Patent Application
20200286160
The present application is a continuation-in-part of non-provisional application Ser. No. 15/389,891, filed on Dec. 23, 2016, which was a non-provisional application of Provisional Application No. 62/272,309, filed on Dec. 29, 2015, and hereby claims priority benefit to both said prior applications, the contents of each being hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The present invention relates generally to the field of clothing fashion and style including such fashion and styles found in retail facilifies (both on-line and street side or in-store), designer brands and style content. More particularly, it relates to the processes and systems used to effect search, browse, and buy functions of a clothing fashion-only search engine, while solving many front end and back end problems for both users and stakeholders within an omni-channel process, by combining a number of different software platforms, for a multifunctional system and method. Even more particularly, the invention further relates to collection and storage of real-time data for identifying and locating via geo related tools and systems (a proximity search), clothing fashions and styles, or other items, at point of sale locations.
Accordingly, the invention employs combined software that works together to effect search, browse, and buy functions to a user, while also enabling both customized meta-data and specific algorithms to be collected by industry partners, that include where sales originate, and follows through to point of sale.
An objective of the present invention is to solve the clothing fashion industry's long standing problem of providing to a consumer specific locations for items of particular fashion and style. Currently, it is not possible to search in-store inventories (a proximity search) from an electronic device (including smart phones). A consumer is typically at a loss when trying to find an item (such as a dress) in a specific store or location. Known systems and methods for on-line shopping fail a consumer when seeking in-store results. This is generally achieved by rethinking the entire big-picture shopping infrastructure, and then restructuring the search process by using a “see it buy it” mentality on the consumer end (i.e., “front end”), and an SKU based (product ID number to identify a product usually assigned by a retailer) number search crawl on the providers end (i.e., “back end”). The front end links a consumer through one of at least seven different possible shopping channels. These channels include, for example, buying through on-line, in-store, digital, mobile, social, visual and editorial content using forms of artificial intelligence such as visual, text and numeric recognition and other software platforms. Accordingly, such proximity searching is now possible.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for a consumer to drill down when searching for items of fashion and style to exact in-store locations based on data collection of items, brands, specific SKU numbers, specific retailer and geo-location where the chosen item can be found or where a chosen store can display its specific inventory to the consumer (i.e., a proximity search).
The present invention will connect the consumer to specific retail locations in a particular designated area (such as one near to the location of the consumer engaged in searching.
By creating a back-end based upon a service identification code for a product, known as a stock keeping unit (“SKU”) numbers rather than existing application programming interfaces (“APIs”) based system, search processes will be initiated and enabled through singular product identification numbers rather than the retailers that carry them. This allows tot a more reliable search on the consumer shopping or front-end, and a more substantial back-end data collection for industry stakeholders. By integrating both front and back end processes, the invention embodied in, and therefore sometimes referred to herein by, its commercial website hosting name of “ZipShop”, eliminates the existing problems of current search engine models through customization, sourcing, directory, search terms, and the integration of style content, and provides a standardized, unbiased platform for stakeholders regardless of size, experience, or paid search.
Unlike prior art systems and methods, the present invention is a customized search engine dedicated to both the customer experience and stakeholder process. The invention is intended to merge global retailers (both on-line and in-store or street-side), designer brands and all fashion content into one destination website serving women's, men's, children's, bridal, and maternity categories. An integrated mobile application brings additional shopping/retail enhancements to mobile and smart devices using both existing and developing technologies.
The fully customizable search system allows users to search, browse, buy and save their favorite retailers, brands, style voices, and locations into their virtual “closet” using a Universal Closet concept from one destination website, and becomes a uniquely personal “smart” shopping tool that remembers everything from clothing preferences, prices, and colors to historical purchases, and designer & retail preferences.
The present invention is configured to allow users to access a “See it—Buy it” shoppable search engine on any electronic device (such as desk top, laptop, smart phone or tablet) and through multiple channels including, on-line, in-store, digital, mobile, social, visual and editorial. These options extend far beyond prior art methods of search, which are relegated to aggregating merely on-line content and are based on a “paid for placement” of keywords and bidding process of terms and phrases. By contrast, the system of the present invention is directory based, alphabetical for retailers, brands, and style content, and geographic for in-store retailers. Thus, there will be no need for industry stakeholders to pay for the use of terms or keywords on retailer or designer websites.
The innovations of the present invention include combining technologies that offer consumers the ability to shop from content on all channels: on-line, in-store, mobile, digital, social, visual, editorial, on the front end, while collecting data on the back end regarding consumer buying trends, fashion style, retail and designer content, supply chain, geographic retail directories, data analytics/collection/algorithms, search engine marketing (“SEM”) and search engine optimization (“SEO”). Further, users are enabled to filter, save, and collect information on inventory, pricing, availability, etc., while stakeholders can collect and analyze data. Directories include GPS/Mapping capabilities. The back end is built on known software platforms including WordPress CMS (PHP/MySQL Linux AWS virtual server), SKUIQ and SalesForce, with a custom theme and proprietary plug-ins. Intelligent image-based analytics are implemented to understand user generated content from social media.
The front end (sometime referred to herein as the “shopping process”) is also based on well-known commercially available platforms, including HTML5/CSS3 and mobile responsive (Bootstrap) with custom JavaScript/jQuery, including Ajax and various jQuery plugins (jScroll). Google Analytics and SalesForce is used to provide web analytics to track and report on website traffic.
Mobile applications incorporate body scanning and barcoding technologies, in addition to incorporating the above described front-end and back-end processes.
The present invention is directed to a system and method for searching databases related to style and fashion. The method and system may be used, for example, by shoppers for searching, databases of retail facilities, on-line shopping services, editorial material, publications, and industry newsletters, etc., all related to fashion and style.
The invention, more specifically, is related to a method and system for searching databases of fashion and style using query catching metadata, API's, SKU numbers, CRS tracking and data feeds to filter by search terms, text keywords, numeric values, visual recognition, and geographic location filtered by the user. The method and system of the invention simplifies and improves the user experience by allowing full customization of the above queries to return results based upon term relationships, editorial assertions, visual recognition, SKU matching and barcoding. The method and system uses an underlying search engine that enhances search results by populating inventory through SKU numbers, numeric values as well as aggregates relative style content and displays links on the results page of retailers, designer brands, style content providers, geographic locations to enhance automatic indexing.
By way of example, the on-line search channel begins by a user logging onto a website hosting the present invention (the “hosting website”) from either a desktop, laptop or a mobile application. From there users have several choices depending upon what they are searching.
First, they can read “featured links” on the Home Page of the hosting website and click through to any content provided using external links that offer a direct point-of-sale for that/those. items. Featured links can include any of the following: Pop-up stores, Catalog, Shop The Runway, Video Shopping, and more innovative technologies as they become available.
Second, they can search by a “clothing” category or specific clothing item using keywords. The SKU based system will associate the keyword with options already loaded on the back-end of the site through direct data feeds from designer brands and retailers as well. Once options pop up from the SKU's, a list of retail options who stock that number will also appear, whether they are street side boutiques, stores or on-line dot corns. Users can click on one, or all of the options to compare sizes, pricing and availability and then click to purchase, save to their universal closet, save for sale pricing, restocking or save to style “likes”. Users can also move directly to an external link of the chosen retailer and follow their site through to the point of sale.
Third, they can search by “retailer” in the featured or alphabetical listing section. Featured retailers have a more prominent positioning on the site and can include many point of sale options like designer collaborations, special sales, seasonal events, or promotions for the user to access. The retail section is divided into two areas, on-line and street-side. On-line works by routing users who click on the feature to the direct dot corn of the retailer. The street-side section however, links through the back-end directly to the “locations” option which is connected with GPS Location and Mapping Technology. This enables users to search by country, state, city, or zip code and then filter what they're searching for. For example: Search: #77056; Clothing Filter: skirt; Color: black; and Size: 4.
Once the options in that zip code come up, users can click directly to that retailer's website (sometime herein referred to as a “dot corn”), get a better text and visual description of the item, make arrangements to hold the item to buy in-store using communication technology with the store, or purchase for direct delivery through various services, such as Deliv, Locale or other similar services. Users will follow the retailer's specific guidelines and services available through that particular retailer.
Fourth, users can search by “designer” and see featured brands as well as scroll down an alphabetical listing of all designers included on the site. Featured retailers have a more prominent positioning on the site and can include their entire collections with attached points of sale, or retail links where sales can be made. Collections can be in the form of catalogs, Shop The Runway, video or photo presentations, and Pop-Up stores. They may include retail collaborations, special sales, events, or promotions for the user to access. The alphabetical listing will have a link to the brands preferred dot com.
Fifth, users can search by “location” as mentioned above which is connected with GPS Location and Mapping Technology. This enables users to search by country, state, city, or zip code and then filter what they're searching for. For example: Search.: #77056; Clothing Filter: skirt; Color: black; and Size: 4.
As above, once the options in that zip code come up, users can click directly to that retailer's dot corn, make arrangements to hold the item to buy in-store using communication technology with the store, or purchase for direct delivery through various services, such as Deliv, Localz or other similar services. Users will follow the retailers specific guidelines for purchase and services available through that particular retailer.
If a user wants to search by “country, city or state”, retailers in those areas will come up alphabetically with links to their specific dot corn (web site) or featured link. For example: Search: Paris, France; Filter: Couture (it can be a grouping of clothes like denim, lingerie), or specific item by keywords, Street Name: Champs Elysees or postal code. Size, and Color preferences. Example: Search Paris, France, Champs Elysees for a “Short Black Dress, Size 4.
Again, once those options come up, featured partners will include hours of operations, brands carried, and other store information. Users can save them to their closet, send them to their handheld device, map a shopping trip by mode of transportation (train, bus, walking directions), contact them directly to hold the item, or make a purchase and have it delivered directly.
And, users can browse and shop the “Style Guide” and “The Blog” by influencer, style, occasion, or season using direct links to that specific content, that includes points of sale. This part of the site is linked through all available social media, as well as retail links found in editorial or email content through visual recognition of posts.
Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, a method for searching databases related to clothing style and fashion is executed via computer hardware and software. The databases are populated by searchable data related to clothing items, clothing retailers, clothing designers, clothing publications and blogs, clothing style guides. The databases are populated with searchable information and data, including text, photos, editorial content videos and style identification data related to clothing items, clothing retailers, clothing designers, clothing publications and blogs, clothing style guides, by the use of software platforms customized and configured for locating information stored in the databases via SKU based meta-data. These databases are accessible for searching through a clothing style and fashion web based search engine of the invention. The software platforms are supported on or are accessible through a website server of the web based search engine. The method of the invention includes acquiring access to the web based clothing style and fashion search engine through a graphical user interface for receiving, analyzing and responding to queries through one of a plurality of shopping channels including at least an on-line shopping channel, an in-store shopping channel, a mobile shopping channel, a social media shopping channel and an editorial content searching channel; and acquiring access to the web based search engine via a secure sign-up and log-in data entry process thereby viewing on a computer screen a home page of said clothing style and fashion web based search engine. The invention also includes selecting at the home page a high level search option function from among at least clothing items, clothing designers, clothing retailers, geographic location, style guide publications or flog sites, said high level search option function being carried out via software platforms customized and configured for SKU based metadata searching said databases. The results from selecting a high level search option related to specific characteristics of said selected high level options are then received and include secondary web pages illustrating at least clothing item choices, retailer providers, designers and mid-level query options related to said results. Then results from selecting a mid-level query option search on said secondary web page related to specific characteristics of said selected, mid-level options are received and include tertiary web pages illustrating at least a specific clothing item choice, and/or a retailer provider, and/or a designer. A next step is then selecting a purchase or save option from the tertiary web pages thereby initiating functions performed via software platforms supported on or accessible through the website server and customized and configured to initiate a purchase and/or save function, of said at least clothing item choices, retailer providers and/or designers.
Further, another aspect of the invention is a system for searching databases related to clothing style and fashion, via computer hardware and software, has databases populated with searchable information and data, including text, photos, editorial content videos and style identification data related to clothing items, clothing retailers, clothing designers, clothing publications, blogs, and clothing style guides. A server includes a plurality of software platforms supported by the server or accessible through the server. The software platforms are customized and configured for locating information stored in the databases via SKU based meta-data. The server is connected with and operates a clothing style and fashion web based search engine for searching the databases by said software platforms. A graphical user interface (GUI) is provided for acquiring access to the web based search engine for receiving, analyzing and responding to queries through one of a plurality of shopping channels, including at least an (in-line shopping channel, an in-store shopping channel, a mobile shopping channel, a social media shopping channel and an editorial content searching channel. Access to the web based search engine is via a secure sign-up and log-in data entry process to thereby view on a computer screen of a home page of the clothing search engine. A high level search option function available at the home page for selecting from among at least clothing items, clothing designers, clothing retailers, geographic location, style guide publications or blog sites is carried out via software platforms connected with said search engine supported on or through said server and customized and configured for SKU based metadata searching of the databases. Results from selecting a high level search option related to specific characteristic of said selected high level options are receivable at the GUI including secondary web pages illustrating at least clothing item choices, retailer providers, designers and mid-level query options related to said results. Additional software platforms connected with the search engine are customized and configured to build content, including photos, editorial, descriptions, and videos, to populate databases, and to collect data regarding shopping functions by the search engine. Further software platforms are customized and configured to permit scrolling functionality for clothing, brands, retailers, and style content on said search engine. Yet further software platforms are connected with the search engine and are configured to support a back-end SKU based data system. Additional software platforms are configured to facilitate communication between and among the various software platforms for implementing the functionality of the SKU based shopping process; and further software platforms are configured to maintain global retail location data to recognize locations and directions of a given address, for a given retail location.
