Providing marketplace functionality in a business directory and/or social-network site

• US 20080228598A1
• Filed: 03/06/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Leff Technology Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Leff Technology Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Leff, Andy, Lefl, Ron
• Application Number:
  US12/075,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228598A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

A business directory and/or social-network site with business-to-business, real-time e-commerce capability as well as business-to-consumers, real-time e-commerce capability. Other aspects include systems/methods for targeting users of the business directory and/or social-network site with advertising, which relates contextually to the interests and behavior of a user. Such advertisements are presented to the user on the user'"'"'s private bulletin board.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing an online-business directory and/or social-network site, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of business members on the online-business directory and/or social-network site; and

allowing each of the business members to list and sell, in real-time, their respective products or services directly to users on the online-business directory and/or social-network site.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising allowing each of the business members to customize a webpage on the online-business directory and/or social-network site, the webpage containing at least one section with products or services of a particular business member for direct sale to the user of the online-business directory and/or social-network site.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising associating a category with a group of products or services offered by the business members, and listing the group of products or services on a webpage according to the category associated therewith.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising transmitting data for displaying products or services according to a category associated with one of the products or services.

5. A computer system for providing an online-business directory and/or social-network site, the system comprising:

means for providing an online environment for displaying a plurality of business members on the online-business directory and/or social-network site; and

means for allowing each of the business members to list and sell, in real-time, their respective products or services, directly on the online-business directory and/or social-network site, and directly to users of the online-business director and/or social-network site.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising means for allowing each of the business members to customize a webpage on the online-business directory and/or social-network site, the webpage containing at least one section with products or services of a particular business member for direct, and instant sale to a user of the online-business directory and/or social-network site.

7. The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising means for associating a category with products or services offered by the business members, and listing the products or services on a webpage according to the category associated therewith.

8. The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising means for displaying products or services offered by the business members on the online-business directory or social-network site according to a category associated with one of the products or services.

9. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause a computer device to:

provide an online environment for displaying a plurality of business members on the online-business directory and/or social-network site; and

allowing each of the business members to list and sell, in real-time, their respective products or services, directly on the online-business directory and/or social-network site, and directly to users of the online-business directory and/or social-network site.

10. A computer-implemented method for advertising in an online-business directory and/or social-network site, the method comprising:

recording data indicative of a movement or behavior of a member within an online-business directory and/or social-network site;

associating the movement or behavior with a product or service category;

determining whether the movement or behavior of a member exceeds a specified threshold indicating a repetitive movement or behavior within the online-business directory and/or social-network site;

sending an advertisement to the member with content related to the associated product or service category, via a bulletin board, viewable by the member, when the movement or behavior of a member is determined to exceed the specified threshold.

11. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, further comprising automatically notifying an advertiser of the member to transmit the advertisement.

12. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, further comprising automatically notifying an advertiser of a target member to transmit the advertisement, and charging the advertiser a fee when the advertisement is transmitted.

13. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, further comprising generating data for display on graphical user interface representing the bulletin board.

14. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein the bulletin board is only accessible by the member.

15. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, further displaying a message on the bulletin board in a first predetermined color, and the advertisement in a second predetermined color different from the first predetermined color.

16. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause a computer device to:

record data indicative of a movement or behavior of a member within an online-business directory and/or social-network site;

associate the movement or behavior with a product or service category;

determine whether the movement or behavior of a member exceeds a specified threshold indicating a repetitive movement or behavior within the online-business directory and/or social-network site;

send an advertisement to the member with content related to the associated product or service category, via a bulletin board, viewable by the member, when the movement or behavior of a member is determined to exceed the specified threshold.