US20160034959A1

US20160034959A1 - Systems and methods for serving content to merchandising communication systems based on external events

Info

Publication number: US20160034959A1
Application number: US14/815,723
Authority: US
Inventors: Kevin Howard; Gordon Davidson
Original assignee: Cloverleaf Media LLC; INTERNET CONNECTIVITY GROUP Inc
Current assignee: Cloverleaf Media LLC; INTERNET CONNECTIVITY GROUP Inc
Priority date: 2014-07-31
Filing date: 2015-07-31
Publication date: 2016-02-04
Also published as: US20160034244A1; CA2956249A1; US9824624B2; WO2016019352A3; EP3195300A2; US20160034960A1; US9911377B2; US20160240131A1; US10198988B2; EP3195300A4; WO2016019352A2; US20160034988A1; US20180025688A1

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods configured for serving content to one or more merchandising communication systems based on one or more external events. A merchandising communication system may be included at a retail environment and/or other locations. Content may include display information configured to be displayed on display units of the merchandising communication systems responsive to occurrence and/or non-occurrence of one or more user specified events. Users may provide entry and/or selection of parameter values for one or more content communication parameters to facilitate selective serving of content to individual merchandising communication system and/or sets of merchandising communication systems based on external events.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 62/031,258, filed 31 Jul. 2014, and 62/190,580, filed 9 Jul. 2015, both of which are incorporated herein in their entireties.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for serving content to merchandising communication systems based on external events.

BACKGROUND

There are a variety of retail options for displaying a variety of information in retail environments, including, pricing, labeling, promotions, etc. Traditionally, this information has been provided using print systems, including slide-in paper system, plastic label systems, adhesive label systems, etc. More recently, there has been increased interest in utilizing digital or electronic merchandising communication systems to display such information.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure relates to a system configured for serving content to merchandising communication systems based on external events. The system may comprise one or more of a global content server, one or more merchandising communication systems, one or more computing platforms, and/or other components. The global content server may be configured to communicate content to one or more merchandising communication systems. In particular, the global content server may be configured to communicate content to one or more merchandising communication systems based event criteria being satisfied. Users may provide entry and/or selection or parameter values for one or more content communication parameters. The user-provided parameter values may facilitate determining one or more of event criteria, sets of event criteria, content to be communicated based on the event criteria and/or sets of event criteria being satisfied, and/or other information.
Event criteria may dictate circumstances in which content may be communicated to one or more merchandising communication systems. By way of non-limiting example, event criteria may be associated with occurrences of one or more external events, the occurrences of which may be outside of the control of the system. By way of non-limiting example, event criteria may be associated with one or more of natural events (e.g, weather and/or other natural events), human-driven events (e.g., consumer traffic through a retail environment and/or other human-driven events), time-based events, and/or other events.
In some implementations, a merchandising communication system may comprising one or more display units, components, and/or systems configured for dynamically presenting content to users in retail and/or other settings. Content may comprise display information configured for display on one or more display units of a given merchandising communication system.
The global content server may include one or more physical processor configured by machine-readable instructions and/or other components. Executing the machine-readable instructions may cause the one or more physical processors to facilitate serving content to one or more merchandising communication system and/or sets of merchandising communication systems. The machine-readable instructions may include one or more of a user interface component, an event monitoring component, a content management component, a merchandising communication system management component, a push component, and/or other components.
The user interface component may be configured to effectuate presentation of user interfaces at computing platforms associated with users of the system. A given user interface being configured to obtain user entry and/or selection of parameter values for one or more content communication parameters. By way of non-limiting example a first user interface may be presented on a first computing platform associated with a first user.
The event monitoring component may be configured to perform one or more of: obtain event information, determine event criteria and/or sets of event criteria based on user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters, determine satisfaction of event criteria based on the event information, and/or other operations. By way of non-limiting example, the event monitoring component may be configured to obtain first event information. The event monitoring component may be configured to determine first event criteria based on a first user-provided parameter value for a first content communication parameter. The event component may be configured to determine satisfaction of the first event criteria based on the first event information.
The content management component may be configured to associate content with user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters. User-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters facilitating selective communication of content to one or more merchandising communication systems. By way of non-limiting example, first content may be associated with a second parameter value for a second content communication parameter provided by the first user.
The merchandising communication system management component may be configured to determine individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication systems based on user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters. By way of non-limiting example, a first merchandising communication system may be determined based on a third parameter value for a third content communication parameter provided by the first user.
The push component may be configured to effectuate communication of content to determined individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication systems. In some implementations, the push component may be configured to effectuate communication of content based on satisfaction of event criteria being determined. By way of non-limiting example, responsive to the first event criteria being satisfied, the push component may be configured to communicate the first content to the first merchandising communication system.
These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the system and/or method disclosed herein, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured for serving content to one or more merchandising communication systems based on external events, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 2 illustrates a display unit of a merchandising communication system, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a merchandising communication system in a retail environment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary user interface configured to receive user entry and/or selecting of parameter values of one or more content communication parameters that facilitate selective communication of content to merchandising communication systems based on external events.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a system configured for serving content to one or more merchandising communication systems based on external events.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of serving content to one or more merchandising communication systems based on external events, in accordance with one or more implementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 configured for serving content to one or more merchandising communication systems 130 based on external events. System 100 may comprise one or more of a global content server 102, one or more computing platforms 126, one or more merchandising communication systems 130, external resource(s) 128 and/or other components. In particular, global content server 102 may be configured to communicate content to one or more merchandising communication systems based event criteria being satisfied. Users may provide entry and/or selection or parameter values for one or more content communication parameters. The user-provided parameter values may facilitate determining one or more of event criteria, sets of event criteria, content to be communicated based on the event criteria and/or sets of event criteria being satisfied, and/or other information.
Event criteria may dictate circumstances in which content may be communicated to one or more merchandising communication systems. By way of non-limiting example, event criteria may be associated with occurrences (or non-occurrences) of one or more events, the occurrence (or non-occurrence) of which may be outside of the control of the system 100.
The global content server 102, computing platform(s) 126, merchandising communication system(s) 130, external resource(s) 128, and/or other components of system 100 may be communicatively coupled via one or more networks 124. Network 124 may include the Internet, Intranets, near field communication, frequency (RF) link, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, and/or any type(s) of wired or wireless network(s). It will be appreciated that this is not intended to be limiting and that the scope of this disclosure includes implementations in which the global content server 102, computing platform(s) 126, merchandising communication system(s) 130, external resource(s) 128, and/or other components may be operatively linked via some other communication media.
The global content server 102 may be configured to communicate content to individual merchandising communication systems 130 and/or sets of merchandising communication systems 130. Content may be provided as global display information and/or other types of information. Global display information may include information (e.g., digital information such as a video signal and/or other digital information) suitable to effectuate presentation of different types of content (e.g., one or more of video, images, text, and/or other types of content) to users within retail and/or other settings. In some implementations, the content may be associated with one or more of product information (e.g., labeling, nutritional facts, and/or other information), sales information (e.g., pricing, promotional incentives, rebates, and/or other information), and/or other types of information that may be presented to users.
Within individual merchandising communication systems 130, at least a portion of the received global display information (herein referred to as local display information, such as a subset of the global display information) may be received by, and presented at, individual display units 138, 140 of the merchandising communication systems 130. By way of non-limiting example, individual display units 138, 140 of a given merchandising communication system 130 may be configured to identify associated local display information (e.g., one or more of video, images, text, and/or other content) from the received global display information (e.g., identify a subset of global display information that is to be display on the specific display unit). By way of non-limiting example, local display information may be associated with one or more of an identifier, serial number, key, pointer, location, and/or other identification information associated with the particular display unit with which the local display information is to be display. The individual display units may detect such an identification within the global display information and identify local display information that may be intended for the given display unit.
The computing platform(s) 126 may include one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions to execute computer program components. Execution of the machine-readable instructions may enable one or more users associated with the computing platform(s) 126 to interface with system 100, global content server 102, one or more other computing platforms 126, one or more merchandising communication systems 130, external resource(s) 128, and/or other components. By way of non-limiting example, computing platform(s) 102 may include one or more of a desktop computer, laptop computer, handheld computer, NetBook, tablet, Smartphones, Smartwatch, PDA, cellular telephone, PCs, and/or other computing platforms.
Computing platform(s) 126 may include one or more physical interfaces and/or other components. A physical interface included in computing platform(s) 126 may be configured to present one or more user interfaces (see, e.g., FIG. 4) to facilitate communication of information between global content server 102, merchandising communication system(s) 130, external resource(s) 128, and/or other components and a user of computing platform(s) 126. By way of non-limiting example, a user may provide, via interactions with a given user interface, information to and/or receive information from global content server 102, one or more other computing platform(s) 126, merchandising communication system(s) 130, external resource(s) 128, and/or other components.
Examples of physical interface devices of computing platform 126 include one or more of a keypad, buttons, switches, a keyboard, knobs, levers, a display screen, a track pad, a touch screen, speakers, a microphone, an indicator light, an audible alarm, a printer, and/or other interfaces through which a user may provide and/or receive information. It is to be understood that other communication techniques, either hardwired or wireless, are also contemplated by the present invention as a physical interface of the client computing platform(s) 102. As such, one or more other techniques for communicating information between one or more components of system 100 are contemplated by the present disclosure as a physical interface of computing platform(s) 126.
Exemplary information provided to global content server 102 (and/or other components of system 100) may include parameter values for one or more content communication parameters and/or other information. Parameter values of one or more content communication parameters may facilitate selective communication of global display information from global content server 102 to individual merchandising communication systems 130 and/or sets of merchandising communication system 130 based on external events, described in more detail herein.
Exemplary information provided to a physical interface of computing platform(s) 126 from global content server 102 (and/or other components of system 100) may include feedback information and/or other information. Feedback information may be associated with one or more of economic performance information (e.g., conveying an economic impact) of global display information communicated to a given merchandising communication system 130, maintenance information for one or more components of individual merchandising communication systems 130, and/or other information. Feedback information may facilitate generation and/or dissemination of performance reports for individual merchandising communication systems 130, described in more detail herein.
In some implementations, a given merchandising communication system 130 may comprise one or more of a controller 132, one or more display units (e.g., 138, 140), electronic storage 142, and/or other components and/or systems configured for presenting content to users in retail environments and/or other physical environments. A single controller 132 is illustrated in FIG. 1 comprising one or more components, however, several controller subunits and/or other components may be combined to serve the function of controller 132. In some implementations, controller 132 may comprises one or more processors 134 configured by machine-readable instructions, a sending card 136, and/or other components. In some implementations, sending card 136 may be configured to perform one or more of: receiving global display information (e.g., as sent from global content server 102 over network 124); compressing the global display information; providing the global display information to one or more display units 138, 140, and/or other operations.
In some implementations, execution of the machine-readable instructions of processor(s) 134 of controller 132 may cause the one or more processors 134 to perform one or more of: monitoring or detecting states of sensors (not shown in FIG. 1) coupled to individual display units; identifying predetermined information to be provided to the one or more display units; stitching predetermined information (e.g., corresponding to local display information to ultimately be displayed at the display unit(s)) together; compressing display information; and/or other operations.
In some implementations, a given display unit may comprise one or more of a receiver configured to receive display information (e.g., global system display information and/or local display information), an output hub configured to provide display information (e.g., local display information) to one or more display components, one or more processors, and/or other components.
In some implementations, a display unit may be configured to convey and/or transmit display information (e.g., global system display information) to another display unit (e.g., by daisy-chaining). In some implementations, controller 132 may be configured to provide display information (e.g., global and/or local display information) directly to individual display units.
In some implementations, controller 132 may be configured to monitor individual display units and/or other components of a merchandising communication system to determine working conditions of the components. By way of non-limiting example, monitoring may include detecting hardware and/or software malfunctions, monitoring time between routine services required for a given component, and/or other types of monitoring to determine working conditions of components of a merchandising communication system 130.
In some implementations, electronic storage 142 of merchandising communication system 130 may be configured to store received content (e.g., global display information and/or local display information). Such storage may facilitate continued performance of the merchandising communication system 130 should communications with global content server 102 be inhibited. By way of non-limiting example, by storing received content, merchandising communication system 130 may be able to function appropriately in the event that one or both of global content server 102 and/or network 124 cease to function appropriately (e.g., loss of network connectivity).
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary display unit 200. The display unit 200 may be configured receive power in a power input (not shown) and display information in a second input (e.g., receiving compressed display information). The display unit 200 may comprise a power supply 203 (e.g., converting AC power to DC power, such as about 3Vdc to about 5Vdc) connected to the power input, and a power regulator 206 connected to the power supply 202 and configured to provide a suitable power source to one or more components of the display unit 200. The information input may be connected to a receiver (information receiver) 204. The display unit 200 may comprise one or more processors 208 configured by machine-readable instructions to execute one or more program components. Execution of the machine-readable instructions may cause the one or more processor 208 to identify local display information to be displayed on the display component 218 (e.g., an LED array and/or other display units), provide the local display information to the display component 218 for presentation, and/or other operations. Optional LED drivers 216 may be included.
In some embodiments, the computer program components may comprise one or more of a display identification component 210, a content identification component 212, a decompression component 214, and/or other components.
In some embodiments, the display identification component 210 (e.g., hardware, software, firmware, or the like) may be configured to store and/or determine an identifier associated with the display unit, or of display components thereof (e.g., in certain instances wherein a display unit comprises multiple display components). In specific embodiments, the identifier is associated with the location of the display unit 200 within a merchandising communication system comprising the display unit 200.
In some embodiments, content identification component 212 may be configured to identify the information (e.g., video, images, text, and/or the like) to be displayed at the identified location. In some implementations, the content identification component 212 may be configured to identify a subset of information to be decompressed by the decompression component 214 and displayed at the identified location. In some implementations, the decompression component 214 may be configured to decompresses a subset of information (e.g., local display information) received that is to be displayed at the identified location.
In some embodiments, decompression component 214 may be configured to decompress compressed display information. In some implementations, decompression component 214 may be configured to decompress compressed global system display information, or a subset thereof (e.g., local display information), received by the display unit 200.
FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a merchandising communication system 300 in a retail environment comprising one or more display units 304 and/or other components described herein. The display units 304 may be affixed to and/or integrated with retail shelving 302. The display units 304 may be configured to provide specific display content for individual products 308 on the shelves 302, even when the shelves 302 are in complex configurations. In some implementations, system 300 may comprise one or more display units comprising a sensor 306 (e.g., camera and/or other sensors) configured to output a sensor state, such as proximity of users to the sensor 306 or a display unit comprising the sensor 306.
Returning to FIG. 1, in some implementations, display units, global content server 102, merchandising communication system 130, computing platforms 126, and/or other components of system 100 described herein may be configured to alter display content (e.g., alter display information provided to the display units) based on a sensor state of one or more sensors of one or more display units. In some instances, such sensor states include identifying “motion,” “no motion” and/or other states. Sensor states may include (and/or a sensor, e.g., camera, provided herein is configured to be able to detect), by way of non-limiting illustration, “motion,” “no motion,” and “captive” (e.g., as determined by identifying a face—i.e., facial recognition). Other exemplary sensor states include, by way of non-limiting example, “in proximity” or “not in proximity.” Generally, based on such determinations, specific display information (content) may be identified and/or provided to the display unit(s) thereof. For example, when a sensor state is identified as “no motion” for one or more display unit, the merchandising communication system 130 and/or other components may be configured to provide specific (and predetermined) display information, such as logos or decals of the products located at (e.g., on a shelf at, above, or below) the display units identified as having a sensor state of “no motion,” but when the sensor state is identified as “motion” for the one or more display units, the system 130 may be configured to provide different, specific (and predetermined) display information, such as text describing the product(s), the price of the product(s), and optionally a QR code for the product(s) located at (e.g., on a shelf at, above, or below) the display unit(s) identified as having a sensor state of “motion.”
In some implementations, content specifically associated with “no motion” sensor state, content specifically associated with “motion” state, and/or other content specifically associated with one or more other sensor states, may be specified by a user (e.g., via entry and/or selection of values for one or more content communication parameters, described herein). In some implementations, content associated with a given product may have different versions of the content that may be individually associated with a given sensor states.
In some implementations, a given merchandising communication system 130 and/or other components of system 100 may include, and/or otherwise interface with, one or more other components and/or systems associated with a retail environment. By way of non-limiting example, a retail environment may include and/or otherwise be associated with a point-of-sale (POS) system and/or other systems comprising product information for one or more products offered within the retail environment. For example, a POS system may include information such as one or more of product SKU's, product pricing, product locations within the retail environment and/or other relevant product information. In some implementations, global content server 102, merchandising communication system 130, and/or other systems may be configured to access (e.g., mine) information from a POS system to ensure accuracy and consistency of content communicated to the merchandising communication system 130 and ultimately displayed at display units. In some implementations, access and/or integration with a POS system may further eliminate a need from manual user input to determine specifics of information to be displayed, and/or otherwise provide a check to ensure consistency with the content sent from global content server 102.
Returning to FIG. 1, electronic storage 122 of global content server 102 may be configured to store and/or otherwise access content available to be served to one or more merchandising communication systems 130, information that characterizes the available content, information that characterizes individual ones of the merchandising communication systems 130, and/or other information.
In some implementations, information that characterizes merchandising communication systems may be used to identify individual merchandising communication system and/or sets of merchandising communication systems, identify components of a given merchandising communication system, and/or other information. For example, merchandising communication systems may be identified based on matches of characterization information with parameter values for one or more content communication parameters provided by users of the system 100.
By way of non-limiting example, information characterizing a given merchandising communication system may include one or more of an identification of components included in the merchandising communication system, a quantity of individual components included in the merchandising communication system, a layout of components, information that characterizes a retail environment with which the merchandising communication system is associated, and/or other information that may characterize a given merchandising communication system. Information that characterizes a retail environment may include one or more of a name of a retail environment, a location of the retail environment, services provide by the retail environment, products offered by the retail environment, and/or other characterization information.
In some implementations, electronic storage 122 may store and/or otherwise access information that characterizes available content. In some implementations, information that characterizes available content may be used to identify content to serve to one or more merchandising communication systems. Identification of content may be based on matches of the information that characterizes available content with parameter values for one or more content communication parameters provided by users of the system 100.
By way of non-limiting example, information that characterizes available content may include one or more of an identification of the content, product name associated with the content, a product class associated with the content, a context of the content, a content type, and/or other information that may characterize content available for serving to merchandising communication systems. A content type may include one or more of video, text, audio, and/or other types. A product class may include products having the same or similar use, a same or similar (e.g., within a range) product price, a same or similar product function, a common product brand, a common product origin, a same or similar production, manufacture, growth, development, harvesting, and/or other similar features. Context of content may specify that content to be within the context of one or more of a product label, a promotional sale, a sensor state with which display of the content may be associated, and/or other context. By way of non-limiting example, context information may specify whether content is to be displayed during one or more of a “no motion” sensor state, “motion” sensor state, and/or other sensor states.
The global content server 102 may include one or more physical processor 106 configured by machine-readable instructions 108. Executing the machine-readable instructions 108 may cause the one or more physical processor 106 to facilitate serving content to one or more merchandising communication systems 130 associated with one or more retail environments based on external events. The machine-readable instructions 108 may include one or more of a user interface component 110, an event monitoring component 111, a content management component 112, a merchandising communication system management component 114 (abbreviated MCS management component 114 in FIG. 1), a push component 116, a feedback component 118, a report component 120, and/or other components.
The user interface component 110 may be configured to effectuate presentation of user interfaces at computing platforms 126 associated with users of system 100. A given user interface may include one or more user interface elements and/or other components. A user interface element may comprise one or more of an input element, a display element, a navigation element, and/or other elements. An input element may comprise one or more of selectable element (e.g., virtual button), a text input box, a drop down menu, a check box, a thumbnail, and/or other input elements. A display element may comprise a portion of a user interface configured to present information. A display element may comprise one or more of a window, a pop-up window, a status bar, an album, and/or other display elements. A navigation element may be configured to facilitate user navigation between different pages, tabs, windows, and/or views of one or more user interfaces. A navigation element may include one or more of a scroll bar, a tab, a root menu, and/or other navigation element.
In some implementations, a given user interface may be configured to receive user entry and/or selection of parameter values for one or more content communication parameters, and/or other information. By way of non-limiting example, a given user interface may include one or more user interface elements configured to facilitate user entry and/or selection of parameter values. The user interface component 110 may be configured to obtain the user entered and/or selected parameter values from computing platforms 126 based on user interaction with the user interface displayed on the computing platforms 126. By way of non-limiting example, user interface component 110 may be configured to obtain one or more of a first user-provided parameter value, a second user-provided parameter value, a third user-provided parameter value, and/or other user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters.
User-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters may facilitate selective communication of content to one or more merchandising communication systems 130 based on external events. Content communication parameters may include one or more of content selection parameters, merchandising communication system selection parameters, causal event parameters, effectual event parameters, and/or other parameters.
Content selection parameters may facilitate determinations of content (e.g., display information) to be communicated to one or more merchandising communication systems 130. Values for content selection parameters may correspond to information that characterizes available content. By way of non-limiting example, content may be selected based on determining a match between a user-provided parameter value for a content selection parameter and characterization information for the content.
Merchandising communication system selection parameters may facilitate determinations of individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication systems for which content may be communicated to. Values for merchandising communication system selection parameters may correspond to information that characterizes individual ones of the merchandising communication systems. By way of non-limiting example, a given merchandising communication system may be identified based on determining a match between a user-provided parameter value for a merchandising communication system selection parameter and characterization information for the merchandising communication system. In some implementations, values for merchandising communication system selection parameters may facilitate selecting locations of display units where content may be intended for display.
Causal event parameters may facilitate determinations of event criteria for causing the push component 116 to communicate content in the event that the event criteria is satisfied. Values for one or more causal event parameters may be related to one or more events. Events may comprise one or more of real world actions or activities that may occur within system 100 and/or external to system 100, however the occurrence of which may be out of the control the system 100. By way of non-limiting example, events may be related to one or more of natural events, human-driven events, time-based events, and/or other events outside the control of system 100. By way of non-limiting example, a first value for a first causal event parameter may comprise a first event.
In some implementations, natural events may be associated with one or more of weather, natural disasters, and/or other natural phenomena. Weather may include one or more of a particular weather pattern, a temperature, a moisture level, a light level, a seasonal change, and/or other natural occurrences associated with weather and/or the natural environment. By way of non-limiting example, weather patterns may include one or more of rain, storm, thunder, lightning, and/or other weather patterns.
