U.S. patent application number 14/676811 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-01 for virtual jewelry shopping experience with in-store preview.
The applicant listed for this patent is Electronic Commodities Exchange. Invention is credited to Alex Berg, Joel Klein, Moshe Klein, Simon Tam, Brian Watkins.
Application Number | 20150278905 14/676811 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54191015 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150278905 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Watkins; Brian ; et
al. |
October 1, 2015 |
VIRTUAL JEWELRY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE WITH IN-STORE PREVIEW
Abstract
Methods, systems and apparatus for in-store preview of a online
jewelry item. The jewelry item and a local provider are selected.
Payment to secure the in-store preview is submitted. An indication
that the jewelry item is available for preview is sent to the
buyer.
Inventors: |
Watkins; Brian; (Seattle,
WA) ; Tam; Simon; (Medina, WA) ; Klein;
Moshe; (Monsey, NY) ; Klein; Joel; (Brooklyn,
NY) ; Berg; Alex; (Seattle, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Electronic Commodities Exchange |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54191015 |
Appl. No.: |
14/676811 |
Filed: |
April 1, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61973643 |
Apr 1, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20130101;
G06Q 30/0609 20130101; G06Q 30/0611 20130101; G06Q 30/0643
20130101; G06Q 30/0613 20130101; G06Q 30/0619 20130101; G06Q
30/0623 20130101; G06Q 30/0635 20130101; G06Q 30/0639 20130101;
G06Q 30/0627 20130101; G06Q 30/0601 20130101; G06Q 30/0641
20130101; G06Q 30/0617 20130101; G06Q 30/0278 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20060101
G06Q030/06 |
Claims
1. A method for in-store preview of a online jewelry item, the
method comprising: selecting at least one jewelry item, in which
the at least one jewelry item is available for sale from an online
provider; selecting a local partner location, in which the local
partner location receives a shipment of the at least one jewelry
item; transmitting an indication of a desire for an in-store
preview of the at least one jewelry item; submitting a payment to
secure the in-store preview; receiving an indication that the
jewelry item has been shipped to the local partner location;
transmitting an indication to a desire to purchase the at least one
jewelry item; and receiving an indication that the payment has been
charged.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/973,643, filed Apr. 1, 2014, which is hereby
incorporated in its entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This application is generally related to virtual jewelry
shopping experience.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The proliferation of on-line shopping has significantly
changed the retail landscape. Increasingly, customers are enjoying
the convenience, speed and ability to browse in comfort that
Internet shopping enables. Descriptions for a system, apparatus and
method of virtual jewelry shopping, as well as the design of
customized jewelry pieces from a remote location, are described in
U.S. application Ser. Nos. 13/837,374; 13/837,495; 13/837,610;
13/837, 18, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
[0004] Due to the expensive price tag and unique nature of fine
jewelry, some customers may be hesitant to purchase luxury jewelry
items sight unseen. For example, in purchasing loose diamonds,
since no two diamonds are alike, a customer may be especially
particular about seeing the actual stone in person. Thus, it may be
desirable for online jewelry retailers to partner with local
brick-and-mortar stores in order to provide additional features and
opportunities for their online retail customers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a wireless system for remote
shopping of jewelry items.
[0006] FIG. 2a is a screenshot of a sample website for jewelry
shopping
[0007] FIG. 2b is a screenshot of a sample website for jewelry
shopping
[0008] FIG. 2c is a screenshot of a sample website for jewelry
shopping
[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of the process to request an
in-store preview.
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a packaging with an
identifier.
[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates an in-store preview experience.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the
principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present
invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments
illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to
describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no
limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any
alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature
illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the
principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would
normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having
possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the
scope of the invention claimed.
[0013] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments
of the present invention involve both hardware and software
elements which portions are described below in such detail required
to construct and operate a game method and system according to the
embodiments of the present invention.
[0014] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of
the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or
computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present
invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an
entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident
software, micro-code, etc.), or an embodiment combining software
and hardware. Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may
take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more
computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code
embodied thereon.
