In-Store Media Customization via Mobile Metadata Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing in-store media systems fail to effectively customize music and other media experiences for customers based on their individual preferences, often relying on generic playlists that may not align with customer tastes, leading to a less engaging atmosphere.

Innovation Solution

A method that detects customer presence and purchases, determines media preferences, and adjusts in-store media by adding preferred music tracks to a streaming queue, using a combination of customer registration data, mobile device metadata, and streaming music backend algorithms to prioritize tracks based on votes and ambiance matching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If generic playlists are used for in-store media, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but customer satisfaction and engagement deteriorate due to lack of personalization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia customizationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects customer presence via mobile device metadata and autonomously selects and queues media tracks matching customer preferences without requiring explicit customer selection or complex manual configuration, enabling personalized media delivery while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual media selection and playlist management with automated algorithms that analyze mobile device metadata (app usage, playlists, ringtones) to infer customer preferences and automatically queue appropriate media tracks, substituting mechanical customer actions with intelligent automated processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If explicit customer selection of media tracks is required, then media preferences accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to additional customer actions required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreference accuracyVSAvoidcustomer interaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of mobile device metadata (app usage history, saved playlists, ringtone selections) before the customer even requests media, pre-determining customer preferences and having media tracks ready in the queue for immediate playback upon customer detection, eliminating the need for explicit selection actions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses mobile device metadata as an intermediary to indirectly determine customer preferences without requiring direct customer input or explicit selection, analyzing third-party data (app usage patterns, playlist preferences) to infer taste preferences and automatically select appropriate media

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If customer presence detection is implemented, then personalized media delivery is improved, but loss of information increases due to handling sensitive customer data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonalization capabilityVSAvoidcustomer data privacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the necessary preference information from mobile device metadata (app usage patterns, playlist genres, ringtone selections) that is needed to determine media preferences, separating and utilizing only the relevant data elements while leaving sensitive personal information behind

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms detailed mobile device metadata into aggregated preference parameters (preferred genres, artists, time periods) that capture customer taste without retaining identifiable personal information, changing the data from specific usage records to generalized preference profiles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9632663B2Adjusting in-store media to customer preferences

Publication Date: 2017.04.25 THE MELT

AI summary

The disclosure provides techniques for adjusting in-store media according to customer preferences. A customer's presence or purchase is detected at an establishment, and a system at the establishment retrieves information on media preferences of the customer. A media backend then matches the customer preferences to media items (music tracks, images, videos, etc.), and the matching media items are played, displayed, or broadcast at the establishment. If multiple customers are present at the establishment or make orders, the media backend may order media items that match the customers' preferences in first-served order, or based on a ranking of the customers relative to each other or on the content of the media items themselves.