Patent Application
20050256782
The present invention relates to e-commerce systems, and in particular, to a method and system for enhancing the communication of retail and product information to consumers.
In the retail industry, there is a continual need for effective and timely communication. In response to this need, there have been many improvements to the Internet and e-commerce systems to better communication between retailers and consumers. While electronic commerce has improved the way consumers shop for products and services, existing systems still have many limitations. For instance, existing systems are limited to communicating specific types of information that limit consumers to certain functions, such as receiving general product information and purchasing products via a standard purchase and mail model.
In view of the above-described limitations, e-commerce systems are not generally helpful to consumers shopping in a retail store. For example, even if consumers have access to an Internet-based computer system while shopping in a store, he or she still faces the task of locating each desired product in the store. In addition, consumers may not readily have all of the product information they need at the time they need it. In some circumstances, these drawbacks, and many other limitations of the prior art systems, prevent consumers from obtaining a positive shopping experience.
As will be readily understood from the foregoing, there is a need for a system and method that improves a consumers experience while shopping in a retail store. More specifically, there exists a need for a system and method that improves communication of different types of product information.
Many aspects and advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention provides a number of system functions and end user features that empower consumers in a retail environment. In one aspect, the present invention provides timely, value-added services based on contextual information associated with a user, such as a user's location, shopping preferences, past purchasing patterns, and other like information. In general, the invention includes a system that monitors the location of a wireless device. If it is determined that the wireless device is located in an area approximate to a specific region, such a store's pharmacy department, an association is made between the wireless device and information related to a category of items, e.g., pharmaceuticals. By the use of the association, information about the category of items, or an individual item, can be readily sent to a user of the wireless device. As will be described in more detail below, the associated information can be sent to the wireless device in a number of ways using a number of different communication mediums.
For illustrative purposes, the use of the location information to associate and communicate information to consumers is referred to as the location awareness feature. In several alternative embodiments, the location awareness feature can be combined with other real-time communication and mapping features to enhance a consumer's shopping experience. In addition, the present invention enables companies to provide high-quality consumer services that can differentiate various types of consumers; thus, enabling companies to provide differentiating services and products.
The following description of the present invention first provides an overview of a sample system in which the present invention may be implemented. Following that, a description of a method for communicating product information on a graphical user interface shown in accompanying flow diagrams is described. In addition, the following description summarizes several methods for dynamically updating routing maps and item lists. In addition, a description of many embodiments of the location awareness feature is provided. The illustrative examples described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Similarly, any process steps described herein may be interchangeable with other steps, or several combinations of steps, in order to achieve the same result.
Referring to
As will be described in more detail below, a consumer can use the system 100 to enter or modify a list of selected items, transmit data describing the selected items and then receive and display data that shows a location of the selected items, a route between the selected items and/or a dynamically updated list of selected items. In addition, the system 100 can be used to communicate and display any text or image of information related to the selected items. This may allow users to receive information that allows users to compare prices, read reviews about the selected items, and/or read information on related items or other suggested items.
The various hardware and software components of the server 105 and the devices 102A, 102B, 102C and 102D that are used to receive, store, and process the previously described data will now be discussed in more detail.
The server 105 also includes a processing unit 162, a video display adapter 164, and memory 166, all connected together and to the network interface 160 by a bus 168. The memory 166 generally comprises RAM, ROM, and permanent memory, such as a hard disk drive, tape drive, optical drive, floppy disk drive, or combination thereof. The memory 166 stores an operating system 172 for controlling the operation of the server 105. As is known to those skilled in the art, the operating system may be formed by a general purpose server operating system such as a Microsoft' server operating system, UNIX, or LINUX'. A binary input/output system (“BIOS”) 188 for controlling the low-level operation of server 105 is also stored in the memory 166.
The memory 166 may also store program code and data for providing a network site that allow users to request, receive, and view information and data files stored in the server 105. Thus, the memory 166 may store a general data sharing application, such as a server application 178 that may be any one of a number of commercially available software packages. The server application 178 comprises computer executable instructions that, when executed by the server 105, communicate configurable markup documents, programs and/or scripts that produce dynamically updated displays, such as the sample displays shown in
The server 105 may also include an input/output interface 190 connected to the bus 168 for communicating with external devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, scanner, or other input devices not shown in
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the architecture of the devices 102A, 102B, 102C, 102D may take on any suitable form, such as the architecture illustrated in
The devices 102A, 102B, 102C, 102D may also, as an option, include an imaging component 207, such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or any other circuit suitable for capturing an image. A circuit suitable for capturing an image of an item identifier, such as barcode or text information, may be considered as a suitable imaging component 207. Portable electronics with imaging components are presently known and understood in the art of image capture and communication. The device further comprise one or more input/output devices 208, which may include a display, a speaker, or any other device for communicating information. Accordingly, the device may also contain software components, such as a processing application 204, for converting electronic signals into audible signals suitable for communicating information through a speaker.
