Head-to-head comparisons

• US 20080082479A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Pardehpoosh, Pedraum R., Chang, Kenneth N., Koski, David A., Zazula, Ralph E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations

Abstract

Providing a comparison of a set of similar items is disclosed. In some embodiments, a selection of a set of similar items to be included in a comparison is received from a first member of an online community, and the comparison is stored so that the comparison can be presented to a second member of the online community when an indication is received that the comparison is of interest to the second member.

Claims

1. A method for providing a comparison, comprising:

receiving from a first member of an online community a selection of a set of similar items to be included in the comparison;

storing the comparison; and

presenting the comparison to a second member of the online community based at least in part on an indication that the comparison is of interest to the second member.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is a user of an online store.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the items included in the set are of the same type.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving from a first member of an online community a selection of a set of similar items to be included in the comparison comprises receiving one or more of the following:

a review of the set of similar items, a comparison of the set of similar items, information on features associated with one or more items included in the set of similar items, comments on one or more items included in the set of similar items, a ranking of the set of similar items, and a selection of a best item in the set of similar items.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising automatically generating a chart that includes data on one or more features associated with one or more items included in the set.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the chart is populated with data from product specifications.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the chart and associated data are editable by the first member.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein storing the comparison comprises determining one or more tags to be associated with the comparison.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein determining one or more tags to be associated with the comparison comprises one or more of the following:

receiving one or more tags from the first member, prompting the first member for one or more tags, parsing the comparison to determine one or more tags, and determining one or more tags associated with one or more items included in the set.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the comparison is stored in a searchable database.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication is based at least in part on one or more of the following:

current activity of the second member with respect to the online community and past activity of the second member with respect to the online community.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication comprises one or more of the following:

an indication of interest in a topic associated with the comparison, an indication of interest in a tag associated with the comparison, an indication of interest in an item included in the set, an indication of interest in a class of items to which the items included in the set belong, and an indication of interest in a tag associated with an item included in the set.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication is received in response to one or more of the following:

the second member viewing or navigating to a page associated with an item included in the set, the second member viewing or navigating to a page associated with a class of items to which the items included in the set belong, the second member viewing or navigating to a page associated with a topic associated with the comparison, the second member conducting a search using one or more search terms associated with one or more items included in the set, the second member conducting a search using one or more search terms associated with a topic associated with the comparison, the second member conducting a search using one or more search terms associated with a class of items to which the items included in the set belong, the second member adding an item included in the set to an online cart, the second member adding an item included in a class of items to which the items included in the set belong to an online cart, and the second member adding an item similar to an item included in the set to an online cart.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein presenting the comparison to a second member of the online community includes presenting to the second member an option to vote on a usefulness of the comparison.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising associating a usefulness score with the comparison.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the second member is part of a set of members to whom the comparison has been presented and wherein the usefulness score is based at least in part on votes by one or more members included in the set of members to whom the comparison has been presented.

17. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the usefulness score is based at least in part on a reputation of the first member.

18. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein presenting the comparison to a second member of the online community includes presenting to the second member an option to vote for an item in the set as a best item.

19. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein presenting the comparison to a second member of the online community includes presenting to the second member one or more of the following:

options to purchase an item from the set, an option to see reviews of the comparison, an option to review the comparison, an option to see reviews of one or more of the items included in the set, an option to review one or more items included in the set, options to vote for one or more tags associated with the comparison, and an option to add one or more tags to the comparison.

20. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing a link to the comparison.

21. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first member is not an employee of an online store.

22. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second member selects for purchase a single item from the set of similar items.

23. A system for providing a comparison, comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive from a first member of an online community a selection of a set of similar items to be included in the comparison;

store the comparison; and

present the comparison to a second member of the online community based at least in part on an indication that the comparison is of interest to the second member; and

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide instructions to the processor.

24. A system as recited in claim 23, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is a user of an online store.

25. A system as recited in claim 23, wherein to receive from a first member of an online community a selection of a set of similar items to be included in the comparison comprises to receive one or more of the following:

a review of the set of similar items, a comparison of the set of similar items, information on features associated with one or more items included in the set of similar items, comments on one or more items included in the set of similar items, a ranking of the set of similar items, and a selection of a best item in the set of similar items.

26. A system as recited in claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to automatically generate a chart that includes data on one or more features associated with one or more items included in the set.

27. A system as recited in claim 23, wherein the indication is based at least in part on one or more of the following:

current activity of the second member with respect to the online community and past activity of the second member with respect to the online community.

28. A system as recited in claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to associate a usefulness score with the comparison.

29. A system as recited in claim 23, wherein to present the comparison to a second member of the online community includes to present to the second member an option to vote for an item in the set as a best item.

30. A computer program product for providing a comparison, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving from a first member of an online community a selection of a set of similar items to be included in the comparison;

storing the comparison; and

presenting the comparison to a second member of the online community based at least in part on an indication that the comparison is of interest to the second member.