Method of displaying product selection on web site

• US 6,727,928 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Metraflex Company
• Original Assignee: The Metraflex Company
• Inventors: Richter, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US09/493,053
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 345/762, 345/765, 345/744, 345/854
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method of displaying a product which has features with differently configured permutations is provided, which is especially useful when using a computer program to display the product, such as on a web site of a global computer network. The method provides for different permutations to be selected of the various features and a composite image is generated and displayed of the selected permutations. In this manner, images of the individual permutations must be stored rather than images of all of the different possible combinations of permutations. Such a method considerably reduces the storage requirements for displaying all of the various combinations.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a commercial product having various possible fittings by using a computer program via a global computer network comprising the steps:

in step 1, accessing a web site from a computer remote from a host computer and selecting a commercial product from a plurality of products;

in step 2, selecting a fitting of said selected product;

in step 3, selecting a permutation of said fitting;

returning to step 2 if a further fitting is to be selected or proceeding to a step 4 if no further fittings are to be selected;

in step 4, generating a composite image of said selected product with said selected permutations of said selected fittings from stored images of individual permutations of said fittings; and

in step 5, displaying said composite image at said remote computer.

2. A method for displaying a plumbing product by using a computer program via a global computer network comprising the steps:

in step 1, accessing a web site from a computer remote from a host computer and displaying at said remote computer a plumbing product with variable visual features including a middle portion and end portions and various specifications related to the variable features;

in step 2, selecting a permutation of at least one of said variable features other than color;

in step 3, generating a composite image of said selected product with said selected permutation of said variable features from stored images of individual permutations of said features;

in step 4, displaying said composite image at said remote computer; and

in step 5, displaying at said remote computer the specifications of said selected product based upon said selected permutations.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein in step 1, a product is selected by a user via an appropriate input to said computer program.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said user selects said product by typing a name of said product.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein said user selects said product by typing a model number of said product.

6. A method according to claim 3, wherein said user selects said product by selecting a product from a drop down menu.

7. A method according to claim 3, wherein said user selects said product by selecting a product from a displayed image of said product.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein said feature is selected automatically by said computer program.

9. A method according to claim 2, wherein said composite image is generated by combining individual images of said selected permutations of said selected features of said selected product.

10. A method according to claim 2, wherein said composite image is displayed on a computer screen.

11. A method according to claim 2, wherein said return to step 2 is accomplished automatically by said computer program until all possible features have been selected.

12. A method according to claim 2, wherein said return to step 2 is accomplished by a user via an appropriate input to said computer program.

13. A method according to claim 2, wherein said visual feature is a shape of at least a portion of said product.

14. A method according to claim 2, wherein said visual feature is a material of at least a portion of said product.

15. A method according to claim 2, wherein said visual feature is a dimension of at least a portion of said product.

16. A method for displaying a commercial plumbing product by using a computer program comprising the steps:

in step 1, displaying a plumbing product with variable features, including variable physical components comprising a middle portion and end portions of said product;

in step 2, selecting a permutation of said variable physical components other than color;

returning to step 2 if a further permutation of any one of said variable features is to be selected or proceeding to a step 3 if no further permutations are to be selected;

in step 3, generating a composite image of said displayed product with said selected permutations of said variable features from stored images of individual permutations of said components; and

in step 4, displaying said composite image.

17. A method according to claim 16, including a step of selecting a product prior to step 1.

18. A method according to claim 16, including a step of selecting one of said variable features prior to step 2.

19. A method for displaying a plumbing product on a user'"'"'s computer remote from a host computer containing images in memory of various visual permutations of features including a middle portion and end portions of said plumbing product comprising the steps:

in step 1, from said user'"'"'s computer, selecting a plumbing product with variable features including a middle portion and end portions and various specifications related to the variable features;

in step 2, from said user'"'"'s computer, selecting a first feature of said selected product other than color;

in step 3, from said user'"'"'s computer, selecting a permutation of said selected first feature from a group consisting of shape, material and dimension of said first feature;

returning to step 2 to select a second feature of said selected product different than said first feature and then to step 3 to select a permutation of said selected second feature,

returning to step 2 if a still further feature is to be selected or proceeding to a step 4 if no further features are to be selected;

in step 4, at said host computer, generating a composite image of said selected product with said selected permutations of said selected features from stored images of individual permutations of said features; and

in step 5, at said user'"'"'s computer, displaying said composite image and the specifications of said selected product based upon said selected permutations.

20. A method for displaying a metal hose product having at least one fitting by using a computer program via a global computer network comprising the steps:

in step 1, accessing a web site from a computer remote from a host computer and selecting a metal hose product;

in step 2, selecting a fitting of said selected product;

in step 3, selecting a permutation of said selected fitting;

returning to step 2 if a further fitting or other feature is to be selected or proceeding to a step 4 if no further fittings or other features are to be selected;

in step 4, generating a composite image of said selected product with said selected permutations of said selected fittings and other features from stored images of individual permutations of said fittings; and

in step 5, displaying said composite image at said remote computer.