Collection and processing of product consumption timelines

• US 8,626,562 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2012
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Milman, Ilya, Kalinin, Pavel, Kagansky, Vadim
• Primary Examiner(s): Meinecke Diaz, Susanna M
• Application Number:
  US13/397,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20130211875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.29, 705/26.7
• US Class Current: 705/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for collecting and utilizing product consumption cycle information from product purchasers. In one example a method comprises, responsive to a purchase of a product by a purchaser, selecting an end of use criteria for the product from a plurality of end of use criteria, determining a length of a consumption cycle of the product based on the end of use criteria, recording information identifying the purchaser, the product, and the length of the consumption cycle in an electronic database, and contacting the purchaser proximate expiration of the consumption cycle.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

responsive to a purchase of a product by a purchaser;

a store computer system receiving from the purchaser at the time of the purchase a purchaser-selected one of an end of use criteria for the product from a plurality of end of use criteria, wherein the one of an end of use criteria is selected from the group consisting of;

obsolete technology, fully consumed, consumer match, and product breaks;

the store computer system determining a length of a consumption cycle of the product based on the purchaser-selected one of an end of use criteria;

the store computer system receiving from the purchaser at the time of the purchase a purchaser-selected one of a product destination for the product from a plurality of product destinations, wherein the purchaser-selected one of a product destination is selected from the group consisting of;

donation, recycle, and dispose of;

the store computer system recording information identifying the purchaser, the product, and the length of the consumption cycle in an electronic database;

the store computer determining content of a message to transmit to the purchaser, wherein the content of the message recommends to the purchaser another product for purchase based on the purchaser-selected one of an end of use criteria and recommends a manner for disposal of the purchased product based on the purchaser-selected one of a product destination for the product purchased; and

the store computer system transmitting the message to the purchaser proximate expiration of the consumption cycle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the store computer system receiving actual product usage data from the purchaser and determining a length of the consumption cycle according to the actual product usage data from the purchaser.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message includes a marketing offer for a replacement product.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the computer system receiving from the purchaser a product disposal method and wherein the message includes information regarding disposal of the product.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the store computer system receiving an end of use criteria more specifically comprises receiving from the purchaser an indication regarding end of use of the product based on obsolete technology of the product and wherein the message includes information regarding a new item which is an updated version of the product.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the store computer system receiving a product destination criteria more specifically comprises receiving from the purchaser an indication that the product will be donated to charity at the end of use and wherein the message includes information regarding donation to a charity which is local to the purchaser.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the store computer system receiving an end of use criteria more specifically comprises receiving from the purchaser an indication regarding the age group of a user of the product and wherein the message includes information regarding a new item related to the product for a subsequent age group.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the wherein the store computer system receiving an end of use criteria more specifically comprises receiving from the purchaser an indication regarding end of use of the product based on fashion trends and wherein the message includes information regarding a new item related to the product and related to current fashion trends.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the store computer system receiving an end of use criteria more specifically comprises receiving from the purchaser an indication regarding end of use of the product when it is expected to become non-functional and wherein the message includes an offer for an extended warrantee for the product.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the store computer system receiving an expected product lifespan from the purchaser and wherein the extended warrantee exceeds the expected product lifespan of the product.

11. A computer system facilitating the collection and analytical processing of product consumption timelines, the system comprising:

an interface; and

a processor coupled to the interface and programmed, responsive to a purchase of a product by a purchaser, to;

receive, from the purchaser, at the time of the purchase a purchaser-selected one of an end of use criteria for the product from a plurality of end of use criteria, wherein the one of an end of use criteria is selected from the group consisting of;

obsolete technology, fully consumed, consumer match, and product breaks;

determine a length of a consumption cycle of the product based on the purchaser-selected one of an end of use criteria;

receive from the purchaser at the time of the purchase a purchaser-selected one of a product destination for the product from a plurality of product destinations, wherein the purchaser-selected one of a product destination is selected from the group consisting of;

donation, recycle, and dispose of;

record information identifying the purchaser, the product, and the length of the consumption cycle in an electronic database;

determine content of a message to transmit to the purchaser, wherein the content of the message recommends to the purchaser another product for purchase based on the purchaser-selected one of an end of use criteria and recommends a manner for disposal of the purchased product based on the purchaser-selected one of a product destination for the product purchased; and

cause the message to be transmitted to the purchaser proximate expiration of the consumption cycle.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is programmed to receive actual product usage data from the purchaser and determine a length of the consumption cycle according to the actual product usage data from the purchaser.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the message includes a marketing offer for a replacement item related to the product.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the message is transmitted to the purchaser by mail, email, digital messaging, or telephone.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is programmed to receive from the purchaser a product disposal method and wherein the message includes information regarding disposal of the product.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is more specifically programmed to receive an end of use criteria from the purchaser indicating end of use of the product based on obsolete technology of the product and wherein the message includes information regarding a new item which is an updated version of the product.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is more specifically programmed to receive a product destination criteria from the purchaser indicating that the product will be donated to charity at the end of use of the product and wherein the message includes information regarding donation to a charity which is local to the purchaser.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is more specifically programmed to receive an end of use criteria from the purchaser indicating end of use of the product based on the age group of a user and wherein the message includes information regarding a new item related to the product for a subsequent age group.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is more specifically programmed to receive an end of use criteria from the purchaser indicating end of use of the product based on fashion trends and wherein the message includes information regarding a new item related to the product for current fashion trends.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is more specifically programmed to receive an end of use criteria from the purchaser indicating end of use of the product based on expected non-functionality based on product age and wherein the message includes information regarding an extended warrantee for the product which exceeds the expected product age.