CONTINUUM-BASED SELECTION OF PRODUCT CHOICE

• US 20170053334A1
• Filed: 11/08/2016
• Published: 02/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theodore Michael Evers
• Original Assignee: Theodore Michael Evers
• Inventors: Evers, Theodore Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,592,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating searching, obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations using inputs, including continuum-based inputs, and variable-sized visual representations are disclosed. In an embodiment, a user is presented with at least one continuum-based selector and at least one product choice visual representation. At least one input indicating user interest value in a product attribute is received and compared with stored result values of product choices. A unique weighing value indicating the relevancy of the product choice is generated for each product based on the comparison performed. The user is then presented with at least one product choice visual representation which may be modified based on the unique weighing value of the product choice.

Claims

What. What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating searching, obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations using inputs, including continuum-based inputs, and variable-sized visual representations, comprising the steps of:

(a) presenting at least one continuum-based selector to the user and at least one product choice visual representation;

(b) receiving at least one input indicating at least one user interest value;

(c) comparing the user interest values with at least one product choice, the comparing at least partially based on similarity of user interest value and stored result values for at least one product choice;

(d) generating unique weighing values for at least one product choice compared, wherein the generation of unique weighing values is at least partially based on the comparisons performed; and

(e) presenting at least one product choice visual representation to the user wherein the product choice visual representation is modified based on the unique weighing value of the product choice depicted in the product choice visual representation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

(f) receiving at least one additional input indicating at least one user interest value; and

(g) performing steps (c) through (e) wherein received user interest values include the additional inputs received in step (f).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(f) receiving an input from the user requesting basic product choice information;

(g) presenting to the user an enlarged product choice visual representation; and

(h) presenting to the user additional information related to product choices which have been enlarged.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(f) receiving an input from the user requesting detailed product choice information;

(g) presenting information related to product choices to the user; and

(h) providing the user one or more options chosen from the group consisting of purchasing the product choice, saving information about the product choice, sending information about the product choice, reading reviews of the product choice, reading ratings of the product choice, creating a review of the product choice, creating a rating of the product choice, or comparing the product choice with at least one other product choice.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(f) presenting at least one visual representation of a value indicating the unique weighing value of a product choice to the user.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein modification of the product choice visual representation is scaling the size of the product choice visual representation in proportion to the unique weighing value of the product choice.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the continuum-based selector is a user adjustable visual representation of a slider bar.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein product choice visual representations are presented to the user by initiating a first presentation of a product choice and presenting at least one additional product choice after the first presentation has begun.

1-1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating searching, obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations using inputs, including continuum-based inputs, and variable-sized visual representations, comprising the steps of:

(a) presenting at least one continuum-based selector to the user and at least one product choice visual representation;

(b) receiving at least one input indicating at least one user interest value;

(c) comparing the user interest values with at least one product choice, the comparing at least partially based on similarity of user interest value and stored result values for at least one product choice;

(d) generating unique weighing values for at least one product choice compared, wherein the generation of unique weighing values is at least partially based on the comparisons performed; and

(e) presenting at least one product choice visual representation to the user wherein the product choice visual representation is modified based on the unique weighing value of the product choice depicted in the product choice visual representation.

2-20. -20. (canceled)

9. A computer readable storage medium for storing computer readable instructions, the computer readable instructions facilitating searching, obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations using inputs, including continuum-based inputs, and variable-sized visual representations when executed by one or more processing devices, the computer readable instructions comprising:

logic configured to present at least one continuum-based selector to the user and at least one product choice visual representation;

logic configured to receive at least one input indicating at least one user interest value;

logic configured to compare user interest values with at least one product choice, the comparison at least partially based on similarity of user interest value and stored result values for at least one product choice;

logic configured to generate unique weighing values for each product choice compared, wherein the generation of unique weighing values is at least partially based on the comparisons performed; and

logic configured to present at least one product choice visual representation to the user wherein the product choice visual representation is modified based on the unique weighing value of the product choice depicted in the product choice visual representation.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

logic configured to receive at least one additional input indicating at least one user interest value; and

logic configured to compare additional user interest values with at least one product choice, the comparison at least partially based on similarity of additional user interest values and stored result values for at least one product choice.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

logic configured to receive an input from the user requesting basic product choice information;

logic configured to present to the user an enlarged product choice visual representation; and

logic configured to present to the user additional information related to product choices which have been enlarged.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

logic configured to receive an input from the user requesting detailed product choice information;

logic configured to present information related to product choices to the user; and

logic configured to provide to the user options to select the product choice, save information about the product choice, send information about the product choice, or compare the product choice with at least one other product choice.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

logic configured to present at least one visual representation of a value indicating the unique weighing value of a product choice to the user.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein modification of the product choice visual representation is scaling the size of the product choice visual representation in proportion to the unique weighing value of the product choice.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the continuum-based selector is a user adjustable visual representation of a slider bar.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein product choice visual representations are presented to the user by initiating a first presentation of a product choice and presenting at least one additional product choice after the first presentation has begun.

