Method and apparatus for product selection assistance

A method for product selection assistance includes receiving a product category selection, matching the product category selection against a product database to determine a plurality of matched products, and displaying a product matrix. The product matrix includes a product entry for each of the matched products. The product entries include a model identifier, a model price, and at least one product configuration parameter associated with the matched products. The method also includes presenting a product configuration question, receiving a product configuration answer, and responsively updating the product matrix based on the product configuration answer to eliminate at least one product entry in the product matrix.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to product selection in an electronic commerce system, and in particular relates to product selection assistance using a product database in combination with a dynamically updating product matrix.

Electronic transactions occurring on the Internet have quickly become an established method of doing business. The Word Wide Web allows consumers to purchase products online using Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator™ and Internet Explorer™. Consumers seeking to purchase products on the Web access a company's web site, view the product information, select a product listed, and submit billing information in order to complete the purchase.

In the past, however, web sites offering on-line purchasing allowed only rudimentary product selection capabilities. For example, some web sites simply provided a listing of product numbers that allowed consumers to select the specific product to purchase. Other web sites grouped products into categories based on functions (e.g., hair dryers) and provided a categorical list of all the relevant products from which to select.

In other words, the past product selection techniques were very inflexible and generally unconcerned about what features, if any, a particular consumer found most important. With manufacturers offering so many permutations of product, features, color, and the like, the consumer was often presented with an overwhelming list of choices. In many cases, only simple hit or miss searching was available to guide the consumer to an appropriate product for purchase. Thus, past product selection systems were generally unable to focus the consumer on the product most desired, and thus did not generate as much on-line sales revenue as might otherwise have been obtained.

A need has long existed for a product selection assistance system that overcomes the problems noted above and other previously experienced.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a method for product selection assistance. The method includes the steps of receiving a product category selection, matching the product category selection against a product database to determine a plurality of matched products, and displaying a product matrix. The product matrix includes a product entry for each of the matched products. The product entries include a model identifier, a model price, and at least one product configuration parameter associated with the matched products. The method also includes the steps of presenting a product configuration question, receiving a product configuration answer, and responsively updating the product matrix based on the product configuration answer to eliminate at least one product entry in the product matrix.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a product selection assistance tool. The assistance tool includes a communication interface, a processing circuit coupled to the communication interface, and a memory coupled to the processing circuit. The memory stores, for execution by the processing circuit, instructions for receiving a product category selection over the communication interface, matching the product category selection against a product database to determine a plurality of matched products, displaying a product matrix, presenting a product configuration question, receiving a product configuration answer, and responsively updating the product matrix based on the product configuration answer to eliminate at least one product entry in the product matrix.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a product selection assistance Internet web page. The web page includes a matrix panel displaying a product matrix that describes products using individual product entries including a model identifier, a model price, and at least one product configuration parameter associated with the products. The web page also includes a product configuration panel displaying a product configuration question and accepting a product configuration answer. The product matrix on the web page responsively updates based on the product configuration answer to eliminate at least one product entry in the product matrix.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning toFIG. 1, that figure illustrates a network configuration100, including a product selection assistance tool102. The product selection assistance tool102includes a processing circuit104interconnected with a product selection assistance software memory106, a product database107, and a communication interface108. The product selection assistance software memory106is one example of a computer readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by the processing circuit104. The computer readable storage medium may be implemented, as examples, using a floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, Read Only Memory (ROM), or Random Access Memory (RAM).

FIG. 1also illustrates a communication network110that connects the product selection assistance tool102to a remote terminal112. The remote terminal112includes a communication interface114interconnected with a processing circuit116and a general purpose memory118. Additional remote terminals120and122are also connected through the communication network110to the product selection assistance tool102.

The communication network110may represent, for example, Internet routing and switching functions, or may represent proprietary LAN or WAN networks. The communication interfaces108and114may be implemented, as examples, as network interface cards or modems, and may be hardwired or wireless. The processing circuits104and116may be general purpose CPUs, such as those in the Pentium™ line of processors. As will be explained in greater detail below, the product selection assistance software memory106stores instructions for execution by the processing circuit104. The instructions allow the processing circuit104to assist remote users with selection of products using their remote terminals112,120,122.

