Method and apparatus for product comparison

• US 10,055,772 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Versata Development Group, Inc. (ESW Capital, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Versata Development Group, Inc. (ESW Capital, LLC)
• Inventors: Connors, Christopher M., Miller, Andrew F., Walsky, Joshua P., Singh, James, Leamon, Andrew, VanDyke, Jeffrey R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Misiaszek, Michael
• Application Number:
  US97/701,37
• Time in Patent Office: 6,416 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26, 705 27, 705 261- 272
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

A method of comparing products is disclosed. The method includes selecting a first configuration (which represents a first product with a first attribute), selecting a second configuration (which represents a second product with a second attribute), and displaying the first attribute and the second attribute. The first attribute is defined in the first configuration and the second attribute is defined in the second configuration. The first and second products may be, for example, vehicles of some sort.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computer system to provide a multifaceted capability of generating product data for comparison, the method comprising:

performing by the computer system programmed with code stored in a memory and executing by a processor of the computer system to configure the computer system into a machine for;

creating a database by preprocessing data prior to providing data to allowing a user of a client computer system to configure a product and to enumerate product configurations including attributes of each of the product configurations in the database;

storing (i) an identifier of each product configuration, (ii) configuration fields for each product configuration, and (iii) the attributes of each product configuration in one or more tables of the database, wherein each identifier represents an enumeration of one of the product configurations;

providing data to allow a client computer system to display one or more data entry regions allowing a user to select any of;

(i) a previously stored first product configuration by the user that corresponds to one of the product configurations stored in the one or more tables of the database, (ii) allowing a user to configure a second product that is identifiable by the identifier of the product configuration corresponding to the second product, and (iii) an automatic generation of a third product configuration based on product configuration from the user that was used to configure a product other than the third product configuration, wherein the third product configuration is identifiable by the identifier of the enumerated product configuration corresponding to the third product configuration;

receiving one or more selections of the automatic generation of the third product configuration and at least one of;

(i) a previously stored first product configuration by the user that corresponds to one of the product configurations stored in the one or more tables of the database and (ii) product configuration data to configure a second product configuration that is identifiable by the identifier of the product configuration corresponding to the second product configuration, wherein the third product configuration represents new data generated upon receipt of the automatic generation selection, and the automatically generated third product configuration includes configuration data that is distinct from at least some user specifications for any product configuration;

responding to the received selections by executing code to perform automatically generating the third product configuration using the configuration data that is distinct from at least some user specifications for any product configuration and at least one of;

(i) retrieving the previously stored first product configuration and (ii) generating the second product configuration; and

providing data to allow the client computer system to concurrently display an identification of the third product configuration and at least one of;

(i) an identification of the first product configuration and (ii) an identification of the second product configuration, and one or more attributes of each of the product configurations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first product configuration is a first vehicle and said second product is a second vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a selection of said first product configuration from at least one stored configuration.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating said configuration of the second product configuration by receiving a selections of;

a make of said second vehicle,

a model of said second vehicle, and

a trim level of said second vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an equipment level of said second vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically generating the third product configuration, wherein said third product configuration is comparable to said first product configuration with regard to a vehicle type.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said third product configuration is also comparable to said first product configuration with regard to a vehicle price.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically generating a fourth configuration, wherein said fourth configuration is comparable to said first configuration with regard to at least one attribute of the first configuration.

8. A computer system that is operable to provide a multifaceted capability of generating product data for comparison, the computer system comprising:

a processor;

a display, coupled to said processor;

computer readable medium coupled to said processor; and

computer code, encoded in said computer readable medium and executable by the processor, to configure the computer system into a machine to;

create a database by preprocessing data prior to providing data to allowing a user of a client computer system to configure a product and to enumerate product configurations including attributes of each of the product configurations in the database;

store (i) an identifier of each product configuration, (ii) configuration fields for each product configuration, and (iii) the attributes of each product configuration in one or more tables of the database, wherein each identifier represents an enumeration of one of the product configurations;

allow a user to display one or more data entry regions allowing a user to select any of;

