METHODS FOR AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED PRESALE KIOSK

• US 20130268345A1
• Filed: 09/09/2012
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lela, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lela, Inc.
• Inventors: Davidson, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/607,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20130268345A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for providing sales assistance to a Purchaser located within a store location. The present invention includes a Kiosk for fielding inquiries about a product included in the store inventory. A Purchaser may also use a mobile device to receive sales assistance. A Sales Incentive Artifact may be used to encourage a Purchaser to complete a Purchase at the store location.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing automated presale assistance within a store location, the apparatus comprising:

a computerized server in logical communication with a digital communications network; and

executable software stored on the server and executable on demand, the software operative with the server to cause the apparatus to;

receive a Product description, identifying a Product, wherein the product description is received from a kiosk device within a store location;

receive a location of a Purchaser associated with the Product description and the request for sales assistance related to the Product;

receive a request for sales assistance related to the Product located within the store location; and

transmit one or more Sales Priority Artifacts related to the Product for use in conjunction with assistance to be provided to the Purchaser.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the software is additionally operative to transmit a specific store location at which the Sales Priority Artifact will be utilized.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the software is additionally operative to transmit data descriptive of costs associated with a purchase of the Product from the store location.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the software is additionally operative to identify a product based upon a scan of a product identifier with a mobile device operated by the Purchaser.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the product identifier comprises a barcode.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the software is additionally operative to to:

receive a redemption request for redeeming a Third Party Purchase Incentive Artifact; and

complete the terms of the redemption of the Third Party Purchase Incentive Artifact via digital communication between devices comprising the server and the user mobile device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the software is additionally operative to transmit data descriptive of a history of sales associated with a particular purchaser.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the software is additionally operative to transmit a request for additional products offered at a storefront that are similar to the product identified.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the software is additionally operative to transmit data descriptive of aggregated data comprising multiple requests for sales assistance.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the software is additionally operative to aggregate data comprising a history of sales assistance events.

11. A method for providing automated presale assistance, the method comprising:

receiving into a computer server a Product description, identifying a Product, wherein the Product description is received from a user mobile device within a store location;

receiving a request for sales assistance related to the Product;

receiving data descriptive of a location of a Purchaser associated with the Product description and the request for sales assistance related to the Product; and

transmitting a Sales Priority Artifact related to the Product for use in conjunction with assistance to be provided to the Purchaser.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the method additionally comprises the step of transmitting a specific store location at which the Sales Priority Artifact will be utilized.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the method additionally comprises the step of transmitting data descriptive of costs associated with a purchase of the Product from the store location.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the method additionally comprises the step of identifying a product based upon a scan of a product identifier with a mobile device operated by the Purchaser within the store location.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the product identifier comprises an image of the product.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the method additionally comprises the step of receiving a redemption request for redeeming a Third Party Purchase Incentive Artifact;

and

completing the terms of the redemption of the Third Party Purchase Incentive Artifact via digital communication between devices comprising the server and the user mobile device.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the method additionally comprises the step of transmitting data descriptive of a history of sales associated with a particular Purchaser.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the method additionally comprises the step of transmitting a request for additional products offered at a storefront that are similar to the product identified.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the method additionally comprises the step of transmitting data descriptive of aggregated data comprising multiple requests for sales assistance from the store location.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the method additionally comprises the step of aggregating data comprising a history of sales assistance events associated with the store location.