Internet-based on-line comparison shopping system and method of interactive purchase and sale of products

• US 7,107,226 B1
• Filed: 01/20/1999
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Net32, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Net32.Com, Inc.
• Inventors: Evans, James, Cassidy, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Retta, Yehdega
• Application Number:
  US09/234,348
• Time in Patent Office: 2,792 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A searchable database comprising a multiplicity of tables including an attributes table and a values table for a multiplicity of target search items constructed and arranged so that selection of values for one or more target search item attributes yields an attribute-value construct specifying a particular one of said target search items and precluding an indeterminate search result. Such database may be employed in an online comparison shopping system comprising a database containing product information of multiple vendors, manufacturers and/or products and a user interface generating a virtual shopping cart, and constructed and arranged to enable a user to selectively aggregate an order in said virtual shopping cart, comprising products represented in said database, and means for electronically disaggregating said order to generate vendor-specific orders to respective vendors.

Claims

1. A searchable database system for generating a product comparison grid for a selected target search item, comprising:

a database embodied in a computer readable medium, the database including a multiplicity of target search items, the target search items having assigned attributes and at least one related value for each attribute;

a computer with a display device operatively connected to the database for displaying selections by user wherein the database provides to the display device only one attribute level at a time with its related values and the selection of a value for the displayed attribute determines the next displayed attribute level and wherein the comparison grid is generated only after a series of steps including;

the user selects a target search item and the database provides for display of a single first level attribute and at least one value related to the attribute;

the user selects a value for the first level attribute, and the value chosen determines the next level attribute displayed to the user, the next level attribute having at least one related value;

the attribute display and value selection process is repeated until a value is selected for each sequentially displayed attribute to generate an attribute-chain which includes the selected value for each attribute assigned to the selected target search item in the database; and

the completion of the attribute-value chain prompts the construction and display of the comparison grid for products having the selected values, wherein the database system provides at least one product in the comparison grid of products specifying the target search item and precluding an indeterminate search result, and wherein the comparison grid of products is formed only after a value has been specified for each of the attributes displayed.

2. The searchable database of claim 1, wherein said computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of:

CD-ROMs, magnetic disks, magnetic tape, magnetic drums, electronic memory, ferroelectric memory, and combinations thereof.

3. The searchable database of claim 1 wherein the target search items comprise products.

4. The searchable database of claim 1 wherein the target search items comprise services.

5. The searchable database of claim 1 wherein the target search items comprise dentistry products.

6. The searchable database of claim 1 wherein the target search items comprise medical products.

7. The searchable database of claim 1, operatively resident in a programmable computer.

8. The searchable database of claim 7 wherein said computer network comprises the World Wide Web.

9. The searchable database of claim 1 operatively connected to a computerized user interface system.

10. The searchable database of claim 9 wherein the computerized user interface system comprises a persistent shopping cart.

11. The searchable database of claim 9 wherein the computerized interface system comprises an attribute-value chain search capability.

12. The searchable database of claim 9 wherein the computerized interface system comprises a selectable display of user history involving said target search items.

13. The searchable database of claim 9 wherein the computerized interface system comprises a custom order template.

14. A computer network-based online comparison shopping system containing product selection information for products from different sources, comprising:

(i) a searchable database embodied in a computer readable medium operatively connected to a computer with a display device wherein the database comprises target search items, the target search items having assigned attributes and at least one related value for each attribute and wherein a comparison grid setting forth product information for products from different sources is generated only after a series of steps including;

the user select a target search item and the database provides to the display device only the first attribute level with its related values;

the user selects a value for the first level attribute, and the value chosen determines the next level attribute displayed to the user, the next level attribute having at least one related value;

the attribute display and value selection process is repeated until a value is selected for each sequentially displayed attribute to generate a attribute-value chain which includes the selected value for each attribute assigned to the selected target search item and which prompts the construction of a comparison grid of said products and precluding an indeterminate search result, wherein the comparison grid of products is formed only after a value has been specified for each of the displayed attributes; and

(ii) a computerized user interface operatively coupled to said database for user manipulation thereof to select product(s) based on product selection information and constructed and arranged to communicate ordering information to source(s) of selected product(s).

15. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14, wherein said computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of:

CD-ROMs, magnetic disks, magnetic tape, magnetic drums, electronic memory, ferroelectric memory, and combinations thereof.

16. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14 wherein the target search items comprise products.

17. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14 wherein the target search items comprise services.

18. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14 wherein the target search items comprise dentistry products.

19. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14 wherein the target search items comprise medical products.

20. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14 wherein said computer network comprises the World Wide Web.

21. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14 wherein the searchable database is operatively coupled to software providing order capability for purchase and sale transaction of said products.

22. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14 wherein the computerized user interface system comprises a persistent shopping cart.

23. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14 wherein the computerized interface system comprises an attribute-value chain search capability.

24. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14 wherein the computerized interface system comprises a selectable display of user history involving said target search items.

25. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14 wherein the computerized interface system comprises a custom order template.

26. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14, further comprising at least one of the tables selected from the group consisting of OrderHeader table, CreditCardType table, ConsumerType table, CreditCardInfo table, Consumer table, DentistInfo table, Vendor table, OrderLine table, VendorProduct Table, Price Table, Brand table, Manufacturer table, DPODetail table, DPOProduct table, OrderTemplateLine table, OrderTemplateHeader table, LogonRecords table, ShoppingCart table, Logon table, ContactInfo table, TentativeProduct table, TentativeProductReject table, DataEntryRates table, ShipAddr table, FormOfAddress table, Country table, State table, LogonPermissions table, Permissions table, Category table, CallTracking table, UpdatePrices table, ReptTransactionList table, InvoiceHeader table, InvoiceLine table, ReptInvoiceHeader table, ReptInvoiceLine table, and InvoiceContactInfo table.

27. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14, further comprising an OrderHeader table, a CreditCardType table, a ConsumerType table, a CreditCardInfo table, a Consumer table, a DentistInfo table, a Vendor table, an OrderLine table, a VendorProduct Table, a Price Table, a Brand table, a Manufacturer table, a DPODetail table, a DPOProduct table, an OrderTemplateLine table, an OrderTemplateHeader table, a LogonRecords table, a ShoppingCart table, a Logon table, a ContactInfo table, a TentativeProduct table, a TentativeProductReject table, a DataEntryRates table, a ShipAddr table, a FormOfAddress table, a Country table, a State table, a LogonPermissions table, a Permissions table, a Category table, a CallTracking table, and an UpdatePrices table.

28. The online comparison shopping system of claim 27 wherein the searchable database further comprises a ReptTransactionList table, an InvoiceHeader table, an InvoiceLine table, a ReptInvoiceHeader table, a ReptInvoiceLine table, and an InvoiceContactInfo table.

29. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14 further comprising means for quote generation for a potential transaction identified by a user.

30. The online comparison shopping system of claim 29 wherein the quote is saved in a user history archive.

31. The online comparison shopping system of claim 29 wherein the quote is automatically e-mailed to a user.

32. The online comparison shopping system of claim 14 wherein the user interface comprises search means having search capabilities selected from the group consisting of category searching, vendor searching, brand searching, manufacturer searching, code searching, index searching, and order history searching.

35. The computer network-based on-line comparison shopping system according to claim 14 further comprising:

a Web site having a public interface and a private interface, wherein the public interface includes all operative functional characteristics except quotes function and data entry function, and wherein the private interface includes quotes function and data entry function;

a customer service module functionally connected to said Web site via software architecture;

an administrative module functionally connected to said customer service module via software architecture;

a business module having a public interface and a private interface, wherein the public interface of said business module is functionally connected to the Web site, the customer service module, the administrative module via a software code linkage, and wherein the private interface interrelates with the private interface; and

a database functionally connected to said business module via a software code linkage and directly interacting with the private interface of said business module.

33. A computerized online comparison shopping system comprising:

(i) a searchable database embodied in a computer readable medium containing product information of multiple vendors, manufacturers and/or products, the searchable database operatively connected to a computer with a display device and comprising a multiplicity of target search items, the target search items having assigned attributes and at least one related value for each attribute wherein a user of the online comparison shopping system selects a target search item and the database provides to the display device only the first attribute level with its related values;

the user selects a value for the first level attribute, and the value chosen determines the next level attribute displayed to the user, the next level attribute having at least one related value;

the attribute display and value selection process is repeated until a value is selected for each sequentially displayed attribute to generate a attribute-value chain which includes the selected value for each attribute assigned to the selected target search item and which prompts the construction of a comparison grid specifying said products and precluding an indeterminate search result, wherein the comparison grid of products is formed only after a value has been specified for each of the attributes displayed; and

(ii) a computerized user interface generating a virtual shopping cart, and constructed and arranged to enable a user to selectively aggregate an order in said virtual shopping cart, comprising products represented in said database, and means for electronically disaggregating said order to generate vendor-specific orders to respective vendors.

