Persistence mechanism for facilitating online transactions

• US 8,495,209 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Winslade, Christopher C., Bennett, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US13/478,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20120245997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/223, 709/224, 715/202, 705/14.35, 705/14.49, 705/26.35, 705/26.41, 705/27.1
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 : Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 : Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 : Insurance

Abstract

A method for supporting online transactions which may include selecting a product being offered for sale, storing information regarding the selected product, determining whether one or more predefined conditions has been met, and if so, notifying the buyer regarding the selected product information. The method may also allow the buyer to reestablish a prior transaction regarding the product.

Claims

1. A method performed by a first server system of a first entity in support of online transactions, the method comprising:

receiving first input from a computing device of a buyer, the first input comprising a selection of product information;

storing an identification of the selected product information;

determining whether one or more predefined conditions has been met;

if the one or more predefined conditions has been met, sending an email to the buyer reminding the buyer regarding the selected product information, the email including a link;

receiving second input from a computing device of the buyer, the second input comprising a selection of the link; and

responsive to the second input, delivering or supporting delivery of a web page to the computing device of the buyer corresponding to the received second input, the web page including the selected product information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the storing is based on input from the buyer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the identification of the selected product information is stored in a buyer profile.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the selected product information is stored in a buyer profile.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving input completing a transaction involving a product corresponding to the selected product information.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising offering a promotion to the buyer via the computing device of the buyer as an incentive to the buyer to complete a transaction involving a product corresponding to the selected product information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the promotion is included in the email.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the promotion is included on the web page.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the email includes at least a portion of the product information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the selected product information is stored as a pending transaction.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the link comprises a transaction reference number.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising determining whether one or more changes have occurred to the selected product information before sending the email, and if so, identifying the changes in the email.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein identifying the changes comprises identifying a better price.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more predefined conditions comprises a time threshold.

15. The method of claim 12, comprising identifying to the buyer via the computing device of the buyer, one or more products that are related to a product corresponding to the selected product information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more products is identified in the email.

17. A method performed by a first server system of a first entity in support of online transactions, the method comprising:

receiving first input from a computing device of a buyer, the first input comprising a selection of product information;

storing an identification of the selected product information;

determining whether one or more predefined conditions has been met;

if the one or more predefined conditions has been met, sending an email to the buyer reminding the buyer regarding the selected product information, the email including a link;

receiving second input from a computing device of the buyer, the second input comprising a selection of the link; and

wherein, responsive to the second input, a web page is delivered to the computing device of the buyer corresponding to the received second input, the web page including the selected product information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the storing is based on input from the buyer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the identification of the selected product information is stored in a buyer profile.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the identification of the selected product information is stored in a buyer profile.

21. The method of claim 17, comprising receiving input completing a transaction involving a product corresponding to the selected product information.

22. The method of claim 17, comprising offering a promotion to the buyer via the computing device of the buyer as an incentive to the buyer to complete a transaction involving a product corresponding to the selected product information.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the promotion is included in the email.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the promotion is included on the web page.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the email includes at least a portion of the selected product information.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the identification of the selected product information is stored as a pending transaction.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the link comprises a transaction reference number.

28. The method of claim 17, comprising determining whether one or more changes have occurred to the selected product information before sending the email, and if so, identifying the changes in the email.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein identifying the changes comprises identifying a better price.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more predefined conditions comprises a time threshold.

31. The method of claim 28, comprising identifying to the buyer via the computing device of the buyer, one or more products that are related to a product corresponding to the selected product information.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the one or more products is identified in the email.