PROVIDING CUSTOMISED INFORMATION

3. PREAMBLE OF THE DESCRIPTION: The following complete specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is performed. FIELD OF INVENTION:

The present invention relates to data processing and communication networks, and more particularly to a system and a method for providing customised information to the user based on the user requirements/conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

This section is intended only to provide background information pertaining to the similar field of the present invention, and may be used only to enhance the understanding of the present invention and not as admissions of prior art.

With the increasing pace of advancement in communications and data processing technology, particularly machine readable codes and online mode of searching desired content/information, a majority of technologies have become widespread with additional features. Thus, the applications, with improved technical aspects such as QR codes, tracking systems, etc. are widely used and have proved to be a convenient and useful means for the users. In particular, the QR codes are used to include web address, message, contact details, etc.

However, the current systems using the QR codes are unable to display/provide appropriate content to the user based on the user requirements. Also, said current systems fail to provide user specific customised information to the user due to which same information is displayed to every user on scanning the QR code. Specifically, the current systems using the QR codes lack an automatic invoice creation and therefore, are unable to provide automatic invoice details whenever the user scans the code after placing the order. This results in inconvenience to the user, since the user has to manually enter the amount for said order. Another limitation possessed by said current systems lies in the inability to track current user location whenever the user scans the QR code. The currently used search engines/tracking means with the help of QR codes are unable to optimally track user location and provide information related to nearby merchant stores.

Accordingly, in view of above-mentioned limitations, there arises a need of an efficient and user based system and method having capability to display user customised information to the user in accordance with the user’s current location and other conditions/order/requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: In light of the limitations of the existing conventional systems as discussed above, the present invention discloses a system and method that enables displaying/providing user specific customised information to the user device in a simplified way. Also, the present invention has another objective to reduce complexity in adoption and add convenience thereby increasing the reach and scale for applications working on unique code-based platforms. Yet another objective of the present invention is to automatically generate invoices based on the order/s placed by the user, thereby eliminating the need of the user to manually enter the amount raised against the said order. The afore-mentioned objectives and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without deviating from the spirit thereof. Therefore, this section is intended only to introduce certain objects and aspects of the present invention, and is therefore, not intended to define key features or scope of the subject matter of the present invention.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a user based method for providing customised information to a user device, the method being performed by a server device. The method comprises steps of retrieving user information from a unique code scan performed by the user device, wherein said unique code corresponds to a merchant store, and said user information comprises a current location of the user device and at least one order placed by the user device at the merchant store. Further, the method comprises step of detecting one or more neighbouring merchant stores present within a pre-defined vicinity of the user device based on the user information; and subsequently providing, to the user device, the customised information comprising said one or more neighbouring merchant stores and corresponding one or more availing services provided by the one or more neighbouring merchant stores.

Furthermore, in another aspect, the present invention relates to a user based system for providing customised information to a user device. The system comprises the user device comprising a sensing unit configured to scan a unique code; and a server device comprising: one or more processor configured to: retrieve user information from said scan performed by the user device, wherein said unique code corresponds to a merchant store, and said user information comprises a current location of the user device and at least one order placed by the user at the merchant store. The server device further comprises a detecting unit configured to detect one or more neighbouring merchant stores present within a pre-defined vicinity of the user device, wherein said detection is based on the user information, and a display unit configured to provide, to the user device, the customised information comprising said one or more neighbouring merchant stores and corresponding one or more availing services provided by the one or more neighbouring merchant stores.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawings mentioned in this section disclose exemplary embodiments of the claimed system and method. Detailed description of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. Further, the components/modules and steps of a process are assigned reference numerals that are used throughout the description to indicate the respective components and steps. Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 illustrates a system overview of the present invention for displaying/providing customised result/information to a user device according to an embodiment herein;

Figure 2 illustrates a method overview for displaying/providing customised result/information to a user device based according to an embodiment herein; and Figures 3A to 3C illustrate implementation of a functional QR code, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRPTION:

This section is intended to provide explanation and description of various possible embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments used herein, and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to non-limiting embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. The examples used herein are intended only to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable the person skilled in the art to practice the embodiments used herein. Also, the examples/embodiments described herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein. The present invention relates to a system and a method for displaying customised information to the user based on the user. The present invention encompasses a centralized server device configured to enable the user (using the user device) to scan a unique code present at a merchant store and subsequently retrieve user information from said scan, wherein said user information comprises current location of the user device and at least one order placed by the user device. Further, the server device, based on user information, detects one or more neighbouring merchant stores present within a pre-defined vicinity of the user device. The server device is further configured to provide customised information to the user device, wherein said customised information comprises said neighbouring one or more merchant stores along with the corresponding availing services provided by said one or more neighbouring merchant stores. The present invention further encompasses generating one or more invoices based on said at least one order placed by the user device.

The term ‘unique code’ as used herein refers to a machine readable code/information. More particularly, the unique code refers to a barcode, a QR code or any such code as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. Also, the unique code corresponds to a merchant store, and comprises information of said merchant store. Further, the unique code may be present at one or more public websites and interfaces. Furthermore, the unique code comprises one or more URL addresses to a website/interface of the vendor/eatery/merchant associated/linked with the server device. The term ‘user information’ refers to information retrieved from the scanning of the unique code, wherein the user information comprises at least one order placed by the user device and the user device’s current location. In an embodiment, the user information further comprises a device identifier corresponding to the user device; user details, history of orders placed by the user device and previous activities done by the user device. In an exemplary embodiment, the device identifier comprises is operable to detect an information about the user device on occurrence of scan of the unique code, when scanned threre upon.

The term ‘pre-defmed vicinity’ refers to a pre-defined range from the user device to the one or more merchant store detected thereof. Said pre-defined vicinity is defined by one of the user device and the server device. In an embodiment, said vicinity is defined in real time manner.

The term ‘merchant store’ as used herein refers to any place visited by people to place orders (food/drink/cosmetic/medicines or any such order as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art). In particular, the merchant store may include, but not limited to, a restaurant, a hotel, a cafeteria, an outlet, a bar, a chemist, a shop, departmental store or any such place as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. The term ‘neighbouring merchant store’ as used herein refers to the merchant store present within the pre-defined vicinity (range) of the user device, and near to the merchant store. The term ‘user device’ as used herein refers to a device used by the user. More particularly, the user using the user device initiates the mechanism for payment processing of the orders placed by them by scanning the unique code. Further, the user device refers to any computing device including, but not limiting to, a smart phone, a feature phone, a tablet, a computer, a laptop and any such device as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. Further, the user device is configured to communicate with the server device and/or the merchant store through a network entity.

The term ‘current location’ refers to the present location of the user (user device). The current location relates to one of a current direction, current distance of the user device from the one or more merchant store and any such information as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. Further, the present invention encompasses detecting the current location of the user device in one of a continuous manner and a periodic manner.

It will be understood that the terms such as connect, configure, couple and respective cognate terms may include a physical connection (such as a wired/wireless connection), a logical connection or a combination of such connections as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. As used herein, the term ‘and/or’ includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Further, Figure 1 illustrates a system architecture [100] for displaying/providing customised information to the user device [110] based on the user in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in the Figure 1, the system [100] comprises the user device [110] and the server device [120] connected to each other through the network entity [130], wherein the network entity [130] may refer to a personal area network, a local area network, a metropolitan area network, a wide area network, the Internet, or a combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the server device [120] may be a cloud server.

The user device [110] comprises a sensing unit [101]. Likewise, the server device [120] comprises a detecting unit [103], one or more processor [102], a display unit

[104] and a memory unit [105].

Further, in an event, the user visits the merchant store and wishes to proceed with the payment of the at least one order placed by the user using the user device [110], the sensing unit [101] of the user device [110] is configured to perform one or more scan of the unique code [140] present at the merchant store, wherein said unique code [140] corresponds to said merchant store. The sensing unit [101] as used herein is a sensor, a camera or any such device as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. In an embodiment, the sensing unit [101] is configured to scan the unique code [140] through sensing devices such as barcode scanners and the like. Further, the user device [110] is configured to communicate with the server device [120] in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. Further, the one or more processor [102] of the server device [120] is configured to retrieve the user information from said scan performed by the user device [110]. The user information comprises the current location of the user device [110], the at least one order placed by the user device [110], device identifier corresponding to the user device [110], user details, history of orders and previous activities done by the user device [110].

Further, based on the current location of the user device [110], the detecting unit [103] is configured to detect the one or more neighbouring merchant stores present within the pre-defined vicinity of the user device [110]. Also, the detecting unit [103] is configured to determine the corresponding availing services/offers/discounts provided by each of the one or more neighbouring merchant stores. The detecting unit [103] further internally communicates the information relating to the one or more neighbouring merchant stores to the display unit [104]

Further, based on said detection, the display unit [104] is configured to display the customised information to the user device [110], wherein customised information comprises said one or more neighbouring merchant stores along with corresponding availing services/offers/discounts provided by each of the one or more neighbouring merchant stores. In an embodiment, the display unit [104] is configured to display the one or more neighbouring merchant stores in a sorted manner based on closest distance from the merchant store, the corresponding one or more availing services, alphabetical manner and any such manner as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. In another embodiment, said customised information is displayed in form of a list, a grid and any such format as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. In an embodiment, said customised information is displayed to the user device [110] by directing the user device [110] to a specific URL illustrating interface of said merchant stores.

In addition, the memory unit [105] of the server device [110] is configured to store at least one of the user information in a database. In an embodiment, said memory unit [105] is a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium capable of storing executable program instructions for data processing of the unique code to perform operations as described above. In another embodiment, the computer readable storage medium includes executable program instructions in a memory to be executed for generating data patterns related to QR codes. In yet another embodiment, said memory unit [105] is a non-transitory storage medium capable of storing data and/or information such as instructions, program code, data structures, program modules and an application. Further, the present invention encompasses generating the one or more invoices based on the at least one order placed by the user device [110]. The one or more processor [102] is therefore, configured to process the user information (especially the at least one order placed by the user device [110]) in one of a real time manner and periodic manner, and accordingly generate the one or more invoices. The present invention also encompasses displaying the one or more invoices along with one or more payment modes to the user device [110].

Figure 2 illustrates a method overview for displaying/providing customised result/information to the user device [110] according to an embodiment herein. The method [200] may comprise following operational steps to accomplish the present invention’s objective of for displaying/providing customised result/information to the user device [110]: At step 201, when the user visits the merchant store and wishes to proceed with the payment of the at least one order placed by the user device [110], the sensing unit [101] of the user device [110] performs one or more scan of the unique code [140] present at the merchant store, wherein said unique code [140] corresponds to said merchant store.

At step 202, the one or more processor [102] retrieves the user information from said scan performed by the user device [110], wherein said user information comprises current location of the user device [110], the at least one order placed by the user device [110], device identifier corresponding to the user device [110], user details, history of orders and previous activities done by the user device [110].

At step 203, the detecting unit [103] detects the one or more neighbouring merchant stores present within the pre-defined vicinity of the user device [110] based on said user information (current location of the user device [110]). Also, the detecting unit [103] determines the corresponding services/offers/discounts provided by each of the one or more neighbouring merchant stores. In an event the one or more neighbouring merchant stores are detected, the method [200] leads to step 204, or else the method [200] goes back to step 202.

At step 204, the display unit [104] displays the customised information to the user device [110], wherein the customised information comprises said one or more neighbouring merchant stores along with corresponding availing services/offers/discounts provided by each of the one or more neighbouring merchant stores. In an embodiment, the display unit [104] displays the customised information in a sorted manner based on closest distance from the merchant store, the corresponding one or more availing services, alphabetical manner and any such manner as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. In another embodiment, said customised information is displayed in form of a list, a grid and any such format as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

Figure 3A to 3C illustrate implementation of a functional QR code 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, the QR code 300 may be scanned by a first user via a first scanning device for further request. Further, as shown in Figure 3b, on scanning the QR code 300 may be scanned in a localised environment via the scanning device, a first inventory item 301 is generated. In an example, the first scanning device may be a cell phone and may be used to scan the QR code available in a shop, a bar, and the like. Notably, the first user can order the generated inventory item 301 and may get a deal for the selected inventory item according to his/her profile pre stored in the localised environment. In a further instance, a second user may scan via a second scanning device (such as cell phone) the same QR code 300 and may receive the first inventory item with a deal different from first user or a second (new) inventory item based on his/her profile pre stored in the localised environment.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example.” Any embodiment or implementation described as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or implementations. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing” and variations thereof, is meant to encompass the items/in formation listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

It will be apparent that various aspects of the present invention may be implemented as a software and hardware (such as a processor, an ASIC, a FPGA) in the implementations illustrated in the figures. For the portion implemented in software, the software code may be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors provided in a single computer or distributed among multiple computers. Such processors may be implemented as integrated circuits, with one or more processors in an integrated circuit component, or any other suitable circuitry.

Additionally, it should be appreciated that according to one aspect of this embodiment, one or more computer programs that when executed perform methods of the present invention need not reside on a single computer or processor but may be distributed in a modular fashion amongst a number of different computers or processors to implement various aspects of the present invention. The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement these aspects is not limiting of the invention. Thus, the operation and behaviour of these aspects are described without any reference to software codes, being understood that software and control hardware can be designed to implement these aspects based on the description herein. The subject matter of example embodiments, as disclosed herein, is described with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different features or combinations of features similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other technologies. Generally, the various embodiments including the example embodiments relate to system and method for reusable QR code. As will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art, the present invention may easily be produced in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The present embodiments should be construed as merely illustrative and non-restrictive and the scope of the present invention being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within therefore intended to be embraced therein.