IDENTIFYING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES BASED ON A BUDGET

• US 20120185354A1
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZAMA Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Crucs Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Crucs, Kevin M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,515,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system, a method, a server, a computer processing platform, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for enabling the identifying of products and services on-line based on a user budget. A financial budget is generated based on personal financial information provided by a user. Search criteria are generated based on the budget and product/service criteria provided by the user. A search engine is accessed to initiate an on-line search using the generated search criteria. Returned search results are processed to generate purchase recommendations for the user based on the budget and the product/service criteria. The purchase recommendations are sent to the user where the user may make a purchase request based on the recommendations. The purchase of a product or service may be facilitated in response to the purchase request and the budget may be updated based on the purchase.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for enabling the on-line performance of a method of identifying products and services based on a user budget comprising:

generating a financial budget based on personal financial information provided by a user;

generating search criteria based on the budget and product/service criteria provided by the user;

accessing a search engine to initiate an on-line search using the generated search criteria;

processing returned search results from the on-line search to generate purchase recommendations for the user based on the budget and the product/service criteria; and

sending the purchase recommendations to the user.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said method further comprises:

receiving a purchase request from the user in response to the purchase recommendations;

facilitating an on-line purchase of a product or service based on the purchase request; and

updating the financial budget based on the on-line purchase.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said personal financial information includes at least an income of said user, expenses of said user, and debt of said user.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said product/service criteria include at least a product type or a service type.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4 wherein said product/service criteria further include at least one of a preferred manufacturer, a preferred service provider, a size restriction, a weight restriction, and a color.

6. A computer processing platform for enabling the identifying of products and services on-line based on a user budget, said computer processing platform comprising:

means for generating a financial budget based on personal financial information provided by a user;

means for generating search criteria based on the budget and product/service criteria provided by the user;

means for accessing a search engine to initiate a search using the generated search criteria;

means for processing returned search results from the search to generate purchase recommendations for the user based on the budget and the product/service criteria; and

means for sending the purchase recommendations to the user.

7. The computer processing platform of claim 6 further comprising:

means for receiving a purchase request from the user in response to the purchase recommendations;

means for facilitating an on-line purchase of a product or service based on the purchase request; and

means for updating the financial budget based on the on-line purchase.

8. A server for enabling the identifying of products and services on-line based on a user budget, said server hosting computer-executable instructions comprising:

a budget-generating software module configured to generate a financial budget based on personal financial information provided by a user and configured to update the budget based on user on-line purchases;

a search criteria-generating software module configured to generate search criteria based on the budget and product/service criteria provided by the user; and

a search results processing software module configured to process returned search results from an on-line search engine to generate purchase recommendations for the user based on the budget and the product/service criteria.

9. The server of claim 8 further hosting computer-executable instructions comprising a communication interface software module configured to facilitate communication with at least one user web browser, at least one search engine, and at least one product/service web site, via the internet.

10. The server of claim 8 further hosting computer-executable instructions comprising a purchasing software module configured to facilitate the on-line purchasing of a product or service based on a purchase request from the user.

11. The server of claim 8, wherein said server further hosts a product or service web site.

12. A system for enabling the identifying of products and services on-line based on a user budget, said system comprising:

a budget application server hosting a budget-based product/service software application and storing financial information of at least one user;

at least one search engine;

at least one product or service web site hosted on a web server.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said budget application server, said at least one search engine, and said at least one product or service web site are configured to communicate with each other via the internet.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising at least one user web browser hosted on a computer.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said budget-based product/service software application includes a budget-generating software module.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein said budget-based product/service software application includes a search criteria-generating software module.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein said budget-based product/service software application includes a search results processing software module.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein said budget-based product/service software application includes a purchasing software module.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein said budget-based product/service software application includes a communication interface software module.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein said at least one product or service web site is configured with product or service data that are compatible with fillable data fields of said search results processing software module.