In some implementations, human-driven events may be associated with one or more of consumers at or near retail environments, disasters caused by humans, holidays, concerts, and/or other events that may be associated with human activity. By way of non-limiting example, human-driven events associated with consumers at or near retail environments may include one or more of an amount of consumer traffic in and/or out of a retail environment; an amount of vehicle traffic at or around a retail environment; a measure of purchases by consumers at a retail location; and/or other human-driven events. A measure of purchases may be based on one or more of volume, profit, and/or other measure. A measure of purchases may be characterized by one or more of an amount, a frequency, a velocity, and/or other measure.
In some implementations, time-based events may be associated with one or more of a calendar date, a time instance, a time range, a time-of-day (e.g., morning, noon, night, and/or other times-of-day), and/or other information. By way of non-limiting example, a time-based event may be associated with a particular time range in a day (e.g., “noon to 3 pm” and/or other range).
Effectual event parameters may facilitate determinations of the content (e.g., display information) to be communicated in response to event criteria being satisfied. Effectual event parameters may include one or more of a content identification parameter, content type parameter, product parameter, context parameter, and/or other parameters. In some implementations, content selection parameters may be related to effectual event parameters (e.g., one or both may facilitate selecting content to serve).
Values for content identification parameters may be related to identification of particular content. By way of non-limiting example, values of content identification parameters may include one or more of a name of the content, a serial number associated with the content, and/or other information suitable to identify specific content.
Values for a content type parameter be related to the type(s) of content to be communicated. By way of non-limiting example, a value for a content type parameter may specify one or more of video, text, audio, and/or other information that characterizes a content type.
Values for a product parameter may be related to specifying product class(es), names of products, brands, and/or manufacturers with which content may be associated with. By way of non-limiting example, a value for a product parameter may include one or more of a product class, a product type, a product name, a product brand, a manufacturer name, and/or other information. By way of non-limiting example, a value for a product parameter may include a particular product name.
Values for a context parameter may be related to a context of the content to be communication. By way of non-limiting example, a value for a context parameter may specify that content to be communicated may be within the context of one or more of a limited sale, a promotional sale, a discount, a manufacturer rebate, a change of visual aspect of displayed information, a particular sensor state associated with display of the content, a particular location and/or display unit content may be display, and/or other context. By way of non-limiting example, a change of a visual aspect of display information may be associated with one or more increasing a display size of a product label, changing a color and/or color scheme of a display, and/or other changes.
Event monitoring component 111 may be configured to perform one or more of obtain event information, determine event criteria and/or sets of event criteria, determine satisfaction of event criteria based on the event information, and/or other operations. By way of non-limiting example, event monitoring component 111 may be configured to obtain first event information, determine first event criteria, and/or determine a satisfaction of the first event criteria based on the first event information.
Event information may characterize states of various events. States may comprise one or more of a current actual state, a current predicted state, a future predicted state, and/or other states. States may convey whether a given event may occur, may not occur, has occurred, has not occurred, is occurring, and/or other states. By way of non-limiting example, first event information may characterize a first state of a first event. By way of non-limiting example, a state of “weather” included in event information include a current and/or predicted temperature at a given location (e.g., at or near a retail environment), and/or other information. By way of non-limiting example, a state of a human-driven event related to “consumer traffic” may include “10 people entering every 25 minutes” and/or other information.
The event monitoring component 111 may be configured such that event information may be obtained from one or more event information sources. Event information sources may comprise one or more of a source within system 100, a source outside of system 100, and/or other sources. Such information may be communicated to event monitoring component 111 based on requests for such information, periodically, and/or on some other basis. By way of non-limiting example, the event monitoring component 111 may be configured such that first event information may be obtained from a first source.
In some implementations, sources for event information may include one or more of a merchandising communication system 130, a retail environment, one or more websites, one or more information databases, users, and/or other sources.
In some implementations, obtaining event information from a source may comprise one or more of submitting requests for event information, mining the source, and/or other techniques. By way of non-limiting example, a website that provides weather information may be mined by event monitoring component 111 to determine states of weather. In some implementations, a retail environment may include components and/or systems included in the retail environment and/or merchandising communication systems of the retail environment that may be configured to monitor and/or track events to determine states of one or more events. By way of non-limiting example, the event monitoring component 111 may be configured to send requests for event information to a retail environment and/or merchandising communication system of the retail environment. In some implementations, an event information source may be configured to send event information to event monitoring component 111 periodically and/or other some other basis.
The event monitoring component 111 may be configured such that event criteria and/or sets of event criteria may be determined based on one or more user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters, and/or other information. In particular, event criteria and/or sets of event criteria may be determined based on user-provided parameter values for one or more causal event parameters. By way of non-limiting example, event criteria may include the user-provided parameter values for one or more causal event parameters and/or other information. For example, user-provided values for one or more casual event parameters may comprise events, and/or other. Event criteria may specify that an occurrence (or non-occurrence) of a given event characterized by a user-provided parameter value for a causal event parameter may result in event criteria being satisfied. Satisfaction of event criteria may cause the push component 116 to communicate content (e.g., determined by content management component 112) to one or more merchandising communication systems 130.
The event monitoring component 111 may be configured to determine whether event criteria has been satisfied. In some implementations, determining whether event criteria has been satisfied may include comparing obtained event information with event criteria, and/or other techniques. By way of non-limiting example, based on a state of a given event conveying occurrence of an event associated with event criteria, the event monitoring component 111 may be configured to determine that event criteria has been satisfied. Based a state of a given event conveying a non-occurrence of an event associated with event criteria, the event monitoring component 111 may be configured to determine that event criteria has not been satisfied.
Content management component 112 may be configured to associate content with one or more user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters. Association of content with the user-provided parameter values may comprise one or more of determining matches between the user-provided parameter values and available content, and/or other techniques. Determining matches between the user-provided parameter values and available content may comprise comparing the user-provided values with information that characterizes available content. By way of non-limiting example, first content may be associated with a second user-provided parameter values for a second content communication parameter provided by the first user. By way of non-limiting example, the second content communication parameter may comprise a first effectual event parameter. Association of the first content with the second user-provided parameter value may be based on the first content being characterized by the second user-provided parameter value.
By way of non-limiting example, the first effectual event parameter may related to identifying specific content. The first user-provided parameter value may be, for example, “video label for Bob's orange juice” and/or other information. The first content may include, for example, display information for a label for “Bob's orange juice” that includes a video to be played at a display unit at a location of Bob's orange juice within a retail environment, and/or other display information.
In some implementations, content management component 112 may configure content based on specifics of a merchandising communication system 130 with which the content is to be communicated (e.g., determined by MCS management component 114). By way of non-limiting example, content (e.g., global display information including local display information) may be configured based one or more of the components of an intended recipient merchandising communication system 130, layout of the components of the recipient merchandising communication system 130 (e.g., locations of display units where local display information is intended to go and/or selected by a user to go), and/or other criteria.
MCS management component 114 may be configured to determine individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication systems to serve content based on user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters. Determination of individual merchandising communication system and/or sets of merchandising communication systems may comprise one or more of determining matches between the user-provided values and information that characterizes the merchandising communication systems, and/or other techniques. By way of non-limiting example, a first merchandising communication system may be determined based on a third user-provided parameter value for a third content communication parameter provided by the first user. By way of non-limiting example, the third content communication parameter may comprise a first merchandising communication system selection parameter. The first merchandising communication system may be determined based on the first merchandising communication system being characterized by the third user-provided parameter value.
By way of non-limiting example, the first merchandising communication system selection parameter may be related to a name of retail environment with which a merchandising communication system may be employed. The third user-provided value may comprise, for example, “Target®.” The first merchandising communication system may be associated with Target® (and therefore determined based on first merchandising communication system matching the second user-provided value).
Push component 116 may be configured to effectuate communication of content (e.g., as determined by content management component 112) to determined individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication systems (e.g., as determined by MCS management component 114). In some implementations, push component 116 may be configured to effectuate communication of content to determined individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication systems in response to a determination that event criteria is satisfied (e.g., as determined by event monitoring component 111).
In some implementations content communicated to individual merchandising communication systems 130 may be configured specifically for the individual merchandising communication system 130 (e.g., based on the specifics of the components of the merchandising communication system 130, layout of the merchandising communication system 130, and/or other criteria). Push component 116 may be configured to effectuate communication of content to the appropriate receiving merchandising communication system. By way of non-limiting example, push component 111 may be configured to effectuate communication of first content to the first merchandising communication system responsive first event criteria being satisfied.
In some implementations, when sets of merchandising communication system 130 have been determined for content delivery, the push component 116 may be configured to identify configurations of content that may have been specifically configured for individual ones of the merchandising communication systems to communicate the content appropriately. By way of non-limiting example, responsive to a first merchandising communication system, a second merchandising communication system, and/or other merchandising communication systems (e.g., collectively comprising a set of merchandising communication systems) being determined based the third user provided parameter value for the first merchandising communication system selection parameter, the push component 116 may be configured to communicate a first configuration of the first content to the first merchandising communication system and a second configuration of the first content to the second merchandising communication system. The first configuration may be specific to the first merchandising communication system. The second configuration may be specific to the second merchandising communication system.
The feedback component 118 may be configured to obtain feedback information from individual ones of the merchandising communication systems. In some implementations, feedback information may include one or more of economic performance information, maintenance information, and/or other information. By way of non-limiting example, the feedback component 118 may be configured to obtain first feedback information from the first merchandising communication system.
Economic performance information may convey economic benefits and/or detriments to a given retail environment following the communication of content to the merchandising communication system of the retail environment. By way of non-limiting example, economic performance information may reflect one or more of sales increases (e.g., in volume, dollar amounts, frequency, and/or other measure), sales decreases (e.g., in volume, dollar amounts, frequency, and/or other measure), and/or other information. Economic performance information may include one or more of a graph, a chart, a table, a figure, and/or other type of presentation configured to convey economic performance of a retail environment.
In some implementations, merchandising communication systems and/or other systems included at a retail environment may be configured to generated economic performance information in response to requests for such information (e.g., via feedback component 118), periodically, randomly, and/or at other times. By way of non-limiting example, feedback component 118 may be configured to request economic performance information after a predetermined threshold time period following the communication of content, periodically, changes in states of events at or near merchandising communication system, and/or on some other basis.
In some implementations, maintenance information may conveying working conditions of one or more components of a given merchandising communication systems. By way of non-limiting example, maintenance information may include conditions of one or more hardware and/or software components of a merchandising communication system. Conditions may reflect a need for immediate and/or scheduled service of one or more components, and/or other maintenance operations.
In some implementations, merchandising communication systems and/or other systems included at a retail environment may be configured to generated maintenance information in response to requests for such information (e.g., via feedback component 118), periodically, randomly, on an as-needed basis, and/or at other times. By way of non-limiting example, feedback component 118 may be configured to request maintenance information periodically and/or on some other basis. By way of non-limiting example, merchandising communication systems and/or other systems of a retail environment may be configured to send maintenance information to system 100 (e.g., feedback component 118) in response to condition issues being detected in the merchandising communication system (e.g., as-needed).
The report component 120 may be configured to generate and disseminate performance reports based on the feedback information. Performance reports may reflect a current state of merchandising communication systems as determined from the feedback information obtained from the merchandising communication systems.
Performance reports generated by report component 120 may include web-based reports, email reports, tables, charts, and/or other types of reports. Performance reports may be disseminated by generating one or more of a text message, an email, a sound notification, a visual notification, and/or other notification. For example, report component 120 may be configured to automatically generate a first performance report for the first merchandising communication system based on the first feedback information. The report component 120 may be configured to communicate the first performance report to the first computing platform associated with the first user.
In some implementations, performance reports may be in a tabular form and/or other forms. Performance reports may include reports generated based on predefined templates and/or other information. For example, predefined templates may be obtained and/or generated by report component 120. The predefined templates may include templates specific to one or more of merchandising communication systems, retail environments, products, content, and/or other templates. The performance reports may include customizable reports. Customization of the content reports may include customization of the layout of the report, information contained in the report, the structure of the report, and/or other customization.
In some implementations, report component 120 may be configured to generate content reports in response to one or more of a request for the report (e.g., by a user via a user interface), feedback information being obtained, periodically, and/or other criteria. The requests to generate performance reports may include, for example, requests from a user, a retail environment, a product owner, a merchandising communication system owner, from components within or outside system 100, and/or other requests.
By way of non-limiting example, responsive to the first feedback information being obtained from the first merchandising communication system (e.g., by feedback component 118), the report component 120 may be configured to generate a first performance report and/or communicate the first report to the first computing platform.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary user interface 400 configured to receive user entry and/or selection of parameter values for one or more content communication parameters. User interface 400 may be presented on a display of a computing platform associated with a user of the system 100 (FIG. 1). User interface 400 may include one or more user interface element configured to facilitate user entry and/or selection of parameter values. By way of non-limiting example, user interface 400 may include one or more of input elements 402, 404, 406, 408, and/or other user interface elements. Input elements may comprise one or more of check boxes 402, text input fields 404, drop down menu 406, selectable buttons 408, and/or other input elements. In some implementations, individual input elements may be associated with one or more content communication parameters for which a user may specific a parameter value. For example, as illustrated, user interface 400 may be configured to facilitate user entry and/or selection of parameter values for one or more of a first content communication parameter, a second content communication parameter, a third content communication parameter, a fourth content communication parameters, and/or other parameters. One or more of the parameters may comprise content selection parameters. One or more of the parameters may comprise merchandising communication system selection parameters. One or more input elements (e.g., input element 408) may facilitate user submission of entered and/or selection of parameter values to effectuate serving of appropriate content to appropriate merchandising communication systems.
Its noted that the depiction in FIG. 4 and accompanying descriptions are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered limiting. For example, in some implementations, a user interface may be configured to facilitate user entry and/or selection of more or fewer content communication parameters.
FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary implementation of system 100 configured for serving content to one or more merchandising communication systems. System 100 as shown includes one or more of global content server 102, computing platform 126, merchandising communication system 130 within retail environment 1000, and/or other components. The global content server 102, computing platform 126, merchandising communication system 130, and/or other components may communicate via network 124.
