DYNAMIC PACKAGE PERSONALIZATION SYSTEM

Abstract

Mechanisms are provided for efficiently and effectively personalizing product presentation to users. User profile information including images and preferences may be obtained during instore purchase of products such as cereal, cigarettes, soda, snacks, etc. A user selects a particular product and may enter optional preference information. The dynamic package personalization system identifies an image, background, scene, etc., that may appeal to the user and provides the product in personalized packaging with an image of the user.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dynamic package personalization system.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0002] Conventional mechanisms for packaging items for sale rely on extensive evaluation of target consumers and design for particular effects. These package designs may be effective, but are typically static. Furthermore, packages may be effective for some target consumers but ineffective for others. Conventional mechanisms have proved to be moderately effective in increasing purchase transactions in store, shop, and retail environments. However, each of these mechanisms is severely limited.

[0003] Consequently, it is desirable to provide improved mechanisms for enhancing and improving packaging for in-store purchases including vending purchase transactions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The disclosure may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate particular embodiments of the present invention.

[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a particular example of system that can be used to implement various mechanisms of the present invention.

[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates a particular example of a package personalization interface.

[0007] FIG. 3 illustrates a particular example of a technique for initiating package personalization.

[0008] FIG. 4 illustrates a particular example of a technique for enhancing package personalization.

[0009] FIG. 5 illustrates a particular example of a server.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Reference will now be made in detail to some specific examples of the invention including the best modes contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. Examples of these specific embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention is described in conjunction with these specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the described embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0011] For example, the techniques and mechanisms of the present invention will be described in the context of particular in-store purchase transactions and vending machine transactions. However, it should be noted that the techniques and mechanisms of the present invention apply to a variety of different transactions and retail environments. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Particular example embodiments of the present invention may be implemented without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process operations have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

[0012] Various techniques and mechanisms of the present invention will sometimes be described in singular form for clarity. However, it should be noted that some embodiments include multiple iterations of a technique or multiple instantiations of a mechanism unless noted otherwise. For example, a system uses a processor in a variety of contexts. However, it will be appreciated that a system can use multiple processors while remaining within the scope of the present invention unless otherwise noted. Furthermore, the techniques and mechanisms of the present invention will sometimes describe a connection between two entities. It should be noted that a connection between two entities does not necessarily mean a direct, unimpeded connection, as a variety of other entities may reside between the two entities. For example, a processor may be connected to memory, but it will be appreciated that a variety of bridges and controllers may reside between the processor and memory. Consequently, a connection does not necessarily mean a direct, unimpeded connection unless otherwise noted.

[0013] Overview

[0014] Mechanisms are provided for efficiently and effectively personalizing product presentation to users. User profile information including images and preferences may be obtained during in-store purchase of products such as cereal, cigarettes, soda, snacks, etc. A user selects a particular product and may enter optional preference information. The dynamic package personalization system identifies an image, background, scene, etc., that may appeal to the user and provides the product in personalized packaging with an image of the user.

Example Embodiments

[0015] Current techniques for enhancing product packaging are limited. In some examples, a variety of different designs are provided for the same product. Customers may select a design that is particularly appealing. In some instances, the product provider may vary product packaging frequently in order to identify more popular types of packaging. Extensive customer base evaluations may be conducted in order to identify effective designs. However, each of these mechanisms has limitations. New designs may appeal to particular customers, but may also alienate traditional customers. Celebrity images may appeal to customers who happen to be fans, but may be meaningless to other customers. A variety of designs may be interesting to some, but may be confusing to others.

[0016] According to various embodiments, supermarkets, retail stores, shop aisles, vending machines, showrooms, etc., are equipped with package printing interfaces as well as well as input interfaces such as microphones, cameras, sensors, detectors, etc. When a package personalization system detects a potential customer, the package personalization system may obtain information about the customer. In some examples, information may include preference information provided by the customer to allow personalization of product packaging. For example, the customer may indicate a preference for movie stars and classic packaging designs. The customer may have also provided personal images or pictures that can be used on the packaging itself.

[0017] In other examples, pictures may be taken of a particular customer and used to either display what a product package will potentially resemble, or may be used when the customer actually purchases the product and a package label is printed and included on the product. In some examples, the image may be combined with a celebrity image and a background selected using preference information provided by a user. The image may be displayed prior to purchase and provided on an actual product package such as a cereal box, soda can, cigarette carton, etc.

[0018] According to various embodiments, the customer can also select their own package design including their image from options provided by a package personalization system. According to various embodiments, a package personalization display depicts numerous products with packages including the customer image or other images selected to appeal to the user. The product packages may be dynamically altered based on user feedback and user presentation. In particular embodiments, the package personalization system takes into account clothing type, accessories, hair color, height, weight, skin tone, amount of makeup, etc., in deciding the type of packaging to present to the user. That is, the package personalization system may take into account observed customer characteristics in determining the type of packaging provided to the user. A customer in formal dress may be provided with product and product packaging options that appeal to formal and professional customers. A customer in casual clothing may be provided with product and product packaging options that appeal to casual customers.

