Product Demonstration System and Method

• US 20080109243A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: McCoy, Richard, Ebrom, Matthew, Molloy, Phillip, Glotzbach, Mark, Heilman, Layne
• Granted Patent: US 8,571,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method of demonstrating an appliance by customizing a multimedia presentation in real time based on the consumer information.

Claims

1. A method of demonstrating an appliance comprising multiple components that are operated by a microprocessor controller to implement a cycle of operation, comprising:

executing demonstration software on the microprocessor controller, including the displaying of a multimedia presentation on a user interface of the appliance;

receiving consumer information regarding a consumer viewing the multimedia presentation; and

customizing the multimedia presentation in real time based on the consumer information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving of consumer information comprises determining consumer information.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the consumer information comprises at least one of:

gender, age, height, mass, voice, facial expression, native language, eye color, and hair color.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the determining of consumer information comprises sensing a personal characteristic of the consumer.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating a profile of the consumer based on the consumer information.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the customizing of the multimedia presentation is based on the profile.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the customizing of the multimedia presentation comprises updating at least portions of the multimedia presentation based on the profile.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the updating of at least portions of the multimedia presentation comprises downloading the at least portions of the multimedia presentation.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the creating a profile comprises storing the consumer information in a database of prior consumer information to create a database of consumer profiles and selecting the closest profile based on the consumer information.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the customizing of the multimedia presentation comprises at least one of displaying a sales incentive, an appliance recommendation, a related-appliance recommendation, an appliance accessory, appliance options, and appliance build options.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the customizing of the multimedia presentation comprises displaying the multimedia presentation in the native language of the consumer.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the customizing of the multimedia presentation comprises updating at least a portion of the multimedia presentation.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein updating at least a portion of the multimedia presentation comprises downloading a least a portion of the multimedia presentation over a communication network.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the customizing of the multimedia presentation comprises establishing a video conference with another person.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the another person is one of a sales representative and a technical representative.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the appliance is configured to perform a useful cycle of operation to complete a physical domestic operation on an article.