate how particular segments of memory are allocated, but rather to provide a general view of the memory accessible by computer module 201 and how such is used. [0272] Processor 205 includes a number of functional modules including a control unit 239, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 240, and a local or internal memory 248, sometimes called a cache memory. The cache memory 248 typically includes a number of storage registers 244, 245, 246 in a register section storing data 247. One or more internal busses 241 functionally interconnect these functional modules. The processor 205 typically also has one or more interfaces 242 for communicating with external devices via the system bus 204, using a connection 218. The memory 234 is connected to the bus 204 by connection 219.

[0273] Application program 233 includes a sequence of instructions 231 that may include conditional branch and loop instructions. Program 233 may also include data 232 which is used in execution of the program 233. The instructions 231 and the data 232 are stored in memory locations 228, 229, 230 and 235, 236, 237, respectively. Depending upon the relative size of the instructions 231 and the memory locations 228-230, a particular instruction may be stored in a single memory location as depicted by the instruction shown in the memory location 230. Alternately, an instruction may be segmented into a number of parts each of which is stored in a separate memory location, as depicted by the instruction segments shown in the memory locations 228 and 229.

[0274] In general, processor 205 is given a set of instructions 243 which are executed therein. The processor 205 then waits for a subsequent input, to which processor 205 reacts by executing another set of instructions. Each input may be provided from one or more of a number of sources, including data generated by one or more of the input devices 202, 203, or 214 when comprising a touchscreen, data received from an external source across one of the networks 220, 222, data retrieved from one of the storage devices 206, 209 or data retrieved from a storage medium 225 inserted into the corresponding reader 212. The execution of a set of the instructions may in some cases result in output of data. Execution may also involve storing data or variables to the memory 234.

[0275] The disclosed arrangements use input variables 254 that are stored in the memory 234 in corresponding memory locations 255, 256, 257, 258. The described arrangements produce output variables 261 that are stored in the memory 234 in corresponding memory locations 262, 263, 264, 265. Intermediate variables 268 may be stored in memory locations 259, 260, 266 and 267.

[0276] The register section 244, 245, 246, the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 240, and the control unit 239 of the processor 205 work together to perform sequences of micro- operations needed to perform "fetch, decode, and execute" cycles for every instruction in the instruction set making up the program 233. Each fetch, decode, and execute cycle comprises:

(a) a fetch operation, which fetches or reads an instruction 231 from memory location 228, 229, 230;

(b) a decode operation in which control unit 239 determines which instruction has been fetched; and

(c) an execute operation in which the control unit 239 and/or the ALU 240 execute the instruction.

[0277| Thereafter, a further fetch, decode, and execute cycle for the next instruction may be executed. Similarly, a store cycle may be performed by which the control unit 239 stores or writes a value to a memory location 232.

[0278] Each step or sub-process in the methods of the invention may be associated with one or more segments of the program 233, and may be performed by register section 244- 246, the ALU 240, and the control unit 239 in the processor 205 working together to perform the fetch, decode, and execute cycles for every instruction in the instruction set for the noted segments of program 233.

[0279] One or more other computers 290 may be connected to the communications network 220 as seen in Fig. 2A. Each such computer 290 may have a similar configuration to the computer module 201 and corresponding peripherals.

[0280] One or more other server computer 291 may be connected to the communications network 220. These server computers 291 respond to requests from the personal computing device 200 or other server computers (not shown) to provide information.

[0281] The components of FIGS. 2A and 2B comprise one embodiment of a system 500 according to the invention.

[0282] Method 100 may alternatively be implemented in dedicated hardware such as one or more integrated circuits performing the functions or sub functions of the described methods. Such dedicated hardware may include graphic processors, digital signal processors, or one or more microprocessors and associated memories.

[0283] It is understood that in order to practice the methods 100, 120 of the invention as described above, it is not necessary that the processors, servers and/or the memories of the processing machine be physically located in the same geographical place. That is, each of the processors, servers and the memories used in the invention may be located in geographically distinct locations and connected so as to communicate in any suitable manner. Additionally, it will be understood that each of the processor and/or the memory may be composed of different physical pieces of equipment. Accordingly, it is not necessary that a processor be one single piece of equipment in one location and that the memory be another single piece of equipment in another location. That is, it is contemplated that the processor may be two pieces of equipment in two different physical locations. The two distinct pieces of equipment may be connected in any suitable manner. Additionally, the memory may include two or more portions of memory in two or more physical locations.

[0284] To explain further, processing as described above is performed by various components and various memories. It will be understood, however, that the processing performed by two distinct components as described above may, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, be performed by a single component. Further, the processing performed by one distinct component as described above may be performed by two distinct components. In a similar manner, the memory storage performed by two distinct memory portions as described above may, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, be performed by a single memory portion. Further, the memory storage performed by one distinct memory portion as described above may be performed by two memory portions.

[0285] Further, various technologies may be used to provide communication between the various processors and/or memories, as well as to allow the processors and/or the memories of the invention to communicate with any other entity, i.e., so as to obtain further instructions or to access and use remote memory stores, for example. Such technologies used to provide such communication might include a network, the Internet, Intranet, Extranet, LAN, an Ethernet, a telecommunications network (e.g., a cellular or wireless network) or any client server system that provides communication, for example. Such communications technologies may use any suitable protocol such as TCP/IP, UDP, or OSI, for example.

[0286] The system of the fourth aspect may further comprise reporting the variation in the search results. The reporting may include printing a report or sending an electronic message comprising the variation.

[0287] The start time may comprise the beginning of a sale or marketing campaign by a vendor of a product and/or service listed within a database queried by the user computer devices. [0288] The method of the third or fourth aspect may further comprise storing the received requests. The received requests may be provided to a vendor within an online network or a vendor outside an online network.

[0289] The method of the third or fourth aspect may further comprise receiving details for one or more promotional product and/or service. The details for one or more promotional product and/or service may be displayed by geographical location on the user computing device. The received promotional one or more product and service may be provided by a vendor within an online network or a vendor outside an online network. The details for the one or more promotional product and/or service may be provided in response to provision of stored data comprising a plurality of received requests.

[0290] The one or more promotional product and/or service may be selected based on the determined trending products and/or services.

[0291] The method of the third or fourth aspect may further comprise determining trending products and/or services from stored data comprising a plurality of received requests for a product and/or service. The method of the first or second aspect may further comprise causing the user computing device to display details for one or more trending product and/or service.

[0292] The method of the third or fourth aspect may also comprise collecting the online details by crawling. In another embodiment of either the first or second aspect the collecting may be by submission by a vendor or reseller. The submission may be of details for one or more product and/or service offered for purchase that are outside an online network.

[0293] The online details for products and service may include one or more of vendor or reseller name, location, price, image, discount, written description, available types, available sizes, available colours, physical improvements to a store or changes to staff.

[0294] The display may be by geographical location and price. The geographical location may be proximity to the using computing device. The display may further comprise one or more of distance; travel time; a map comprising one or more vendor or reseller location. The map may comprise route lines.

[0295] A matched product or service may be purchased by the operator of the user computer device. The purchase may comprise a selection of the matched product or service. [0296] The system 500 may further comprise causing the user computer device to display a mapping application when a displayed matched product and service is selected. The mapping application may be Google Maps.

[0297| The system 500 may further comprise causing the user computer device to be directed to an online store of the vendor or reseller associated with a selected matched product and/or service.

[0298] The selection may comprise pressing on a screen of the user computing device.

[0299] The system 500 may further comprise adding one or more matched product and/or service to a compare list, a shopping list or a watch list. The adding may comprise pressing on a screen of the user computing device.

[0300] The system 500 may further comprise receiving a request for further details of one or more matched product and/or service. In response to the received request for further details, the user computing device may be caused to display further details of the requested one or more matched product or service. The request may comprise a pressing on a screen of a user computing device.

[0301] The system 500 may further comprise filtering the matched one or more product and/or service by price, price reduction, trend, shares by all other or shares by selected other users. The price reduction may be a temporal price reduction. The temporal price reduction may be within one day; within one week; or within one month.

[0302] The method 100, 120 and system 500 may further comprise filtering the matched one or more product and or service by user favourites. The user favourites may be stored in a user profile. The user profile may also comprise an age, gender and postcode.

[0303] The user profile may comprise one or more shared product and/or service. The one or more shared product and/or service may be viewable to selected other users or all other users. The one or more shared product and/or service may be selected from matched products and/or services displayed on the user computing device. The selected other users may be stored in a user profile.

[0304] The stored data may be comprised in electronically, for example in a database or cloud. The stored data may also comprise the time, data, location and user of any received request. The stored data may further comprise the time, data, location and user of any selected matched product and/or service. The location may comprise a name of a shopping or business precinct the user was located in at the relevant time. The stored data may further comprise metadata. The metadata may comprise one or more keyword used in during a request. The stored data may further comprise whether one or more of a displayed matched product and/or service; selected displayed matched product or service; or promotional product and/or service were selected and/or purchased.

[0305] The method 100, 120 or system 500 may further comprise receiving details for one or more employment position. The details of the one or more employment position may be displayed by geographical location on the user computing device.

