Dynamically modifiable user interface

• US 10,546,344 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2016
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Square Inc (Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.))
• Inventors: Bell, Bruce, Partridge, Brian, Abu-Ghaida, Ghassan, Kursmark, Matthew T., Lintern, James, Johnson, Logan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shrewsbury, Nathan K
• Application Number:
  US15/279,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20180089658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/01 Details for indicating displaying information in general G09F, G09G

Abstract

Techniques and arrangements for dynamically modifying a user interface on a computing device of a point-of-sale (POS) system based on a merchant inventory. The user interface can include one or more icons corresponding to selectable items provided by the merchant, such as those available in the merchant inventory. A modification to the user interface can include an adjustment to a visual appearance of an icon and/or a replacement of an icon with another icon based on an analysis of the merchant inventory.

Claims

1. A point-of-sale (POS) computing device comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions executable by the one or more processors, wherein the instructions program the one or more processors to perform acts comprising;

identifying a plurality of icons capable of display on a user interface of the POS computing device associated with a merchant;

determining a context associated with the POS computing device, wherein the context comprises one or more contextual factors corresponding to a use of the POS computing device;

presenting, on the user interface, a set of icons based at least in part on the context;

analyzing an inventory associated with the merchant;

determining that a quantity of a first item in the inventory traverses a threshold quantity;

based at least in part on determining the quantity of the first item in the inventory traverses the threshold quantity, dynamically modifying at least one of a size or a placement of a first icon of the set of icons presented on the user interface, the first icon corresponding to the first item;

receiving an order for one or more items;

updating a data structure corresponding to the inventory associated with the merchant based on the order for the one or more items;

determining that a quantity of a second item of the one or more items in the inventory is below a second threshold quantity; and

automatically removing a second icon associated with the second item from the user interface based at least in part on the quantity of the second item being below the second threshold quantity.

2. The POS computing device as claim 1 recites, the acts further comprising:

identifying a third item that has been designated in the data structure corresponding to the inventory as substantially similar to the second item; and

presenting a third icon associated with the third item on the user interface.

3. The POS computing device as claim 1 recites, the acts further comprising, based at least in part on determining the quantity of the first item in the inventory traverses the threshold quantity, dynamically modifying at least one of:

an image of the first icon;

a placement of the first icon on the user interface;

or

text associated with the first icon.

4. The POS computing device as claim 1 recites, the acts further comprising:

presenting a notification on the user interface indicating a discount on the first item associated with the first icon based on the quantity of the first item exceeding a threshold quantity.

18. The POS computing device as claim 1 recites, wherein the one or more contextual factors includes at least one of:

a location of the POS device;

a merchant preference;

a customer preference;

or

a time component.

19. The POS computing device as claim 1 recites, the acts further comprising:

sending a notification to a base station computing device that the quantity of the second item is below the second threshold quantity; and

causing the base station computing device to order the second item from an item supplier.

5. A method comprising:

determining a context associated with a point-of-sale (POS) device, wherein the context comprises one or more contextual factors corresponding to a use of the POS device;

presenting a set of icons on a user interface of the POS device in based at least in part on the context;

analyzing an inventory associated with the merchant;

based at least in part on an analysis of the inventory, dynamically modifying at least one of a size or a placement of a first icon of the set of icons presented on the user interface

receiving an order for one or more items;

updating a data structure corresponding to the inventory associated with the merchant based at least in part on the order;

determining a quantity of a particular item of the one or more items is below a threshold quantity; and

automatically modifying a placement of a second icon associated with the particular item from the user interface based at least in part on the quantity of the particular item being below the threshold quantity.

6. The method as claim 5 recites, further comprising:

sending a notification to a base station computing device that the quantity of the particular item is below the threshold quantity; and

causing the base station computing device to order the particular item from an item supplier.

7. The method as claim 5 recites, further comprising:

receiving a second order for a first item;

determining a second item is associated with the first item; and

determining the second item is available in the inventory,

wherein dynamically modifying the at least one of the size or the placement on the user interface of the first icon of the set of icons comprises adjusting a size or a placement of an icon corresponding to the second item on the user interface.

8. The method as claim 5 recites, wherein the one or more contextual factors includes at least one of:

a location of the POS device;

a merchant preference;

a customer preference;

a time component;

or

a discount for an item offered by the merchant.

9. The method as claim 5 recites, wherein:

analyzing the inventory comprises determining a quantity of an item exceeds a threshold overstock quantity.

10. The method as claim 5 recites, further comprising:

presenting a notification on the user interface indicating a discount on the item associated with the icon.

11. The method as claim 5 recites, further comprising receiving inventory information for analysis from at least one of:

a base station computing device;

a POS system service provider;

or

a kitchen computing device.

12. The method as claim 5 recites, wherein dynamically modifying the first icon of the set of icons further comprises modifying at least one of:

a shape of the icon;

an image of the icon;

or

text associated with the icon.

20. The method as claim 5 recites, further comprising:

identifying another item that has been designated in the data structure corresponding to the inventory as substantially similar to the particular item; and

presenting a third icon associated with the other item on the user interface.

13. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions executable by the one or more processors, wherein the instructions program the one or more processors to perform acts comprising;

determining a context associated with a point-of-sale (POS) device, wherein the context comprises one or more contextual factors corresponding to a use of the POS device;

presenting a set of icons on a user interface of the POS device based at least in part on the context;

analyzing an inventory associated with the merchant;

based at least in part on an analysis of the inventory, dynamically modifying at least one of a size or a placement of a first icon of the set of icons presented on the user interface;

receiving an order for an item;

updating a data structure corresponding to the inventory associated with the merchant based on the order for the item;

determining a quantity of the item is below a threshold quantity; and

automatically modifying a placement of a second icon associated with the item from the user interface based at least in part on the quantity of the item being below the threshold quantity.

14. The system as claim 13 recites, wherein analyzing the inventory associated with the merchant comprises:

determining a quantity of a particular item is greater than a threshold overstock quantity;

or

determining the quantity of the particular item is less than a threshold understock quantity.

15. The system as claim 13 recites, the acts further comprising:

receiving a second order for a second item;

accessing a transaction history of the merchant;

identifying, based at least in part on the transaction history of the merchant, a third item that is commonly paired with the second item; and

determining that the third item is available in the inventory,

wherein dynamically modifying the at least one of the size or the placement of the first icon of the set of icons presented on the user interface comprises adjusting a size or a placement of an icon corresponding to the third item on the user interface.

16. The system as claim 13 recites, the acts further comprising:

determining the POS device is within a threshold distance of a customer;

accessing a transaction history associated with the customer;

identifying a first item commonly purchased by the customer; and

identifying a second item that is substantially similar to the first item,

wherein analyzing the inventory comprises determining a quantity of the second item in the inventory exceeds a quantity of the first item in the inventory, and wherein dynamically modifying the at least one of the size or the placement of the first icon of the set icons presented on the user interface comprises adjusting a size and placement of an icon corresponding to the second item to encourage a sale of the second item.

17. The system as claim 13 recites, wherein dynamically modifying the first icon of the set of icons comprises modifying at least one of:

a shape of the first icon;

an image of the first icon;

or

text associated with the first icon.