Stores in on-line mall with common facade

• US 20050108113A1
• Filed: 12/31/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Wittsche, L. William
• Application Number:
  US11/027,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20050108113A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• 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 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A method for providing an on-line mall with multiple communities. The method provides multiple communities within an on-line mall environment. Multiple stores are provided within each of the multiple communities, with each store being associated with a merchant with merchandise directed to its community. At least a partially common facade is provided for multiple stores within a particular community.

Claims

1. A method for providing an on-line mall with multiple communities, the method including:

providing multiple communities within an on-line mall environment;

providing multiple stores within each of the multiple communities, each store being associated with a merchant with merchandise directed to its community;

and

providing an at least partially common facade for multiple stores within a particular community.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least partially common facade for all stores within a particular community is provided at a community level.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein each merchant of a store creates a personalized store look to the store'"'"'s at least partially common facade.

4. The method of claim 1 further including providing customer access to an on-line mall environment;

to any of the multiple communities by selecting a community, and to any of the multiple stores within each of the multiple communities by selecting a store; and

further wherein the customer access provides the ability to exit a selected community and to enter a further selected community, and to exit a selected store and to enter a further selected store within a selected community.

5. The method of claim 4 further including receiving merchandise selected by a customer for purchase, from any of the multiple stores within one or more of the multiple communities.

6. The method of claim 5 further including providing the customer with an electronic shopping cart to store the selected merchandise, for purchase, from any of the multiple stores within one or more of the multiple communities.

7. The method of claim 6 further including providing a single check out to process purchase of the selected merchandise, stored by the electronic shopping cart, from any of the multiple stores within the one or more of the multiple communities.

8. The method of claim 7 further providing a storing mechanism whereby the electronic shopping cart is stored for later access when the customer reenters the on-line mall.

9. The method of claim 8 further including receiving information to change or delete merchandise stored in the electronic shopping cart.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the customer provides a single set of payment information to the on-line mall environment.