Universal consumption service

• US 20130311337A1
• Filed: 05/16/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Luvocracy, Inc. (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Stoll, Nathan, Ellerhorst, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/986,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20130311337A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

In accordance with some implementations, a method for selecting a vendor in accordance with some implementations is disclosed. The method is performed on a server system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. The server system detects stores one or more vendor profiles, wherein each vendor profile is associated with a particular vendor and includes one or more vendor category scores. The server system then receives a purchase request from a user of the server system, wherein the purchase request includes a product or service to be purchased. The server system then determines a vendor to supply the requested product based on the stored vendor profiles. The server system purchases the requested product from the determined vendor. The server system then arranges for delivery of the purchased product or service.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors;

storing one or more vendor profiles, wherein each vendor profile is associated with a particular vendor and includes one or more vendor category scores;

receiving a purchase request from a user of the server system, wherein the purchase request includes a product or service to be purchased;

determining a vendor to supply the requested product based on the stored vendor profiles;

purchasing the requested product from the determined vendor; and

arranging for delivery of the purchased product or service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a vendor to supply the requested product based on the stored vendor profiles includes:

for each vendor in the plurality of vendors;

generating a overall vendor score based on the one or more vendor category scores wherein the one or more vendor category scores are weighted based on the priority associated with each category;

ranking the plurality of vendors based on the generated overall vendor score.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the priorities associated with the one or more vendor categories are predetermined by the computer system.

4. The method of claim 2, further including:

storing user profiles for each user of the computer system;

wherein user profiles include priorities associated with vendor categories.

5. The method of claim 1, further including:

creating vendor profiles, wherein creating vendor profiles includes;

determining one or more vendor scoring categories for one or more determined vendor categories, generating a vendor category score based on past vendor performance.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein past vendor performance is based on user supplied feedback.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein past vendor performance is determined based on data directly measured by the computer system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data measured by the computer system includes product delivery time, product price, and number of products in stock.

9. The method of claim 1, includes

receiving feedback from the user regarding the determined vendor;

and

updating the vendor profiles based on the received feedback.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system includes a product database, and the method further includes:

receiving a request to add a product to the product database, wherein the request includes a vendor associated with the product.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the request to add a product to the product database is a recommendation from a user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the request to add a product to the product database is included in the purchase request.

13. The method of claim 1, further including:

prior to purchasing the requested product, sending a request to the user to confirm the determined vendor; and

receiving a response from the user confirming the determined vendor.

14. A server system for rewarding users in a social referral system, the server system comprising:

one or more processors and

memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors;

the one or more programs comprising instructions for;

storing one or more vendor profiles, wherein each vendor profile is associated with a particular vendor and includes one or more vendor category scores;

receiving a purchase request from a user of the server system, wherein the purchase request includes a product or service to be purchased;

determining a vendor to supply the requested product based on the stored vendor profiles;

purchasing the requested product from the determined vendor; and

arranging for delivery of the purchased product or service.

15. The server system of claim 14, further including instructions for:

creating vendor profiles, wherein creating vendor profiles includes;

determining one or more vendor scoring categories

for one or more determined vendor categories, generating a vendor category score based on past vendor performance.

16. The server system of claim 14, further including instructions for:

receiving feedback from the user regarding the determined vendor; and

updating the vendor profiles based on the received feedback.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, further including instructions for:

creating vendor profiles, wherein creating vendor profiles includes;

determining one or more vendor scoring categories

for one or more determined vendor categories, generating a vendor category score based on past vendor performance.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, further including instructions for:

receiving feedback from the user regarding the determined vendor; and

updating the vendor profiles based on the received feedback.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by an electronic device, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

storing one or more vendor profiles, wherein each vendor profile is associated with a particular vendor and includes one or more vendor category scores;

receiving a purchase request from a user of the server system, wherein the purchase request includes a product or service to be purchased;

determining a vendor to supply the requested product based on the stored vendor profiles;

purchasing the requested product from the determined vendor; and

arranging for delivery of the purchased product or service.