IP Library Granted Patent US 11,997,342
Granted Patent B1
US 11,997,342 · App. 17/846,579 · Granted May 28, 2024

Media content distribution platform

Inventors: Andrew David Schweinfurth (Chicago, IL); Julija Alegra Petkus (Oak Park, IL)
Assignee: WALGREEN CO.
H04N21/41415H04N21/2143H04N21/2353H04N21/2668H04N21/42203H04N21/472H04N21/4756
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,997,342
App. No.
17/846,579
Granted
May 28, 2024
Kind
B1
Abstract

Methods and systems may provide media content via retail display devices and/or portable electronic devices to assist consumers in retail environments. Potentially relevant media content may be intelligently obtained, stored, and/or distributed based on a number of considerations to ensure that relevant content will be available for a variety of consumers having a variety of retail needs. Through specific techniques described herein, the methods and systems herein may overcome technological and logistical challenges associated with distributing content among computing devices that are often limited in computing capabilities. Furthermore, the methods and system herein may provide media content in a manner that promotes authors who create and share media content via social media services.

Claims (37)

1. A computing system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories storing non-transitory computer-executable instructions that, when executed via the one or more processors, cause the computing system to:

obtain media metadata defining a plurality of media content offerings, the metadata respectively defining each respective media content offering from among the plurality of media content offerings to be associated with at least one product;

obtain location information for a plurality of locations, the location information for each respective location from among the plurality of locations indicating (1) a plurality of products located in the respective location, and (2) respective locations and storage capacities of one or more display devices located in the respective location;

obtain an indication of a minimum content limit defining a minimum number of media content offerings that, for each respective location from among the plurality of locations, is to be made available for each individual one of the corresponding plurality of products located in the respective location;

for each respective location, select, from the plurality of media content offerings based upon the minimum content limit and the media metadata, a respective subset of the plurality of media content offerings, such that the selected respective subset of media content offerings comprises at least the minimum number of media content offerings for each individual one of the corresponding plurality of products located in the respective location; and

for each respective location, cause the selected respective subset of media content offerings to be transmitted to at least one computing device associated with the respective location.

2. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein each respective location from among the plurality of locations is a respective retail store, and wherein, for each respective location from among the plurality of locations, the at least one computing device includes a respective retail controller device.

3. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of locations correspond to a single retail store, each respective location from among the plurality of locations being a respective portion of the single retail store, and wherein, for each respective location from among the plurality of locations, the respective at least one computing device comprises one or more display devices located in the respective portion of the single retail store.

4. The computing system of claim 3 , wherein, for each respective location from among the plurality of locations, the selecting of the respective subset of the plurality of media content offerings is further based upon purchase records indicating past purchases of one or more products offered in the respective portion of the single retail store.

5. The computing system of claim 3 , wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed via the one or more processors, further cause the computing system to obtain customer feedback information via the at least one computing device in each respective location from among the plurality of locations, the customer feedback information being responsive to display at least one media content offering from among the respective subset of media content offerings at the respective at least one computing device.

6. The computing system of claim 5 , wherein the wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed via the one or more processors, further cause the computing system to modify subsequent provision of media content offerings to each respective location from among the plurality of locations based upon the customer feedback information.

7. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed via the one or more processors, further cause the computing system to obtain the plurality of media content offerings, and wherein the instructions to cause the selected respective subset of media content offerings to be transmitted to the at least one computing device comprise instructions to transmit the selected respective subset of media content offerings to the at least one computing device.

8. A computer-implemented method performed via one or more processors, the method comprising:

obtaining media metadata defining a plurality of media content offerings, the metadata respectively defining each respective media content offering from among the plurality of media content offerings to be associated with at least one product;

obtaining location information for a plurality of locations, the location information for each respective location from among the plurality of locations indicating (1) a plurality of products located in the respective location, and (2) respective locations and storage capacities of one or more display devices located in the respective location;

obtaining an indication of a minimum content limit defining a minimum number of media content offerings that, for each respective location from among the plurality of locations, is to be made available for each individual one of the corresponding plurality of products located in the respective location;

for each respective location, selecting, from the plurality of media content offerings based upon the minimum content limit and the media metadata, a respective subset of the plurality of media content offerings, such that the selected respective subset of media content offerings comprises at least the minimum number of media content offerings for each individual one of the corresponding plurality of products located in the respective location; and

