SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEARCHING CONTENT

• US 20110246330A1
• Filed: 04/01/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Zises, Matthew Scott, Tikku, Anup
• Application Number:
  US12/752,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20110246330A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/583 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

In various example embodiments, a system and method for searching content is provided. A selection of an area of an image is received. Using one or more processors, an analysis is performed to determine one or more entities associated with the selected area. Content related to the determined one or more entities are retrieved from a database. The database may comprise a database of current content that is continually updated. The retrieved content is displayed in association with the selected area of the image. Further refinement of the retrieved content may be performed and a transaction based on the retrieved content may be concluded.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an input selection indicating an area of an image;

determining, using one or more processors, one or more entities associated with the selected area;

retrieving content from a database based on the determined one or more entities, the content being dynamically updated content stored in the database; and

providing the retrieved content for display in association with the selected area of the image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the input selection comprises receiving an indication of a position from one or more of a mouse, keyboard, microphone, camera, or touch screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the database comprises an item inventory database of items available for purchase.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the database comprises a social database including information about people.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the entities comprise one or more of items, people, or services.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieved content comprises at least one of a category, product name, brand, price, quantity available, discount, promotion, shipping terms, images, or item attributes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieved content comprises one or more item listings of the determined one or more items for sale.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining refinement attributes applicable to the retrieved content and providing the determined refinement attributes in a refinement menu.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the refinement attributes comprise one or more of product name, brand, price range, quantity available, time, color, or size.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising refining the retrieved content using the at least one selected refinement attribute, the refining based on a search of the database based on the retrieved content and the at least one selected refinement attribute.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a purchase transaction based on the retrieved content.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the retrieved content comprises providing the retrieved content in a feedback cloud.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising refining the retrieved content based on at least one of user preferences and recommendations exceeding a recommendation threshold.

14. A system comprising:

an input module to receive a selection of an area of an image;

an analysis module to determine, using one or more processors, one or more entities associated with the selected area and to retrieve content from a database based on the determined one or more entities, the content being dynamically updated content stored in the database; and

a feedback module to provide the retrieved content for display in association with the selected area of the image.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a refinement module to determine refinement attributes applicable to the retrieved content and to provide the determined refinement attributes in a refinement menu.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a recommendation module to determine recommendations to be applied in determining updated content.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a socialization module to manage sharing of the retrieved content with other users.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the analysis module is further to refine the retrieved content using one or more of user preferences, recommendations exceeding a threshold, or at least one refinement attribute.

19. A machine-readable storage medium in communication with at least one processor, the machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, performs a method comprising:

receiving an input selection indicating an area of an image;

determining, using one or more processors, one or more entities associated with the selected area;

retrieving content from a database based on the determined one or more entities, the content being dynamically updated content stored in the database; and

providing the retrieved content for display in association with the selected area of the image.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises determining refinement attributes applicable to the retrieved content and providing the determined refinement attributes in a refinement menu.

21. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises refining the retrieved content using at least one selected refinement attribute, the refining based on a search of the database based on the retrieved content and the at least one selected refinement attribute.

22. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises refining the retrieved content based on at least one of user preferences and recommendations exceeding a recommendation threshold.