Virtual shopping center

• US 8,165,924 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Smyers, Scott, Eyer, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US11/945,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261- 272, 705 144- 1773, 705 261- 2724, 715/706
• US Class Current: 705/26.62
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method of controlling a virtual shopping center can include: receiving a user input at a query input engine; aggregating an output from the query input engine with a user preference, such as a purchase history or other expressed interest, to form a search criteria; searching a database using the search criteria; and displaying an image associated with a matching product or service resulting from the search of the database.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a virtual shopping center, the method comprising:

receiving a user input at a query input engine, wherein the user input indicates a shopping interest of the user;

aggregating, by a controller, an output from the query input engine with a user preference to form a search criteria, wherein the search criteria comprises a first field derived from the output of the query input engine, and a second field derived from the user preference;

searching a database using the search criteria from the controller; and

displaying a plurality of images on a display screen to form the virtual shopping center to satisfy the indicated shopping interest, wherein the plurality of images are associated with matching products or services resulting from the search of the database, and wherein the plurality of images are positioned in the virtual shopping center based on a predetermined priority of vendors that provide the matching products or services, the predetermined priority being based on relative payments made by the plurality of vendors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display of the plurality of images comprises an interactive 360°

view.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user preference comprises:

descriptions of the user;

information about product and service areas preferred by the user; and

a prior purchase history of the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of images is selected for display in the virtual shopping center by using the prior purchase history of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying the plurality of images comprises using a virtual reality system that allows navigation among the plurality of images.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the searching the database comprises applying a search key derived from the search criteria to identify one or more matching entries.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the database comprises a plurality of entries, and wherein each entry comprises at least one product description.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each entry comprises a plurality of fields indicating a product type, a vendor, an availability, and an image.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of entries is configured using metadata.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of entries is configured using extensible markup language (XML).

11. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors; and

logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors, and when executed being operable to;

receive a user input at a query input engine, wherein the user input indicates a shopping interest of the user;

aggregate an output from the query input engine with a user preference to form a search criteria, wherein the search criteria comprises a first field derived from the output of the query input engine, and a second field derived from the user preference;

search a database using the search criteria; and

display a plurality of images to form a virtual shopping center to satisfy the indicated shopping interest, wherein the plurality of images are associated with matching products or services resulting from the search of the database, and wherein the plurality of images are positioned in the virtual shopping center based on a predetermined priority of vendors that provide the matching products or services, the predetermined priority being based on relative payments made by the plurality of vendors.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the display of the plurality of images comprises an interactive 360°

view.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the user preference comprises:

descriptions of the user;

information about product and service areas preferred by the user; and

a prior purchase history of the user.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of images is selected for display in the virtual shopping center by using the prior purchase history of the user.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the display of the plurality of images comprises using a virtual reality system that allows navigation among the plurality of images.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the search of the database comprises application of a search key derived from the search criteria to a content-addressable memory (CAM).

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the database comprises a plurality of entries, and wherein each entry comprises at least one product description.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of entries is configured using metadata.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each entry comprises a plurality of fields indicating a product type, a vendor, an availability, and an image.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor, and when executed being operable to perform:

receiving a user input at a query input engine, wherein the user input indicates a shopping interest of the user;

aggregating an output from the query input engine with a user preference to form a search criteria, wherein the search criteria comprises a first field derived from the output of the query input engine, and a second field derived from the user preference;

searching a database using the search criteria; and

displaying a plurality of images to form a virtual shopping center to satisfy the indicated shopping interest, wherein the plurality of images are associated with matching products or services resulting from the search of the database, and wherein the plurality of images are positioned in the virtual shopping center based on a predetermined priority of vendors that provide the matching products or services, the predetermined priority being based on relative payments made by the plurality of vendors.