METHOD FOR EXHIBITING A PRODUCT

Abstract: In a store, a consumer electronic product is exhibited to the public in a showroom (100). In the showroom, a terminal (140) or the product (106) provides connectivity to a remote server (120). The server may be that of a retailer or that of the provider of the product. At least one of the functions of the product may be demonstrated to the public. The server is notified when a demonstration is performed.

Description: Method for exhibiting a product FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method for exhibiting a product in a first location. The invention also relates to a network-enabled product and an exhibition system. The invention is relevant to chain stores and to consumer electronic retailers in particular. BACKGROUND ART A new consumer electronics (CE) product often offers new functions not known at this time to prospective buyers. Performances of such a CE product can not be understood at a glance, when the product is exhibited as a "dead box" on a shelf in a store. Therefore, some retailers or consumer electronic companies may decide to verbally explain or show these performances in stores or showrooms by trained sales persons. For example, a demonstration may be periodically performed, allowing showing of the product by a trained salesman in a consumer electronic shop. Alternatively, a TV set may be installed next to the product and a short clip may be continuously played out to show some major functions of the product. Enabling demonstration of a product in a showroom is well-known. US patent 6,042,278 discloses an apparatus for demonstrating printers. Associated with each printer is a demo control box having at least one button that may be pressed to initiate the printing of a demonstration page by that printer. Each demo control box for each printer is connected to a printer control that contains a set of demo images stored in the memory. Often, a manufacturer may also want to get feedback from customers and may want to collect customers' opinion as to the exhibited product. In this respect, US patent 6,026,387 discloses a consumer comment reporting apparatus. The apparatus collects, analyzes and reports information on goods and services offered for sale to consumers by providers. The apparatus comprises a recording station selectively operable by consumers for recording oral comments regarding goods and services offered by the providers. The oral comments are communicated to an analyzer for deriving normalized comments. The normalized comments are then analyzed for reporting to the provider for use in responding to perceptions of consumers as to the services and goods offered by the store to the consumers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to allow monitoring the exhibition of a product in a showroom. It is another object of the invention to provide means for evaluating the interest of the public in the exhibited product. An object of the invention is also to set up an incentive program for sales assistants and customers. To this end, a business method of the invention comprises providing access at the first location to a server remotely located from the first location. A method of the invention also comprises enabling to demonstrate at least one function of the product. The server is notified of the demonstration. In a method of the invention, it is rendered possible to notify a remote server of a demonstration of a function of the product. As used herein "notifying" indicates giving notice to the server of the future, present or past occurrence of the demonstration that can be recognized as such by the server. In this way, a server's agent is aware of demonstrations of functions of the product performed in the first location. An advantage of the invention is to permit the agent of the server to directly monitor exhibitions and demonstrations of the product at the first location without any intermediate party intervention. In an embodiment of the invention additional information, e.g. sales assistant identification information, customer identification information, may also be transmitted to the server when notified. This transmitted information may be used for various purposes. A retailer agent may establish an incentive program for sales assistants who assisted customers in performing demonstrations of the product. A CE manufacturer may also establish an incentive program for stores being proactive in acting demonstrations of the manufacturer's products to customers. A great concern of CE manufacturers is getting feedback from the customers as to their first contact with the product. In a further embodiment, a user is enabled to interactively communicate with the server. A dialogue can therefrom be established between a customer to whom a demonstration is performed and the server. An advantage of the invention is to allow collecting customers' opinions. In another embodiment of the invention, the demonstration of the product is customized to the customer. For example, the customer defines his/her profile or a network environment comprising CE products and services with which the product can interact. The demonstration is adapted to show performances of the product interacting with at least one of the products and services defined by the customer in the network environment. The demonstration may also be performed in accordance with the customer's profile. From the dialogue between customers and the server, a CE company may also advantageously collect profiles of customers interested in the product and to whom a demonstration of the product was performed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is explained in further detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Fig.l is a flow-chart diagram of a method of the invention; Fig.2 to Fig.5 are block diagrams of an exhibiting system of the invention; Fig.6 is a flow-chart diagram of a method of the invention. Elements within the drawing having similar or corresponding features are identified by like reference numerals. