Head-to-head comparisons

• US 7,979,462 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pardehpoosh, Pedraum R., Chang, Kenneth N., Koski, David A., Zazula, Ralph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cottingham; John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen; Nicholas E
• Application Number:
  US11/529,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 707/780
• US Class Current: 707/780
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations

Abstract

Providing a comparison of a set of similar items is disclosed. In some embodiments, a selection of a set of similar items to be included in a comparison is received from a first member of an online community, and the comparison is stored so that the comparison can be presented to a second member of the online community when an indication is received that the comparison is of interest to the second member.

Claims

1. A method for providing a comparison, comprising:

receiving from a first member of an online community a selection of a set of similar items to be included in the comparison, the selection comprising a selection by the first member of a stored prior comparison created by another online community member of the set of similar items;

providing to the first member a template for the comparison, the template being at least partially pre-populated using data from the stored prior comparison created by the other online community member;

receiving from the first member a submission of the comparison, wherein the comparison includes one or more modifications as made by the first member to the template;

storing the comparison;

presenting the comparison to a second member of the online community based at least in part on an indication that the comparison is of interest to the second member;

providing to the second member of the online community an opportunity to provide an input regarding the comparison;

receiving from the second member of the online community a received input comprising one or both of a modification to a content of the comparison or an indication of usefulness of the comparison;

updating the comparison to reflect the received input, including by modifying the comparison to reflect the modification to the content if the received input comprises a modification to the content and updating displayed content associated with the comparison to reflect the indication of usefulness if the received input includes an indication of usefulness;

making the updated comparison reflecting the received input received from the second member of the online community available to be presented to one or more other members of the online community; and

presenting the updated comparison to a third member of the online community.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is a user of an online store.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the items included in the set are of the same type.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving from a first member of an online community a selection of a set of similar items to be included in the comparison comprises receiving one or more of the following:

a review of the set of similar items, a comparison of the set of similar items, information on features associated with one or more items included in the set of similar items, comments on one or more items included in the set of similar items, a ranking of the set of similar items, and a selection of a best item in the set of similar items.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein storing the comparison comprises determining one or more tags to be associated with the comparison.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication is based at least in part on one or more of the following:

current activity of the second member with respect to the online community and past activity of the second member with respect to the online community.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication comprises one or more of the following:

an indication of interest in a topic associated with the comparison, an indication of interest in a tag associated with the comparison, an indication of interest in an item included in the set, an indication of interest in a class of items to which the items included in the set belong, and an indication of interest in a tag associated with an item included in the set.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication is received in response to one or more of the following:

the second member viewing or navigating to a page associated with an item included in the set, the second member viewing or navigating to a page associated with a class of items to which the items included in the set belong, the second member viewing or navigating to a page associated with a topic associated with the comparison, the second member conducting a search using one or more search terms associated with one or more items included in the set, the second member conducting a search using one or more search terms associated with a topic associated with the comparison, the second member conducting a search using one or more search terms associated with a class of items to which the items included in the set belong, the second member adding an item included in the set to an online cart, the second member adding an item included in a class of items to which the items included in the set belong to an online cart, and the second member adding an item similar to an item included in the set to an online cart.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing to the second member of the online community an opportunity to provide an input regarding the comparison includes presenting to the second member an option to vote on a usefulness of the comparison.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising associating a usefulness score with the comparison.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing to the second member of the online community an opportunity to provide an input regarding the comparison includes presenting to the second member an option to vote for an item in the set as a best item.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second member selects for purchase a single item from the set of similar items.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein presenting the updated comparison to a third member of the online community is based at least in part on a reputation of the second member of the online community.

14. A system for providing a comparison, comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive from a first member of an online community a selection of a set of similar items to be included in the comparison, the selection comprising a selection by the first member of a stored prior comparison created by another online community member of the set of similar items;

provide to the first member a template for the comparison, the template being at least partially pre-populated using data from the stored prior comparison created by the other online community member;

receiving from the first member a submission of the comparison, wherein the comparison includes one or more modifications as made by the first member to the template;

store the comparison;

present the comparison to a second member of the online community based at least in part on an indication that the comparison is of interest to the second member;

provide to the second member of the online community an opportunity to provide an input regarding the comparison;

receive from the second member of the online community a received input comprising one or both of a modification to a content of the comparison or an indication of usefulness of the comparison;

update the comparison to reflect the received input, including by modifying the comparison to reflect the modification to the content if the received input comprises a modification to the content and updating displayed content associated with the comparison to reflect the indication of usefulness if the received input includes an indication of usefulness;

make the updated comparison reflecting the received input received from the second member of the online community available to be presented to one or more other members of the online community; and

present the updated comparison to a third member of the online community; and

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide instructions to the processor.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is a user of an online store.

16. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein to receive from a first member of an online community a selection of a set of similar items to be included in the comparison comprises to receive one or more of the following:

a review of the set of similar items, a comparison of the set of similar items, information on features associated with one or more items included in the set of similar items, comments on one or more items included in the set of similar items, a ranking of the set of similar items, and a selection of a best item in the set of similar items.

17. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to automatically generate a chart that includes data on one or more features associated with one or more items included in the set.

18. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the indication is based at least in part on one or more of the following:

current activity of the second member with respect to the online community and past activity of the second member with respect to the online community.

19. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to associate a usefulness score with the comparison.

20. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein to provide to the second member of the online community an opportunity to provide an input regarding the comparison includes to present to the second member an option to vote for an item in the set as a best item.

21. A computer program product for providing a comparison, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving from a first member of an online community a selection of a set of similar items to be included in the comparison, the selection comprising a selection by the first member of a stored prior comparison created by another online community member of the set of similar items;

providing to the first member a template for the comparison, the template being at least partially pre-populated using data from the stored prior comparison created by the other online community member;

receiving from the first member a submission of the comparison, wherein the comparison includes one or more modifications as made by the first member to the template;

storing the comparison;

presenting the comparison to a second member of the online community based at least in part on an indication that the comparison is of interest to the second member;

providing to the second member of the online community an opportunity to provide an input regarding the comparison;

receiving from the second member of the online community a received input comprising one or both of a modification to a content of the comparison or an indication of usefulness of the comparison;

updating the comparison to reflect the received input, including by modifying the comparison to reflect the modification to the content if the received input comprises a modification to the content and updating displayed content associated with the comparison to reflect the indication of usefulness if the received input includes an indication of usefulness;

making the updated comparison reflecting the received input received from the second member of the online community available to be presented to one or more other members of the online community; and

presenting the updated comparison to a third member of the online community.