Method and system for automatically displaying an image and a product in a page based on contextual interaction and metadata

• US 7,113,921 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ben Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Corbis Corporation
• Inventors: Radcliffe, William T., Linker, Debra L., Gelfuso, Jeffrey Vincent, Land, Stephen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen, Nicholas D.
• Application Number:
  US11/008,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 705/27, 707/9
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/532 Query formulation, e.g. graphical querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• 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: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

The invention provides a method, system and computer-readable medium for storing images with related information in a relational database and using the information to order available products for a selected image over a network. A unique identifier is generated for each image, allowing different types of searches of the relational database to be performed including product-based and image-based searches. A selection of a returned image causes a cut-down version of the image and all available products to be displayed on a page. If a product is selected, a server enables a transaction for a user to order the selected product. A HTTP Cookie may be employed to store a user identifier, allowing use of user profiles for customization of particular options and displayed products.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a product associated with a media object, comprising:

in response to a selection of the media object by a current user, displaying at least one product that is available for use with the media object;

assigning a temporary identifier to a current user;

if the current user is determined to be a repeat user, the repeat user having a previously-assigned permanent identifier, adding behavior information relating to the current user to a previously-stored profile associated with the repeat user, and changing the temporary identifier to the permanent identifier assigned to the repeat user; and

if the current user is determined to be a new user, storing the behavior information relating to the current user in a new profile associated with the current user, and changing the temporary identifier to a new permanent identifier assigned to the current user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the previously-assigned permanent identifier, the newly-assigned permanent identifier, and the temporary identifier is included with a cookie.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the previously-assigned permanent identifier, the newly-assigned permanent identifier, and the temporary identifier is included with a querystring parameter.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the media object is one of an image object, an audio object, and a video object.

5. A computer-readable medium for displaying a product associated with a media object, having a plurality of components that include computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform actions, comprising:

a first component for causing the display of at least one product that is available for use with the media object in response to a selection of the media object by a current user;

a second component for causing the assignment of a temporary identifier to the current user;

a third component for causing the addition of behavior information relating to the current user to a previously-stored profile associated with a repeat user, and causing the change of the temporary identifier to a permanent identifier previously-assigned to the repeat user in response to a determination that the current user is determined to be the repeat user, and

a fourth component for causing the storage of the behavior information relating to the current user in a new profile associated with the current user, and causing the change of the temporary identifier to a new permanent identifier assigned to the current user in response to a determination that the current user is a new user.

6. A method for displaying information regarding a product associated with a media object, comprising:

displaying to a current user, based on an interaction context, a selectable representation of the media object and a selectable representation of at least one product that is available for use with the media object, wherein the display of each product that is unavailable for use with the media object is suppressed;

if the current user is determined to be a repeat user, the repeat user having a previously-assigned permanent identifier, adding behavior information relating to the current user to a previously-stored profile associated with the repeat user, and changing a temporary identifier for the current user to the permanent identifier assigned to the repeat user; and

if the current user is determined to be a new user, storing the behavior information relating to the current user in a new profile associated with the current user, and changing the temporary identifier to a new permanent identifier assigned to the current user.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the media object is one of an image object, an audio object, and a video object.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein at least one of the previously-assigned permanent identifier, the newly-assigned permanent identifier, and the temporary identifier is included with a cookie.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein at least one of the previously-assigned permanent identifier, the newly-assigned permanent identifier, and the temporary identifier is included with a querystring parameter.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising retrieving the media object from a database of media object records.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising customizing presentation of the media object and the product in accordance with a service subscription.

12. A computer-readable medium for displaying information regarding a product associated with a media object, having a plurality of components that include computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform actions, comprising:

a first component for causing a display to a current user, based on an interaction context, a selectable representation of the media object and a selectable representation of at least one product that is available for use with the media object, wherein the display of each product that is unavailable for use with the media object is suppressed;

a second component for causing the addition of behavior information relating to the current user to a previously-stored profile associated with a repeat user, and causing a change from a temporary identifier for the current user to a permanent identifier assigned to the repeat user if the current user is determined to be the repeat user, and

a third component for causing the storage of behavior information relating to the current user in a new profile associated with the current user, and causing another change from the temporary identifier to a new permanent identifier assigned to the current user in response to a determination that the current user is a new user.