Referring now to the flow diagram of
As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the item list 501 may be created by the user or it may be preconfigured by a server that is configured to suggest items suitable for the user. For example, the item list 501 may be configured into an “active list,” which stores items most actively selected items. In another configuration, the item list 501 may be made from a “favorites list,” which is predetermined by a user or computer program. In yet another embodiment, the item list 501 may come from a “wish list,” “shopping cart” or any other type of user or computer configured list. Also shown, the item interface 500 may be configured with additional control mechanisms, such as a “next” button 511 and a “previous” button 510 that allows a user to access other batches of listed items.
Returning to
Once the selection data is communicated to the server 105, the method proceeds to block 403 where the selection data is used to query a database, such as the database 200 shown in
Once the item information is obtained, the information processing method 400 proceeds to block 404, where the item information is used to generate a routing map. Generally described, a routing map may show a map of a store or map to a number of different stores. The map may also contain a graphical representation, such as a line, that shows a user of a route to follow to find each selected item. A routing map may be in the form of one of a number maps or text descriptions.
The routing map may be generated by any known pathfinding algorithms. For instance, Dijkstra's algorithm or a derivative of Dijkstra's algorithm may be used to find the shortest path between the selected items. Details of such algorithms can be found at the cites http://theory.stanford.edu/˜amitp/GameProgramming/AStarComparison.html and http://www.gamasupra.com/features/20010314/pinter—01.htm, the subject matter of which is specifically incorporated by reference. As also can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, modifications can be made to any algorithm so that users of the system are routed by desired locations of a retail store. For instance, the system may analyze the user's list, such as the favorites list, and then draw a route that guides the user to walk by those listed products in the store. Alternatively, or in conjunction with such a feature, the system may draw a route through designated locations to feature other items, such as a sale item in front of a store, a demo in a particular department, etc. Any routing map or pathfinding or routing algorithm may be used to implement this part of the method.
Once the routing map is generated, the information processing method 400 proceeds to block 405 where the routing map is communicated to and displayed on the device. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any suitable communication protocol, such as those described above, may be utilized for communicating the routing map from the server 105 to the device. It is also to be appreciated that the item information retrieved by the database query (block 403) may also be communicated from the server 105 to the device.
In one embodiment, a routing map may be dynamically generated or updated by the use of information describing the user's location. In this embodiment, information describing the user's location may be updated by a real-time system such as a GPS system, wireless tracking system, or the like. Examples of wireless tracking systems are described in more detail in a commonly assigned patent applications: “Systems and Methods for Locating Mobile Computer Users in a Wireless Network,’ filed on Jan. 12, 2001, having an application Ser. No. 09/760,180; and “Information Management and Processing in a Wireless Network,” filed on Jan. 19, 2001, having an application Ser. No. 09/766,505. The subject matter of said applications is specifically incorporated herein by reference.
Once the user's location information is obtained by the system or the device, the system can update the route on the map to show the user's location relative to other selected items. In addition, an updated map may identify a product that is close to the user's location, pop-up an ad related to the product, play a video feed providing information related to the product, or perform a number of other functions. In another example, the system can examine the user's favorite list or any other list stored on the user's device, and then generate a signal to let the user know that he or she is located near an item on one or more of the stored lists. In yet another example, the user may randomly select a particular item on a list and command his or her device to draw a direct route to the particular item. These embodiments may utilize the above mentioned database, pathfinding algorithms and user location mechanisms. In summary, the system is capable of providing any type of information, in any format, regarding a product that is close to the user.
In addition to displaying a routing map or text describing a route between items, the system can be configured to display other types of information for enhancing a shopper's experience. For example, among other types of information, the system may display inventory information, price information, comparison price information, customer review information, discount information, cross-sale information, cross-promotion information or any other type of information related to an item. In other examples, the system may display gift suggestions or other suggestions that are based on the users past shopping patterns. The system may obtain such information in a database query such as the database query described above. In addition to, or as an alternative to, displaying the routing map and/or other item information, the communicated information can be converted to a signal suitable for audibly communicating the information to the user.
