Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02402225 2002-09-09
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METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR
CUSTOMIZING PET FOOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to systems for producing individually
customized products, and, more particularly, to a system for producing
customized pet
care plans and products.
While pet care product customers presently have a host of suppliers
and products to choose from, it may take significant time, effort, and
investigation to
determine a product that best suits a particular pet's needs among the
available
alternatives. This is particularly true in the case of pet foods. While
veterinarians and
other professionals may assist in recommending a given brand of pet food for a
particular pet, pet foods are typically mass manufactured to meet the needs of
an
average pet within a selected range of pets that is typically based on pet age
and/or
size. Nutritional needs, however, vary from pet to pet, and a customized
regimen of
appropriate nutrients for a particular pet or breed of pet would be
beneficial. But in
light of the practical di~culties and expenses of tailoring a custom diet for
a
particular pet, consumers are often forced to choose among the limited
varieties of
available mass-produced pet foods and products.
Aside from the limited choices of nutritional content of mass produced
pet foods, consumers typically purchase pet food through complicated
distribution
networks of retailers, wholesalers, and distributors. Consequently,
prepackaged pet
foods are sold in limited package quantities. Particularly in the case of dry
pet foods,
the food is typically sold in bulk by weight. Thus, consumers often have to
lift and
carry cumbersome packages of pet food to checkout counters at pet food outlets
and
stores, lift and carry the packages to their vehicles, and lift them out of
their vehicles
and into their homes. Considering the occasional long lines when dealing with
heavy
packages, and travel time to and from pet food outlets, purchasing pet food is
often
inconvenient, and can sometimes be an ordeal.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a customized, consumer
direct pet care plan system that would allow more consumer choice in content
and
packaging of pet foods at an increased consumer convenience.
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BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a customized, consumer
direct pet care plan system includes a method and apparatus for customizing
pet care
plans and products, including pet food, that utilizes an integrated Internet-
based
customer interface and workflow process management. The system is configured
to
receive and compile individual pet profiles from information provided by each
customer, accept pet care plan purchase orders based upon information in
corresponding individual pet profiles, and process each of the purchase orders
to
manufacture and package pet care products in accordance with the desires of
each
individual customer. The system communicates with a production facility,
controls
L 0 equipment runs during production, and tracks products through delivery to
a
customer's home. Thus, customers may purchase and receive made-to-order pet
food
and pet care plans, complete with customized packaging, from the convenience
of
their homes.
BRIEF DESCRTPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a server
architecture for a customized pet care plan system;
Figure 2 is a block diagram of an alternative exemplary embodiment of
a server architecture for a customized pet care plan system; and
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a customized pet care production
method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a server
architecture of a customized pet care plan system 10 including a web server
12, an
application server 14, a database server I6, a directory server 18, a workflow
server
20, and a mail server 22. A disk storage unit 24 is coupled to database server
16 and
directory server 18 and provides a data repository for storing data pertaining
to
customized pet care plans and products. Servers 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 are
coupled
in a local area network (LAN) 24. In addition, a plurality of workstations 26,
28, 30,
32, and 34 are coupled to LAN 24 for simultaneous monitoring of various
production
tasks and methods described below.
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Web server 12 and mail server 22 are configured to be
communicatively coupled to computers of customers 36, 37, 38 via an ISP
Internet
connection 40. The communication in the exemplary embodiment is illustrated as
being performed via the Internet through web browsers loaded onto computers of
customers 36, 37, 38. Other wide area networks (WAN), however, could be used
in
other embodiments, i.e., the systems and processes described herein are not
limited to
. being practiced over the Internet. LAN 24 is configured to generate orders
from a
customer interface (not shown) such as a web page maintained on web server 12,
to
control equipment runs during production of pet care products, and to track
products
L 0 through delivery to the point of distribution.
Figure 2 is a block diagram of an alternative exemplary embodiment of
a server architecture of a customized pet care plan system 50. Components in
system
50 identical to components of system 10 are identified in Figure 2 using the
same
reference characters as in Figure 1. System 50 differs from system 10 in that
system
50 includes a fax server 52 coupled to LAN 24. In the embodiment illustrated
in
Figure 2, fax server 52 communicates with customers via a telephone link.
Also, in
system 50 the mail server is incorporated into web server 12.
The architecture of systems 10 and 50 are exemplary only. Other
architectures are possible and can be utilized in connection with practicing
the
processes described below. Moreover, the processes described below could
alternatively be initiated by a customer without a computer or fax machine.
For
example, customers could phone in or mail the required information and an
operator
could enter data directly into LAN 24 by an operator of a workstation 26, 28,
30, 32,
or 34, or by an operator with a computer remotely communicating with LAN 24
through ISP Internet Connection 40 or another WAN.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a customized pet care product
production method 60 coordinated by LAN 24 (shown in Figures 1 and 2). Method
60 involves five basic steps including creating consumer demand 62, accepting
customized orders 64, processing customized orders 66, delivering customized
orders
68, and obtaining re-orders 70 from previous purchasers. Although method 60 is
described in the context of an Internet-based, automated processing system for
individually customized pet care plans and products, the method could be
embodied in
various alternative forms, some of which are discussed below.
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Creating consumer demand 62 is accomplished initially by targeting a
potential customer base 72 with advertising 74, including but not limited to,
television
ads, radio ads, newspaper ads, magazine ads, and advertisement in consumer and
trade
publications. Advertising 74 serves to inform potential customer base 72 of an
offering of customized pet caxe plans and products, the benefits of customized
pet care
products, and to direct interested customers to a customer interface 76. On-
line
advertising 78 could also be used to generate customer demand 62 among
computer
enthusiasts.
Customer interface 76, in a particular embodiment, is a web page
0 including multiple information fields for interested consumers to complete
prior to
ordering customized products. In a further particular embodiment, each
customer is
provided with an account on database server 16 (shown in Figures 1 and 2) on
which
pet information is stored for later retrieval and use by the customer and
systems 10
and 50 (shown in Figures 1 and 2). Information is gathered on relevant pet
data, such
L 5 as consumer data and the age, size, and breed of a pet or pets.
Information is also
gathered on desired product data, such as a desired nutrient level for a pet
food, a
desired flavor of the food, a desired kibble size, a desired kibble shape, and
desired
food supplements. In addition, information is gathered on desired consumer
data,
such as packaging preferences, product delivery preferences, and information
relating
ZO to pet care, pet health issues, and other pet care issues. Informational
screens could be
incorporated to guide a user in the creation of a customized pet caxe plan,
including
recommended customized pet care products. The information is gathered for
future
reference to order customized pet care producers, such as, for example, dry
pet food,
and for providing other pet care products and services, including but not
limited to
25 generation of an Individual Care Plan for each consumer, further described
below.
Once a customer completes the information fields via customer
interface 76, the information is transmitted to LAN 24 via ISP Internet
connection 40,
Alternatively, customer interface 76 could include a live operator, an
automated voice
messaging system, or printed forms for mailing or faxing to . a location where
30 information can be entered into systems 10 and 50. Once received, the
information is
compiled to generate an individual pet prof 1e 80. Individual pet profile 80
is stored
in disk storage unit 24 (shown in Figures 1 and 2) and is used as an order
template and
to generate customer re-order 70 of selected products. For example, database
server
16 (shown in Figures 1 and 2) could periodically scan disk storage unit 24 for
pre-set
35 flags in customer service profiles 80, such as an elapsed time since the
respective
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customer's previous order. Customers could either be notified 82 with a
solicitation
for a new order, such as by e-mail from mail server 22 (shown in Figures 1 and
2), or
a re-order 70 could be automatically processed to fill or renew a subscription
84 for a
pet care product at an appropriate time. Hence, in a particular embodiment,
customer
interface 76 includes the option of re-order notification 82 or automatic
subscription
84 of selected pet-care products.
Additionally, individual pet profiles 80 are used to generate Individual
Care Plans for each consumer. Individual Care Plans include description and
rationale for various ingredients or nutrients in custom food made for an
individual
pet, feeding guidelines, specific health care instructions for general health
and well
being of the pet, as well as grooming, exercise, behavioral training, and
veterinary
visit information. Further still, reminders of important events in a life of a
pet, such as
birthdays or scheduled visits to veterinarians, and reminders to update
individual pet
profile information at important life stage changes of the corresponding pet
may be
incorporated into Individual Care Plans. Individual Care Plans may be offered
as a
stand-alone service offered in a variety of summary forms including, but not
limited
to, personalized printed pages, brochures, or personalized Internet Web pages
for use
by consumers. Alternatively, Individual Care Plans could be offered in
companion
form with purchased pet care products, including but not limited to dry pet
food.
Customer interface 76 could simply be used as an informational tool
for interested customers and an information gathering device for a pet care
product
manufacturer, but in an exemplary embodiment, it is also used as the impetus
for an
order 64 of a pet care product. Using method 60 and systems 10 or 50 (shown in
Figures 1 and 2), a pet care product can be made-to-order and customized to a
level
desired by a particular customer. For example, in an illustrative embodiment,
a
customer may purchase pet care products from at least one of four different
categories: a completely custom-made food category 86, a custom-component food
category 88, a custom-finish food category 90 and a custom-care category 92.
