System and methods for tracking consumers in a store environment

• US 20070055563A1
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Marshall Haine, Mary Scheid, Ronald Godsey
• Original Assignee: Marshall Haine, Mary Scheid, Ronald Godsey
• Inventors: Scheid, Mary, Godsey, Ronald, Haine, Marshall
• Application Number:
  US11/595,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055563A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• 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 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A virtual store environment is provided.

Claims

1. A method of analyzing the affect of a virtual store environment parameter on shopper purchase behavior comprising the steps:

(a) generating a computer generated virtual store environment, wherein the virtual store environment comprises the virtual store environmental parameter;

(b) presenting to a shopper a visual representation of the virtual store environment; and

(c) analyzing the shopper'"'"'s behavior to the virtual store environmental parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing the shopper'"'"'s behavior comprises tracking the shopper'"'"'s path through the virtual store environment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein tracking the shopper'"'"'s path further comprises the step of measuring the time that the shopper spends at a particular virtual store location, wherein the virtual store location comprises at least one virtual store environmental parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of conducting an interview with the shopper regarding the environmental parameter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of presenting the shopper the visual representation further comprises presenting the shopper a graphical user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual store environmental parameter is chosen from a signage, end cap position, position of special promotion area, position of informational kiosk, type of information kiosk, a store-within-a-store area, shelf configuration, lighting, flooring, scent, aisle length, aisle orientation, aisle configuration, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises a computer program comprising a computer readable medium having computer program instructions stored therein for implementing steps (a), (b), (c) or combinations thereof.

8. A method of designing a real store, comprising a real store parameter, comprising the steps:

(a) generating a computer generated virtual store environment,

wherein the virtual store environment comprises a virtual store parameter corresponding to the real store parameter;

(b) presenting to a shopper a visual representation of the virtual store environment;

(c) analyzing the shopper'"'"'s behavior to the virtual store environmental parameter;

(d) physically configuring the real store parameter of the real store based upon said analysis of the shopper'"'"'s behavior.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises the step of assessing the effect on sales of a product in the real store before and after the step of physically configuring the real store parameter.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the virtual store parameter comprises a plurality of virtual store parameters.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the method comprises a computer program comprising a computer readable medium having computer program instructions stored therein for implementing steps (a), (b), (c) or combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the method comprises a computer program comprising a computer readable medium having computer program instructions stored therein for implementing steps (a), (b), (c) or combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of analyzing the shopper'"'"'s behavior comprises tracking the shopper'"'"'s path through the virtual store environment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein tracking the shopper'"'"'s path further comprises the step of measuring the time that shopper spends at a particular virtual store location, wherein the virtual store location comprises at least one virtual store environmental parameter.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of conducting an interview with the shopper regarding the environmental parameter.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of presenting the shopper the visual representation further comprises presenting the shopper a graphical user interface.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the real store environmental parameter is chosen from a signage, end cap position, position of special promotion area, position of informational kiosk, type of information kiosk, a store-within-a-store area, shelf configuration, lighting, flooring, scent, aisle length, aisle orientation, aisle configuration, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the method comprises a computer program comprising a computer readable medium having computer program instructions stored therein for implementing steps (a), (b), (c) or combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the method comprises a computer program comprising a computer readable medium having computer program instructions stored therein for implementing steps (a), (b), (c) or combinations thereof.