WO 2016/028222 A1 - System And Method For Distributorless Product Supply Chain Management - The Lens

System And Method For Distributorless Product Supply Chain Management

Published: Feb 25, 2016
Earliest Priority: Aug 22 2014
Family: 3
Cited Works: 0
Cited by: 0
Cites: 6
Additional Info: Full text

Abstract

A new product introduction system is configured for (a) introducing new products into a target geographical without authorized or recognized distributors for such products; and (b) providing particular types of new product supply chain management services within the target geographical area. The system receives a target product verification request from a product seeker's computing device, and extracts a product image for determination of whether a product depicted therein is available in the target geographical area. The system maintains a cumulative count of target product verification requests corresponding to the product for estimating product popularity in the target geographical area. If no distributor exists, the system receives venture orders for the product from venture investors' computing devices, and places such orders with a product source outside the target geographical area. The system manages online product sales in the target geographical area, and automatically apportions online sales revenues among the venture investors.

Claims

A method for managing the introduction of a product into a target geographical area in which the product is unavailable from an authorized or recognized distributor, the method comprising: generating a set of target product verification requests by way of a set of seeker computing devices including a first seeker computing device, each seeker computing device configured for executing an application program for selectively (a) capturing and/or receiving in response to user input information corresponding to a product, including at least one image of the product, and (b) electronically communicating in response to user input a target product verification request over an electronic network to a target product verification request processing system, wherein the target product verification request includes the at least one image of the product and information corresponding to the target geographical area;
receiving a first target product verification request corresponding to a first product from the first seeker computing device at the target product verification request processing system, the first target product verification request including at least a first image of the first product and information corresponding to the target geographical area;
automatically extracting the first image of the first target product from the first product verification request;
determining using the first image of the first product whether the first product is already available for purchase within the target geographical area by way of (a) an authorized or recognized distributor established for the target geographical area, or (b) online orders submitted to an online purchase management system configured for managing online sales of the first product for delivery or pickup in the target geographical area in the absence of an authorized or recognized distributor for the first product in the target geographical area; and
electronically communicating product availability information to the first seeker computing device in the event that the first product is already available for purchase in the target geographical area, the product availability information comprising data corresponding to at least one business or at least one map location within the target geographical area from which the first product is available for purchase.
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the first product is already available for purchase within the target geographical area comprises automatically submitting the first image of the first product to a search engine or search service providing image-based search and/or recognition functionality.
The method of claim 1, wherein the set of seeker computing devices comprises a plurality of seeker computing devices, the method further comprising:
designating the first product as a yet-to-be-identified product;
receiving a plurality of product identification submissions corresponding to the yet-to-be- identified first product from the plurality of seeker computing devices, each product identification submission including a potential product name for the first product;
determining a most frequently submitted potential product name for the first product based upon the plurality of product identification submissions; and
selecting the most frequently submitted potential product name as a most likely or actual name of the first product.
The method of claim 3, further comprising:
identifying a reference image corresponding to the first product; and
posting the reference image of the first product to a product recognition / identification graphical user interface (GUI) provided by each of the plurality of seeker computing devices.
The method of claim 3, wherein each seeker computing device within the plurality of seeker computing devices is associated with a seeker identifier (ID), the method further comprising: determining a total number T of seeker IDs associated with the most frequently submitted potential product name;
determining a set of k of seeker IDs associated with earliest product identification submissions within the plurality of product identification submissions that included the most frequently submitted potential product name, where k < T;
associating an electronic credit or award with each seeker ID within the set of k seeker IDs.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining using the first image of the first product that the first product is not presently available for purchase within the target geographical area;
receiving at the target product verification processing system a set of subsequent target product verification requests corresponding to the first product and the target geographical area;
and at least one of
automatically determining a current estimated popularity of the first product in the target geographical area; and
automatically determining whether the first product satisfies an estimated popularity criterion with respect to the target geographical area.
The method of claim 6, further comprising communicating to the first seeker computing device the current estimated popularity of the first product in the target geographical area and/or an indication of whether the first product satisfied the estimated popularity criterion with respect to the target geographical area.
The method of claim 6, wherein determining whether the first product satisfies the estimated popularity criterion with respect to the target geographical area comprises:
determining a cumulative number of target product verification requests corresponding to the first product and the target geographical area that were received during a predetermined monitoring period that temporally extends past the receipt of the first target product verification request; and
