Mobile Device Purchase Assistance Using Directional Provider Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face difficulties in finding the best deals for products and services due to the need for multiple trips to stores or extensive online searches, especially when considering high-cost items that require both price comparisons and desirable finance options.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a user's device to identify and present nearby providers and offers based on location and direction, incorporating augmented reality to dynamically update the view as the device is moved, and generates finance offers based on the user's financial profile and relationships with providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If consumers make multiple trips to different stores to comparison shop, then they can find the best deal for products, but this consumes significant time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary that captures images of products in stores and automatically retrieves pricing information from multiple sources. This mediator eliminates the need for consumers to manually visit multiple stores by processing image recognition and compiling price comparisons automatically, thus resolving the contradiction between obtaining comprehensive price information and minimizing time investment
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-collecting and organizing pricing data from multiple stores before the consumer needs to make a purchasing decision. The mobile device can store and update price information in advance, allowing consumers to access compiled comparison data without having to conduct multiple store visits at the moment of purchase decision
2Loss of information
If consumers search multiple websites for product prices, then they can gather comprehensive pricing data, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple information gathering functions into a single mobile device application. The system combines image recognition capabilities, web browsing, data compilation, and price comparison into one integrated tool, eliminating the need to manually navigate multiple websites and consolidating all pricing data retrieval into a single streamlined process
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically executing the entire price comparison process once the consumer captures a product image. The mobile device autonomously retrieves pricing data from multiple sources, processes the information, and generates comparisons without requiring the consumer to manually search or navigate complex websites, thus reducing both complexity and time requirements
3Loss of information
If consumers consider both price comparisons and finance options for high-cost items, then they can make informed purchasing decisions, but the information gathering process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by designing the mobile device application to handle multiple types of information simultaneously - product pricing, store locations, and finance options. The system universally processes different categories of purchasing information through the same image recognition and data compilation mechanisms, allowing consumers to gather comprehensive information for high-cost item decisions without encountering increased complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Purchase assistance is provided to a user based on user device location and direction. Input to a user device, identifying a product or service of interest, can be received. Next, a location of the user device is determined, and one or more providers of the product or service are identified in proximity to the location of the user device. Direction information of the user device is determined by ascertaining a compass orientation of the user device or a direction vector of movement of the user device. Subsequently, providers are identified based on the direction information and presented to a user on a display of the user device. Further, an offer associated with the product or service, such as a finance offer, can be generated and presented with the providers on the display.