Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to retail display systems, and more particularly to retail display systems that dynamically adapt enviromnents to consumer behavior.
• Bodin in U.S. Published Application 20030040922 describes a system that alerts a consumer to nearby products that match the previously stored preferences of the identified consumer. That system needs to know the explicit identity of the consumer in order to access the database, and inherently assumes that the preferences have not changed.
• Black in U.S. Published Application, 20020138433, describes a system that detects signals from personal wireless devices in order to recognize the presence of explicitly identified individuals, and then puts up appropriate advertising on an ATM screen.
• Bermel in U.S. Published Application, 20010038034, describes a method that updates a display based on the presence of electronic cards that explicitly identify individuals in the vicinity.
• Loof in U.S. Patent 6,507,279, describes an integrated self-checkout system that can present information to identified individuals. That system requires the individual to be a member of an explicitly authorized group as listed in a database.
• the present invention provides a system that uses computer -driven displays to present consumers with a variety of content to positively influence their purchase decisions. Unlike conventional signage and in-store video systems, the displays are interactive and constantly changing based upon a current behavior of the consumers and historical trends. Because the system responds to no ⁇ nal shopping behavior, there is nothing for the consumer to learn to operate, nor is there any need to carry any special device or special identification such as credit cards.
• a network of sensors provides real-time information to the system. These sensors determine both consumer characteristics and behavior. Other info ⁇ nation sources can also be utilized to supplement this data. These can include sensors that acquire environmental data such as weather, date, time, pricing, cash register receipts, and traffic data. Based upon the available data, the system generates a dynamic model of consumer response as a function of the content presented. The model is used to optimize the presented content in order to achieve predete ⁇ nined goals, such as maximizing total profits.
• Figure 1 is a block diagram of a real-time retail display system according to the invention
• Figure 2 is a flow diagram of a method for operating the system of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 is a diagram of a retail environment where the system of Figure 1 is used.
• Figure 1 shows a real-time retail display system 100 according to the invention.
• the system includes a processor 110 coupled to displays 101 and sensors 102.
• the processor is conventional in structure, and includes memory and input/output interfaces.
• the processor can also include a database and a network interface.
• Each display can include one or more projectors to show still images or videos, audio outputs, signage, mechanical devices such as controllable mannequins, models, scent generators, or any other device configured to excite the human senses, in various combinations.
• the displays can be integrated with product arrangements, such as shelving, tables, counters and racks.
• a 'display' we mean an output device that stimulates human senses.
• the sensors can include, but are not limited to proximity sensors, microphones, thermal sensors, cameras, touch and motion sensors.
• the sensors 102 are configured to detennine consumer characteristics and behavior in the vicinity of the displays 101. Note that there is no need to explicitly identify the consumer. It is sufficient to detect broad classifications such as gender, height, weight, and age. Other sensors can also be integrated to provide environmental data such as weather, traffic, time, date, pricing, sales, etc.
• the displays and sensors are connected to the processor by a network 103.
• the network can be wired or wireless.
• the basic operation of the processor 110 is shown in Figure 2.
• the system reads 201 sensor data 210, updates 202 a database 220, analyzes 203 the database, and updates 204 the displays 101 according to the analysis.
• the database can include preference models 221 for consumers, or classes of consumers as described in greater detail below.
• the preference models according to the invention do no rely on explicit consumer identification, such as knowing the consumer name, account number, credit card number, etc. Instead, the preference models according to the invention are built from consumer characteristics which are relatively straightforward to detect, such as height, weight, gender, race, and the like. This allows the system to respect the privacy of the individual. Thus, our system operates according to real consumer characteristics, e.g., gender and race, and not to some assigned identity, such as an account number.
• Figure 3 shows a display with a projector as an element of the display system.
• video projectors are typically used for rendering images on a planar display surface, it is also possible to project images onto three-dimensional structural elements such as shelves, walls, signage, and products. Multiple projectors can be used to increase the size of the displayed images.
• the images can be warped and blended so as to appear seamless on curved surfaces.
• the appearance of high-resolution monitors can be simulated to provide detailed product infonnation. Projected images can highlight product features, and visually show options such as color and texture.
• Some of the sensors acquire real-time data reflecting consumer characteristics and behavior.
• a simple sensor is a proximity sensor for detecting a consumer's presence.
• sensors can include passive IR sensors, active 'break beam' sensors, microwave motion detectors and capacitive proximity sensors. If the sensors include cameras, the acquired images can be analyzed to locate the consumers, and even implicit characteristics of the consumer, such as height, weight, gender, and race characteristics, the number of consumers in a group, all using conventional vision pattern recognition and vision systems.
• implicit characteristics means characteristics that are measured, such as weight or gender, as opposed to explicit identifications used in prior art systems, such as name or number.
• the system does not require explicit consumer identification, as in the prior art. For example, it can be dete ⁇ nined which consumer is looking at which product, and the gender of the consumer.
