Services for recommending items to groups of users
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- maintaining a first preference list of a first user in computer storage, said first preference list identifying a plurality of items selected by the first user;
maintaining a second preference list of a second user in computer storage, said second preference list identifying a plurality of items selected by the second user;
receiving, from a user computing device, a request for recommendations of items that both the first user and second user will like, said request for recommendations generated via a user interface that identifies the first and second users;
in response to the request for recommendations, executing a recommendations algorithm on a computer system to identify additional items that correspond to collective preferences of the first and second users, said recommendations algorithm taking into consideration the items listed on the first and second preference lists, wherein the additional items are not included on either the first preference list or the second preference list; and
outputting messaging to the user computing device in response to the request for recommendations, said messaging identifying the first and second users and the additional items.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Computer services use group preferences, as partially or wholly specified by preference lists of individual members, to identify items well suited for a designated group of users. In one embodiment, items in the movie/video rental queue (one type of preference list) of a first user are prioritized based, at least partly, on the rental queue of a second, affiliated user, to give priority to items corresponding to the collective preferences of both users. Items may also be recommended to the users based on their collective preferences. In a second embodiment, the suggestion lists of multiple members of a book club are used, optionally in combination with other member preference information, to select or recommend book titles for the club. In a third embodiment, the wish lists of two or more affiliated users are used to assist others in purchasing gifts that correspond to their collective preferences.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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maintaining a first preference list of a first user in computer storage, said first preference list identifying a plurality of items selected by the first user; maintaining a second preference list of a second user in computer storage, said second preference list identifying a plurality of items selected by the second user; receiving, from a user computing device, a request for recommendations of items that both the first user and second user will like, said request for recommendations generated via a user interface that identifies the first and second users; in response to the request for recommendations, executing a recommendations algorithm on a computer system to identify additional items that correspond to collective preferences of the first and second users, said recommendations algorithm taking into consideration the items listed on the first and second preference lists, wherein the additional items are not included on either the first preference list or the second preference list; and outputting messaging to the user computing device in response to the request for recommendations, said messaging identifying the first and second users and the additional items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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creating, in computer storage, an association between a first wish list of a first user and a second wish list of a second user, wherein the first wish list identifies a plurality of items selected by the first user, and the second wish list identifies a plurality of items selected by the second user; providing a user interface that enables a third user to view the first and second wish lists, and to initiate generation of a request for recommendations of additional items that both the first user and the second user will like; and in response to said request for recommendations, programmatically using at least the first wish list and the second wish list, in combination, to select at least one additional item that corresponds to collective preferences of the first and second users, said at least one additional item not included on either the first wish list or the second wish list. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A system, comprising:
a server system comprising one or more physical servers, said server system programmed via executable code to provide; a preference list generation component that provides functionality for users to interactively create personal preference lists of items selected from an electronic catalog of items; a computer data repository that stores the preference lists in association with corresponding users; a user interface that provides a user option to generate a request for recommendations of items that a particular first user and a particular second user will both like, said user option provided on a page that identifies the first user and the second user; and a recommendation component that is responsive to the request for recommendations by using a first preference list generated by the first user via the preference list generation component, in combination with a second preference list generated by the second user via the preference list generation component, to select additional items for which the first and second users are predicted to both have an affinity, said additional items not being included on either the first preference list or the second preference list. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
Specification