KR20060061297A - Method and system for recommending connectivity configurations - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system for recommending electronic component connectivity configurations and marketing information to users of certain electronic equipment based upon information received from the user. The method includes providing a user interface display (22) containing data representing a group of predetermined user-selectable electronic components (232), receiving data representing a user-selected subset of electronic components (234) from the group of predetermined user-selectable electronic components (232), retrieving from a database attributes associated with each component of the subset of electronic components, comparing the subset of electronic components with the associated attributes to determine an appropriate component configuration (230), and presenting data representing the electronic component configuration to the user (230).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECOMMENDING CONNECTIVITY CONFIGURATIONS}

The present invention relates to a method and system for recommending an electronic component connectivity configuration to a user of an electronic component, as well as other information such as enhancements and accessories, and more particularly, the present invention relates to an audiovisual (AV) component and its A method and system for providing a user with information related to an accessory.

Currently, the popularity of electronic components for home and professional use is on the rise. In particular, home / office entertainment devices including these electronic components are becoming more widespread and at the same time becoming more and more complex. One reason for this increased complexity is in part due to the increasing number and variety of electronic components currently available to the average consumer (or user). In particular, for example, center channel speakers, subwoofers, surround sound systems, compact disc (CD) players, mini disc (MD) players, DVD players, DAT recorders / players, tape cassette recorders / players, VCRs, conventional large General-purpose computer and computer systems, including screen and high-definition television, cable and satellite dish signal sources, set-top Internet systems, computer control systems, TiVo® (MPCR-based television program storage), and the like. AM / FM stereo tuner / receiver, phonograph player, amplifier, pre-amplifier and loudspeaker.

In addition, the user can select multiple brand names, numerous models provided by each company, wide variations between component types to be combined, compatibility or incompatibility between current and new devices, current and future interface technologies such as analog and digital. Liver or incompatibility, COAX, RCA jacks, optical ports, and the like. All such devices are hereinafter referred to collectively as electronic components or electronic devices, with a subset being an AV component or device and associated accessories.

It is not difficult to think that many electronic device users will have difficulty connecting each and all of the above-mentioned devices together. Most, if not all, of the device or components are preferably connected together at least in a suitable configuration such that the device is performed according to its intended purpose. It is desirable to utilize most, if not all, of the features made available by each component, without conflicting incompatibilities between components. For example, for an AV component, a DVD player has optical input and output ports, but the receiver only has an RCA jack. Therefore, although it seems most desirable to use the optical input and output of a DVD player, the user must instead use an RCA jack to accept the receiver.

Currently, in helping to organize the desired components together, users review product manuals for each component, contact sales representatives of each vendor of each component, or give up getting help from other users of the same or similar components. do. The product manual provides little, if any, specific connectivity schematics, such as wiring configurations, of the user's entire system components. One vendor does not have information about the components of another vendor to facilitate proper connection. This is especially true if the user has old and old components combined with new or current technology components and / or components from other vendors. Finally, the user must spend an excessive amount of time deciding on the component configuration, and even worse, rely on another user with the same or less knowledge than the user in connection with connecting the system together.

As a result, the user remains confused about the wiring and input / output connectivity configuration, or the options and drawings that need to be understood to achieve a working electronic component system.

In addition to the aforementioned difficulties, users of such electronic devices may want other information about such devices. For example, a user may wish to own or purchase a particular device now and want to know whether the device he or she wants to purchase is a high-end or just medium. The user may also want to determine which component is compatible or, more preferably, which component works best with the other component. Finally, the user wants a “one-stop-shopping” experience and may wish to allow the user's electronic component system requirements to be analyzed to determine the best combination of components given a particular user parameter. . In addition, the user may want to know about the full range of accessories available for a particular component.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method and system that provides a method for receiving information about current and future components of a user and provides the appropriate component connectivity configuration to that user. In addition, upon receipt of personal information from the user, further suggestions persuade the user to purchase enhancements, upgrades, additions or related devices, as well as related products such as peripherals, video cassettes, tape cassettes, CDs, DVDs, MDs, etc. And providing recommendations.

<Overview of invention>

According to one aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for presenting an electronic component connectivity configuration recommended to a user is provided. A preferred embodiment of one aspect of the present invention provides a user interface display for displaying data indicative of at least a group of user-selectable electronic components, wherein the user-selected electronic component from a group of user-selectable electronic components Receiving data indicative of the subset, retrieving an attribute associated with each component of the user-selected electronic component subset from the memory storage device, comparing the data indicative of the user-selected electronic component subset with the associated attribute, Determining an electronic component connectivity configuration, and presenting data indicative of the electronic component connectivity configuration to a user. Preferably, the electronic component comprises an AV component.

Preferably, the method according to the present preferred embodiment comprises providing a graphical user interface display for displaying graphical data. More preferably, the method includes presenting a graphical representation of the electronic component connectivity configuration of the user-selected electronic component subset. Most preferably, presenting the graphical representation of the electronic component connectivity configuration comprises an electrical wire or signal cable (specific wires labeled) showing the connections between the appropriate connectors on each electronic component of the user-selected subset of electronic components. Displaying a representation of the.

Preferably, the present preferred embodiment includes receiving personal information from the user, analyzing the personal information in combination with a user-selected subset of electronic components, and recommending additional information such as additional or other components or accessories. The method further includes presenting. Preferably, such a desired method comprises, in contrast to those selected by the user in the user-selected electronic component subset, forwarding information to the user about the particular electronic component. Most preferably, the personal information is selected from the group consisting of user demographic data, purchase history data, click stream data or user-provided data.

In the most preferred embodiment, the preferred method comprises retrieving technical specification and connectivity information for at least one of the electronic components from the user-selected subset of electronic components. Most preferably, the representative data of the electronic component is stored for each electronic component type in an object-oriented database.

