Computer-implemented method for managing dynamic pricing information
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for encouraging users of a computer network to access dynamic pricing information on the computer network, the method comprising:
- distributing over the computer network to a first user of the computer network a modular computer program that displays a stream of dynamic pricing information collected from a plurality of sources on the computer network;
presenting to the first user of the modular computer program an interactive visual indication of a user-attractive resource available on the computer network, the user-attractive resource providing an incentive, independent of the dynamic pricing information, to use the modular computer program, wherein the interactive visual indication of the user-attractive resource is visually embedded within the stream of dynamic pricing information displayed by the modular computer program;
receiving from the first user input identifying selected dynamic pricing information; and
enabling the first user to communicate the dynamic pricing information selected by the first user to a second user selectively designated by the first user for display at a modular computer program, executing on a computer system associated with the second user, that displays to the second user a stream of dynamic pricing information selected by the first user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Users of a computer network (e.g., the Internet) can be encouraged to access dynamic pricing information (e.g., bid/ask pricing information for goods/services available in commerce) on the computer network (e.g., collected and maintained by a dynamic pricing system) by distributing to one or more users of the computer network (e.g., by e-mail) a modular computer program (e.g., a Java applet) that displays (e.g., in ticker format) dynamic pricing information collected from the computer network, and presenting to the one or more users of the modular computer program an interactive visual indication (e.g., a hyperlink or glyph) of a user-attractive resource available on the computer network (e.g., a contest, reward program, coupons, etc.). Access to the user-attractive resource can be provided to a user upon sensing that the user selected the interactive visual indication. The stream of dynamic pricing information displayed to users can have a predefined taxonomy, and the users can selectively view different levels of the taxonomy.
56 Citations
70 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for encouraging users of a computer network to access dynamic pricing information on the computer network, the method comprising:
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distributing over the computer network to a first user of the computer network a modular computer program that displays a stream of dynamic pricing information collected from a plurality of sources on the computer network; presenting to the first user of the modular computer program an interactive visual indication of a user-attractive resource available on the computer network, the user-attractive resource providing an incentive, independent of the dynamic pricing information, to use the modular computer program, wherein the interactive visual indication of the user-attractive resource is visually embedded within the stream of dynamic pricing information displayed by the modular computer program; receiving from the first user input identifying selected dynamic pricing information; and enabling the first user to communicate the dynamic pricing information selected by the first user to a second user selectively designated by the first user for display at a modular computer program, executing on a computer system associated with the second user, that displays to the second user a stream of dynamic pricing information selected by the first user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 70)
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27. A computer-readable medium embodying a modular computer program for encouraging users of a computer network to access dynamic pricing information on the computer network, the modular computer program comprising instructions to cause a computer system to
receive dynamic pricing information from a plurality of dynamic pricing information sources; -
display the received dynamic pricing information in a stream to a first user of the modular computer program; receive from the first user information identifying a selection of the received dynamic pricing information; enable the first user to send the received selection information identifying the dynamic pricing information selected by the first user to a second user selectively designated by the first user; and present to the second user of the modular computer program an interactive visual indication of a user-attractive resource available on the computer network and the selection information identifying the dynamic pricing information that was selected by the first user and sent to the second user, the user-attractive resource providing an incentive, independent of the dynamic pricing information selected by the first user, to use the modular computer program, wherein the interactive visual indication of the user-attractive resource is visually embedded within the stream of dynamic pricing information displayed by the modular computer program. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 69)
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48. A computer-implemented method for encouraging users of a computer network to access a dynamic pricing system, the method comprising:
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presenting a user-interface that displays a stream of dynamic pricing information collected from a plurality of sources on the computer network and displays an interactive visual indication of a user-attractive resource available on the computer network, the user-attractive resource providing an incentive, independent of the dynamic pricing information, to use the modular computer program, wherein the interactive visual indication of the user-attractive resource available is visually embedded within the stream of dynamic pricing information displayed by the user-interface; receiving input from a first user specifying dynamic pricing information selected by the first user for display to another user by a modular computer program; enabling the first user to send the specified dynamic pricing information selected by the first user to another user selectively designated by the first user; and enabling display of the first user-specified dynamic pricing information by a modular computer program associated with another user. - View Dependent Claims (68)
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49. A computer-readable-medium embodying computer software for encouraging users of a computer network to access a dynamic pricing system, the computer software comprising instructions to cause a computer system to:
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present a user-interface that displays a stream of dynamic pricing information collected from a plurality of sources on the computer network and display an interactive visual indication of a user-attractive resource available on the computer network, the user-attractive resource providing an incentive, independent of the dynamic pricing information, to use the modular computer program, wherein the interactive visual indication of the user-attractive resource is visually embedded within the stream of dynamic pricing information displayed by the user-interface; receive input from a first user selecting dynamic pricing information for display to a second user by a modular computer program; enable the first user to send the dynamic pricing information selected by the first user to the second user selectively designated by the first user; and display the information selected by the first user to the second user. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification