Retail Guidance System Using Beacon Navigation for Product Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face challenges in locating products within large retail stores due to numerous aisles and overwhelming product displays, and may be unaware of product availability across physical and online stores, leading to frustration and potential loss of sales.
Innovation Solution
A guidance system that uses an electronic computing device for consumers to input product names, which communicates with a guidance server to determine product locations and availability across both physical and online stores, providing real-time guidance through maps and beacon indicators on the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If consumers manually search through numerous aisles and product displays in large retail stores, then they can physically examine products, but the shopping time and stress increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary between the consumer and the retail store environment. The mobile device receives location information from beacons positioned throughout the store and provides navigation guidance to consumers, mediating the interaction between the physical store layout and the consumer's search process. This eliminates the need for manual aisle-by-aisle searching while maintaining ease of product location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual navigation and physical product search with an electronic information system. Instead of consumers physically moving through aisles and visually scanning products, the system uses electronic beacons, mobile device communication, and digital display of product locations and availability to guide consumers directly to items of interest.
2Reliability
If consumers search for products in physical stores with thousands of items, then they can purchase available products, but they may become frustrated and leave without purchasing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the mobile device provide real-time information to consumers about product availability both in-store and online. The system continuously updates consumers with location information and availability status, allowing them to make informed decisions about whether to search physically, order online for in-store pickup, or purchase online for home delivery. This feedback loop prevents frustration by managing expectations about product availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary action by allowing consumers to check product availability and location information before physically searching for items. The system provides advance information about whether products are available in-store, their specific locations, and alternative online purchasing options, allowing consumers to plan their shopping trip efficiently and avoid unnecessary physical search through the store.
3Loss of information
If consumers are unaware of online product availability, then they may miss purchasing opportunities, but providing comprehensive information increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a single mobile device interface to provide multiple functions: displaying product location information within the store, showing online availability status, providing navigation guidance, and offering online ordering options. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into one unified interface, reducing perceived complexity while comprehensively addressing product availability information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges physical store information and online store information into a single integrated system. The mobile device simultaneously displays data from physical beacons in the store and online inventory databases, combining these previously separate information sources into one unified view for the consumer. This integration reduces complexity by presenting all availability information through a single interface rather than requiring separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, with a processing device of a guidance server, a series of guidance request signals from an electronic computing device operated by a consumer shopping in a retail store. Each guidance request signal contains an alphanumeric character. The method also includes the step of determining, with the processing device, at least one location within the retail store in response to the alphanumeric characters contained in any already-received guidance request signals after each of the series of guidance request signals is received. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, a series of guidance response signals to the electronic computing device in response to the determination of the at least one location. Each of the series of guidance response signal contains data indicative of the determined location within the retail store.