Most preferably, presenting the electronic component connectivity configuration includes an input and an output port, presenting a graphical representation of the user-selected subset of electronic components, and otherwise not selected by the user. Presenting a graphical representation of a proposed electronic component that the user wishes to purchase to enhance the user's system.

The method according to the preferred embodiment described above is achieved via a text display device capable of displaying a textual representation of available electronic components and receiving user input and selection. Preferably, the text display device comprises an electronic component. More preferably, the electronic component is in a user group of the electronic component. Most preferably, the display device comprises a DVD player containing a scrollable display screen.

The method according to the preferred embodiment described above is achieved via a computer network. The network includes a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). The network also includes a client / server network. Most preferably, the network comprises a global computer information network such as the Internet.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for providing a recommendation to a user of an electronic component through a vendor web site accessible by a plurality of users through a computer network is provided. The user has a user computer connected to the computer network to access the vendor web site.

Preferred embodiments according to this aspect of the invention provide a vendor / user interactive web site comprising data representative of at least a predetermined group of user-selectable electronic components, wherein the user-selected group of predetermined user-selectable electronic components is provided. Receiving a data electronically forwarded over a computer network, the subset of electronic components, storing data indicative of the user-selected electronic component subset in an object-oriented database, each of the user-selected electronic component subset Determining the appropriate electronic component connectivity configuration by comparing the technical properties of the user-selected subset of electronic components, and computing data indicative of the proposed electronic component connectivity configuration. And a step of electronically forwarded to the user over the network.

According to a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, providing the user interface display further comprises providing a graphical user interface display. More preferably, this step includes presenting a graphical representation of the electronic component connectivity configuration of the user-selected electronic component subset. More preferably, the graphical presentation includes displaying data indicative of an electrical wire or signal cable (some labeled) showing the connection of the appropriate connector on each electronic component of the user-selected electronic component subset.

Preferably, the present embodiment comprises receiving personal information from a user, analyzing the personal information in combination with a user-selected subset of electronic components, and presenting the recommendation of additional components or accessories to the user. It includes more. Preferably, presenting such a recommendation includes forwarding information related to the vendor component as opposed to previously selected by the user in the user-selected electronic component subset. Preferably, the personal information is selected from the group comprising user demographic data, purchase history data, click stream data or user-provided data. Most preferably, retrieving the technical attributes of each component includes retrieving technical specifications and connectivity information for at least one of the electronic components from the user-selected subset of electronic components.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, presenting the electronic component connectivity configuration includes presenting a graphical representation of a user-selected subset of electronic components, including an input / output port or jack, and Presenting the proposed electronic component that the user wishes to purchase to enhance the user's electronic component system. Most preferably, the electronic component comprises an AV component.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a computer system for providing a recommendation from a vendor computer to a user computer via a vendor website accessible through a computer network by a plurality of users, the user may access the computer to the vendor website. Having a user computer connected to a network, the graphical electronic component generation system is capable of running on a vendor computer and vendoring an interactive vendor graphical electronic component that represents the electronic component of the vendor and interactively guides the user through the vendor computer web site. A graphical electronic component generation program including instructions for causing a computer to generate. The graphical electronic component generation program issues display instructions to the user's computer when the user's computer accesses a vendor Web site that causes the user's computer to display interactive vendor electronic components on a display device associated with the user's computer for selection by the user. Operate to send.

According to a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the vendor computer records the user selected electronic components and records the personal data provided by the user or obtained through historical data or click stream data. Preferably, the vendor computer includes artificial intelligence (AI) functionality that allows the vendor computer to analyze the user's electronic components and to recommend or recommend additional electronic components according to the user's personal preferences. More preferably, the AI function further analyzes the user's personal information such that these terms can cross-sell or up-sell additional vendor products, as described herein.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for presenting a recommendation to a user of an electronic component is provided. A method according to a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention comprises the steps of providing a user interface display comprising, from an object oriented database, data representing at least a group of predetermined user-selectable electronic components, the predetermined user-selectable electronic component Receiving data indicative of the user-selected electronic component subset from the group, retrieving, from the electronic component attribute collection module, an attribute associated with each component of the user-selected electronic component subset, of the user-selected electronic component subset Passing the received data and associated attributes to an analysis engine having a rules database, analyzing a user-selected subset of electronic components and associated attributes to determine an appropriate electronic component connectivity configuration, and And a step of presenting the data indicating the imminent connectivity configuration to the user.

Preferably, each electronic component object of the component object oriented database contains technical information of each electronic component. The technical information preferably includes the type of input / output port or jack associated with the electronic component. The technical information includes the type of sound performance supported by the electronic component. Preferably, the sound performance type includes digital sound performance. The technical information includes the type of device bus associated with each electronic component.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, it examines the properties of the electronic components and applies the rules from the rules database to determine the appropriate input / output connectivity configuration and determine the incompatibility that exists between the electronic components. An analysis engine is provided. Preferably, suitable input / output component connectivity configurations include optical, RCA jack or COAX connectivity configurations.

In another preferred embodiment, the user interface display includes an electronic component. Most preferably, the electronic component comprises an AV component such as a DVD player. In this preferred embodiment, data indicative of a group of user-selectable electronic components is provided to the user in at least text format or at least graphic format.

