REMOTE SALES ASSISTANCE SYSTEM

• US 20140236652A1
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal Mart Stores Inc (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Argue, Stuart, Marcar, Anthony Emile
• Granted Patent: US 9,082,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5233 Operator skill based call distribution

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, with a processing device of a commerce server, a help request signal from an augmented reality device worn by a current consumer shopping in a retail store. The method also includes the step of selecting, with the processing device, a sales assistant to help the current consumer. The method also includes the step of linking, with the processing device, the augmented reality device in communication with an electronic computing device operated by the sales assistant. The method also includes the step of receiving, at the processing device, a receipt signal containing a list of items purchased by the current consumer. The method also includes the step of determining, with the processing device, if any item on the list of items was the subject of the help provided to the current consumer by the sales assistant. The sales assistant can enjoy a commission, a performance bonus, a quota, or receive some other form of enhanced remuneration in response to the determining step.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, with a processing device of a commerce server, a help request signal from an augmented reality device worn by a current consumer shopping for an item in a retail store;

selecting, with the processing device, a sales assistant to help the current consumer;

linking, with the processing device, the augmented reality device in communication with an electronic computing device operated by the sales assistant;

receiving, at the processing device, a receipt signal containing a list of items purchased by the current consumer; and

determining, with the processing device, if the item for which help was provided is on the list of items.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said selecting step further comprises:

directly selecting, with the processing device, a first sales assistant to help the current consumer.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:

checking, with the processing device, an availability of the first sales assistant to help the current consumer;

determining, with the processing device, that first sales assistant is unavailable; and

directly selecting, with the processing device, a second sales assistant to help the current consumer in response to said determining step.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said selecting step further comprises:

selecting, with the processing device, a subset of all sales assistants to help the current consumer.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 further comprising:

determining, with the processing device, the respective availabilities of the sales assistants in the subset; and

directly selecting, with the processing device, a first available sales assistant from among the subset to help the current consumer after said determining step.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining a sales assistant database wherein the data associated with each sales assistant includes past interactions with a plurality of past consumers, wherein each interaction is defined at least in part by an item and wherein each interaction includes data indicative that the interaction has preceded a purchase by the past consumer of the item for which the interaction was initiated.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein:

said step of receiving the help request signal is further defined as receiving, with the processing device, the help request signal from the augmented reality device worn by the current consumer shopping in the retail store wherein the help request signal contains data indicative of an item being considered for purchase by the current consumer; and

said selecting step further comprises searching, with the processing device, the sales assistant database to generate a subset of all sales assistants who have previously helped one or more past consumers with the item.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining a sales assistants database wherein the data associated with each sales assistant includes interactions with past consumers, wherein each interaction is defined at least in part by one or more demographics of the past consumers and wherein each interaction includes data indicative that the interaction has preceded a purchase by the past consumer of an item for which the interaction was initiated.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein:

said step of receiving the help request signal is further defined as receiving, with the processing device, the help request signal from the augmented reality device worn by the current consumer shopping in the retail store wherein the help request signal contains data indicative of a demographic of the current consumer; and

said selecting step further comprises searching, with the processing device, the sales assistant database to generate a subset of all sales assistants who have previously helped one or more past consumers sharing the demographic of the current consumer.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving the help request signal is further defined as receiving, with the processing device, a help request signal from the augmented reality device worn by the current consumer shopping in the retail store wherein the help request signal contains an identity of the current consumer.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 further comprising:

maintaining a consumer database wherein the data associated with each consumer includes previous purchases of the consumer as well as demographics possessed by the consumer including at least one of age, gender, occupation, and mailing address.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

searching, with the processing device, the consumer database to retrieve the one or more demographics possessed by the current consumer.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising:

maintaining a sales assistants database wherein the data associated with each sales assistant includes interactions with past consumers, wherein each interaction is defined at least in part by one or more demographics of the past consumers and wherein each interaction includes data indicative that the interaction has preceded a purchase by the past consumer of an item for which the interaction was initiated.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein said selecting step further comprises:

searching, with the processing device, the sales assistant database to generate a subset of all sales assistants who have previously helped one or more past consumers sharing the one or more demographics possessed by the current consumer.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 wherein said linking step further comprises:

linking, with the processing device, the augmented reality device in communication with an electronic computing device operated by one of the sales assistants in the subset.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining a sales assistants database wherein the data associated with each sales assistant includes interactions with past consumers, wherein each interaction is defined at least in part by one or more demographics of the past consumers as well as an item for which the interaction was initiated, and wherein each interaction includes data indicative that the interaction has preceded a purchase by the past consumer of the item.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 wherein:

said step of receiving the help request signal is further defined as receiving, with the processing device, the help request signal from the augmented reality device worn by the current consumer shopping in the retail store wherein the help request signal contains data indicative of a demographic of the current consumer and data indicative of the item that the current consumer is considering for purchase.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein said selecting step further comprises:

searching, with the processing device, the sales assistant database to generate a primary subset of all sales assistants who have previously helped one or more past consumers in considering the item being considered by the current consumer.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 wherein said selecting step further comprises:

searching, with the processing device, the primary subset to generate a secondary subset of all sales assistants who have previously helped one or more past consumers sharing the one or more demographics of the current consumer.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

increasing a remuneration of the sales assistant in response to said determining step.