• the images can also detennine trajectories of consumers in the retail environment, i.e., what is the 'shopping pattern' of the consumer, is it quick, slow, directed, or random.
• the sensors can also detect heart rate and breathing rate. The sensed data is analyzed in real-time to detennine an optimal presentation at any given moment, based on consumer characteristics such as height, gender, and age group rather than explicit knowledge of the individual.
• activated proximity sensors in a product or display shelf can initiate a particular stream of gender and age specific content at a display area on or near a product and the consumer. It is worth noting that the only action required of the consumer is normal shopping behavior. There are no devices for the consumer to carry and there is no explicit interface to manipulate or activate.
• the sensed data in combination with the preference model determine how the displays are updated. For example, if a consumer is observed leaving a product area, the display can be updated to entice the consumer back.
• the retail environment shown in Figure 3 includes a wall unit with shelves 301 for placing product.
• the projector 101 is suitably arranged so as to project on all of the shelves.
• Each shelf has an embedded conductive material 302 that serves as a sense electrode for a capacitive proximity detector.
• These sense electrodes are connected to the processor 110, which allows the system to detennine when a consumer is very near a shelf, as happens in the normal course of examining a product on a shelf.
• the display is updated to reflect the sensed data.
• an audio display can play background music, narration, and other sound effects under control of the system.
• the programmed interaction of this system can range from simple to very complex.
• the content e.g., audio and video content
• the content is in the fo ⁇ n of preprogrammed loops that play in response to activation by the shelf proximity sensors.
• a more complex version considers a history of interactions. For example, if the system detects a preponderance of recent interactions with one product in particular by a particular class of consumers, then the system can provide more detailed product infonnation, or otherwise update the display in an attempt to "close the sale.” If there have been no interactions for some period time, then the system can enter "attract mode," presenting content specifically designed to attract consumers to the display. The system can select appropriate content so as to optimize the chance of a sale.
• a display can include multiple computer-controlled output devices. In this case, the output images are blended to fonn a large, seamless display image. Unlike the previous case where a certain area was set aside for the display, in this case, the projection fills the retail environment to a high degree. The appearance of the space can thus be modified by simply changing the currently playing content.
• the store can appear to be a sophisticated, wood-paneled contemplative area, and at the next moment, it can appear to be a graffiti-covered brick alley.
• physically animated elements such as a moving wall
• the effect of a morphable environment can be made even more realistic.
• the geometry of the room is taken into account, and the projections suitably warped.
• various theatrical, virtual signage, and virtual monitor effects can be created.
• the addition of a variety of sensors greatly enhances the interactive possibilities.
• we add cameras throughout the environment to detect consumer presence, and to determine detailed consumer behavior and demographic and other characteristic information. This allows the system to detennine when someone is looking at a display, detennine their gender, race, approximate age, etc. and then provide optimal content.
• the camera system can use any of a variety of signal processing algorithms such as face detection and gender classification.
• sensors can prove useful in ascertaining consumer characteristics and behavior. Height and weight sensors can help the system to highlight appropriately sized items for a given consumer. Physiologic sensors can determine heart rate and other variables that correlate to consumer excitement.
• Projectors can simulate theatrical lighting. For example, projecting bright circular areas has the effect of appearing as multiple spotlights. Similarly, various patterns can be projected to mimic gobos and other common lighting effects. Text and pictures can be projected on a wall or shelf surface to mimic signage.
• Video monitors are commonly used in retail enviromnents to show moving video content. These can be simulated by a projector. In fact, a single projector can mimic multiple virtual monitors at various locations across a display. In addition, the virtual monitors can appear and disappear as needed, move, and have arbitrary shapes.
• the projection surface need not be flat. In many cases, it is desirable to use the product itself as the projection surface to point out features or give other information such as an internal view of the product.
• the appearance of a large portion of the environment can be changed, e.g., a wall can at one moment appear as wood- paneled, and at a next moment as a graffiti-covered brick alley.
• a wall can at one moment appear as wood- paneled, and at a next moment as a graffiti-covered brick alley.
• the effect of a changing environment can be made even more realistic.
• the geometry of the room is taken into account, and the projections can be suitably warped.
• the database can also store real-time sales data, RFID infonnation associated with products, inventory levels, and pricing and margin infonnation. All of this data can be included in the analysis to determine the optimal way to update the display.
• the system can also include parameterizable content which can be programmatically modified in real-time as part of the overall optimization. Examples include the ability to occasionally have limited-time specials, where pricing is detennined as part of the statistical optimization.

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• 2004
  • 2004-03-02 JP JP2006519078A patent/JP2007535720A/ja active Pending
  • 2004-03-02 EP EP04716318A patent/EP1697881A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-03-02 WO PCT/JP2004/002572 patent/WO2005086047A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

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