U.S. patent application number 10/039076 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-03 for system and method for providing absorbent paper products having consumer-specified features.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kaufman, David, McFarland, Timothy.
Application Number | 20030126028 10/039076 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21903533 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030126028 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kaufman, David ; et
al. |
July 3, 2003 |
System and method for providing absorbent paper products having
consumer-specified features
Abstract
Methods and systems by which a consumer may select or specify
optional features of an absorbent paper product, such as a facial
tissue or paper towel product, and then receive an absorbent paper
product having the very features selected by the consumer. These
optional features may include the color, scent, size, shape or
graphic design of the product. Further, a consumer can preferably
provide a graphic design (e.g., including text, photographic
images, or other graphics) together with a purchase order for an
absorbent paper product, and then receive such a product which
bears the consumer's graphic design. These absorbent paper products
may be "made to order" at the point of purchase or a remote
location. In the latter case, a consumer may provide information
relating to desired product features over a communications network
to a remote production machine which then produces the specific
product desired by the consumer.
Inventors: |
Kaufman, David; (Appleton,
WI) ; McFarland, Timothy; (Neenah, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SENNIGER POWERS LEAVITT AND ROEDEL
ONE METROPOLITAN SQUARE
16TH FLOOR
ST LOUIS
MO
63102
US
|
Assignee: |
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
21903533 |
Appl. No.: |
10/039076 |
Filed: |
December 31, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.43 ;
705/26.5; 705/26.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0621 20130101;
G06Q 30/0617 20130101; G06Q 40/04 20130101; G06Q 30/02 20130101;
G06Q 30/0633 20130101; G06Q 30/0613 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/26 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A method of providing a consumer with a product, the method
comprising: providing the consumer with a first list of options for
a first feature of an absorbent paper product, and a second list of
options for a second feature of the absorbent paper product;
receiving from the consumer a selection of one of the options from
the first list, a selection of one of the options from the second
list, and a purchase order for a particular absorbent paper product
having the options selected by the consumer; and delivering to the
consumer the particular absorbent paper product having the options
selected by the consumer.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first feature and the second
feature are selected from the group consisting of product count,
product style, product color, product scent, product graphic
design, product packaging style, product packaging color, and
product packaging graphic design.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first feature is product
scent, and wherein the options for the product scent include
unscented.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the first feature is product
packaging graphic design, and wherein the options for the product
packaging graphic design include a predefined graphic design, no
graphic design, and a graphic design supplied by the consumer.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the absorbent paper product is a
facial tissue product, and wherein the first feature and the second
feature are selected from the group consisting of tissue count,
tissue style, tissue color, tissue scent, tissue graphic design,
tissue packaging style, tissue packaging color, and tissue
packaging graphic design.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing and the receiving
are performed over a communications network.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the communications network is a
computer network or a telephony network.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the absorbent paper product is a
facial tissue product, wherein the first feature is tissue graphic
design, and wherein the second feature is tissue packaging graphic
design.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein providing includes providing the
consumer with a list of scent options for the facial tissue
product, and wherein receiving includes receiving from the consumer
a selection of one of the scent options.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising producing, in response
to the receiving, a particular facial tissue product having the
options selected by the consumer.
11. A method of producing a product to order, the method
comprising: collecting information from a consumer relating to one
or more desired features of an absorbent paper product; receiving a
purchase order from the consumer for an absorbent paper product
having the one or more desired features; and producing the
absorbent paper product having the one or more desired features in
accordance with the information collected from the consumer.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the absorbent paper product is
selected from the group consisting of facial tissue, toilet tissue,
paper towel, napkin, and baby wipe products.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein at least one of said desired
features is selected from the group consisting of product count,
product style, product color, product scent, product graphic
design, product packaging style, product packaging color and
product packaging graphic design.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein collecting includes collecting
the information from the consumer via a kiosk.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein collecting includes collecting
the information from the consumer through a communications
network.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the communications network is a
telephony network or a computer network.
17. A system for producing a product comprising a network interface
for receiving information from a consumer over a communications
network, said information relating to one or more features of an
absorbent paper product desired by the consumer, and a production
machine configured to receive the information provided by the
consumer over the communications network, and configured to produce
the absorbent paper product desired by the consumer based on said
information.
