Sales route planning using an interactive electronic map displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) of a mobile software application executing on a wireless mobile computer device
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| Title: | Sales route planning using an interactive electronic map displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) of a mobile software application executing on a wireless mobile computer device |
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| Patent Number: | 11537,992 |
| Publication Date: | December 27, 2022 |
| Appl. No: | 17/653861 |
| Application Filed: | March 07, 2022 |
| Abstract: | Navigating a neighborhood using an interactive electronic map displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) of a mobile software application executing on a wireless mobile computer device. In some embodiments, a method may include displaying in a graphical user interface (“GUI”) an image of a map of a sales region on an electronic display of the mobile device, including a plurality of potential sales targets; providing a database comprising sales information for at least some of the plurality of potential sales targets; processing the sales information to generate predictive data for at least some of the potential sales targets, the predictive data indicating a relative sales potential for at least some of the potential sales targets; and displaying in the GUI a plurality of icons depicted on the map and each corresponding to a geographic location of a potential sales target within the sales region, wherein a first subset of the plurality of icons each have at least one characteristic distinguishing it from a second subset of the plurality of icons and wherein the characteristic indicates a relatively higher sales potential for potential sales targets in the first subset than those in the second subset and based on the predictive data. |
| Inventors: | Vivint, Inc. (Provo, UT, US) |
| Assignees: | Vivint, Inc. (Provo, UT, US) |
| Claim: | 1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the identification of sales targets, the computer-implemented method comprising: displaying in a graphical user interface (“GUI”) an image of a map of a sales region on an electronic display of a mobile device, the sales region image map based on a geographic location of the mobile device and including a plurality of potential sales targets; providing a database comprising sales information for at least some of the plurality of potential sales targets within the sales region; processing the sales information to generate predictive data for at least some of the plurality of potential sales targets, the predictive data indicating a relative sales potential for at least some of the potential sales targets; and displaying in the GUI a plurality of icons depicted on the map and each corresponding to a geographic location of a potential sales target within the sales region, wherein a first subset of the plurality of icons each have at least one characteristic distinguishing it from a second subset of the plurality of icons and wherein the characteristic indicates a relatively higher sales potential for potential sales targets in the first subset than those in the second subset and based on the predictive data. |
| Claim: | 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the plurality of icons each have a visually distinct icon distinguishing them from the second subset of icons. |
| Claim: | 3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the visually distinct characteristic is provided via a visually distinct color, shade and/or pattern. |
| Claim: | 4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the visually distinct characteristic is a visually distinct shape. |
| Claim: | 5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: plotting a route to be followed by a sales associate associated with the mobile device for potential sales targets associated with the first subset, the route based on the predictive data. |
| Claim: | 6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising: displaying an image of the route in the graphical user interface (“GUI”) on the image of the map. |
| Claim: | 7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of icons are selectable, and in response to a selection of a particular one of the plurality of selectable icons, displaying in a location of the screen a first GUI window, the first GUI window including sales information associated with the potential sales target associated with the selected icon. |
| Claim: | 8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the sales information comprises a name of an occupant of a dwelling associated with the potential sales target associated with the selected icon. |
| Claim: | 9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the sales information comprises existing account information associated with the potential sales target associated with the selected icon. |
| Claim: | 10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the sales information comprises information about a current account located within the sales region and different from the potential sales target associated with the selected icon. |
| Claim: | 11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the sales information comprises record inspection data relevant to ancillary products or services associated with the potential sales target associated with the selected icon. |
| Claim: | 12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predictive data comprises a credit score associated with an occupant of a dwelling associated with one of the plurality of potential sales targets. |
| Claim: | 13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predictive data comprises demographic information associated with an occupant of a dwelling associated with one of the plurality of potential sales targets. |
| Claim: | 14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predictive data comprises previous sales call information obtained in connection with one of the plurality of the potential sales targets. |
| Claim: | 15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the previous sales call information comprises whether the one of the plurality of potential sales targets has been previously visited by a sales associate. |
| Claim: | 16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the previous sales call information comprises profitability information associated with a previous sale. |
| Claim: | 17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the previous sales call information comprises historical difficulty information associated with a previous sale. |
| Claim: | 18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predictive data comprises safety information. |
| Claim: | 19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a database, residing on a server and connected to the mobile device over a network, the database comprising the sales information wherein upon selection of a particular one of the plurality of icons, the database is queried over the network and the sales information is forwarded to the mobile device via the network. |
| Claim: | 20. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the identification of sales targets, the computer-implemented method comprising: displaying in a graphical user interface (“GUI”) an image of a map of a sales region on an electronic display of a mobile device, the sales region image map based on a geographic location of the mobile device and including a plurality of potential sales targets; displaying in the GUI a plurality of icons depicted on the map and each corresponding to a geographic location of a potential sales target within the sales region, wherein a first subset of the plurality of icons correspond to a potential sales target that have a relatively higher sales potential than potential sales targets not in the first subset; and plotting a route to be followed by a sales associate associated with the mobile device for potential sales targets, wherein the route prioritizes visits to those potential sales targets in the first subset. |
| Claim: | 21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising displaying a graphical representation of the route in the GUI on the image of the map. |
| Claim: | 22. A system for facilitating sales, the system comprising: a database, residing on a server, comprising sales information for a plurality of potential sales targets, where each of the plurality of sales targets is associated with a geographic sales region; a plurality of mobile devices, each associated with a sales associate and comprising: an electronic display; and a geolocation device configured to determine a geographic location of the respective mobile device; one or more electronic storage devices comprising software instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to: receive over a network by the server, a geographic location of a respective one of the plurality of mobile devices from the geolocation device of the respective mobile device; query the database by the one or more processors to identify each of the plurality of potential sales targets associated with the geographic sales region within a predetermined distance from the determined geographic location of the respective mobile device; generate a first graphical user interface (“GUI”) at the electronic display of the respective mobile device comprising a map and selectable icons depicted on the map at positions corresponding with the geographic location of the identified potential sales targets; and generate a sales route to be followed by a sales associate associated with the mobile device, wherein the route prioritizes visits to those potential sales targets that have a relatively higher sales potential than other of the potential sales targets. |
| Claim: | 23. The system of claim 22 , further comprising: additional software instructions stored at the one or more electronic storage devices, which when executed by the one or more processors, configures the one or more processors to: display in the GUI, a visualization representing the sales route. |
| Claim: | 24. The system of claim 22 , further comprising: additional software instructions stored at the one or more electronic storage devices, which when executed by the one or more processors, configures the one or more processors to: receive data from the respective mobile device indicating a visit to the potential sales target associated with the selected one of the selectable icons; and update the database to indicate the visit to the potential sales target by the sales associate associated with the respective mobile device. |
| Claim: | 25. The system of claim 22 , further comprising: additional software instructions stored at the one or more electronic storage devices, which when executed by the one or more processors, configures the one or more processors to: receive inspection data entered by the sales associate associated with the respective mobile device, the inspection data associated with the potential sales target visited by the sales associate; and update the database with the inspection data. |
| Claim: | 26. The system of claim 22 , wherein: the one or more electronic storage devices and the one or more processors are provided at each of the plurality of mobile devices. |
| Claim: | 27. The system of claim 22 , further comprising: a remote server, wherein the one or more electronic storage devices and the one or more processors are located at the remote server. |
| Claim: | 28. The system of claim 22 , further comprising: additional software instructions stored at the one or more electronic storage devices, which when executed by the one or more processors, configures the one or more processors to: receive data from the respective mobile device indicating a visit to the potential sales target associated with the selected one of the selectable icons; and update the database to indicate the visit to the potential sales target by a sales associate associated with the respective mobile device. |
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| Primary Examiner: | Nguyen, Nga X |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Maschoff Brennan |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.11537992 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
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