Location-Based Merchant GUIs for Proximity Commerce
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile devices require users to physically interact with point of sale terminals or customer service personnel for purchases, lacking seamless integration of location-based graphical user interfaces that facilitate easy commerce with merchants.
Innovation Solution
Mobile devices receive identification information for merchant locations, dynamically configure a GUI based on proximity, allowing access to network and presenting customized interfaces without cellular data, using beacons and servers to provide merchant-specific content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users physically interact with point of sale terminals or customer service personnel for purchases, then purchase transactions can be completed, but user convenience and time efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction system (physical presence at point of sale terminal, face-to-face communication with customer service personnel) with an automated electronic system. The mobile device captures images of products, automatically identifies them using image recognition algorithms, retrieves pricing and product information from databases, and completes transactions electronically without requiring physical interaction with terminals or personnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to perform purchase transactions independently without assistance from customer service personnel. The mobile device autonomously captures product images, identifies items, queries pricing information, calculates totals, and processes payments through the application, allowing users to complete entire purchase workflows alone.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mobile devices present customized GUIs based on location, then user experience and commerce facilitation improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic GUI configuration where the user interface automatically adapts its content and layout based on the user's current location and context. The system continuously monitors location data, identifies nearby merchants and products, and dynamically generates customized GUIs displaying relevant information such as product catalogs, pricing, and promotional content specific to the current location without requiring manual user configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that handles the complex tasks of processing location data, querying product databases, retrieving pricing information, and generating customized GUI content. This mediates between the mobile device's location detection capability and the need for complex customized interface generation, offloading computational complexity from the device to the server infrastructure.
3Reliability
If mobile devices enable network access without cellular data, then connectivity reliability improves, but dependency on merchant infrastructure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality in the mobile device by enabling it to operate in dual network modes: cellular data networks and Wi-Fi networks provided by merchants. The system automatically detects available network types and switches between them, allowing the device to maintain network connectivity for commerce transactions regardless of cellular data availability or merchant Wi-Fi presence, thus providing universal network access capability.
Data Source
AI summary
In some implementations, a mobile device can receive identification information for a merchant store location. The mobile device can receive the identification information when the mobile device is proximate to the store location, for example. The mobile device can obtain graphical user interface (GUI) configuration data for the merchant store location based on the store location identification information. For example, the mobile device can obtain GUI content that has been customized for the merchant store location. The mobile device can configure a GUI of an application installed on the mobile device based on the obtained GUI configuration data. The mobile device can make the proximity application accessible to a user of the mobile device when the mobile device is near the store location.