WO2015189859A2

WO2015189859A2 - Online platform and system for shopping

Info

Publication number: WO2015189859A2
Application number: PCT/IN2015/000239
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shankar Prasad
Original assignee: Shankar Prasad
Priority date: 2014-06-13
Filing date: 2015-06-12
Publication date: 2015-12-17
Also published as: WO2015189859A3

Abstract

A platform characterized by displaying or describing the Products for 'sale and auction' with reference to Media or Endorsers and thereby allowing customers to buy and own the Products or similar Products used in the Media or by Endorsers and gives information regarding the Items or delivers these Items to customers who purchase them from the platform.

Description

ONLINE PLATFORM AND SYSTEM FOR SHOPPING

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Internet has enabled online shopping, which has become popular because of its ease of use and fast processing. Further, it enables users to track down the vendors of a product online, and provides them with the facility of instant comparison of prices. This has made online shopping time-efficient and convenient, compared to conventional shopping. Search algorithms on the Internet help buyers to find any product from the multitude of products available online. Hence, a buyer can easily collect information about a product of his/her choice and purchase it accordingly.

However, the information available on the Internet is unstructured and unmanageable. Search engines provide the Products that have been provided by the Sellers that are relevant to the users, to help them search for products while shopping online.

Further, online product shopping is different from typical web search. For example, a query ' salman Khan blue shirt' using existing search techniques would yield all type of results such as merchant pages, reviews, wikipedia entries, personal webpages, music bands, etc. This means the search results may not be related to the user intent— where the user expects to see a list of merchants selling blue colored shirts online with pictures and prices. Hence, the use of the existing web or content search techniques in online shopping may not yield relevant results.

In light of the above discussion, there is a need for a system to provide the Products in online shopping such that it provides the best results to the user considering the market demand-supply characteristics of products in a product category.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a platform which enables a portal to provide information and to sell the Products with reference to them being used in any type of Media like movies, sitcoms, reality television shows, music videos, advertisements of any product, posters etc with reference to being worn or used by any Endorsers such as actor, actresses or any other performer in the Media.

The platform has one virtual store provided on the server and plurality of customer, terminals connected to said server. The platform on its server maintains a database of all Products used in the Media by Endorsers. The platform presents an online display of the Products on its server. The customer places an order for at least one of the Products displayed online through its terminal which is connected to the server.

The Platform gives rise to a new way of brand endorsing through Media. Unlike the earlier known platforms that displayed one or a few Products of a brand, this platform will help brands be part of commercial media and have an e-commerce platform to realize some revenue back.

A practical example of the uniqueness and the usefulness of the platform is in its ability to give details of the Products used in creating the Media, thereby making the customers aware of the not just the brand, but the specific product being displayed in the Media and also have a server through which the said customer can buy that product or other products as well.

For example, an endorser wears a lot of costumes and uses a lot of accessories that. might be of interest to a lot of customers, but the customer had no chance so far to know the details of the ITEMS he is interested in, and even if he knows, doesn't really know where and when he can purchase or obtain them. This invention will give him the chance to know more about the ITEMS and provide him with an e-commerce platform to purchase or obtain them.

The platform also provides the brands with a chance to not just create awareness among the customers of the Media by making the Products visible in the Media, but also provide a direct medium to let the customers buy what they see and like in the Media thorough this platform.

In addition to the foregoing attributes, the portal enables the owners of Media, creators of Products realize a new revenue stream which isn't available so far for them. It can thus be seen that the present invention provides a completely new platform or portal which successfully brings together Creators, ITEMS, Owners of MEDIA and ENDORSERS to bring more visibility to the ITEMS and let customers of MEDIA or general public have a chance to own 'THE' ITEMS or similar items through the e-commerce portal or platform.

SUMMARY

The invention pertains to a specific platform model of e-commerce and brand endorsement. The platform on its server maintains a database of all Products used in the Media by Endorsers and helps the customers find out information about the Products by referring to one or multiple aspects of the

Media

The customers can call or email or use the server to explore the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit (MMDWU) with respect to one or multiple aspects of any Media and get the information regarding the Products that pertain to said aspects and also have a chance to purchase the same through its terminal which is connected to the server.

One aspect of the invention is that, the platform will act as information medium and purchase platform for one or more Products used in Media. The customers will come to the platform and use the server to search in the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit (MMDWU) through a screen permitting data entries for Endorser, Media, any sub-form of Media, Product description etc. A search can be performed on any of those parameters and upon entering the desired search criteria, a search is submitted. The 'results with reference to MEDIA' of that search are displayed to the customer through its terminal and the customer may proceed further to pay using available financial transaction models to complete the transaction. The customers then use the separate system on the platform for delivery of the purchased Product/s.