In the preferred embodiment, the remote terminals112,120,122represent personal computers connected over the Internet to the product selection assistance tool102. To that end, the remote terminals112,120,122execute Internet browsing software, for example, Netscape Navigator™ or Microsoft Internet Explorer™. The product selection assistance tool102executes complimentary Internet web server and hosting software, thereby receiving, for example, initial product category selections from the remote terminals112,120,122, and responsively presenting a dynamically updateable product matrix as explained in more detail below.

Turning now toFIG. 2, that figure shows a flow diagram200of the steps executed by the product selection assistance tool102. At step202, the product selection assistance tool102receives, over the communication interface108and communication network110, a product category selection from a remote terminal112,120,122. A product category selection preferably includes a high level product category (e.g., a refrigerator, air conditioner, or dish washer) for which many configuration options are available. The product category selection may also include a product color selection as an aid in initially reducing the numerous product choices available to the consumer. The product category selection may be made, for example, by clicking on a check box for off-white color, then clicking on an icon of a refrigerator.

At step204, the processing circuit104matches the product category selection against the product database107to determine matched products. Then, at step206, the processing circuit104generates a product matrix for display on a remote terminal112,120,122. The product matrix includes a product entry for each of the matched products. Each product entry preferably includes a model identifier (e.g., a number, text label, or the like), a model price, and at least one product configuration parameter associated with the product. The product configuration parameters represent available product options (e.g., capacity or size, optional functionality, and the like). Preferably, the product configuration parameters are Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) parameters. A CTQ parameter is a configuration parameter that represents a configuration option of particular importance to a consumer (as determined through a consumer survey, for example). As one example, a CTQ parameter for a dishwasher is the number of rinse cycles that the dishwasher makes available. A set of exemplary product configuration parameters is presented below in Table 1.

Any of the components of the product entry may be tagged as an Internet hyperlink to a dedicated product information page associated with that component. For example, the model number may be tagged as a hyperlink to a very detailed product information page for that particular model number.

Continuing at step208, the processing circuit104presents a product configuration question to the consumer. The product configuration question generally relates to one or more of the product configuration parameters displayed in the product matrix. As an example, the product configuration question may ask the consumer how many rinse cycles the consumer desires a dishwasher to have, whether a refrigerator should provide filtered water, and the like. Subsequently at step210, the processing circuit104receives a product configuration answer to the product configuration question. The product configuration answer generally narrows the number of applicable products and the processing circuit104then reevaluates the products displayed in the product matrix to eliminate non-applicable products. In other words, the processing circuit104, in response to the product configuration answer, updates the product matrix based on the product configuration answer to eliminate at least one product entry in the product matrix (step212). The product configuration question may be presented along with the possible application product configuration answers, each associated, for example, with a checkbox. The product configuration answer may then be indicated, or come in the form of, a checkbox selected by the consumer. The product configuration answer may also, however, come in the form of a more general numeric or text box entry.

The processing circuit104then preferably eliminates the product configuration parameter from the product matrix and may optionally insert additional product configuration parameters as replacements. For example, after the consumer provides a product configuration answer to the number of wash cycles desired, the product matrix updates to show only those washers meeting the product configuration answer. The processing circuit104may then insert a product configuration parameter related to an available fabric softener dispenser or wash spin and speed combinations. Furthermore, the number of wash cycles product configuration parameter is removed from the matrix, and is preferably (with the associated product configuration answer) displayed outside the matrix for continued reference.

At step214, the processing circuit104, determines whether the user has selected a column heading based on an external input (e.g., a mouse click, or keypress). If the user has selected a column heading, the processing circuit104proceeds by sorting the product matrix based on the selected column heading. The processing circuit104continues processing at step208until the all product configuration questions are exhausted, or until the consumer has narrowed the displayed products enough to make a selection.

Note that the consumer using the remote terminal112,120,122may perform a side by side comparison of products in the product matrix at any time. To this end, the product entries may include a toggle (e.g., ON/OFF) Compare button selectable by the consumer. When a Compare activator (e.g., a link, button, or the like) is selected, the processing circuit104responsively displays only the products selected by the consumer, preferably with expanded information on each product.

The product matrix preferably includes column headings that are selectable by the user, and that cause the product matrix to sort according to the selected column heading (e.g., price). A default sort by brand name may be initially imposed upon the product matrix. Column headings preferably provide descriptive indicia related to the product entries, including a model number heading, a model price heading, and a descriptive product configuration heading (e.g., Number of Wash Cycles) for each of the product configuration parameters.

