Distributed commerce application-widget

• US 8,260,687 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, Stephen, Chatwani, Robert, Burkhart, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Pond, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US11/967,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

In some example embodiments, a system and method are illustrated as including generating an item page that includes widget code and details related to an item for sale. Some example embodiments may include making the widget code available for retrieval from the item page.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

generating an item page that includes widget code and item details related to an item for sale, the widget code being an executable object for placement by a user into a webpage that, when executed, causes a sales transaction to be completed;

making the widget code available for retrieval from the item page;

receiving a purchase request generated by the widget code, the purchase request being a request to purchase the item for sale; and

receiving authentication of an identification value, the identification value being associated with the purchase request.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising automatically inserting the widget code into a web page.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the web page is a social networking web page with widget code.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising counting widget activity, and crediting a user account based upon the widget activity.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the widget activity includes at least one of the following:

a page view of the item page, a mouse over of the widget code, a click through of the widget code, a sales transaction using the widget code or the creation of an affiliate using the widget code.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising

transmitting a purchase confirmation based upon the authentication of the identification value.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an item update relating to the item for sale, the item update including at least one of:

changes in item sales status, price change information or time of sale change information.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising broadcasting the widget code to at least one server.

9. A computer system comprising:

a widget engine to generate, using one or more processors, an item page that includes widget code and details related to an item for sale, the widget code being an executable object for placement by a user into a webpage that, when executed, causes a sales transaction to be completed;

a posting engine to make the widget code available for retrieval from the item page;

a first receiver to receive a purchase request generated by the widget code, the purchase request a request to purchase the item for sale; and

a second receiver to receive authentication of an identification value, the identification value being associated with the purchase request.

10. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising an insertion engine to automatically insert the widget code into a web page.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the web page is a social networking web page with widget code.

12. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising a counter to count widget activity and to credit a user account based upon the widget activity.

13. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the widget activity includes at least one of the following:

a page view of the item page, a mouse over of the widget code, a click through of the widget code, a sales transaction using the widget code or the creation of an affiliate using the widget code.

14. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising

a first transmitter to transmit a purchase confirmation based upon the authentication of the identification value.

15. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising a second transmitter to transmit an item update relating to the item for sale, the item update including at least one of changes in item sales status, price change information or time of sale change information.

16. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising a broadcast engine to broadcast the widget code to at least one server.

17. An apparatus comprising:

means for generating an item page that includes widget code and details related to an item for sale, the widget code being an executable object for placement by a user into a webpage that, when executed, causes a sales transaction to be completed;

means for making the widget code available for retrieval from the item page;

means for receiving a purchase request generated by the widget code, the purchase request a request to purchase the item for sale; and

means for receiving authentication of an identification value, the identification value being associated with the purchase request.

18. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more machines cause the one or more machines to perform the following operations comprising:

generating an item page that includes widget code and details related to an item for sale, the widget code being an executable object for placement by a user into a webpage that, when executed, causes a sales transaction to be completed; and

making the widget code available for retrieval from the item page;

receiving a purchase request generated by the widget code, the purchase request being a request to purchase the item for sale; and

receiving authentication of an identification value, the identification value being associated with the purchase request.