Patent Publication Number: US-2017358024-A1

Title: Virtual reality shopping systems and methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/349,303, filed Jun. 13, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to virtual reality systems, and, more particularly, to virtual reality shopping systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently, customers can either shop online or visit a shopping facility to inspect and purchase goods and services. Some shoppers do not like shopping online or would prefer to visit a shopping facility so that they can inspect the products more carefully. Visiting a shopping facility can be time consuming and difficult for some shoppers. Not only do shoppers have to find time to visit a shopping facility, they also have to wait in line and contend with crowds. Furthermore, a shopping facility may not have the product in stock that a shopper wants to inspect and/or purchase. Additionally, from the shopping facility&#39;s perspective, it can be difficult and expensive to maintain an inventory of all products. It is also expensive to maintain and staff shopping facilities. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses and methods pertaining to a virtual reality shopping experience. This description includes drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  depicts an example virtual reality shopping station  100 , according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an example virtual reality shopping system  200 , according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram depicting example operations for providing a virtual shopping experience, according to some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to providing a virtual shopping experience. In some embodiments, a virtual reality shopping system includes a central computer system, a point of sale system in communication with the central computer system, a fulfillment portion in communication with the central computer system and configured to facilitate transfer of purchased items to the user, and a virtual reality showroom system in communication with the central computer system, the virtual reality showroom comprising one or more virtual reality shopping stations, each of the one or more virtual reality shopping stations comprising a display device extending around a least a portion of a user, wherein the display device is configured to present a virtual representation of a shopping space for user navigation, and a user input device, wherein the user input device is configured to allow the user to navigate the virtual representation of the shopping space. 
     As previously discussed, some shoppers may not like shopping online and some shoppers may find it difficult to find time to visit a shopping facility. Unfortunately, shoppers are currently left with few alternatives to online shopping or visiting a shopping facility. Additionally, the alternatives that exist (e.g., a personal shopping services) have drawbacks as well, such as cost, inability to personally inspect items, etc. Consequently, a need exists for a shopping experience that removes or minimizes the drawbacks of traditional shopping experiences. In some embodiments, a virtual shopping system is described that can eliminate and/or reduce some or all of these drawbacks. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a virtual reality shopping station  100 , according to some embodiments. The virtual reality shopping station  100  consists of a room  120  or other area in which the components of the virtual reality shopping station  100  are located. The components of the virtual reality shopping station  100  includes a display device  102 , a holographic display  104 , a primary input device  106 , audio devices  108 , motion sensors  110 , an authentication device  126 , and a payment device  130 . The virtual reality shopping station  100  may surround the user (as depicted in  FIG. 1 ) or may only partially surround the user. If the virtual reality shopping station  100  surrounds the user, the virtual reality shopping station  100  can include a door  114 , or other means for entering and exiting the virtual reality shopping station  100 . As an example, the door  114  can open to an opened position (as indicated by hashed door  116  and the arrow  124 ) to provide a user  112  access to the virtual reality shopping station  100 . The virtual reality shopping station  100  can be located at or near a shopping facility (e.g., a virtual reality shopping station  100  for Store A can be located at or near Store A), at or near a different facility (e.g., at or near a gas station, a bank, an office building, etc.), or in a standalone facility (e.g., in a location designated for virtual reality shopping stations  100 ). Additionally, the virtual reality shopping station  100  can be associated with a specific brand or store (e.g., the virtual reality shopping station may carry only items from a single brand or retailer), associated with multiple brands or stores, associated with a specific type of good or service, be based on a sponsored status (i.e., the user  112  can shop for any goods or services from sponsoring brands or retailers), or be generic (e.g., like traditional online shopping, so the user  112  can view products from any brand or retailer that supports the virtual reality shopping station  100 ). 