The computing platform 126 may be configured to display a user interface 500. User interface 500 may be configured to receive user entry and/or selection of parameter values for one or more content communication parameters. By way of non-limiting example, the content communication parameters of user interface 500 may include one or more of a merchandising communication system selection parameter (abbreviated MCS selection parameter in FIG. 5), a causal event parameter, an effectual event parameter, and/or other parameters.
User interface 500 may include one or more user interface elements. By way of non-limiting example, user interface 500 may include input elements 502 configured to receive user entry and/or selection of parameter values for the various parameters, input elements 504 configured to receive user input to effectuate serving of content to one or more merchandising communication systems. For example, input elements 502 may comprise sets of check boxes and/or other input elements.
For illustrative purposes, one or more parameter value are shown as being selected by a user of computing platform 126. The parameter values may facilitate selective serving of content to merchandising communication system 130 based on external events in accordance with one or more implementations of system 100 described herein. By way of non-limiting example, the current selections as shown may facilitate serving content to merchandising communication systems in retail environments characterized as being located in “San Diego County.” Event criteria that dictates a circumstance in which content may be communicated includes temperature “greater than 100 degrees F.” The content to be served when this event criteria is satisfied includes “images to soda labels” (e.g., to attract consumers to labels). This is illustrated within retail environment 1000, including the graphic of the thermometer indicating the event criteria being satisfied. Responsive to satisfaction of the event criteria, images 508 may be displayed by a display unit 506 corresponding to one or more soda products (e.g., and displaying other information such as a product label).
Returning to FIG. 1, external resource(s) 128 may include sources of information, hosts and/or providers of information and/or services outside of the system 100, external entities participating with the system 100 (e.g., cloud storage), and/or other resources. In some implementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein to external resources 128 may be provided by resources included in the system 100.
Global content server 102 may include communication lines, components, or ports to enable the exchange of information with a network, merchandising communication system(s) 130, external resource(s) 128, and/or computing platform(s) 126. Illustration of global content server 102 in FIG. 1 is not intended to be limiting. Global content server 102 may include a plurality of hardware, software, and/or firmware components operating together to provide the functionality attributed herein to Global content server 102. For example, Global content server 102 may be implemented by a cloud of computing platforms operating together as Global content server 102.
Electronic storage 122 may comprise electronic storage media that electronically stores information. The electronic storage media of electronic storage 122 may include one or both of system storage that is provided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with server 102 and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to server 102 via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.). Electronic storage 122 may include one or more of optically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.), magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic hard drive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g., EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.), and/or other electronically readable storage media. The electronic storage 122 may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g., cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storage resources). Electronic storage 122 may store software algorithms, information determined by processors 106, information received from computing platforms 126, information received from merchandising communication system(s) 130, and/or other information that enables global content server 102 to function as described herein.
Processor(s) 106 may be configured to provide information processing capabilities in global content server 102. As such, processor(s) 106 may include one or more of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information. Although processor(s) 106 is shown in FIG. 1 as a single entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, processor(s) 106 may include one or more processing units. The processing units may be physically located within the same device, or processor(s) 106 may represent processing functionality of a plurality of devices operating in coordination.
Processor(s) 106 may be configured to execute components 110, 111, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or 120 by software, hardware, firmware, some combination of software, hardware, and/or firmware, and/or other mechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on the processor(s) 106. It should be appreciated that, although components 110, 111, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or 120 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as being co-located within a single processing unit, in implementations in which processor 106 includes multiple processing units, one or more of components 110, 111, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or 120 may be located remotely from the other components. The description of the functionality provided by the different components 110, 111, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or 120 described herein is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to be limiting, as any of components 110, 111, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or 120 may provide more or less functionality than is described. For example, one or more of components 110, 111, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or 120 may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionality may be provided by other ones of components 110, 111, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, and/or other components. As another example, processor 106 may be configured to execute one or more additional components that may perform some or all of the functionality attributed herein to one of components 110, 111, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or 120.
FIG. 6 illustrates method 600 of serving content to one or more merchandising communication systems based on one or more external events. The method 600 may be implemented in a computer system in accordance with one or more implementations. The operations of method 600 presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some implementations, method 600 may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method 600 are illustrated in FIG. 6 and described below is not intended to be limiting.
In some implementations, one or more implementations of method 600 may be implemented in one or more physical processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices executing some or all of the operations of method 600 in response to machine-readable instructions stored electronically on one or more electronic storage mediums. The one or more physical processing devices may include one or more devices configured through hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed for execution of one or more of the operations of method 600.
At an operation 602 of method 600, presentation of user interfaces at computing platforms associated with users may be effectuated. A given user interface may be configured to obtain user entry and/or selection of parameter values for one or more content communication parameters. by way of non-limiting example, a first user interface may be presented on a first computing platform associated with a first user. In some implementations, operation 602 may be performed by one or more physical processors executing an user interface component the same as or similar to user interface component 110 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).
At an operation 604, event criteria that dictates circumstances in which content is communicated to one or more merchandising communication systems may be determined. Event criteria may be determined based on user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters. By way of non-limiting example, first event criteria may be determined based on a first parameter value for a first content communication parameter provided by the first user.
At an operation 606, content may be associated with user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters. Content may comprise display information configured to be displayed by the merchandising communication systems. User-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters may facilitate selective communication of content to one or more merchandising communication systems. By way of non-limiting example, first content may be associated with a second parameter value for a second content communication parameter provided by the first user. In some implementations, operation 606 may be performed by one or more physical processors executing a content management component the same as or similar to content management component 112 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).
At an operation 608, individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication systems may be determined based on user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters. By way of non-limiting example, a first merchandising communication system may be determined based on a third parameter value for a third content communication parameter provided by the first user. In some implementations, operation 608 may be performed by one or more physical processors executing an MCS management component the same as or similar to MCS management component 114 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).
At an operation 610, communication of content to the determined individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication systems based on external events may be effectuated. By way of non-limiting example, communication of the first content to the first merchandising communication system may be effectuated responsive to the first event criteria being satisfied. In some implementations, operation 610 may be performed by one or more physical processors executing a push component the same as or similar to push component 116 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).
Although the system(s) and/or method(s) of this disclosure have been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system configured for serving content to one or more merchandising communication systems associated with one or more retail environments based on external events, the system comprising:

