Patent ID: 8108270
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A machine-readable storage medium storing a program product for determining a product layout for a group of stores, the program product comprising machine-readable program code for causing, when executed, one or more machines to perform the following: receiving sales information for a plurality of stores, the sales information of the plurality of stores comprising a theme module defining a group of related products and article information defining a specific product of the group of related products, wherein the article information comprises a template display rack capacity and an individual display rack capacity; calculating a capacity index based on the individual display rack capacity and the template display rack capacity, wherein the capacity index comprises a ratio of the individual display rack capacity and the template display rack capacity; determining a capacity type value based on the capacity index; assigning the calculated capacity type value to each of the plurality of stores; defining a criteria level for each of the plurality of stores based on the demographics and price level of the each of the plurality of stores; categorizing the plurality of stores according to both the capacity type value and the criteria level; assigning one or more stores to an assortment based on the categorizing result; defining a first assortment version upon assignment of a first product to the assortment for a first time period, the first assortment version having a validity period corresponding to the first time period; defining a layout module and assigning the layout module to the assortment, the layout module representing a display area of the plurality of stores; defining a first layout module version upon the assignment of the layout module to the assortment, the first layout module version representing a product layout of the first assortment version and having a validity period corresponding to the validity period of the first assortment version; receiving, from a user, a selection of at least one fixture on which the first product is to be positioned; providing information of the first layout module version to a shelf optimization or ranging program; receiving optimized first layout module information from the shelf optimization or ranging program and inputting the optimized first layout module information to the first layout module version; defining a second assortment version upon assignment of a second product to the assortment for a second time period nonoverlapping with the first time period, the second assortment version having a validity period corresponding to the second time period; and defining a second layout module version upon the assignment of the layout module to the assortment, the second layout module version representing a product layout of the second assortment version and having a validity period corresponding to the validity period of the second assortment version; wherein receiving the optimized first layout module information from the shelf optimization or ranging program comprises receiving information regarding a position for the first product at the at least one fixture.