Systems and methods for enhanced information visualization

• US 9,792,389 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2013
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible World Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Haberman, Seth
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen, Nicholas D
• Application Number:
  US13/962,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20130346397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261, 705 262, 705 2661, 705 2662, 705 2663, 705 2664, 707706, 707707, 707709
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/953 Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, an information management application that provides users with the ability to create and customize matrix displays of information relating to a particular product or service for navigation by other users is provided.

Claims

1. A method performed by a computing device comprising a processor and memory, the method comprising:

receiving a first query for information from a user computing device, wherein the information relates to at least one of a product and a service;

transmitting the first query to a plurality of information sources;

receiving the information from the plurality of information sources in response to the first query;

parsing the information into a plurality of topics, each of the topics representing a category of metadata relating to the information;

generating a matrix display that organizes the received information into a plurality of topics for presentation at the user computing device;

providing access to the matrix display to a plurality of user computer devices; and

updating the matrix display based on updated information received from at least one of the plurality of information sources in response to a second query.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether updated information is available.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying an indicator that updated information has been received.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a purchasing decision from at least one of the plurality of user computing devices that has accessed the matrix display.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising compiling a purchasing order from the user computing device and at least one of the plurality of user computing devices.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining that the compiled purchasing order from the user computing device and the at least one of the plurality of user computing devices provides a discount; and

transmitting a notification to the user computing device and the at least one of the plurality of user computing devices regarding the discount.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising allowing the user computing device and at least one of the plurality of user computing devices to leverage the compiled purchasing order to obtain a discounted purchase.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at least one preference from at least one of the plurality of user computing devices;

reformatting the matrix display in accordance with the received preference; and

storing a version of the matrix display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the matrix display is generated using at least one organization template.

10. A system comprising:

at least one processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, the memory storing thereon computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the system to;

receive a first query for information from a user computing device, wherein the information relates to at least one of a product and a service;

transmit the first query to a plurality of information sources;

receive the information from the plurality of information sources in response to the first query;

parse the information into a plurality of topics, each of the topics representing a category of metadata relating to the information;

generate a matrix display that organizes the received information into a plurality of topics for presentation at the user computing device;

provide access to the matrix display to a plurality of user computer devices; and

update the matrix display based on updated information received from at least one of the plurality of information sources in response to a second query.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the system to:

determine whether updated information is available; and

display an indicator that updated information has been received.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the system to receive a purchasing decision from at least one of the plurality of user computing devices that have accessed the main matrix display.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the system to compile a purchasing order from the user computing device and at least one of the plurality of user computing devices.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the system to:

determine that the compiled purchasing order from the user computing device and at least one of the plurality of user computing devices provides a discount; and

transmit a notification to the user computing device and the at least one of the plurality of user computing devices regarding the discount.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the system to allow the user computing device and at least one of the plurality of user computing devices to leverage the compiled purchasing order to obtain a discounted purchase.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the system to:

receive at least one preference from at least one of the plurality of user computing devices;

reformat the matrix display in accordance with the received preference; and

store a version of the matrix display.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the matrix display is generated using at least one organization template.