Providing Recreation and Social Activities in Retail Environments
OwnerAlexander D. Wissner-Gross, Timothy M. Sullivan +2inventors
InventorsAlexander D. Wissner-Gross, Timothy M. Sullivan, Robert J. Wolf, Robert V. Brazell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to providing recreational activities or social interactions within a retail store. The recreational activities or social interactions can create a fun, spontaneous, and exciting atmosphere which may increase store interest or consumer loyalty. The recreational activities or social interactions can be provided on a display device such as a customer's mobile phone, or a stationary display attached to a shelf or other structure.
Claims20
A method, performed by a portable computing device carried by a customer, for providing a game within a map of a retail store to provide entertainment to the customer while shopping in the retail store, the method comprising:
- determining, by the portable computing device, that a customer is located at a retail store;
- generating a map of the retail store, the map including a game that the customer interacts with while shopping in the retail store;
- displaying the map of the retail store to the customer such that the customer can interact with the game;
- receiving input from the customer that interacts with the game;
- and
- in response to the input, updating the game within the map.
The method of claim 4, wherein the map comprises a floor plan of the retail store that includes aisles and shelves.
A method, performed by a computer system, for providing a game within a map of a retail store to provide entertainment to the customer while shopping in the retail store, the method comprising:
- detecting that a portable computing device carried by a customer is located at a retail store;
- sending a map of the retail store to the portable computing device for display to the customer, the map including a game that the customer interacts with while shopping in the retail store;
- receiving, from the portable computing device, customer input that interacts with the game;
- and
- in response to the customer input, updating the game within the map.
A method, performed by a computer system, for providing a game to a customer while the customer is at a retail store, the method comprising:
- determining that a customer is located at a retail store;
- displaying a game on a display device, the game being associated with an activity that the customer performs at the retail store, the game further comprising a challenge to perform the activity in accordance with specified criteria;
- tracking the customer's performance of the activity;
- and
- providing a reward to the customer for performing the activity in accordance with the specified criteria.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.