Method and system for collaborative and private sessions

• US 8,914,737 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2011
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Gould, Helen M., Garcia, Edward O'Neil, Melcher, Ryan, Lagunas, Diego, Bolivar, Alvaro, Anderson, Jennifer T., Susilo, Karenina, Spoon, Ryan, Lewis, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/033,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20110145106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 715711-715, 715762-765, 715851-853, 715/855
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/29 characterised by micropayments
• 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 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Examples of a method and system for collaborative and private sessions are provided. A cursor movement request may be received from at least two users of a plurality of users of a collaborative session during a time period. The cursor may move on a common interface according to the cursor movement request from a first user selected from the at least two users that has satisfied a movement criterion. A completion criterion and a private session parameter may be designated for a private session. A number of user interactions may be processed from a participant of the private session. The private shopping session may be terminated for the participant when the completion criterion is satisfied.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

associating a plurality of users with a collaborative shopping session, the collaborative shopping session including a common interface displayed to the plurality of users;

receiving a first cursor movement request from a first user of the plurality of users and a second cursor movement request from a second user of the plurality of users during the collaborative shopping session;

selecting, using one or more processors, the first user based on satisfaction of at least one cursor movement criterion;

moving the cursor on the common interface according to the first cursor movement request from the first user based on the selection, the movement of the cursor indicating a selection of an item displayed by the common interface; and

displaying an indication that the item was selected on the common interface by the movement of the cursor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an order request for the item during the collaborative shopping session; and

processing the order request for the item.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning an authority level to at least the first user, the authority level to indicate the respective level of authority of the first user relative to the remaining users of the plurality of users in the collaborative shopping session, the level of authority being an ability perform the first cursor movement when the second user requests the second cursor movement.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the cursor movement criterion is based on the authority level of the first user relative to the second user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cursor movement criterion is based on a last user to have a cursor movement processed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cursor movement criterion is based on control designated by a third user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a communication arising from a source user of the plurality of users; and

delivering the communication to a target user of the plurality of users.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of users are identified by importing a user list or a contact list from another application.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from a third user to engage in a side session;

providing a side session to the requesting user;

receiving a request from the third user to merge the side session into the collaborative shopping session; and

including at least a portion of the side session in the common interface.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from a third user to engage in a side session;

providing a side session to the requesting user;

receiving a request from the third user to merge the side session into the collaborative shopping session; and

including at least a portion of the side session in the common interface.

10. A method comprising:

associating a plurality of users with a collaborative session, the collaborative session including sharing of a common interface for interaction between the plurality of users;

receiving a first cursor movement request from a first user of the plurality of users and a second cursor movement request from a second user of the plurality of users, the first cursor movement request to move a first cursor assigned the first user on the common interface during the collaborative shopping session and the second cursor movement request being to move a second cursor assigned to the second user on the common interface during the collaborative shopping session;

distinguishing the first cursor from the second cursor on the common interface; and

moving the first cursor and the second cursor on the common interface according to the first cursor movement request and the second cursor movement request.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein distinguishing the cursor of the at least two users on the common interface during the time period comprises:

changing at least one cursor of the at least two users to at least one of a different size cursor, a different color cursor, or an icon from the cursor of other users during the time period.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a communication arising from a source user of the plurality of users; and

delivering the communication to a target user of the plurality of users.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of users are identified by importing a user list or a contact list from another application.

15. An apparatus comprising:

means for associating a plurality of users with a collaborative shopping session, the collaborative shopping session including a common interface displayed to the plurality of users;

means for receiving a first cursor movement request from a first user of the plurality of users and a second cursor movement request from a second user of the plurality of users during the collaborative shopping session;

means for selecting the first user based on satisfaction of at least one cursor movement criterion;

means for moving the cursor on the common interface according to the first cursor movement request from the first user based on the selection, the movement of the cursor indicating a selection of an item displayed by the common interface; and

means for displaying an indication that the item was selected on the common interface by the movement of the cursor.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for assigning an authority level to at least the first user, the authority level to indicate that the respective level of authority of the first user relative to the remaining users of the plurality of users in the collaborative shopping session, the level of authority being an ability perform the first cursor movement when the second user requests the second cursor movement.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the cursor movement criterion is based on the authority level of the first user relative to the second user.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cursor movement criterion is based on a last user to have a cursor movement processed.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cursor movement criterion is based on control designated a third user.

20. A non-transitory machine readable medium having instructions embodied thereon that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:

associating a plurality of users with a collaborative session, the collaborative session including sharing of a common interface for interaction between the plurality of users;

receiving a first cursor movement request from a first user of the plurality of users and a second cursor movement request from a second user of the plurality of users, the first cursor movement request to move a first cursor assigned the first user on the common interface during the collaborative shopping session and the second cursor movement request being to move a second cursor assigned to the second user on the common interface during the collaborative shopping session;

distinguishing the first cursor from the second cursor on the common interface; and

moving the first cursor and the second cursor on the common interface according to the first cursor movement request and the second cursor movement request.