Methods of acquiring actual real-time shopper behavior data approximate to a moment of decision by a shopper

• US 8,600,828 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• 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, Hjelm, Christopher Todd, Jones, Titus Arthur, Osborne, John Edward II, Perkins, Dion Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): Zukanovich, Brandy A
• Application Number:
  US13/475,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20120245974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 370/406
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

The invention provides methods of acquiring actual real-time shopper behavior data during product selection of purchasable items by a shopper in a store. More specifically, disclosed herein are methods of using a communications multi-network, a First Moment of Truth device and a data collection device to track actual real-time shopper behavior data relating to the presumed locations of shoppers in a store, the time spent and location of time spent by a shopper while considering a purchasable item and products chosen for purchase.

Claims

1. A method of acquiring actual real-time shopper behavior data approximate to a period of product selection by a shopper in a store filled with one or more purchasable items, comprising:

providing a First Moment of Truth device to said shopper, said First Moment of Truth device comprising a location tracking device;

providing a communications multi-network about said store, said First Moment of Truth device being communicatively coupled to said communications multinetwork, said communications multi-network comprising;

at least one data collection device configured to receive and store said actual real-time shopper behavior data;

at least one mesh communication network for the transfer of location tracking data between said location tracking device and said data collection device; and

at least one star communication network for the transfer of said actual real-time shopper behavior data between said First Moment of Truth device and said data collection device;

collecting said actual real-time shopper behavior data using said First Moment of Truth device;

transferring said actual real-time shopper behavior data through said star communication network of said communications multi-network to said data collection device;

creating location tracking data using said location tracking device of said First Moment of Truth device;

transferring said location tracking data through said mesh communication network of said communications multi-network to said data collection device; and

storing in said data collection device said actual real-time shopper behavior data and historical progression data, said historical progression data comprising substantially all said location tracking data created by said location tracking device of said First Moment of Truth device, wherein when a presumed location of said shopper is not continuously tracked and updated using said location tracking device, said presumed location of said shopper is updated by said data collection device for a predetermined interval of time.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said actual real-time shopper behavior data comprises an identity of one or more purchasable items chosen for purchase by said shopper.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said actual real-time shopper behavior data comprises an identity of one or more purchasable items not chosen for purchase by said shopper.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said actual real-time shopper behavior data comprises an amount of time taken by said shopper to choose one or more purchasable items.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

associating electronically said First Moment of Truth device with said communications multi-network; and

dissociating electronically said First Moment of Truth device from said communications multi-network,

wherein said creating location tracking data using said location tracking device occurs between said associating and said dissociating.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said data collection device acquires and organizes the actual real-time shopper behavior data.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting one or more influencing messages to said First Moment of Truth device, wherein said transmitting one or more influencing messages is conducted by said at least one data collection device.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising tracking a response or nonresponse of said shopper as a result of one or more influencing messages, wherein said tracking is conducted by said First Moment of Truth device and wherein said actual real-time shopper behavior data further comprises said shopper'"'"'s response or nonresponse to said one or more influencing messages.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

configuring said First Moment of Truth device to function as a product scanning device and to transmit said product scanning data;

scanning a readable medium located on said one or more purchasable items;

generating product scanning data when said readable medium located on said one or more purchasable items is scanned by said First Moment of Truth Device; and

transmitting said product scanning data from said First Moment of Truth device through said communications multi-network to said data collection device for analysis in real time.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said actual real-time shopper behavior data comprises a shopper'"'"'s identification data, said location tracking data, and said product scanning data.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said First Moment of Truth device records a moment in time corresponding to when said First Moment of Truth device creates said product scanning, said First Moment of Truth device creating product scanning timing data from said recording.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

recording a moment in time when said location tracking data is created, said recording being conducted by said First Moment of Truth device to create location tracking timing data;

transmitting said location tracking timing data to said data collection device;

identifying a match between said product scanning timing data, corresponding to when said data collection device receives the product scanning data, and said location tracking timing data, corresponding with said moment in time when said location tracking data is created to identify a match; and

associating said product scanning data with said location tracking data when a match is identified.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said data collection device records a moment in time corresponding to when it receives the product scanning data from the First Moment of Truth Device.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

recording a moment in time when said location tracking data is created, said recording being conducted -by said data collection device;

identifying a match between said moment in time corresponding to when said data collection device receives the product scanning data and said moment in time when said location tracking data is created to identify a match; and

associating said product scanning data with said location tracking data when a match is identified.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a timing device associated with said data collection device;

calculating a shopper'"'"'s average rate of travel in said store based on a shopping trip timing data of at least a shopper'"'"'s first shopping trip and a shopper'"'"'s location tracking data of at least a shopper'"'"'s first shopping trip, said shopping trip timing data being an amount of time between when said First Moment of Truth device electronically associates with said communications multi-network and when said First Moment of Truth device electronically dissociates with said communications multi-network;

calculating and tracking the shopper'"'"'s actual real-time rate of travel in said store during a shopper'"'"'s second shopping trip, wherein said calculating and tracking is conducted by said data collection device;

comparing said shopper'"'"'s actual real-time rate of travel during said shopper'"'"'s second shopping trip with said shopper'"'"'s average rate of travel, said comparing being conducted by said data collection device in substantially real-time;

marking a beginning of a period of product selection when said shopper'"'"'s actual real-time rate of travel is substantially slower than the shopper'"'"'s average rate of travel based on said comparing, said marking the beginning of the period of product selection being conducted by said data collection device;

concluding said period of product selection when a product scanning data is created by scanning said one or more purchasable items with said First Moment of Truth device, said concluding said period of product selection being conducted by said data collection device;

calculating a duration of said period of product selection to generate product selection timing data, said calculating conducted by said data collection device; and

organizing said product selection timing data with said actual real-time shopper behavior data, wherein said organizing is conducted by said data collection device.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising transmitting during said period of product selection one or more influencing messages to the First Moment of Truth device through said star communication network in order to influence said shopper'"'"'s decision.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a timing device associated with said data collection device;

calculating a shopper'"'"'s average rate of travel in said store based on a shopping trip timing data of at least a shopper'"'"'s first shopping trip and a shopper'"'"'s location tracking data of at least a shopper'"'"'s first shopping trip, said shopping trip timing data being an amount of time between when said First Moment of Truth device electronically associates with said communications multi-network and when said First Moment of Truth device electronically dissociates with said communications multi -network;

calculating and tracking the shopper'"'"'s actual real-time rate of travel in said store during a shopper'"'"'s second shopping trip, wherein said calculating and tracking is conducted by said data collection device;

comparing said shopper'"'"'s actual real-time rate of travel during said shopper'"'"'s second shopping trip with said shopper'"'"'s average rate of travel, said comparing being conducted by said data collection device in substantially real-time;

marking a beginning of a period of product selection when said shopper'"'"'s actual real-time rate of travel is substantially slower than the shopper'"'"'s average rate of travel based on said comparing and when said location tracking data indicates said shopper is substantially near a product display in said store, said marking the beginning of the period of product selection being conducted by said data collection device;

concluding said period of product selection when said location tracking data indicates that shopper is no longer substantially near said product display;

calculating a duration of said period of product selection to generate product selection timing data, said calculating conducted by said data collection device; and

organizing said product selection timing data with said actual real-time shopper behavior data, wherein said organizing is conducted by said data collection device.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising transmitting during said period of product selection one or more influencing messages to the First Moment of Truth device through said star communication network in order to influence said shopper'"'"'s decision.