Event Information Determination via Merchant Clustering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Potential buyers are often unaware of location-based events such as farmers markets or food truck gatherings due to lack of accessible and up-to-date event guides, and existing advertising methods may not effectively reach nearby individuals, leading to missed opportunities for both sellers and buyers.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses merchant devices to detect and determine the presence and type of location-based events by analyzing merchant clustering, transaction data, and geo-location information, then provides alerts and event guides to nearby buyers through their mobile devices, allowing for real-time notification and navigation assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If pre-registration and manual event promotion are used, then event information can be provided to buyers, but the process requires extra steps and logistics for participants and may not reach buyers who were not exposed to advertising
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects events by monitoring merchant device clustering and transactions, then self-generates and distributes event guides to nearby buyers without requiring manual pre-registration or promotional efforts from event organizers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual event promotion and pre-registration systems with an automated electronic detection and notification system that uses merchant device data to identify events and automatically distributes information to potential buyers
2Loss of information
If event guides are provided with pre-registration, then buyers receive event information, but the guides may have out of date information and are limited to what was conveyed during pre-registration
Solution Approach 1:
The event guide is made dynamic and continuously updated based on real-time detection of merchant device locations and transactions, allowing the information to remain current without requiring pre-registration or manual updates
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of event formation through merchant clustering analysis before buyers need information, ensuring event guides are ready and accurate when distributed to nearby buyers
3Loss of information
If advertising is used to promote events, then some buyers become aware of events, but buyers who have not been exposed to advertising remain unaware even if they are close by
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from merchant device locations and transaction data to automatically identify and locate events, then provides targeted notifications to buyers based on their proximity to detected events rather than relying on broad advertising campaigns
Solution Approach 2:
The system acts as an intermediary between merchants and buyers, using merchant device data to detect events and automatically connecting nearby buyers with event information without requiring traditional advertising channels
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for determining the presence of a location-based event by receiving information from one or more sellers. The information may include seller location and/or types of items sold. The type of event may be determined. Optionally, a guide for the event can be generated based on the information received from the sellers. Information about the event and/or the guide may be accessed by a mobile device of a potential buyer or via a web directory.