Another aspect of the invention is a search engine related to a shopping process via computer hardware and software, for searching functions of stored data of clothing style, clothing fashion, clothing retail facilities and their locations, clothing designers, publications and editorial information of clothing style and fashion. The search engine has a website having a graphical user interface (GUI) for receiving queries and other input from a user related to said shopping process and for displaying and viewing of results of said queries and other related information; a server connected with said website; a plurality of software platforms supported on or accessible through said server, said plurality of software platforms being customized and configured to operate said website, and to effect said searching functions; at least one data base connected with said server, said at least one database storing said data of clothing style, clothing fashion, clothing retail facilities and their locations, clothing designers, publications and editorial information of clothing style and fashion, a back-end analytic software platform supported on or accessible through said server, said analytic software platform customized and configured to collect, analyze and aggregate data and other market information generated as a result of said shopping process, and a back-end database connected with said back-end analytic software platform configured to store said data and other market information.
The search engine also has software platforms customized and configured for SKU based metadata searching of said databases; to permit scrolling functionality for clothing, brands, retailers, and style content on said website; to support back-end SKU based data system; to facilitate communication between and among said various software platforms for implementing the functionality of the SKU based shopping process; and to maintain global retail location data to recognize locations and directions of a given address, for a given retail location.
Yet another aspect of the invention is a method of operating a search engine for a shopping process via computer hardware and software, of searching functions of stored data of clothing style, clothing fashion, clothing retail facilities and their locations, clothing designers, publications and editorial information of clothing style and fashion, comprising: providing a website having a graphical user interface (GUI) for receiving queries and other input from a user related to said shopping process and for displaying and viewing of results of said queries and other related information. The method provides a server connected with said website; using a plurality of software platforms supported on or accessible through said server for effecting said searching functions, said plurality of software platforms being customized and configured to operate said website, and to effect said searching, functions; at least one data base connected with said server, said at least one database storing said data of clothing style, clothing fashion, clothing retail facilities and their locations, clothing designers, publications and editorial information of clothing style and fashion, a back-end analytic software platform supported on or accessible through said server. said analytic software platform customized and configured to collect, analyze and aggregate data and other market information generated as a result of said shopping process, and a back-end database connected with said back-end analytic software platform configured to store said data and other market information.
Other features, advantages and embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, and from the appended claims.
Embodiments of the invention will be described herein below to provide a full understanding of the invention by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now in more detail to the annexed drawings,
Turning first to the on-line channel 20, as illustrated in
Without logging in a user may still browse the styles and tips which may be exhibited on the home page, and then click onto the content they wish to view more carefully. So, for example if the user wishes to browse the clothing search function, clicking on the clothing choice 25 of the search bar 24 on home page 21 would take that user to pages such as on a screen 26, as illustrated in
The other options on the search bar include designer 125; retailer 225; location 325; style guide 425; blog 625; closet 725; and mobile interface 825.
The array of drop down choices for the options on the search bar 24 is illustrated in
Ultimately, a user may choose to purchase an item found as a. result of this searching activity. The user will then follow the appropriate prompts to bung her to the buy function 100 for executing the purchase.
Instead of the user clicking the “category” option 124 of the window 128 (which brings up for view the drop down menu 126) a user may decide to search through the “designer” option 123 of the window 128. This will bring up for view by the user a web page shown at screen shot 122 (see
The foregoing description of the on-line channel of search/shopping is exemplary of the searching functions available for the other channels as well.
Returning to the on-line channel 20,
So, for example, a user may click on the “clothing” option 25 to search for such items as “skinny jeans.” Alternatively, the user my choose the retailer option 225 and seek a specific retailer, such as Nordstrom; or click on the designer option 125 to find a particular designer or designer/brand, such as Michael Kors. Another choice would be to select the style guide option 425 to find a style content (Harpersbazaar.com). A location option 325 can also be selected from the search bar 24. This option is executed using UPS.
Once having obtained the results of the selected search option, the user can, at the Browse and/or Buy Function 100, browse and or buy at the site through a direct purchase hyperlink.
