System and method for list shopping over a computer network

• US 8,195,573 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catherine Lin-Hendel
• Original Assignee: Catherine Lin-Hendel
• Inventors: Lin-Hendel, Catherine
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt, II, Calvin L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Winter, John M
• Application Number:
  US09/833,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20030144911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,072 Days
• Field of Search: 705/64, 705/2, 705/4, 705/5, 705/1, 709/224, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

The present invention is a system for conducting commercial transactions over the Internet, whereby a shopper can simultaneously search for a plurality of items on at least one website with a single search command. The shopper can selectively specify the items of interest to be searched and can also specify and/or exclude websites to be searched. The system also searches a selectively alterable set of default website(s) and intelligently recommended website(s). Under one search command, the system simultaneously searches for all of the items on any combination of the following: site(s) specified by the user, a default website, an alterable set of default or intelligently recommended website(s). Information regarding the items retrieved as a result of the search is compiled under an alterable set of criteria, and displayed for viewing by the shopper. The shopper can simultaneously purchase selected ones of said items with one order command.

Claims

1. A method for conducting on-line commerce, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user, by one or more processes running on a server, a list of items;

receiving a selection of at least one approved website by the one or more processes running on the server;

approving, by the one or more processes running on the server, the selection of at least one website;

creating a search list by searching, by the processes running on the server, the selection of said at least one approved website for said list of items and displaying the search list to the user via a user access device, wherein the search list comprises at least a portion of said list of items;

receiving, by the one or more processes running on the server, a selection and approval of at least a portion of said list of items;

placing an order by the one or more processes running on the server for said at least a portion of said list of items; and

sending a confirmation to the user by the one or more processes running on the server.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a selection of at least one approved website comprises receiving a default website specified by the user.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating a search list includes:

displaying the search list on a display device for viewing by the user, the search list providing information regarding all of the list of items searched for.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

receiving data indicating that a particular one of the at least one website that was searched does not have a particular one of the items available for sale, wherein the received data indicates if any of the other websites searched has the item available for sale.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating the search list includes:

displaying, in a plurality of lists, the information found during the search, each one of the plurality of lists displaying search results from a different one of the websites searched.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of placing an order includes:

providing a software-based interface configured to enable the user to place one order for purchasing all or some of the items.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

receiving, by the one or more processes running on the server, display criteria from the user, such that the step of creating the search list includes displaying the search list according to the display criteria specified by the user.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating the search list comprises the step of:

searching the at least one website in a prioritized order specified by the user.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a list of preferred websites on a display device;

prompting the user to edit the list of preferred websites;

receiving from the user input provided in response to the step of prompting; and

editing the list of preferred websites in accordance with the input provided by the user;

wherein the steps of displaying the list of preferred websites, prompting, receiving, and editing are performed before the step of searching.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a list of items from the user comprises receiving a shopping list.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

prompting the user to edit the list of items before the searching.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the list of items includes different types of items.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of placing an order includes:

receiving data including an at least one corresponding website selected and approved by a user; and

placing a single order for at least a portion of said list of items at the at least one corresponding website.

14. A system for conducting on-line commerce, comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving from a user a list of items;

receiving a selection of at least one approved website;

approving the selection of at least one website;

creating a search list by searching, the selection of said at least one approved website for said list of items and displaying the search list to the user via a user access device, wherein the search list comprises at least a portion of said list of items;

receiving a selection and approval of at least a portion of said list of items;

placing an order for said at least a portion of said list of items; and

sending a confirmation to the user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the operation of receiving a selection of at least one approved website comprises receiving a default website specified by the user.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the operation of creating a search list includes:

displaying the search list on a display device for viewing by the user, the search list providing information regarding all of the list of items searched for.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform the operations that further comprise:

receiving data indicating that a particular one of the at least one website that was searched does not have a particular one of the items available for sale, wherein the received data indicates if any of the other websites searched has the item available for sale.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the operation of creating the search list includes:

displaying, in a plurality of lists, the information found during the search, each one of the plurality of lists displaying search results from a different one of the websites searched.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the operation of placing an order includes:

providing a software-based interface configured to enable the user to place one order for purchasing all or some of the items.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform the operations further comprising:

receiving display criteria from the user, such that creating the search list includes displaying the search list according to the display criteria from the user.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the operation of creating the search list includes:

searching the at least one website in a prioritized order specified by the user.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform the operations further comprising:

displaying a list of preferred websites on a display device;

prompting the user to edit the list of preferred websites;

receiving from the user input provided in response to the operation of prompting; and

editing the list of preferred websites in accordance with the input provided by the user;

wherein the operations of displaying the list of preferred websites, prompting, receiving, and editing are performed before the operation of searching.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the operation of receiving a list of items from the user comprises receiving a shopping list.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform the operations further comprising:

prompting the user to edit the list of items received from the user before creating the search list.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the list of items includes different types of items.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the operation of placing an order includes:

receiving data including an at least one corresponding website selected and approved by a user; and

placing a single order for the at least a portion of said list of items at the at least one selected and approved website.