INFORMATION SHARING IN AN ONLINE COMMUNITY
First Claim
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1. A method for sharing information in an online community which has at least two users, the method comprising:
- receiving a first search request to search a website from a first user;
obtaining a list of search results matching the first search request;
displaying the list of search results on the first user'"'"'s screen;
looking for a second user who searches the website with a second search request whose scope at least partly overlaps with the scope of the first search request; and
adding a representation of the second user to the first user'"'"'s screen.
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Abstract
A system and method which may allow users, who are looking for similar products or services on a website and thus belong to an online community, to directly communicate with each other. The method may be used in eCommerce, e.g., online shopping or online auction. The method may also be used in other contexts, such as social networking and online photo albums.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for sharing information in an online community which has at least two users, the method comprising:
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receiving a first search request to search a website from a first user; obtaining a list of search results matching the first search request; displaying the list of search results on the first user'"'"'s screen; looking for a second user who searches the website with a second search request whose scope at least partly overlaps with the scope of the first search request; and adding a representation of the second user to the first user'"'"'s screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for information sharing in an online community which has at least two users, the method comprising:
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a server which runs a website and is coupled to a computer network; and a database, wherein the server; receives a first search request to search the website from a first user; obtains a list of search results matching the first search request; displays the list of search results on the first user'"'"'s screen; looks for a second user who searches the website with a second search request whose scope at least partly overlaps with the scope of the first search request; and adds a representation of the second user to the first user'"'"'s screen. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions which, when performed by a computer, perform a method for sharing information in an online community which has at least two users, the method comprising:
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receiving a first search request to search a website from a first user; obtaining a list of search results matching the first search request; displaying the list of search results on the first user'"'"'s screen; looking for a second user who searches the website with a second search request whose scope at least partly overlaps with the scope of the first search request; and adding a representation of the second user to the first user'"'"'s screen.
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Specification