(i) a previously stored first product configuration by the user that corresponds to one of the product configurations stored in the one or more tables of the database, (ii) allowing a user to configure a second product that is identifiable by the identifier of the product configuration corresponding to the second product, and (iii) an automatic generation of a third product configuration based on product configuration from the user that was used to configure a product other than the third product configuration, wherein the third product configuration is identifiable by the identifier of the enumerated product configuration corresponding to the third product configuration;

allow the user to send one or more selections of the automatic generation of the third product configuration and at least one of;

(i) a previously stored first product configuration by the user that corresponds to one of the product configurations stored in the one or more tables of the database and (ii) product configuration data to configure a second product configuration that is identifiable by the identifier of the product configuration corresponding to the second product configuration, wherein the third product configuration represents new data generated upon receipt of the automatic generation selection, and the automatically generated third product configuration includes configuration data that is distinct from at least some user specifications for any product configuration;

respond to the received selections by executing code to perform automatically generating the third product configuration using the configuration data that is distinct from at least some user specifications for any product configuration and at least one of;

(i) retrieving the previously stored first product configuration and (ii) generating the second product configuration; and

cause said display to concurrently display an identification of the third product configuration and at least one of;

(i) an identification of the first product configuration and (ii) an identification of the second product configuration, and one or more attributes of each of the product configurations.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein said first product configuration is a first vehicle and said second product is a second vehicle.

10. The computer system of claim 9 further comprising code, encoded in said computer readable medium, to cause said processor to:

allow a user of the computer system to select said first product configuration from at least one stored configuration.

11. The computer system of claim 9 further comprising code, encoded in said computer readable medium, to cause said processor to:

generate said configuration of the second product configuration by virtue of said computer code being further configured to cause allow the user to;

select a make of said first vehicle,

select a model of said first vehicle, and

select a trim level of said first vehicle.

12. The computer system of claim 11 further comprising code, encoded in said computer readable medium, to cause said processor to:

allow a user of the computer system to select an equipment level of said second vehicle.

13. The computer system of claim 8 further comprising code, encoded in said computer readable medium, to cause said processor to:

generate the third product configuration, wherein said third product configuration is comparable to said first product configuration with regard to a vehicle type.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein said third product configuration is also comparable to said first product configuration with regard to a vehicle price.

30. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the computer code is further configured and executable by the processor to:

automatically generate a fourth configuration, wherein said fourth configuration is comparable to said first configuration with regard to at least one attribute of the first configuration.

15. A non-transitory, computer readable medium comprising code executable by a processor to configure a computer system into a machine to operate and provide a multifaceted capability of generating product data for comparison, the code configuring the computer system to:

create a database by preprocessing data prior to providing data to allowing a user of a client computer system to configure a product and to enumerate product configurations including attributes of each of the product configurations in the database;

store (i) an identifier of each product configuration, (ii) configuration fields for each product configuration, and (iii) the attributes of each product configuration in one or more tables of the database, wherein each identifier represents an enumeration of one of the product configurations;

provide data to allow a client computer system to display one or more data entry regions allowing a user to select any of;

(i) a previously stored first product configuration by the user that corresponds to one of the product configurations stored in the one or more tables of the database, (ii) allowing a user to configure a second product that is identifiable by the identifier of the product configuration corresponding to the second product, and (iii) an automatic generation of a third product configuration based on product configuration from the user that was used to configure a product other than the third product configuration, wherein the third product configuration is identifiable by the identifier of the enumerated product configuration corresponding to the third product configuration;

receive one or more selections of the automatic generation of the third product configuration and at least one of;

(i) a previously stored first product configuration by the user and (ii) product configuration data to configure a second product configuration, wherein the third product configuration represents new data generated upon receipt of the automatic generation selection, and the automatically generated third product configuration includes configuration data that is distinct from at least some user specifications for any product configuration;

respond to the received selections by executing code to perform automatically generating the third product configuration using the configuration data that is distinct from at least some user specifications for any product configuration and at least one of;

