System and method for using virtual wish lists for assisting shopping over computer networks
First Claim
1. A computer system for using one or more virtual wish lists of one or more shoppers over one or more networks, the system comprising:
- one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more memories, and one or more network interfaces to one or more networks;
one or more recipient list generating processes that extract information about one or more people from one or more personal database systems, and create one or more lists of people for whom the shopper wants to purchase one or more products;
one or more recipient list updating processes that receive one or more recipient lists from one or more shoppers, and modify them if necessary to reflect data stored in one or more actual wish lists, or to reflect merchandising efforts of one or more online stores;
one or more shopping list generating processes that receive one or more virtual wish lists of one or more product recipients, and create one or more shopping lists for the product recipients;
one or more virtual wish list retrieval processes that receive one or more product recipient lists from one or more shoppers or one or more online stores, and retrieve and search for virtual wish lists for the product recipients from one or more databases;
one or more recommended product list generating processes that receive one or more recipient lists, one or more virtual wish lists, and one or more shopping lists from one or more shoppers, one or more online stores, and one or more virtual wish list retrieval processes, and create one or more recommended product lists, at least one of said virtual wish lists including product information from observation by said virtual wish list retrieval process of visits by one of said shoppers to a plurality of said online stores, said product information being obtained from visits wherein the shoppers do not register a product preference in a store'"'"'s product registry;
one or more virtual list use approval request processes that ask a shopper for approval of the use of the shopper'"'"'s virtual wish list by other shoppers, one or more online stores, and one or more other Web sites; and
one or more virtual list use approval processes that allows the owner of a virtual wish list to modify the virtual wish list if necessary and to selectively approve the use of the virtual wish list by other shoppers, one or more online stores, and one or more other Web sites.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system and method uses one or more virtual wish lists of one or more shoppers over a computer network. One process extracts information from online address books or other personal databases, and creates lists of recipients for whom a shopper wants to purchase products. A second process obtains virtual wish lists of recipients by observing their visits to online stores, and other online behavior. Recipients are asked for permission to make this data available to other shoppers, online stores, and other Web sites. Recipients can modify their virtual wish lists, and selectively approve of their use by other shoppers, etc. A third process creates shopping lists for the recipients, and generates lists of recommended products for shoppers to buy for intended recipients.
276 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A computer system for using one or more virtual wish lists of one or more shoppers over one or more networks, the system comprising:
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one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more memories, and one or more network interfaces to one or more networks;
one or more recipient list generating processes that extract information about one or more people from one or more personal database systems, and create one or more lists of people for whom the shopper wants to purchase one or more products;
one or more recipient list updating processes that receive one or more recipient lists from one or more shoppers, and modify them if necessary to reflect data stored in one or more actual wish lists, or to reflect merchandising efforts of one or more online stores;
one or more shopping list generating processes that receive one or more virtual wish lists of one or more product recipients, and create one or more shopping lists for the product recipients;
one or more virtual wish list retrieval processes that receive one or more product recipient lists from one or more shoppers or one or more online stores, and retrieve and search for virtual wish lists for the product recipients from one or more databases;
one or more recommended product list generating processes that receive one or more recipient lists, one or more virtual wish lists, and one or more shopping lists from one or more shoppers, one or more online stores, and one or more virtual wish list retrieval processes, and create one or more recommended product lists, at least one of said virtual wish lists including product information from observation by said virtual wish list retrieval process of visits by one of said shoppers to a plurality of said online stores, said product information being obtained from visits wherein the shoppers do not register a product preference in a store'"'"'s product registry;
one or more virtual list use approval request processes that ask a shopper for approval of the use of the shopper'"'"'s virtual wish list by other shoppers, one or more online stores, and one or more other Web sites; and
one or more virtual list use approval processes that allows the owner of a virtual wish list to modify the virtual wish list if necessary and to selectively approve the use of the virtual wish list by other shoppers, one or more online stores, and one or more other Web sites. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for using virtual wish lists over a computer network comprising the steps of:
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creating one or more recipient lists from one or more personal databases;
sending one or more recipient lists to one or more online stores or other Web sites over one or more computer network interfaces;
updating one or more recipient lists if necessary to reflect data stored in one or more actual wish lists or to reflect the merchandising efforts of one or more online stores;
asking one or more owners of virtual wish lists if they approve the use of their virtual wish lists by one or more other shoppers, online stores, and other Web sites;
receiving one or more approvals and disapprovals from the virtual wish lists owners on the use of their virtual wish lists;
retrieving and/or searching for virtual wish lists for one or more recipients specified in one or more recipient lists;
creating one or more shopping lists by merging one or more recipient lists and one or more virtual wish lists retrieved for the recipient lists, at least one of said virtual wish lists including product information from observation in said virtual wish list retrieval step of visits by one of said shoppers to a plurality of said online stores, said product information being obtained from visits wherein the shopper does not register a product preference in a store'"'"'s product registry;
receiving one or more shopping lists over one or more computer network interfaces;
creating one or more lists of recommended products for one or more received shopping lists;
placing one or more recommended products into one or more online shopping carts; and
completing one or more transactions for recommended products.
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Specification