System and method for providing consumer help based upon location and product information

• US 20050256782A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Russ, Victor Kevin, Sands, Ian Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/118,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20050256782A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for empowering consumers in a retail environment. Among many other features, 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 information. In general, the invention provides 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. The association of the information allows a system to readily communicate more relevant information to a user of the wireless device. In addition, the present invention enables companies to provide high-quality consumer services that can differentiate various types of consumers.

Claims

1. A method for communicating information associated with commerce items to a user of a wireless device, the method comprising:

monitoring the location of the wireless device to determine if the wireless device is located in an area approximate to a predefined geographical region;

associating the wireless device with a category of information, wherein the association is made if the wireless device is located in an area approximate to the predefined geographical region related to the category of information;

obtaining a trigger to initiate the communication of associated information to the wireless device;

communicating the associated information to the wireless device in response to obtaining the trigger;

obtaining a request for an action; and

executing an action in response to receiving the request, wherein the request utilizes the associated information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises, dynamically associating the wireless device with a second category of information if it is determined that the wireless device has moved to a second predefined geographical region related to the second category of commerce items.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein trigger is generated from the wireless device, and is caused by an actuation of an input on the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein trigger is generated from a server computer of the system, and wherein the server computer generates the trigger when the server computer determines that the location of the wireless device is in proximity to a specific type of commerce item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein trigger is generated from a server computer of the system, and wherein the server computer generates the trigger when the server computer determines that the wireless device is moving towards the predefined geographical region.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein trigger is generated from a server computer of the system, and wherein the server computer generates the trigger when the server computer determines that the wireless device has been located in the predefined geographical region for a particular time period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating associated information includes communication of data suitable for updating a user interface to be displayed on the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein execution of the action includes communication of video and audio data between the system and the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein execution of the action includes communication of audio data between the system and the wireless device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein execution of the action includes communication of text messages and graphical information between the system and the wireless device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein execution of the action includes, creating an audio connection between the wireless device and an audio device, thereby creating a live audio connection between the user and an assistant using the audio device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein execution of the action includes communicating assistant location data to the wireless device, wherein the assistant location data describes a location of a second wireless device used by an assistant.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein execution of the action includes:

receiving an assistance request from the wireless device; and

communicating a notice signal to a second wireless device, wherein the notice signal provides information describing the location of the wireless device.

14. A computer-readable medium containing computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 1.

15. A computer-controlled system for performing the method of claim 1.

16. A method for communicating information of commerce items, the method comprising:

obtaining data identifying a plurality of selected items, wherein the data is obtained from a wireless device;

obtaining location information associated with the plurality of selected items;

monitoring the location of the wireless device;

associating the wireless device with information related to a plurality of selected items, wherein the association is made if the wireless device is located in an area approximate to a predefined geographical region related to the plurality of selected items;

generating data suitable for updating a user interface on the wireless device, wherein the data includes information related to the plurality of selected items;

communicating the data to the wireless device for updating the display of a user interface;

obtaining a request for an action; and

executing an action in response to receiving the request, wherein the request utilizes the associated information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining price information associated with the plurality of selected items; and

including the price information in the data communicated to the wireless device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining inventory information associated with the plurality of selected items; and

including the inventory information in the data communicated to the wireless device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the data identifying a plurality of selected items is generated from a user-configured favorites list, and wherein the method further comprises, dynamically updating information describing an individual item on the user-configured favorites list based on the inventory information.

20. A computer-readable medium containing computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 16.