18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a computer server
operatively connected to the production machine and the
communications network, wherein the computer server is configured
to receive said information from the consumer over the
communications network, and to provide said information to the
production machine.
19. The system of claim 19 wherein the production machine is
configured to automatically produce the absorbent paper product
desired by the consumer in response to receiving said information
from the computer server.
20. The system of claim 20 wherein the production machine includes
a packager configured to automatically package the absorbent paper
product desired by the consumer.
21. The system of claim 18 wherein said information includes
information specifying a graphic design desired by the consumer,
and wherein the production machine includes a printer for printing
the graphic design on the absorbent paper product desired by the
consumer.
22. The system of claim 18 wherein said information includes
information specifying a scent desired by the consumer, and wherein
the production machine includes a fragrancer for applying the scent
to the absorbent paper product desired by the consumer.
23. The system of claim 18 wherein the communications network is a
telephony network or a computer network.
24. A method of producing a custom facial tissue product for a
consumer, the method comprising: receiving information from the
consumer over a communications network, said information relating
to one or more optional features of the custom facial tissue
product; providing said information to a production machine; and
producing the custom facial tissue product in accordance with the
information received from the consumer and provided to the
production machine.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the communications network is a
computer network, and wherein receiving includes receiving said
information from the consumer over the computer network via a
computer server.
26. The method of claim 24 wherein the communications network is a
telephony network, and wherein receiving includes receiving said
information from the consumer over the telephony network via a
telephone attendant.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein said telephone attendant is an
automated attendant.
28. A method of customizing an absorbent paper product for a
consumer, the method comprising: receiving from the consumer a
graphic design and a purchase order for a custom absorbent paper
product embodying the graphic design; incorporating the graphic
design received from the consumer into the absorbent paper product
to thereby produce the custom absorbent paper product ordered by
the consumer; and providing the custom absorbent paper product to
the consumer.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein the absorbent paper product is a
facial tissue product including facial tissues and packaging for
the facial tissues, and wherein incorporating includes applying at
least a portion of the graphic design received from the consumer to
the facial tissues or the packaging for the facial tissues.
30. The method of claim 29 wherein receiving includes receiving a
first graphic design and a second graphic design from the consumer,
and wherein incorporating includes printing the first graphic
design on the facial tissues and printing the second graphic design
on the packaging for the facial tissues.
31. The method of claim 28 wherein receiving includes receiving
from the consumer a graphic design comprising text.
32. The method of claim 28 wherein receiving includes receiving
from the consumer a graphic design comprising a photographic
image.
33. The method of claim 28 wherein providing includes providing the
custom absorbent paper product only to said consumer.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to systems and
methods for providing absorbent paper products having features
selected or otherwise specified by a consumer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Absorbent paper products, such as facial tissue and paper
towel products, are commonly provided with a variety of aesthetic
and functional features. For example, facial tissue products are
available in a number of colors, scents, styles (e.g., 2-ply,
3-ply, with or without lotion, etc.), quantities and packaging
styles, and may also include floral or other graphic designs on the
individual tissues or the packaging therefor. In general, however,
these features are available in only a limited number of
combinations. For instance, a facial tissue carton bearing a
particular floral design might only be available with scented
tissues, or tissues of a particular color, or a specific quantity
of tissues. Thus, while a wide variety of aesthetic and functional
features exist, a consumer must still choose from a relatively
limited number of available feature combinations, and select a
particular absorbent paper product whose combination of features
most closely matches the consumer's preferences or needs.
[0003] As recognized by the inventors hereof, what is needed is a
means by which consumers can individually select the features they
desire in an absorbent paper product, and then purchase absorbent
paper products having the selected features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In order to solve these and other needs in the art, the
inventors hereof have succeeded at designing methods and systems by
which a consumer may select or specify certain optional features of
an absorbent paper product, and then receive an absorbent paper
product having the very features selected by the consumer. These
optional features may include, for example, the color, scent, size
or shape of the product, as well as the graphic design of the
product. Further, a consumer can preferably provide a graphic
design (e.g., including text, photographic images, or other
graphics) together with a purchase order for an absorbent paper
product, and then receive such a product which bears the consumer's
graphic design. In this manner, consumers may purchase custom
absorbent paper products which depict loved ones, slogans, company
logos, sports teams and schedules, etc. These absorbent paper
products may also be "made to order," either at the point of
purchase or a remote location. In the latter case, consumers may
provide information relating to desired product features over a
communications network, such as a computer or telephony network,
which information is then provided to a production machine for
producing the specific product desired by the consumer.
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method
of providing a consumer with an absorbent paper product includes
providing the consumer with a first list of options for a first
feature of the absorbent paper product and a second list of options
for a second feature of the absorbent paper product, receiving from
the consumer a selection of one of the options from the first list,
a selection of one of the options from the second list, and a
purchase order for the absorbent paper product having the options
selected by the consumer, and delivering to the consumer the
absorbent paper product having the options selected by the
consumer.
[0006] According to another aspect of the invention, a method of
producing an absorbent paper product to order includes collecting
information from a consumer relating to one or more desired
features of the absorbent paper product, receiving a purchase order
from the consumer for an absorbent paper product having the one or
more desired features, and producing the absorbent paper product
having the one or more desired features in accordance with the
information collected from the consumer.
[0007] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method
of customizing an absorbent paper product for a consumer includes
receiving from the consumer a graphic design and a purchase order
for a custom absorbent paper product embodying the graphic design,
incorporating the graphic design received from the consumer into
the absorbent paper product to thereby produce the custom absorbent
paper product ordered by the consumer, and providing the custom
absorbent paper product to the consumer.
[0008] According to still another aspect of the invention, a system
is provided for producing an absorbent paper product based on
information received from a consumer over a communications network,
where the information relates to one or more features of the
absorbent paper product desired by the consumer. The system
includes a production machine configured to receive the information
provided by the consumer over the communications network, and to
produce the absorbent paper product desired by the consumer based
on said information.
[0009] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method of
producing a custom facial tissue product for a consumer includes
receiving information from the consumer over a communications
network, where this information relates to one or more optional
features of the custom facial tissue product. The method also
includes providing the received information to a production
machine, and producing the custom facial tissue product in
accordance with the information received from the consumer and
provided to the production machine.
[0010] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1A is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
providing a consumer with an absorbent paper product according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 1B illustrates a graphical user interface employing
drop lists for several optional features of a facial tissue
product.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for producing
an absorbent paper product to order according to another embodiment
of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
customizing an absorbent paper product using a graphic design
received from a consumer.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system and related
environment for producing an absorbent paper product using
information provided by a consumer over a communications
network.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
implementation of the system of FIG. 4.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for producing
a custom facial tissue product using the system of FIG. 4.
[0018] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
features throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] A method for providing a consumer with an absorbent paper
product according to one preferred embodiment of the invention is
illustrated in FIG. 1A and designated generally by reference
character 100. In one preferred implementation, the absorbent paper
product is a facial tissue product. However, as used herein, the
phrase "absorbent paper product" shall include, without limitation,
facial tissue, toilet tissue, paper towel, napkin, and baby wipe
products, irrespective of the actual paper content (if any) of such
products.
[0020] Beginning at block 102 of FIG. 1A, the consumer is first
provided with a list of options for each of several features of an
absorbent paper product. The optional features of the absorbent
paper product may include, for example, the individual product
count (e.g., the number of facial tissues contained in a single
package, such as six, twelve, one hundred, etc.), the style of the
product (e.g., two-ply vs. three-ply, with or without lotion,
etc.), the color of the product (preferably including single
colors, groups of colors, multi-colored options, and no color,
where applicable), the scent of the product and/or product
packaging (preferably including an unscented option in addition to
a variety of scents and aromas), the graphic design of the product
and/or product packaging (preferably including several predefined
graphic design options, a no graphic design option, and a graphic
design provided by the consumer option), the shape of the product
packaging (e.g., the shape of a facial tissue carton), the color of
the product packaging, etc. Thus, with further reference to block
102, the consumer may be provided with a first list of options for
a first feature of the absorbent paper product (e.g., a list of
available product colors) and a second list of options for a second
feature of the product (e.g., a list of available product scents).
In fact, the consumer is preferably provided options for numerous
and as many product features as possible, including those noted
above, thereby allowing the consumer to design a potentially unique
combination of such features which meets the consumer's individual
tastes or needs.
