Location-Aware Retail Application

• US 20110071889A1
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Skiba, David Joseph, Erhart, George William, Matula, Valentine C.
• Application Number:
  US12/566,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071889A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for potentially increasing sales of a retail organization using location-based technology. The illustrative embodiment comprises a location-aware application that can infer when a first customer is potentially interested in purchasing a particular item during a visit to a retail location, and can infer when there is a second customer at the retail location who is familiar with that item (e.g., a customer who previously purchased that item, etc.). When such a match occurs, the second customer is notified of the presence of the first customer, and of the first customer'"'"'s potential interest in purchasing the item, and is encouraged to provide assistance to the first customer (e.g., discuss features of the item with the first customer, discuss advantages of the item in comparison to other items, etc.).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal that indicates that a first user is at a retail location;

inferring that said first user is potentially interested in purchasing an item that is sold at said retail location;

inferring that there is a second user currently at said retail location who is familiar with said item; and

transmitting to a telecommunications terminal associated with said second user a second signal that informs said second user;

(i) of the presence of said first user, and

(ii) that said first user is potentially interested in purchasing said item.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the inference that said second user is familiar with said item is based on a previous purchase by said second user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the inference that said second user is familiar with said item is based on a review by said second user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said second signal also informs said second user:

(iii) that said second user will receive a reward for providing information about said item to said first user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said second signal also informs said second user:

(iii) that said second user will receive a reward for providing information about said item to said first user when said first user purchases said item during said first user'"'"'s current visit to said retail location.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting a third signal to a telecommunications terminal associated with said first user that informs said first user;

(i) of the presence of said second user, and

(ii) that said second user is familiar with said item.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the inference that said first user is potentially interested in purchasing said item is based on the contents of a Web shopping cart associated with said first user.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the inference that said first user is potentially interested in purchasing said item is based on said first user being in the vicinity of said item at said retail location for at least N seconds, wherein N is a positive real number.

9. A method comprising:

(a) receiving a first signal that indicates that;

(i) a first user is at a retail location, and

(ii) said first user is potentially interested in purchasing an item that is sold at said retail location;

(b) inferring that there is a second user currently at said retail location who is familiar with said item; and

(c) transmitting to a telecommunications terminal associated with said second user a second signal that informs said second user;

(i) of the presence of said first user, and

(ii) that said first user is potentially interested in purchasing said item.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the inference that said second user is familiar with said item is based on a previous purchase by said second user.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said second signal also informs said second user:

(iii) that said second user will receive a reward for providing information about said item to said first user when said first user purchases said item from an organization associated with said retail location.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

(d) transmitting a third signal to a telecommunications terminal associated with said first user that informs said first user;

(i) of the presence of said second user, and

(ii) that said second user is familiar with said item.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said first user'"'"'s potential interest in purchasing said item is inferred from said first user performing an Internet search related to said item during said first user'"'"'s current visit to said retail location.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said first user'"'"'s potential interest in purchasing said item is inferred from said first user being in the vicinity of said item at said retail location for at least N seconds, wherein N is a positive real number.

15. A method comprising:

(a) receiving one or more signals that indicate that;

(i) a first user is currently at a retail location,

(ii) said first user is potentially interested in purchasing an item that is sold at said retail location,

(iii) there is a second user currently at said retail location who is familiar with said item; and

(b) transmitting a first signal to a telecommunications terminal associated with said second user in response to said one or more signals;

wherein said first signal informs said second user;

(i) of the presence of said first user, and

(ii) that said first user is interested in purchasing said item.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said second user'"'"'s familiarity with said item is inferred from said second user having previously purchased said item.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said second user'"'"'s familiarity with said item is inferred from said second user having contributed to a discussion about said item on a website.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

(c) transmitting a third signal to a telecommunications terminal associated with said first user that informs said first user;

(i) of the presence of said second user, and

(ii) that said second user is familiar with said item.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said first user'"'"'s interest in purchasing said item is inferred from said first user performing an Internet search related to said item during said first user'"'"'s current visit to said retail location.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said first user'"'"'s interest in purchasing said item is inferred from said first user being in the vicinity of said item at said retail location for at least N seconds, wherein N is a positive real number.