If a user is currently in a retail store and wants to search for an item, the user must be logged into the mobile application. Once there, she has choices.
She can scan a barcode of an item in the store using her phone or mobile device (through Apple or integrated partnership software configured to search databases using barcode data) and search for that item using the SKUIQ platform. Scanning a barcode within a store is illustrated in
She can also use the “virtual fitting room” 51 capability of her Mobile App. This allows users to pre-scan their body image (using Hot scanning, 3D or other technologies, along with Apple or other integrated software platforms) and save the image to her phone for use when shopping. This is illustrated at
Once the body image is pulled up, users can scan a barcode of an item found in the store or in a search (using the barcoding technology), as is illustrated in
Users can then delete that image, save the image, or scan additional SKU's.
If the user wants to search where to purchase a specific item, he can pull the alphabetical listing by country, state, city, zip code as specified earlier. By linking directly to the Locations search feature which is connected with GPS based Location and Mapping Technology, users can search an item by keyword, numeric, text or visual value.
Once the options in that zip code come up, users can click directly to that retailer's web site, make arrangements to hold the item to buy in-store using communication technology with the store, or purchase for direct delivery through various known delivery services, such as. Localz. Users will follow the retailer's specific guidelines and services available through that particular retailer. Once having obtained the results of the selected search option, the user can, at the Browse and/or Buy Function 100, browse and or buy at the site through a direct purchase hyperlink.
Users can save any items to their universal “Closet” for future purchase, style assistance, on-sale, in-stock.
Through the digital channel 40, a user may, as with the on-line or in-store channels 20, 30, respectively, execute basic and advanced searches at the SKU based search meta-data function 91 to search for specific items in the same manner as described above. Once found, the user can also then click on the location search function 325 on the search bar 24. Such execution will trigger the search using GPS based software configured or reconfigured to locate a physical location where the item found in the search may be obtained by direct in-store purchase or by executing a purchase link. Alternatively, the user may go directly to the search bar 24 on the home page 21 to initiate a search for the various functions on the search bar 24, such as location, clothing, brand style, etc.
Using the mobile channel 50, a user also has the option to initially to execute basic and advanced searches at the SKU based search meta-data function 91 to search for specific items in the same manner as described above. Alternatively, the user may go directly to the search bar 24 on the home page 21 to initiate a search for the various functions on the search bar 24, such as location, clothing, brand style, etc. Once found, the user can also then click on the location search function 325 on the search bar 24. Such execution will trigger the search using UPS based software configured or reconfigured to locate a physical location, as is illustrated in
In addition, via the mobile channel, a user may go directly to the location option on the search bar 24 or may access the “virtual fitting room” 51 capability. This allows users to pre-scan their body image (using configured software known as Hot scanning technology and Apple or other similar available software) and save such scan to her phone for use when shopping. Once the body image is pulled up, users can scan the barcode on an item of clothing or on the tag of an item of clothing (using the barcoding software) and the image of that, garment will be displayed on the body scan image. Users can then delete that image, save the image, or scan additional SKU's.
As with the other channels, the user may access the SKU based search meta-data function 91 to conduct searches of publications, barcodes, etc., using filers such as key words, clothing style or item to locate a specific choice.
As shown in
HMTL5/CSS3 16 hosted on server 15 is the primary software platform to build the aggregate content including photos, editorial, descriptions, videos, etc. and to populate for example some of the databases 201, 202 and 203. JavaScript 17 is also hosted on server 15 for constructing most of the shopping process by collecting data for storage in the databases of the system, such as databases 201-203.
JQuery/J/Scroll 18, also hosted on server 15 is a jQuery plug-in that allows users scrolling functionality for clothing, brands, retailers, and style content.
Additional software platforms hosted on servers by others, and available for use by the present system via a link through the cloud 1000 with server 15, include SkuIQ 204, Restful API 205, SalesForce 206, GPS Mapping 207, Visual Recognition 208, Body Scanning 209, Barcoding 210, and Google Analytics 211.
SkuIQ 204 is hosted on a third party's server and customized for use with the present invention to support a back-end sku (product ID) based number system. Restful API 205 is also hosted on a third party's server and customized to facilitate communication between and among the various software platforms for implementing the functionality of the SKU based shopping process. SalesForce 206 is also hosted on a third party's server and customized to accumulate a variety of sales and CRM data analytics through a variety of software platforms sometime referred to as artificial intelligence, and provide mobility all through the system. It will be used for collection of metadata from retailers, brands, data feeds, and vertical digital channels. GPS Mapping software 207, also hosted on a third party server and has been customized to work with the data in one of the databases 201, 202. or 203 which maintains global retail location data to recognize locations and directions of a given address, for a given retail location.