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A flowchart diagram of a method of the invention is given in Fig.1. A first step 1 comprises physically exhibiting a product. The product may be a user-operable CE product or a software product. The product is exhibited at a first location. The first location may be a showroom such as a tradeshow or a store that is publicly accessible or accessible to a restricted group of persons. The first location may also be a private home where the product can be found. The product may be exhibited for sale. In a second step 2, access is provided at the first location to a server remotely located from the first location. The server may be a web server accessible over the Internet. The product offers various functions and a step 3 comprises demonstrating at least one function of the product. In a step 4, the server is notified of the demonstration of the function. The server may be notified before, upon or after the demonstration. As used herein "notifying" implicitly indicates that the server, when notified, identifies that a demonstration, as such, has been performed or will be performed. Fig.2 and Fig.3 are systems for carrying out the invention. A product 106 is exhibited in a store 100. The product 106 is physically exhibited to a customer 102 who is a prospective buyer and a prospective user of the product 106. In the embodiments of Fig. 2 and Fig.3 showing exhibition systems of the invention, access to a server 120 is provided from a terminal 140 located in the store 100. In these embodiments, the server 120 is remotely located from the product 106 and the terminal 140. The product 106 offers various functions that a sales assistant 104 may demonstrate to the customer 102. In these embodiments, the sales assistant 104 operates the product 106 using a remote control and performs the demonstration him/herself. In the embodiment of Fig.2, the sales assistant 104 accesses the server 120 from the terminal 140 and informs the server 120 that the demonstration has been performed. In the embodiment of Fig.3, the terminal 140 is coupled with the product 106 and automatically notifies the server 120 when a demonstration is performed to the customer 102. In a third embodiment of the invention, shown in Fig.4, the product 106 may communicate directly with the server 120, remotely located from the first location. The product 106 is located at a first location 400. The first location 100 is the private home of a first individual 420. The product 106 is Internet-enabled and the server 120 is a web server accessible over the Internet. The individual 420 demonstrates a function of the product 106 to a second individual 422, his neighbor for example. The product 106 notifies the server 120 when a demonstration is performed. Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig.5. In this embodiment, the product 106 is exhibited for sale in the store 100. The server 120 is that of an agent 150. The agent 150 is either the manufacturer of the product 106 or the provider of the sale environment of the store 100. The agent 150 may also be one authorized to collect data from the exhibition of the product 106. The product 106 offers various functions. In this embodiment, the product 106 is network-enabled, which means that the product 106 may communicate over a network 134. The connection to the network 134 is inherent to the performance of some of the functions of the product 106. Therefore, the product 106 has a connection terminal 108 for providing connectivity to the network 134. For example, the product 106 is a set-top box that may be connected to a service provider using a wireless connection or a wired connection such as a telephone line or cable. The product 106 may be a digital recorder developed by the company TiVo Inc., that can be connected to a data and video delivery service provider. The TiVo set- top box allows digital recording of TV programs based on user's preferences and allows customized advertisement delivery. In this embodiment, great advantage is taken from the connection terminal 108 that provides capability of the product 106 of being connected to the network 134. Indeed, from this already existing networking capability, the product 106 may also be configured to be connected to the remote server 120 over the network 134. The customer 102, who sees the product 106, may not immediately understand the functioning of the exhibited product 106. Therefore, it is rendered possible to allow demonstrating at least one function of the product 106. Therefrom the customer 102 may have a better understanding of the demonstrated function. The demonstration may comprise showing a video clip explaining the function. Alternatively, the sales assistant 104 operates the product 106 and sends appropriate commands for configuring the product 106 for executing the desired function. In this embodiment, the product 106 may be configured in a demo mode and the demonstration of a given function is an automatic showing of the function by the product 106 itself. The demonstration may be initiated by configuring the product 106 into the demo mode and then initiating the demonstration. The configuration and the initiating may be done by means of a remote control or by pressing a