Method and system to utilize a user network within a network-based commerce platform

• US 20060085253A1
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Mengerink, Matthew, Ramavarjula, Bharathi, Weksler, Michel
• Application Number:
  US10/968,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085253A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.230
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3265 characterised by personalisation for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method and a system to utilize a user network within a network-based commerce platform. For example, the method includes identifying a target group including at least one other user of the network-based commerce system based on at least one group association rule, the at least one group association rule being selected by a first user, communicating transaction information to the identified target group, and facilitating the transaction between at least one target user of the identified target group and the first user, wherein the first user and the identified target group have an existing relationship.

Claims

1. A system to facilitate a transaction in a network-based commerce system, the system including:

a group association rule module to identify a target group including at least one other user of the network-based commerce system, the identification being based on at least one group association rule selectable by a first user;

a listing module to distribute transaction information to the identified target group; and

a transaction module to facilitate the transaction between at least one target user of the identified target group and the first user, wherein the first user and the identified target group have an existing relationship.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one group association rule pertains to a level of association of the first user to other users of the network-based commerce system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a first level corresponds to a direct relationship to the first user and subsequent levels correspond to indirect relationships with the first user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction is a purchase transaction.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a purchase price for the purchase transaction is established using one of a private auction and a semi-private auction with the target group.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction is a message communicated to the target group.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the message is a marketing message.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one group association rule relates to data pertaining to each user of the target group.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the data relates to at least one user of the target group having a direct relationship with the first user.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the data relates to an indirect relationship, wherein at least one other user is an intermediary between the indirect relationship and the first user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the intermediary is the direct relationship.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the data includes at least one of history data, feedback data, and additional user data relating to a prior transaction conducted via the network-based commerce system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the history data includes data pertaining to all users that had previous transactions with the first user.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the feedback data associated with each targeted user includes feedback from other users pertaining to each targeted user.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the additional user data includes at least one of family relationship data and personal data associated with each targeted user.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the first user selects the at least one target user for the facilitated transaction based upon the data pertaining to each user of the target group.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first user provides a discount to the at least one selected target user.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the group association rule module is to sort the identified target group based on at least one second group association rule.

19. The system of claim 1, including a user data module to receive additional user data from users of the network-based commerce system prior to the group association rule module identifying the target group, the additional user data including at least one of data unique to each user and data common to each user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the user data module is to store the additional user data into categories.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the categories include at least one of personal information, interests, multimedia items, and listing preferences.

22. The system of claim 1, including a user networking module to provide a message to each targeted user that an existing relationship exists with other targeted users of the identified target group.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the user networking module is further to facilitate communications between target users having the existing relationship.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the existing relationship includes at least one of a direct relationship, an indirect relationship, a transactional relationship, a common interest relationship, and an overall network community relationship.

25. A method of facilitating a transaction in a network-based commerce system, the method including:

identifying a target group including at least one other user of the network-based commerce system based on at least one group association rule, the at least one group association rule being selected by a first user;

communicating transaction information to the identified target group; and

facilitating the transaction between at least one target user of the identified target group and the first user, wherein the first user and the identified target group have an existing relationship.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the transaction is a purchase transaction.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein a purchase price for the purchase transaction is established using one of a private auction and a semi-private auction with the target group.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein a first level corresponds to a direct relationship to the first user and subsequent levels correspond to indirect relationships with the first user.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the transaction is one of a private auction and a semi-private auction with the target group.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the transaction is a message communicated to the target group.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the message is a marketing message.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one group association rule relates to data pertaining to each user of the targeted group.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the data relates at least one user of the target group having a direct relationship with the first user.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the data relates to an indirect relationship, wherein at least one other user is an intermediary between the indirect relationship and the first user.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the data includes at least one of history data, feedback data, and additional user data relating to a prior transaction conducted via the network-based commerce system.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the history data includes data pertaining to all users that had previous transactions with the first user.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the feedback data associated with each targeted user includes feedback from other users pertaining to each targeted user.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the additional user data includes at least one of family relationship data and personal data associated with each targeted user.

40. The method of claim 36, including the first user selecting the at least one target user for the facilitated transaction based upon the data pertaining to each user of the target group.

41. The method of claim 40, including the first user providing a discount to the at least one selected target user.

42. The method of claim 25, which includes prior to the facilitating the transaction, sorting the identified target group based on at least one second group association rule.

43. The method of claim 25, which includes prior to the identifying the target group, receiving additional user data from users of the network-based commerce system, the additional user data including at least one of data unique to each user and data common to each user.

44. The method of claim 43, which includes storing the additional user data into at least one of predefined and user-defined categories.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the categories include at least one of personal information, interests, multimedia items, and listing preferences.

46. The method of claim 43, which includes providing each user with a user interface for user data entry.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein each user interface includes at least one of a predefined category and a user definable category.

48. The method of claim 25, which includes providing a message to each targeted user indicating an existing relationship exists with other targeted users of the identified target group.

49. The method of claim 48, which includes facilitating communications between targeted users having the existing relationship.

50. The method of claim 25, wherein the existing relationship includes at least one of a direct relationship, an indirect relationship, a transactional relationship, a common interest relationship, and an overall network community relationship.

35. The method of 34, wherein the intermediary is the direct relationship.

51. A means of facilitating a network-based transaction utilizing social networking within a network-based commerce platform, the means including:

means for identifying a target group including at least one other user of the network-based commerce system based on at least one group association rule, the at least one group association rule being selected by a first user;

means for communicating transaction information to the identified target group; and

means for facilitating the transaction between at least one target user of the identified target group and the first user, wherein the first user and the identified target group have an existing relationship.

52. The means of claim 51, which includes means for sorting the identified target group based on at least one second group association rule, prior to the facilitating the transaction.

53. The means of claim 51, which includes means for receiving additional user data from users of the network-based commerce system prior to the identifying the target group, the additional user data including at least one of data unique to each user and data common to each user.

54. The means of claim 53, which includes means for storing the additional user data into at least one of predefined and user-definable categories.

55. The means of claim 51, wherein the at least one group association rule pertains to a level of relatedness of the first user to other users of the network-based commerce system.

56. The means of claim 55, wherein a first level corresponds to a direct relationship to the first user and subsequent levels correspond to indirect relationships with the first user.

57. A machine-accessible medium that provides instructions that, if executed by a machine, will cause the machine to perform operations including:

identifying a target group including at least one other user of the network-based commerce system based on at least one group association rule, the at least one group association rule being selected by a first user;

communicating transaction information to the identified target group; and

facilitating the transaction between at least one target user of the identified target group and the first user, wherein the first user and the identified target group have an existing relationship.

58. The machine-accessible medium of claim 57, wherein the operations include sorting the identified target group based on at least one second group association rule prior to the facilitating the transaction.

59. The machine-accessible medium of claim 57, wherein the operations include receiving additional user data from users of the network-based commerce system prior to the identifying the target group, the additional user data including at least one of data unique to each user and data common to each user.

60. The machine-accessible medium of claim 59, wherein the operations include storing the additional user data into at least one of predefined and user-definable categories.

61. The machine-accessible medium of claim 57, wherein the at least one group association rule pertains to a level of relatedness of the first user to other users of the network-based commerce system.

62. The machine-accessible medium of claim 61, wherein a first level corresponds to a direct relationship to the first user and subsequent levels correspond to indirect relationships with the first user.