     In some embodiments, the virtual reality shopping station  100  can include both virtual reality and augmented reality aspects, although for simplicity both aspects will simply be referred to as “virtual reality” in the context of this application. For example, the display device  102  can present a virtual reality environment and the user  112  can utilize glasses  122  to view and/or manipulate virtual products that appear to be in the user&#39;s  112  hands. The glasses  122  can be virtual reality glasses/goggles or augmented reality glasses/goggles. Additionally, the user  112  can utilize haptic gloves  118  (or other haptic devices, such as mats, sheets, objects, wearables, etc.) that simulate tactile sensations for products. In some embodiments, the holographic display  104  presents products for the user to view and/or manipulate. The user  112  interacts with the virtual reality shopping station  100  via the primary input device  106 . The primary input device  106  can be a touchscreen, a touchpad, a keyboard, a mouse, or any other suitable input device or combination of input devices. The user  112  can also interact with the virtual reality shopping station  100  via input devices in addition to the primary input device  106 . For example, the motion sensors  110  can detect the user&#39;s  112  movement within the virtual reality shopping station  100  and reorient images presented on the display device  102  in a manner which is consistent with the user&#39;s  112  movements. The motion sensors  110  can also be used to allow the user  112  to provide input via hand gestures. The motion sensors  110  can also include specialized motion sensors that, for example, track the user&#39;s  112  eye movements. Such specialized sensors can allow the user to provide input to the virtual reality shopping station via eye movement or track the user&#39;s  112  eye movement to determine what presentations or objects within the virtual reality shopping station  100  catch the user&#39;s  112  attention. In some embodiments, the user  112  can also use his/her own devices (e.g., a mobile device) as an input device. Additionally, the virtual reality shopping station  100  can include one or more microphones  128 . The microphones  128  can act as an input device to allow the user  112  to provide voice commands to the virtual reality shopping station  100 . Additionally, or alternatively, the microphones  128  can monitor audio within the virtual reality shopping station to gather data and/or information about the user  112 . The data and/or information can be used to improve the user&#39;s  112  shopping experience, target marketing and/advertisements to the user, build a database of information about the user, etc. 
     The display device  102  presents a virtual representation of a shopping space. For example, the virtual representation of the shopping space can resemble a virtual shopping facility (e.g., a brick-and-mortar shopping facility having aisles, simulated customers or other customers that are currently shopping virtually, and simulated salespersons), a virtual shopping center lacking other customers or distractions, an environment consistent with products for which the user  112  is shopping, an environment specified by the user  112  (e.g., based on preferences of the user  112 ), images or branding that is specific to the products for which the user  112  is shopping, images or branding that is specific to the types of products for which the user  112  is shopping, a virtual mall or shopping center through which the user  112  can navigate to virtual storefronts, or any other suitable imagery. The user  112  can also choose to shop with friends and/or family. For example, virtual depictions of friends and/or family members in other virtual reality shopping stations can be presented on the display device  102 . In some embodiments, the display device  102  extends at least partially around the user. For example, the display device  102  can extend 270 degrees around the user  112 . This however is not required. For example, the display device  102  can extend around the user  112  to a greater or lesser extent. Alternatively, the display device  102  can be flat (i.e., exist in a single plane). The display device  102  can also present information (e.g., statistics, prices, reviews, suggestions, availability, anticipated delivery dates, alternatives, advertising, videos, etc.) about products which the user  112  is viewing and/or for which the user is shopping and the imagery presented by the display device  102  can be controlled by the user. In this regard the space available to present information about the product is not limited to the size of the product or the size of the product&#39;s packaging. 
     The virtual reality shopping station  100  can also include one or more audio devices  108 . The audio devices  108  can enhance the user&#39;s  112  shopping experience by presenting audio to the user  112 . The audio can be any suitable audio, such a recordings of audio in a shopping facility, simulated audio in a shopping facility, music (whether selected by the user  112  or some other party), advertisements, information about products which the user  112  is viewing and/or for which the user  112  is shopping, etc. 
     In some embodiments, the virtual reality shopping station  100  can include one or more authentication devices  126 . The authentication device  126  can restrict access to the virtual reality shopping station  100  to customers. Additionally, the authentication device  126  can be used to identify a user and/or configure the virtual reality shopping station  100  in a manner consistent with the user&#39;s  112  preferences. For example, the virtual reality shopping station  100  can load the user&#39;s  112  profile, payment options, addresses, recently viewed items, saved items, display preferences, etc. In this regard, the authentication device  126  can also identify the user&#39;s history and demographic information. This information can be used to better tailor the virtual reality shopping station  100  for the user  112 . This information can also be used for research, analytics, marketing, and advertising purposes. In some embodiments, the authentication device  126  may not identify individual shoppers. The authentication device  126  can take any suitable form. For example, the authentication device  126  can be a credit card reader, an identification reader, one or more biometric sensors, an input device with which the user  112  can input his/her credentials (e.g., a username and password) or any other identifying information, etc. In some embodiments, the authentication device  126  and the payment device  130  can be a single device (i.e., the authentication device  126  can double as the payment device  130 ). 
     Additionally, in some embodiments, the virtual reality shopping station  100  can include privacy features, such as noise cancellation or suppression devices and/or video cancellation or suppression devices. For example, the virtual shopping station  100  can include passive noise cancellation, such as sound deadening material  132 . Additionally, or alternatively, the virtual reality shopping station  100  can include active noise cancellation features. Such active noise cancellation features can utilize the microphones  128  and the audio devices  108 . For example, the audio devices  108  can present audio that cancels out the audio perceived by the microphones  128 . As to the video cancellation or suppression devices, the virtual reality shipping station  100  can include filters (e.g., polarized filters) covering the display device  102  or shields that cover or obscure images presented on the display device  102 . 
     While  FIG. 1  and the related text describe an example virtual reality shopping station,  FIG. 2  and the related text describe an example virtual reality shopping system. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a virtual reality shopping system  200 , according to some embodiments. The virtual reality shopping system  200  includes a central computer system  202 , a point of sale system  204 , a fulfillment portion  206 , and a virtual reality showroom system  208 . The virtual reality showroom system  208  includes one or more virtual reality shopping stations  210 . The virtual reality shopping stations  210  can be similar to those depicted in  FIG. 1  or be of any other suitable variety. The virtual reality showroom system  208  can be located at a single location (i.e., all of the virtual reality shopping stations  210  are located at a single location) or the virtual reality showroom system  208  can be distributed across multiple locations (i.e., the virtual reality shopping stations  210  are located at multiple locations). The virtual reality shopping stations  210  can be located at a shopping facility, in an office building, in a mall, on a military base, etc. or any combination of the locations. In some embodiments, each virtual reality shopping station  210  in the virtual reality showroom system  208  can be associated with a single retailer. For example, all virtual reality shopping stations  210  in the virtual reality showroom system  208  can be associated with Store A. In other embodiments, some of the virtual reality shopping stations  210  can be associated with retailers that are different than a retailer associated with others of the virtual reality shopping stations  210 . For example, two of the virtual reality shopping stations  210  can be associated with Store A and another one of the virtual reality shopping stations  210  can be associated with store B. As another example, some of the virtual reality shopping stations  210  can be associated with Store A and others of the virtual reality shopping stations  210  can be generic. The virtual reality shopping system  200  can also include multiple virtual reality showroom systems  208 , as well as multiple fulfillment portions  206  and multiple point of sale systems  204 . 
     Shoppers use the virtual reality shopping stations  210  to view and/or purchase goods and/or services. The virtual reality shopping stations  210  communicate with the central computer system  202 . In some embodiments, the virtual reality showroom system  208  includes infrastructure (e.g., computer systems, communications networks, etc.) that supports the virtual reality shopping stations  210 . For example, the virtual reality showroom system  208  can include the logic to generate virtual representations of shopping spaces and/or provide the virtual representations of shopping spaces to the virtual reality shopping stations  210 . In such embodiments, the virtual reality shopping stations  210  can communicate with the central computer system  202  via the virtual reality showroom system  208 . The virtual reality showroom system  208  can also conduct authentication functions for the virtual reality shopping stations  210 . In such embodiments, the virtual reality showroom system can include a database of user information and/or credentials. In other embodiments, the central computer system  202  includes the logic to generate the virtual representations of shopping spaces and/or provides the virtual representations of shopping spaces to the virtual reality showroom system  208 . The virtual reality showroom system  208  then provides the virtual representations of shopping spaces to the virtual reality shopping stations  210 . 
     In some embodiments, the central computer system  202  receives user information and sales information from the virtual reality showroom system  208 . The central computer system  202  communicates with the point of sale system  204  to facilitate purchase of products or items indicated by the sales information. The central computer system  202  can also communicate with the fulfillment portion  206  to facilitate transfer of the purchased products or items to the user. In some embodiments, the central computer system  202  can also perform authentication functions for the virtual reality shopping stations  210 . In such embodiments, the central computer system  202  can include a database of user information and/or credentials. 
     The point of sale system  204  receives user information and sales information from the central computer system  202  (or, in some embodiments, from the virtual reality showroom system or virtual reality shopping stations  210 , as indicated by the hashed arrow  212 ). The point of sale system  204  facilitates purchase of the products (i.e., goods or services purchased by the shoppers). In some embodiments, the point of sale system  204  includes a database of shopper identifications, payment methods, addresses, etc. In such embodiments, the point of sale system  204  processes the sales. 
