Price comparison systems and methods

• US 10,572,892 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Joseph Y., Rapaka, Venkata Syam Prakash, Parekh, Vivek, Hatch, Paul Kay, Benson, Ronald G., Shapiro, Nella
• Primary Examiner(s): Huang, Jay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ezewoko, Michael I
• Application Number:
  US14/292,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20140278903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 705 1434
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for evaluating a transaction concluded at a POS (point of sale) device. Prices for competitive retail stores within a geographic region of the POS may be evaluated after concluding a transaction. Price differences between items and corresponding prices in the third party data are identified. Where the purchase price exceeds the corresponding third-party price, a credit is assigned to the customer, such as in the form of a gift card or code that may be redeemed in a subsequent transaction. Credits may also be assigned to a debit card associated with a user, either with or without applying some multiplier. A credit may be applied to an online transaction of the user. Based on the use of the credit, the user'"'"'s in-store purchases and online purchases may be related to the same individual and used to better characterize interests of the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

using a computerized web crawler to automatically obtain a first set of prices of a plurality of items offered for sale on third party web sites associated with at least a portion of a plurality of third parties, wherein using the computerized web crawler to automatically obtain the first set of prices occurs at a first frequency to update the first set of prices;

obtaining, by a savings system, a second set of prices of the plurality of items based on prices advertised in at least one third party retail store associated with at least one of the plurality of third parties;

storing, by the savings system, the second set of prices in a database;

updating the second set of prices at a second frequency different than the first frequency;

obtaining, by the savings system, a plurality of third party prices of the plurality of items by searching at least one of the first set of prices or the second set of prices;

receiving, by a server system, a first record of one or more items of the plurality of items in a first online transaction with a first entity, the first record comprising one or more item identifiers associated with the one or more items, wherein the first online transaction of one or more online transactions is automatically submitted for review;

subsequent to the first online transaction, identifying, by the server system using the savings system, for each item identifier of at least a portion of the one or more item identifiers, a third party record, the third party record corresponding to the each item identifier and having one of the plurality of third party prices offered for sale on a same date on which the first online transaction occurred, wherein one or more price differences are based on determining a per-unit cost of each of one or more discounted identifiers of the first online transaction and a prorated price, and wherein the prorated price is determined based on a third-party offer to buy multiple items (N) for a unit price (P) to get one or more additional items (M) for free;

subsequent to the first online transaction, identifying, by the server system using the savings system, the one or more discounted identifiers of the one or more item identifiers, the one of the plurality of third party prices of the third party record corresponding to the one or more discounted identifiers being less than a price paid for the one or more discounted identifiers by the one or more price differences;

crediting, by the server system using a redemption system, an account associated with a user identifier with an amount corresponding to the one or more price differences, wherein the savings system is in data communication with the redemption system;

providing a code that enables the amount to be applied to a purchase price of a second transaction of the one or more online transactions subsequent to the first online transaction;

receiving a first request to apply the amount to the purchase price of the second transaction using the code;

receiving, by the server system, a validation request to validate the code;

validating the code in response to the validation request, wherein the server system is in data communication with the redemption system; and

applying, by the server system, the amount toward the purchase price of the second transaction after the code is validated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying, by the server system using the savings system, for the each item identifier of the at least the portion of the one or more item identifiers, the third party record, the third party record corresponding to the each item identifier and having the one of the plurality of third party prices further comprises:

identifying, for the each item identifier, pricing data describing prices offered by a third party of the plurality of third parties for an item of the plurality of items corresponding to the each item identifier within a first time window; and

determining the one of the plurality of third party prices from the pricing data within the first time window.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, for the each item identifier of the at least the portion of the one or more item identifiers:

identifying one or more third party prices of the plurality of third party prices offered within a second time window, the second time window being prior to the first time window; and

prior to the first online transaction of the one or more online transactions, setting an offer price for the each item identifier according to the one or more third party prices offered within the second time window.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising, for the each item identifier of the at least the portion of the one or more item identifiers:

identifying one or more third party prices of the plurality of third party prices offered within a second time window, the second time window being prior to the first time window; and

determining acquiring costs for the each item identifier;

determining a popularity for the each item identifier; and

prior to the first online transaction of the one or more online transactions, setting an offer price for the each item identifier according to all of the one or more third party prices offered within the second time window, the acquiring costs, and the popularity of the each item identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the popularity for the each item identifier comprises determining at least one of:

