Animated Virtual Representations for Retail Product Information

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Solution Overview

Problem

Retailers face challenges in providing shoppers with timely and personalized product information and support in-store, as well as post-purchase, due to limitations in existing informational displays, labor constraints, and the inability to access online reviews and ratings effectively, leading to a disjointed shopping experience and inadequate engagement with consumers.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses animated virtual representations, such as avatars, generated on user devices to provide real-time product information by detecting markers with a user device, integrating social data, support information, and promotional content, allowing shoppers to access information dynamically and interactively at the product location, both in-store and post-purchase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If in-store support personnel are increased to provide personal support to shoppers, then customer service quality improves, but labor costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer service qualityVSAvoidlabor costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual copies of support personnel through animated virtual representations (avatars) that can provide product information and support to multiple customers simultaneously. These digital avatars replicate the knowledge and assistance functions of human employees without the associated labor costs, allowing one virtual agent to serve many customers at once.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual representation system serves multiple functions: providing product information, answering customer questions, guiding shoppers, and collecting feedback. A single virtual agent can perform tasks that would otherwise require multiple specialized employees, making the system universally applicable across different retail scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If informational product displays are used as a lower-cost alternative, then labor costs decrease, but information value and attractiveness decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelabor costsVSAvoidinformation value

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms static informational displays into dynamic, interactive virtual representations that can respond to customer actions. The avatars can animate, speak, and adapt their responses based on customer interactions, providing up-to-date information without requiring manual updates like traditional displays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces physical mechanical displays with digital virtual representations delivered through mobile devices. This substitution eliminates the need for physical display infrastructure while providing richer, more interactive information delivery through screens and audio outputs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If interactive electronic displays are deployed throughout the store, then information accessibility improves, but space constraints are exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidstore space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the informational function from fixed physical displays and relocates it to customers' personal mobile devices. This removes the need for dedicated display infrastructure in the store while maintaining full information accessibility, as each customer carries their own display device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from two-dimensional physical display screens to the third dimension of mobile device screens that customers already possess. Information is delivered through the customer's existing device rather than requiring new physical infrastructure in the store space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Adaptability or versatility

If web searching and browsing is used to access product information, then information variety improves, but shopping experience disruption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation varietyVSAvoidshopping experience continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the product information experience directly with the physical shopping environment. The virtual representation appears in the context of the actual product being viewed, combining online information richness with offline shopping convenience in a single unified interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device acts as an intermediary between the customer and product information, delivering web-based content in a format optimized for in-store use. The system mediates between the vast information available online and the customer's need for quick, context-relevant answers while shopping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8199966B2System and method for providing contemporaneous product information with animated virtual representations

Publication Date: 2012.06.12 MAPLEBEAR INC

AI summary

A system and method for providing contemporaneous product information with animated virtual representations includes identifying a product by detecting a marker with a user device. Based upon the product, an animated virtual representation is generated in a display of the user device. Information about the product is conveyed to the user by virtual interaction with the animated virtual representation.