METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FACILITATING SHOPPING

• US 20130290112A1
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Davis, Bruce L., Conwell, William Y., Meyer, Joel R.
• Application Number:
  US13/661,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20130290112A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.66
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A shopper is presented with a customized online store whose inventory is defined by the shopper. In one embodiment, specification of the inventory is conducted in a bricks and mortar store—either during checkout, or by the shopper walking the aisles and scanning items with a barcode scanner pen or the like. The inventory may be defined—at least in part—by scanning items in the shopper'"'"'s home. A variety of other novel features are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sensing a shopper at plural locations in a bricks and mortar store, using plural shelf-mounted sensors;

discerning, based on the sensor data, potential interests of the shopper; and

taking an action based on said discerned potential interests of the shopper.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the action includes identifying, to the shopper, one or more products for purchase.

3. The method of claim 2 in which said identifying is performed in an online environment, after the user has left the bricks and mortar store, rather in the bricks and mortar store.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the action includes presenting an online display to the shopper that is based, at least in part, on said discerned interests.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the action includes presenting a graphical online display to the shopper, wherein certain items are featured more prominently in the graphical online display, based at least in part on said discerned interests.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the sensing comprises sensing a card presented by the shopper.

7. The method of claim 1 in which said shelf-mounted sensors are associated with products for sale in the store.

8. The method of claim 7 that includes:

sensing the shopper at a first location, using a first shelf-mounted sensor associated with a first type of product; and

sensing the shopper at a second location, using a second shelf-mounted sensor associated with a second type of product;

wherein the shopper purchases a product of the first type, but does not purchase a product of the second type, while the shopper is in the store.

9. The method of claim 7 that includes sensing the shopper at a first location, using a first shelf-mounted sensor associated with a first type of product, wherein the shopper does not purchase a product of the first type while the shopper is in the store.

10. A system comprising:

plural shelf-mounted sensors, distributed in a bricks and mortar store;

a device linked to the sensors, to collect sensor data therefrom; and

a processor configured to identify, from the collected sensor data, potential interests of a shopper in the store.