Connection System

• US 20100211473A1
• Filed: 04/21/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Shetty, Naresh
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

Various embodiments include systems and methods for providing communication among a plurality of users with complementary requirements in an electronic network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving from a first user a first description of a first product for sale;

receiving from a second user a second description of a second product that the second user desires to purchase;

comparing the first description to the second description;

determining that the first description matches the second description;

determining that the first user is logged onto an external chat service;

providing to the second user an indication that the first user is logged onto the external chat service;

receiving from the second user an indication of a desire to communicate with the first user;

sending, via the external chat service, a signal to the first user indicating that the second user wishes to communicate with the first user;

receiving permission from the first user to put the second user in communication with the first user; and

transmitting a message from the second user to the first user via the external chat service.

2. The method of claim 1 in which determining that the first description matches the second description comprises determining that a first word in the first description is the same as a second word in the second description.

3. The method of claim 1 in which determining that the first description matches the second description comprises:

determining a first geographic region based on the first description;

determining a second geographic region based on the second description; and

determining that the first geographic region is proximate to the second geographic region.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a first alias from the first user, the first alias serving to identify the first user on the external chat service, in which determining that the first user is logged onto the external chat service comprises checking the status of the first alias with the external chat service.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

receiving a second alias from the first user, in which the second alias is different from the first alias; and

displaying the second alias to the second user.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising receiving the message from the second user via an internal chat service, in which the internal chat service is different than the external chat service.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving from a third user a third description of a third product for sale;

determining that the second description matches the third description;

determining a first geographic region based on the first description;

determining a second geographic region based on the second description;

determining a third geographic region based on the third description;

determining a first distance based on the first geographic region and the second geographic region;

determining a second distance based on the second geographic region and the third geographic region;

determining that the first distance is less than the second distance; and

displaying, for the second user, indications of the first product and of the third product, in which the indication of the first product is displayed above the indication of the third product based on the determination that the first distance is less than the second distance.

8. The method of claim 1, in which determining that the first description matches the second description comprises determining that a first word in the first description matches a second word in the second description, the method further comprising:

receiving from a third user a third description of a third product for sale;

determining that a third word in the second description matches a fourth word in the third description, in which the third word is different from the second word;

determining a first category associated with the second word;

determining a second category associated with the third word;

determining a first priority associated with the first category;

determining a second priority associated with the second category;

determining that the first priority is higher than the second priority; and

displaying, for the second user, indications of the first product and of the third product, in which the indication of the first product is displayed above the indication of the third product based on the determination that the first priority is higher than the second priority.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the first category is geography and the second category is product age.

10. A method comprising:

receiving from a first user a first description of a first product;

receiving from the first user a first address to be used for sending communications to the first user;

receiving from the first user a rule for sending communications;

receiving from a second user a second description of a second product;

determining that the first description matches the second description;

transmitting to the first user a first message describing the second product, in which the first message is sent to the first address, and in which the first message is sent in accordance with the rule.

11. The method of claim 10 in which the rule specifies a frequency with which to send communications.

12. The method of claim 10 in which the rule specifies which of two or more addresses is to be used for sending communications to the first user, the method further comprising:

receiving from the user a second address to be used for sending communications to the first user;

receiving from a third user a third description of a third product;

determining that the first description matches the third description;

transmitting to the first user a second message describing the third product, in which the second message is sent to the second address, and in which the second message is sent in accordance with the rule.

13. The method of claim 10 in which the first address is a cellular phone number and in which the first message is sent to the corresponding cellular phone via Short Message Service.

14. The method of claim 10 in which the first address is an alias on an external chat service and in which the first message is sent to the alias via the external chat service.

15. A method comprising:

receiving from a first user a first description of a first product for sale, in which the first description is received at a first time;

receiving from a second user a second description of a second product that the second user desires to purchase, in which the second description is received at a second time that is before the first time;

comparing the first description to the second description;

determining that the first description matches the second description;

transmitting to the first user an indication of the second description, in which the indication of the second description is transmitted to the first user substantially immediately after the first time;

receiving from a third user a third description of a third product that the third user desires to purchase, in which the third description is received at a third time that is after the first time;

determining that the first description matches the third description;

transmitting to the first user an indication of the third description;

providing to the first user contact information for the second user;

receiving from the first user a request to contact the second user; and

enabling the first user to communicate with the second user.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

receiving from the first user a network address at which additional information can be found about the first product; and

transmitting to the second user an indication of the network address.

17. The method of claim 15 in which enabling the first user to communicate with the second user comprises:

receiving a first message from the first user via an Internet chat client; and

transmitting the first message to a cellular phone belonging to the second user via Short Messaging Service.

18. A method comprising:

receiving from a first user a first description of a first product for sale;

receiving from a second user a search criterion;

determining that the first product meets the search criterion;

presenting to the first user an indication of the search criterion; and

presenting to the first user an option to initiate communication with the second user.

19. The method of claim 18 in which the search criterion is a set of key words, and in which presenting the indication of the criterion includes presenting to the first user the set of key words.

20. The method of claim 18 in which the search criterion is a geographic region, and in which presenting the indication of the criterion includes presenting to the first user an indication of the geographic region.