System and Method for Assisting Computer Users to Search for and Evaluate Products and Services, Typically in a Database

• US 20070255696A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Choicebot, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Choicebot, Inc.
• Inventors: Desbarats, Nick
• Granted Patent: US 8,326,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A search tool for an electronic information resource, which is typically a database of products and services, is provided. The search tool can be used to assist a user to search, evaluate and select anything capable of being chosen. The search tool includes a user interface which includes a scale, a user input element and a potential attributes area. The user input element includes one or more indicators enabling a user to associate a point along the scale with the user'"'"'s preference for each potential attribute.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface for a search tool for an electronic information resource containing information about products and/or services, the graphical user interface comprising:

an attributes area containing two or more potential attributes of a product or service;

a scale bounded on a first end by a first descriptor for a potential attribute of a product or service that is so unsatisfactory that a user may eliminate as a viable option any product or service having that attribute, based on the product or service having that attribute alone, and on a second end by a second descriptor for a potential attribute that is so desirable that a user may select a product or service based on the product or service having that attribute alone; and

one or more indicators enabling a user to associate a potential attribute with a point along the scale.

2. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the one or more indicators enable a user to associate a potential attribute with a point anywhere along the scale.

3. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the scale is divided into two parts, a first part containing increasingly negative descriptors from a point on the scale to the first end, and the second part containing increasingly positive descriptors from said point to the second end.

4. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the potential attributes comprise one of a numerical attribute and a multiple possibilities attribute, or a combination of types.

5. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the product or service is a product or service for purchase.

6. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the potential attributes are associated with a feature of the product or service.

7. A computer implemented method of searching an electronic information resource containing information about products and/or services, the method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface having an attributes area containing two or more potential attributes of a product or service; and

a scale bounded on a first end by a first descriptor for a potential attribute of a product or service that is so unsatisfactory that a user may eliminate as a viable option any product or service having that attribute, based on the product or service having that attribute alone, and on a second end by a second descriptor for a potential attribute that is so desirable that a user may select a product or service based on the product or service having that attribute alone;

enabling a user to associate a potential attribute with a point along the scale;

processing the user input.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein enabling a user to associate a potential attribute along the scale includes enabling a user to associate a potential attribute with a point anywhere along the scale.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the scale is divided into two parts, a first part containing increasingly negative descriptors from a point on the scale to the first end, and the second part containing increasingly positive descriptors from said point to the second end.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the potential attributes comprise one of a numerical attribute and a multiple possibilities attribute.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the product or service is a product or service for purchase.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of processing the user input comprises accessing the electronic information resource and retrieving information concerning one or more products or services.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying on a display device the information concerning the one or more products or services.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic information resource comprises a real estate database.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic information resource comprises a database of consumer merchandise.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic information resource comprises a travel database.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein the method is implemented by a website.

18. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for a search tool for an electronic information resource, the code configured to:

display a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface having an attributes area containing two or more potential attributes of a product or service;

a scale bounded on a first end by a first descriptor for a potential attribute of a product or service that is so unsatisfactory that a user may eliminate as a viable option any product or service having that attribute, based on the product or service having that attribute alone, and on a second end by a second descriptor for a potential attribute that is so desirable that a user may select a product or service based on the product or service having that attribute alone;

enable a user to associate a potential attribute with a point along the scale;

process the user input.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further including code enabling a user to associate a potential attribute with a point anywhere along the scale.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the scale is divided into two parts, a first part containing increasingly negative descriptors from a point on the scale to the first end, and the second part containing increasingly positive descriptors from said point to the second end.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the potential attributes comprise one of a numerical attribute and a multiple possibilities attribute.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the product or service is a product or service for purchase.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the potential attributes are associated with a feature of the product or service.