Systems and methods to provide visual browsing

• US 8,954,421 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2014
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Melcher, Ryan, Howard, Dane
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, CHERYL RENEA
• Application Number:
  US14/159,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20140137007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 707/722, 709/203, 715/204, 715/273, 345/419, 345/634, 345/649, 345/650, 345/689, 345/161, 345/163, 345/173
• US Class Current: 707/722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/287 Visualization; Browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90328 using search space presentation or visualization, e.g. category or range presentation and selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Systems and methods for multi-directional visual browsing on an electronic device are described. In example embodiments, a primary result and a peripheral result are determined. A display layout based on attributes associated with the primary result and the peripheral result is generated. The display layout is then formatted into instructions, which will cause a device to render the display layout. The instructions are transmitted to the client device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accessing information on a primary item;

accessing information on related items that are related to the primary item based on at least one attribute of the primary item; and

causing, using a hardware processor, presentation of a visual browser display on a device, the visual browser display having a display layout that positions the primary item in a predetermined location of the visual browser display and positions the related items in proximity to the predetermined location of the primary item based on the at least one attribute of the primary item and attributes of the related items.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the primary item based on a search criterion received from the device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the at least one attribute of the primary item; and

determining the related items based on the related items having attributes related to the at least one attribute of the primary item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing the presentation of the visual browser display comprises positioning the related items grouped as categories around the predetermined location of the primary item based on the attributes of the related items.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual browser display is selected to be a three-dimensional display and the causing the presentation of the visual browser display comprises positioning at least a portion of the primary item to be displayed in a lower level of the three-dimensional display layout.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual browser display is selected to be a three-dimensional display and the causing the presentation of the visual browser display comprises positioning at least a portion of the related items to be displayed in a level of a three-dimensional display layout lower than a main level in which the primary item is positioned.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the related items comprise a selection from at least one item in a group consisting of accessories, upgrades, similar items, and competitor items relative to the primary item.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a navigational input, from the device, based on the visual browser display; and

spatially shifting the related items on the visual browser display based on the navigational input.

9. A machine-readable storage medium having no transitory signals and storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

accessing information on a primary item;

accessing information on related items that are related to the primary item based on at least one attribute of the primary item; and

causing presentation of a visual browser display on a device, the visual browser display having a display layout that positions the primary item in a predetermined location of the visual browser display and positions the related items in proximity to the predetermined location of the primary item based on the at least one attribute of the primary item and attributes of the related items.

10. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise identifying the primary item based on a search criterion received from the device.

11. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining the at least one attribute of the primary item; and

determining the related items based on the related items having attributes related to the at least one attribute of the primary item.

12. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the causing the presentation of the visual browser display comprises positioning the related items grouped as categories around the predetermined location of the primary item based on the attributes of the related items.

13. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the visual browser display is selected to be a three-dimensional display and the causing of the presentation of the visual browser display comprises positioning at least a portion of the primary item to be displayed in a lower level of the three-dimensional display layout.

14. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the visual browser display is selected to be a three-dimensional display and the causing the presentation of the visual browser display comprises positioning at least a portion of the related items to be displayed in a level of a three-dimensional display layout lower than a main level in which the primary item is positioned.

15. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the related items comprise a selection from at least one item in a group consisting of accessories, upgrades, similar items, and competitor items relative to the primary item.

16. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a navigational input, from the device, based on the visual browser display; and

spatially shifting the related items on the visual browser display based on the navigational input.

17. A system comprising:

a search module to access information on a primary item;

a refinement module to access information on related items that are related to the primary item based on at least one attribute of the primary item; and

a layout module, comprising a hardware processor, configured to cause presentation of a visual browser display on a device, the visual browser display having a display layout that positions the primary item in a predetermined location of the visual browser display and positions the related items in proximity to the predetermined location of the primary item based on the at least one attribute of the primary item and attributes of the related items.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the refinement module is further to:

determine the at least one attribute of the primary item; and

determine the related items based on the related items having attributes related to the at least one attribute of the primary item.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the layout module causes the presentation of the visual browser display by positioning the related items grouped as categories around the predetermined location of the primary item based on the attributes of the related items.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a directional input module to receive a navigational input based on the visual browser display, the related items being spatially shifted on the visual browser display based on the navigational input.