Systems and methods to provide visual browsing

• US 10,095,804 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Melcher, Ryan, Howard, Dane
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, CHERYL RENEA
• Application Number:
  US15/148,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20160253432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/287 Visualization; Browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90328 using search space presentation or visualization, e.g. category or range presentation and selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Systems and methods for multi-directional visual browsing on an electronic device are described. In example embodiments, a primary result and a peripheral result are determined. A display layout based on attributes associated with the primary result and the peripheral result is generated. The display layout is then formatted into instructions, which will cause a device to render the display layout. The instructions are transmitted to the client device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a primary result, the primary result comprising a primary category;

determining peripheral results, the peripheral results comprising related categories to the primary result;

generating a three-dimensional display layout that positions the related categories in proximity to a position of the primary category on the three-dimensional display layout based on at least one attribute of the primary category and attributes of the related categories, the three-dimensional display layout comprising a plurality of levels;

formatting the three-dimensional display layout into rendering and display instructions; and

causing, using a hardware processor, presentation of a visual browser display on a device, the visual browser display being rendered at the device based on the rendering and display instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a navigational input that is a drill down selection, the drill down selection causing display of a lower level of the plurality of levels.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a navigational input that is a drill down selection of one of the primary category or the related categories, the drill down selection causing display of information within the selected category.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information within the selected category comprises information on items in the selected category.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a level of the plurality of levels comprises topographical features based on the at least one attribute of the primary category or the attributes of the related categories.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the three-dimensional display layout comprises:

determining navigation direction constraints, the navigation direction constraints providing guidance as to where the related categories are to be located in the visual browser display; and

positioning the related categories in proximity to the position of the primary category based on the determined navigation direction constraints.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a search criterion, wherein the determining the primary result comprises identifying the primary category based on the search criterion.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing an account of a user, wherein the determining the primary result comprises determining the primary result based on at least one of past purchase information, favorite entity, or watch list information associated with the account of the user.

9. A system comprising:

one or more hardware processors; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more hardware processors, causes the one or more hardware processors to perform operations comprising;

determining a primary result, the primary result comprising a primary category,

determining peripheral results, the peripheral results comprising related categories to the primary result;

generating a three-dimensional display layout that positions the related categories in proximity to a position of the primary category on the three-dimensional display layout based on at least one attribute of the primary category and attributes of the related categories, the three-dimensional display layout comprising a plurality of levels;

formatting the three-dimensional display layout into rendering and display instructions; and

causing presentation of a visual browser display on a device, the visual browser display being rendered at the device based on the rendering and display instructions.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a navigational input that is a drill down selection, the drill down selection causing display of a lower level of the plurality of levels.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a navigational input that is a drill down selection of one of the primary category or the related categories, the drill down selection causing display of information within the selected category.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the information within the selected category comprise information on items in the selected category.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the generating the three-dimensional display layout comprises:

determining navigation direction constraints, the navigation direction constraints providing guidance as to where the related categories are to be located in the visual browser display; and

positioning the related categories in proximity to the position of the primary category based on the determined navigation direction constraints.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a search criterion, wherein the primary result is determined based on the search criterion.

15. A machine-readable medium having no transitory signals and storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

determining a primary result, the primary result comprising a primary category;

determining peripheral results, the peripheral results comprising related categories to the primary result;

generating a three-dimensional display layout that positions the related categories in proximity to a position of the primary category on the three-dimensional display layout based on at least one attribute of the primary category and attributes of the related categories, the three-dimensional display layout comprising a plurality of levels;

formatting the three-dimensional display layout into rendering and display instructions; and

causing presentation of a visual browser display on a device, the visual browser display being rendered at the device based on the rendering and display instructions.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a navigational input that is a drill down selection, the drill down selection causing display of a lower level of the plurality of levels.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a navigational input that is a drill down selection of one of the primary category or the related categories, the drill down selection causing display of information within the selected category.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the information within the selected category comprises information on items in the selected category.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the generating the three-dimensional display layout comprises:

determining navigation direction constraints, the navigation direction constraints providing guidance as to where the related categories are to be located in the visual browser display, and

positioning the related categories in proximity to the position of the primary category based on the determined navigation direction constraints.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a search criterion, wherein the determining the primary result comprises identifying the primary category based on the search criterion.