13. A method for displaying information regarding a product associated with a media object, comprising:

performing a rules-based analysis of user interaction data and a plurality of attributes associated with a current user, the media object, and the product to generate a display that includes at least one representation of the media object and at least one product that is available for use with the media object;

if the current user is determined to be a repeat user, the repeat user having a previously-assigned permanent identifier, adding behavior information relating to the current user to a previously-stored profile associated with the repeat user, and changing a temporary identifier for the current user to the permanent identifier assigned to the repeat user; and

if the current user is determined to be a new user, storing the behavior information relating to the current user in a new profile associated with the current user, and changing the temporary identifier to a new permanent identifier assigned to the current user.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the media object is one of an image object, an audio object, and a video object.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the attributes include a user attribute comprising one of user rights, user behavior, user preferences, and user subscription status.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the attributes include a media object attribute comprising one of media object properties and media object usage rights.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the attributes include a product attribute comprising one of a product property and a product option.

18. A computer-readable medium for displaying information regarding a product associated with a media object, having a plurality of components that include computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform actions comprising:

a first component for causing a display to a current user, based on an interaction context, a selectable representation of the media object and a selectable representation of at least one product that is available for use with the media object, wherein the display of each product that is unavailable for use with the media object is suppressed;

a second component for causing an addition of behavior information relating to the current user to a previously-stored profile associated with a repeat user, and causing a change from a temporary identifier for the current user to the permanent identifier assigned to the repeat user in response to a determination that the current user is the repeat user, and

a third component for causing a storage of the behavior information relating to the current user in a new profile associated with the current user, and causing a change from the temporary identifier to a new permanent identifier assigned to the current user in response to determining that the current user is a new user.

19. A server for displaying information regarding a product associated with a media object, wherein the server performs actions comprising:

performing a rules-based analysis of a plurality of attributes associated with a user and at least one contextual user interaction, the media object, and at least one product available for use with the media object;

generating a display that includes at least one representation of the media object and at least one product that is available for use with the media object;

if the current user is determined to be a repeat user, the repeat user having a previously-assigned permanent identifier, adding behavior information relating to the current user to a previously-stored profile associated with the repeat user, and changing a temporary identifier for the current user to the permanent identifier assigned to the repeat user; and

if the current user is determined to be a new user, storing the behavior information relating to the current user in a new profile associated with the current user, and changing the temporary identifier to another permanent identifier assigned to the current user.

20. The server of claim 19 wherein at least one of the previously-assigned permanent identifier, the newly-assigned permanent identifier, and the temporary identifier is included with a cookie.

21. The server of claim 19 wherein at least one of the previously-assigned permanent identifier, the newly-assigned permanent identifier, and the temporary identifier is included with a querystring parameter.

22. The server of claim 19 wherein the media object is one of an image object, an audio object, and a video object.

23. The server of claim 19 wherein the attributes include a user attribute comprising one of user rights, user behavior, user preferences, and user subscription status.

24. The server of claim 19 wherein the attributes include a media object attribute comprising one of media object properties and media object usage rights.

25. The server of claim 19 wherein the attributes include a product attribute comprising one of a product property and a product option.

26. A client for displaying information regarding a product associated with a media object, wherein the client performs actions comprising:

performing a rules-based analysis of a plurality of attributes associated with a user and at least one contextual user interaction, the media object, and at least one product available for use with the media object;

generating a display that includes at least one representation of the media object and at least one product that is available for use with the media object;

if the current user is determined to be a repeat user, the repeat user having a previously-assigned permanent identifier, adding behavior information relating to the current user to a previously-stored profile associated with the repeat user, and changing a temporary identifier for the current user to the permanent identifier assigned to the repeat user; and

if the current user is determined to be a new user, storing the behavior information relating to the current user in a new profile associated with the current user, and changing the temporary identifier to a new permanent identifier assigned to the current user.