[0021] The lists of optional product features may be provided to
the consumer in block 102 in any suitable manner. For example, they
may be presented to the consumer in printed form, read to the
consumer via telephone, etc. In one implementation of the invention
for facial tissue products, the lists of optional product features
are displayed to the consumer on a computer via a graphical user
interface employing drop lists for the optional product features,
as illustrated generally in FIG. 1B.
[0022] As indicated in block 104 of FIG. 1A, the consumer's
selections of available options are preferably received together
with a purchase order for an absorbent paper product having the
specific options selected by the consumer. This purchase order
preferably includes payment or billing information, such as a
credit card number for the consumer. The absorbent paper product is
then delivered to the consumer, as indicated in block 106.
[0023] The actual mode of delivery employed in block 106 may take
several forms, including hand-delivery of the product to the
consumer at the point of purchase, depositing of the product for
shipment to the consumer or to a proxy for the consumer, etc. As
apparent to those skilled in the art, the mode of delivery will
typically depend on the mode used for receiving a consumer's
selections and purchase order. For example, if a consumer's
selections and purchase order are received by mail, or over a
communications network such as a telephony network or a computer
network (e.g., the Internet), the ordered product may be shipped to
the consumer via an overnight or express carrier. In the case where
a consumer's order is placed in person, such as at a retail or
other business establishment, an absorbent paper product having the
options selected by the consumer may be delivered to the consumer
on-the-spot, if available in sufficient time, or subsequently made
available to the consumer for pick-up. Of course, any one of these
or other delivery modes may be employed for any given transaction
without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0024] In some applications, it may be desirable to preproduce
absorbent paper products with each possible combination of features
so these products are immediately available for delivery to a
consumer, once ordered. However, this will not be practicable in
many applications of the invention, including those where options
are offered for numerous product features, where a consumer orders
a product embodying a graphic design provided by the consumer, etc.
In these and other situations, it may be preferably to produce the
absorbent paper product on a made to order basis using the method
200 shown in FIG. 2.
[0025] With reference to block 202 of FIG. 2, information is
collected from a consumer relating to one or more desired features
of an absorbent paper product. A purchase order for an absorbent
paper product having the one or more features desired by the
consumer is also received, as indicated in block 204 of FIG. 2.
Then, in block 206, the absorbent paper product having the one or
more features desired by the consumer is produced in accordance
with the information collected from the consumer. As will be
apparent to those skilled in the art, this made to order approach
may be implemented in a retail or other establishment, including in
a specialty store specializing in the particular type of absorbent
paper product in question, in a (preferably automated) kiosk
located in a shopping mall or other high traffic area, etc. In this
manner, a custom product may be made available to the consumer in a
matter of minutes, or hours. Alternatively, the method 200 may be
implemented remotely from the consumer, in which case the purchase
order and the information relating to the one or more features
desired by the consumer are preferably obtained from the consumer
by mail, or through a telephony or computer network.
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates a related method 300 in which a graphic
design and a purchase order for an absorbent paper product
embodying the graphic design are received from a consumer in block
302. This graphic design may be, for example, a photograph of
someone or something which the consumer would like to have printed
or otherwise applied to facial tissues and/or facial tissue
packaging. However, as used herein, "graphic design" shall include,
without limitation, computer scanned images, drawings, photographs,
logos, words, phrases and any combination thereof, as well as
single color graphic designs, multi-color (including black and
white) graphic designs, and any combination thereof. The graphic
design received from the consumer is then incorporated into an
absorbent paper product (i.e., the product itself and/or the
packaging therefor) to thereby produce a custom absorbent paper
product desired by the consumer, as indicated in block 304.
Preferably, the consumer's graphic design is incorporated into the
product to the fullest extent possible. In certain cases, however,
the graphic design may exceed the available space on the product,
or may utilize non-available colors, etc. Under these
circumstances, the consumer's graphic design may be only partially
incorporated into the custom absorbent paper product. At block 306,
the custom absorbent paper product embodying the consumer's graphic
design is provided to the consumer. In at least one preferred
embodiment, the custom absorbent paper product is provided only to
the consumer from whom the graphical design and purchase order were
received.