demonstration button on the product 106. The initiating may be done by the sales assistant 104 or the customer 102. The product 106 comprises a main demonstration embedded module 110 permitting automatic showing of at least one function of the product 106. A function of the product 106 that can be demonstrated, is a recording function that allows periodically recording a given program whenever the program is shown on selected channels on TV. The demonstration of this function may comprise showing of the procedure to follow in order to configure the product 106 to perform this recording function. For this purpose, the module 110 comprises a sub-module 110a comprising a string of commands that would normally be entered by any user for configuring the product 106 to perform the required recording function. When asked for a demonstration of this function, the product 106 runs the sub- module 110a and automatically executes this string of commands. The demonstration, then, results in a simulation of a user entering the string of commands so that, at the end, the product 106 is set-up to perform the recording function. The module 110 may be embedded in a special version of the product 106 that is specifically used for exhibition and demonstrations. Alternatively, the module 110 is embedded in any manufactured product 106. The module 110 is on one hand, activated in response to a special command, so that the module 110 may not perceptible by an end-user using the product 106 at home. On the other hand, the module 110 is activated by a user having the product 106 at home desiring to demonstrate a function of the product 106 to a friend. In another embodiment, the demonstration module 110 is embedded in an ancillary demonstration control box connected to the product 106. When the module 110 is executed, the demo box automatically activates the product 106 by sending appropriate commands to the product 106 for demonstrating the requested function. In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the module 110 also permits demonstrating other functions of the product 106: function b and function c. The module 110 comprises two additional sub-modules 110b and 110c for allowing demonstrating the two functions b and c, respectively. In this embodiment, the product 106 is exhibited connected to display means 114. The means 114 allows displaying a user interface UI that permits the user 102 or the sales assistant 104 to interact with the product 106 or the server 120. When a demonstration is initiated, the module 110 is executed and configures the user interface UI to display a selection of existing functions for the product 106, for which a demonstration can be performed to the customer 102. The displayed selection comprises among other functions, the recording function, the function b and the function c. Therefrom the customer 102 selects from the displayed selection the function in which he/she is interested, e.g. the function b. Thereafter, the corresponding sub-module 110b is run and automatic demonstration of the function b is performed. As mentioned previously, the product 106 notifies the server 120 that the demonstration of the function b is initiated and performed. This notification may be done according to several non restrictive scenarios: upon showing of the function, periodically on a pre-established schedule, on request from the server 120 or in response to a command from the sales assistant 104 in the store 100. This notification is done by the product 106 transmitting demonstration identification data DEMO_ID to the server 120 over the network 134. The notification may be done in response to the execution of the module 110. The product 106 comprises a memory unit 112 for storing data from prior demonstrations not yet transmitted to the server 120. Reciprocally, the server 120 comprises a memory unit 122 for storing the received data DEMO_ID. The content of the data DEMO_ID may only be used to notify the agent 150 that a demonstration was performed. However the content of the data DEMO_ID may comprise additional information identifying the customer 102, the sales assistant 104 or the store 100 as is shown hereinafter. For example, when assisting the customer 102 in performing a demonstration, the sales assistant 104 may be required to enter identification data such as a personal code. In another embodiment, the module 110 is password or key-locked and may only be activated by the sales assistant 104 entering identification data or a personal code. The agent 150 may establish, in accordance with the store 100, an incentive program for sales assistants 104 of the store 100. In that respect, the server 120 comprises an incentive program application 128 that establishes and keeps track of the incentive program for sales assistants 104. The application 128 collects information on demonstrations initiated by each sales assistant 104 and deduces statistics for each sales assistant 104 from the received data DEMO_ID. The agent 150 compensates the sales assistants who have assisted or initiated the greatest number of demonstration within a given period of time. Furthermore, the server 120 is able to extract from the transmission of the data DEMO_ID, identification information concerning the store 100. For example, in the case of transmission over the Internet 134, the agent 150 identifies the store 100 from the IP address of the terminal 108, the product 106 or the store 100, from the host name or from information indicating to which entity the domain/IP is registered. Thus, in addition to the incentive program for the sales assistant 104, the agent 150 establishes a second incentive program