[0306] The method 100, 120 or system 500 may further comprise receiving a booking for one or more product and/or service. The booking may be for a matched products and/or services. The service may comprise one or more of a restaurant booking, a hotel booking, a travel booking or a real estate viewing.

[0307] The user activity including tapping on products and/or services received to see more details and where they can be purchased can be likened to a consumer clicking on a conventional online advertisement such as, a Google ad. The action of tapping on a message that directly leads to a potential transaction, or heightened interest, is equivalent in value to online advertising with the added benefit of precision targeting of engaged users.

[0308] The present claimed invention provides a one stop solution for promoting all that goes on commercially in local communities - and even non-commercial services like local transport. Just one advantage of the present claimed invention is to facilitate stronger community engagement and invite spending to be more confined within such boundaries to advance prosperity and community spirit.

[0309] In this specification, the terms "comprises", "comprising" or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed.

[0310] Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. Persons skilled in the relevant art may realize variations from the specific embodiments that will nonetheless fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS The Claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A method for providing search results for a product and/or a service, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a product and/or service along with a geographical location from a user computing device;

2. The method of Claim 1 further comprising determining trending products and/or services from stored data.

3. The method of Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the stored data comprises a plurality of received requests for a product and/or service.

4. The method of any one of the preceding claims comprising causing the user computing device to display details for one or more trending product and/or service.

5. A method for determining a trend and/or change in online search behaviour

comprising:

collecting electronic search data for a product and/or service associated with one or more user computer device within a geographic boundary from before a start time; collecting electronic search data for a product and/or service associated with one or more user computer device within the geographic boundary from after the start time; and determining any variation in the electronic search data from before a start time compared to the electronic search data from after a start time to determine the trend and/or change in online search behaviour.

6. The method of any one of the Claims 2 to 5 further comprising reporting the trending products and/or service or the variation in the search data. The reporting may include printing a report or sending an electronic message comprising the variation.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding Clams further comprising collecting the online details by crawling.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding Clams wherein the collecting is be by submission by a vendor or reseller.

9. The display according to any one of the preceding Clams may be by geographical location and price.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding Clams further comprising adding one or more matched product and/or service to a list.

1 1. The method according to Claim 10 wherein the list comprises a compare list, a shopping list, a watch list or a share list.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding Clams further comprising causing the user device to show the location of the vendors of the items in the compare list, shopping list or watch list on a map.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding Clams further comprising receiving a request for further details of one or more matched product and/or service.

14. The method according to any one of the Claims 5 to 13 wherein the electronic search data comprises a plurality of received requests according to any one of Claims 1 to 6.

15. A system for providing search results for a product and/or a service, the system comprising:

a server for collecting online details for products and/or services offered for purchase by vendors within an online network; an electronic memory for storing the collected online details for products and/or services associated with a respective vendor address;

the processor causing matching products and/or services to be displayed by geographical location on the user computing device.

16. The system of Claim 15 may further comprise a processor for detennining trending products and/or services from stored data.

17. The system according to Claim 16 further comprising causing the user computing device displaying details for one or more trending product and/or service.

18. A system for determining a trend and/or change in online search behaviour

comprising:

a processor for determining any variation in the electronic search data from before the start time compared to the electronic search data from after the start time to determine the trend and/or change in online search behaviour.

19. The system according to any one of Claims 15 to 18 further comprising a communication device for reporting the trending products and/or service or the variation in the search results.

20. The system according to any one of Claims 15 to 19 wherein reporting includes printing a report or sending an electronic message comprising the variation.

21. The method or system according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the start time comprises the beginning of a sale or marketing campaign by a vendor of a product and/or service listed within a database queried by the user computer devices.

22. The method or system according to any one of th e above aspects further comprising a rewards program.

23. The method or system of Claim 22 wherein rewards points are accumulated by a user and/or stored in a user profile.

24. The method or system of Claim 23 wherein rewards points are accumulated with user activity and/or purchases.

25. The method or system of Claim 24 further comprising receiving a message or notification when one or more online detail of a product or service in a compare list, a shopping list, a watch list or a share list change.

26. The method or system of any one of Claim 22 to 25 wherein a relative purchase orientated value of user activity is determined by the determined trend and/or change in online search behaviour of the second or fourth aspects.

27. The method or system of any one of Claims 22 to 26 wherein a user or retailer can view a real-time or live tally of rewards points.

28. The method or system of any one of Claims 22 to 27 further comprising a retailer and/or non-retailer sending a message or notification to a user with rewards points.

29. The method or system of any one of Claims 22 to 27 may further comprise identifying a user that has been purchasing and/or promoting a good and/or service from a particular local shopping precinct.