Distributed information methods and systems used to collect and correlate user information and preferences with products and services

• US 20020120519A1
• Filed: 05/23/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Truepricing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Truepricing, Inc.
• Inventors: Martin, Jeffrey W., Hawkins, Campbell
• Application Number:
  US09/863,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120519A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

The present invention is related to a distributed information system used to collect and correlate user information with products and services. One method in accordance with the present invention comprises providing a first terminal in a store which is networked to a server having item and services databases, receiving an indication from a customer that the customer wants to purchase a first item-type, receiving profile information related to the first-item type from the customer, and based on the profile information, selecting a plurality of items from the item database corresponding to the first item-type and a plurality of related services of a first service type from the services database. The method further comprises providing a ranking the selected plurality of items and related services, and receiving an order for at least one of the ranked selected plurality of items and at least one of the related services.

Claims

1. A method of providing items and related services in a physical store, the method comprising:

providing a first terminal in the store;

networking the first terminal to a server having an item database and a services database;

receiving an indication from a first customer that the first customer wants to purchase a first item-type;

receiving profile information related to the first-item type from the first customer using the first terminal;

based on the profile information, selecting a plurality of items from the item database corresponding to the first item-type and a plurality of related services of a first service type from the services database;

ranking the selected plurality of items and related services;

presenting information on the ranked selected plurality of items and related services to the customer on the first terminal;

receiving an order for at least one of the ranked selected plurality of items and at least one of the related services;

providing the ordered item to the customer in the store; and

activating the ordered service.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the service is activated while the customer is in the store.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising inspecting the store inventory of at least the selected plurality of items to determine which of the selected plurality of items are currently available within the store.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the item-type is a cellular phone and the service is cellular phone service.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the item-type is an appliance and the service is at least one of an electricity and gas service.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an order for a product via a terminal located external to the physical store from a second customer; and

when the second customer visits the physical store, delivering the ordered product to the second customer.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, where the first terminal is a wireless terminal.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, where the first terminal is the customer'"'"'s personal digital assistant.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the server is coupled to receive item information from at least one of an item manufacturer and an item wholesaler.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the server is coupled to receive service information from a service provider.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising printing out a order form at the first terminal, the order form including at least a first bar code corresponding to the ordered item.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising printing out a order form at the first terminal, the order form including at least a first bar code corresponding to the ordered item and at least a second bar code for a related item not ordered by the customer.

14. The networked provisioning system as defined in claim 13, further comprising a customer relationship management module configured to provide automated marketing to the customer.

15. The networked provisioning system as defined in claim 13, further comprising an affiliate module, configured to determine if the customer is entitled to a discount intended for members of a first organization.

16. The networked provisioning system as defined in claim 13, further comprising an interface configuration module configured to store customized Web pages for a plurality of different stores.

17. The networked provisioning system as defined in claim 13, further comprising at least one of a downloadable phone ringer tone, image and icon stored on said first terminal for downloading to an item corresponding to the first item-type.

18. The networked provisioning system as defined in claim 13, further comprising at least a first instruction configured to offer the customer at least one of goods and services related to the first product without the customer asking for information on the at least one of goods and services.

13. A networked provisioning system, comprising:

a first terminal located in a store, the first terminal configured to receive customer profile information and a customer request for information on at least a first item-type;

a first computer system configured to receive customer profile information and the customer request from the first terminal, product information over a network from a product provider computer system, and service information over the network from a service provider computer system, wherein the product information is related to the first item-type, and to store the received customer profile information, product information, and service information in at least a first database;

a first module stored in the first computer system, the first module configured to select product information and service information and rank products corresponding to the product information and services corresponding to the service information based on at least the customer profile information and the customer request;

a second module stored in the first computer system configured to receive at least a portion of the selected product information, service information, and rankings and to transmit the received selected product information, service information, and rankings to the first terminal; and

a third module stored in the first computer system configured to receive an order from the customer for at least a first product related to the transmitted selected product information and further configured to instruct at least a first store employee to provide the ordered item to the customer.

19. A networked provisioning system, comprising:

a first instruction configured to be stored on a terminal located in a store, the first instruction configured to receive customer profile information and a customer request for information related to at least one of a first product and a first service;

a second instruction configured to be stored on a first computer system, the second instruction configured to receive information from the first terminal, including customer profile information and the request for information related to at least one of the first product and the first service;

a third instruction configured to receive product information over a network from a product provider computer system, and service information over the network from a service provider computer system, including information related to the at least one of a first product and a first service;

a fourth instruction configured to selectively transmit to the first terminal at least portions of at least one of the product information and the service information;

a fifth instruction configured to rank at least one of products corresponding to the product information and services corresponding to the service information based on at least the customer profile information and the customer request;

a sixth instruction configured to provide ranking information to the first terminal;

a seventh instruction configured to transmit an offer of service corresponding to the first product in response to at least one of the customer requesting information on the first product and ordering the first product; and

an eighth instruction configured to activate service corresponding to the offered service at least partly in response to the customer accepting the offer.

20. The networked provisioning system as defined in 19, further comprising a ninth instruction configured to determine if the first product is available within the store.

21. The networked provisioning system as defined in 19, wherein the terminal is a wireless terminal.

22. The networked provisioning system as defined in 19, wherein the terminal is owned by the customer.

23. The networked provisioning system as defined in 19, wherein the terminal is owned by the store.

24. The networked provisioning system as defined in 19, wherein the first product is a phone.

25. The networked provisioning system as defined in 19, wherein the first service is cellular service.

26. The networked provisioning system as defined in 19, wherein the first product is a kitchen appliance.

27. The networked provisioning system as defined in 19, wherein the first service is electrical service.