Predicting Purchasing Requirements

Abstract

Particular embodiments provide functionality for predicting purchasing needs according to multidimensional data. The multidimensional data may define a multidimensional space. The multidimensional space may have at least three dimensions, and each of the dimensions may be capable of providing variable information, and/or having a type that is different from a type of another one of the dimensions. Particular embodiments may retrieve information from data associated with the multidimensional space. Predictions regarding purchasing needs may be generated based on the retrieved information. Purchasing recommendations may then be provided based on the predictions.

1 . A method comprising:
 retrieving, by one or more processors associated with one or more computer servers, historical transaction information associated with a user;   generating, by the one or more processors, at least a portion of a user profile for the user based on the historical transaction information;   estimating, by the one or more processors, purchasing needs of the user;   generating, by the one or more processors, purchasing recommendations for the user based on the purchasing needs of the user; and   providing, by the one or more processors, the purchasing recommendations.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the user profile includes static characteristics. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the static characteristics comprise demographic data, psychographic data, purchasing preferences, or any combination thereof 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the user profile includes dynamic characteristics. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the dynamic characteristics are based on rules describing the user's behavior. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the rules describing the user's behavior are generated using machine learning based on the historical transaction information. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising validating the rules describing the user's behavior based on a defined criteria. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the validating the rules is based on input from the user, from an expert, or any combination thereof 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising combining a portion of the user profile including static characteristics with a portion of the user profile including dynamic characteristics. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the historical transaction information is stored in a multidimensional space having at least three dimensions, each of the dimensions being capable of providing variable information. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating purchasing recommendations further comprises: accessing a data store comprising information associated with products, services, suppliers, promotions, discounts, or any combination thereof 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein estimating purchasing needs of the user is based on a state of the user, a state of the world, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the purchasing recommendations are provided to a marketing application. 
     
     
         14 . One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:
 retrieve, by one or more processors associated with one or more computer servers, historical transaction information associated with a user;   generate, by the one or more processors, at least a portion of a user profile for the user based on the historical transaction information;   estimate, by the one or more processors, purchasing needs of the user;   generate, by the one or more processors, purchasing recommendations for the user based on the purchasing needs of the user; and   provide, by the one or more processors, the purchasing recommendations.   
     
     
         15 . The media of  claim 14 , wherein the rules describing the user's behavior are generated using machine learning based on the historical transaction information. 
     
     
         16 . The media of  claim 14 , further embodying software operable when executed to validate the rules describing the user's behavior based on a defined criteria. 
     
     
         17 . The media of  claim 16 , wherein the step of validating the rules is based on input from the user, from an expert, or any combination thereof 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to:
 retrieve historical transaction information associated with a user; 
 generate at least a portion of a user profile for the user based on the historical transaction information; 
 estimate purchasing needs of the user; 
 generate purchasing recommendations for the user based on the purchasing needs of the user; and 
 provide the purchasing recommendations. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the historical transaction information is stored in a multidimensional space having at least three dimensions, each of the dimensions being capable of providing variable information. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the step of estimating purchasing needs of the user is based on a state of the user, a state of the world, or any combination thereof