HOSTING PLATFORM
First Claim
1. A hosting platform operating in a cloud hosting environment and configured to host a plurality of customized websites, the hosting platform comprising:
- an application signup and billing module configured to collect information over a computer network from each of a plurality of customers when the customers sign up for websites hosted on the hosting platform;
a content management system configured to allow each customer to customize a corresponding hosted website after signing up through the application signup and billing module for the corresponding hosted website, each customer offering one or more products or services for sale through the corresponding hosted website; and
a transaction module configured to allow customers to electronically process payments from end-users for products or services purchased by the end-users from the customers via the corresponding hosted websites.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hosting platform provides website hosting for customers. The hosting platform may be operated in a cloud hosting environment and may comprise an application signup and billing module, a content management system, a transaction module, and optionally a messaging system and/or end-customer management and authentication module. To enable website hosting in different industries, the content management system can provide access to modules adapted for a particular industry, such as print, music, or the like. The modules adapted for a particular industry allow customers in the particular industry to engage in the online sale of products or services with an order flow that can be adapted for the particular industry. Alternately or additionally, a consumer portal can be provided for each industry allowing end-users, e.g., end-customers, of a particular industry to connect peer-to-peer in relation to customers of the hosting platform that provide products or services within the particular industry.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hosting platform operating in a cloud hosting environment and configured to host a plurality of customized websites, the hosting platform comprising:
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an application signup and billing module configured to collect information over a computer network from each of a plurality of customers when the customers sign up for websites hosted on the hosting platform; a content management system configured to allow each customer to customize a corresponding hosted website after signing up through the application signup and billing module for the corresponding hosted website, each customer offering one or more products or services for sale through the corresponding hosted website; and a transaction module configured to allow customers to electronically process payments from end-users for products or services purchased by the end-users from the customers via the corresponding hosted websites. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of hosting websites for a plurality of customers, the method comprising:
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maintaining a plurality of website design templates that can be selected and customized by customers into customer-specific websites; receiving input from at least two customers customizing at least two customer-specific websites, including at least a first customer customizing a first website design template into a first customer-specific website and a second customer customizing a second website design template into a second customer-specific website; hosting the at least two customer-specific websites; providing access to a plurality of features and functionality through each of the at least two customer-specific websites, the plurality of features and functionality including the ability for an end-user to;
receive an online order estimate from a corresponding customer for an online order, submit an online order to a corresponding customer, and provide electronic payment for an online order to a corresponding customer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A hosted web-to-print server application, comprising:
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a dynamic website module configured to enable a plurality of printers to customize hosted web-to-print websites with printer-specific information provided by the plurality of printers via a computer network, wherein the resulting plurality of customized web-to-print websites can be accessed by one or more end-users via the computer network; a merchant module configured to enable each printer to receive print orders from end-users and to process electronic payments from end-users for print orders through the printer'"'"'s customized web-to-print website; and a product/service catalog configured to enable each printer to provide online order estimate and file upload capabilities to end-users for print orders through the printer'"'"'s customized web-to-print website. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification