WO2019098820A1

WO2019098820A1 - A system for operating an electronic platform

Info

Publication number: WO2019098820A1
Application number: PCT/MY2018/000036
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lai Chung Onn
Original assignee: Emerico International Sdn Bhd
Priority date: 2017-11-20
Filing date: 2018-11-19
Publication date: 2019-05-23
Also published as: MY191530A

Abstract

The present invention discloses a system for operating an electronic platform (100) comprises a product trading module (101) to facilitate trading of electronic products which are communicable with at least one mobile device; a software trading module (102) to facilitate trading of software applications; a data mining module (107) to assign each electronic products with software applications that are compatible to the electronic product; and a push display module (108) to push display relevant data; wherein the purchase of an electronic product by a user will trigger a push display of a list of compatible software applications to the user.

Description

A SYSTEM FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRONIC PLATFORM

FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates to an electronic platform. More particularly, the invention relates to a cloud base Mobile Enterprise Solution for facilitating online electronic product trading service, software application and software development kits under one unified electronic platform. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apple App store and Google Play store are the two main digital distribution platform. The stores allow users to browse and download apps developed with their respective operating system (OS) software development kit (SDK). However, there is currently no universal stores which provides e-commerce system for facilitating the trading of electronic product which are used together with mobile phone, trading of software application for the electronic product, and the distribution of software development programs to develop compatible software application for the electronic products. Such unified platform is targeting to satisfy enterprise customer with their business needs by providing a one stop solution that facilitates trading of both hardware and software, and also the distribution of development kits for software or hardware developers. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a system for catering the abovementioned features and the invention provides such a unified platform and system thereof.

Prior Art

US20150025991A1 discloses a dynamic social-buying platform that provides a consumer with the necessary tools to leverage social media outlets (e.g. email, blogs, posting, etc.) in order to achieve specific levels of scale in assembling a specific group interested in a specific product or service, which in turn forces a retailer (who has previously committed to the platform) to furnish a given product or service at predetermined discount levels (which are directly correlated to the size of the group). In essence, a consumer forms a virtual group (for a specific product of interest), the consumer then recruits members to their virtual group via social media channels, and upon achieving certain levels of scale for that particular virtual group the consumer can force a retailer in the network to furnish the given product at a set discount level. US20010032154A1 discloses an Internet, communications and e-commerce platform provides a Web-based business creation environment with a managed infrastructure and business portals. The system supplies the means to build Internet-based business- to-business or business-to-consumer commerce combined with quality of service enabling self-management and information reporting via a single point of access for a variety of independent businesses in a hierarchical system. The system is designed to be an off-the-shelf solution for businesses that provides a commercial chain with which to reach the end users by leveraging the administration of commerce and communications over a network. The system provides the interfaces for distributors and agents of products and services, and also provides the interfaces for the actual end user objects, such as individual users, corporate users, telephone calling card managers.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides a system for operating an electronic platform comprises a product trading module to facilitate trading of electronic products which are communicable with at least one mobile device; a software trading module to facilitate trading of software applications; a data mining module to assign each electronic products with software applications that are compatible to the electronic product; and a push display module to push display relevant data; wherein the purchase of an electronic product by a user will trigger a push display of a list of compatible software applications to the user. In one embodiment of the invention, the system may further comprise a developer module to provide and to facilitate trading of software development kits, including software templates and training materials. The data mining module is configured to additionally assign each electronic products with software development kits that are compatible to the electronic product, and authorised users are allowed to retrieve the relevant software development kits.

In another embodiment of the invention, the system may further comprise a rating module for collecting user reviews, ratings, trustworthiness, and user’s experiences relating to each electronic product and software application.

Preferably, the data mining module can be further configured to collect searching activity, information and/or statistics related to a user’s prior purchasing history.

Yet in another embodiment of the invention, the system may further comprise a payment module to provide at least one payment gate way for facilitating a payment transaction.

Still in another embodiment of the invention, the system may further comprise a search engine module for providing a search bar allowing user to find an electronic product, software applications, or software development kits of interest.

Yet in another embodiment of the invention, the system may further comprise a management module to provide mobile device management service that implements management features for each electronic device and its associated mobile device. The management features can include limitation of activity, functionality, and connectivity.

Still in another embodiment of the invention, the system may further comprise a user interface module to provide web-based or mobile-based user interface for the user to interact with the electronic platform.

Yet in another embodiment of the invention, the system may further comprise a user module for managing virtual content associated with user profiles.

Still in another embodiment of the invention, the system may further comprise a forum module to provide an online forum for authorised users to exchange information, share knowledge, to discuss on topics relating the software applications, and to report issues on the software application and developments.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments described herein are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing the preferred embodiments from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation and many of its advantages would be readily understood and appreciated.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for operating an electronic platform which embodies therein the principle features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a screenshot of the platform illustrating one embodiment of its main interface.

Fig. 3 is a screenshot of the platform illustrating the display of a product and its description. Fig. 4 is a screenshot of the platform illustrating a shopping cart interface.

Fig. 5 is a screenshot of the platform illustrating a payment application interface. Fig. 6 is a screenshot of the platform illustrating the interface of a developer portal.

Fig. 7 is a screenshot of the platform illustrating the interface of an online forum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, that execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer- readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. The invention aims to provide a cloud base Mobile Enterprise Solution for facilitating online electronic product trading service, software applications and development programs under one unified electronic platform 100. The platform 100 can be accessed by any type of computing devices through a web browser 301, 302 or mobile application 303 via a communication network, preferably by internet 200. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the system comprises an electronic platform 100 operated by a cloud based server. The server may comprise one or more heavy duty computers for processing and managing the platform data, and any known devices or group of devices to provide sufficient capacity for storing data. The electronic platform 100 is preferably an online store where users and merchants can purchase or supply electronic products, software applications, and software development kits.

The electronic products can be mobile device’s electronic accessories such as protective sleeves, biometric systems, point of sales systems, bank teller systems, card reader systems, automated teller machine, kiosk terminals, printers, card embosser machines, or any other means which require the existence of mobile devices for data processing or transfer purposes. The mobile devices include but not limited to personal digital assistants (PDA), smart phones, tablets, laptops, netbooks, phablets, phoblets, iPad, or any suitable means which capable of processing data and performing data transmission and having a display unit and it is operatable under different type of operating system such as Android, iOS, and etc. The software applications are to be installed in either the compatible mobile devices, foe compatible electronic products or both for allowing the mobile devices to enable the use of certain features of foe electronic products.

The platform 100 includes a product trading module 101, a software trading module 102, a developer module 103, a description module 104, a GUI module 105, an advertisement module 106, a data mining module 107, a push display module 108, a search engine module 109, a user module 110, a rating module 111, a payment & delivery module 112, a forum module 113, and a device management module 114.

The product trading module 101, the software trading module 102, and the developer module 103 are modules for facilitating at least one trading service of electronic products, software applications and software development kits respectively. These modules 101-103 can be linked to the description module 104 that manages foe display of description, historical transaction, selling and/or purchase price and reviews and comments of each electronic product, software applications and software development kits. Preferably, the description module 104 is connected to a database of which details of the products are stored. Preferably, the graphical user interface (GUI) module 105 implements a web-based 301, 302 or mobile based 303 GUI for the users and merchants to access the platform 100 and the platform 100 can be interchangeable between a web-based platform and a mobile platform depending on the user’s device. The GUI can be integrated with a plurality of buttons, icons or widgets and being arranged in a manner where the user of the system can choose, purchase or sell one or more products and/or services in an easy and efficient fashion. Each buttons, icons, or widgets can be linked to their designated module for commencing their designated operations. Fig. 2 shows an exemplary of the main page of the web-based platform. The main page are provided with a plurality of blocks for advertisement, at least one row of icons and widgets for the electronic product, and at least one row of icons and widgets for the software applications. Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary of the product description page. The product description page are provided with the description of the products, its price tag, and at least one function buttons including“Add to Cart”,“Add to Favourite”, “Add to Comparison” &“Email to Friend”.

The data mining module 107 is configured to collect searching activity, information and/or statistics related to a user’s prior purchasing history, including the user's responses to previous advertisements for particular products or services, such as click through rates, purchase rates, view through rates, pauses at locations that provide evidence of engaging in a service or purchasing a product and etc. The collected data can be processed by different techniques, artificial intelligence, machine learning and statistic methodology to generate useful information for advertising and marketing purposes. The different techniques include matching each electronic product with one or more software applications and/or software development kits. The processed data will be stored in the database.

