Systems and methods to provide visual browsing

• US 9,342,218 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2015
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• 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:
  US14/935,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20160062577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 190 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 computer-implemented method to provide multi-directional visual browsing, the method comprising:

accessing an account of a user, the account storing past purchase information;

determining a primary item based on the past purchase information;

determining related items to the primary item; and

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

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing presentation comprises:

determining navigation direction constraints, the navigation direction constraints providing guidance as to where the related items are to be located in the visual browser display; and

positioning the related items in proximity to the position of the primary item based on the determined navigation direction constraints.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a search criterion from a device of the user, wherein the determining the primary item comprises identifying the primary item based on the search criterion and the past purchase information.

4. 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.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing the presentation comprises positioning the related items grouped as categories around the position of the primary item.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the visual browser display is a three-dimensional display; and

the causing the presentation of the visual browser display comprises positioning at least a portion of the related items 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 system comprising:

one or more hardware processors configured to perform operations comprising;

accessing an account of a user, the account storing past purchase information;

determining a primary item based on the past purchase information;

determining related items to the primary item; and

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

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the causing presentation comprises:

determining navigation direction constraints, the navigation direction constraints providing guidance as to where the related items are to be located in the visual browser display; and

positioning the related items in proximity to the position of the primary item based on the determined navigation direction constraints.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a search criterion from a device of the user, wherein the determining the primary item comprises identifying the primary item based on the search criterion and the past purchase information.

12. The system 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.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the causing the presentation comprises positioning the related items grouped as categories around the position of the primary item.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the visual browser display is a three-dimensional display; and

the causing the presentation of the visual browser display comprises positioning at least a portion of the related items in a level of a three-dimensional display layout lower than a main level in which the primary item is positioned.

15. The system 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.

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

accessing an account of a user, the account storing past purchase information;

determining a primary item based on the past purchase information;

determining related items to the primary item; and

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

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the causing presentation comprises:

determining navigation direction constraints, the navigation direction constraints providing guidance as to where the related items are to be located in the visual browser display; and

positioning the related items in proximity to the position of the primary item based on the determined navigation direction constraints.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a search criterion from a device of the user, wherein the determining the primary item comprises identifying the primary item based on the search criterion and the past purchase information.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, 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.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein:

the visual browser display is a three-dimensional display; and

the causing the presentation of the visual browser display comprises positioning at least a portion of the related items in a level of a three-dimensional display layout lower than a main level in which the primary item is positioned.