System and method for providing information on selected topics to interested users

• US 8,311,893 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roland Schoettle
• Original Assignee: Roland Schoettle
• Inventors: Schoettle, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): HAQ, NAEEM U
• Application Number:
  US12/488,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20100325004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/26.2, 705/26.25, 705/26.3, 705/26.35, 705/26.4, 705 2641- 2644, 705/26.5, 705 2661- 2664, 705/26.7, 705/26.8, 705/26.81, 705/26.82, 705/26.9, 705/27.1, 705/27.2
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

There are disclosed systems and methods which provide for an inter-action between unrelated databases such that information provided to a first database by a first provider can be pushed from the first database to a user based, at least in part, on data provided by that user to a second database unrelated to the first database. This then allows a user to have information pushed to him/her based upon information previously obtained from that user or about that user. In one embodiment, the user enters his/her information into one or more databases and the entered information forms the basis for information to be pushed to that user from any database even if the pushed information resides in a non-related database. In another embodiment, the data required from a provider is determined based upon data gathered from other providers for similar items. In some situations certain data is gathered without active participation from the provider.

Claims

1. A computer controlled method for interaction among a plurality of independent users, said method comprising:

accepting information from a plurality of said users pertaining to one or more items associated individually with each said user;

said information for each item having attributes and actions associated with that item, said information accepted into one or more databases;

determining user communities among said users, said user communities centered about accepted ones of said items, said determining accomplished under processor control based, at least in part, on said item attributes;

determining from accepted information pertaining to an item for a particular user that an attribute is missing from other accepted items regardless of which database said other accepted item is stored; and

obtaining said missing attributes for all other items in any of said databases.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending an action oriented message to users in a particular determined user community notifying said users in said user community of a pending action that can be taken with respect to a particular item, said sending triggered at least in part, by said item actions.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said action oriented message comprises:

one or more queries as to an action a message recipient user might wish to take with respect to a specific item previously accepted into one of said databases.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said query allows said recipient user to perform one of said item actions with respect to said specific item.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said queries present a recipient user a menu choice for response.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said query comprises at least one of the following:

selling price, offering price, bid price, reserve price, instant sale price.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein said action oriented message is sent to users on said user'"'"'s respective mobile devices.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said attributes comprise at least one of the following:

owner, level of want, level of need, level of interest, cost to replace, amortizations, price to acquire (buy), price to dispose (sell), location, preferences, model, cost, color, size, mass, material, number of components, component types, technology used, time, product manuals, service manuals, manufacture date, warranty information, run times, intended use, time between failure, expected life, maintenance schedule.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said actions comprise at least one of the following:

offer to sell, offer to buy, sold, auction.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said buy/sell attributes of a particular item trigger a transaction among users defined by attributes of said particular item.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said auction actions of a particular item trigger an auction among users in a user community defined by attributes of said particular item.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said obtaining comprises:

requesting users associated with said accepted items to provide said missing attribute.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said obtaining comprises:

requesting third parties known to have information pertaining to said missing attributes to supply said missing information.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said user community comprises:

one or more users associated with a same or similar item, attribute, or action.