Methods of influencing shoppers at the first moment of truth in a retail establishment

• US 7,792,710 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunrise R&D Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sunrise R&D Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Bonner, Brett Bracewell, Jones, Titus Arthur, Hjelm, Christopher Todd, Perkins, Dion Brent, Osborne, John Edward II, Menz, Gregory Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Amee A
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZUKANOVICH, BRANDY A
• Application Number:
  US12/609,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 370/406
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2203/50 comprising weighing means
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0096 Identification of the cart or merchandise, e.g. by barcodes or radio frequency identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

Provided herein are systems and methods for influencing shoppers while they consider making purchasing decisions in a retail establishment. Specifically, the systems and methods for influencing shoppers may occur during a shopper'"'"'s first moment of truth by transmitting through a communication network one or more influential messages to a handheld wireless electronic device or intelligent shopping cart, which is in close proximity to a shopper during a shopping trip throughout a retail establishment.

Claims

1. A method of influencing a shopper'"'"'s product selection during a shopper'"'"'s shopping trip in a retail establishment, said method comprising the steps of:

i. Positioning a communications multi-network for shopper communication in a retail establishment, the communications multi-network comprising at least one mesh communication network and at least one star communication network, said mesh communication network and said star communication networking operating within said communications multi-network to produce tracking data and product selection data;

ii. Providing a logic engine, said logic engine being in operative connection with said communications multi-network and managing said communications multi-network;

iii. Tracking a wireless end device, the wireless end device being held in close proximity to said shopper during said shopper'"'"'s shopping trip in said retail establishment, wherein the wireless end device is in tracked communication with said logic engine through said mesh communication network of said communications multi-network;

iv. Electronically associating said wireless end device to said communications multi-network;

v. Identifying a product on display in said retail establishment, said product being in close proximity to said shopper;

vi. Determining a suitable influential message to transmit to said wireless end device held in close proximity to said shopper from said logic engine; and

vii. Transmitting from said logic engine said suitable influential message through said star communication network to said wireless end device held in close proximity to said shopper during said shopper'"'"'s shopping trip in said retail establishment.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a multi-network router positioned about said retail establishment, said multi-network router being communicatively coupled to the communications multi-network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said communications multi-network comprises a first mesh communication network and a second mesh communication network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said communications multi-network comprises a first star communication network and a second star communication network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said suitable influential message is selected from the group consisting of a competitive saving opportunity, a co-branding opportunity, a product warning, a product combination warning, a product review, a response to a historical progression, an alternative choice for product purchase, in-store directions to locate a product, an electronic coupon, price cut alerts, price increase alerts, and budget limit alerts.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said wireless end device is in association with an intelligent shopping cart.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

i. Coupling a product scanning device to said wireless end device;

ii. Scanning a product for purchase using said product scanning device, said product for purchase having a product identity;

iii. Creating a product scanning data by recording the identity of said product for purchase;

iv. Transmitting said product scanning data to said logic engine; and

v. Evaluating said product scanning data, wherein the logic engine evaluates the product scanning data.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said wireless end device comprises a tracking location device which is in tracked communication with said logic engine, wherein the step of tracking said wireless end device further comprises the step of producing a tracked location of said shopper in said retail establishment, whereby said logic engine produces said tracked location.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of comparing said tracked location to a product location map to produce a shopper to product location ratio, wherein said logic engine compares said tracked location to said product location map.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

i. Recording the time when said shopper to product location ratio is under about five feet; and

ii. Calculating a product selection timing data by calculating the difference between the time said product selection data was created and the time said shopper to product location ratio is under about five feet, wherein the steps of recording the time and calculating the product selection timing data are performed by said logic engine.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of producing evaluation data, said evaluation data being the result of said logic engine evaluating said intended product purchase, said shopper to product location ratio, and said product selection timing data.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of determining a first moment of truth, said first moment of truth being indicated by said evaluation data to said logic engine.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of tailoring said suitable influential message to said evaluation data when said first moment of truth is determined.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said influencing of said shopper'"'"'s product selection occurs prior to said shopper'"'"'s product selection.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said influencing of said shopper'"'"'s product selection causes said shopper'"'"'s product selection to be altered.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said influencing of said shopper'"'"'s product selection occurs during said shopper'"'"'s product selection.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said influencing of said shopper'"'"'s product selection causes said shopper'"'"'s product selection to be altered.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said influencing of said shopper'"'"'s product selection occurs after said shopper'"'"'s product selection.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said influencing of said shopper'"'"'s product selection causes said shopper'"'"'s product selection to be altered.