USING INDOOR MAPS TO DIRECT CONSUMERS TO SALE ITEMS, SHOPPING LISTS, OR OTHER SPECIFIC LOCATIONS IN A STORE, RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT, OR OTHER GEOGRAPHIC AREA

• US 20150161715A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Rose, Robert Brett
• Application Number:
  US13/788,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20150161715A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations

Abstract

Indoor navigation may be utilized in combination with predetermined location goals to guide consumers to places they do or might want to visit in a retail establishment or other space. The user may be provided with assistance in locating items on a predetermined list, such as by checking map information on the user'"'"'s device and by interacting with one or more location detection devices. Statistics related to the user'"'"'s shopping experience may also be provided to the user. The user can optionally allow the store to review the list, statistics, or other information so the store can analyze the presentation, how the items were found, and even what the user actually purchased.

Claims

1. A method for locating items in a given space with a client device, comprising:

receiving, with one or more processors of the client device, user input related to items to be located in the given space;

providing for display, with the one or more processors, a list of the items to be purchased;

receiving, with the one or more processors, a map of the given space;

identifying, with the one or more processors, locations of the items to be located relative to the map;

receiving, using one or more location sensors of the client device, information of a location detection device in the given space;

determining, with the one or more processors based on the received information, whether the user has retrieved the item to be located;

updating, with the one or more processors, the displayed list when it is determined that the user has retrieved the item to be located;

computing, with the one or more processors, shopping statistics related to the retrieved items periodically while the user is in the given space, including at least one of a running total of time spent in the given space, a running total of time spent looking for an item, and a running total of distance traveled; and

providing for display at the client device, with the one or more processors, one or more of the shopping statistics as they are being computed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, with the one or more processors based on the received information, whether the user has retrieved the item to be located comprises:

determining whether the client device comes within a predetermined distance of any of the identified locations of the items; and

receiving confirmation that the item had been located.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving route information, the route information indicating one or more paths leading to each of the items to be located.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising tracking the location of the mobile device to determine which paths have been traveled.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising displaying the route information, including the paths traveled.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein computing shopping statistics comprises calculating at least one of money saved, money left to spend, time spent, distance traveled, and number of sale items selected.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving advertisements.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the displayed list comprises distinguishing the retrieved items by removing them from the list, crossing them out, checking them off, or graying them out.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving bookmark information, the bookmark information identifying a location the user desires to return to.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing information and instructions executable by a processor for performing a method of locating items in a given space with a client device, the method comprising:

receiving user input related to items to be located in the given space;

providing for display a list of the items to be purchased;

receiving a map of the given space;

identifying locations of the items to be located relative to the map;

receiving, using one or more location sensors of the client device, information of a location detection device in the given space;

determining, based on the received information, whether the user has retrieved the item to be located;

updating the displayed list when it is determined that the user has retrieved the item to be located;

computing shopping statistics related to the retrieved items periodically while the user is in the given space, including at least one of a running total of time spent in the given space, a running total of time spent looking for an item, and a running total of distance traveled; and

providing for display one or more of the shopping statistics as they are being computed.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining whether the user has retrieved the item to be located comprises:

determining whether the client device comes within a predetermined distance of any of the identified locations of the items; and

receiving confirmation that the item had been located.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein computing shopping statistics comprises calculating at least one of money saved, money left to spend, time spent, distance traveled, and number of sale items selected.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving route information, the route information indicating one or more paths leading to each of the items to be located;

tracking the location of the mobile device to determine which paths have been traveled; and

displaying the route information, including the paths traveled.

14. A method for locating items in a given space with a server, comprising:

receiving, with one or more processors of the server, input related to items to be located in the given space;

generating, using the one or more processors, a map of the given space;

identifying, with the one or more processors, locations of the items to be located in relation to the map; and

transmitting to a user device, using the one or more processors, the map and identified locations;

receiving from one or more location detection devices in the given space, using the one or more processors, information of the user device;

determining, using the one or more processors based on the information received, whether the items have been retrieved;

computing, with the one or more processors, shopping statistics based on the received information periodically while the user device is in the given space, including at least one of a running total of time spent in the given space, a running total of time spent looking for an item, and a running total of distance traveled; and

transmitting to the user device, using the one or more processors, one or more of the shopping statistics as they are being computed.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing to the user device suggestions for additional or substitute items for purchase;

wherein the shopping statistics include an amount of money saved by purchasing the additional or substitute items.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the suggestions for additional or substitute items include advertisements.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing to the user device a suggested route in relation to the map for locating the items; and

receiving information regarding an actual path traveled by the user device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the shopping statistics comprise a comparison of the suggested route and the actual path traveled.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the shopping statistics include at least one of a list of items retrieved, a total cost of the items retrieved, available coupons for one or more of the items retrieved, and a total amount of time spent retrieving the items.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the information regarding the items purchased identifies at least one of:

whether the items were included in the received user input;

whether the items were not included in the received user input;

whether the items purchased did not include an item included in the received user input; and

whether the items were included in an advertisement provided to the user.