[0015] Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s)
may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer
readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A
computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not
limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,
infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any
suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a
non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would
include the following: an electrical connection having one or more
wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access
memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable
read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a
portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), and optical
storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable
combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a
computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that
can contain or store a program for use by or in connection with an
instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
[0016] A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated
data signal with computer readable program code embodied thereon,
for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a
propagated signal may take any variety of forms, including, but not
limited to, electromagnetic, optical, or any suitable combination
thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer
readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and
that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by
or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus,
or device.
[0017] Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be
transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited
to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF and the like, or any
suitable combination of the foregoing.
[0018] Computer program code for carrying out operations for
aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination
of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented
programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like or
conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C"
programming language, AJAX, PHP, HTML, XHTML, Ruby, CSS or similar
programming languages. The programming code may be configured in an
application, an operating system, as part of a system firmware, or
any suitable combination thereof. The programming code may execute
entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as
a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and
partly on a remote computer or entirely on a remote computer or
server as in a client/server relationship sometimes known as cloud
computing. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be
connected to the user's computer through any type of network,
including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN),
or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example,
through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).
[0019] Aspects of the present invention are described below with
reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of
methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products
according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood
that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block
diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations
and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program
instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided
to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose
computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to
produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via
the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing
apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts
specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or
blocks.
[0020] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a
computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other
programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to
function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored
in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture
including instructions which implement the function/act specified
in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0021] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a
computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other
devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on
the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to
produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions
which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus
provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in
the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. As used herein,
a "terminal" should be understood to be any one of a general
purpose computer, as for example a personal computer or a laptop
computer, a client computer configured for interaction with a
server, a special purpose computer such as a server, or a smart
phone, soft phone, tablet computer, personal digital assistant,
wearable technology (such as VR headsets, smart watches, smart
glasses, smart rings), or any other machine adapted for executing
programmable instructions in accordance with the description
thereof set forth above. The embodiments of the present invention
may be facilitated by any one of the electronic devices described
above.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a wireless system 100 which
may be used to facilitate remote shopping of the jewelry items
according to the embodiments of the present invention. The wireless
system 100 comprises a server 105, including one or more processors
110 running software, and remote devices 115-1 through 115-N (e.g.,
smart phones) configured to access said server 105 facilitating the
shopping of jewelry items on the remote devices 115-1 through
115-N. In another embodiment, the shopping website according to the
embodiments of the present invention may be in the form of a
software application ("App") downloadable onto smart phones,
tablets, wearable technology or computers and usable via processing
power and a user interface associated therewith.
In-Store Preview
[0023] FIGS. 2a-2c are screenshots of an sample website for an
on-line jewelry shopping experience.
[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of the process in which a
purchase may request an in-store preview of a jewelry item. A
customer browsing the jewelry website may select 300 a jewelry item
(such as a ring or a loose diamond) that he wishes to purchase and
adds the selected jewelry items to the shopping cart. He then
indicates 302 a desire for in-store preview. In one embodiment, the
website has a button dedicated to "In-Store Preview". In another
embodiment, the in-store previous option is available through the
selection of a hyperlink. The customer may be prompted to enter his
location, such as submitting a city, address and/or zip code, in
order to identify the nearest brick-and-mortar partner in the area.
The customer may save this or any other store in his profile, which
will be remembered for future shopping experiences.
[0025] In another embodiment, the customer's location is
automatically identified using a GPS locator that is integrated
into the customer's electronic device.
[0026] The user may be required to requested to submit 304 payment
information, such as a credit card, in order to secure the preview
reservation. In one embodiment, system 100 transmits the payment to
a third party verification server, which verifies the customer's
provided payment. Once the customer's payment has been provided and
verified, then information regarding the selected jewelry item is
transmitted 306 to the jewelry provider who may handicraft or
identify the selected jewelry item and then ship the jewelry item
to the identified local partner's store.
[0027] In one embodiment, the customer receives 308 an indictor
that provides a future date and time in which the jewelry item will
be available for preview at the local partner's store. There may be
a window of time provided, such as a one week period, before the
jewelry item is return to the on-line jewelry provider. In one
embodiment, the customer may reserve via the website a specific
time to meet with an on-site salesperson. In one embodiment, a
sales associate at the local partner's store contacts the customer
to schedule a preview. In another embodiment, the customer drops in
the local partner's store during regular store hours and asks to
preview the selected jewelry item.
[0028] If the customer wishes to purchase the selected jewelry
item, he simply goes home with the jewelry item. The local partner
transmits 310 a message to the online jewelry provider indicating
the customer's recent purchase of the jewelry item, and the online
jewelry provider charges 312 the customer using payment that was
provided to secure the in-store preview. The customer may also
request to change the form of payment that is used to pay for the
selected jewelry item. However, if the customer is no longer
interested in the selected jewelry item, then a message indicating
their lack of interest is transmitted 314 to system 100, which then
releases 316 the hold that is placed on the customer's form of
payment.
[0029] FIG. 4. illustrates one embodiment of a packaging that is
used to ship the selected jewelry item. Package 400 may contain
identifier 402. Although the illustrated example shows identifier
402 as a QR (quick response) code, identifier 402 can be
represented by any number of formats, such as any number of matrix
barcodes (e.g., shot code, qode, high capacity color barcode,
visual cryptogram), 1-D barcodes, 3-D barcodes and the like.
[0030] Identifier 402 may be embedded with a plurality of
information that is relevant to both the jewelry item and the
customer.
[0031] In one embodiment, identifier 402 is embedded with detailed
information about the jewelry item that is being shipped to the
local partner. Such information may include specific details about
the jewelry item, such as style, brand, weight, color, value,
gemstone source. A local partner store would be able to have
knowledge about the content inside the shipping package without
opening the package. In one embodiment, scanning the identifier
automatically inputs the relevant information into the computer
system in the store.
[0032] In another embodiment, the identifier may be embedded with
personal information about the customer who ordered the jewelry
item. Such personal information may include the customer's
demographics, shopping preferences, recent searches, previous
purchases, desired price range, saved searches, and the like.
[0033] In traditional in-store shopping experience, a sales
associates gets to know a customer while helping him or her try on
various jewelry item. Through the course of their conversation and
observation of the customer's shopping preferences in the store,
the sales associate is able to tailor and suggest jewelry items
that are aligned within the customer's interest and budget. By
contrast, for a sales associate who is meeting with an online
customer who requested in-store preview, she is often meeting the
customer for the firs-time during the in-store preview. As such,
the embedded personal information may allow the store to further
customize the in-store shopping experience for the customer when he
enters the retail establishment.
[0034] In some embodiments, the information embedded in the
identifier may inform the sales associate about shopping habits of
the customer. For example, the store may be alerted in advance that
the customer has been shopping for diamond engagement rings within
the $5000-10,000 price range. As such, the store may attempt to
align a sales associate that specializes in diamond engagement
rings to meet with the customer. Furthermore, if a sales associates
has some prior knowledge of the customer' shopping preferences and
recent searches, she might be able to better guide the customer is
his selection of a jewelry item. In providing sales associates with
detailed insight into the customer, the jewelry provider is able to
replicate the in-store shopping experience for its online
customer.
In Store Experience
[0035] Typically, the local partner is an establish jewelry store,
such as Long's Jewelers, that carries its own inventory of jewelry
items. The local partner, however, may also have a portion of the
store that is dedicated for the in-store preview experience from
the online jewelry provider. In some embodiments, the online
jewelry provider rents a portion of the local partner's store in
order to establish the in-store preview area. FIG. 5 illustrates an
example of the set-up of an in-store preview at a store.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 5, system 500 illustrates an in-store
preview experience that utilize various technology devices. In one
embodiment, the in-store preview area contains a number of wireless
handheld devices. FIG. 5 shows the handheld device 502 as being a
tablet, such as an iPad, but any number of technological devices
may be used.
[0037] Device 502 may include display 504, which depicts various
information about a jewelry item. Device 502 also may include
microscope lens 506, which allows the customer to view the jewelry
items in detail. Microscope 506 may serve as a personal jewelry
loupe for a customer wishing to examine a piece of jewelry up
close, such as looking at an inclusion of a diamond.
[0038] In some embodiments, device 502 also includes a chip reader
508, such as an RFID reader. Each jewelry item may include a tag
which houses a corresponding chip and the like. The chip may
contain specific information about the jewelry item, such as its
price, gem source, weight, metal type, and the like. A customer
using device 502 may wish to independently browse the various items
in the store, and if he finds something of interest, he can simply
scan the jewelry tag to obtain the relevant information on device
502. For example, the customer may encounter a ruby necklace of
interest. Rather than waiting for a sales associate to take the
item from the case, he simple places device 502 over the necklace.
Device 502 automatically detects a RFID chip located on the tag of
the necklace. Information regarding the ruby necklace will
automatically be displayed on the customer's device 502.
[0039] Device 502 also may include an indicator button 510, which
transmits an indication that a customer wishes to be helped with a
sales associates in person.
[0040] In one embodiment, device 502 keeps track of the customer's
shopping preferences while in the store. For example, device 502
may record any jewelry item that the customer scans and stores this
information in the customer's profile. Thus, if the customer
indicates a desire to speak with a sales associate, she can log
into the customer's profile and ascertain a quick previous of the
items that the customer has been considering. Device 502 also may
store any jewelry pieces that the customer examiners with a sales
associate.
[0041] In one embodiment, device 502 stores the information without
the customer's input. In another embodiment, a customer may use
device 502 to store jewelry pieces of interest to a customer
profile associated with the online jewelry provider. For example,
the customer may narrow his search to three different engagement
rings, but not being ready to purchase yet, he may choose to keep a
record of his in-store visit and store the information on his
customer profile, which he can retrieve at a later time.
[0042] Device 502 also may allow the customer to upload the website
for the on-line provider. The customer may have the option of
comparing the jewelry item that is in the store with other
inventory that is available through the online jewelry
provider.
[0043] In one embodiment, system 500 provides the customer with a
low-pressure sales experience, where he may choose whether he
wishes to engage with a live sales associate. In another
embodiment, system 500 allows a local partner to streamline its
resources, so that sales associates are spending time with
customers who are more serious about making a purchase. In yet
another embodiment, system 500 allows the local partner to reduce
its sales staff, since the tablets provide a lot of the initial
fielding of questions from customers.
[0044] System 400 also may include a remote chip-reader 512, such
as a RFID mat, that is remote to device 502 and connected
wirelessly. As described above, each jewelry item may include a
chip that is embedded on its tag. In one embodiment, when the sales
associates passes the jewelry item to the customer, the chip on the
jewelry item is automatically detected. The information that is
embedded in the chip, such as specific details about the jewelry
item, is wirelessly transmitted and shown on display 510 of device
502. The experience for the customer is a seamless transition, in
which information about the jewelry item that they are handling
automatically displays on device 502. In one embodiment, the
customer also may select to save the jewelry item and the relevant
information to his customer profile.
[0045] Although the embodiments above are described in the context
of store-owned devices, in another embodiment, a customer may
simply download a corresponding mobile app on to a personal
electronic device, such as a smart phone or wearable technology. In
one embodiment, the store has a number of attachable microscope
lenses 512, which a customer may attach to his personal electronic
device. The customer may then take advantage of the in-store
shopping experience described above, using his personal electronic
device, rather than a store issued device 502.
Compensation
[0046] In one embodiment, a local partner receives a monetary
benefit from participating in the partnership. The local partner
may receive a commission if the shipped jewelry item is purchased
on-site. In this set-up, the local partner is compensated for
assisting in the sale of another company's product. In another
embodiment, the local partner may be rewarded a compensation if the
customer purchases the jewelry item from the on-line retail store
at a later date.
[0047] In another embodiment, compensation to the local partner is
not limited to the shipped jewelry item. In one embodiment, the
local partner is assigned a territory. Any on-line sales made by
individuals within this territory will result in some form of
compensation to the local partner. The territory may be defined in
any number of ways, such as a certain radius from the local
partner's location, a specific state, a specific region, assigned
zip codes, etc.
[0048] In another embodiment, the local partner may be assigned
more than one territory. In one embodiment, the territories are
distinct, such as the State of New Jersey and the State of New
York. In another embodiment, the various territories may be
overlapping, such as the Northeast region, the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, and the city of Boston. In another embodiment, the
territories are broken into tiers, which each tier being assigned
different compensation structures. In one example, the local
partner is assigned three different territory tiers, where Tier 1
territories are within a 5 mile radius of the local partner's
location. Any sales made within a Tier 1 territory is more likely a
direct result of assistance by the local partner, as such sales
within Tier 1 are rewarded the highest amount of commission of 20%.
