System and method for locating products in association with productivity and cost information

• US 8,412,592 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Burnett, Daniel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desai, Resha
• Application Number:
  US12/495,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20100332338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705 261- 272
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation

Abstract

A system and method for locating a product and associated information within a region utilizing a mobile application. Information such as location, cost, and productivity information with respect to the rendering device(s) can be stored in a database associated with a customer accessible unit. A mobile interface configured with a web browser can communicate with the database in order to locate an optimal product based on preferred criteria. A mobile application may include a progressive disclosure menu that provides quick access to productive print solutions and appropriate resources and contacts. The mobile interface can utilize the Global Positioning System to compare the current location to the closest location of optimal rendering device that meet the applied criterion.

Claims

1. A method for locating products, said method comprising:

storing in a database, information with respect to at least one product within a region;

locating said at least one product based on particular criteria input through a mobile interface remotely connected to said database;

displaying a progressive disclosure menu of said mobile interface, providing particular data associated with said at least one product including a list of said at least one product'"'"'s locations in association with said information in response to input of said particular product specific criteria via said mobile interface, wherein said progressive disclosure menu is configured to sequence said data across a plurality of screens; and

generating additional information associated with said at least one product based on said particular criteria provided on said progressive disclosure menu, wherein said additional information includes a driving time estimate with respect to a location of said at least one product, a print production time estimate associated with said at least one product, a cost per book associated with said at least one product, and a listing of types of binding available with respect to said at least one product.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

associating a GPS module with said mobile interface; and

determining a current location of said mobile unit to permit a comparison of said current location to the closest location of said at least one product based on said particular criteria.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one product comprises a rendering device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said information comprises a location of said at least one product and directions to said location of said at least one product generated by said GPS module associated with a mobile interface.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said information comprises a cost per page of media associated with said at least one product.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said information comprises productivity data associated with said at least one product.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising querying via said mobile interface to match a document processing requirement to said plurality of information associated with said at least one product.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting at least one preferred product based on an optimal product solution of said at least one product via said progressive disclosure menu associated with said mobile interface.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring said mobile interface to include a specialized mobile application for input of said particular criteria.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising configuring said mobile application as an add-on tool in association with a remote job submission tool wherein said add-on tool uses web-based information to produce drive time estimates for said at least one product location.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising accessing a private database that compares data indicative of publicly available machine costs and productivity against additional information concerning private rendering devices.

12. A system for locating products, said system comprising:

a processor;

a data bus coupled to said processor; and

a computer-usable medium embodying computer code, said computer-usable medium being coupled to said data bus, said computer program code comprising instructions executable by said processor and configured for;

storing in a database, information with respect to at least one product within a region;

locating said at least one product based on particular criteria input through a mobile interface remotely connected to said database;

displaying in a progressive disclosure menu of said mobile interface, providing particular data associated with said at least one product including a list of said at least one product'"'"'s locations in association with said information in response to input of said particular product specific criteria via said mobile interface, wherein said progressive disclosure menu is configured to sequence said data across a plurality of screens;

selecting at least one optimal product of said at least one product via said progressive disclosure menu associated with said mobile interface; and

generating additional information associated with said at least one product based on said particular criteria provided on said progressive disclosure menu, wherein said additional information includes a driving time estimate with respect to a location of said at least one product, a print production time estimate associated with said at least one product, a cost per book associated with said at least one product, and a listing of types of binding available with respect to said at least one product.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said instructions are further configured for:

associating a GPS module with said mobile interface; and

determining a current location of said mobile unit to permit a comparison of said current location to the closest location of said at least one product based on said particular criteria.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said information comprises a cost per page of media associated with said at least one product.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said information comprises productivity data associated with said at least one product.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein said instructions are further configured for querying via said mobile interface to match a document processing requirement to said plurality of information associated with said at least one product.

17. The system of claim 12 further comprising modifying said mobile interface to include a specialized mobile application for input of said particular criteria, wherein said mobile application comprises an add-on tool in association with a remote job submission tool wherein said add-on tool uses web-based information to produce drive time estimates for said at least one product location.

18. A system for locating products, said system comprising:

a processor;

a data bus coupled to said processor; and

a computer-usable medium embodying computer code, said computer-usable medium being coupled to said data bus, said computer program code comprising instructions executable by said processor and configured for;

storing in a database, information with respect to at least one product within a region;

locating said at least one product based on particular criteria input through a mobile interface remotely connected to said database;

displaying in a progressive disclosure menu of said mobile interface, providing particular data associated with said at least one product including a list of said at least one product'"'"'s locations in association with said information in response to input of said particular product specific criteria via said mobile interface, wherein said progressive disclosure menu is configured to sequence said data across a plurality of screens;

associating a GPS module with said mobile interface;

determining a current location of said mobile unit to permit a comparison of said current location to the closest location of said at least one product based on said particular criteria;

determining and displaying an area coverage value on said mobile unit wherein said area coverage value provides a per page cost comparison for said at least one product based on said particular criteria; and

generating additional information associated with said at least one product based on said particular criteria provided on said progressive disclosure menu, wherein said additional information includes a driving time estimate with respect to a location of said at least one product, a print production time estimate associated with said at least one product, a cost per book associated with said at least one product, and a listing of types of binding available with respect to said at least one product.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said instructions are further configured for:

modifying said mobile interface to include a specialized mobile application for input of said particular criteria, wherein said mobile application comprises an add-on tool in association with a remote job submission tool wherein said add-on tool uses web-based information to produce drive time estimates for said at least one product location.