According to another embodiment of the above-mentioned aspects, there is provided a graphical user interface display in which data indicative of a group of user-selectable electronic components is represented by at least one dialog box. Preferably, a group of user-selectable electronic components includes separate electronic components, each of which is displayed in an associated dialog box, and the user may or may not independently select an electronic component from each dialog box. Each associated dialog box of each electronic component includes at least one model of the associated electronic component. More preferably, each associated dialog box of each electronic component includes data representing a plurality of different models of the associated electronic component. The electronic component is preferably an AV component and includes an AM / FM receiver, amplifier, turntable, equalizer, compact disc (CD) player, DVD player, cassette recorder / player, DAT player, television, HD television, general purpose computer, MD player , TiVo® recorder / player, video cassette recorder / player (VCR / P) or laser disc player.

In a computer system aspect of the present invention as described above, a preferred embodiment is provided wherein the interactive graphical electronic component display comprises at least one dialog box. Preferably, the interactive vendor graphical electronic component display includes a representation of a separate electronic component, each of which is displayed in an associated dialog box, and the user may or may not independently select an electronic component from each dialog box. More preferably, each associated dialog box of each electronic component includes data representing at least one model of the associated electronic component.

Alternatively, each associated dialog box of each electronic component includes data representing a plurality of different models of the associated electronic component. Most preferably, the electronic component is an AV component. Preferably, the AV component is an AM / FM receiver, amplifier, turntable, equalizer, compact disc (CD) player, DVD player, cassette recorder / player, DAT player, television, HD television, general purpose computer, MD player, TiVo®. Any one component from the group comprising a recorder / player, a video cassette recorder / player (VCR / P) or a laser disc player.

In another aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method for providing an electronic component and associated recommendations to a user of the electronic component is provided. A preferred method includes providing a graphical user interface display comprising data indicative of at least a predetermined group of user-selectable electronic components, each electronic component from the group of user-selectable electronic components associated with its own dialog box. Receiving, in a group of user-selectable electronic components, data indicative of the user-selected electronic component subset, retrieving an attribute associated with each component of the user-selected electronic component subset from a memory storage device, user-selected Comparing the attributes associated with the electronic component subset to determine a suitable electronic component connectivity configuration, and presenting data indicative of the electronic component connectivity configuration to the user.

Preferably, the method includes providing an additional user interactive dialog box that is not associated with any given electronic component. More preferably, the method comprises receiving at least one user-supplied electronic component from the user via an unassociated dialog box. Alternatively, the human operator performs the receiving, searching and comparing steps. In this alternative, the user can communicate with a human operator. Preferably, the communication is via electronic communication. Alternatively, the communication is via voice communication.

In another aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for determining an electronic component connectivity configuration of an electronic component set is provided. Preferred embodiments of this aspect include providing an analysis engine, providing a rules database including logic rules, analyzing known attributes of the set of electronic components, and applying rules from the rules database to connect appropriate electronic components. Determining a gender configuration. Preferably, the analysis engine further determines the incompatibility that exists between the electronic components.

1A is a schematic diagram of a display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a flowchart of the steps that follow in accordance with the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1A.

2 is a schematic diagram of a computer system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart of the steps that follow in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

4 is an illustration of a user interface display screen of a display device for displaying electronic components selectable by a user.

5 is an illustration of a user interface display screen of a display device for displaying the recommended electronic component connectivity configuration and other information.

6 is a schematic diagram of a computer network system according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a schematic diagram of a computer network system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

8 is an illustration of a sample web site page associated with a user electronic component and a user-selected electronic component subset.

9 is an illustration of a sample web site page related to the presentation and connectivity configuration of an electronic component selected by a user.

10 is an illustration of a sample web site page related to connectivity configuration and imperative text.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1A, which illustrates a user interface display device 20 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The display device 20 of the present preferred embodiment is a DVD player. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the display device may be of any type capable of interacting with the user and displaying user selectable electronic components. The display device 20 includes a display screen 22, a DVD drive 24, and a user interface unit 26. The interface unit 26 may be a numeric keypad, an alphanumeric keypad, or an alphanumeric keypad. However, interface unit 26 may be any type of keypad or other input device capable of selecting a component from display screen 22. For example, the interface unit may be spaced apart from the display, as shown by the remote control unit 26 '.

1b illustrates a preferred method according to the present invention. In operation, the user first inserts the DVD into the DVD drive 24 and activates the DVD player 20 to play the disc. The disk will include a static memory of data representing certain electronic components that the user can select. The disc may include other information such as advertisements, manufacturer notices, featured models or components, and the like. Thus, once the DVD is loaded and activated to play, the user can start the selection.

As shown in step 150, the user may preferably access the user interface display screen 22 for display of AV devices or components available for configuration. The AV components may be displayed in text one by one for selection by the user. In other words, the user-selectable component may be provided in series such that the user may scroll through the selection to the right or left, or up and down to make a selection. This scrolling is performed by using the user interface unit 26. The selection of AV components is from one vendor and may include various vendors. The presentation of the AV component may include text only, graphics only, or both text and graphics.

System 20 receives a user-selected subset of AV components and sends this information to a stored memory or page on disk (not shown) that matches the user's selection as shown in step 160. . As illustrated in step 170, the system retrieves the technical attributes associated with the subset of AV components from the stored page. The system 20 then generates a user readable representation of the appropriate AV component connectivity configuration, as shown in step 180. This indication may include a text configuration command, or may include a graphic showing a connection between the AV component and the AV component selected by the user, or both. These indications may include representations of electrical wires or signal cables, labeled via color coding or with a recorded index to guide the user when the user connects the system together.

2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a computer system 50 in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system includes a processing unit 100, a data input device or keyboard 102, a user interface display device or monitor 104, and a data reading device or CD / ROM drive 106. The CD / ROM device may instead receive memory storage from a tape drive, DVD drive, or known storage medium 108 (shown in dashed line), such as a tape cassette, diskette, CD, DVD disk, MD, or the like. It may be another drive device.

