Method and apparatus for interactive criteria-based commodity comparisons
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- providing, via a display, a plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements, wherein each of the plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements corresponds to at least one alterable selection criteria, such that the plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements serve to illustrate current weighting values as correspond to such alterable selection criteria and wherein the aggregate sum of the current weighting values as correspond to all of the plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements comprises a particular value;
detecting direct user alteration of a given one of the user-alterable graphic user interface elements, which alteration causes a change in the weighting value that corresponds to the given one of the user-alterable graphic user interface elements;
storing relative value information regarding present relative weighting values of non-directly-adjusted user-alterable graphic user interface elements to provide stored relative value information;
providing adjusted current weighting values by automatically adjusting the current weighting values as correspond to the non-directly-adjusted user-alterable graphic user interface elements as a function, at least in part, of the direct user alteration and the stored relative value information to ensure that the aggregate sum of the current weighting values as correspond to all of the user-alterable graphic user interface elements continues to comprise the particular value while further ensuring, to an extent reasonably possible, that the current weighting values for each of the non-directly-adjusted user-alterable graphic user interface elements continue to maintain their relative values vis-à
-vis one another;
illustrating the adjusted current weighting values by automatically modifying corresponding user-alterable graphic user interface elements;
such that the method will remember and attempt to persist relative differences between automatically adjusted current weight values for non-directly adjusted user-alterable graphic user interface elements notwithstanding previous automatic adjustment of these current weighting values to a point of equality.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus to remember and attempt to persist relative differences between automatically adjusted current weight values for non-directly adjusted graphic user interface elements, notwithstanding previous automatic adjustment of these current weighting values to a point of equality. A plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements are provided (101), with each element corresponding to at least one alterable selection criteria. The plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements illustrate current weighting values, wherein the aggregate sum of the current weighting values comprises a particular value. A user then alters (102) a graphic user interface element, causing a change in the corresponding weighting value. The relative weighting values of the non-adjusted graphic user interface elements are stored (103) and then current weighting values for the non-adjusted elements are automatically adjusted (104) as a function of the user alteration and the stored relative value information.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing, via a display, a plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements, wherein each of the plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements corresponds to at least one alterable selection criteria, such that the plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements serve to illustrate current weighting values as correspond to such alterable selection criteria and wherein the aggregate sum of the current weighting values as correspond to all of the plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements comprises a particular value;
detecting direct user alteration of a given one of the user-alterable graphic user interface elements, which alteration causes a change in the weighting value that corresponds to the given one of the user-alterable graphic user interface elements;
storing relative value information regarding present relative weighting values of non-directly-adjusted user-alterable graphic user interface elements to provide stored relative value information;
providing adjusted current weighting values by automatically adjusting the current weighting values as correspond to the non-directly-adjusted user-alterable graphic user interface elements as a function, at least in part, of the direct user alteration and the stored relative value information to ensure that the aggregate sum of the current weighting values as correspond to all of the user-alterable graphic user interface elements continues to comprise the particular value while further ensuring, to an extent reasonably possible, that the current weighting values for each of the non-directly-adjusted user-alterable graphic user interface elements continue to maintain their relative values vis-à
-vis one another;
illustrating the adjusted current weighting values by automatically modifying corresponding user-alterable graphic user interface elements;
such that the method will remember and attempt to persist relative differences between automatically adjusted current weight values for non-directly adjusted user-alterable graphic user interface elements notwithstanding previous automatic adjustment of these current weighting values to a point of equality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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a memory having stored therein a plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements, wherein each of the plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements corresponds to at least one alterable selection criteria, such that the plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements can serve to illustrate current weighting values as correspond to such alterable selection criteria and wherein the aggregate sum of the current weighting values as correspond to all of the plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements comprises a particular value;
a display interface operably coupled to the memory and being constructed and arranged to;
facilitate selective presentation of the plurality of user-alterable graphic user interface elements on a display and to detect direct user alteration of a given one of the user-alterable graphic user interface elements, which alteration causes a change in the weighting value that corresponds to the given one of the user-alterable graphic user interface elements;
facilitate storing relative value information regarding present relative weighting values of non-directly-adjusted user-alterable graphic user interface elements to provided stored relative value information;
providing adjusted current weighting values for presentation on the display by facilitating automatic adjustment of the current weighting values as correspond to the non-directly-adjusted user-alterable graphic user interface elements as a function, at least in part, of the direct user alteration and the stored relative value information to ensure that the aggregate sum of the current weighting values as correspond to all of the user-alterable graphic user interface elements continues to comprise the particular value while further ensuring, to an extent reasonably possible, that the current weighting values for each of the non-directly-adjusted user-alterable graphic user interface elements continue to maintain their relative values vis-à
-vis one another;
illustrating the adjusted current weighting values by automatically modifying corresponding user-alterable graphic user interface elements on the display;
such that relative differences between automatically adjusted current weight values for non-directly adjusted user-alterable graphic user interface elements are remembered and persisted notwithstanding previous automatic adjustment of these current weighting values to a point of equality. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification