DEVICE FOR TRIGGERING A PROCESS

Abstract

A computing device for triggering a process comprises a control unit which is configured to perform the following steps: Receiving a request signal from a first remote computing device, the request signal requesting the triggering of the process, including a first identifier representing a registered user of a digital communication platform, and including a second identifier representing another registered user of the digital communication platform; Retrieving from a database a set of database entries subject to location data or a subset thereof assigned to the second identifier; Transmitting a response signal to the first remote computing device, the response signal including the retrieved set of database entries; Receiving a confirmation signal from the first remote computing device, the confirmation signal including a database entry selected from the retrieved set of database entries; and Transmitting a trigger signal to a second remote computing device assigned to the selected database entry, for triggering the process, the trigger signal including the selected database entry and the location data.

Claims

1. Computing device for triggering a process, comprising a control unit configured to receive a request signal from a first remote computing device, the request signal requesting the triggering of the process, including a first identifier representing a registered user of a digital communication platform, including a second identifier representing another registered user of the digital communication platform, wherein the control unit is configured to retrieve from a database a set of database entries subject to location data or a subset thereof assigned to the second identifier, wherein the control unit is configured to transmit a response signal to the first remote computing device, the response signal including the retrieved set of database entries, wherein the control unit is configured to receive a confirmation signal from the first remote computing device, the confirmation signal including a database entry selected from the retrieved set of database entries, and wherein the control unit is configured to transmit a trigger signal to a second remote computing device assigned to the selected database entry, for triggering the process, the trigger signal including the selected database entry, and the location data and/or data assigned to the second identifier.

2. Device for triggering an process according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to receive the request signal additionally including the location data or a subset thereof assigned to the second identifier, and wherein the control unit is configured to, in response to receiving the request signal, retrieve the set of database entries from the database subject to the location data comprised in the request signal.

3. Device for triggering a process according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to, in response to receiving the request signal, transmit a counter request signal to the first remote computing device, the counter request signal requesting for the location data or a subset thereof assigned to the second identifier, wherein the control unit is configured to receive location confirmation signal from the first remote computing device, the further request signal including the location data or the subset thereof assigned to the second identifier, wherein the control unit is configured to retrieve the subset of database entries from the database in response to the location confirmation signal received from the first remote computing device.

4. Device for triggering a process according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to, in case the request signal or the only including the subset of location data or no location data, transmit, in response to receiving the confirmation signal, a notification signal to a server computing system representing the communication platform, the notification signal including the second identifier, and requesting the server computing system to present an additional location data request to the second identifier, and including triggering the server computing system to automatically present the additional location data request to the second identifier, wherein the control unit is configured to receive an additional signal from a third remote computing device, the additional signal including the additional location data, and wherein the control unit is configured to, in response to receiving the additional signal, transmit the trigger signal to the second computing device.

5. Device for triggering a process according to claim 4, wherein the additional location data request in the notification signal includes a web link to a web address of the device.

6. Device for triggering a process according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to transmit a notification signal to a server computing system representing the communication platform, the notification signal including the first identifier, and requesting the server computing system to present a predefined request to the user represented by the first identifier, and including triggering the server computing system to automatically present the predefined request to the user represented by the first identifier, wherein the predefined request in the notification signal includes a web link to a web address of the device.

7. Device for triggering a process according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to transmit a notification signal to a server computing system representing the communication platform, the notification signal including the second identifier, and requesting the server computing system to present a predefined request to the other user represented by the second identifier, including triggering the server computing system to automatically present the predefined request to the other user represented by the second identifier, wherein the predefined request includes a web link to a web address of the device.

8. Device for triggering a process according to claim 1, the digital communication platform allowing digital communication between registered users by means of identifiers representing the registered users, the device comprising a memory for storing identifiers of registered communication platforms, wherein the request signal includes an identifier for the communication platform the user makes use of when initiating the request signal, wherein the control unit is configured to store a combination of the identifier of the communication platform, the first identifier and the second identifier, wherein the control unit is configured to assign a processing identifier representing the requested process to at least the combination of the identifier of the communication platform, the first identifier and the second identifier, and to store the processing identifier, wherein the control unit is configured to assign and store the location data in combination with the second identifier.

9. Device for triggering a process according to claim 1, wherein the first identifier represents an originator of the request signal as identified in the digital communication platform and at the same time represents the user of the first remote computing device at the time the request signal is initiated, and wherein the second identifier represents a recipient of the triggered process as identified in the digital communication platform.

10. Device for triggering a process according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to ban the location information and/or other data of the other user to become retrievable or visible to the user represented by the first identifier.

11. Device for triggering a process according to claim 1, wherein the device is another server computing system, and includes a web server computing system, wherein the control unit of the device includes one or more hardware processors and software configured to implement the assigned functions, wherein the request signal is a hypertext transfer protocol message according to the POST method, wherein the first identifier and the second identifier are comprised in the body of the message.

12. Device for triggering an process according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to transmit the notification signal via WebHooks, and wherein the notification signal is a hypertext transfer protocol message according to the POST method, wherein the predefined request and the second identifier are comprised in the body of the message.

13. Device for triggering an process according to claim 1, comprising the database, wherein an identifier representing a second computing device is assigned to each database entry, wherein the control unit is configured to retrieve from the database the identifiers approved for the location data or the subset thereof, and to retrieve all database entries assigned to the location based approved identifiers, wherein the control unit is configured to transmit the trigger signal to the second computing device that is assigned to the selected database entry, wherein the control unit is configured to transmit the response signal excluding the identifier representing the second computing device.

14. Device for triggering a process according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to transmit the trigger signal to the second remote computing device excluding the first identifier.

15. System for triggering a process, comprising a device according to claim 1, and the database.

16. System according to claim 15, comprising the first remote computing device, and a server computing system representing the communication platform, wherein the server computing system is configured to offer a web link representing the request signal to the first remote computing device, which web link comprises an address of the device as recipient of the request signal, in response to the user represented by the first identifier being logged on to the communication platform and in response to the second identifier being selected by the user represented by the first identifier.

17. System according to claim 16, wherein the server computing system is configured to, in response to receiving a notification signal from the device, to present the web link to the first or the second identifier within the communication platform, subject to which identifier being included in the notification signal, wherein the presenting includes transmitting the web link to the first or second identifier respectively at least when being logged on to the communication platform.

18. Computer-implemented method for triggering a process, comprising the steps of receiving a trigger signal from a first remote computing device, the trigger signal requesting the triggering of the process, and including a first identifier representing a registered user of a digital communication platform, including a second identifier representing another registered user of the digital communication platform, retrieving from a database a set of database entries subject to location data or a subset thereof assigned to the second identifier, transmitting a response signal to the first remote computing device, the response signal including the set of database entries, receiving a confirmation signal from the first remote computing device, the confirmation signal including a selection of a first database entry from the retrieved set of first database entries, transmitting a trigger signal to a second remote computing device assigned to the selected database entry for triggering the process, the trigger signal including the selected database entry, and the location data and/or data assigned to the second identifier.

19. Computer program element comprising computer program code executing the steps of the method of claim 18 when executed on a control unit of a computer system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a computing device as well as a first remote computing device and a second remote computing device interacting according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a schematic drawing of a computing device and a server computing system interacting with a first remote computing device and/or with a third remote computing device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of a method according to a first use case of the invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a computing device 10 with a control unit 10a, a first remote computing device 11, e.g. a smartphone or computer of the giver, and a second remote computing device 12, e.g. a server computer of the seller, interacting with each other, i.e. transmitting and receiving signals between each other. A first registered user of a digital communication platform, e.g. a social media platform or a messenger, intends to send a gift, which may e.g. be a good or service, to a second user of the digital communication platform. The first user, i.e. the giver, uses the first remote computing device 11 and is identified through a first identifier in the digital communication platform, e.g. a user name or number. The second user, i.e. the presentee, uses a third remote computing device (not shown in FIG. 1) and is identified through a second identifier in the digital communication platform.

[0058] According to an embodiment of the invention, the computing device 10, in particular the control unit 10a, receives a request signal from the first remote computing device 11 in step S1. The request signal requests the triggering of the process, i.e. the delivery of the gift. The request signal further contains the first identifier and the second identifier. In step S2, the control unit 10a retrieves a catalogue of gifts, i.e. a set of database entries, from a database 10b depending on the address, i.e. location data, of the presentee. The database 10b advantageously is an address book of the digital communication platform, which may in particular be private, i.e. not visible to the registered users, in particular not visible to the giver.

[0059] In general, the retrieval of the catalogue of gifts may be based on the availability of the different gifts at or proximity to the location of the presentee. As a measure of proximity GPS coordinates and/or the exact address of the presentee's and of the seller's may be n used. Alternatively, the catalogue of gifts may only contain gifts that are available from a seller located in the same country or in the same city as the presentee's address.

[0060] In step S3, the catalogue of gifts filtered by the presentee's address is presented to the giver. To achieve this, the control unit 10a transmits a response signal, which includes the catalogue of gifts, to the first remote computing device 11. The giver may then select one or more gifts from the catalogue. Then, the control unit 10a receives a confirmation signal including the selected one or more gifts from the giver in step S4.

