Method and apparatus for providing predefined feedback

• US 9,015,585 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Boone, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): ABDUL-ALI, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US13/722,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20130111364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 715/703, 715/751
• US Class Current: 715/703
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/51 Translation evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A method and apparatus utilized in operating a feedback forum in an online auction environment is described. Instead of allowing users of the system to enter free-form comments for and about other users, a number of predefined feedback comments are provided that relate to an auction transaction. Users leaving feedback for other users are permitted to select a comment they desire to leave for or about another user relative to a transaction. The predefined feedback comments selected by the users are associated with the users whom the comment is about, and at some time thereafter, the predefined feedback comment is displayed for viewing by other users of the system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

accessing a predefined comment applicable from a first user of a network-based transaction system to a second user, the predefined comment including a predefined word in a first language of a plurality of languages supported by a network-based transaction system used to process a transaction between the first user and the second user, the predefined word being applicable to the second user;

generating a modified comment based on the predefined comment, the modified comment being a version of the predefined comment and including a modified word in a second language of the plurality of languages, the second language being distinct from the first language, the modified comment being applicable to the second user;

presenting the modified comment as selectable by the first user as a statement of an opinion held by the first user regarding the transaction between the first user and the second user, the presenting being to the first user and performed by a processor of a machine;

receiving a selection from the first user, the selection indicating that the modified comment is selected by the first user as the statement of the opinion held by the first user regarding the transaction between the first user and the second user; and

storing an indicator of the predefined comment in a feedback table of the network-based transaction system, the indicator identifying the predefined comment among a plurality of predefined comments available from the network-based transaction system, the feedback table storing indicators of predefined comments applied to the second user, the storing of the indicator being in response to the receiving of the selection from the first user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the generating of the modified comment generates the modified comment to include a name of an item;

the item is a subject of the transaction between the first user and the second user;

the network-based transaction system includes an item table to store a plurality of names including the name of the item and corresponding respectively to a plurality of items including the item; and

the method further comprises

accessing the item table.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein

the generating of the modified comment generates the modified comment to include a name of the second user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising

determining the second language based on at least one of:

a language preference of the first user, or

a geographical region corresponding to the first user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a transaction number of the transaction between the first user and the second user, the transaction number specifying the transaction among a plurality of transactions processed using the network-based transaction system; and

storing the transaction number with the indicator of the predefined comment in the feedback table of the network-based transaction system; and

wherein

the network-based transaction system includes a transaction table to store a plurality of transaction numbers respectively corresponding to the plurality of transactions.

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

storing a name of the first user with the indicator of the predefined comment in the feedback table of the network-based transaction system;

wherein

the network-based transaction system includes a user table to store a plurality of names respectively corresponding to a plurality of users including the first user and the second user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein

the generating of the modified comment is responsive to reception of a request from the first user, the request being to submit feedback regarding the transaction between the first user and the second user.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 further comprising

prompting the first user to submit feedback regarding the transaction between the first user and the second user.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein

the prompting of the first user includes displaying an icon as a prompt to submit the feedback.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein:

the prompting of the first user occurs subsequent to a conclusion of an auction for an item; and

the item is a subject of the transaction between the first user and the second user.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

retrieving the indicator of the predefined comment from the feedback table;

presenting the predefined text to a third user as feedback submitted by the first user regarding the transaction between the first user and the second user;

wherein

the presenting of the predefined text to the third user is based on the indicator of the predefined comment.

12. The computer have implemented method of claim 11, wherein

the retrieving of the indicator is in response to reception of a request from the third user, the request being to view feedback regarding the second user.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the database engine server is configured to generate the modified comment to include a name of an item;

the item is a subject of the transaction between the first user and the second user;

the database includes an item table to store a plurality of names including the name of the item and corresponding respectively to a plurality of items including the item; and

the database engine server is further configured to access the item table.

13. A system comprising:

a database engine server having one or more processors, the database engine server being configured to;

access a predefined comment applicable from a first user of the network-based transaction system to a second user, the predefined comment including a predefined word in a first language of a plurality of languages supported by a network-based transaction system used to process a transaction between the first user and the second user, the predefined word being applicable to the second user;

generate a modified comment based on the predefined comment, the modified comment being a version of the predefined comment and including a modified word in a second language of the plurality of languages, the second language being distinct from the first language, the modified comment being applicable to the second user;

present the modified comment as selectable by the first user as a statement of an opinion held by the first user regarding the transaction between the first user and the second user;

receive a selection from the first user, the selection indicating that the modified comment is selected by the first user as the statement of the opinion held by the first user regarding the transaction between the first user and the second user; and

store an indicator of the predefined comment in a feedback table of the network-based transaction system, the indicator identifying the predefined comment among a plurality of predefined comments available from the network-based transaction system, the feedback table storing indicators of predefined comments applied to the second user, the indicator being stored in response to reception of the selection from the first user; and

a database communicatively coupled to the database engine server, the database including the feedback table.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the database engine server is further configured to;

generate a transaction number of the transaction between the first user and the second user, the transaction number specifying the transaction among a plurality of transactions processed using the network-based transaction system; and

store the transaction number with the indicator of the predefined comment in the feedback table of the network-based transaction system; and

the database includes a transaction table to store a plurality of transaction numbers respectively corresponding to the plurality of transactions.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the database engine server is further configured to store a name of the first user with the indicator of the predefined comment in the feedback table of the network-based transaction system; and

the database includes a user table to store a plurality of names respectively corresponding to a plurality of users including the first user and the second user.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein

the database engine server is further configured to:

prompt the first, user to submit, feedback regarding the transaction between the first user and the second user;

receive a request from the first user, the request being to submit feedback regarding the transaction between the first, user and the second user; and

generate the modified comment in response to the request.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the database engine server is further configured to;

receive a request from a third user, the request being to view feedback regarding the second user;

retrieve the indicator of the predefined comment from the feedback table; and

present the predefined text to the third user as feedback submitted by the first user regarding the transaction between the first, user and the second user, the presenting of the predefined text to the third user being based on the indicator of the predefined comment.

19. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to operations comprising:

accessing a predefined comment applicable by a first user of a network-based transaction system to a second user, the predefined comment including a predefined word in a first language of a plurality of languages supported by a network-based transaction system used to process a transaction between the first user and the second user, the predefined word being applicable to the second user;

generating a modified comment based on the predefined comment, the modified comment being a version of the predefined comment and including a modified word in a second language of the plurality of languages, the second language being distinct from the first language, the modified comment being applicable to the second user;

presenting the modified comment as selectable by the first user as a statement of an opinion held by the first user regarding the transaction between the first user and the second user, the presenting being to the first user;

receiving a selection from the first user, the selection indicating that the modified comment is selected by the first user as the statement of the opinion held by the first user regarding the transaction between the first user and the second user; and

storing an indicator of the predefined comment in a feedback table of the network-based transaction system, the indicator identifying the predefined comment among a plurality of predefined comments available from the network-based transaction system, the feedback table storing indicators of predefined comments applied to the second user, the storing of the indicator being in response to the receiving of the selection from the first user.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining the second language based on at least one of;

a language preference of the first user, or

a geographical region corresponding to the first user.