Dynamic demand calculation using captured data of real life objects

• US 8,260,666 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2009
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kalaboukis, Chris, Presswala, Irfan, Higgins, Chris W., Davis, Marc, Ott, Edward Stanley IV, Athsani, Athellina, Paretti, Christopher T
• Primary Examiner(s): Gort, Elaine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hayles, Ashford S
• Application Number:
  US12/353,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20100179857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 705/10
• US Class Current: 705/14.53
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Methods and system for managing demand for an object includes capturing information about the object through a mobile device associated with a user. The mobile device is configured to capture information about the object that include one or more of a spatial, temporal, topical and social attributes of the object. The identity of the object is verified and validated using this metadata captured by the user through the device from the real world object or its proxy. Upon successful verification and validation, the object and its metadata are automatically added to a wish list of the user. An aggregate list is generated using the attributes and metadata of the object from a plurality of users. The aggregate list defines a source of demand for the object. The object is tracked as it progresses through various phases of ownership cycle using dynamic demand calculations based on the information associated with the objects, the users and the aggregate lists.

Claims

1. A method for managing demand of an object, comprising:

receiving captured information about the object through a mobile device associated with a user, wherein the mobile device is configured to capture information associated with one or more of temporal, spatial, topical or social attributes of the object;

verifying identity of the object through one or more metadata associated with the object;

updating a wish list of the user with information and metadata associated with the object upon successful verification of the identity of the object;

generating one or more aggregate lists for the object using information and metadata associated with the identified object from a plurality of users, the aggregate lists defining demand for the object;

tracking progression of the object through an ownership cycle by dynamic demand calculation based on the one or more aggregate lists for the object, wherein the ownership cycle of the object includes a plurality of phases with each phase generating a corresponding distinct list for the object,

receiving purchase intent for the object through the mobile device of the user;

querying a product database for the object to determine any incentives available for the object based on the purchase intent and information associated with the object; and

forwarding the available incentives associated with the object to the mobile device for display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing information includes any one or more of capturing an image, barcode, RFID or one or more sensed parameters of the object on the mobile device associated with the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein verifying identity of the object further includes, analyzing the captured information to determine identification of the object;

accessing a metadata database associated with the object to collect metadata defining one or more characteristics pertaining to the object;

rendering the metadata associated with the object on a display device of the mobile device; and

receiving validation of the identity of the object through the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving validation further includes receiving one or more additional user preferences to further define the object, the user preferences reflecting variations for the object that is used to determine demand for the variations of the object, the additional user preferences is based upon unsuccessful validation of the object.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein updating a wish list further includes updating the additional user preferences to the wish list of the user along with the information and the metadata associated with the object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating aggregate lists further includes, consolidating the information and metadata associated with the object from a plurality of users.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the consolidation of the information and metadata is performed at one of a pre-determined time or on demand basis.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the distinct list for the object includes one or more of the wish-list, a shopping list, an inventory list and a resale list, wherein the wish-list includes objects with purchase intent sometime in the future, the shopping list includes objects with immediate purchase intent, the inventory list includes objects after purchase and during use and the resale list includes objects owned by the user that are no longer required and looking to resell to another user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein tracking the progress of the object further includes,

automatically decrementing the aggregate list for the object when the purchase intent is to purchase the object;

and

transferring the object from the user'"'"'s wish list to the user'"'"'s shopping list based on the purchase intent.

10. The method of claim 1, further including, performing a trend analysis of the object in the wish list using information of the object;

generating one or more recommendations based on the trend analysis, the recommendations defining a best time to purchase the object;

presenting the recommendations at the mobile device; and

receiving user interaction at the mobile device, the user interaction determining the selection of one of the recommendation indicating an immediate purchase intent of the object stored in the wish list.

11. The method of claim 9, further includes dynamically updating the shopping list of the user with available incentives for the object based upon the purchase intent for the object.

12. The method of claim 9, further includes, automatically evaluating one or more programs providing the incentives for the object by performing cost benefit analysis based on a purchase history of the user, wherein each of the programs providing incentives is a fee-based program charging a fee for enrollment;

providing recommendations for enrolling in each of the programs based on the evaluation; and

enrolling in a program providing incentives based on the evaluation and recommendation, the enrollment enabling automatic application of the incentive associated with the program to the object, wherein enrollment into the incentive program is free of any enrollment charges.