In situations where the number of potentially applicable products is very large, the processing circuit104may present the consumer with an initial filtering question after receiving the product category selection and before matching the selection against a product database107. The processing circuit104then receives an associated initial filtering answer and matches the product category selection and, for example, query criteria based on the initial filtering answer against the product database107to determine (generally fewer) matched products. As an example, the consumer may provide, as a product category selection, Red Trucks. The initial filtering question may then ask the consumer what make, what model, or what year to further narrow the number of applicable matched products.

As an example, assume that a user at a remote terminal112,120,122is searching for a refrigerator, preferably off-white. The consumer provides, as the product category selection, off-white refrigerators. The processing circuit104matches the product category selection against the product database107. Those matching products are display using product entries in the product matrix. The processing circuit104then presents the user at the remote terminal112,120,122with a product configuration question, for example, the desired refrigerator capacity, type of dispenser, and ability to filter water. In response, the consumer provides a product configuration answer to each product configuration question and the processing circuit104updates the product matrix so that it displays only the applicable refrigerators found in the product database107. As each product configuration question is asked and answered, the product entries in the product matrix are progressively narrowed until the consumer has found precisely the refrigerator desired: an off-white, side-by-side freezer, 28–30 cubic feet refrigerator with a cubed ice/water dispenser and filtered water. As an option, the consumer may order the product on-line through the product selection assistance system100by providing appropriate billing, address, and shipping information.

Turning now toFIG. 3, that figure illustrates a product selection assistance web page300. The web page300includes a matrix panel302that displays a product matrix304with product entries306. The product entries306include a model number308, a model price310, and product configuration parameters312,314, and316associated with the products. Note that fewer than all possible product configuration parameters are generally displayed in order to avoid overwhelming the consumer with options. However, while three product configuration parameters312,314, and316are shown in the product matrix304, greater or fewer may also be displayed simultaneously. The web page300also includes a product configuration panel318that displays a product configuration question320and that accepts a product configuration answer322. As illustrated, the product configuration answers322take the form of toggle button input.

For side-by-side comparisons, the product matrix304also displays comparison toggle buttons324in each product entry306. To that end, the product matrix304also provides a Compare link326that when activated by the consumer, instructs the processing circuit104to display side-by-side only those product with comparison toggle buttons in the ON state. As noted above, column headings328provide descriptive indicia of the information in each column, and are preferably formatted as active links that when selected, cause the processing circuit104to sort the matrix according to the data associated with the column heading. In addition, any of the information presented on the web page300may be formatted as a hyperlink to a detailed information page. Thus, for example, the model numbers may be hyperlinks selectable to jump to a detailed information page for that particular model.

As noted above, the product matrix304responsively updates based on the product configuration answer322to eliminate at least one product entry306in the product matrix304. It is further noted that the product configuration parameters312,314, and316may be formatted as hyperlinks to product configuration informational pages with detailed descriptions of the associated product configuration parameter.

Turning now toFIG. 4, the figure illustrates a product selection assistance web page400, after the processing circuit104has received a product configuration answer and updated the product matrix304. Note that the product matrix304no longer displays the product configuration parameter relating to wash cycles. Rather, the wash cycles configuration parameter is replaced with a Wash Performance configuration parameter402. In addition, the processing circuit104has removed the products that do not match the product configuration answer (6—Variable wash cycles). For example, the processing circuit104has updated the product matrix304to eliminate the product entry for model number GSD4030ZWW (as that model only provides 4 wash cycles).

The processing circuit104also displays, outside the product matrix304, the configuration parameter remove from the product matrix304. Namely, the wash cycles configuration parameter and configuration answer404are present outside the product matrix304. Note also that the initial product category selection406is displayed outside the matrix as well.

The processing circuit104, after updating the product matrix304, presents a new product configuration question408. In addition, the processing circuit104displays appropriate product configuration answers410and provides convenient toggle buttons with which the consumer can provide the product configuration answer. The product matrix may be updated dynamically in this fashion to continuously narrow the number of applicable products, and to quickly allow the consumer to home in on the desired purchase.

Thus the present invention provides a flexible and feature focused product selection assistance tool. The product selection assistance tool handles the enormous variety in product features, colors, and the like that manufacturers offer, interacts with the consumer to determine critical to quality product configuration answers, and responsively displays only those products meeting the product configuration answers. As a result, the present product selection assistance tool focuses the consumer on the product most desired, and helps generate additional on-line sales.