[0061] In step S5, the control unit 10a transmits a trigger signal to the second remote computing device 12, e.g. a server system of the seller, which is attributed to the selected gift. Thus, the seller receives all information necessary to process the order and to deliver the gift to the presentee. For that purpose, the trigger signal comprises the selected gift as well as the presentee's address.

[0062] For the giver, the whole process with steps S1 to S5 above may in general be performed from within the digital communication platform. This means the giver, i.e. the first registered user, is logged on to the platform, and all necessary information such as the catalogue of gifts is displayed to the giver within the platform. In particular, the triggering of the process in step S1 may be implemented as an icon or an order text or symbol displayed in connection with another registered user, e.g. with the presentee, i.e. the second registered user. In one example, such icon may be presented in the address book of the platform, specifically in every entry of the address book in order to first select the presentee from the address book, and then klick on the icon representing the trigger for the process. In a different approach, such icon is displayed at some instance of the platform. When clicking on such icon, the address book of the platform

[0063] FIG. 2 schematically shows how such communication of the computing device 20 with the giver, in particular with the first remote device 21, and/or with the presentee, in particular with the third remote device 22, may be implemented through a server computing system 23 representing the digital communication platform. The notification signal transmitted by the control unit 20a of the device 20 includes the first identifier and/or the second identifier for communicating with the first remote device 21 and/or the third remote device 22, respectively. Further, the notification signal requests the server computing system 23 to present a predefined request to the first identifier and/or to the second identifier, respectively. Advantageously, such request is presented to the giver and/or to the presentee as a message, e.g. comprising pictures such as in the case of the catalogue of gifts, or as a form to-be-filled. In particular, the request comprises a web link or web address of the device 20 such that the server computing system 23 may respond to the predefined request, e.g. by transmitting the filled-in form.

[0064] Such implementation of the communication when triggering the process is very user-friendly. It enables the giver to send a gift to the presentee without knowing the latter's address or any other of its data. This is in contrast to existing platforms of gift-giving and e-commerce wherein the giver needs to know and to fill in the address of the presentee. With an implementation of the triggering of the process according to the invention, entirely new uses cases are possible and new circles of customers may be reached, e.g. by a gift shop or flower shop. As such, the current implementation enables also new business models.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows a use case of triggering the n process, in particular the delivery of the gift that may be implemented according to embodiments of the invention.

[0066] Firstly, FIG. 3 concerns a first use case wherein all necessary address data of the presentee is filled, i.e. available to the computing device, in particular through an address book of the digital communication platform. In step S10, the formation of the delivery order is started, e.g. by the giver clicking on a button or icon presented within the communication platform for sending a gift to the presentee which click results in a request signal transmitted to the device. The control unit of the device receives such request signal. In step S11, the control unit examines the address data available for the second identifier, i.e. for the presentee, e.g. in the address book of the digital communication platform or in an own address database of the device. If the available address of the presentee is complete, i.e. if it enables a delivery of the gift to the presentee, then the control unit continues with step S14. If only the presentee's country and city are available, then the control unit continues with steps S12, i.e. it jumps to the second use case, see below. If the presentee's address is not available at all, in particular not even country and city, then the control unit continues with step S13, i.e. it jumps to the third use case, see below.

[0067] In step S15, the control unit retrieves the catalogue of gifts that are available in the presentee's city or country and/or that are preselected by the presentee. The catalogue is then presented to the giver who selects one or more gifts for delivery to the presentee. In step S16, the giver is requested to make a payment of an amount depending on the one or more selected gifts. The payment process itself may, in general, be outsourced to a dedicated payment service, e.g. by communication between the device and a payment server. As a result, the amount is blocked for payment on the giver's account or credit card before order confirmation by either the presentee or the seller. In step S17, the optional step of sending a notification to the presentee for confirming the receipt of the gift. The recipient may indicate in his profile one of the two options “confirm receipt of each gift”, “confirm receipt of a gift from everyone except the specified list of people” or “do not confirm receipt of each gift” and in this case such confirmation will not be required.

[0068] In step S18, the response of the presentee is received. If it is negative, i.e. if the presentee refuses to receive the gift, a notice is sent to the giver in step S19, e.g. saying that the presentee refused to receive the gift. Further, the order is closed in step S20 since it was not confirmed by the presentee. If the response received in step S18 is positive, i.e. the presentee confirms her willingness to receive the gift, then the trigger signal is sent to the seller and the payment is effected, in step S21. In step S22, the seller may decide if he accepts the order. If not, then the order is closed in step S23 as rejected by the seller. Further, a notification is sent to the giver in step S24, e.g. saying that the seller rejected the order, and the blocked amount is unlocked. If the seller accepts the order in step S22, the amount is paid from the account of the giver in step S25. Then, the seller completes the order in S26, i.e. he delivers the gift to the presentee's address. When completed, a notification is sent to the giver that the gift has been delivered to the presentee in step S27. Further, the order is closed in step S28 as successfully completed under the first use case.