Visual Recognition software 208 is the software platform, hosted by a third party and linked to server 15, customized to work with social media, digital, in-store and mobile applications, in tandem with SkuIQ 204 in order to implement the “see it—buy it” point of sale directly from a photo, video, text, or barcode description or value, as discussed above. Visuals (photos, videos, moving images) can be searched based upon the visual properties it holds (on all digital, mobile and social channels) and guided back through a searchable SKU based (numeric) value system. This enables users to see, search and buy a “black blazer” directly from social media sites, such as Instagram by clicking the image and being directed to a “Browse Now or Buy Now” option process. The Browse Now option will allow search comparisons based upon like Product. ID's.
Body Scanning 209 is a software platform hosted on a third party server hut customized on a mobile application to fit our platform that works in tandem with barcoding. Barcoding 210 is a software platform also hosted on a third party server and customized on a mobile application to fit with the system of this invention so that it works in tandem with body scanning, as described above.
Google Analytics 211 is a known software platform, also hosted on a third party server, and customized to collect and analyze a variety of data from front end sources to back end.
The so-called “back-end” or that part of the system and processes of the invention which collects, analyzes and aggregates data and other market information, is illustrated in
The “back-end” functions also include: SEO/SEM data 196 by writer, source, retailer, designer, subject, collaboration; analytics 197 by quantity, size, designer, price, retailer, sales, promotions; and analytics 198 by Comparables:, itemization, in store, on line, digital, visual, usage, promotion, content, location, purchase rate, trends.
The back-end also generates and stores sales data 199 by number of sign ups, user preferences, alpha retailers, alpha designers, retailers by zip code, and URL links.
A significant feature of the present invention is the ability to conduct proximity based searches. Proximity based searches are those that seek items of fashion, such as those discussed above, for sale at specific points of sale or at particular retail locations and based on real-time data from those retail locations about its inventory of fashion items. This requires regular input of data from the retailers themselves.
Accordingly, both front and back ends are specifically designed to accommodate proximity searches.
If the user is looking for a particular brand the user will identify the brand sought in the search bar 299, Available brands (such as Levi's, JBrand, Chanel, etc.) will be displayed at 307. A collection of items for that brand will then be displayed at 30$ and the user will then identify or chose a desired item of that brand at 309, The closest retail outlets or stores which have the item in its then current inventory will be displayed at 310. The locator software may also indicate those retail outlets or stores that have the item in inventory plus samples of the item, 311. Once the user clicks on a desired retailer at 311, the user will then be able to click on directions at 305 to the particular retailer, in a manner as described above.
Similarly, if the user seeks an item, by first choosing a retailer, she may do so by entering a retailer in the search bar and then the user will be taken through the steps beginning with 312. Or, if the user seeks an item by first choosing a location, she may do so by entering a location in the search bar and then the user will be taken through the steps beginning, with 317. In either case, the user will ultimately be able to identify the closest retailer that has a desired item in inventory.
A user's ability to conduct such proximity searches is of course not possible without populating the data bases of the inventive system to allow such proximity searching, This is accomplished as indicated in
At the back end, retailers and stores will supply its relevant inventory data at 401. Using such known applications as LightSpeed, Shopify, NCR and individual store systems, inventory data will be transmitted at 402 to the data bases of the inventive system, At 403 the inventive system will “grab” the inventory data, such as SKU numbers and/or keyword descriptions, and at 404 will attach SKU numbers with geographic locations of the stores or retailers. At 405, these geographic locations will be matched to a user's location as determined by the user's GPS coordinates.
Additional data, including content information will also be supplied, Such content information includes those features depicted under Content on
The back end, as further illustrated in
Quick response code (“QR Code”) is a machine-readable optical label that contains information about the item to which it is attached, (Information on the QR Code can include: product identification, location tracking, time stamp, pricing, product description and other details). QR Codes will be used at 411 for retailer advertising and promotions that will allow shoppers to redeem store discounts at the register using the hosting website. The back end will also provide for live event promotions and proximity channels. Communication of marketing activities can be implemented via text/SMS messaging at 413.
Analytics, including, data collection and retrieval, consumer trends data, data on style trends, geo locations, etc., are also provided.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with currently preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and practical application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best utilise the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62272309 | Dec 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15389891 | Dec 2016 | US |
| Child | 16739405 | US |