In a specific example, the system may be configured to determine if a user is standing near, i.e., within a few feet, a particular item, such as cough medicine. By obtaining the user's location information from the device, and other data describing the location of the cough medicine, the system can automatically communicate information related to cough medicine, e.g., a pharmacist's suggestion related to the cough medicine or the like. This communicated information may be in the form of text or a video/audio feed. Alternatively, or in addition to providing the audio/feed, the system may provide contact information for a category/product specialist or another business entity.
In another embodiment, the system utilizes a user's location information to dynamically update a list of items, such as a favorites list. In one implementation, the system determines if a user is near or in a particular store. Once it is determined that the user is near or located in the store, the system will query the store's database to determine if the items have a certain status, e.g., the items are in are in stock. The system may then alert the user of item level status suggesting alternative items from the store's database if user preferred items are not in stock. The system may also highlight items that are in stock. In other embodiments, user lists may be updated in response to one or more user actions. For example, items on a shopping list or favorites list may be removed or checked off as the user places the items in a virtual shopping basket. In another example, the system highlights or updates particular items on a list when the user comes within a predetermined distance from the particular item.
In yet another example of an embodiment having a dynamically updated list, the system reorders a list of items depending on the status of each item. In such an embodiment, the system may determine the location of the user and the location of each listed item and then reorder the user's list depending on the distance between the user and each item. In other examples, a list of items may be reordered or sorted if the system determines that certain items are in stock or if the system determines if items are marked with a certain status, i.e., that a particular item is on sale or marked for promotion. The status of each item may be retrieved from an item database such as the database 200 shown in
In addition to providing dynamically updated lists, the system may display price totals and price savings information to users. In such an embodiment, the system may also provide an automatic checkout system that allows users to add items to a virtual shopping cart and then execute a transaction to purchase the selected items. Among other features, the system can update a price total by adding a price of a particular item as the user adds the particular item to a virtual shopping cart. It will be appreciated that the price of a particular item may be added to a price total in response to other types of actions. For instance, the price of a particular item may be added to a running total when the user picks up the particular item. In combination with all or some of the above-mentioned features, the system can provide all of the necessary hardware and software components to facilitate a purchase of the select items via the device, including transactional software that permits a monetary or credit transfer from the user to any other user, store or entity selling products or services. In such an embodiment, a transaction may be executed in response to a number of actions. For instance, a transaction may be initiated by the user or it may be automatically executed when the user walks through the door of a store or through another designated location.
In another embodiment, which can be used in conjunction with or separate from the above-described embodiments, a device of the system (100 of
In an example system and method of the image processing embodiment, the image may include any type of image format suitable to communicate a bar code, a text message, or even the general shape of an item. Once the captured image stored in the device, the image data is then communicated to the server 105 by the use of any available communications mechanism, such as those described above. After the image data is communicated to the server, or in some embodiments, prior to the communication to the server, the image data is converted into a code that identifies the product. For example, an image to text conversion may take place on the device or on the server 105. To implement this step, any one of a number of existing programs may be used, such as an optical character recognition (OCR) program or a barcode interpreting program. Once the image is converted to a product identifying code, such as UPC, the code is used to query for information related to the product. Product information is retrieved from one or more sources, such as an on-line service, and then communicated back to the device. Retrieved product information can include, but is not limited to, video and/or audio feeds describing a product, information or images from a Usenet forum, inventory information, etc.
Referring now to
Upon entering the store, using the above-described features, the customer's shopping list is matched in real-time against the store's database of in-stock items and mapped for the user, showing physical location of those items. As the customer moves through the store they can activate the location awareness feature, thereby allowing the store to know of their location as they move about the store. Knowing the location of the customer allows the store's system provides highly relevant contextual alerts, targeted discounts, and assistance. For example, the customer browses the medicine aisle searching for the most appropriate cold medicine to give to a three-year old. Confused by the number of choices, the customer decides to obtain some assistance in making the decision. By the use of the embodiments described below, the customer is able to quickly obtain a number of menu options that are relevant to the customer's location and needs. The user is then able to select one option from a simplified menu and the system readily connects the customer to a store pharmacist via a two-way video conversation. As a result the store and the consumer both receive substantial benefit from the system.