Custom-care category 92 relates to general pet care products, supplements,
accessories, and information, while completely custom-made food 86, custom-
component food 88, and custom-finish food 90 categories all relate to pet
food.
Completely custom-made food category 86 provides a practically
unlimited choice of customized pet food formulation in which pet food is
manufactured from raw ingredients in a respective individual pet profile 80.
Custom
component category 88 provides a limited range of customized formulations
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manufactured from pre-mixed components selected by a purchaser. in a
respective
individual pet profile 80. Custom-finish food.90 provides a limited range of
pet food
customized only by a flavored coating over pre-selected food formulations
chosen by
a manufacturer. Hence, completely custom-made food category 86 provides for a
maximum customization of pet food according to the desire of a purchasing
customer
as reflected in the respective individual pet profile 80, custom-component
food 88
provides for a moderate customization of pet food, and custom-finish food 90
provides a narrow range of customization of pet food. The range of categories
86, 88,
90 therefore provides a broad range of options fox pet food within a
corresponding
L O range of prices to meet the needs of customer base 72. In alternative
embodiments,
customer orders 64 could be limited to one of the four categories 86, 88, 90,
92, or
other combinations of categories beyond that shown and described,., provided
that
orders 64 comply with applicable regulatory provisions and are within
manufacturing
capabilities.
In one embodiment, a custom pet food formulation suitable to meet the
needs of multiple pets is generated using information contained in more than
one
individual pet profile 80. For example, a customer may own a dog and a cat,
and after
entering requested information in respective individual pet profiles 80 of the
dog and
the cat, a single pet food formulation that satisfies the nutritional needs of
both the cat
and the dog is determined based on information in the respective individual
preference
profiles. Thus, a single food formulation may be provided for feeding to
multiple
pets, and a purchaser need not purchase separate foods for separate animals.
As
another example, a single food formulation can be fabricated that meets the
needs of
two or more dogs, of either the same or different breed.
Once an order 64 is received, LAN 24 (shown in Figure 1) begins
processing 66 orders to manufacture 94 and package 96 customized orders 64 of
purchasing customers in accordance with the respective individual pet profiles
80.
LAN 24 communicates with processing equipment (not shown) in one or more
centralized processing facilities (not shown) to batch and mix customized pet
food for
an individual customer according to known methods and techniques. Workstations
26, 28, 30, 32, 34 (shown in Figure 1) are used to monitor, input and control
various
phases of product manufacture of pet care products to customer desires in
accordance
with information contained in the respective individual pet profile 80 for the
particular
product being manufactured. In one embodiment, work flow procedures 66 are
used
to control traffic flow of orders 64 in production and to speed the processing
of orders,
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such as by processing a group of similar orders in sequence before switching
to
dissimilar orders, or by conducting common manufacturing steps of a group of
orders
at the same time, and then completing customized steps to differentiate the
orders.
LAN 24 is configured to enable extensive statistical analysis and report
generation of
orders received and the processing of orders to allow for optimization of
desired
phases of method 60.
Once orders 64 are manufactured 94, LAN 24 also controls customized
packaging 96 of orders to match a requested packaging in a respective
individual pet
profile 80. Thus, in one embodiment, customers would be offered the choice of
ordering pet food in quantities other than the traditional bulk by weight,
e.g., a 10 1b.
bag. Rather, food could be offered for a selected number of cups, a selected
number
of servings, or a supply of food to last for a certain time period, e.g., six
months worth
of food, that LAN 24~ could calculate based on pet data provided in the
applicable
individual pet profile 80. Thus, considerable choice is offered in amounts of
pet care
product that can be purchased, and consumers can be given choice of packaging
style
and graphics as well to completely tailor pet care products to different pets.
Once manufactured 94 and packaged 96, orders 64 are shipped for
delivery 68 to customers using distributors 98 located near production
facilities in
which orders 64 are processed 66. In one embodiment, existing third party
distributors, such as UPS and FEDERAL EXPRESS, are used to ship customized pet
care products to the consumer's door, thereby saving consumers a trip to the
store to
pick up food. Existing tracking procedures can be used and coordinated by LAN
24
to ensure delivery of customized pet care products.
Therefore, using systems 10 or 50 and method 60, a made-to-order pet
care plan system is provided that allows consumers to place orders 64 direct
from a
manufacturer from the convenience of their homes, and to promptly receive a
customized pet care product order delivered to their door. With re-order
noticing 82
and subscription 84 options in place, customers may consistently receive made-
to-
order pet food tailored to the particular needs of their pets.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific
embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be
practiced
with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
