SOCIAL NETWORK BASED USER-INITIATED REVIEW AND PURCHASE RELATED INFORMATION AND ADVERTISING

• US 20120059848A1
• Filed: 09/08/2010
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Krishnamoorthy, Prabhakaran
• Granted Patent: US 8,458,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Techniques are provided which include obtaining, from a user, a query for review or purchase information from users in a social network of the user, relating to a product, service or brand that, for example, the use ay be considering or intending to purchase. Based at least in part on the query, review or purchase information is obtained from multiple users in a social network of the user, relating to the duct, service or brand, and this information is used in formulating a reply to the user. Collected information may also be used in advertising targeted to the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

using one or more computers, obtaining, from a first user, a query for information including review, comment, or purchase information from users in a social network of the first user, relating to a first product or service, product or service type, or brand;

using one or more computers, based at least in part on the query, obtaining a first set of information including review, comment, or purchase information from users in a social network of the first user, relating to the first product or service, product or service type, or brand;

using one or more computers, utilizing the first set of information, formulating a reply to the query, wherein the reply includes information of the first set of information, and comprising aggregating information of the first set of information; and

using one or more computers, facilitating providing, or making available, the reply to the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising obtaining, from the first user, an indication of particular users, or criteria for selecting particular users, from the social network from whom to seek review, comment or purchase information.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising formulating one or more reports by combining information from multiple replies to users regarding queries for review, comment or purchase information, and comprising making the one or more reports publically available to users.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the query comprises obtaining parameters relating to desired review, comment or purchase information

5. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the query comprises obtaining parameters including a product or service, product or service type or brand of interest.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the query comprises obtaining parameters including a product or service, product or service type or brand that the first user is considering or intending to purchase, and including a time frame of considered or intended purchase.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising allowing the first user to register an intention to purchase, in connection with obtaining related review, comment or purchase information from users in a social network of the first user.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising charging users for providing replies to queries.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising determining one or more social networks of the first user.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising determining one or more social networks of the first user utilizing email associations or groups of the first user.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising providing or making available a reply including aggregated purchase and review information.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising providing or making available the reply including aggregated purchase and review information with a level of privacy or anonymity in connection with the identity of the first user or users associated with the purchase and review information.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising providing or making available a reply including trending information relating to the first set of information.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising obtaining permission from a user be ore utilizing review or purchase information of the user in formulating a reply to a query.

15. The method of claim 1, comprising providing or making available the reply including summarized, analyzed or digested information derived from the first set of information.

16. The method of claim 1, comprising allowing users to save and modify queries.

17. The method of claim 1, comprising facilitating allowing the first user to contact or interact h users associated with information of the first set of information.

19. The system of claim 16, comprising targeting the first user with advertising utilizing information of the first set of information.

20. The system of claim 16, comprising allowing groups of users to submit a single query and obtain a reply to the query.

21. The system of claim 16, comprising allowing posted queries to be converted into solicitations or advertisements.

18. A system comprising:

one or more server computers coupled to a network; and

one or more databases coupled to the one or more server computers;

wherein the one or more server computers are for;

obtaining, from a first user, a query for information including review, comment, or purchase information from users in a social network of the first user, relating to a first product or service, product or service type, or brand;

based at least in part on the query, obtaining a first set of information including review, comment, or purchase information from users in a social network of the first user, relating to the first product or service, product or service type, or brand;

utilizing the first set of information, formulating a reply to the query, wherein the reply includes information of the first set of information, and comprising aggregating information of the first set of information; and

facilitating providing, or making available, the reply to the first user.

22. A computer readable medium or media containing instructions for executing a method comprising:

using one or more computers, obtaining, from a first user, a query for information including review, comment, or purchase information from users in a social network of the first user, relating to a first product or service, product or service type, or brand;

wherein the query comprises identification of a product or service, product or service type or brand that the first user is considering or intending to purchase and a time frame of considered or intended purchase;

and comprising allowing the user to save and modify the query;

using one or more computers, based at least in part on the query, obtaining a first set of information including review, comment, or purchase information from users in a social network of the first user, relating to the first product or service, product or service type, or brand;

using one or more computers, utilizing the first set of information, formulating a reply to the query, wherein the reply includes information of the first set of information, and comprising aggregating information of the first set of information; and

using one or more computers, facilitating providing a display or graphical user interface to provide the reply to the first user.