[0069] The second use case concerns the case when n not the complete address of the presentee is available but at least the country and/or city are filled. The second use case is very similar to the first one as described with respect to FIG. 3. A difference exists in step S17 when a notification is sent to the presentee for confirming the receipt of the gift. In the second use case, such notification additionally comprises a request to add missing address data, e.g. a street and house number or postbox of the presentee. If the presentee confirms her willingness to receive the gift and adds the missing address data, then the process continues with step S21. Otherwise, it ends with steps S19 and S20.

[0070] In an alternative to the second use case, the country and/or city of the presentee may not be available from a database of the digital communication platform or of the service provider. However, the giver knows the country and/or city of the presentee. For such case, step S14 additionally comprises an option that the giver fills in the country and/or city of the presentee. This means that the request signal received by the control unit not only comprises the first identifier, i.e. the giver, and the second identifier, i.e. the presentee, but also the presentee's country and/or city as part of the address. Then, the process continues with step S15 as in the second use case.

[0071] The third use case concerns the case when the city and/or country of the presentee are not available. Also the third use case is similar to the first one as described with respect to FIG. 3. However, it is necessary in the third use case that the missing address data of the presentee is added before the formation of the catalogue of gifts in step S15 since the catalogue of gifts depends on e.g. the county and/or the city of the presentee. This means that according to the third use case, a notification is sent to the presentee in step S14 for confirming to receive a gift, in particular a gift n which is not yet selected by the giver. At the same time, this notification comprises a request to add the missing address data. If no confirmation is received or if the address data is not completed, then the process ends after continuing with steps S19 and S20. If the confirmation and the address data is received, then a notification is sent to the giver that the order process may be continued, in particular the notification comprising the catalogue of gifts as retrieved in step S15 depending on the presentee's address. Another notification to the presentee for confirming to receive a gift as in step S17 according to the first or the second use case is not necessary in the third use case. This means that step S17 may be omitted in the third use case.

[0072] Preferably, a waiting time for confirmation from the recipient/presentee is set in the system. It can be, for example, 48 hours or any other value. If the recipient does not confirm receipt of the gift at the indicated time, the order is automatically canceled. This is also due to protection against price changes.

[0073] The previous embodiments are particularly concerned with the situation where both, giver and presentee, are registered users of the digital communication platform. However, there may be cases where e.g. the presentee is not a user of the digital communication platform. According to a fourth use case, the giver may then transmit a request requesting the creation of a link to the device, in particular the first identifier being attributed to the link. The device then creates such link, attributes the first identifier representing the giver to the link and sends the link to the giver. The giver makes the link available to the presentee. If the presentee follows the link, she is asked to confirm to receive a gift and to fill in her address data as in the third use case. This means the process continues with step S14 of the third use case. As in the third use case, another notification to the presentee for confirming to receive a gift is not necessary, meaning that step S17 may be omitted in the third use case.

[0074] The fourth use case has the advantage that it is flexible in terms of the digital communication platform used. While the giver may trigger the process from any platform that implements the triggering service as described above, the presentee does not even need to be a user of the platform. This facilitates a widening of circle of presentees, i.e. a gift may be sent to anyone having access to an internet-capable device such as the third remote device.

[0075] According to a fifth use case, the giver may also fill in the presentee's address himself. While such use case may be performed by conventional online stores, it may also be implemented with embodiments of the present invention. The latter steps concerning the formation of the catalogue of gifts, the payment, the communication with the sender and the final notification to the sender can be implemented as in the third and fourth use case, i.e. from step S15 onwards, the process is the same. However, the start of the process is different.

[0076] If the giver knows the complete address of the presentee, he may select an option such as “I want to send a gift and know all the data of the presentee”. Upon receiving such request option, the control unit sends a fill-in form for the presentee's address to the giver. When the complete address data of the presentee is received, the control unit continues with step S15 as in the third and the fourth use case. Again, a confirmation of the presentee expressing her willingness to receive the gift as in steps S17 of FIG. 3 may not be necessary in the fifth use case, in particular if a classical online purchase scenario is implemented. Nevertheless, step S17 may optionally be implemented, too, in order not to take the presentee by surprise or to give her the n chance to refuse the selected gift.

[0077] As is understood from the above, embodiments of the invention facilitate a new way of triggering a process, in particular a delivery process where the address of the presentee is not known and remains unknown to the giver. Features disclosed with respect to the device are meant to be disclosed with respect to the method as well, and vice versa. The method steps described above may be rearranged and combined in various ways to implement embodiments of the invention.

[0078] While there are shown and described presently preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.