SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCATION SENSING FOR PURCHASES

• US 20150356667A1
• Filed: 06/03/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Capital One Services LLC (Capital One Financial Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Capital One Financial Corporation
• Inventors: POOLE, Thomas S., LOVE, Kaleen
• Granted Patent: US 10,636,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for assisting a customer with purchasing a merchandise item in a store. Assisting the customer may include determining a location of a customer (i.e., customer device) in the store, identifying merchandise items located adjacent to the customer, receiving selection of a merchandise item for purchase from the identified merchandise items, receiving payment authorization information for the purchase, and initiating delivery of the merchandise item to the customer. Additionally, systems and methods are provided for inventory management in a store. Consistent with certain embodiments, computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for selecting a sensor, receiving a sensor identifier and a position of the sensor, receiving merchandise identifiers for merchandise items located near the sensor, and storing the merchandise identifiers in association with the sensor identifier. Additionally, systems and methods are provided for providing directions to a customer for locating a selected merchandise item in the store.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for purchase assistance in a store, the method comprising:

determining, using a sensor, a location of a customer device in the store;

identifying, using a processor, at least one merchandise item located within a predetermined distance from to the customer device;

providing a list of the identified at least one merchandise items to the customer device for display on the customer device;

receiving, from the customer device, a selection of a merchandise item for purchase from the list;

receiving payment authorization information for purchase of the merchandise item; and

initiating delivery of the merchandise item.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the customer device further includes:

receiving a signal from the customer device; and

identifying the location as a location of the sensor that received the signal.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a first sensor, and determining the location of the customer device further includes:

receiving at least one signal from the customer device at a plurality of sensors including the first sensor;

determining a distance between each of the plurality of sensors and the customer device based on the received signal; and

selecting, from the sensors, at least one sensor having a minimum distance from the customer device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying merchandise items located adjacent to the customer device includes:

determining a location of the sensor within the predetermined distance to the customer device; and

identifying merchandise items located within a first distance from the location of the sensor.

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

receiving an indication, from the customer device, to display additional items located near the sensor; and

identifying merchandise items located within a second distance from the location of the sensor.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the first distance ranges between 2 and 4 feet from the sensor.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the second distance is determined by adding a third distance to the first distance.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the third distance ranges between 2 and 4 feet from the sensor.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further including:

determining whether the merchandise item is available at the store; and

providing a notification to the customer device indicating whether the merchandise item is available at the store.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the store is a first store, the selection is a first selection, and the method further includes:

determining whether the merchandise item is available at the first store;

identifying a second store where the merchandise item is available when the merchandise item is not available at the first store;

displaying information regarding the merchandise item at the second store; and

receiving a second selection of the merchandise item for purchase from the second store.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving payment authorization information includes:

determining whether a customer has a registered profile;

accessing financial information of the customer associated with the registered profile;

initiating payment processing based on the financial information; and

notifying the customer regarding receipt of the payment.

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

requesting profile information, from the customer device when the customer is not associated with a profile.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 wherein the profile information includes:

a customer identifier;

financial information including payment information associated with at least one financial services provider; and

at least one address for delivery of the merchandise item.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a Bluetooth low energy beacon.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an RFID tag.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a wireless sensor.

17. A computer-implemented method for inventory management in a store, the method comprising:

selecting, using a processor, a first sensor located in the store;

receiving a sensor identifier corresponding to the first sensor;

receiving a position of the first sensor;

receiving merchandise identifiers for merchandise items located within a first distance from the position;

receiving inventory amounts for the merchandise items; and

storing, in a storage medium, the first distance, the merchandise identifiers, and the inventory amount in association with the sensor identifier.

18. A computer-implemented method for locating a merchandise item in a store, the method comprising:

determining a position of a customer device in the store;

accessing, from a memory, a list of merchandise items;

receiving, from the customer device, a selection of a merchandise item from the list;

determining a sensor identifier stored in association with the merchandise item;

determining a position of a sensor associated with the sensor identifier; and

determining instructions for travelling from the position of the customer to the position of the sensor.

19. A purchase assistance system for a store, comprising:

a plurality of sensors located in the store;

a database, storing;

a position of each of the plurality of sensors; and

information regarding at least one merchandise item located within a first distance from each position;

a memory storing instructions; and

at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving a signal indicating a position of a customer device in the store;

identifying at least one sensor located within a predetermined distance from the position of the customer device;

determining a list of merchandise items located within the first distance from the at least one sensor;

receiving a selection of a merchandise item for purchase from the list;

receiving payment authorization information for the merchandise item; and

initiating delivery of the merchandise item.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for purchase assistance at a store that when executed by a processor, cause the computer to perform the steps of:

determining a location of a customer device in the store;

identifying merchandise items located within a predetermined distance from the customer device;

providing a list of the identified merchandise items to a customer device for display on the customer device;

receiving, from the customer device, a selection of a merchandise item for purchase from the list;

receiving payment authorization information for purchase of the merchandise item; and

initiating delivery of the merchandise item.