Method, system, and medium of controlling a visually perceptible output in relation to a virtual gift

• US 9,092,819 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Chong, Choon, Okubo, Trisha Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US13/975,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20130346239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 705/319
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Systems and a method to facilitate a purchase of an item on a network-based marketplace are described. The method generates, at a network-based marketplace platform, a virtual gift based on an item for sale at the network-based marketplace platform and communicates interface information to a network-based social platform that includes the virtual gift.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a visually perceptible output, comprising:

generating at a network-based marketplace platform, a virtual gift based on an item for sale at the network-based marketplace platform, the generating being performed at least in part by one or more processors;

generating, by a processor, interface information including the virtual gift, the interface information enabling purchase of the item on the network-based marketplace platform, the generating the interface information further comprising generating a message including a name of a sender of the virtual gift;

communicating, by a processor at the network-based marketplace platform, the interface information to a network-based social platform,

the interface information including an interface element that is configured to enable, upon selection, a purchase of the item on which the virtual gift is based from the network-based marketplace platform, the network-based marketplace platform and the network-based social platform being different platforms on a network;

controlling, by a processor at the network-based marketplace platform, a visually perceptible output representing the name of the sender of the virtual gift, the controlling being implemented based on the interface information such that the interface information causes the output representing the name of the sender of the virtual gift to be suppressed from display.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the network-based marketplace platform, a request from the sender of the virtual gift, the request identifying the item as being published on a user interface that is hosted by the network-based marketplace platform, the item further being offered for sale on the network-based marketplace platform.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving the request includes receiving a selection from the sender of the virtual gift via an interface provided by the network-based social platform to the sender of the virtual gift.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating item interface information that enables a recipient of the virtual gift to purchase the item on the network-based marketplace for a predetermined price.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating item interface information that enables a recipient of the virtual gift to purchase the item on the network-based marketplace by entering a winning bid.

6. A system to control a visually perceptible output comprising:

one or more servers configured to provide a network-based marketplace platform, the network-based marketplace platform configured to;

generate a virtual gift based on an item for sale at the network-based marketplace platform;

generate interface information including the virtual gift and a message that includes a name of a sender of the virtual gift, the interface information to enable purchase of the item on the network-based marketplace platform;

communicate the interface information to a network-based social platform, the interface information including an interface element that is configured to enable, upon selection, a purchase of the item on which the virtual gift is based from the network-based marketplace platform, the network-based marketplace platform and the network-based social platform being different platforms on a network;

control a visually perceptible output that represents the name of the sender of the virtual gift based on the interface information such that the interface information causes the output that represents the name of the sender of the virtual gift to be suppressed from display.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the network-based marketplace platform is further configured to receive a request from the sender of the virtual gift, the request identifies the item as published on a user interface that is hosted by the network-based marketplace platform, the item is further offered for sale on the network-based marketplace platform.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the network-based marketplace platform is further configured to receive a selection from the sender of the virtual gift via an interface provided by the network-based social platform to the sender of the virtual gift.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the network-based marketplace platform is further configured to generate item interface information that enables a recipient of the virtual gift to purchase the item on the network-based marketplace for a predetermined price.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the network-based marketplace platform is further configured to generate the item interface information that enables a recipient of the virtual gift to purchase the item on the network-based marketplace by entering on a winning bid.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the network-based marketplace platform is further configured to receive a request to purchase the item for sale on the network- based marketplace.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the network-based marketplace platform further configured to receive a request to purchase the item for a predetermined price.

13. A non-transitory machine-readable medium for controlling a visually perceptible output, the machine-readable medium storing instructions executable by one or more machines, the instructions configured to cause the one or more machines to perform the actions comprising:

generating at a network-based marketplace platform, a virtual gift based on an item for sale at the network-based marketplace platform, the generating being performed at least in part by one or more processors;

generating, by a processor, interface information including the virtual gift, the interface information enabling purchase of the item on the network-based marketplace platform, the generating the interface information further comprising generating a message including a name of a sender of the virtual gift;

communicating, by a processor at the network-based marketplace platform, the interface information to a network-based social platform,

the interface information including an interface element that is configured to enable, upon selection, a purchase of the item on which the virtual gift is based from the network-based marketplace platform, the network-based marketplace platform and the network-based social platform being different platforms on a network;

controlling, by a processor at the network-based marketplace platform, a visually perceptible output representing the name of the sender of the virtual gift, the controlling being implemented based on the interface information such that the interface information causes the output representing the name of the sender of the virtual gift to be suppressed from display.