The Tier 2 territory encompasses a 15 mile radius of the local
partner's location. These sales are rewarded by a 10% commission.
Lastly, the Tier 3 territories are defined as sales made from
locations beyond the 15 mi radius of the local partner's location,
and as such are rewarded at a 5% commission rate.
[0049] In another embodiment, the local partner has a territory
that encompasses certain zip codes, such as the billing zip code or
the shipping zip code.
[0050] In one embodiment, the compensation structure is calculated
over a period of time. For example, the compensation may be derived
from the total revenue in sale over a quarterly period.
[0051] In yet another embodiment, the customer fills out a survey
regarding her in-store preview experience with the local partner.
The results from this survey may be used in determining the
commission received by the local partner.
Augmented Reality
[0052] In addition to in-store preview of a jewelry item, system
100 also provides customers with augment reality opportunities. For
instance, the customer may be able to superimpose an image of the
jewelry item onto herself via a camera device. In one embodiment,
the customer is shopping for a jewelry item on a mobile device,
such as an iPhone. The mobile device may include a built-in camera.
After selecting a jewelry item of interest, such as a ring, the
customer may have the option to generate an image overlay of the
jewelry item. In one embodiment, system 100 generates an image
overlay of the selected jewelry item. The image of the jewelry then
appears in the camera viewfinder of the device. Holding the device,
the user can match the image overlay onto herself and get a sense
of how the jewelry item would look on herself. For example, if the
customer is interested in a particular ring, system 100 may
generate an image overlay of the ring. The ring image will appear
in the camera viewfinder of the customer's device. While holding
the camera over her hand, the customer is able to superimpose the
ring image over her own hand. In this sense, the customer can get
an idea of how the ring might look on her actual hand. For
instance, the customer might wish to know how the metal of the band
looks against her skin tone, or whether the center stone of the
ring looks too gaudy on her hand.
[0053] In one embodiment, the customer is provided with a template
jewelry item, such as a template ring. The template ring maybe
color-coded in order to help facilitate the superimposing process.
For example, the customer may be provided with a blue ring that she
can wear as a jewelry template. The customer then downloads an app
on her mobile device that corresponds to the augmented reality
service. In one embodiment, the system receives an indication that
the customer is interested in superimposing a selected jewelry item
on herself. System 100 then detects the color-code of the template
jewelry item and filters out all other images, except for the
template. System 100 then overlays an image of the jewelry item on
top of the template.
[0054] In one embodiment, system 100 receives feedback from the
customer about the superimposed image. In one embodiment, the
system includes sensitivity indicators, which the customers may
adjust to provide the optimal image. For example, if the customer
is holding her hand against the sky, the system may be adjusted to
be more sensitive, so that it can distinguish between the blue
color in the jewelry item template versus the blue color of the
sky.
[0055] In another embodiment, system 100 may receive feedback from
the customer to further resize the superimposed image so that it
appears to be a closer fit on the customer.
[0056] In one embodiment, system 100 requires the user to include a
benchmark item, such as a coin, in the viewfinder, so that system
100 is able to size the image overlay in proper proportions.
[0057] In another embodiment, system 100 is capable of detecting
the customer's hand and generating a recommendation of the ring
sense or a proper length of a necklace.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0058] The following applications are incorporated by reference
herein: U.S. application Ser. No. 13/248,257 (U.S. Pat. No.
8,626,601), issued on Jan. 7, 2014; U.S. application Ser. No.
13/826,517 (U.S. Publication No. 20130204736), filed on Mar. 14,
2013; U.S. application Ser. No. 14/148,592 (U.S. Publication No.
20140188662), filed on Jan. 6, 2014; U.S. application Ser. No.
13/837,374 (U.S. Publication No. 20130218714), filed on Mar. 15,
2013; U.S. application Ser. No. 13/837,495 (U.S. Publication No.
20140052563), filed on Mar. 15, 2013; U.S. application Ser. No.
13/837,610 (U.S. Publication No. 20130208085), filed on Mar. 15,
2013; U.S. application Ser. No. 13/837,718 (U.S. Publication No.
20130226646), filed on Mar. 15, 2013;
* * * * *