SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BROWSING A PRODUCT CATALOG AND FOR DYNAMICALLY GENERATED PRODUCT PATHS

• US 20140279245A1
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mcmaster-Carr Supply Company
• Original Assignee: Mcmaster-Carr Supply Company
• Inventors: Callanta, Ben, Kang, Hui, Noble, Charleston, Olson, Eric, Sherman, Tom, Tisza, Alison
• Granted Patent: US 9,870,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.61
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation

Abstract

A mobile device such as a tablet computer accesses a server to search a product catalog. The catalog is displayed as a broad classifications of products, which when selected result in the display of sub-classifications within the classification. Levels of searching are provided to the product level, and movement within each level is possible.

Claims

1. A method for searching a product catalog, comprising:

in a computer device, displaying a plurality of classifications of items from the catalog on a display of a computer device;

in a computer device, receiving a user selection of a classification from the plurality of classifications as a selected classification;

in a computer device, displaying a plurality of product families within the selected classification;

in a computer device, displaying path indicators of classifications related to the displayed selected classification while the selected classification is being displayed;

in a computer device, receiving a user selection of a path indicator to a related classification as a selected related classification;

in a computer device, displaying a related classification corresponding to the selected related classification;

in a computer device, receiving a user selection of a product family within a displayed classification as a selected product family;

in a computer device, displaying a plurality of products within the selected product family;

in a computer device, displaying path indicators of related product families while displaying the selected product family;

in a computer device, receiving a user selection of a product within the selected product family as a selected product; and

in a computer device, displaying product characteristics of the selected product.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displaying path indicators include in a computer device displaying a direction indicator and an indicator of a product family that displays upon operation of the display by a user in a direction indicated by the direction indicator.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the direction indicator includes an arrow, and wherein the display is operable to display a next screen by activation of a user control in a direction of the arrow.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

in a computer device, preloading display data of a display screen for a next display screen.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

in a computer device, defining related classifications among the plurality of classifications, wherein the related classifications include a first related classification and a second related classification;

wherein receiving a first selection from the user will display the first related classification and receiving a second selection from the user will display the second related classification; and

in a computer device, preloading the first and second classification for possible display upon display of the selected classification.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

in a computer device, defining related product families among the plurality of product families, wherein the related product families include a first related product family and a second related product family;

wherein receiving a first selection from the user will display the first related product family and receiving a second selection from the user will display the second related product family; and

in a computer device, preloading the first and second product families for potential display upon display of the selected classification.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

in a computer device, defining related product characteristics among the plurality of product characteristics, wherein the related product characteristics include first related product characteristics and second related product characteristics;

wherein receiving a first selection from the user will display the first related product characteristics and receiving a second selection from the user will display the second related product characteristics; and

in a computer device, preloading the first and second product characteristics for potential display upon display of the selected characteristics.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

in a computer device, collecting user search input information; and

in a computer device, determining a product path of related products and related product classifications from the collected user input information in response to a user search input.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said collecting includes collecting user input information of a single user.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said collecting includes collecting user input information of a plurality of users.

11. A system for searching a product catalog, comprising:

a computer device having a processor programmed to execute a program, wherein the programmed computer device performs the steps of;

displaying a plurality of classifications of items from the catalog on a display of a computer device;

receiving a user selection of a classification from the plurality of classifications as a selected classification;

displaying a plurality of product families within the selected classification;

displaying path indicators of classifications related to the displayed selected classification while the selected classification is being displayed;

receiving a user selection of a path indicator to a related classification as a selected related classification;

displaying a related classification corresponding to the selected related classification;

receiving a user selection of a product family within a displayed classification as a selected product family;

displaying a plurality of products within the selected product family;

displaying path indicators of related product families while displaying the selected product family;

receiving a user selection of a product within the selected product family as a selected product; and

displaying product characteristics of the selected product.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the displaying path indicators include displaying a direction indicator and an indicator of a product family that displays upon operation of the display by a user in a direction indicated by the direction indicator.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the direction indicator includes an arrow, and wherein the display is operable to display a next screen by activation of a user control in a direction of the arrow.

14. A system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

preloading display data of a display screen for a next display screen.

15. A system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

defining related classifications and product families and product characteristics among the plurality of classifications and product families and product characteristics, wherein the related classifications and product families and product characteristics include a first related classification and product family and product characteristic and a second related classification and product family and product characteristic;

wherein receiving a first selection from the user will display the first related classification or product family or product characteristic and receiving a second selection from the user will display the second related classification or product family or product characteristic; and

preloading the first and second classification or product family or product characteristic for possible display upon display of the selected classification or product family or product characteristic.

16. A system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

collecting user search input information; and

determining a product path of related products and related product classifications from the collected user input information in response to a user search input.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said collecting includes collecting user input information of a single user.

18. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said collecting includes collecting user input information of a plurality of users.