Method and system for network-based comparision shopping
First Claim
1. A method for automated comparative shopping, the method comprising:
- a. identifying a product for sale by a first merchant that is displayed to a user on a web page;
b. extracting first records from the web page, including the price of the product and the name of the first merchant;
c. retrieving second records from a database system, including the price of the product and the name of the one or more second merchants selling the product;
d. formatting the second records into one or more merchant listings, each merchant listing including at least the name of the merchant and the price of the product;
e. providing the merchant listings for display to the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system is provided that in a fully automated manner facilitates comparison shopping retail products online. An exemplary method according to the invention is a method for automated comparative shopping. A product for sale by a first merchant that is displayed to a user on a web page is first identified and first records relating to the product are extracted from the web site, including the price of the product and the name of the first merchant. Second records from a database system are retrieved, including the price of the product and the name of the one or more second merchants selling the product, and are formatted into one or more merchant listings, each merchant listing including at least the name of the merchant and the price of the product. The merchant listings are then provided for display to the user.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for automated comparative shopping, the method comprising:
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a. identifying a product for sale by a first merchant that is displayed to a user on a web page;
b. extracting first records from the web page, including the price of the product and the name of the first merchant;
c. retrieving second records from a database system, including the price of the product and the name of the one or more second merchants selling the product;
d. formatting the second records into one or more merchant listings, each merchant listing including at least the name of the merchant and the price of the product;
e. providing the merchant listings for display to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
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a first computer having a first computer-readable medium containing first records relating to a plurality of first products available for sale by one or more first merchants; and
a second computer coupled to the first computer and having a second computer-readable medium containing a program configured to identify and extract information about a second product available for sale on a second merchant web page;
wherein second records containing the information extracted about the second product are transmitted from the second computer to the first computer for comparison with the first records to determine whether the second product matches any of the plurality of first products. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification