Information distribution system
First Claim
1. An information distribution system, comprising:
- a request subsystem configured to receive a request that includes a geography selection and a category selection; and
a response subsystem configured to construct a response, the response subsystem including a plurality of listings, a plurality of fee types, and a placement heuristic that determines a placement and order of listings included in the response based at least in part on a fee type from the plurality of fee types associated with each of the listings, wherein said response includes two or more listings from said plurality of listings based on the request, wherein each listing is associated with at least one said fee type in said plurality of fee types;
further wherein a bid amount is associated with at least one listing, wherein said placement heuristic influences an order of listings based in part on said bid amount or a position adjustment factor, wherein said bid amount does not solely control said order, and wherein said placement heuristic calculates a priority metric by subtracting an enhanced format fee from said bid amount.
18 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method that enhances the “focus” of information exchanged between sellers and buyers. Buyers identify potential sources for goods and services that are desirable to the buyer. Buyers can focus their access to listings of seller information by identifying desirable attributes, including but not limited to: geography attributes relating to the location(s) of the seller; and category attributes relating to the various categories of offerings that interest to the buyer. The use of geographical and categorical attributes is not limited to their inclusion as part of the search terms. Instead, seller listings can be organized into hierarchies of geography-based and category-based attributes in a highly normalized fashion to enhance the ability of a buyer focus on the most desirable listings. The system can be configured to limit, order, or otherwise prioritize the information viewed by the buyer on the basis of the desired attributes identified by the buyer.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An information distribution system, comprising:
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a request subsystem configured to receive a request that includes a geography selection and a category selection; and a response subsystem configured to construct a response, the response subsystem including a plurality of listings, a plurality of fee types, and a placement heuristic that determines a placement and order of listings included in the response based at least in part on a fee type from the plurality of fee types associated with each of the listings, wherein said response includes two or more listings from said plurality of listings based on the request, wherein each listing is associated with at least one said fee type in said plurality of fee types; further wherein a bid amount is associated with at least one listing, wherein said placement heuristic influences an order of listings based in part on said bid amount or a position adjustment factor, wherein said bid amount does not solely control said order, and wherein said placement heuristic calculates a priority metric by subtracting an enhanced format fee from said bid amount. - 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)
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25. An information distribution system, comprising:
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a server, including instructions configured to access a database structure, said database structure including a plurality of listings, wherein each said listing in said plurality of listings is associated with a geography attribute, a category attribute, and at least one of a fixed-fee attribute and a per-hit attribute; a plurality of interfaces, including an advertiser interface and a user interface, wherein said advertiser interface is configured to capture one or more listing attributes relating to said plurality of listings, wherein said user interface is configured to submit a request to said server, wherein said instructions are configured to receive said request from said user interface, wherein said instructions are configured to generate a response using said request and said database structure, wherein said response includes a first listing associated with a position adjustment factor, and wherein said user interface is configured to receive said response; and further wherein a bid amount is associated with at least one listing, wherein an order of listings in said response is based in part on said bid amount or a position adjustment factor, wherein said bid amount does not solely control said order, and wherein a priority metric is calculated by subtracting an enhanced format fee from said bid amount. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. An information distribution system, comprising:
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a database structure including a plurality of listings, wherein each said listing is associated with a listing attribute, wherein said listing attribute comprises at least one of (a) a category attribute;
(b) a geography attribute; and
(c) a fee-type attribute;an access device configured to submit a request to said database structure, wherein said request attribute comprises at least one of (a) a category selection and (b) a geography selection; a software application providing for; selectively identifying one or more listings from said database structure from said list attribute and said request attribute; prioritizing the selectively identified listings using at least one listing attribute; transmitting a response including the selectively identified and prioritized listings to said access device; wherein a bid amount is associated with at least one listing, wherein an order of listings in said response is based in part on said bid amount or a position adjustment factor, wherein said bid amount does not solely control said order, and wherein a priority metric is calculated by subtracting an enhanced format fee from said bid amount.
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28. A method of transmitting information, comprising:
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maintaining a database structure including a plurality of listings, wherein each said listing is associated with a listing attribute, wherein said listing attribute comprises at least one of (a) a category attribute;
(b) a geography attribute;
(c) a fee-type attribute and (d) a position adjustment attribute;receiving a request from an access device that includes a request attribute, wherein said request attribute comprises at least one of (a) a category selection and (b) a geography selection; selectively identifying one or more listings from said database structure from said list attribute and said request attribute; ordering the selectively identified listings using at least one listing attribute; transmitting a response including the selectively identified and ordered listings to said access device; wherein a bid amount is associated with at least one listing, wherein an order of listings in said response is based in part on said bid amount or a position adjustment factor, wherein said bid amount does not solely control said order, and wherein a priority metric is calculated by subtracting an enhanced format fee from said bid amount. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification