Selective presentation of real-time contact options based on user and system parameters

• US 10,325,267 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2018
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Stuart, Erik Anderson, Grove, Brian Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung-Hoang J
• Application Number:
  US15/963,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20180247315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Embodiments for presenting real-time contact options described generally herein. The system receives information from a first user about an offered item via a web page and communication preferences for use with a real-time contact option to be presented on the web page, whereby the communication preferences including a first-user-defined real-time contact option presentation condition. The system selectively presents to a second user the information about the offered item and the real-time contact option based on a determination that the first-user-defined real-time contact option presentation condition is satisfied. The system enables the second user to select the real-time contact option. In response to the second user selecting the real-time contact option, the system communicates to the first user a real-time contact request and information identifying the second user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

selectively causing, by a hardware processor of a publication device, presentation of a view item web page, on a device of a first user, comprising information about an item and a real-time contact icon representing a real-time contact option to contact a second user, the selectively causing presentation being based on a determination that a real-time communication preference is satisfied;

receiving, by the publication device, an indication of a selection, by the first user, of the real-time contact icon;

in response to receiving the indication of the selection, determining, by the publication system, whether a device interface of the second user is active;

based on the device interface of the second user being active, generating, by the publication system, a real-time contact request page that includes a contact request, a unique identifier of the first user, and information about the item; and

transmitting, by the publication device to a device of the second user, the real-time contact request page.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based on the device interface of the second user not being active, determining whether the second user is accepting a real-time contact option offline.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time contact request page further includes a history of past interactions between the first user and the second user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of acceptance of the contact request of the real-time contact request page; and

based on a Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication option being selected, causing a VoIP session between the device of the first user and the device of the second user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to not receiving a response to the contact request of the real-time contact request page within a predetermined time period, generating a declination reply for transmission to the device of the first user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to presenting the view item web page comprising the real-time contact icon representing the real-time contact option, determining that no rule is flagged or violated by presenting the real-time contact option.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to presenting the view item web page comprising the real-time contact icon representing the real-time contact option, verifying that the first user is on a list of users permitted to have real-time contact with the second user or the first user is not on a list of users not permitted to have real-time contact with the second user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to presenting the view item web page comprising the real-time contact icon representing the real-time contact option, determining that the view item web page is being shown within a predefined real-time contact schedule of the second user, the real-time contact icon being presented in response to the view item web page being shown within the predefined real-time contact schedule.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing presentation of a setup page to the second user; and

receiving one or more preferences or conditions, via the setup page, that indicate when the real-time contact option can be included on the view item web page.

10. A publication device comprising:

one or more hardware processors; and

a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more hardware processors, cause the one or more hardware processors to perform operations comprising;

selectively causing presentation of a view item web page, on a device of a first user, comprising information about an item and a real-time contact icon representing a real-time contact option to contact a second user, the selectively causing presentation being based on a determination that a real-time communication preference is satisfied;

receiving an indication of a selection, by the first user, of the real-time contact icon;

in response to receiving the indication of the selection, determining whether a device interface of the second user is active;

based on the device interface of the second user being active, generating a real-time contact request page that includes a contact request, a unique identifier of the first user, and information about the item; and

transmitting, to a device of the second user, the real-time contact request page.

11. The publication device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise, based on the device interface of the second user not being active, determining whether the second user is accepting a real-time contact option offline.

12. The publication device of claim 10, wherein the real-time contact request page further includes a history of past interactions between the first user and the second user.

13. The publication device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an indication of acceptance of the contact request of the real-time contact request page; and

based on a Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication option being selected, causing a VoIP session between a device of the first user and the device of the second user.

14. The publication device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise, in response to not receiving a response to the contact request of the real-time contact request page within a predetermined time period, generating a declination reply for transmission to the device of the first user.

15. The publication device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise, prior to presenting the view item web page comprising the real-time contact icon representing the real-time contact option, determining that no rule is flagged or violated by presenting the real-time contact option.

16. The publication device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise, prior to presenting the view item web page comprising the real-time contact icon representing the real-time contact option, verifying that the first user is on a list of users permitted to have real-time contact with the second user or the first user is not on a list of users not permitted to have real-time contact with the second user.

17. The publication device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise, prior to presenting the view item web page comprising the real-time contact icon representing the real-time contact option, determining that the view item web page is being shown within a predefined real-time contact schedule of the second user, the real-time contact icon being presented in response to the view item web page being shown within the predefined real-time contact schedule.

18. The publication device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

causing presentation of a setup page to the second user; and

receiving one or more preferences or conditions, via the setup page, that indicate when the real-time contact option can be included on the view item web page.

19. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

selectively causing presentation of a view item web page, on a device of a first user, comprising information about an item and a real-time contact icon representing a real-time contact option to contact a second user, the selectively causing presentation being based on a determination that a real-time communication preference is satisfied;

receiving an indication of a selection, by the first user, of the real-time contact icon;

in response to receiving the indication of the selection, determining whether a device interface of the second user is active;

based on the device interface of the second user being active, generating a real-time contact request page that includes a contact request, a unique identifier of the first user, and information about the item; and

transmitting, to a device of the second user, the real-time contact request page.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

causing presentation of a setup page to the second user; and

receiving one or more preferences or conditions, via the setup page, that indicate when the real-time contact option can be included on the view item web page.