METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCT DISPLAY

• US 20060265292A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew S Van Luchene, Jay S. Walker, Magdalena M. Fincham
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew S., Fincham, Magdalena M., Walker, Jay S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,835,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• 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 from a customer a selection of a product category. At least one product is determined that is associated with the selected product category. A substitute product for the determined product is selected. In one embodiment, a signal is transmitted to display the selected substitute product.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving from a customer a selection of a product category;

determining a product associated with the selected product category, in which the determined product is available for sale to the customer;

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

in which each substitute product of the plurality of substitute products is associated with a respective payment that a respective manufacturer has agreed to pay for each time the substitute product is displayed,

in which selecting the substitute product is based on the respective payment for each time the substitute product is displayed; and

transmitting a signal to display the selected substitute product.

2. The method of claim 1, in which transmitting a signal to display the selected substitute product comprises:

transmitting a signal to display the selected substitute product and the determined product to the customer.

3. The method of claim 1, in which transmitting a signal to display the selected substitute product comprises:

transmitting a signal to display the selected substitute product adjacent to the determined product.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a signal to display the determined product to the customer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging the respective manufacturer the respective payment for the displaying of the selected substitute product.

6. The method of claim 1, in which each substitute product of the plurality of substitute products is associated with a respective payment that a respective manufacturer has agreed to pay for each time the substitute product is purchased.

7. The method of claim 6, in which selecting the substitute product is based on the respective payment for each time the substitute product is displayed and the respective payment for each time the substitute product is purchased.

8. The method of claim 1, in which each substitute product of the plurality of substitute products is associated with a respective substitution success rate.

9. The method of claim 8, in which selecting the substitute product is based on the respective payment for each time the substitute product is displayed and the respective substitution success rate.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining whether the customer indicated the selected substitute product for purchase; and

updating the respective substitution success rate for the selected substitute product based on whether the customer indicated the selected substitute product for purchase.

11. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform the method of claim 1.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

the computer readable medium of claim 11 in communication with the processor.

13. A system comprising:

a controller comprising;

a processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform the method of claim 1;

and

a terminal in communication with the controller, the terminal comprising;

a user interface configured to display an indication of the selected substitute product.

14. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a product category selected by a customer;

determining a product associated with the selected product category,

in which the determined product is available for sale to the customer;

determining a plurality of substitute products for the determined product,

in which each substitute product of the plurality of substitute products is associated with a respective payment for each display of the substitute product;

based on the respective payment, selecting a substitute product for the determined product from the plurality of substitute products; and

transmitting an instruction to display an indication of the selected substitute product.

15. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform the method of claim 14.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

the computer readable medium of claim 15 in communication with the processor.