System and methods for electronic commerce using personal and business networks

• US 20050273378A1
• Filed: 07/20/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Overstock.com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Overstock.com Incorporated
• Inventors: MacDonald-Korth, Holly C., Peterson, Samuel Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 8,370,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Electronic commerce over a publicly accessible computer network such as the Internet is facilitated and leveraged by a computer system that forms a community of computer user parties based on personal and business connections of the parties involved. Personal connections are created between users by invitation and mutual acceptance. Business connections are created between users when a transaction takes place between those users. Users search to perform any one or more of a variety of actions such as to purchase products, browse departments and categories for purchasing products, or explore the connections between the parties involved to find items to buy. Different groupings of the parties involved may be the users themselves and other buyers/sellers in the business network, the users themselves and their friends in the personal networks, or some combination of buyers/sellers and friends from each of the types of networks. A computer or server at a site in the network implements an architecture whereby various pages viewed by a user have links to enable them to find products.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating electronic commerce, the method comprising:

registering a plurality of users on a website of a communications network, each of the plurality of users being electronically interconnected so that the plurality of users define a community of users;

establishing a business network of business relationships for the community through electronic commerce with other users in the community;

making business ratings of electronic commerce with other users within the community;

establishing a personal network of personal relationships for the community through personal, non-commercial electronic interaction with other users;

making personal ratings of personal, non-commercial electronic interactions with other users within the community; and

sharing the business network, the business ratings, the personal network, and the personal ratings among the plurality of users within the community.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the business ratings and personal ratings comprises both qualitative assessments responsive to textual or graphic comments for describing users within the respective business network and personal network, and quantitative assessments responsive to a relative scale for comparing users within the respective business network and personal network.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising a first user within the community inviting a second user within the community to join either the first user'"'"'s personal network or the first user'"'"'s business network so that the first user can leverage the personal and business relationships of the second user, and sending a confirmation to the invited second user of association with the first user that invited the second user.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein, if an invited user is not already registered in the community, allowing the invited user to register and participate in the community.

5. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein both the first user and the invited second user are members of one another'"'"'s joined personal network or business network responsive to receipt of the confirmation.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least some users within the community with whom a user communicates with or transacts business become part of either the users'"'"' personal or business network, and wherein the electronic commerce comprises at least one of buying goods, selling goods, buying services, or selling services.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising users either performing keyword searches or browsing taxonomy of other users'"'"' networks within the community to locate either products or services in which the users are interested in electronic commerce.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising a third party user browsing another user'"'"'s personal network and business network and, if the third party user is registered in the community, and the third party user and said another user share at least one other user that is in at least one of both the third party user'"'"'s and said another user'"'"'s networks, then allowing the third party user to see at least one of the users within the community that link the third party user and said another user, thereby indicating to the third party user how the third party user is connected to said another user.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising graphically illustrating and providing links to each of said at least one of the users within the community to the third party user.

10. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein selecting one of said at least one of the users responsively displays the personal and business networks, the ratings, and links to either products or services being offered for sale of the selected one of said at least one of the users so that a user can browse the networks of interconnected users.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising organizing either business transactions or personal events that are formed by selecting users from other users'"'"' respective business or personal networks within the community.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising participating in either business transactions or personal events that are formed by selecting users from other users'"'"' respective business or personal networks within the community.

13. A computer-implemented method of facilitating electronic commerce over a publicly accessible computer network, comprising the steps of:

registering users in the storage medium to provide a community of electronically interconnected users;

establishing in the storage medium a business network of business relationships for the community of electronically interconnected users based on electronic commerce transactions through the computer with other users of the community;

receiving at the input output business ratings of the users in the community of electronically interconnected users;

forming a record in the storage medium of the business ratings received from the users of the community of electronically interconnected users;

making the business ratings in the storage medium available to the users of the community of electronically interconnected users on request from one of the users of the community of electronically interconnected users;

establishing in the storage medium a personal network of personal relationships for the users of the community of electronically interconnected users based on personal electronic interaction through the computer with other users of the community;

receiving at the computer personal ratings received from the users in the community of electronically interconnected users;

making the personal ratings in the storage medium available to the users of the community of electronically interconnected users on request from one of the users of the community of electronically interconnected users; and

sharing from the storage medium of computer over the publicly accessible computer network information concerning the established personal networks, personal ratings, business networks, and business ratings of the users of the community of electronically interconnected users.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the personal ratings and business ratings comprise qualitative assessments based on comments describing users and quantitative assessments based on a relative scale for comparing users.

15. The method of claim 13, further including the steps of:

receiving at the computer from one of the users of the community of electronically interconnected users to another user of the Internet an invitation to join one or both of the inviting user'"'"'s personal network and business network;

receiving at the computer an indication from the invited user acceptance of the invitation; and

sending from the computer a confirmation to the invited user of association with the inviting user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the invited user is not already registered in the community and further including the step of allowing the invited user to register and participate in the community.

17. The method of claim 15, further including the step of including both the inviting user and the invited user as members of each other'"'"'s personal network or business network in response to the step of sending a confirmation.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the users with whom a user member of the community of electronically interconnected users communicates with and transacts business become part of one or both of the users'"'"' personal or business network.

19. The method of claim 13, further including the step of permitting users to perform searches of other users'"'"' networks to find products or services in which the users are interested in viewing or buying.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the searches comprise keyword searches.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the searches comprise browsing taxonomy.

22. The method of claim 13, further wherein a third party user browses another user'"'"'s personal network and business network and, if the third party user is a registered member in the community, and the third party user and said another user share at least one other user that is in at least one of both the third party user'"'"'s and said another user'"'"'s networks, then allowing the third party user access to the users that link the third party user and said another user, thereby illustrating to the third party user how the third party user is connected to said another user.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising illustrating records received from the computer and providing links to the community to the third party user.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein selecting one of the users displays the personal and business networks, the ratings, and links to products or services being sold by such one of the users, such that a user can browse the networks of interconnected users.

25. The method of claim 13, further comprising organizing or participating in business transactions or personal events that are formed by selecting users from other users'"'"' networks.

26. A method of facilitating electronic commerce, the method comprising:

registering a plurality of users on a computer of a communications network, each of the plurality of users being electronically interconnected so that the plurality of users define a community of users;

establishing a business network of business relationships for the community through electronic commerce with the plurality of users;

making business ratings of electronic commerce with other users within the community;

sharing the business network and the business ratings among the plurality of users within the community;

receiving from a first user within the community a request inviting a second user within the community to join the first user'"'"'s business network so that the first user can leverage the business relationships of the second user;

sending a confirmation to the invited second user of association with the first user that invited the second user; and

receiving a request from a third party user browsing another user'"'"'s business network and, if the third party user is registered in the community, and the third party user and said another user share at least one other user that is in both the third party user'"'"'s and said another user'"'"'s business networks, then allowing the third party user to see at least one of the users within the community that link the third party user and said another user, thereby indicating to the third party user how the third party user is connected to said another user.

27. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the business ratings comprise both a qualitative assessment responsive to textual or graphic comments for describing users within the business network, and a quantitative assessment responsive to a relative scale for comparing users within the business network.

28. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein, if an invited user is not already registered in the community, allowing the invited user to register and participate in the community.

29. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein both the first user and the invited second user are members of one another'"'"'s joined business network responsive to receipt of the confirmation.

30. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein at least some users within the community with whom a user communicates with or transacts business become part of the user'"'"'s business network, and wherein the electronic commerce comprises at least one of buying goods, selling goods, buying services, or selling services.

31. A method as defined in claim 26, further comprising users either performing keyword searches or browsing taxonomy of other users'"'"' business networks within the community to locate either products or services in which the users are interested in electronic commerce.

32. A method as defined in claim 26, further comprising graphically illustrating and providing links to each of said at least one of the users within the community to the third party user.

33. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein selecting one of said at least one of the users responsively displays the business networks, the business ratings, and links to either products or services being offered for sale of the selected one of said at least one of the users so that a user can browse the business networks of interconnected users.

34. A method as defined in claim 26, further comprising organizing business transactions that are formed by selecting users from other users'"'"' respective business networks within the community.

35. A method as defined in claim 26, further comprising participating in business transactions that are formed by selecting users from other users'"'"' respective business networks within the community.

36. A system to facilitate e-commerce over a publicly accessible computer network, comprising:

a first computer at a site accessible to the computer network to define a server, the first computer having a processor, memory coupled to the processor to store operating instructions therein, a graphical display coupled to the processor for displaying graphical images;

a database accessible to the processor of the server and containing database records about e-commerce and the community of electronically interconnected users;

a set of machine-readable instructions stored in the memory of the server to cause the server to form a community of electronically interconnected users of the computer network to facilitate e-commerce;

a user interface coupled to the processor to provide user access to manipulate the software and access database records;

a second computer at a user site accessible to the computer network, the second computer defining a first user and having a processor, memory coupled to the processor to store software therein, and to receive database records therein, a graphical display coupled to the processor for displaying graphical images, and a user interface coupled to the processor to provide a user access to manipulate the stored software and received database records;

a third computer positioned at another user site accessible to the computer network, the third computer defining a second user and having a processor, memory coupled to the processor to store software therein and to receive database records therein, a graphical display coupled to the processor for displaying graphical images, and a user interface coupled to the processor to provide a user access to manipulate the software and received database records;

the first user computer and the second user computer being interconnected through the server to the publicly accessible computer network to establish business networks of business relationships for the community of electronically interconnected users based on electronic commerce transactions through the server, and to establish personal networks of personal, non-commercial relationships for the community of electronically interconnected users based on personal electronic interaction through the server;

the first user and the second user generating business ratings of the users in the community based on commercial e-commerce transactions between the users, and generating personal ratings of the users in the community based on personal non-commercial interactions between the users; and

the database receiving and storing the business ratings and the personal rating generated by the users and making the stored ratings available to the users of the community such that information concerning the business networks, business ratings, personal networks, and personal ratings of the users of the community are shared between the users of the community.

37. A system of claim 36, wherein each of the business ratings and personal ratings comprises both qualitative assessments responsive to textual or graphic comments for describing users within the respective business network and personal network, and quantitative assessments responsive to a relative scale for comparing users within the respective business network and personal network.

38. A system of claim 36, wherein the first user invites the second user to join either the first user'"'"'s personal or business network so that the first user can leverage the personal and business relationships of the second user, and wherein the server sends a confirmation to the invited second user of association with the first user that invited the second user.

39. A system of claim 38, wherein both the first user and the invited second user are members of one another'"'"'s joined personal or business network responsive to receipt of the confirmation.

40. A system of claim 36, wherein at least some users within the community with whom a user communicates with or transacts business become part of either the user'"'"'s personal or business network, and wherein the electronic commerce comprises at least one of buying goods, selling goods, buying services, or selling services.

41. A system of claim 36, wherein the first and second users either perform keyword searches or browse taxonomy of other users'"'"' networks within the community to locate either products or services in which the users are interested in electronic commerce.

42. A system of claim 36, further comprising a third user browsing one of the first and second user'"'"'s personal and business networks and, if the third user is registered in the community, and the third user and said one of the first and second user share at least one other user that is in at least one of both the third user'"'"'s and said one of the first and second user'"'"'s networks, then allowing the third user to see at least one of the users within the community that link the third user and said one of the first and second user, thereby indicating to the third user how the third user is connected to said one of the first and second user.

43. A system of claim 42, further comprising the server graphically illustrating and providing links to each of said at least one of the users within the community to the third user.

44. A system of claim 42, wherein selecting one of said at least one of the users responsively displays the personal and business networks, the ratings, and links to either products or services being offered for sale of the selected one of said at least one of the users so that a user can browse the networks of interconnected users.

45. A system of claim 36, further comprising organizing either business transactions or personal events that are formed by selecting users from other users'"'"' respective business or personal networks within the community.

46. A system of claim 36, further comprising participating in either business transactions or personal events that are formed by selecting users from other users'"'"' respective business or personal networks within the community.

47. A computer readable medium that is readable by a computer facilitating electronic commerce in a publicly accessible computer network, the computer readable medium comprising:

a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations;

register users with the computer to provide a community of electronically interconnected users;

establish at the computer a business network of business relationships for the community of electronically interconnected users based on electronic commerce transactions through the computer with other users of the community;

receive at the computer business ratings of the users in the community of electronically interconnected users;

form a record of the business ratings received from the users of the community of electronically interconnected users;

make the received record of the business ratings available to the users of the community of electronically interconnected users on request from one of the users of the community of electronically interconnected users;

establish in the computer a personal network of personal relationships for the users of the community of electronically interconnected users based on personal electronic interaction through the computer with other users of the community;

receive at the computer personal ratings received from the users in the community of electronically interconnected users;

make the received record of personal ratings available to the users of the community of electronically interconnected users on request from one of the users of the community of electronically interconnected users; and

share from the computer over the publicly accessible computer network information concerning the established personal networks, personal ratings, business networks, and business ratings of the users of the community of electronically interconnected users.

48. A computer memory element containing stored in signal bearing media a database, the database containing the following data in computer readable format:

data indicating a community of electronically interconnected users of a publicly accessible computer network;

data indicating a business network of business relationships for the community of electronically interconnected users based on electronic commerce transactions through the computer with other users of the community;

data indicating a record of business ratings of the users in the community of electronically interconnected users;

data indicating a personal network of personal relationships for the users of the community of electronically interconnected users based on personal electronic interaction through the computer with other users of the community; and

data indicating a record of personal ratings received from the users in the community of electronically interconnected users.

49. A computer system facilitating electronic commerce over a publicly accessible computer network, comprising:

a processor;

a storage medium having data accessible to the processor;

an input/output for transferring data to the processor;

the processor comprising;

means for registering users in the storage medium to provide a community of electronically interconnected users;

means for establishing in the storage medium a business network of business relationships for the community of electronically interconnected users based on electronic commerce transactions through the computer with other users of the community;

means for receiving at the input/output business ratings of the users in the community of electronically interconnected users;

means for forming a record in the storage medium of the business ratings received from the users of the community of electronically interconnected users;

means for making the business ratings in the storage medium available to the users of the community of electronically interconnected users on request from one of the users of the community of electronically interconnected users;

means for establishing in the storage medium a personal network of personal relationships for the users of the community of electronically interconnected users based on personal electronic interaction through the computer with other users of the community;

means for receiving at the input/output personal ratings received from the users in the community of electronically interconnected users;

means for making the personal ratings in the storage medium available to the users of the community of electronically interconnected users on request from one of the users of the community of electronically interconnected users; and

means for sharing from the storage medium of computer over the publicly accessible computer network information concerning the established personal networks, personal ratings, business networks, and business ratings of the users of the community of electronically interconnected users.

50. A method of facilitating electronic commerce, the method comprising:

registering a plurality of users on a website of a communications network, each of the plurality of users being electronically interconnected so that the plurality of users define a community of users;

establishing a business network of business relationships for the community through electronic commerce with other users in the community;

establishing a personal network of personal relationships for the community through personal, non-commercial electronic interaction with other users; and

sharing the business network and the personal network among the plurality of users within the community.