for the store 100 in competition with other stores. This second incentive program may also be managed by the application 128 of the server 120. This incentive program concerns stores offering for sale the product 106 and exhibiting the product 106 according to the invention. The agent 150 may reward or compensate stores that have been proactive in demonstrating the product 106. In this embodiment, the server 120 further comprises a dialogue application 126 for enabling interactively communicating with the customer 102. The server 120 is enabled to communicate with the customer 102 and therefrom the agent 150 collects personal information of the customer 102 and the customer's opinion as to the product 106 or the demonstrated function by means of the user interface UI for example. The user interface UI and the dialogue application 126 serve as a dialogue interface between the customer 102 and the server 120. The customer 102 may be compensated 106 for having communicated with the server 120, e.g. discount if the customer decides to buy the product. From this collected information, the agent 150 directly controls and keeps track of the exhibition and sales of the product 106, e.g. volume of sales by geographical locations, by type of store, statistics concerning buyers, functions of the product 106 for which the customer 102 shows the greatest interest, functions of the product 106 not clear yet to the customer 102. In this embodiment, when the module 110 is activated and the demonstration is terminated, the product 106 notifies the server 120. Upon being notified, the server 120 runs the application 126 and the application 126 configures the user interface UI for interactive communication between the customer 102 and the server 120. In a method of the invention given in Fig.6, the server 120 communicates with the product 106 itself. Fig.6 is a flowchart diagram of a method of the invention for exhibiting the product 106 in the store 100. In a first step 602, the product 106 is exhibited in the store 100 as mentioned previously. The product 106 provides connectivity to the remote server 120. The product 106 is then, in a second step 604, connected to the remote server 120. A third step 606 comprises defining a profile of the customer 102. The profile includes among others: fields of interest, preferences as to radio stations and TV channels and programs, members of the household, recording habits in the household, geographic area, preferred time frame. The server 120 may explicitly ask the customer 102 for his preferences and/or the profile may be implicitly derived from a user-profile gradually built-up through relation with the agent 150 or the store 100. In a fourth step 608, the customer 102 defines a profile of a network of ancillary products and services. The profile of the network preferably includes an inventory of the devices available in the network, an inventory of their functions and capabilities, an inventory of services available over the network, an inventory of software components and communication protocols used in the network. The environment network comprises CE devices and services over the network with which the product 106 is intended to be used and with which the product 106 can interact. For example, the customer 102 chooses from a selection of CE devices and services provided by the server 120 and that are interoperable with the product 106. The provided selection of CE devices and services may be taken from the products available in the store 100 and to which the exhibited product 106 is actually connected in the store 100. Profiles of the network and/or customer are stored in a memory units 122 and 124 such as shown in the embodiment of Fig.5. Within this context, reference is made to U.S. Serial no. 09/189,535 (Attorney docket PHA 23,527) "Upgrading of synergetic aspects of home network", incorporated herein by reference. This document relates to a method of enabling customizing the network of a user and integrating a new item on the network. The disclosed method comprises determining a user profile and the network profile. Then, the method comprises determining if the item is relevant to the end-user based on the network profile and/or the user profile. If relevant, the user is notified of the option to select the item for installing the item on the network. From the defined profiles of the network and/or customer 102, the server 120 runs a customizing application 130 for deriving a set of customer- and/or network- customized functions of the product 106. A customer profile function of the product 106 may be one that is in accordance with the defined profile. A network function of the product 106 may be one that implies the product 106 interacting with the devices or services as defined in the network. In a fifth step 610, the server 120 provides through the UI this set of customized functions of the product 106 within the defined network and/or in accordance with the customer's profile. The customer 102 selects at least one of the proposed functions in a sixth step 612. In a seventh step 614, demonstration of the selected function is performed to the customer 102. In this embodiment of the invention, the server 120 is enabled to communicate with the product 106 and as a result, the server 120 is enabled to send commands to the product 106. Thus, when the customer 102 selects a specific function among the proposed customized selection, the server 120 activates the demonstration of the selected function. In fact, the complete demonstration may be entirely controlled from the server 120 on the basis of the customer's input. In this case the server 120 activates