Methods and systems for distributing information within a dynamically defined community
First Claim
1. A method of allowing a first user of an electronic commerce entity to communicate information related to the first user'"'"'s purchases to others, the method comprising:
- receiving over a network at a computer system an authorization by the first user for at least a second user to view information on at least a portion of the first user'"'"'s purchases, said information identifying at least a first item as having been purchased by the first user, and including the first user'"'"'s review of the first item;
receiving over the network at the computer system a selection made by the first user of which of a plurality of items purchased by the first user are to be exposed to the second user as having been purchased by the first user;
providing, using the computer system, a notification to the second user, wherein the notification informs the second user of the first user'"'"'s authorization; and
providing, using the computer system, the second user access via a site to said information on at least a portion of the first user'"'"'s purchases, including the first user'"'"'s review of the first item.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention distributes data via a network to remotely located users. Historical purchase information for a first user is stored in a database. Authorization is received over a network from the first user allowing a second user to view at least a portion of the historical purchase information. In addition, the first user selectively specifies which historical purchase information may be viewed by the second customer. An electronic notification is transmitted to the second user, wherein the notification informs the second user of the first user'"'"'s authorization.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of allowing a first user of an electronic commerce entity to communicate information related to the first user'"'"'s purchases to others, the method comprising:
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receiving over a network at a computer system an authorization by the first user for at least a second user to view information on at least a portion of the first user'"'"'s purchases, said information identifying at least a first item as having been purchased by the first user, and including the first user'"'"'s review of the first item; receiving over the network at the computer system a selection made by the first user of which of a plurality of items purchased by the first user are to be exposed to the second user as having been purchased by the first user; providing, using the computer system, a notification to the second user, wherein the notification informs the second user of the first user'"'"'s authorization; and providing, using the computer system, the second user access via a site to said information on at least a portion of the first user'"'"'s purchases, including the first user'"'"'s review of the first item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented method of privately sharing information related to transaction histories of users, the method comprising;
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at least partly causing a user interface to be presented via a computing device to a first user, the user interface identifying a plurality of items ordered by the first user from a catalog, as determined from a transaction record of the first user, and providing functionality for the first user to select, on an item-by-item basis, which of the plurality of items to expose to a first group of users as having been ordered by the first user, said first group being definable by the first user; receiving over a network, from said computing device, at least (a) the first user'"'"'s designation of at least a first item, of said plurality of items, to expose to the first group of users, and (b) the first user'"'"'s review of the first item; receiving, over the network, addresses supplied by the first user of other users designated by the first user to be included in said first group; in response to receiving the addresses supplied by the first user, automatically sending electronic messages to each of said other users designated by the first user to be included in the first group, said messages inviting respective message recipients to access private information associated with the first user, and including a link to a site on which said private information may be accessed; and controlling user access to the private information associated with the first user, including at least the first user'"'"'s review of the first item, such that members of the first group are permitted to access the private information associated with the first user, and such that other users who are not members of the first group are not permitted to access the private information. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer-implemented method of privately sharing item review information, the method comprising:
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facilitating access to a site that hosts an electronic catalog of items and provides functionality for users to initiate transactions in which items selected from the electronic catalog are delivered to the users; transmitting, over a computer network, for presentation to a first user of the site, a first user interface that prompts the first user to supply a rating of, and a textual comment regarding, an item represented in the electronic catalog, said first user interface being associated with a transaction in which the item was delivered to the first user; receiving, over the computer network as a result of submission by the first user of the first user interface, the first user'"'"'s review of the item, said review including the first user'"'"'s rating of, and comment regarding, the item; storing the first user'"'"'s review of the item in an electronic repository; transmitting, over the computer network, for presentation to the first user, a second user interface that includes a field for the first user to supply an address of at least one other user who is authorized by the first user to access the first user'"'"'s review of the item; receiving, over the computer network, as a result of submission of the second user interface by the first user, an address of a second user who is authorized by the first user to access the first user'"'"'s review of the item; in response to receiving the address of the second user, automatically sending a message for the second user, said message inviting the second user to access private information associated with the first user, and including a link via which the private information can be accessed; and facilitating restricted access to the first user'"'"'s review of the item, such that the second user has access to the first user'"'"'s review, and such that other users not authorized by the first user do not have access to the first user'"'"'s review. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus configured to enable a first user to communicate information related to the first user'"'"'s purchases to others, the apparatus comprising:
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a computing device; a medium that stores instructions, that when executed by the computing device, are configured to cause the computing device to; receive an authorization by the first user for at least a second user to view information on at least a portion of the first user'"'"'s purchases, said information identifying at least a first item as having been purchased by the first user, and including the first user'"'"'s review of the first item; receive a selection made by the first user of which of a plurality of items purchased by the first user are to be exposed to the second user as having been purchased by the first user; provide a notification to the second user, wherein the notification informs the second user of the first user'"'"'s authorization; and provide the second user access via a site to said information on at least a portion of the first user'"'"'s purchases, including the first user'"'"'s review of the first item. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A medium that stores instructions, that when executed by a computing device, are configured to cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
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receiving an authorization by the first user for at least a second user to view information on at least a portion of the first user'"'"'s purchases, said information identifying at least a first item as having been purchased by the first user, and including the first user'"'"'s review of the first item; receiving a selection made by the first user of which of a plurality of items purchased by the first user are to be exposed to the second user as having been purchased by the first user; providing a notification to the second user, wherein the notification informs the second user of the first user'"'"'s authorization; and providing the second user access via a site to said information on at least a portion of the first user'"'"'s purchases, including the first user'"'"'s review of the first item. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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Specification