an amount of sales for the each item identifier;

or

a number of referrals for the each item identifier.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising, for the each item identifier of the at least the portion of the one or more item identifiers:

identifying one or more third party prices of the plurality of third party prices offered within a second time window, the second time window being prior to the first time window;

determining acquiring costs for the each item identifier;

determining a popularity for the each item identifier;

determining revenue from secondary items purchased in the one or more online transactions including the each item identifier; and

prior to the first online transaction of the one or more online transactions, setting an offer price for the each item identifier according to all of the one or more third party prices offered within the second time window, the acquiring costs, the popularity of the each item identifier, and the revenue from the secondary items.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second transaction of the one or more online transactions is conducted at a point of sale (POS) device.

8. A computer system comprising one or more processors and one or more memory devices operably coupled to the one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing executable and operational code effective to cause the one or more processors to:

automatically obtain a first set of prices of a plurality of items offered for sale on third party web sites associated with at least a portion of a plurality of third parties using a computerized web crawler, wherein using the computerized web crawler to automatically obtain the first set of prices occurs at a first frequency to update the first set of prices;

obtain a second set of prices of the plurality of items based on prices advertised in at least one third party retail store associated with at least one of the plurality of third parties;

store the second set of prices in a database;

update the second set of prices at a second frequency different than the first frequency;

obtain a plurality of third party prices of the plurality of items by searching at least one of the first set of prices or the second set of prices;

receive a first record of one or more items of the plurality of items in a first online transaction with a first entity, the first record comprising one or more item identifiers associated with the one or more items, wherein the first online transaction of one or more online transactions is automatically submitted for review;

subsequent to the first online transaction, identify for each item identifier of at least a portion of the one or more item identifiers, a third party record, the third party record corresponding to the each item identifier and having one of the plurality of third party prices offered for sale on a same date on which the first online transaction occurred, wherein one or more price differences are based on determining a per-unit cost of each of one or more discounted identifiers of the first online transaction and a prorated price, and wherein the prorated price is determined based on a third-party offer to buy multiple items (N) for a unit price (P) to get one or more additional items (M) for free;

subsequent to the first online transaction, identify the one or more discounted identifiers of the one or more item identifiers, the one of the plurality of third party prices of the third party record corresponding to the one or more discounted identifiers being less than a price paid for the one or more discounted identifiers by the one or more price differences;

credit an account associated with a user identifier with an amount corresponding to the one or more price differences;

provide a code that enables the amount to be applied to a purchase price of a second transaction of the one or more online transactions subsequent to the first online transaction;

receive a first request to apply the amount to the purchase price of the second transaction using the code;

receive a validation request to validate the code;

validate the code in response to the validation request; and

apply the amount toward the purchase price of the second transaction subsequent to the first online transaction after the code is validated.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the executable and operational code are further effective to cause the one or more processors to identify, for the each item identifier of the at least the portion of the one or more item identifiers, the third party record, the third party record corresponding to the each item identifier and having the one of the plurality of third party prices by:

identifying, for the each item identifier, pricing data describing prices offered by a third party of the plurality of third parties for an item of the plurality of items corresponding to the each item identifier within a first time window; and

determining the one of the plurality of third party prices from the pricing data within the first time window.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the executable and operational code are further effective to cause the one or more processors to, for the each item identifier of the at least the portion of the one or more item identifiers:

identify one or more third party prices of the plurality of third party prices offered within a second time window, the second time window being prior to the first time window; and

prior to the first online transaction of the one or more online transactions, set an offer price for the each item identifier according to the one or more third party prices offered within the second time window.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the executable and operational code are further effective to cause the one or more processors to, for the each item identifier of the at least the portion of the one or more item identifiers:

identify one or more third party prices of the plurality of third party prices offered within a second time window, the second time window being prior to the first time window;

determine acquiring costs for the each item identifier;

determine a popularity for the each item identifier; and

prior to the first online transaction of the one or more online transactions, set an offer price for the each item identifier according to all of the one or more third party prices offered within the second time window, the acquiring costs, and the popularity of the each item identifier.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the executable and operational code are further effective to cause the one or more processors to determine the popularity for the each item identifier by determining at least one of:

an amount of sales for the each item identifier;

or

a number of referrals for the each item identifier.

13. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the executable and operational code are further effective to cause the one or more processors to, for the each item identifier of the at least the portion of the one or more item identifiers:

identify one or more third party prices of the plurality of third party prices offered within a second time window, the second time window being prior to the first time window;

determine acquiring costs for the each item identifier;

determining a popularity for the each item identifier;

determine revenue from secondary items purchased in the one or more online transactions including the each item identifier; and

prior to the first online transaction, set an offer price for the each item identifier according to all of the one or more third party prices offered within the second time window, the acquiring costs, the popularity of the each item identifier, and the revenue from the secondary items.

14. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the second transaction of the one or more online transactions is conducted at a point of sale (POS) device.

15. A method comprising:

using a computerized web crawler to automatically obtain a first set of prices of a plurality of items offered for sale on third party web sites associated with at least one of a plurality of third parties, wherein using the computerized web crawler to automatically obtain the first set of prices occurs at a first frequency to update the first set of prices;

obtaining, by a savings system, a second set of prices of the plurality of items based on prices advertised in at least one third party retail store;

storing, by the savings system, the second set of prices in a database;

updating the second set of prices at a second frequency different than the first frequency;

obtaining a plurality of third party prices of the plurality of items by searching at least one of the first set of prices or the second set of prices;

receiving, by a server system, a first record of one or more items of the plurality of items in a first transaction concluded on a first point of sale (POS) device, the first record including one or more item identifiers associated with the one or more items, and a price paid for each item identifier of the one or more item identifiers, wherein the first transaction of one or more transactions is automatically submitted for review;

subsequent to the first transaction, identifying, by the server system using the savings system, for the each item identifier of at least a portion of the one or more item identifiers, a third party record, the third party record corresponding to the each item identifier and having one of the plurality of third party prices offered for sale on a same date on which the first transaction occurred, wherein one or more price differences are based on determining a per-unit cost of each of one or more discounted identifiers of the first transaction and a prorated price, and wherein the prorated price is determined based on a third-party offer to buy multiple items (N) for a unit price (P) to get one or more additional items (M) for free;

subsequent to the first transaction, identifying, by the server system using the savings system, the one or more discounted identifiers of the one or more item identifiers, the one of the plurality of third party prices of the third party record corresponding to the one or more discounted identifiers being less than the price paid for the one or more discounted identifiers by the one or more price differences;

crediting, by the server system using a redemption system, an account associated with a user identifier with an amount corresponding to the one or more price differences, wherein the savings system is in data communication with the redemption system;

providing a code that enables the amount to be applied to a purchase price of a second transaction of one or more online transactions subsequent to the first transaction;

receiving a first request to apply the amount to the purchase price of the second transaction using the code;

receiving a validation request to validate the code from one of the first POS device or a second POS device;

validating the code in response to the validation request, wherein the one of the first POS device or the second POS device is in data communication with the redemption system;

applying, by the server system, the amount toward the purchase price of the second transaction of the one or more online transactions subsequent to the first transaction after the code is validated, the second transaction being an online transaction of the one or more online transactions;

determining, by the server system, based exclusively on applying the amount toward the purchase price of the second transaction, that the first transaction and the second transaction are both associated with a user;

characterizing, by the server system, interests of the user based on the first transaction and the second transaction; and

generating, by the server system, at least one of a recommendation or a promotion for an additional item corresponding to the interests of the user as characterized.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein crediting the account associated with the user identifier with the amount corresponding to the one or more price differences comprises crediting the account with the amount and associating the account with the user.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

associating the account with the code; and

issuing a gift card associated with the account.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising identifying, for each item of the one or more items of the first transaction of the one or more online transactions, a third party price of the plurality of third party prices corresponding to the each item by:

identifying a geographic location of the first POS device at which the first transaction was concluded; and

identifying as the third party price for the each item a price offered for the each item at a retail location within a threshold distance from the geographic location of the first POS device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the first record of the one or more items of the plurality of items in the first transaction of the one or more transactions concluded on the first POS device is accomplished by:

receiving, from a user computer, a transaction identifier; and

retrieving the first record of the first transaction using the transaction identifier.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

conducting, by the server system, a third transaction of the one or more online transactions with the user prior to the first transaction of the one or more transactions and the second transaction of the one or more online transactions; and

wherein characterizing the interests of the user further comprises characterizing the interests of the user based on the first transaction of the one or more transactions or the second and third transactions of the one or more online transactions.