SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE, COMPUTER-ASSISTED OBJECT PRESENTATION

• US 20090281926A1
• Filed: 05/11/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catherine Lin-Hendel
• Original Assignee: Catherine Lin-Hendel
• Inventors: Lin-Hendel, Catherine
• Granted Patent: US 8,204,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

A system and method for interactive, computer-assisted object presentation in which object information is displayed in one more arrays. In some embodiments, object information is displayed in a two dimensional array wherein displayed object information can be selected by a user. In response to the selection, in some embodiments additional information is displayed about an object corresponding to the selected information. In some embodiments, the additional information includes one or more of a link to permit a user to buy the object (e.g., from an e-commerce web site) and a link to bid on the object (e.g., in an on-line auction). In some embodiments, at least a subset of the two arrays scrolls without user interaction. In some embodiments, object information is displayed in an first array from which a user can select multiple elements. In response to the selection, in some embodiments a second array is displayed with information about the multiple selected elements from the first array. In some embodiments, the information displayed in the second array includes status information about the selected elements, such as price changes.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying digital information, comprising:

in a computer with a processor and memory, performing the following;

displaying on a display device, a two dimensional array of digital information elements;

enabling a user to select one of the digital information elements; and

in response to the selection, displaying on the display device additional information about the item represented by the selected digital information element, wherein the additional information includes at least one of;

a link to buy and a link to bid on the item represented by the selected digital information element.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scrolling on the display device at least a subset of the arrayed digital information elements without user interaction.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring and periodically updating on the display device at least a subset of the arrayed digital information elements without user interaction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the user to select comprises:

enabling a user to click or mouse-over the digital information element.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling a user to select multiple of the digital information elements;

submitting the multiple selections to retrieve additional information about the selected elements; and

displaying the retrieved additional information about the multiple selected elements simultaneously on the display device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the retrieved information is stored in a computer memory file for later retrieval.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital information elements are selected from the group consisting of:

thumbnails, photographs, symbols, and video.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional information about the items represented by the selected digital information elements is stored in computer memory, monitored, updated, and available for separate or later access.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying within the array a plurality of subsections, each with a respective plurality of second digital information elements; and

scrolling within at least one of the subsections the respective plurality of second digital information elements without user action.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

scrolling the plurality of subsections independently from one another.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the subsections is selected from the group consisting of:

a row, a column, a matrix, and an array.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying within the array a plurality of subsections, each with a respective plurality of second digital information elements, wherein the plurality of second digital information elements within at least one subsection represents items that belong to a common category.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying digital information elements from a plurality of independent sources.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the independent sources include at least two separate website sources.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a specified category from a user; and

displaying a particular subsection wherein the plurality of second digital information elements within the particular subsection belong to the user specified category.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving digital information elements specified by a user; and

displaying at least some of the user specified digital information elements in the array of digital information elements.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising

receiving sorting criteria from a user;

sorting the digital information elements based on the user specified sorting criteria; and

displaying the sorted digital information elements.

18. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a user control command regarding the movement of the digital information elements; and

moving the digital information elements according to the user control command.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the user control command is selected from the group consisting of:

controlling scrolling speed, controlling scrolling direction, stopping scrolling, and restarting scrolling.

20. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of icons for controlling movement of the digital information elements.

21. The method of claim 20, further including activating one of the plurality of icons to perform at least one of:

scrolling the digital information elements at a constant speed;

varying a speed of the digital information elements;

stopping scrolling of the digital information elements;

restarting scrolling of the digital information elements after stopping the digital information elements; and

changing a scrolling direction of the digital information elements.

22. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

scrolling the digital information elements horizontally or vertically.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

removing from the array, in response to an occurrence of at least one of a plurality of user-programmed criteria, a selected digital information element.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the pre-determined criteria includes at least one of:

a change in price beyond a pre-determined limit and expiration of a time duration preset for an item represented by a selected digital information element.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

storing the removed digital information element in a retrievable location;

receiving a selection of the removed digital information element; and

displaying the removed digital information element in a separate display area from the array of digital information element.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an activation command for a first digital information element; and

displaying at least one of a three-dimensional view and detailed information associated with an item represented by the first digital information element.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying in a first display area separate from the array of digital information elements a particular digital information element representing an item not currently available on-line but that will become available at a future time.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

independently scrolling a plurality of the particular digital information elements in the first display area.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying simultaneously with the array a video related to an item represented by a first digital information element.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an item represented by a digital information element, and including issuing an alert regarding the selected item, in response to at least one of a plurality of pre-determined criteria.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the plurality of pre-determined criteria includes at least one of:

availability, target price, and time for which the selected item remains available.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one digital information element represents an item available for on-line bidding by users.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a digital information element representing an item available for on-line bidding, and

displaying a bid received subsequent to the selection.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein scrolling includes at least one digital information element temporarily disappearing from the display device.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital information elements are all of a substantially similar size.

23. A computer-implemented method for displaying digital information elements, comprising:

in a computer with a processor and memory, performing the following;

displaying, on a display device, a first array including a plurality of first digital information elements representing items available for selection;

receiving a selection of a plurality of first digital information elements; and

displaying, in a second array, second digital information elements corresponding to the selected first digital information elements.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the second array includes static and dynamic detailed information regarding the selected items represented by the first digital information elements selected.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

periodically monitoring and updating status of dynamic detailed information regarding the selected items represented by the first digital information elements; and

displaying the updated status of the selected items in the second array.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

removing from the second array, in response to an occurrence of at least one of a plurality of user-programmed criteria, a selected digital information element.

40. A system for displaying digital information, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs stored in the memory, the one or more programs comprising instructions to;

display on a display device, a two dimensional array of digital information elements;

enable a user to select at least one of the digital information elements; and

in response to the selection, display on the display device additional information about the item represented by the selected digital information element, wherein the additional information includes at least one of;

a link to buy and a link to bid on the item represented by the selected digital information element.

41. The system of claim 40, further comprising instructions to:

enable the user to select multiple of the digital information elements;

submit the multiple selections to retrieve additional information about the selected elements; and

display the retrieved additional information about the multiple selected elements simultaneously on the display device.

42. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer, the one or more programs comprising instructions to:

display on a display device, a two dimensional array of digital information elements;

enable a user to select at least one of the digital information elements; and

in response to the selection, display on the display device additional information about the items represented by the selected digital information elements, wherein the additional information includes at least one of;

a link to buy and a link to bid on the item represented by the selected digital information element.

43. The computer readable storage medium of claim 42, further comprising instructions to:

enable the user to select multiple of the digital information elements;

submit the multiple selections to retrieve additional information about the selected elements; and

display the retrieved additional information about the multiple selected elements simultaneously on the display device.

44. A system for displaying digital information, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs stored in the memory, the one or more programs comprising instructions to;

display, on a display device, a first array including a plurality of first digital information elements representing items available for selection;

receive a selection of a plurality of first digital information elements; and

display, in a second array, one or more second digital information elements corresponding to the selected first digital information elements.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the second array includes static and dynamic detailed information regarding the selected items represented by the first digital information elements selected.

46. The system of claim 45, further comprising instructions to:

periodically monitor and update status of dynamic detailed information regarding the selected items represented by the first digital information elements; and

display the updated status of the selected items in the second array.

47. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer, the one or more programs comprising instructions to:

display, on a display device, a first array including a plurality of first digital information elements representing items available for selection;

receive a selection of a plurality of first digital information elements; and

display, in a second array, one or more second digital information elements corresponding to the selected first digital information elements.

48. The computer readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein the second array includes static and dynamic detailed information regarding the selected items represented by the first digital information elements selected.

49. The system of claim 48, further comprising instructions to:

periodically monitor and update, status of dynamic detailed information regarding the selected items represented by the first digital information elements; and

display the updated status of the selected items in the second array.