Some embodiments include a motorized transport unit providing customer assistance at a shopping facility, comprises: a transceiver; a control circuit; a motorized wheel system; a lift system; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: activate a motorized wheel system, while continuing to monitor location information, to position the motorized transport unit under the item container and aligned, based on the location information, relative to a frame of the item container; and activate the lift system to lift on the frame of the item container lifting a first portion of the item container such one or more wheels of the item container are lifted off of a floor while two or more other wheels of the item container remain in contact with the floor.

Some embodiments include apparatuses to fulfill customer orders comprising a motorized transport unit; a product pick unit (PPU) that cooperate with the motorized transport unit; a wireless communication network; and a central computer system configured to communicate with the multiple motorized transport units and the plurality of product pick units, and comprises a control circuit and memory storing instructions executed to cause the control circuit to: communicate an instruction to the motorized transport unit and direct the motorized transport unit to transport the product pick unit to a determined first location within the shopping facility proximate to where a first product having been ordered is located; and communicate an instruction to the product pick unit cooperated with the motorized transport unit and direct the product pick unit to retrieve the first product.

An intermediate support system includes a receiving unit that receives, from a first user, a purchase request for a product or a service sold in a store; a user extracting unit that extracts a second user who is at least one of a user who is currently visiting the store and a user who is highly likely to visit the store; and an intermediating unit that sends, based on the purchase request received by the receiving unit, to a terminal device that is used by the second user extracted by the user extracting unit, information that requests to purchase the product or the service.

Shopping assistance using an interactive character is provided on a shopping device in a retail store. Input requesting assistance from a character displayed on the shopping device is received on the shopping device. The input is processed. A response is determined based on the input and a character personality profile for the character displayed. The response is generated through the character on the shopping device, providing shopping assistance.

Some embodiments include apparatuses providing control over movement of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, comprising: multiple self-propelled motorized transport units; a wireless communication network; and a central computer system, wherein the central computer system comprises: a transceiver; a control circuit; and a memory storing computer instructions that when executed cause the control circuit to: receive an override command, from a worker associated with the shopping facility, to cause a first motorized transport unit of the multiple motorized transport units to implement one or more actions; confirm a valid authorization of the worker to override one or more operating limits of the first motorized transport unit; and override the one or more operating limits and communicate one or more instructions to the first motorized transport unit configured to cause the first motorized transport unit to implement the one or more actions in accordance with the override command.

An information processing apparatus, method, and program that control an electronic data exchange. The apparatus, method, and program involve receiving user information on an information provider or a provider terminal from the provider terminal used by the information provider. The user information received is stored in a memory. In the case of accepting an acquisition request for the user information from a user terminal used by an information user, the system controls whether to provide the user information corresponding to the acquisition request to the user terminal and transmits a reward to the information provider which is a transmission source of the provided user information based on factor information which affects a value of the user information stored.

A method and system for tracking a marketing channel of an application is disclosed. A marketing channel tracking method includes generating identification information for identifying an editor and an application corresponding to the editor that provides a marketing channel of the application, transferring the identification information from the editor through a user terminal, and storing the identification information corresponding to a user terminal in response to the user terminal downloading the application through the marketing channel.

A solution is provided for a method for a user to shop online in a three dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) setting by receiving a request at a shopping server to view a shopping location, having at least one store, and displaying the shopping location to the user's computer in a 3D interactive simulation view via a web browser to emulate a real-life shopping experience for the user. The server then obtains a request to enter into one of the stores and displays the store website to the user in the same web browser. The store website has one or more enhanced VR features. The server then receives a request to view at least one product and the product is presented in a 3D interactive simulation view to emulate a real-life viewing of the product.

A combination automated-service and self-service store for implementation at brick-and-mortar retail locations is provided. The store and corresponding method of implementation is an automated-service model in which robots, deployed at the brick-and-mortar location, fill orders for fungible goods placed by customers either online or in-store. The store also includes a shopping section where customers can select/order items and/or personally select non-fungible goods. The store includes a shopping section for non-fungible goods that customers prefer to pick out by hand and a back end automated order fulfillment section for other goods (e.g., fungible goods, dry goods, etc.). The two sets of goods are merged to a delivery bundle and delivered together for pickup by the customer. The combination automated-service and self-service store combines the convenience of online shopping and self-service shopping using an unconventional approach that reduces costs for the retailer and simultaneously increases customer satisfaction.

A method for determining buying online and picking up in store. A computer receives from a shopper a request for buying online and picking up in store. The computer parses stores carrying an item purchased online and connections of the shopper in a social network. The computer provides the shopper with a list of one or more connections for picking up the item for the shopper. The computer sends to one of the one or more connections a token for picking up the item and information of a store where the item is picked up, after the shopper chooses the one of the one or more connections for picking up the item. The computer sends to the shopper a notification, after the item is picked up by the one of the one or more connections for picking up the item.