Shopper Traffic Prediction Model for Retail Advertising

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Solution Overview

Problem

The advertising industry lacks an accurate and cost-effective metric to measure the effectiveness of in-store advertisements, making it difficult for marketers and retailers to optimize their advertising budgets and strategies.

Innovation Solution

A method is developed to predict shopper traffic at retail stores using actual shopper traffic data and market data, which involves inputting this data into a mathematical model executable on a computer to forecast traffic and impressions, allowing for the evaluation of in-store advertising effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional TV commercial ratings are used to measure advertising effectiveness, then reach and frequency metrics are available, but the metric becomes inaccurate due to viewers using digital video recorders to fast forward past advertisements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadvertising effectiveness measurementVSAvoidviewer exposure accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary measurement system consisting of sensors, cameras, and data processing equipment that indirectly measures advertising effectiveness by tracking shopper behavior, traffic patterns, and purchase data in-store, rather than directly measuring TV commercial viewership

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical rating system based on self-reported viewership with an automated electronic measurement system using sensors, cameras, and computer processing to objectively track and measure advertising impact on shopper behavior

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If in-store advertising metrics are developed to measure effectiveness, then advertising efficiency can be improved, but the device and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadvertising efficiencyVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a multi-functional measurement system that simultaneously tracks shopper traffic, monitors product interactions, measures advertising exposure, and analyzes purchase data using a single integrated platform, reducing overall system complexity despite the variety of measurement capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement system automatically collects, processes, and analyzes data without requiring manual intervention, with sensors and cameras self-configuring and the computer system autonomously generating metrics and reports, reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive shopper traffic data collection is implemented, then measurement accuracy improves, but the cost of operation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshopper traffic measurement accuracyVSAvoidoperational cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements selective data collection that focuses on specific high-impact metrics such as shopper traffic counts, dwell time in advertising zones, and purchase conversion rates, rather than comprehensively tracking every shopper behavior, achieving sufficient accuracy at reduced cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback loops where initial measurement data is analyzed to identify the most valuable metrics, then adjusts data collection intensity and scope accordingly, optimizing the balance between measurement precision and operational cost through iterative refinement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8140379B2Predicting shopper traffic at a retail store
Publication Date: 2012.03.20 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

Mathematical models for predicting shopper traffic at a shopper region useful for developing inter alia a metric for measuring impressions to in-store advertising.