Another aspect of the invention is that, the platform will act as information and bidding platform for one or more of THE Products used in a particular MEDIA. The customer can come to the platform and use the server to search in the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit (MMDWU) through a screen permitting data entries for Endorser, Media, any sub-form of Media, Product description etc. A search can be performed on any of those parameters and upon entering the desired search criteria, a search is submitted. The 'results with reference to MEDIA' of that search are displayed to the customer through its terminal and the customer may participate in the bid if it is still open, or get information regarding the bid if it is already closed, and proceed further to pay using the available financial transaction models if they win the bid. The customers then use the separate system on the platform for delivery of the purchased Product/s.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a preferred embodiment of the platform according to the present invention

• Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of another preferred embodiment of the platform according to the present invention.

• Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of third embodiment of the platform according to the present invention.

• Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of fourth embodiment of the platform according to the present invention.

While the above-identified drawing figures set forth preferred embodiments, other embodiments of the present invention are also contemplated, some of which are noted in the discussion. In particular, the drawings and the examples of the description are greatly simplified in comparison to a real-life implementation. In all cases, this disclosure presents the illustrated embodiments of the present invention by way of representation and not limitation. Numerous other minor modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention involves a platform that would help the customers to get information about and to buy Products used in Media. As shown in Figures given, this particular invention helps customers acquire the Products in a unique and innovative methodology. The invention lets customers search for Products in the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit (MMDWU) that are for sale or auction with reference to elements of Media like Endorsers, titles, scene description, Product description etc.

In one of the preferred embodiment of the present invention a customer likes a shirt that an actor 'X' is wearing in a movie Ύ' during the scene where the actor 'X' meets actress 'Z' in this particular movie Ύ'. Now the customer can use its terminal which is connected to the server of the platform and search for the shirt in the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit (MMDWU) by entering the search criteria of actor 'X', actress 'Z', movie Ύ' and scene description of 'X' meeting 'Z' which would give the Products used in that scene and the customer can select the shirt he is interested in and purchase it.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, if the customer is interested in a shirt worn by actor 'X' in the movie Ύ' in the scene where he meets 'Ζ', said customer can enter the search criteria in the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit (MMDWU)and select from the list of the Products used in the scene and bid for that shirt online.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention a shirt worn by 'X' in the movie Ύ' in the scene where 'X' meets 'Z' is put up for sale directly on the platform and the customer can browse for the shirt in the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit (MMDWU) and purchases it using the platform.

Similarly in another embodiment of the present invention, a shirt worn by 'X' in the movie Ύ' in the scene where 'X' meets 'Z' is put up for auction directly on the platform and the customer can search for the shirt in the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit (MMDWU) and bid for it using the platform.

According to embodiment in Fig 1, the customer would access the server through its terminal ΊΟ', and access the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit (MMDWU) '24' located in the server where the user will enter his search criteria such as Endorser, Media, any sub-form of Media, Product description etc. The customer would be directed towards Media Merchandise Data Mining Unit (MMDMU) '26' where all the Products suiting the search criteria provided in the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit (MMDWU) '24' will be displayed and it will enable the customer to select any Product. This will take the customer to Evaluator ' 14', where the customer can evaluate the selected Product with respect to its availability, available sizes, available colors, availability for bidding or not etc information which is taken from warehouse management center ' 16' and Product Manufacturer management center '22' and are provided to the customer. At this juncture, the customer would go back to '26' if he is not interested in the Product and pick another, or go ahead to Product Compiler ' 18' if he is interested in the ITEM for sale. The compiler will enable the customer to select the specifics of the Product like size, color etc and proceed to payment management center '20' where the customer will complete the transaction.

According to another embodiment in Fig 2, the customer would begin from its terminal ΊΟ', and access the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit (MMDWU) '24' located in the server and browse the Products with reference to Media, where the customer will get to browse through all the displayed Products with reference to Media and select any product that the customer likes. This will take the customer to Evaluator ' 14' where the customer can evaluate the selected Product with respect to its availability, available sizes, available colors, availability for bidding or not etc information is taken from warehouse management center ' 16' and manufacturer management center '22 'and are provided to the customer. At this juncture, the user would go back to the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit (MMDWU) if he is not interested in the Product and pick another, or go ahead to Product Compiler ' 18' if he is interested in the Product for sale. The Compiler will enable the customer to select the specifics of the Product like size, color etc and proceed to payment management center '20' where the customer will complete the transaction.