17. A computer system for facilitating searching, obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations using inputs, including continuum-based inputs, and variable-sized visual representations, comprising:

(a) means for presenting at least one continuum-based selector to the user and at least one product choice visual representation;

(b) means for receiving at least one input indicating at least one user interest value;

(c) means for comparing the user interest values with at least one product choice, the comparing at least partially based on similarity of user interest value and stored result values for at least one product choice;

(d) means for generating unique weighing values for each product choice compared, wherein the generation of unique weighing values is at least partially based on the comparisons performed; and

(e) means for presenting at least one product choice visual representation to the user, wherein the product choice visual representation is modified based on the unique weighing value of the product choice depicted in the product choice visual representation.

18. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising:

(f) means for receiving at least one additional input indicating at least one user interest value; and

(g) means for performing steps (c) through (e) wherein received interest values include the additional inputs received from the user in step (f).

19. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising:

(f) means for receiving an input from the user requesting basic product choice information;

(g) means for presenting to the user an enlarged product choice visual representation; and

(h) means for presenting to the user additional information related to product choices which have been enlarged.

20. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising:

(f) means for presenting at least one visual representation of a value indicating the unique weighing value of a product choice to the user.

21. A computer-implemented method that facilitates searching, obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations using inputs, including continuum-based inputs, and relevance-indicating visual representations, the method comprising the steps of:

presenting a continuum-based selector to a user and at least one product choice visual representation, the continuum-based selector being based on a continuum between a plurality of attribute criteria, the plurality of attribute criteria including first attribute criteria and second attribute criteria, and

the continuum-based selector providing a relative preference adjustment between the first attribute criteria and the second attribute criteria, and

presenting the user, upon the user presenting an interest in the first attribute criteria through the continuum-based selector, with additional more particularized criteria related to the first attribute criteria;

receiving at least one input indicating at least one user interest value, the at least one input representing a relative preference between the plurality of attribute criteria, and the receiving at least one input being performed by the user interfacing with the continuum-based selector;

comparing the at least one user interest value with a stored result value for at least one product choice, the comparing at least partially based on similarity of at least one user interest value and a stored result value for at least one product choice;

generating a unique weighing value for at least one product choice compared; and

presenting at least one product choice visual representation to the user wherein the product choice visual representation is modified based on the unique weighing value of the product choice depicted in the product choice visual representation.

22. The method of claim 21, the method including:

presenting the user, upon the user presenting an interest in the second attribute criteria through the continuum-based selector, with additional more particularized criteria related to the second attribute criteria.

23. The method of claim 21, the method wherein the receiving at least one input includes receiving input from multiple users via input modules associated with multiple computing devices.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an input from the user requesting detailed product choice information;

presenting information related to product choices to the user; and

providing the user one or more options chosen from the group consisting of purchasing the product choice, saving information about the product choice, sending information about the product choice, reading reviews of the product choice, reading ratings of the product choice, creating a review of the product choice, creating a rating of the product choice, or comparing the product choice with at least one other product choice.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein modification of the product choice visual representation is scaling the size of the product choice visual representation.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the continuum-based selector is a user adjustable visual representation of a slider bar.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein product choice visual representations are presented to the user by initiating a first presentation of a product choice and presenting at least one additional product choice after the first presentation has begun.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of attribute criteria are related to different product attributes.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of attribute criteria are not mutually exclusive of one another.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein:

the first attribute criteria is constituted by a beach attribute; and

the second attribute criteria is constituted by a mountain attribute.

31. The method of claim 21, the at least one product choice visual representation being a plurality of product choice visual representations, and the method including interfacing with the user to select a maximum number of product choice visual representations.

32. The method of claim 21, the method including interfacing with the user to select a type of product choice visual representation.

33. The method of claim 32, the type of product choice visual representation including at least one selected from the group consisting of image, textual list, and map-based view.

34. The method of claim 21, the product choice visual representation is in the form of a three-dimensional display.

35. The method of claim 21, the second attribute criteria constituted by an audiovisual clip.

36. The method of claim 21, further including providing limiting criteria that specifies a source of the stored result value.

37. A computer readable storage medium that stores computer readable instructions, the computer readable instructions facilitating searching, obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations using inputs, including continuum-based inputs, and relevance-indicating visual representations when executed by one or more processing devices, the computer readable storage medium constituted by non-transitory machine-readable medium, the computer readable instructions comprising:

logic configured to present a continuum-based selector to a user and at least one product choice visual representation, the continuum-based selector being based on a continuum between a plurality of attribute criteria, the plurality of attribute criteria including first attribute criteria and second attribute criteria, and

the continuum-based selector providing a relative preference adjustment between the first attribute criteria and the second attribute criteria, and

presenting the user, upon the user presenting an interest in the first attribute criteria through the continuum-based selector, with additional, more particularized criteria related to the first attribute criteria;

logic configured to receive at least one input indicating at least one user interest value, the at least one input comprising a relative preference between the plurality of attribute criteria, and

the logic configured to receive the at least one input by the user interfacing with the continuum-based selector;

logic configured to compare user interest values with at least one product choice, such comparison at least partially based on similarity of user interest value and stored result values for at least one product choice;

logic configured to generate unique weighing values for each product choice compared; and

logic configured to present at least one product choice visual representation to the user wherein the product choice visual representation is modified based on the unique weighing value of the product choice depicted in the product choice visual representation.