[0019] According to various embodiments, if a package personalization system detects that a consumer is nearby or interested in a particular product, or if the consumer activates the package personalization system, the consumer is provided with a number of product and product package options that are selected to suit the customer's needs. In particular embodiments, proximity to a display automatically triggers package personalization. In some examples, biometric data can also be obtained from individual customers and provided to dynamically personalize product packages.

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a dynamic package personalization system. A variety of package personalization interfaces 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109 may be located in store aisles, shops, vending machines, showrooms, real estate properties, or provided on mobile devices. These package personalization interfaces 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109 may be wired or wireless, connected or disconnected. Wired interfaces may provide higher throughput, but wireless interfaces may allow for greater mobility. According to various embodiments, package personalization interfaces 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109 have displays, sensors, cameras, microphones, motion detectors, infrared sensors, scent emitters, cameras, etc., that improve package personalization. Package personalization interfaces 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109 may be activated by a user manually or automatically based on proximity detection or motion detection. In particular embodiments, package personalization interfaces 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109 may always be active and may have a particular remote agent associated with it.

[0021] For example, a display for a snack vending machine may be provided with a package personalization interface 107. The display may provide packaging options to the customer. According to various embodiments, the package personalization interfaces 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109 are connected over a network 131 to package personalization logic 111 in a package personalization system. In particular embodiments, the package personalization logic 111 matches product package designs to particular users.

[0022] According to various embodiments, the package personalization logic 111 may be one or more computer systems, switches, controllers, etc. Package personalization logic 111 may have access to a user profile and image database 113 and a product package database 115. The images may already be available or may be obtained using a camera. A product package database 115 may include numerous package designs that can be combined with user images. The package personalization logic 111 may also be connected to external image database 121 to obtain celebrity images, background images, etc., that may be appealing to a customer. For example, the package personalization logic 111 may determine that a product of interest for a particular demographic profile can be sold most effectively if matched to a particular celebrity and background scene.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates one example of a package personalization interface 201. The package personalization interface 201 operates to package personalization based on customer information that the package personalization system may already have or is currently obtaining. According to various embodiments, the package personalization interface 201 includes an output interface 211 with a screen/display/projector 213, a mechanized/actuated product presentation assembly 215, speakers 217, and a package printer 219. The package printer 219 may use dye sublimation, stereolithography, flexography, laser, ink jet, etc. scent emitters 219. The package personalization interface 201 may also have an input interface 231 that includes a touchscreen 233, keypad/keyboard/mouse/touchpad input 235, a microphone 237, biometric sensors 239, and a camera 241. The package personalization interface 201 may also have a wireless transceiver 251 or a wired interface that allows connection to remote data including celebrity images, background images, help desk agents, etc.

[0024] According to various embodiments, a consumer can manually activate a package personalization interface 201 by interacting with touchscreen 233 or keypad/keyboard/mouse/touchpad 235. Proximity sensors, motion detectors, or other biometric sensors 239 as well as noise detectors and microphones 237 can also trigger activation as well as acquire information about the consumer. The package personalization interface 201 may be able to help identify what product the consumer is currently evaluating, the level of interest and excitement, the duration of interest, etc. According to various embodiments, the package personalization interface 201 may also be able to obtain information identify if a particular consumer has viewed the product before.

[0025] In particular embodiments, a package personalization system can interact with customers through package personalization output interface 211 and speakers 217. A camera can obtain one or more images of the customer. Scent emitters 219 may be used to enhance a consumer's experience based on perceived mood. It should be noted that although particular interfaces are described, a wide variety of sensors, displays, motors, sensory input mechanisms, etc., can be used to enhance a consumer and remote agent connection.

[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates a particular example of a technique for implementing package personalization. According to various embodiments, a session initiation trigger is received from a user at 301. The trigger may result from motion activation, proximity activation, a key press, voice prompt, etc. Alternatively, a trigger may not be needed as a package personalization system is always online and a remote agent is constantly on standby. According to various embodiments, user characteristics are identified at 303. In particular embodiments, a package personalization system may perform facial recognition to determine if the user has perused the store or has evaluated the product before. The package personalization system may also identify demographic profile information about the user, such as the age of the user, gender, height, weight, ethnicity, etc. In some examples, users may voluntarily provide information to the package personalization system to allow the package personalization system to more accurately select appropriate packaging.

[0027] According to various embodiments, target product and/or service characteristics are also identified at 305. In particular embodiments, a user image is obtained at 307. The user image may be obtained from a database or may be dynamically obtained as the user is browsing or evaluating an item. According to various embodiments, the user image is integrated with the product package at 309. In particular embodiments, the user image is integrated with a celebrity image and a background that is determined to be appealing to the user. According to various embodiments, product package options are provided to the user. In some examples, product package options without the customer image are provided along with product package options that include the customer image. Various celebrities, backgrounds, and scenes can be provided with the customer image.

[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates a particular example of a technique for generating a personalized package. According to various embodiments, user profile information is identified at 401. User profile information may include user preferences voluntarily submitted by a user, user demographic information, user interests, biometric information, etc. At 403, one or more user images are obtained. The user images may be obtained from a database or user submissions, public data, user available images, etc. In particular embodiments, the user images may be obtained dynamically using a camera or other imaging device. According to various embodiments, product package options are identified at 405. Product package options may be preconfigured for particular items that the user is evaluating. In some examples, numerous preconfigured product package options are identified along with dynamically customizable product package options.

[0029] At 407, one or more user images are integrated with scenes, backgrounds, imagery, celebrity photos, etc., that correspond to user preferences and interests. In some examples, the user may be determined to be technologically savvy, and the user image is integrated with technology oriented backgrounds and scenes. In another examples, the user is determined to be a fan of cutting edge clothing. Celebrities with a similar style may be selected for depiction with the user. user demographic information is identified. At 409, personalized package options are provided to the user. It should be noted that in some instances, the user may not be provided with any options. Options may be presented on a display and shown in the context of a product package. According to various embodiments, a selected personalized package is printed onto a product container at 411.

[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates a particular example of a server that can be used to select remote agents. A variety of devices and systems can implement particular examples of the present invention. According to particular example embodiments, a system 500 suitable for implementing particular embodiments of the present invention includes a processor 501, a memory 503, an interface 511, and a bus 515 (e.g., a PCI bus). The interface 511 may include separate input and output interfaces, or may be a unified interface supporting both operations. When acting under the control of appropriate software or firmware, the processor 501 is responsible for such tasks such as optimization. Various specially configured devices can also be used in place of a processor 501 or in addition to processor 501. The complete implementation can also be done in custom hardware. The interface 511 is typically configured to send and receive data packets or data segments over a network. Particular examples of interfaces the device supports include Ethernet interfaces, frame relay interfaces, cable interfaces, DSL interfaces, token ring interfaces, and the like.

[0031] In addition, various very high-speed interfaces may be provided such as fast Ethernet interfaces, Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, ATM interfaces, HSSI interfaces, POS interfaces, FDDI interfaces and the like. Generally, these interfaces may include ports appropriate for communication with the appropriate media. In some cases, they may also include an independent processor and, in some instances, volatile RAM. The independent processors may control such communications intensive tasks as packet switching, media control and management.

[0032] According to particular example embodiments, the system 900 uses memory 903 to store data and program instructions and maintained a local side cache. The program instructions may control the operation of an operating system and/or one or more applications, for example. The memory or memories may also be configured to store received metadata and batch requested metadata.

[0033] Because such information and program instructions may be employed to implement the systems/methods described herein, the present invention relates to tangible, machine readable media that include program instructions, state information, etc. for performing various operations described herein. Examples of machine-readable media include hard disks, floppy disks, magnetic tape, optical media such as CD-ROM disks and DVDs; magneto-optical media such as optical disks, and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory devices (ROM) and programmable read-only memory devices (PROMs). Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter.

[0034] Although many of the components and processes are described above in the singular for convenience, it will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that multiple components and repeated processes can also be used to practice the techniques of the present invention.

[0035] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in the form and details of the disclosed embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be interpreted to include all variations and equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method, comprising: detecting the presence of a customer in close proximity to a target product; obtaining a customer image associated with the customer; identifying the target product and a plurality of package options associated with the target product; integrating the customer image with the plurality of package options; printing the customer image and one of the plurality of package options onto a product container.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer image is integrated with a celebrity image and the plurality of package options.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein customer profile information associated with the customer is identified.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein styling of the package is adjusted based on user profile information.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein customer profile information includes demographic data and biometric data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein customer profile information includes customer interests and styles.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of package options are provided to the customer prior to product purchase.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the target product is included in a vending machine.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer image is obtained using a camera.

10. A system, comprising: an interface configured to detect a customer in close proximity to a target product and obtain a customer image associated with the customer; a processor configured to identify the target product and a plurality of package options associated with the target product and integrate the customer image with the plurality of package options; a printing mechanism configured to imbue the customer image and one of the plurality of package options onto a product container.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the customer image is integrated with a celebrity image and the plurality of package options.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein customer profile information associated with the customer is identified.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein styling of the package is adjusted based on user profile information.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein customer profile information includes demographic data and biometric data.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein customer profile information includes customer interests and styles.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of package options are provided to the customer prior to product purchase.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the target product is included in a vending machine.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the customer image is obtained using a camera.

19. An apparatus, comprising: means for detecting the presence of a customer in close proximity to a target product; means for obtaining a customer image associated with the customer; means for identifying a target product and a plurality of package options associated with the target product; means for integrating the customer image with the plurality of package options; means for printing the customer image and one of the plurality of package options onto a product container.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the customer image is integrated with a celebrity image and the plurality of package options.

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