According to another embodiment in Fig 3, the customer would begin from its Temiinal ' 10', and access the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit (MMDWU) '24' where the customer will enter his Search Criteria such as Endorser, Media, any sub-form of Media, Product description etc. Then the customer would go to different section Media Merchandise Data Mining Unit (MMDMU) '26' where all the Products suiting the search criteria given in '24' will be displayed and any Product liked by the customer can be selected. This will take the user to Evaluator ' 14', where the customer can evaluate the selected Product with respect to its availability, available sizes, available colors, availability for bidding or not and minimum bid value etc information is taken from warehouse management center ' 16' and are provided to the customer. At this juncture, the user would go back to merchandise management center '26' if he is not interested in the Product and pick another, or go ahead to Bidding management system '28' if he is interested in the product for auction. At bidding management system '28', the customer will enter his bid value to participate in the bid and proceed to payment management center '20' if the customer wins the bid, where the user will complete the transaction.

According to another embodiment as enunciated in Fig 4, the customer would begin from its Terminal ' 10', and access Media Merchandise Data Mining Unit (MMDMU) '24', where the customer will get to browse through all the displayed Products with Reference to Media and select any Product that the user likes. This will take the user to Evaluator ' 14' where the customer can evaluate the selected Product with respect to its availability, available size, available color, availability for bidding or not and minimum bid value etc information is taken from Warehouse Management Center ' 16' and are provided to the customer. At this juncture, the user would go back to Media Merchandise Data Mining Unit (MMDMU) '24' if he is not interested in the Product and pick another, or go ahead to Bidding Management System '28' if he is interested in the Product for auction. At Bidding Management System '28', the user will enter his bid value to participate in the bid and proceed to payment management center '20' if the customer wins the bid, where the user will complete the transaction.

The bidding management system used in the present invention is any well known online bidding management system.

The payment management centre further comprises a payment platform that includes a payment platform server and a payment platform database, wherein the payment platform server comprises a user processing unit configured to receive a user identity request including at least one of a user registration or a user login, wherein the payment platform database comprises: a user information storage unit configured to store correlations among a plurality of user characteristics with a plurality of users, the user characteristics correlated with a respective user including a username, a password, user identity information, a user address, and a payment account of the respective user. The payment management centre stores a record of all purchases by customers in the database to customer purchasing information to be obtained by analysis of the customer's purchases. Although the subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. It is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the features described herein. Rather, the features are disclosed as embodiments of the online shopping platform.

Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

We claim:

1. An e-commerce platform having:

A server;

A store provided on the server to present an online display of the Products on its server; A Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit to maintain a database of all Products used in any type of Media or worn or used by any Endorsers or any other performer in the Media; plurality of customer terminals connected to said server via internet to access the Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit to search the Products;

A Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit connected to said server to display the

Products searched by the customer in Media Merchandise Data Warehousing Unit;

An Evaluator to evaluate the selected Products on one or more attributes, based on receiving the keyword search query, related to the product category, the one or more attributes comprising at least one of criteria such as Media and Endorser;

A Product Compiler to enable the customer to select the Products and

A payment management centre to complete the transaction

2. The e-commerce platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the Media comprises movies, sitcoms, reality television shows, music videos, advertisements of any product, posters, sports, live events, serials, news, short films.

The e-commerce platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the Endorsers comprises actor, actresses or any other celebrity in the Media.

The e-commerce platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the database could be stored on server, on cloud, on files or on similar kind of systems.

The e-commerce platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the platform stores a record of all purchases by customers in the database to store customer purchasing information to perform an analysis of the customer's purchases.

The e-commerce platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product Compiler is coupled to the payment management centre, the Product Compiler configured to send the transaction request to the payment management centre and receive a payment feedback from the payment management centre.

7. The e-commerce platform as claimed in claim 1 further comprises a bidding management system, wherein the customer can bid for the Products after evaluating the Products through the Evaluator.

8. The e-commerce platform as claimed in claim 7 further connected to the payment - management center which would enable the customer to complete the transaction on wining the bid.

9. The e-commerce platform as claimed in claim 1 further comprises warehouse management center and Product Manufacturer management center to access the information of the Products by the Evaluator.

10. The payment management centre as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a payment platform that includes a payment platform server and a payment platform database, wherein the payment platform server comprises:

a user processing unit configured to receive a user identity request including at least one of a user registration or a user login, wherein the payment platform database comprises: a user information storage unit configured to store correlations among a plurality of user characteristics with a plurality of users, the user characteristics correlated with a respective user including a username, a password, user identity information, a user address, and a payment account of the respective user.