for each respective location, causing the selected respective subset of media content offerings to be transmitted to at least one computing device associated with the respective location.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein each respective location from among the plurality of locations is a respective retail store, and wherein, for each respective location from among the plurality of locations, the at least one computing device includes a respective retail controller device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of locations correspond to a single retail store, each respective location from among the plurality of locations being a respective portion of the single retail store, and wherein, for each respective location from among the plurality of locations, the respective at least one computing device comprises one or more display devices located in the respective portion of the single retail store.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein, for each respective location from among the plurality of locations, the selecting of the respective subset of the plurality of media content offerings is further based upon purchase records indicating past purchases of one or more products offered in the respective portion of the single retail store.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising obtaining customer feedback information via the at least one computing device in each respective location from among the plurality of locations, the customer feedback information being responsive to display at least one media content offering from among the respective subset of media content offerings at the respective at least one computing device.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , further comprising modifying subsequent provision of media content offerings to each respective location from among the plurality of locations based upon the customer feedback information.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising obtaining the plurality of media content offerings, and wherein causing the selected respective subset of media content offerings to be transmitted to the at least one computing device comprises transmitting the selected respective subset of media content offerings to the at least one computing device.

15. One or more computer readable media comprising non-transitory instructions that, when executed via one or more processors, cause one or more computers to:

obtain media metadata defining a plurality of media content offerings, the metadata respectively defining each respective media content offering from among the plurality of media content offerings to be associated with at least one product;

obtain location information for a plurality of locations, the location information for each respective location from among the plurality of locations indicating (1) a plurality of products located in the respective location, and (2) respective locations and storage capacities of one or more display devices located in the respective location;

obtain an indication of a minimum content limit defining a minimum number of media content offerings that, for each respective location from among the plurality of locations, is to be made available for each individual one of the corresponding plurality of products located in the respective location;

for each respective location, select, from the plurality of media content offerings based upon the minimum content limit and the media metadata, a respective subset of the plurality of media content offerings, such that the selected respective subset of media content offerings comprises at least the minimum number of media content offerings for each individual one of the corresponding plurality of products located in the respective location; and

for each respective location, cause the selected respective subset of media content offerings to be transmitted to at least one computing device associated with the respective location.

16. The one or more computer readable media of claim 15 , wherein each respective location from among the plurality of locations is a respective retail store, and wherein, for each respective location from among the plurality of locations, the at least one computing device includes a respective retail controller device.

17. The one or more computer readable media of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of locations correspond to a single retail store, each respective location from among the plurality of locations being a respective portion of the single retail store, and wherein, for each respective location from among the plurality of locations, the respective at least one computing device comprises one or more display devices located in the respective portion of the single retail store.

18. The one or more computer readable media of claim 17 , wherein, for each respective location from among the plurality of locations, the selecting of the respective subset of the plurality of media content offerings is further based upon purchase records indicating past purchases of one or more products offered in the respective portion of the single retail store.

19. The one or more computer readable media of claim 17 , wherein the non-transitory instructions, when executed via the one or more processors, further cause the one or more computers to obtain customer feedback information via the at least one computing device in each respective location from among the plurality of locations, the customer feedback information being responsive to display at least one media content offering from among the respective subset of media content offerings at the respective at least one computing device.

20. The one or more computer readable media of claim 15 , wherein the non-transitory instructions, when executed via the one or more processors, further cause the one or more computers to obtain the plurality of media content offerings, and wherein the instructions to cause the selected respective subset of media content offerings to be transmitted to the at least one computing device comprise instructions to transmit the selected respective subset of media content offerings to the at least one computing device.

Assignments (3)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2025
From: WALGREEN CO.
To: SIXTH STREET LENDING PARTNERS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072606/0878 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2025
From: WALGREEN CO.; DUANE READE; WALGREENS SPECIALTY PHARMACY LLC; WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072679/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2022
From: SCHWEINFURTH, ANDREW DAVID; PETKUS, JULIJA ALEGRA
To: WALGREEN CO.
Reel/Frame 060301/0667 →
Continuity (1)
Continuation 16514221 · Jul 17, 2019