     The fulfillment portion  206  facilitates transfer of purchased products to the shoppers. In some embodiments, the virtual reality showroom system  208  is located within or near a shopping facility or other location in which products are located (e.g., a warehouse or stockroom). In such embodiments, the fulfillment portion is local (i.e., physically local) to the virtual reality showroom system  208 . In such embodiments the fulfillment portion  206  includes the necessary infrastructure to deliver the products to the shoppers. For example, the fulfillment portion  206  can include conveyor belts, autonomous vehicles, pulley systems, chute systems, a network of employees, etc. The fulfillment portion  206  can deliver the products directly to the shoppers or to a pickup area. In embodiments in which the fulfillment portion  206  delivers the products directly to the shoppers, the fulfillment portion  206  can deliver the products to the virtual reality shopping stations  210 . In other embodiments, the virtual reality shopping stations are located remotely from a shopping facility or other location in which products are located. In such embodiments the fulfillment portion  206  facilitates delivery of the products to the shoppers. For example, the fulfillment portion  206  can arrange delivery of the products to the shopper&#39;s home or residence, the shopper&#39;s office, a locker, or any other location specified by the shopper. The fulfillment portion  206  can facilitate delivery via any suitable delivery agent. The fulfillment portion  206  can obtain shopper information (e.g., names, addresses, identification of the virtual reality shopping station  210 , etc.) from the virtual reality showroom system  208  (as indicated by arrow  214 ), the point of sale system  204 , or the central computer system  202 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram depicting example operations for providing a virtual shopping experience, according to some embodiments. The flow begins at block  302 . 
     At block  302 , a virtual reality showroom is provided. The virtual reality showroom includes one or more virtual reality shopping stations. The virtual reality shopping stations can be located in any suitable location, such a shopping facility, a mall or shopping center, an office building, a gas station or other type of service station, etc. Shoppers can use the virtual reality shopping stations to shop for goods and/or services. The flow continues at block  304 . 
     At block  304 , a virtual representation of a shopping space is presented. For example, the virtual reality shopping station can present the virtual representation of the shopping space. The virtual representation of the shopping space can resemble a shopping facility or include any suitable imagery. In some embodiments, the presentation of the virtual representation of the shopping space can surround at least a portion of a user. The flow continues at block  306 . 
     At block  306 , user input is received. For example, the user input can be received via one or more user input devices in the virtual reality shopping station. The user input devices can include touchscreens, touchpads, keyboards, mice, joysticks, motion sensors, microphones, or any other suitable input mechanism. The user interacts with the virtual reality shopping station via the one or more user input devices. The one or more input devices allow the user to navigate the virtual representation of the shopping space, interact with products, select products, purchase products, specify virtual reality shopping station preferences, specify payment preferences, specify delivery preferences, etc. The flow continues at block  308 . 
     At block  308 , transfer of purchased items is facilitated. For example, a fulfillment portion can facilitate transfer of purchased items to the user. The items can be goods and/or services purchased by the user. The fulfillment portion can facilitate delivery of the items directly to the virtual reality shopping station or facilitate delivery of the purchased items to a location specified by the user. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of other modifications, alterations, and combinations can also be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept. For example, although the central computer system is depicted in  FIG. 2  as separate from the point of sale system and the fulfillment portion, in some embodiments the central computer system includes the point of sale system and the fulfillment portion. 
     In some embodiments, a virtual reality shopping system includes a central computer system, a point of sale system in communication with the central computer system, a fulfillment portion in communication with the central computer system and configured to facilitate transfer of purchased items to the user, and a virtual reality showroom system in communication with the central computer system, the virtual reality showroom comprising one or more virtual reality shopping stations, each of the one or more virtual reality shopping stations comprising a display device extending around a least a portion of a user, wherein the display device is configured to present a virtual representation of a shopping space for user navigation, and a user input device, wherein the user input device is configured to allow the user to navigate the virtual representation of the shopping space. 
     In some embodiments, a method comprises providing a virtual reality showroom including one or more virtual reality shopping stations, wherein each of the one or more virtual reality shopping stations include a display device that extends around at least a portion of a user and a user input device, presenting, via the display device, a visual representation of a shopping space for user navigation, receiving, via the use input device, user input to allow the user to navigate the virtual representation of the shopping space, and facilitating, via a fulfillment portion, transfer of purchased items to the user.