[0027] A preferred system 400 for producing an absorbent paper
product based on information received from a consumer 402 over a
communications network 404 is illustrated generally in FIG. 4. As
shown therein, the system 400 preferably includes a network
interface 406 and a production machine 408. The network interface
is provided to receive information from the consumer relating to
one or more optional features of the absorbent paper product
desired by the consumer 402, and to provide such information to the
production machine 408. The network interface may also be
responsible for processing the consumer's payment or billing
information, if desired. Upon receiving the information from the
network interface 406, the production machine 408 produces the
custom absorbent paper product 410, preferably automatically, as
indicated generally in FIG. 4.
[0028] In the case where the communications network 404 represents
a telephony network over which the consumer 402 may place an order
for the custom product by phone, the network interface 406 is
preferably an automated voice attendant or interactive voice
response (IVR) system. Alternatively, a live attendant or other
form of network interface 406 may be employed.
[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates one preferred implementation of the
system 400 of FIG. 4 when the communications network 404 is a
computer network such as the Internet. As shown in FIG. 5, the
network interface 406 is preferably a computer server (e.g., a Web
server hosting a web site through which consumers can place
purchase orders). Additionally, the production machine 408
preferably includes at least one programmable printer 510,
fragrancer 512, and packager 514. Upon receiving information
electronically from the computer server 406 identifying the
specific product features desired by a consumer, the production
machine may apply a graphic design selected by the consumer
(including a graphic design provided by the consumer, as disclosed
above) to the custom product via the printer 510, as well as a
scent selected by the consumer (if any) via the fragrancer 512. The
custom product, which may include the individual product as well as
packaging therefor, is then assembled (preferably automatically)
via the packager 514, which may also label the custom product for
shipment or other form of delivery to the consumer.
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary method 600 for producing a
custom facial tissue product using a system of the type shown in
FIG. 4. Beginning at block 602 of FIG. 6, information is received
from a consumer over a communications network which relates to
optional features of a custom facial tissue product desired by the
consumer. These optional features may include tissue count, tissue
style, tissue color, tissue scent, tissue graphic design, tissue
packaging style (e.g., upright cartons, family size cartons, travel
size or pocket packages, etc.), tissue packaging color and tissue
packaging graphic design. In block 604, the information received in
block 602 is provided to a production machine. The custom facial
tissue product is then produced in accordance with the information
received from the consumer and provided to the production machine,
as indicated in block 606.
[0031] As an example, a consumer may select a first graphic design
to be embodied on the facial tissues, and a second graphic design
to be embodied on packaging for the facial tissues. The consumer
may also select a scent for the facial tissues. Thus, upon
receiving this information provided by the consumer, the production
machine 408 (e.g., an interfolder) will preferably print the first
graphic design selected by the consumer on a quantity of facial
tissues (which quantity may also be specified by the consumer) via
the printer 510 shown in FIG. 5 (preferably along the borders or
edges of the facial tissue), as well as print the second graphic
design selected by the consumer on packaging for the facial tissues
(e.g., a facial tissue carton), either via the printer 510 or, more
preferably, an additional printer (including an additional printer
associated with the packager 514). Note that the specific locations
on the facial tissues and the packaging where the selected graphic
designs are incorporated, in this example via printing, may be
predefined by the system and/or selected by the consumer. The
production machine may then apply the selected scent to the facial
tissues, the packaging for the facial tissues, or both, via the
fragrancer 512. The facial tissues and packaging may then be
assembled together via the packager 514, and preferably labeled for
shipping to the consumer.
[0032] Among other things, the present invention allows for the
ordering and production of facial tissue products and other
absorbent paper products having various combinations of features.
For example, a consumer may desire to have graphic designs relating
to his favorite sports team applied to a facial tissue carton and
tissue. In particular, the invention allows a consumer to provide
her own design graphic by scanning in pictures and scanning or
typing in words or phrases to be applied to the absorbent paper
product. For example, a new mother may wish to scan a picture of
her baby to be applied to a facial tissue carton and choose the
phrase "It's a Girl!" from a list of predetermined design graphics
to be applied to the tissue. The consumer may further select a pink
background for the carton, a pink tissue, and a "baby powder" scent
for the tissue. As another example, a couple may wish to order
pocket-size facial tissue packages with their names and wedding
date printed on the tissues for distributing to their wedding
guests.
[0033] When introducing elements of the present invention or the
preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles "a", "an", "the" and
"said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the
elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are
intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional
elements other than the listed elements.
[0034] As various changes could be made in the above constructions
without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended
that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not
in a limiting sense.
* * * * *