Self learning method and system to provide an alternate or ancillary product choice in response to a product selection

• US 9,117,224 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RetailDNA LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: RetailDNA LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Otto, Jonathan, Van Luchene, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Hill, Stanley K
• Application Number:
  US12/618,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20100057661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,111 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A system including: a memory element for storing an artificial intelligence program (AIP); an interface element for receiving, from a wireless communications device (WCD), a first portion of an order; and a processor for generating, using the AIP, an offer in response to items or services in the first portion of the order. The interface element is for transmitting the offer to the WCD and receiving, from the WCD, a second portion of the order. The processor is for modifying, using the AIP, the offer in response to items or services in the first and second portions of the order by adding or modifying items, services, or incentives. The interface element is for transmitting the modified offer to the wireless communications network for transmission to the WCD.

Claims

1. A method for providing an alternate or ancillary product choice in response to an order placed by a customer-controlled point of sale device, comprising the steps of:

storing, in a memory element for at least one specially programmed computer, an artificial intelligence program (AIP);

receiving, from a first wireless communications device (WCD) and using an interface element in the at least one specially programmed computer, a first portion of an order for a first item or service available from a first business entity, the order part of a transaction between a user of the first WCD and the first business entity;

determining, using a processor in the at least one specially programmed computer;

a transaction history of the user,

a location associated with all of the transaction, the user of the first WCD and the first business entity,

a business target goal, and

a point within the transaction;

determining, using the processor and the AIP, a sequence of a plurality of offer types,

wherein the sequence of the plurality of offer types comprises a prioritized list of the following offer types;

a substitute offer type,

a package offer type, and

a complement offer type;

generating, using a processor in the at least one specially programmed computer and the AIP, an offer in response to the first item or service and based on the transaction history of the user, the location, the business target goal, the determined sequence of offer types, and the point within the transaction, wherein the offer includes at least one second item or service available from the first business entity and wherein the at least one second item or service;

is a substitute for the first item or service;

includes a plurality of said second items or services in a package offer;

or is a complement to the first item or service;

transmitting, using the interface element, the offer to a wireless communications network for transmission to the first WCD;

receiving, from the first WCD and using the interface element, a second portion of the order for a third item or service available from the first business entity;

modifying, using the processor and the AIP, the offer in response to the first item or service and the at least one third item or service and based on the transaction history of the user, the location, the business target goal, and the point within the transaction, wherein modifying the offer includes adding a first incentive to the offer;

modifying a second incentive included in the offer;

adding at least one fourth item or service available from the first business entity;

or deleting at least some of said at least one first, second or third item or service from the order or offer; and

, transmitting, using the interface element, the modified offer to the wireless communications network for transmission to the first WCD;

receiving, from the first WCD and using the interface element, an acceptance by the user of the modified offer;

altering, using the processor, the transaction based on the acceptance of the modified offer,

wherein the first WCD is an order taking device for the transaction in a retail establishment at the location.

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

storing at least one rule in a memory element for the first WCD; and

,

executing, using a processor in the first WCD, the modified offer according to the at least one rule.

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

receiving, using the interface element, at least one rule from a second WCD, or from a general-purpose computer associated with a second business entity; and

,

storing the at least one rule in the memory element, wherein modifying the offer includes using the processor and the at least one rule.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying the offer comprises determining that a first offer type of the prioritized list is refused by the user and selecting the next offer type in the prioritized list.

5. A system for providing an alternate or ancillary product choice in response to an order placed by a customer-controlled point of sale device, comprising:

a memory element for at least one specially programmed computer, for storing an artificial intelligence program (AIP);

an interface element, for the at least one specially programmed computer, for receiving, from a first wireless communications device (WCD), a first portion of an order for a first item or service available from a first business entity, the order part of a transaction between a user of the first WCD and the first business entity;

a processor for the at least one specially programmed computer, for determining;

a transaction history of the user,

a location associated with all of the transaction, the user of the first WCD and the first business entity,

a business target goal, and

a point within the transaction; and

determining, using the AIP, a sequence of a plurality of offer types,

wherein the sequence of the plurality of offer types comprises a prioritized list of the following offer types;

a substitute offer type,

a package offer type, and

a complement offer type;

generating, using the AIP, an offer in response to the first item or service and based on the transaction history of the user, the location, the business target goal, the determined sequence of offer types, and the point within the transaction, wherein the offer includes at least one second item or service available from the first business entity and wherein the at least one second item or service;

is a substitute for the first item or service;

includes a plurality of said second items or services in a package offer;

or is a complement to the first item or service;

wherein the interface element is for;

transmitting the offer to a wireless communications network for transmission to the first WCD; and

,

receiving, from the first WCD, a second portion of the order for a third item or service available from the first business entity;

wherein the processor is for modifying, using the AIP, the offer in response to the first item or service and the at least one third item or service and based on the transaction history of the user, the location, the business target goal, and the point within the transaction, wherein modifying the offer includes adding a first incentive to the offer;

modifying a second incentive included in the offer;

adding at least one fourth item or service available from the first business entity;

or deleting at least some of said at least one first, second or third item or service from the order or offer; and

,

wherein the interface element is for transmitting the modified offer to the wireless communications network for transmission to the first WCD,

wherein the interface element further is for receiving from the first WCD an acceptance by the user of the modified offer,

wherein the processor further is for altering the transaction based on the acceptance of the modified offer,

wherein the first WCD is an order taking device for the transaction in a retail establishment.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the first WCD includes a memory element arranged to store at least one rule and wherein the first WCD includes a processor for executing the modified offer according to the at least one rule.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the interface element is for receiving at least one rule from a second WCD, or from a general-purpose computer associated with a second business entity, wherein the memory element is for storing the at least one rule, and wherein the processor is for modifying the offer using the at least one rule.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein modifying the offer comprises determining that a first offer type of the prioritized list is refused by the user and selecting the next offer type in the prioritized list.

9. A method for providing an alternate or ancillary product choice in response to an order placed by a customer-controlled point of sale device, comprising the steps of:

storing, in a memory element for at least one specially programmed computer, an artificial intelligence program (AIP);

receiving, from a first wireless communications device (WCD) and using an interface element in the at least one specially programmed computer, a first portion of an order for a first item or service available from a first business entity, the order part of a transaction between a user of the first WCD and the first business entity;

determining, using a processor in the at least one specially programmed computer, a transaction history of the user, a location associated with the transaction, a business target goal, and a point within the transaction;

determining, using the processor and the AIP, a sequence of a plurality of offer types,

wherein the sequence of the plurality of offer types comprises a prioritized list of the following offer types;

a substitute offer type,

a package offer type, and

a complement offer type;

generating, using the processor in the at least one specially programmed computer and the AIP, an offer in response to the first item or service and based on the transaction history of the user, the location associated with the transaction, the business target goal, the determined sequence of offer types, and the point within the transaction, wherein the offer includes at least one second item or service available from the first business entity and wherein the at least one second item or service;

is a substitute for the first item or service;

includes a plurality of said second items or services in a package offer;

or is a complement to the first item or service;

transmitting, using the interface element, the offer to a wireless communications network for transmission to the first WCD;

receiving, from the first WCD and using the interface element, a second portion of the order for a third item or service available from the first business entity;

modifying, using the processor and the AIP, the offer in response to the first item or service and the at least one third item or service and based on the transaction history of the user, the location associated with the transaction, the business target goal, and the point within the transaction, wherein modifying the offer includes adding a first incentive to the offer;

modifying a second incentive included in the offer;

adding at least one fourth item or service available from the first business entity;

or deleting at least some of said at least one first, second or third item or service from the order or offer; and

, transmitting, using the interface element, the modified offer to the wireless communications network for transmission to the first WCD,

wherein the first WCD is being used as an order taking device and the transaction is in a retail establishment.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein modifying the offer comprises determining that a first offer type of the prioritized list is refused by the user and selecting the next offer type in the prioritized list.

11. A system for providing an alternate or ancillary product choice in response to an order placed by a customer-controlled point of sale device, comprising:

a memory element for at least one specially programmed computer, for storing an artificial intelligence program (AIP);

an interface element, for the at least one specially programmed computer, for receiving, from a first wireless communications device (WCD), a first portion of an order for a first item or service available from a first business entity, the order part of a transaction between a user of the first WCD and the first business entity;

a processor for the at least one specially programmed computer, for determining a transaction history of the user, a location associated with the transaction, a business target goal, and a point within the transaction;

determining, using the AIP, a sequence of a plurality of offer types,

wherein the sequence of the plurality of offer types comprises a prioritized list of the following offer types;

a substitute offer type,

a package offer type, and

a complement offer type;

and generating, using the AIP, an offer in response to the first item or service and based on the transaction history of the user, the location associated with the transaction, the business target goal, the determined sequence of offer types, and the point within the transaction, wherein the offer includes at least one second item or service available from the first business entity and wherein the at least one second item or service;

is a substitute for the first item or service;

includes a plurality of said second items or services in a package offer;

or is a complement to the first item or service;

wherein the interface element is for;

transmitting the offer to a wireless communications network for transmission to the first WCD; and

,

receiving, from the first WCD, a second portion of the order for a third item or service available from the first business entity;

wherein the processor is for modifying, using the AIP, the offer in response to the first item or service and the at least one third item or service and based on the transaction history of the user, the location associated with the transaction, the business target goal, and the point within the transaction, wherein modifying the offer includes adding a first incentive to the offer;

modifying a second incentive included in the offer;

adding at least one fourth item or service available from the first business entity;

or deleting at least some of said at least one first, second or third item or service from the order or offer; and

,

wherein the interface element is for transmitting the modified offer to the wireless communications network for transmission to the first WCD,

wherein the first WCD is being used as an order taking device and the transaction is in a retail establishment.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein modifying the offer comprises determining that a first offer type of the prioritized list is refused by the user and selecting the next offer type in the prioritized list.