Any known, commercially available, computer hardware and system software may be utilized to command and control the processing unit 100, the keyboard 102, the monitor 104, and the data storage device drive 106. Preferably, the computer system 50 provides an interface between the processor 100 of the computer system 50 and the disk drive 106 capable of accessing the storage medium 108 loaded in the disk drive 106. Interface unit 110.

Storage medium 108 preferably includes a database that includes attribute collection module 114 and comparator 116. Portions of these storage media 108 are accessible by the user through the interface module 110 and allow input and output of electronic component information.

In this preferred embodiment, the user inserts storage medium 108 into storage device drive 106 and operates a software program associated with storage medium 108. The operation of the software program may be performed in accordance with known methods of operating the software program on general purpose computer systems such as personal computers or client / server computer systems. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any means for operating a software program embedded in storage medium 108 may be contemplated by the present invention and may be utilized to implement the present invention.

The operation of the system 50 shown in FIG. 2 of the present invention will be generally described by the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, later with a specific example. Referring now to FIG. 3, similar to the first step shown in FIG. 1B, step 350 provides a first access screen through which a user selects a subset of AV components. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the AV component information for building the user selection screen is derived from the component object-oriented database 352. Identification of each component 353 is also included in component object-oriented database 352. These component IDs 353 include attributes connected to each AV component. These properties are technical in nature. That is, they include technical specifications, wiring diagrams or other attributes of each AV component. In addition, they may include other aspects of the component, such as the power rating of each component or the amount of power each component can accommodate, the type of input and output ports available on each component over a range of RCA jacks, COAX, or optical ports. Can be. In addition, the technical attributes include whether the component can handle S-Link, IEEE 1394-fier wire, control A1 or any other future interface standard.

Graphical representations, including animations, can be created using commercial animation tool software such as Shock Wave ™ technology. Each AV component may be represented as a thumbnail image or text or both. Therefore, the first screen that is well presented to the user in accordance with step 350 is shown in FIG. 4 as a predetermined user-selectable electronic, or specifically a group of AV components. The user is prompted to highlight the components owned by the user or those the user wants to include in the system. This prompting continues as long as the user continues to select the AV component to be added to the subset of AV components. After the user has made all the desired selections, the user preferably completes the selection process by clicking on the “Done” or “Configure” button as shown in FIG.

As shown in step 354, the system according to the present preferred embodiment collects a user selected subset of AV components and collects AV component properties using the collection module 355. Then, associate these attributes with the component selected by the user. In a next step 356, component properties of the subset of AV components selected by the user are analyzed by analysis engine 358. This analysis engine preferably functions using the rules database 360. Rules embedded in the rules database 360 are created as condition sets. That is, based on the subset of AV components analyzed by analysis engine 358, a particular rule set from rules database 360 will be applied, and the resulting appropriate AV component connectivity configuration will be determined. In addition, system 20 determines a suitable AV component connectivity configuration by storing a subset of user-selected AV components and their associated technical attributes for later use and comparing them using comparator 116. This feature will allow the system to personalize the interaction with the user the next time the user runs the program. That is, the system will have information about the component previously selected by the user and can retrieve this information during subsequent interaction with that user. As such, the invention may prompt the user, for example, that a user-owned component is outdated and a new model is now available.

As shown at step 362, once this information is collected again, the present invention according to this preferred embodiment provides the user with the recommended configuration. In addition, as shown in step 362, the system according to the present preferred embodiment generates user entertainment that occurs as a result of the analysis performed by the analysis engine 358 according to a subset rule derived from the rules database 360. The incompatibility or weakness of the system can be identified.

In addition to the AV component connectivity configuration, the present invention according to the present preferred embodiment can make a component upgrade recommendation. Also, as shown at step 362 ', the system according to the present preferred embodiment provides the user with a personalized cross-sell and up-sell recommendation. Cross-selling is generally defined as providing a proposal for a particular accessory to be used with the main system being sold. In this particular embodiment, cross-selling consists of suggestions of specific CDs or DVDs of interest to the user. The up-sell described in this publication is defined as advertising to a user that the AV component, brand X, that the user is using does not have the same performance as, for example, brand Y. Therefore, the user will have to buy the brand Y component instead of the brand X he currently owns by specifying an advantage over the current device.

The ability to perform cross-sell and up-cells and provide other personalized recommendations to the user is achieved by the personalization tool 364, as shown in FIG. 3. Any known commercial personalization product can be used to implement the personalization tool 364 in connection with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. One such personalization tool is Net Perceptions®, which can be utilized to implement the present invention. The other is DataStage®, which uses established transformable rules and product catalogs to make recommendations for other products that may be of interest to the user. In addition, there are other customized personalization tools that can be created and used in connection with the present invention.

4 illustrates a sample user interface display screen 230 that may appear on a typical Windows®-type user interface program screen. As shown, a dialog box is provided to the user, each dedicated to a separate AV component of a typical entertainment system. Specifically, the first dialog box 232 for component A represents all available receivers. This dialog box 232 includes a scrollable subscreen 233 that includes various receiver model numbers 235 and images 237 (if available) of all Type A components. The user is prompted to “click” on the specific model number of interest. In doing so, the particular component is highlighted and the user can further access additional information 234 about the selected component. Alternatively, after each model number 235 and image 237, a user selectable icon (not shown) to collect additional information about the component selected by the user, prior to the user finally selecting a particular model. )This can be.

As can be readily seen in Figure 4, the user is prompted to continue to the next dialog box, selecting the component of interest or the component currently owned by the user. Once the user has completed the selection process, the user clicks on the “configuration” icon 236. This action transfers the user selected AV component subset from the group of predetermined user-selectable AV components to the AV component attribute collection module 355 (FIG. 3). If the user makes a mistake or changes the decision during the selection process, he can reset a particular selection of a particular component in the dialog box, or reset the entire selection of all components with the reset button 238.

5 illustrates a presentation to a user of an AV component connectivity configuration generated by system 50 after most of the calculations and analysis have been performed by system 50. In this respect, the user of the present preferred embodiment is presented with the same display screen 230 as shown in FIG. 4, but with the connection diagram showing the most suitable choice of connection for these given AV components, the component selected by the user. To illustrate. Also provided by the system is a text step by step command 240 on how to configure these wiring or cabling of the user's entertainment system. Wires or cables are labeled W1, W2 and W3, etc. for ease of reference. Labeling consists of different symbols or indices, helping users connect components together.

In addition to textual instructions 240 on how to configure a particular AV component selected by the user, an additional text index 242 is provided that is the result of the analysis performed by the system in terms of the AV component selected by the user. That is, when the system examines a user-selected subset, the system analyzes whether the AV component currently present in that subset is the optimal component combination for that user. In addition, the system checks to see if the selected AV component is the most advanced and best suited component available from a particular vendor. As such, this aspect of the present invention may provide an immediate means of selling and marketing advanced AV components to the user, knowing that the user has not selected these components and therefore is unlikely to own them at that time. .

As part of the collection process for providing this additional information to the user, the system according to an embodiment of the present invention not only receives AV component information, but also further receives personal information from the user and is associated with a user selected subset of AV components. Analyze that personal information together. Once the system has done so, present additional recommendations to the user. These recommendations consist of advanced or higher level components and / or accessories that are available to the user and further enhance the entertainment system as a whole.

In addition to the above-mentioned information, the system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention can provide the user with information about accessories such as CD, video, MD, etc. that are of interest to the user. Such information may include user demographic data provided to the system by the user, historical purchase data provided by the user or obtained by the vendor, click stream data obtained by reviewing the user's action keystrokes during an AV configuration session, or Vendors are collected through any other means of receiving such personal information.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of a computer network system for recommending AV connectivity configuration and other related information, generally designated 200. This embodiment is similar to that described above in connection with FIGS. 2-5, but this embodiment features a computer network. Computer network system 200 includes a group of user or customer computers 202, each of which includes a processing unit 204 similar to that described in connection with FIG. Customer computer 202 also includes a keyboard 206 and a monitor 208, as described in connection with FIG. 2. Embedded in each of these customer computers 202 is a database (not shown) for at least temporarily storing AV component information. This network system also includes an interface hub (or network server) 210. Interfacing with network server 210 is vendor computer 212 including database 214. The database shown in FIG. 6 includes information stored identically or similarly to the storage medium 108 shown in FIG. 2 and includes, but is not limited to, an attribute collection module and a comparator. The use or operation described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3 is equally applicable to the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 6, with the addition of a network 210 connection.

In particular, this embodiment allows a plurality of users or customers to access the server computer 212 for information regarding the AV configuration. For example, several users want to obtain an AV component connectivity configuration from the system 200. For example, one or more customer computers 202 make a request as described above in connection with FIG. The information is conveyed to one of the network server computers 212 via the network 210. The server computer 212 then takes a user-selected subset of AV components from a group of predetermined, user-selected AV components and determines which AV component contact attribute configuration is most appropriate for the particular user making the request. Including, it transfers to the database or storage medium 214.

The network shown in FIG. 6 may preferably be a local area network, a wide area network, or a client / server network. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any well-known commercial networking system and networking software can be considered and fall within the scope of the present invention.

7 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention. This system 300 includes a network system 301 that utilizes a global communications computer network, such as the Internet. The customer or user computer 302 is similar to that described with respect to FIGS. 2 and 6, and like reference numerals denote similar components. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a computer system 300 for recommending an AV component is provided. Also included is a vendor computer 312 that is used to make a recommendation to the user computer 302 via a vendor web site accessible via the Internet 301.

In the present preferred embodiment, computer system 300 includes a graphical AV component generation program executable on vendor computer 312, which allows the vendor computer to generate an interactive vendor graphical AV component representation representing the vendor's AV components. Instructions to guide the user interactively through the vendor computer Web site.

The graphical AV component generation program is operative to send a display command to the user computer 302 when the user computer accesses the vendor website. This causes the user computer to display the interactive vendor AV component on its monitor 308 for selection. One example of such a display would be to be accessed via a global computer information network such as the Internet. This example is similar to that described or illustrated in FIG. 4. However, since this particular embodiment is achieved through an internet connection, there is a URL address displayed at the top of the page (not shown).

Similarly, screen representations of recommendations to the user based on the user-selected subset may be used. Again, this representation is similar to that shown in Figure 5, except that it includes a URL address at the top of the page (not shown).

As mentioned above, the analysis engine utilizes a rules database. The rule is preferably generated as a set of conditions. As one example of how the analysis engine uses rules, the following examples are provided.

Each component object in the object-oriented database includes, but is not limited to, the type and amount of I / O ports, the types of digital sound capabilities supported, the type of device bus each component has if present, and other attributes. It will include. The analysis engine examines these properties and uses the rules in the rules database to not only point out any incompatibilities between components (e.g., a DVD player and a receiver are selected, but none is Dolby 5.1 AC3 conversion). Cannot determine the best I / O configuration (e.g., optical, RCA or COAX) to connect the components.

For example, some rules operate as follows.

If the DVD I / O has an optical output and the receiver has a Dolby 5.1 AC3 converter, connect the DVD optical output to the receiver optical input.

Otherwise, if the DVD I / O has an RCA output and the receiver I / O has an RCA input, and the receiver or DVD has a Dolby 5.1 AC3 converter, connect the DVD RCA output to the receiver RCA input.

If your DVD I / O has optical output and RCA output, and receiver I / O optical input and RCA input, and your DVD and receiver do not have a Dolby 5.1 AC3 converter, Dolby 5.1 AC3 sound will be selected without the Dolby 5.1 AC3 decoder adapter. Warn the user that it cannot be rendered from.

Recommend either another DVD player or another receiver.

The order of priority in the rules is preferably set. Better performance connections will be checked first. In this case, additional rules will be used to indicate the correct upgrade DVD and receiver to the customer.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system accomplishes that task using an object-oriented database in conjunction with an analysis engine and graphics technology. A user who wants to know the exact connectivity configuration for an AV component will select the component that he or she has purchased or plans to purchase. The item list will be generated from the information stored in the object database. After the component is selected, the customer requires a graphical representation and textual description of the optimal configuration.

When this request is made, the analysis engine will examine the component selected by the user by getting the corresponding attribute of that component, stored in the object database. The analysis engine uses the attributes of the object as input for the configuration function of the analysis engine.

The configuration function will examine the possible setup configurations based on the selected AV component. Rule-based AI will be used to guide the configuration function and output the best possible configuration for the selected AV component.

The output may be textual only for devices using tools that do not have graphics capabilities. Alternatively, the output may be graphics and text for devices that support graphics.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described by way of specific examples. Given the AV components in the current system, the user of the AV component may wish to obtain some help in connecting the various AV components together to achieve an acceptable or suitable AV component connectivity configuration.

In this regard, the user accesses the vendor's configuration tool web site 400. In this case, it is the Sony® AV configuration tool website. However, it can be any vendor's website or a generic website representing a number of different vendors. Once accessed, the user is presented with a graphical user interface display 401 that includes several dialog windows. Each dialog window is dedicated to a specific component that the user can select. As shown in FIG. 8, the first dialog box 402 is dedicated to a receiver component. The various model numbers of the receiver are listed for selection by the user. Moving across the screen, the second dialog box 404 is dedicated to the DVD player that the user can select. Finally, in this particular example, the final dialog box on the right side of screen 406 is dedicated to the MD player / recorder. The user is prompted by a text command to select a component from the list and then press "Config" (410).

In this particular example, the user selected receiver model number STR-DE625, DVD player model number DVP-S550D, and chose “none” for MD. Again, after the selection is made, the user is prompted to click on the “configure” button 410 to send this user selected subset of AV components to the vendor, in this case Sony®. For example, if a user accidentally selects the wrong component or wants to start another session for some reason, the user clicks the "Reset" button 412 to reset the selection and start over. After the vendor (or vendor computer) receives the user-selected subset of AV components, it performs a method as described above to determine the appropriate AV component connectivity configuration, given input from the user.

As shown in FIG. 9, the vendor (or vendor computer) transmits a graphical representation of the component selected by the user, with associated wiring and / or cabling aids collocated with the graphical representation. Wires and cables are labeled with indices such as W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, and the like. As such, the vendor presents the textual description of the receiver, in particular receiver 416 and DVD 418, to the user. In addition, the vendor provides a picture of components such as a DVD picture 420 and a receiver picture 422. The rear panel of the component is indicated for the purpose of showing the wiring configuration of the two AV components. These are shown as DVD 424 and receiver 426 in FIG. 9, respectively.

Wiring and / or cabling diagrams can be enlarged for further details. As best shown in FIG. 10, all connectivity connections are shown in detail for use by the user in the wiring setup. In addition, the vendor provides text instructions 428 regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the components as well as what the components have or do not have.

There are many alternatives, variations and modifications that can be devised within the scope of the present invention. For example, those of ordinary skill in the art have described that the present invention may be implemented via a portable storage medium, LAN, etc. or via the Internet, but there are other ways to provide an AV component connectivity configuration to a user. You know well. For example, a kiosk with access to the live AV configuration tool can be set up at the consumer store where the product is sold.

In addition, CDs and DVDs may be created to include an engine and a database, or they may include a fixed set of static solutions and a fixed set of AV devices. These CDs or DVDs can be distributed to buyers of AV equipment. The functionality is the same as using a live database and analysis engine. The DVD player can typically operate the tool using a built-in pointing device that is remotely controlled of the component.

Part of the personalization aspect of the present invention is a method of capturing the preferences of an Internet customer by getting input directly from the customer, observing what the customer finds, what the customer clicks, and what the customer buys. After the preferences are captured, a recommendation engine is used, collaborative filtering and other methods may be used to create the environment or recommend products or services that are tailored to this particular user. The AV configuration tool examines which component the customer has selected and makes a recommendation for the product, along with other information collected about this user. Recommendations may be for other components, better components, or related products or services.

As another alternative or addition to the method described above, when a user attempts to select an electronic component or a particular model that is not provided as one of the user selectable electronic components, the system provides a human assistant to the user. This assistant will communicate with the user via email, phone, voice-net, interactive web pages, and the like. The user may have the ability to message an email to a help desk that responds to the user's question or interest, in real time or otherwise. These responses include connectivity diagrams, selection of components, suggested purchase of components or accessories, and the like. The assistant connects the user to the nearest authorized dealer of the particular component of interest. This assistant can be a real person or a computer system that is in any way communicating with the user.

As another alternative that can be considered within the scope of the present invention, a system and method are provided that provide a general default setup for electronic components. However, when the system receives information from the user, based on this information, the system provides another configuration. By way of example only, without prompting from the user, the system will provide the latest model available for each component and, with these components provided, will provide the best configuration available. If a user submits information informing the system that the user has a receiver that cannot handle a newer specific device, the system will provide a configuration that allows the user's system to operate. In addition, however, if the user decides not to purchase a newer receiver, the system will prompt the user about loss of sound quality, power, effects, and the like.