(i) retrieving the previously stored first product configuration and (ii) generating the second product configuration; and

provide data to allow the client computer system to concurrently display an identification of the third product configuration and at least one of;

(i) an identification of the first product configuration and (ii) an identification of the second product configuration, and one or more attributes of each of the product configurations.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said first product configuration is a first vehicle and said second product is a second vehicle.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein said code is further configured to:

allow a user of the computer system to select said first product configuration from at least one stored configuration.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said code is further configured to:

generate said first configuration, wherein to generate a first configuration comprises;

allow a user of the computer system to select a make of said second vehicle,

allow a user of the computer system to select a model of said second vehicle, and

allow a user of the computer system to select a trim level of said second vehicle.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein said code is further configured to:

allow a user of the computer system to select an equipment level of said second vehicle.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein said code is further configured to:

automatically generate the third product configuration, wherein said third product configuration is comparable to said first product configuration with regard to a vehicle type.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein said third product configuration is also comparable to said first product configuration with regard to a vehicle price.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer code is further configured and executable by the processor to:

automatically generate a fourth configuration, wherein said fourth configuration is comparable to said first configuration with regard to at least one attribute of the first configuration.

22. An apparatus-that operates to provide a multifaceted capability of generating product data for comparison, the apparatus comprising:

means for creating a database by preprocessing data prior to providing data to allowing a user of a client computer system to configure a product and to enumerate product configurations including attributes of each of the product configurations in the database;

means for storing (i) an identifier of each product configuration, (ii) configuration fields for each product configuration, and (iii) the attributes of each product configuration in one or more tables of the database, wherein each identifier represents an enumeration of one of the product configurations;

means for providing data to allow a client computer system to display one or more data entry regions allowing a user to select any of;

(i) a previously stored first product configuration by the user that corresponds to one of the product configurations stored in the one or more tables of the database, (ii) allowing a user to configure a second product that is identifiable by the identifier of the product configuration corresponding to the second product, and (iii) an automatic generation of a third product configuration based on product configuration from the user that was used to configure a product other than the third product configuration, wherein the third product configuration is identifiable by the identifier of the enumerated product configuration corresponding to the third product configuration;

means for providing data to allow a client computer system to display one or more data entry regions allowing a user to select any of;

(i) a previously stored first product configuration by the user, (ii) allowing a user to configure a second product, and (iii) an automatic generation of a third product configuration based on a product configuration from the user that was used to configure a product other than the third product configuration;

means for receiving one or more selections of at least one of;

(i) a previously stored first product configuration by the user and (ii) product configuration data to configure a second product configuration, wherein the third product configuration represents new data generated upon receipt of the automatic generation selection, and the automatically generated third product configuration includes configuration data that is distinct from at least some user specifications for any product configuration;

means for responding to the received selections by executing code to perform automatically generating the third product configuration using the configuration data that is distinct from at least some user specifications for any product configuration and at least one of;

(i) retrieving the previously stored first product configuration and (ii) generating the second product configuration; and

means for providing to allow the client computer system to concurrently display an identification of the third product configuration and at least one of;

(i) an identification of the first product configuration and (ii) an identification of the second product configuration, and one or more attributes of each of the product configurations.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said first product configuration is a first vehicle and said second product is a second vehicle.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

means for receiving a selection of said first product configuration from at least one stored configuration.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

means for generating said configuration of the second product configuration by receiving a selections of;

a make of said second vehicle,

a model of said second vehicle, and

a trim level of said second vehicle.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

means for receiving a selection of an equipment level of said second vehicle.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

means for automatically generating the third product configuration, wherein said third product configuration is comparable to said first product configuration with regard to a vehicle type.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said third product configuration is also comparable to said first product configuration with regard to a vehicle price.

32. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

means for automatically generate a fourth configuration, wherein said fourth configuration is comparable to said first configuration with regard to at least one attribute of the first configuration.