Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Remote data accessing – Accessing a remote server
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-09
2004-05-04
Vu, Viet D. (Department: 2154)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Remote data accessing
Accessing a remote server
C709S241000, C707S793000, C705S027200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06732161
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of online commerce. More particularly, the invention relates to information presentation and management in an online trading environment, such as an online shopping site, an online auctioning site, an online e-commerce site, an online person-to-person trading site, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
More and more Internet users are realizing the ease and convenience of buying and selling online by way of person-to-person online trading pioneered by eBay Inc., the assignee of the present invention. As a result, collectors, hobbyists, small dealers, unique item seekers, bargain hunters, and other consumers, are able to buy and sell millions of items at various online shopping sites.
The success of an online shopping site depends upon its ability to provide an enjoyable shopping experience and an easy-to-use environment in which buyers and sellers can conduct business efficiently. Current online shopping sites have certain limitations in the manner in which they present information to users. With reference to
FIG. 1
, a typical item listing will briefly be described. A textual list of items
105
representing the results of a user query is presented within a web page format
100
to the user (e.g., a prospective buyer) on his/her computer system. In this example, the web page format
100
presented to the prospective buyer includes items
110
that are currently available for sale on a particular page
170
within a particular category
160
. Each item
110
includes a hypertext link
115
having a title (or brief description) of the item for sale, an indication
120
of whether or not an image of the item is available, the current minimum bid
130
, the number of bids received
140
, and an auction ending time
150
. Based upon the item titles, prospective buyers can decide whether or not to view more detailed information on a particular item. In order to view detailed information on a particular item of interest, the buyer is required to select the hypertext link
115
associated with the item. A new page is then presented with more detailed information regarding the item selected. The more detailed information may include, among other things, the item's starting price, a username associated with the seller of the item, a username associated with the current high bidder, a detailed description of the item in text or HTML format, and an image the seller has associated with the item, for example. To continue browsing other items of interest, the prospective buyer must return to the previously viewed listing, using the browser's “Back” function, for instance, and select the hypertext link
115
associated with the next item of interest. While associating an image with an item, such as a digitized picture of the item, has the advantage of allowing the prospective purchaser to make a more informed decision, the iterative process of individually selecting items to view their images can be very time consuming and even frustrating.
In light of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide an improved user interface for online commerce sites. In particular, it would be advantageous to enhance the online trading experience by providing buyers with a mechanism to more quickly preview items for sale. Additionally, the trading experience of sellers may be improved by automating certain aspects associated with item registration.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method and apparatus for information presentation and management in an online trading environment are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, person-to-person commerce over the Internet is facilitated by providing prospective buyers the ability to quickly preview items for sale. Images are harvested from a plurality of sites based upon user-supplied information. The user-supplied information includes descriptions of items for sale and locations from which images that are to be associated with the items can be retrieved. Thumbnail images are created corresponding to the harvested images and are aggregated onto a web page for presentation at a remote site.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a user may submit a query to preview items for sale. After receiving the query, thumbnail images corresponding to items that satisfy the user query are displayed, each of the thumbnail images previously having been created based upon a user-specified image.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3573747 (1971-04-01), Adams et al.
patent: 3581072 (1971-05-01), Nymayer
patent: 4412287 (1983-10-01), Braddock, III
patent: 4674044 (1987-06-01), Kalmus et al.
patent: 4677552 (1987-06-01), Sibley, Jr.
patent: 4789928 (1988-12-01), Fujisaki
patent: 4799156 (1989-01-01), Shavit et al.
patent: 4823265 (1989-04-01), Nelson
patent: 4864516 (1989-09-01), Gaither et al.
patent: 4903201 (1990-02-01), Wagner
patent: 5063507 (1991-11-01), Lindsey et al.
patent: 5077665 (1991-12-01), Silverman et al.
patent: 5101353 (1992-03-01), Lupien et al.
patent: 5136501 (1992-08-01), Silverman et al.
patent: 5168446 (1992-12-01), Wiseman
patent: 5205200 (1993-04-01), Wright
patent: 5243515 (1993-09-01), Lee
patent: 5258908 (1993-11-01), Hartheimer et al.
patent: 5280422 (1994-01-01), Moe et al.
patent: 5297031 (1994-03-01), Gutterman et al.
patent: 5297032 (1994-03-01), Trojan et al.
patent: 5305200 (1994-04-01), Hartheimer et al.
patent: 5325297 (1994-06-01), Bird et al.
patent: 5329589 (1994-07-01), Fraser et al.
patent: 5375055 (1994-12-01), Togher et al.
patent: 5394324 (1995-02-01), Clearwater
patent: 5426281 (1995-06-01), Abecassis
patent: 5485510 (1996-01-01), Colbert
patent: 5553145 (1996-09-01), Micali
patent: 5557728 (1996-09-01), Garrett et al.
patent: 5598557 (1997-01-01), Doner et al.
patent: 5640569 (1997-06-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5657389 (1997-08-01), Houvener
patent: 5664115 (1997-09-01), Fraser
patent: 5689652 (1997-11-01), Lupien et al.
patent: 5694546 (1997-12-01), Reisman
patent: 5706457 (1998-01-01), Dwyer et al.
patent: 5710889 (1998-01-01), Clark et al.
patent: 5715314 (1998-02-01), Payne et al.
patent: 5715402 (1998-02-01), Popolo
patent: 5717989 (1998-02-01), Tozzoli et al.
patent: 5727165 (1998-03-01), Ordish et al.
patent: 5737599 (1998-04-01), Rowe et al.
patent: 5760917 (1998-06-01), Sheridan
patent: 5761655 (1998-06-01), Hoffman
patent: 5771291 (1998-06-01), Newton et al.
patent: 5771380 (1998-06-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 5778367 (1998-07-01), Wesinger, Jr. et al.
patent: 5790790 (1998-08-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5794219 (1998-08-01), Brown
patent: 5796395 (1998-08-01), deHond
patent: 5799285 (1998-08-01), Klingman
patent: 5803500 (1998-09-01), Mossberg
patent: 5818914 (1998-10-01), Fujisaki
patent: 5826244 (1998-10-01), Huberman
patent: 5835896 (1998-11-01), Fisher et al.
patent: 5845265 (1998-12-01), Woolston
patent: 5845266 (1998-12-01), Lupien et al.
patent: 5850442 (1998-12-01), Muftic
patent: 5872848 (1999-02-01), Romney et al.
patent: 5873069 (1999-02-01), Reuhl et al.
patent: 5884056 (1999-03-01), Steele
patent: 5890138 (1999-03-01), Godin et al.
patent: 5905975 (1999-05-01), Ausubel
patent: 5922074 (1999-07-01), Richard et al.
patent: 5924072 (1999-07-01), Havens
patent: 5926794 (1999-07-01), Fethe
patent: 5948061 (1999-09-01), Merriman
patent: 5974412 (1999-10-01), Hazlehurst et al.
patent: 5986662 (1999-11-01), Argiro et al.
patent: 5991739 (1999-11-01), Cupps et al.
patent: 6035288 (2000-03-01), Solomon
patent: 6035402 (2000-03-01), Vaeth et al.
patent: 6044363 (2000-03-01), Mori et al.
patent: 6045447 (2000-04-01), Yoshizawa et al.
patent: 6047264 (2000-04-01), Fisher et al.
patent: 6055518 (2000-04-01), Franklin et al.
patent: 6058379 (2000-05-01), Odom et al.
patent: 6058417 (2000-05-01), Hess et al.
patent: 6061448 (2000-05-01), Smith et al.
patent: 6065041 (2000-05-01), Lum et al.
patent: 6070125 (2000-05-01), Murphy et al.
patent: 6073117 (2000-06-01), Oyanagi et al.
patent: 6085176 (2000-07-01), Woolston
patent: 6104815 (2000-08-01), Alcorn et al.
patent: 6119137 (2000-09-01), Smith et
Hess Martin L.
Wilson Michael K.
Blakely , Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
eBay Inc.
Vu Viet D.
LandOfFree
Information presentation and management in an online trading... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Information presentation and management in an online trading..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Information presentation and management in an online trading... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3217373