34. The online comparison shopping system of claim 33 further comprising means for electronically transmitting said vendor-specific orders to said respective vendors.

36. A method of conducting electronic commerce involving online comparison shopping comprising:

providing a searchable database embodied in a computer readable medium and operatively connected to a computer with a display device, the searchable database containing product information of multiple vendors, manufacturers and/or products and comprising a multiplicity of target search items, the target search items having assigned attributes and at least one related value for each attribute;

providing access to the database by a user wherein the user selects a target search item and the database provides to the display device only a first level attribute with its related values, the user selects a value for the first level attribute, and the value chosen determines the next level attribute displayed to the user, the next level attribute having at least one related value;

the attribute display and value selection process is repeated until a value is selected for each attribute sequentially presented to the user to generate a attribute-value chain which includes the selected value for each attribute assigned to the selected target search item and which prompts the construction of a comparison grid specifying said products and precluding an indeterminate search result, wherein the comparison grid of products is formed only after a value has been specified for each of the attributes displayed; and

manipulating a computerized user interface to generate a virtual shopping cart to selectively aggregate an order in said virtual shopping cart, comprising products represented in said database, and electronically disaggregating said order to generate vendor-specific orders to respective vendors.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising electronically transmitting said vendor-specific orders to said respective vendors.

38. A dynamically generated database embodied in a computer readable medium and operatively connected to a computer with a display device for storing and searching product information of multiple products, the database comprising searchable products, wherein each searchable product has attributes assigned thereto;

an Attributes table, wherein each attribute is located on a different level in the table and access to the next level can only be gained by selection of a related value for the current displayed level attribute;

a Values table comprising the values related to each level of attributes, a DPO Detail table, and a DPO Product table, wherein selection of values for each attribute level that is sequentially presented generates a attribute-value chain which prompts the construction of a comparison grid specifying a particular product and precluding an indeterminate search result, and wherein all the possible attribute-value chains are stored in the DPO Detail table and respectively supplemented by description information stored in the DPO Product table.

39. The dynamically generated database of claim 38, wherein potentially unlimited number of attributes can be assigned to each product.

40. The dynamically generated database of claim 38, wherein the number of levels of each attribute-value decision tree depends on the number of attributes necessary to be assigned to the specified particular product to fully distinguish such product from other products.

41. The dynamically searchable database of claim 38, operatively resident in a programmable computer.

42. The dynamically searchable database of claim 41, wherein said programmable computer is operatively coupled to a computer network.

43. The dynamically searchable database of claim 42, wherein said computer network comprises the World Wide Web.

44. The dynamically searchable database of claim 38, operatively connected to a computerized user interface system.

45. The dynamically searchable database of claim 44, wherein the computerized user interface system comprises means for the users to sort multiple selected attribute-value decision tree by any one attribute.

46. The dynamically searchable database of claim 38, further comprising means for generating vendor-specific orders for selected products and electronically communicating such orders to respective vendors.

47. The computer network-based on-line comparison shopping system of claim 46, further comprising at least one module selected from the group consisting of a data entry module, a customer service module, and an administrative utility module.

48. The computer network-based on-line comparison shopping system of claim 46, comprising a data entry module.

49. The computer network-based on-line comparison shopping system of claim 48, wherein said data entry module comprises means for entering product information by individual vendors and/or manufacturers, means for approving the product information by others, and means for admitting the product information into the dynamically generated database subsequent to such approval.

50. The computer network-based on-line comparison shopping system of claim 48, wherein said data entry module enables individual vendors and/or manufacturers to categorize new products by attribute-value constructs comprising a series of correlated attributes and values.

51. The computer net work-based on-line comparison shopping system of claim 50, wherein said data entry module enables individual vendors and/or manufacturers to select existing attributes and values in the database or add new attributes and values.

52. The computer network-based on-line comparison shopping system of claim 46, wherein the database further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a Vendor Product table, a Vendor table, a Brand table, a Manufacturer table, and a Price table.

53. The computer network-based on-line comparison shopping system of claim 38, wherein the comparative selection grid can be sorted by any columns selected by user.

54. The computer network-based on-line comparison shopping system of claim 46, further comprising a persistent shopping cart.