determining whether the cumulative number of target product verification requests meets or exceeds a minimum estimated popularity threshold for the first product.
The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving rating data corresponding to the first product from a set of rating event computing devices at a product rating event at which the first product is presented, each rating event computing device associated with a testing member attending the product rating event; automatically generating rating statistics corresponding to the first product based upon the rating data; and
automatically communicating the rating statistics over an electronic network to a plurality of testing member computing devices and a plurality of trading member computing devices external to or remote from the product rating event.
The method of claim 9, further comprising:
receiving a plurality of venture orders by way of communication between the plurality of testing member computing devices and/or the plurality of trading member computing devices and a venture order processing system, each venture order corresponding to a testing member or a trading member and indicating an order quantity and a selling price objective corresponding to the first product;
generating and placing an aggregate venture order directed to a source for the first product external to the target geographical area based upon the plurality of venture orders;
allocating stock of the first product received in the target geographical area as a result of the aggregate venture order for online sales of the first product that are deliverable or receivable in the target geographical area;
processing online orders for the first product for receipt or delivery in the target geographical area;
determining a distributable revenue amount from online sales of the first product for receipt or delivery in the target geographical area; and
automatically apportioning the distributable revenue amount among testing members and trading members in a manner correlated with testing member and trading member venture orders and allocations of stock of the first product for online sales.
The method of claim 10, wherein automatically apportioning the distributable revenue amount comprises apportioning (a) costs or values corresponding to online sales of the first product, (b) administrative fees corresponding to the first product, and (c) online sales profits corresponding to the first product among testing members and trading members in a manner correlated with first product quantities or first product selling price objectives in testing member and trading member venture orders and the allocation of stock of the first product for online sales.
The method of claim 10, wherein receiving online orders, determining the distributable revenue amount, and automatically apportioning the distributable revenue amount occurs on a recurring basis in accordance with a predetermined recurring settlement period.
The method of claim 12, wherein the recurring settlement period comprises a monthly or a quarterly period.
A system for managing the introduction of a product into a target geographical area in which the product is unavailable from an authorized or recognized distributor, the system comprising: a set of seeker computing devices, each seeker computing device comprising a processing unit, a network communication unit, and a memory storing an application program, which when executed by the processing unit selectively configures the seeker computing device for (a) capturing and/or receiving in response to user input information corresponding to a product, including a set of images of the product, (b) generating a target product verification request corresponding to the product, the target product verification request comprising the set of images and information corresponding to the target geographical area, and (c) electronically communicating the target product verification request over an electronic network in response to user input;
a product database storing product information including a product identifier and product status data with respect to the target geographical area; and
a new product introduction system communicable with the set of seeker computing devices by way of the electronic network, the new product introduction system comprising a set of processing resources, a set of network communication resources, a set of memory resources, and a set of new product introduction program instructions stored in the set of memory resources, which when executed by the set of processing resources configures the new product introduction system for performing new product introduction operations comprising: receiving from a first seeker computing device a first target product verification request corresponding to a first product and including a set of images of the first product and information corresponding to the target geographical area;
processing the first target product verification request for determining whether the first product is available from an authorized or recognized distributor in the target geographical area; and
automatically determining whether the first product satisfies an estimated popularity criterion with respect to the target geographical area.
The system of claim 14, wherein the set of new product introduction program instructions, when executed by the set of processing resources, configures the new product introduction system for processing the first target product verification request by:
automatically extracting a first image of the first product from the first target product verification request; and
automatically submitting the first image to a search engine or search service configured for performing image -based search and/or recognition operations.
The system of claim 14, wherein the set of seeker computing devices comprises a plurality of computing devices, wherein the set of new product introduction program instructions, when executed by the set of processing resources, configures the new product introduction system for performing new product identification operations comprising:
designating the first product as a yet-to-be-identified product;
receiving a plurality of product identification submissions corresponding to the yet-to-be- identified first product from the plurality of seeker computing devices, each product identification submission including a potential product name for the first product;
determining a most frequently submitted potential product name for the first product based upon the plurality of product identification submissions; and
selecting the most frequently submitted potential product name as a most likely or actual name of the first product.
The system of claim 16, wherein the set of new product introduction program instructions, when executed by the set of processing resources, configures the new product introduction system for performing new product identification operations further comprising:
identifying a reference image corresponding to the first product; and
posting the reference image of the first product to a product recognition / identification graphical user interface (GUI) provided by each of the plurality of seeker computing devices.
The system of claim 16, wherein each seeker computing device within the plurality of seeker computing devices is associated with a seeker identifier (ID), and wherein the set of new product introduction program instructions, when executed by the set of processing resources, configures the new product introduction system for performing new product identification operations further comprising:
determining a total number T of seeker IDs associated with the most frequently submitted potential product name;
determining a set of k of seeker IDs associated with earliest product identification submissions within the plurality of product identification submissions that included the most frequently submitted potential product name, where k < T; and
associating an electronic credit or award with each seeker ID within the set of k seeker IDs.
The system of claim 14, wherein the set of new product introduction program instructions, when executed by the set of processing resources, configures the new product introduction system for performing new product introduction operations further comprising determining whether the first product is available within the target geographical area by way of online sales of the first product for delivery or pickup in the target geographical area in the absence of an authorized or recognized distributor for the first product in the target geographical area.
The system of claim 14, wherein when executed by the set of processing resources, the set of new product introduction instructions configures the new product introduction system for performing new product introduction operations further comprising communicating over the electronic network first product availability information to one or more seeker computing devices within the set of seeker computing devices, wherein the first product availability information comprises data corresponding to at least one business or at least one map location within the target geographical area from which the first product is available for purchase.
The system of claim 14, wherein set of new product introduction instructions, when executed by the set of processing resources, configures the new product introduction system for automatically determining whether the first product satisfies an estimated popularity criterion with respect to the target geographical area by:
maintaining a cumulative number of target product verification requests corresponding to the first product and the target geographical area received from seeker computing devices after receipt of the first target product verification request; and
determining whether the cumulative number of target product verification requests corresponding to the first product and the target geographical area meets or exceeds a minimum estimated popularity threshold within a predetermined, selectable, or programmable monitoring period that temporally extends past the receipt of the first target product verification request.
The system of claim 14, wherein the set of new product introduction instructions, when executed by the set of processing resources, configures the new product introduction system for performing new product introduction operations further comprising:
receiving rating data corresponding to the first product from a set of rating event computing devices at a product rating event at which the first product is presented;
automatically generating rating statistics corresponding to the first product based upon the rating data; and
automatically communicating the rating statistics over an electronic network to a plurality of computing devices external to or remote from the product rating event.
The system of claim 14, wherein the set of new product introduction instructions, when executed by the set of processing resources, configures the new product introduction system for performing new product introduction operations further comprising receiving and processing venture orders for importation of the first product into the target geographical area in the event that the first product is not available from an authorized or recognized distributor in the target geographical area, each venture order identifying an investor having a presence in the target geographical area and comprising an order quantity and a selling price objective for the first product.
The system of claim 23, wherein the set of new product new product introduction instructions, when executed by the set of processing resources, configures the new product introduction system for performing new product introduction operations further comprising receiving and processing online orders for the first product for delivery or pickup in the target geographical area in the absence of an authorized or recognized distributor for the first product in the target geographical area, after the importation of the first product into the target geographical area as a result of investors' venture orders.
The system of claim 24, wherein when executed by the set of processing resources, the set of new product introduction program instructions configures the new product introduction system for performing new product introduction operations further comprising:
determining a distributable revenue amount corresponding an online order time period during which online orders for the first product for receipt or delivery in the target geographical area were received; and
automatically apportioning the distributable revenue amount among the venture order investors.
The system of claim 25, wherein when executed by the set of processing resources, the set of new product introduction program instructions configures the new product introduction system for automatically apportioning the distributable revenue amount among the venture order investors by apportioning (a) costs or values corresponding to online sales of the first product, (b) administrative fees corresponding to the first product, and (c) online sales profits corresponding to the first product among investors in a manner correlated with first product quantities or first product selling price objectives in investor venture orders and an allocation of stock of the first product for online sales.
The system of claim 23, wherein the set of new product new product introduction instructions, when executed by the set of processing resources, configures the new product introduction system for performing new product introduction operations further comprising updating status data corresponding to the first product in the product database based upon whether the first product is (a) available from an authorized or recognized distributor in the target geographical area, (b) under consideration for importation into the target geographical area, (c) available in the absence of an authorized or recognized distributor in the target geographical area for receipt or delivery in the target geographical area (i) from venture order investors and/or (ii) by way of online orders.