The communication method 700 begins at block 701, where the system monitors the location of a wireless device. As described above with respect to
By using the location data produced by process block 701, the process of block 702 monitors and continually compares the location data with stored data so the system can associate the wireless device with one or more available services. Generally described, in this part of the process, the system monitors the location data received from the wireless device to determine if the wireless device is moving towards, close to, located in or has moved to a predefined geographical region. For illustrative purposes, the system may store data that defines predefined geographical regions, each of which may be associated with one or more particular services or categories of commerce items. In several examples, a predefined geographical region may be a store's particular department, aisle, section or any other physical zone of interest.
In one implementation, the system database stores information that associates each predefined geographical region with a particular service, category of products, a particular product, or any other user-specified commerce item. Thus, when the system determines that the wireless device has moved into a predefined geographical region, the wireless device can be associated with a particular service, category of products, a particular product, or any other user-specified commerce item. In the present example, with reference to
As noted above, the associated information may include medical information, consumer report information, detailed inventory information, or any other information that may help a consumer enhance a shopping experience. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, such information can be stored in a database in the form of text data, audio data, video data, audio/video data, or even data that provides links to other data sources, such as a bank of URL's, phone numbers, or other like data identifiers.
As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the server may optionally contain a member's list that ranks the priority of services to each customer/user. Thus, if a category of users is deemed to be a higher priority, e.g., a preferred customer, the system may provide more desirable information or features for that category of users. In one embodiment, the system provides this differentiating service by comparing the categories of users with one or more unique identifiers provided by each wireless device. If at least one unique identifier of a wireless device is associated with a high priority customer group, the system may provide preferred or special services for the user of the wireless device. As a result, the differentiating services allow a store to allocate and share its customer service resources more efficiently.
In alternative embodiments, the association made in process block 702 may be based on one or more user-defined conditions. For example, the association between a wireless device and a particular service or category of items may be made if the user is in a predefined geographical region, or moving towards or away from a predefined geographical region. In other alternative embodiments, an association can be made if a wireless device remains in a predefined geographical region for a set period of time. In yet another alternative embodiment, with reference to
Referring now to block 703 of
In one illustrative example of a proactive trigger, the system may initiate a trigger if it is determined that the wireless device (the user) is located near a particular item and if the particular item is listed on the user's shopping list. When a trigger is initiated, the communication method 700 proceeds to block 705 where the system communicates the associated information to the wireless device. In this example, the system is configured to automatically update menus and other selectable options on a wireless device. In such an example, the system may initiate a trigger if it is determined that the wireless device (the user) is located in a particular department. When the trigger is initiated, the system may communicate associated information to the wireless device to update a user interface, initiate an alarm, update the status of an item on a list, or provide the user with other information or an announcement. Referring again to the present example, a user interface is updated, such as the example user interface shown in
Returning to the above example scenario involving the user in the pharmaceutical department, as shown in
Once a user receives the associated information, such as the example menu shown in
If the third menu option is selected, the system obtains the location of a store employee and then communicates the location data of the employee to the wireless device. The wireless device then provides the employee's location by the use of a number of mediums. For instance, the employee's location may be played via an audio message, text message or even displayed on a store map, such as the map shown in
If the fourth menu option is selected, the system sends data indicating the location of the wireless device to a specific employee. In one implementation of this embodiment, the system is configured to identify a specific employee associated with a specific department or category of items. In the present example, a pharmacy department specialist, using a wired or wireless device, receives a message from the system providing the user's request for help and the user's location information. The signal that is sent to the associated employee may be in any format and communicated to the employee via the use of any known communication medium.
Returning to the flow diagram of
In addressing the ‘help’ problem outline above, the present invention provides a user experience scenario in the aforementioned embodiments that explores the concept of proximity sensitive assistance, which can be delivered as part of a smart phone shopping application. At a high level, the solution allows retailers to provide, among many other benefits, better assistance to their customers, enhance employee efficiencies, and reduce employee training time.
While the foregoing description makes reference to preferred embodiments, the scope of the invention is defined solely by the claims that follow and the elements recited therein. Thus, the non-limiting examples
This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/930,317, filed on Aug. 31, 2004 and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING PRODUCT INFORMATION,” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/571,716, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING PRODUCT INFORMATION” and filed on May 17, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60571716 | May 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10930317 | Aug 2004 | US |
| Child | 11118119 | Apr 2005 | US |
