Method and apparatus for providing tickets to consumers
First Claim
1. An electronic commerce (e-commerce) system comprising:
- a first processor configured to store information in a database; and
the database includes;
an email address of a user;
financial information associated with the user;
shipping address information of the user;
billing address information of the user; and
a watchlist including a first item and a second item selected by the user via the e-commerce system, each item comprising at least one descriptor;
the first processor is further configured to include a list of friends of the user configured by the system operator;
wherein the list of friends are associated with the e-commerce system;
the first processor is further configured to send at least one web crawler and update information stored in the database associated with the first and second items;
the first processor is further configured to automatically search websites for items similar to the first and second items;
the first processor is further configured to automatically add the similar items to the watchlist up to a user set limit;
the first processor is further configured to automatically send a first Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) email message including a mailto link to the email address of the user upon changes in the watchlist based on the updated information;
the first processor is further configured to determine that the first item was purchased by at least one friend of the friends list; and
the first processor is further configured in response to the determined purchase by the at least one friend, to automatically send a second SMTP email to the user; and
a second processor configured to display a vendor website, wherein the website includes a widget on the website;
wherein the widget on the website transmits updated information of the website to the first processor to be updated in the watchlist.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for creating a watchlist of products relating to any type of item/service/event for which any type of purchase may be made by a user. The system permits a user to access a website and identify items of the website that are of interest and other users (or friends) and associate one or more users with one or more items in the watchlist. The system stores the identified items and friends in a watchlist for later retrieval, review, transmission or action by the user. The system may periodically inform the user of any changes to the items of interest or any changes in purchases made by the users friends to items in the watchlist. Items may alternatively be added from multiple websites, multiple emails or automatically by the system.
-
Citations
10 Claims
-
1. An electronic commerce (e-commerce) system comprising:
-
a first processor configured to store information in a database; and the database includes; an email address of a user; financial information associated with the user; shipping address information of the user; billing address information of the user; and a watchlist including a first item and a second item selected by the user via the e-commerce system, each item comprising at least one descriptor; the first processor is further configured to include a list of friends of the user configured by the system operator; wherein the list of friends are associated with the e-commerce system; the first processor is further configured to send at least one web crawler and update information stored in the database associated with the first and second items; the first processor is further configured to automatically search websites for items similar to the first and second items; the first processor is further configured to automatically add the similar items to the watchlist up to a user set limit; the first processor is further configured to automatically send a first Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) email message including a mailto link to the email address of the user upon changes in the watchlist based on the updated information; the first processor is further configured to determine that the first item was purchased by at least one friend of the friends list; and the first processor is further configured in response to the determined purchase by the at least one friend, to automatically send a second SMTP email to the user; and a second processor configured to display a vendor website, wherein the website includes a widget on the website;
wherein the widget on the website transmits updated information of the website to the first processor to be updated in the watchlist. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A processing system for use in an electronic commerce (e-commerce) system comprising:
-
a first processor configured to create a user configurable watchlist including a plurality of items selected by the user via a user interface associated with the e-commerce system; the first processor further configured to include a list of friends of the user configured by the system operator; the first processor further configured to accept a user input establishing a criteria for sending emails including information related to said one of the plurality of items associated with the friend of the user, wherein the friend is associated with the e-commerce system; wherein the criteria including whether the friend of the user has purchased said one of the plurality of items associated with the friend of the user; the first processor is further configured to send at least one web crawler and update information associated with the items; the first processor is further configured to automatically search websites for items similar to the first and second items; the first processor is further configured to automatically add the similar items to the watchlist up to a user set limit; the first processor is further configured to send a first Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) email message including a mailto link to an email address of the user based on the updated information; the first processor is further configured to determine that one item was purchased by the friend; and the first processor is further configured to automatically send a second SMTP email message including a mailto link to an email address of the user; and a second processor configured to display a vendor website, wherein the website includes a widget on the website;
wherein the widget on the website transmits updated information of the website to the first processor to be updated in the watchlist. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
Specification