one or more physical processors configured by machine-readable instructions to:

effectuate presentation of user interfaces at computing platforms associated with users of the system, a given user interface being configured to obtain user entry and/or selection of parameter values for one or more content communication parameters associated, the user interfaces including a first user interface presented on a first computing platform associated with a first user;

determine event criteria that dictates circumstances in which content is communicated to one or more merchandising communication systems, event criteria being determined based on user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters, the event criteria including first event criteria determined based on a first parameter value for a first content communication parameter provided by the first user;

associate content with user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters, the content comprising display information configured to be displayed by the merchandising communication systems, wherein the user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters facilitate selective communication of content to one or more merchandising communication systems responsive to event criteria being satisfied, such that first content is associated with a second parameter value for a second content communication parameter provided by the first user;

determine individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication systems based on user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters, a first merchandising communication system being determined based on a third parameter value for a third content communication parameter provided by the first user;

effectuate communication of content to the determined individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication systems responsive to event criteria being satisfied, such that responsive to the first event criteria being satisfied, communication of the first content to the first merchandising communication system is effectuated.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the content communication parameters include causal event parameters, causal event parameters facilitating determinations of circumstances in which content is communicated, wherein values for causal event parameters are associated with one or more events, the occurrences of which are outside of the control of the system, such that the first content communication parameter comprises a first casual event parameter, wherein the first parameter value comprises a first event, the first event criteria being determined based on the first event.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the content communication parameters include effectual event parameters, effectual event parameters facilitating determinations of content that is communicated responsive to satisfaction of event criteria, wherein values of effectual event parameters are associated with information that characterizes available content, such that the second content communication parameter includes a first effectual event parameter, and wherein the association of the first content with the second parameter value is based on the first content being characterized by the second parameter value.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to:

obtain event information, event information conveying states of one or more events, states of one or more events conveying occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more events, occurrence of one or more events being outside of a control of the system; and

determine satisfaction of event criteria based on the event information, such that responsive to obtaining first information that conveys an occurrence of a first event, determine that the first event criteria is satisfied.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein determining satisfaction of event criteria based on event information comprises comparing the states of one or more events included in the event information with the event criteria, such that responsive to a first state of the first event included in the first event information conveying the occurrence of the first event, satisfaction of the first event criteria is determined.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the content communicated to individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication system includes global display information, and local display information being a subset of the global display information, wherein individual display units of individual merchandising communication systems are configured to identify local display information that is to be displayed on the individual display units.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to:

obtain feedback information from individual ones of the merchandising communication systems;

generate and disseminate performance reports based on the feedback information, such that responsive to first feedback information being obtained from the first merchandising communication system, a first performance report is generated and communicated to the first computing platform.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein feedback information includes economic performance information, economic performance information conveying economic benefits and/or detriments to retail environments following the communication of content to the merchandising communication systems.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein feedback information includes maintenance information, maintenance information conveying working conditions of components of individual merchandising communication systems.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein content includes one or more of video, images, or text.

11. A method of serving content to one or more merchandising communication systems associated with one or more retail environments, the method being implementation in a computer system comprising one or more physical processors and storage media storing machine-readable instructions, the method comprising:

effectuating presentation of user interfaces at computing platforms associated with users of the system, a given user interface being configured to obtain user entry and/or selection of parameter values for one or more content communication parameters, including effectuating presentation of a first user interface on a first computing platform associated with a first user;

determining event criteria that dictates circumstances in which content is communicated to one or more merchandising communication systems, event criteria being determined based on user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters, including determining first event criteria based on a first parameter value for a first content communication parameter provided by the first user;

associating content with user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters, the content comprising display information configured to be displayed by the merchandising communication systems, wherein the user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters facilitate selective communication of content to one or more merchandising communication systems responsive to event criteria being satisfied, including associating first content with a second parameter value for a second content communication parameter provided by the first user;

determining individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication systems based on user-provided parameter values for one or more content communication parameters, including determining a first merchandising communication system based on a third parameter value for a third content communication parameter provided by the first user; and

effectuating communication of content to the determined individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication systems responsive to event criteria being satisfied, including responsive to the first event criteria being satisfied, effectuating communication of the first content to the first merchandising communication system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the content communication parameters include causal event parameters, causal event parameters facilitating determinations of circumstances in which content is communicated, wherein values for causal event parameters are associated with one or more events, the occurrences of which are outside of the control of the system, such that the first content communication parameter comprises a first casual event parameter, wherein the first parameter value comprises a first event, the first event criteria being determined based on the first event.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the content communication parameters include effectual event parameters, effectual event parameters facilitating determinations of content that is communicated responsive to satisfaction of event criteria, wherein values of effectual event parameters are associated with information that characterizes available content, such that the second content communication parameter includes a first effectual event parameter, and wherein the association of the first content with the second parameter value is based on the first content being characterized by the second parameter value.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

obtaining event information, event information conveying states of one or more events, states of one or more events conveying occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more events, occurrence of one or more events being outside of a control of the system; and

determining satisfaction of event criteria based on the event information, including responsive to obtaining first information that conveys an occurrence of a first event, determining that the first event criteria is satisfied.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining satisfaction of event criteria based on event information comprises comparing the states of one or more events included in the event information with the event criteria, such that responsive to a first state of the first event included in the first event information conveying the occurrence of the first event, satisfaction of the first event criteria is determined.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the content communicated to individual merchandising communication systems and/or sets of merchandising communication system includes global display information, and local display information being a subset of the global display information, wherein individual display units of individual merchandising communication systems are configured to identify local display information that is to be displayed on the individual display units.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

obtaining feedback information from individual ones of the merchandising communication systems; and

generating and disseminating performance reports based on the feedback information, including responsive to first feedback information being obtained from the first merchandising communication system, generating and disseminating a first performance report based on the first feedback information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein feedback information includes economic performance information, economic performance information conveying economic benefits and/or detriments to retail environments following the communication of content to the merchandising communication systems.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein feedback information includes maintenance information, maintenance information conveying working conditions components of individual merchandising communication systems.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein content includes one or more of video, images, or text.