Method and apparatus for product display

• US 20020133407A1
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew S., Fincham, Magdalena M., Walker, Jay S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,340,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for receiving a request to display a type of product. Thereafter, a substitute product for the product is selected from a plurality of substitute products. The selection is based on expected revenue from display of the selected substitute product. The product is then displayed to a customer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request to display a type of product;

selecting a substitute product for the product from a plurality of substitute products for the product,

in which selecting is based on expected revenue from display of the selected substitute product; and

displaying the substitute product.

2. A method comprising:

receiving from a customer a request to display a product;

selecting a substitute product for the product from a plurality of substitute products for the product,

in which a plurality of manufacturers have agreed to pay for display of a respective substitute product of the plurality of substitute products,

in which selecting is based on expected revenue from display of the selected substitute product; and

displaying the substitute product.

3. A method comprising:

receiving from a customer a request to display a type of product;

selecting a substitute product for the product from a plurality of substitute products for the product,

in which a plurality of manufacturers have agreed to pay for display of a respective substitute product of the plurality of substitute products,

in which selecting is based on expected revenue from display of the selected substitute product;

displaying the substitute product adjacent to at least one other product which corresponds to the type of product;

receiving from the customer a selection of the substitute product; and

allowing the customer to purchase the substitute product.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing an offer to the customer to switch from a product selected by the customer to the substitute product.

5. The method of claim 4, in which the step of providing an offer is performed after a customer has indicated willingness to complete a purchase transaction.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

calculating a substitution success rate.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving data indicating a substitute product and a product category for which the product is to be displayed.

8. The method of claim 3, in which the data is received from a manufacturer of the substitute product.

9. The method of claim 3, in which the step of displaying the substitute product comprises:

displaying the substitute product in a frame of a web browser.

10. The method of claim 9, in which the frame is located in a constant location in a browser window.