These and other variations and combinations of the features described above can be utilized without departing from the invention as defined by the claims set out below, so that the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments is by way of illustration rather than limitation of the invention. You will have to accept.

Claims (63)

In a computer-implemented method for providing a recommendation to a user of an electronic component, Providing a user interface display for displaying data indicative of at least a group of user-selectable electronic components; Receiving data indicative of a user-selected subset of electronic components from the given group of user-selectable electronic components; Retrieving an attribute associated with each component of the user-selected electronic component subset from a memory storage device; Comparing the associated attribute with data representing the user-selected electronic component subset to determine a suitable electronic component connectivity configuration; And Presenting data indicative of the electronic component connectivity configuration to a user Computer-implemented method comprising a. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the electronic component comprises an audiovisual (AV) component. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing the user interface display further comprises providing a graphical user interface display for displaying graphical data. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein presenting data indicative of the electronic component connectivity configuration to a user comprises presenting a graphical representation of the electronic component connectivity configuration of the user-selected electronic component subset to the user. Computer-implemented method comprising. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein presenting the electronic component connectivity configuration to a user comprises: displaying a labeled wire or cable showing a connection of a suitable connector on each electronic component of the user-selected electronic component subset. Computer-implemented method comprising a. The method of claim 1, Receiving personal information from a user; Analyzing the personal information in combination with the user-selected electronic component subset; And Presenting the recommendation of additional components or accessories to the user based on the personal information Computer-implemented method further comprising. 7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein presenting the recommendation comprises forwarding information to the user about an electronic component that is different than previously selected by the user in the user-selected electronic component subset. . 7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the personal information is selected from the group comprising user demographic data, purchase history data, click stream data, or user-provided data. The computer of claim 1, wherein retrieving the attribute of each electronic component comprises retrieving technical specification and connectivity information for at least one of the electronic components from the user-selected electronic component subset. How to implement. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein data representing the electronic component is stored for each component type in an object-oriented database. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting data representative of the electronic component connectivity configuration comprises: Presenting a graphical representation of said user-selected electronic component subset, including an input and an output port; And Presenting a proposed electronic component that was previously not otherwise selected by the user and which the user would like to purchase to enhance the user's electronic component system Computer-implemented method comprising a. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented method is accomplished via a computer network, the computer network being selected from the group comprising a local area network, a wide area network, a client / server network, or a global computer information network. How to implement. A computer for providing a recommendation to a user of an electronic component via a vendor web site accessible through the computer network by a plurality of users, the user having a user computer connected to the computer network to access the vendor web site; In the implementation method, Providing a vendor / user interactive web site comprising data representative of at least a predetermined group of user-selectable electronic components; Receiving a user-selected electronic component subset from the group of user-selectable electronic components and receiving data electronically forwarded through a computer network; Storing data indicative of the user-selected subset of electronic components in an object-oriented database; Identifying each of the user-selected electronic component subsets with their associated technical attributes; Comparing the technical attributes of the user-selected electronic component subset to determine a suitable electronic component connectivity configuration; And Electronically forwarding data indicative of the electronic component connectivity configuration to a user via a computer network Computer-implemented method comprising a. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein providing the user interface display further comprises providing a graphical user interface display. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein presenting data representing the electronic component connectivity configuration to the user comprises: presenting graphical data to the user representing the electronic component connectivity configuration of the user-selected subset of electronic components. Computer-implemented method comprising a. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein graphically presenting data indicative of the electronic component connectivity configuration comprises: labeled wires or cables showing the connection of a suitable connector on each electronic component of the user-selected electronic component subset. Computer-implemented method comprising the step of displaying. The method of claim 13, Receiving personal information from a user; Analyzing the personal information in combination with the user-selected electronic component subset; And Presenting the recommendation of additional components or accessories to the user Computer-implemented method further comprising. 18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein presenting the recommendation comprises forwarding information related to a vendor component unlike previously selected by a user in the user-selected electronic component subset. 18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the personal information is selected from the group comprising user demographic data, purchase history data, click stream data, or user-provided data. The computer of claim 13, wherein retrieving the technical properties of each component comprises retrieving technical specifications and connectivity information for at least one of the electronic components from the user-selected electronic component subset. How to implement. The method of claim 13, wherein presenting data representative of the electronic component connectivity configuration comprises: Presenting a graphical representation of said user-selected electronic component subset, including an input and an output port; And Presenting the proposed electronic component that the user wants to purchase to enhance the user's electronic component system Computer-implemented method comprising a. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the electronic component comprises an AV component. A computer for providing a recommendation from the vendor computer to the user computer via the vendor website accessible through the computer network by a plurality of users, the user having a user computer connected to the computer network to access the vendor website. In the system, the graphical electronic component generation system, Create a graphical electronic component generating program that is executable on a vendor computer and includes instructions for causing the vendor computer to generate an interactive vendor graphical electronic component that represents the vendor's electronic components and interactively guides the user through the vendor computer website. Including, The graphical electronic component generation program, when the user computer accesses a vendor web site that causes the user computer to display the interactive vendor electronic component on a display device associated with the user computer for selection by the user, the user A system operative to send display commands to a computer. 24. The vendor computer of claim 23, wherein the vendor computer records data indicative of an electronic component selected by the user computer interacting with the vendor website and records personal data provided by the user or obtained through historical data or click stream data. system. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the vendor computer includes artificial intelligence (AI) functionality, such that the vendor computer analyzes the user's electronic components and recommends additional electronic components or enhances them according to the user's personal preferences. 27. The system of claim 25, wherein the AI function can further analyze the user's personal information to cross-sell or up-sell additional vendor products. The system of claim 23 wherein the electronic component comprises an AV component. In a computer-implemented method for providing a recommendation to a user of an electronic component, Providing a user interface display comprising, from an object oriented database, data representing at least a group of user-selectable electronic components; Receiving data indicative of a user-selected subset of electronic components from the given group of user-selectable electronic components; Retrieving, from an electronic component attribute collection module, an attribute associated with each electronic component of the user-selected electronic component subset; Communicating the subset of user-selected electronic components and the associated attributes to an analysis engine having a rules database; Analyzing the user-selected electronic component subset and the associated attributes to determine a suitable electronic component connectivity configuration; And Presenting data indicative of the electronic component connectivity configuration to a user Computer-implemented method comprising a. 29. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein each electronic component object of the component object oriented database includes descriptive information of each electronic component. 30. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, wherein the descriptive information comprises a type of input / output port associated with the electronic component. 29. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein the descriptive information comprises a type of sound capability supported by the electronic component. 32. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, wherein the sound performance type comprises digital sound performance. 30. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, wherein the descriptive information comprises a type of device bus associated with each electronic component. 29. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein the analyzing step is performed by the analysis engine. The method of claim 34, wherein the analyzing step, Examining the properties of the electronic component; And Applying a rule from the rules database to determine a suitable input / output connectivity configuration and to determine the incompatibility that exists between the electronic components Computer implemented method comprising a. 36. The computer-implemented method of claim 35, wherein the suitable input / output connectivity configuration is selected from the group comprising an optical, RCA or COAX connectivity configuration. 29. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein the electronic component comprises an AV component. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user interface display comprises an electronic component. The computer-implemented method of claim 38, wherein the electronic component comprises an AV component. 40. The computer-implemented method of claim 39, wherein the electronic component is selected from the group comprising a DVD player, CD player, TiVo® player, computer, VCR player, or MD player. 41. The computer-implemented method of claim 40, wherein data indicative of the predetermined group of user-selectable electronic components is provided to the user in at least text format. 41. The computer-implemented method of claim 40, wherein data indicative of the predetermined group of user-selectable electronic components is provided to the user in at least a graphical format. 29. The method of any one of claims 1, 13 or 28, further comprising providing a graphical user interface display, wherein data indicative of the predetermined user-selectable electronic component group is transferred to at least one dialog box. Computer-implemented method displayed. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the given group of user-selectable electronic components includes separate electronic components, each of which is displayed in an associated dialog box, wherein the user may or may not independently select an electronic component from each dialog box. Computer-implemented method. 45. The computer-implemented method of claim 44, wherein each associated dialog box of each electronic component includes data representing at least one model of the associated electronic component. 45. The computer-implemented method of claim 44, wherein each associated dialog box of each electronic component includes data representing a plurality of different models of the associated electronic component. 45. The computer-implemented method of claim 44, wherein the portion of the electronic component is an AV component. 48. The system of claim 47, wherein the AV component is an AM / FM receiver, amplifier, turntable, equalizer, compact disc (CD) player, DVD player, cassette recorder / player, DAT player, television, HD television, general purpose computer, MD player. Computer-implemented method selected from the group consisting of: TiVo® recorders / players, video cassette recorders / players (VCR / P) or laser disc players. The system of claim 23, wherein the interactive graphical electronic component display comprises at least one dialog box. 24. The interactive vendor graphical electronic component display of claim 23, wherein the interactive vendor graphical electronic component display includes data indicative of separate electronic components, each of which is displayed in an associated dialog box, and the user may or may not independently select an electronic component from each dialog box. System. 51. The system of claim 50, wherein each associated dialog box of each electronic component includes data representing at least one model of the associated electronic component. 51. The system of claim 50, wherein each associated dialog box of each electronic component includes data representing a plurality of different models of the associated electronic component. 51. The system of claim 50, wherein the electronic component comprises an AV component. 54. The player of claim 53, wherein the AV component is an AM / FM receiver, amplifier, turntable, equalizer, compact disc (CD) player, DVD player, cassette recorder / player, DAT player, television, HD television, general purpose computer, MD player. System selected from the group comprising: a TiVo® recorder / player, a video cassette recorder / player (VCR / P) or a laser disc player. In a computer-implemented method for providing a recommendation to a user of an electronic component, Providing a graphical user interface display comprising data indicative of at least a predetermined group of user-selectable electronic components, each electronic component from the group of predetermined user-selectable electronic components associated with its own dialog box; Receiving, in the predetermined user-selectable electronic component group, data indicative of a user-selected electronic component subset; Retrieving an attribute associated with each component of the user-selected electronic component subset from a memory storage device; Comparing the user-selected electronic component subset with the associated attributes to determine a suitable electronic component connectivity configuration; And Presenting data indicative of the electronic component connectivity configuration to a user Computer-implemented method comprising a. 56. The computer-implemented method of claim 55, wherein the electronic component comprises an AV component. 56. The computer-implemented method of claim 55, further comprising providing a user interactive dialog box that is not associated with any given electronic component. 59. The computer-implemented method of claim 57, further comprising receiving data indicative of at least one user-supplied electronic component from the user via the unassociated dialog box. 59. The computer-implemented method of claim 58, wherein the receiving, searching and comparing step is performed by a human operator. 60. The computer-implemented method of claim 59, wherein a user can communicate with the human operator. 61. The computer-implemented method of claim 60, wherein the communication is selected from the group comprising electronic communication or voice communication. A computer-implemented method for determining an electronic component connectivity configuration of a set of electronic components, the method comprising: Providing an analysis engine; Providing a rules database including logic rules; Analyzing known attributes of the set of electronic components; And Applying a rule from the rules database to determine a suitable electronic component connectivity configuration; Computer-implemented method comprising a. 63. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein the analysis engine further determines incompatibility existing between the electronic components.

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