Item data management over a data network for physical items in the control of a user

• US 7,859,550 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iTaggit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iTaggit, Inc.
• Inventors: Altounian, David, Zeller, Charles, Fox, Sara
• Primary Examiner(s): BROOME, SAID A
• Application Number:
  US11/486,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

An item data management server to capture, store, organize, and present information regarding a plurality of physical items in the control of a user. The item data management server is coupled to a user terminal via at least one data network.

Claims

1. A method for operating an item data management server to capture, store, organize, and present information regarding a plurality of physical items in the control of a user, the item data management server communicatively coupled to a user terminal via at least one data network, the method comprising:

presenting, via the item data management server, an item identification query to the user terminal;

receiving, in response to the item identification query, an item identification response from the user terminal that corresponds to and identifies a physical item controlled by the user;

based upon the item identification response, creating a physical item data record via the item data management server that corresponds to the physical item in the control of the user;

altering the physical item data record to indicate that the user is the creator of the physical item data record;

presenting, via the item data management server, an item categorization query to the user terminal;

receiving, in response to the item categorization query, an item categorization response from the user terminal that identifies a category for association with the physical item in the control of the user;

based upon the categorization response, altering the physical item data record to include the category;

presenting, via the item data management server, at least one selectable item attribute query to the user terminal, the at least one selectable item attribute query based upon the category included with the physical item data record;

receiving, in response to the at least one selectable item attribute query, at least one item attribute response from the user terminal that identifies an attribute of the physical item in the control of the user;

based upon the at least one item attribute response, altering the physical item data record to include the attribute included in the at least one item attribute response;

presenting, via the item data management server, a file upload query to the user terminal;

receiving, in response to the file upload query, a data file;

associating the data file with the physical item data record;

creating a web page that includes;

information from the physical item data record;

an advertisement link based upon the physical item data record, wherein the advertisement link is based upon the categorization of the physical item data record; and

at least one other link selected based upon the physical item data record; and

presenting, via the item data management server, the web page to the user terminal; and

creating a collection reference data structure by;

presenting, via the item data management server, a collection creation query to the user terminal;

receiving, in response to the collection creation query, a collection creation response from the user terminal;

based upon the collection creation response, creating the collection reference data structure via the item data management server;

associating a plurality of physical item data records with the collection reference data structure; and

for each of the plurality of physical item data records associated with the collection reference data structure, altering the physical item data record, via the item data management server, to include an association with the collection reference data structure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, via the item data management server, a web page request to an ecommerce server in response to selection by the user of the advertisement link presented on the web page;

servicing a transaction with the user via the user terminal and the ecommerce server; and

receiving a transaction report from the ecommerce server reporting the transaction with the user via the user terminal to the item data management server.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

creating a collection web page that includes a listing of the plurality of physical item data records associated with the collection reference data structure; and

presenting, via the item data management server, the collection web page to the user terminal, the collection web page including an advertisement link based upon the plurality of physical item data records associated with the collection reference data structure.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting, via the item data management server, a community creation query to the user terminal;

receiving, in response to the community creation query, a community creation response from the user terminal;

based upon the community creation response, creating a community reference data structure;

associating a plurality of subscribers with the community reference data structure; and

associating a collection data structure with the community reference data structure.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein:

a first group of subscribers of the plurality of subscribers associated with the community reference data structure have both a fight to review and a fight to alter a physical item data record content of the collection reference data structure; and

a second group of subscribers of the plurality of subscribers associated with the community reference data structure have the right to review but not the right to alter the physical item data record content of the collection reference data structure.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the advertisement link is further based upon the attribute of the physical item data record.

7. An item data management server to capture, store, organize, and present information regarding a plurality of physical items in the control of a user, the item data management server communicatively coupled to a user terminal via at least one data network, the item data management server comprises:

processing circuitry;

a network interface operably coupled to the processing circuitry that supports data transmission with the at least one data network;

a user interface operably coupled to the processing circuitry; and

memory operably coupled to the processing circuitry, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing circuitry to;

present an item identification query to the user terminal;

receive, in response to the item identification query, an item identification response from the user terminal that corresponds to and identifies a physical item controlled by the user;

based upon the item identification response, create a physical item data record corresponding to the physical item in the control of the user;

alter the data record to indicate that the user is the creator of the physical item data record;

present an item categorization query to the user terminal;

receive, in response to the item categorization query, an item categorization response from the user terminal that identifies a category for association with the physical item in the control of the user;

based upon the categorization response, alter the physical item data record to include the category;

present at least one item attribute query to the user terminal, the at least one item attribute query based upon the category included with the physical item data record;

receive, in response to the at least one item attribute query, at least one item attribute response from the user terminal that identifies an attribute of the physical item in the control of the user;

based upon the at least one item attribute response, alter the physical item data record to include the attribute included in the at least one item attribute response;

present a file upload query to the user terminal;

receive, in response to the file upload query, a data file;

associate the data file with the physical item data record;

create a web page that includes;

information from the physical item data record;

an advertisement link based upon the physical item data record wherein the advertisement link is based upon the categorization of the physical item data record; and

at least one other link selected based upon the physical item data record; and

present the web page to the user terminal; and

create a collection reference data structure by;

present a collection creation query to the user terminal;

receive, in response to the collection creation query, a collection creation response from the user terminal;

based upon the collection creation response, create the collection reference data structure;

associate a plurality of physical item data records with the collection reference data structure; and

for each of the plurality of physical item data records associated with the collection reference data structure, alter the physical item data record to include an association with the collection reference data structure.

8. The item data management server of claim 7, wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing circuitry to:

transmit a web page request to an ecommerce server in response to selection by the user of the advertisement link presented on the web page;

service a transaction with the ecommerce server via the user terminal; and

receive a transaction report from the ecommerce server via the user terminal to the item data management server.

9. The item data management server of claim 7 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing circuitry to:

create a collection web page that includes a listing of the plurality of physical item data records associated with the collection reference data structure and an advertisement link based upon the plurality of physical item data records associated with the collection reference data structure; and

present the collection web page to the user terminal.

10. The item data management server of claim 7, wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing circuitry to:

present a community creation query-to the user terminal;

receive, in response to the community creation query, a community creation response from the user terminal;

based upon the community creation response, create a community reference data structure;

associate a plurality of subscribers with the community reference data structure; and

associate a collection data structure with the community reference data structure.

11. The item data management server of claim 8, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing circuitry to:

permit a first group of subscribers of the plurality of subscribers associated with the community reference data structure to both have a right to review and a right to alter a physical item data record content of the collection data structure; and

permit a second group of subscribers of the plurality of subscribers associated with the community reference data structure to have the right to review but not the right to alter the physical item data record content of the collection data structure.

12. The item data management server of claim 7 wherein the advertisement link is further based upon the at least one attribute of the physical item data record.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting, via the item data management server, a web page request to an ecommerce server in response to selection by the user of the advertisement link presented on the web page;

servicing a transaction with the user via the user terminal and the ecommerce server; and

receiving a transaction report from the ecommerce server reporting the transaction with the user via the user terminal to the item data management server.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprises:

creating a collection web page that includes a listing of the plurality of physical item data records associated with the collection reference data structure and an advertisement link based upon the plurality of physical item data records associated with the collection reference data structure; and

presenting, via the item data management server, the collection web page to the user terminal.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

presenting, via the item data management server, a community creation query to the user terminal;

receiving, in response to the community creation query, a community creation response from the user terminal;

based upon the community creation response, creating a community reference data structure; and

associating a plurality of subscribers with the community reference data structure; and

associating a collection data structure with the community reference data structure.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein:

a first group of subscribers of the plurality of subscribers associated with the community reference data structure have both a fight to review and a fight to alter a physical item data record content of the collection data structure; and

a second group of subscribers of the plurality of subscribers associated with the community reference data structure have the right to review but not the right to alter the physical item data record content of the collection data structure.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the advertisement link is further based upon and the attribute of the physical item data record.

13. A method for operating an item data management server to capture, store, organize, and present information regarding a plurality of physical items in the control of a user, the item data management server communicatively coupled to a user terminal via at least one data network, the method comprising:

presenting, via the item data management server, an item identification query to the user terminal;

receiving, in response to the item identification query, an item identification response from the user terminal that corresponds to and identifies a physical item controlled by the user;

based upon the item identification response, creating a physical item data record via the item data management server that corresponds to the physical item in the control of the user;

altering the data record to indicate that the user is the creator of the physical item data record;

presenting, via the item data management server, an item categorization query to the user terminal;

receiving, in response to the item categorization query, an item categorization response from the user terminal that identifies a category for association with the physical item in the control of the user;

based upon the categorization response, altering the physical item data record to include the category;

presenting, via the item data management server, at least one selectable item attribute query to the user terminal, the at least one selectable item attribute query based upon the category included with the physical item data record;

receiving, in response to the at least one selectable item attribute query, at least one item attribute response from the user terminal, each of which identifies an attribute of the physical item in the control of the user;

based upon the at least one item attribute response, altering the physical item data record to include the attribute included in the at least one item attribute response;

creating a web page that includes;

information created from the physical item data record;

an advertisement link based upon the physical item data record, wherein the advertisement link is based upon the categorization of the physical item data record; and

at least one other link selected based upon the physical item data record; and

presenting, via the item data management server, the web page to the user terminal; and

creating a collection reference data structure by;

presenting, via the item data management server, a collection creation query to the user terminal;

receiving, in response to the collection creation query, a collection creation response from the user terminal;

based upon the collection creation response, creating the collection reference data structure;

associating a plurality of physical item data records with the collection reference data structure; and

for each of the plurality of physical item data records associated with the collection reference data structure, altering the physical item data record to include an association with the collection reference data structure.