the module 110 and the sub- module 110a, 110b or 110c corresponding to the selected function. Alternatively, the server 120 sends a string of commands to the product 106 for performing demonstration of the selected function. Alternatively, the server 120 may activate the play-out of a video and audio animation shown on a TV screen. Furthermore, the connection between the product 106 and the server 120 may allow a complete purchase transaction to be completed. The customer may be asked at the end of the demonstration whether he/she desires to place a purchase order for the product 106. In another embodiment the product 106 is in a user's private house. The product 106 is network-enabled and connected to the server 120. The owner of the product 106 can show functions of the product 106 to a friend according to a method of the invention as explained previously. In the case the friend is enthusiastic as to the product 106 and wants to buy the product 106, the friend may be proposed through the dialogue interface to place a purchase order for the product 106 onto the server 120 at the end of the demonstration for example. In view of the foregoing it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims and that the invention is thus not limited to the examples provided. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed in a claim.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A method for physically exhibiting a product (106) in a first location (100), the method comprising: providing access in the first location to a remote server (120); enabling to perform a demonstration of a function (110a) of the product; notifying the server of the demonstration. 2. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the demonstration is automatic. 3. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the product notifies the server of the demonstration. 4. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the server is notified periodically. 5: The method of Claim 1, further comprising: enabling a user (102) to interactively communicate with the server. 6. The method of Claim 5, wherein the user is compensated for interactively communicating with the server. 7. The method of Claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting first identification data to the server, the first identification data identifying the first location. 8. The method of Claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting second identification data to the server, the second identification data identifying an agent assisting the demonstration. 9. The method of Claim 8, further comprising: enabling to track a cumulative number of demonstrations assisted by the agent during a predetermined period of time; rewarding the agent from said number. 10. The method of Claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting third identification data to the server, the third identification data identifying a user perceiving the demonstration. 11. The method of Claim 1 , further comprising: enabling to place an electronic purchase order for the product via the product. 12. The method of Claim 1 , further comprising: enabling to download from the server a set of instructions for performing the demonstration. 13. The method of Claim 1 , further comprising: determining a profile of a network; enabling to initiate a demonstration of a network function of the product. 14. The method of Claim 1 , further comprising: determining a profile of a user; enabling to initiate a demonstration of a user profile function of the product. 15. An exhibition system comprising: a product exhibited at a first location; a server remotely located from the first location; and, demonstrating means for performing a demonstration of a function of the product, the demonstration means is configured to notify the server of the demonstration. 16. The exhibition system of Claim 15, wherein the demonstration means is configured to transmit first identification information to the server, the first identification information identifying the first location. 17. The exhibition system of Claim 15, further comprising: a user interface to enable a user to communicate with the server. 18. The exhibition system of Claim 17, wherein the user interface enables to transmit second identification information to the server, the second identification information identifying a user perceiving the demonstration. 19. The exhibition system of Claim 17, wherein the user interface enables to transmit third identification information to the server, the third identification information identifying an agent of the showroom. 20. A network-enabled product comprising: means for performing a demonsfration of a function of the product; a network-connectivity for permitting to notify a remote server over the network of the demonstration. 21. The product of Claim 20, further comprising: a user interface for allowing a user to communicate with the server. 22. The product of Claim 21 , wherein the user interface allows the user to place a purchase order for the product onto the server. 23. The product of Claim 20, wherein the network-connectivity permits to transmit second identification information, the second identification information identifying a user assisting the demonstration. 24. The product of Claim 20, wherein the network-connectivity permits to transmit third identification information, the third identification identifying a user perceiving the demonsfration.

Inventors: STROOMER MARTINUS, STROOMER, MARTINUS
Applicants: KONINKL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV, KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06Q30, G09F5, G09F19