The advertisement module 106 is a module that serves one or more advertisements provided by one or more advertisers in a media formats which is based on the user device type. The advertisement module 106 can be coupled with the data mining module 107, configured to receive rules and data parameters from advertisers and to instruct the data mining module 107 to return results based on the defined rules and data parameters. In the preferred embodiment, at least one advertisement block can be provided to display the advertisements. Upon the user login to their corresponding account, the advertisement module 106 will serve to display advertisement which suits the user on the advertisement block in a media formats which are suitable to the user device. In one example, when a retailer purchased a point of sale (POS) system, the push display module 108 will push display software applications or software development kits that is compatible to the POS system so that the user can easy choose to purchase or subscribe the software applications or software development kits. An exemplary is shown in Fig. 3 where the product description page are provided with at least one row of icons and widgets for displaying the software applications which are compatible to the electronic product

The payment and delivery module 112 communicates with a plurality of different payment gate service providers to provide different type of services such as delivery service and payment service. Such service providers can be third party entities like Alipay, BitPay, BPAY, PayPal, BlueSnap, DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT, DPD, DTDC and etc. Users can use the services of these third party entities to deliver their purchased goods and/or services to their designated location and to pay up the bills as shown in Fig. 5. The user can select a list of goods and/or services and this list of goods will be stored in an online shopping cart and then check out the items by a single click as shown in Fig.4.

The search engine module 109 provides a search bar allowing user to find a product and/or service of interest from the database directly by the user input such as keyword, voice, picture or any combination thereof. This module 109 can be coupled with a filter for the user to set their desired criterion and a sorter for sorting the list of result in a certain order.

The rating module 111 provides means for collecting user reviews, ratings, trustworthiness, and user’s experiences relating to each product and/or services. Each product and/or service can be provided with a questionnaire generated by the rating module 111 to collect the relevant information and then it will update the database immediately upon receiving the inputs from user. The user module 110 handles the registration of new user account and login of a user account, and it assigns different type of user account with different level of accessibilities to the operations of platform. It can also be linked to the advertisement module 106 to change the current displayed advertisement to one which possibly suits the user upon logged-in. Preferably, a developer user account is further permitted to access and retrieve the software development kits; an admin user account has the accessibility to all features of the platform 100 including viewing and modifying any contents of the system. Fig. 6 illustrates an exemplary of a developer portal page for user with the developer account to retrieve software development kits. The forum module 113 handles the operation of an online discussion site where any users can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. An exemplary of die forum is shown in Fig. 7. Also, depending on the access level of a user account, a posted message may need to be approved by a user account with greater level of accessibilities before it becomes visible. Such online forum allows the users to exchange information, share knowledge, to discuss on topics relating the software applications, and to report issues on the software application and developments.

The device management module 114 is configured to provide mobile device management service that implements management features for each electronic device and its associated mobile device. The mobile device management service can include over-the-air distribution of applications, data and configuration settings for the mobile devices. The present disclosure includes as contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for operating an electronic platform (100) comprising:

a product trading module (101) to facilitate trading of electronic products which are communicable with at least one mobile device;

a software trading module (102) to facilitate trading of software applications;

a data mining module (107) to assign each electronic products with software applications that are compatible to the electronic product; and

a push display module (108) to push display relevant data;

wherein the purchase of an electronic product by a user will trigger a push display of a list of compatible software applications to the user.

2. A Systran according to claim 1, further comprising a developer module (103) to provide and to facilitate trading of software development kits, including software templates and training materials.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the data mining module (107) is configured to additionally assign each electronic products with software development kits that are compatible to the electronic product, and authorised users are allowed to retrieve the relevant software development kits.

4. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a rating module (111) for collecting user reviews, ratings, trustworthiness, and user’s experiences relating to each electronic product and software application.

5. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the data mining module (107) is further configured to collect searching activity, information and/or statistics related to a user’s prior purchasing history.

6. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a payment module (112) to provide at least one payment gate way for facilitating a payment transaction. 7. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a search engine module (109) for providing a search bar allowing user to find an electronic product, software applications, or software development kits of interest.

8. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a management module (114) to provide mobile device management service that implements management features for each electronic products and its associated mobile device.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the management features include limitation of activity, functionality, and connectivity.

10. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a user interface module (105) to provide web-based (301, 302) or mobile-based (303) user interface for the user to interact with the electronic platform (100). 11. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a user module

(110) for managing virtual content associated with user profiles.

12. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a forum module (113) to provide an online forum for authorised users to exchange information, share knowledge, to discuss on topics relating the software applications, and to report issues on the software application and developments.