Interactive in-store/in-mall and on-line shopping system and method

A method of shopping comprising:

• providing a database and a handheld data entry unit including an internal memory;
• storing item information corresponding to items scanned in a physical retailer in the internal memory of the data entry unit;
• uploading the item information from the internal memory of the data entry unit to the database;
• creating a wish list that includes the items;
• storing the wish list on the database;
• providing a Web site that allows a buyer to search for and view the wish list.

A method of shopping comprising:

• providing a database and a handheld data entry unit including an internal memory;
• storing item information corresponding to items scanned in a physical retailer in the internal memory of the data entry unit;
• uploading the item information from the internal memory of the data entry unit to the database;
• creating a wish list that includes the items;
• storing the wish list on the database;
• transmitting a message to a buyer in order to inform the buyer of the existence of the wish list;
• and
• allowing a user to create an access mechanism that notifies selected buyers of the existence of the wish list.

A computer server for hosting an interactive shopping system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a database accessible to the processor;
• the processor being programmed to:
• upload data representing one or more items from a handheld data entry unit to the database;
• create an unassigned list of items corresponding to the data uploaded to the database;
• provide a Web site that is in communication with the database, the Web site allowing a user to generate one or more wish lists, each wish list including one or more items from the unassigned list;
• transmit a message to a buyer in order to inform the buyer of the existence of one or more of the wish lists;
• and
• allow the user to create an access mechanism that notifies selected buyers of the existence of the wish list.

A method of creating a list of one or more items and communicating the list over the Internet, the method comprising:

• uploading data representing the items from a handheld data entry unit to a database;
• creating an unassigned list of items from the data uploaded to the database;
• providing a Web site that is in communication with the database, the Web site allowing a user to assign one or more items from the unassigned list to one or more wish lists;
• and
• providing a Web site that allows a buyer to search for and view the wish list.