13. The method of claim 1, further includes,

determining the incentive program associated with a retailer dealing with the object of interest to the user based on topical information and other user profile information associated with the user;

accessing a user profile database to determine if the user is currently enrolled in the incentive program provided by the retailer; and

automatically enrolling the user to the incentive program of the retailer upon verification that the user is not currently enrolled in the incentive program, the enrollment into the incentive program enables obtaining information on one or more ancillary products that enhance use of the object.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein dynamically updating the shopping list further includes,

physically adding the object to a shopping cart, the addition of the object identifying purchase of the object;

scanning the object in the shopping cart using the mobile device;

generating a super barcode for the scanned object in the shopping cart, the super barcode encoding one or more of information associated with the object, one or more incentives available for the object, information associated with program enrollment and payment information;

rendering the super barcode on the display device of the mobile device; and

storing the super barcode in the shopping list of the user.

15. The method of claim 11, further includes dynamically defining a purchase price for the object based on the information contained in the corresponding aggregate lists and one or more of social, topical, temporal and spatial attributes associated with the object, the purchase price reflecting a pricing strategy applied based on the aggregate information reflecting the demand for the object.

16. The method of claim 15, further includes applying the available incentives to the purchase price of the object during checkout of the object.

17. The method of claim 15, further includes moving the object from the shopping list of the user to the inventory list of the user upon payment of purchase price of the object.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a non-perishable object.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein tracking the progress of the object further includes receiving a request for selling the object based on one of user interaction or trend analysis.

20. The method of claim 1, further includes extracting the metadata and information for the object including duration of ownership and description of the product so as to provide ownership analysis.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the trend analysis further includes, analyzing information to determine demand for the object based on ownership of the object;

and

suggesting a best time for selling the object based on the analysis.

22. The method of claim 19, further includes, determining a list of dealers that deal with the object;

identifying one or more dealers from the list of dealers to use for selling the object;

automatically enlisting the object for sale at the identified dealers, wherein the dealer updates inventory associated with the dealer with the information and metadata associated with the object upon enlisting of the object; and

transferring the object from the inventory list to the re-sale list upon receiving the request to sell the object.

23. The method of claim 19, further includes, determining a list of users interested in purchasing the object;

identifying one or more users from the list of users for selling the object;

automatically informing the identified users on the availability of the object for sale, wherein a wish list of the identified users is updated with the information and metadata associated with the object; and

transferring the object from an owner'"'"'s inventory list to the owner'"'"'s re-sale list upon receiving the request to sell the object, wherein the owner is the user currently owning the object and has expressed interest in selling the object.

24. A system for managing a demand of an object, comprising:

a mobile device configured to capture information about the object, the information encompassing one or more of temporal, spatial, topical and social attributes of the object, the mobile device equipped with, an image capturing tool to capture information of the object, a text capturing tool to capture information about the object, a rendering device to render information associated with the object and to review the information captured by the capturing tool;

a sensing tool to scan one or more objects during a progression of the object through different phases of ownership cycle;

a server equipped with, a demand management algorithm to manage an ownership cycle of the object, the demand management algorithm configured to interact with the mobile device to receive the information for the object, the demand management algorithm includes, a verification logic configured to obtain metadata associated with the object and to verify and validate identity of the object;

an aggregation logic configured to generate one or more aggregate lists for the object by consolidating a request for the object from a plurality of users, the one or more aggregate lists defining a demand for the object; and

a tracking logic with a dynamic demand calculator to track progression of the object through an ownership cycle of the object based on the one or more aggregate lists, the ownership cycle including a plurality of phases, each of the plurality of phases creating a distinct list for the object associated with a user, wherein the server further includes a server interface to interact with one or more database to obtain incentive information and recommendation information associated with the object, the data is accessible to the server and is located anywhere within or outside the server, wherein the object is a non-perishable object.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the mobile device further includes distinct databases within a memory to store a plurality of information associated with the object and information associated with a user of the mobile device, the mobile device further configured to store distinct lists associated with the plurality of phases of ownership.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the tracking logic is further configured to, generate a super barcode for the scanned object, the super barcode being encoded with at least information associated with the object, and one or more of incentives and recommendations available for the object, information associated with any program enrollment, profile of a user and payment information;

and

move the object from a first distinct list to a second distinct list as the object progresses from a first phase to a second phase of the ownership cycle, the tracking logic decrementing the object from the first distinct list and incrementing the object in the second distinct list, wherein the first and second distinct lists correspond to the first and second phase of ownership associated with the object.