Method and apparatus for facilitating user selection of an item category in an online auction

• US 20020062265A1
• Filed: 01/26/2000
• Published: 05/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Poon, Alex Dai-Shun
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating category selection by a user in a computerized auction. A category field is provided, containing a plurality of category entries used to categorize an item in the auction. One category entry is selected in the category field and at least one subcategory field is provided, containing a plurality of subcategory entries also used to categorize the item in the auction, the subcategory entries corresponding to the one selected category entry of the plurality of category entries. At least one subcategory entry corresponding to the one selected category entry is further selected in the at least one subcategory field for further processing.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating category selection by a user in a computerized auction, comprising:

providing a category field containing a plurality of category entries used to categorize an item in said computerized auction;

selecting one category entry of said plurality of category entries in said category field;

providing at least one subcategory field containing a plurality of subcategory entries used to categorize said item in said auction, said plurality of subcategory entries corresponding to said one category entry of said plurality of category entries; and

selecting at least one subcategory entry of said plurality of subcategory entries corresponding to said one category entry in said at least one subcategory field.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising extracting a category number associated with said one category entry and said at least one subcategory entry.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said category field comprises twelve category entries in alphabetical order.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising subsequently accessing said one category entry and said at least one subcategory entry using said category number.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing at least one subcategory field further includes providing a first subcategory field containing a plurality of first subcategory entries corresponding to said one category entry of said plurality of category entries;

providing a second subcategory field containing a plurality of second subcategory entries corresponding to a selected first subcategory entry of said plurality of first subcategory entries; and

a third subcategory field containing a plurality of third subcategory entries corresponding to a selected second subcategory entry of said plurality of second subcategory entries.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are graphically distinct areas.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said at least one subcategory field is substantially adjacent to said category field.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are page mark-up language documents.

9. A method for facilitating category selection by a user in a computerized auction, comprising:

providing a plurality of category entries in a category field to said user;

receiving a category entry of said plurality of category entries selected by said user;

providing a plurality of subcategory entries corresponding to said selected category entry in at least one subcategory field to said user; and

receiving at least one subcategory entry of said plurality of subcategory entries selected by said user.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising providing a category number associated with said selected category entry and said at least one selected subcategory entry to said user.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said category field comprises twelve category entries in alphabetical order.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising subsequently receiving said category number from said user and providing said associated category entry and said at least one subcategory entry to said user.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein said at least one subcategory field further comprises a first subcategory field containing a plurality of first subcategory entries corresponding to said category entry of said plurality of category entries selected by said user;

a second subcategory field containing a plurality of second subcategory entries corresponding to a selected first subcategory entry of said plurality of first subcategory entries; and

a third subcategory field containing a plurality of third subcategory entries corresponding to a selected second subcategory entry of said plurality of second subcategory entries.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are graphically distinct areas.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one subcategory field is substantially adjacent to said category field.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are page mark-up language documents.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein said method further comprises extracting a category number associated with said one category entry and said each subcategory entry.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein said category field comprises twelve category entries in alphabetical order.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 18, wherein said method further comprises subsequently accessing said one category entry and said at least one subcategory entry using said category number.

21. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein said providing at least one subcategory field further includes providing a first subcategory field containing a plurality of first subcategory entries corresponding to said one category entry of said plurality of category entries;

providing a second subcategory field containing a plurality of second subcategory entries corresponding to a selected first subcategory entry of said plurality of first subcategory entries; and

a third subcategory field containing a plurality of third subcategory entries corresponding to a selected second subcategory entry of said plurality of second subcategory entries.

22. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are graphically distinct areas.

23. The computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein said at least one subcategory field is substantially adjacent to said category field.

24. The computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are page mark-up language documents.

26. The computer readable medium according to claim 25, wherein said method further comprises providing a category number associated with said selected category entry and said at least one selected subcategory entry to said user.

27. The computer readable medium according to claim 25, wherein said category field comprises twelve category entries in alphabetical order.

28. The computer readable medium according to claim 26, wherein said method further comprises subsequently receiving said category number from said user and providing said associated category entry and said at least one subcategory entry to said user.

29. The computer readable medium according to claim 25, wherein said at least one subcategory field further comprises a first subcategory field containing a plurality of first subcategory entries corresponding to said category entry of said plurality of category entries selected by said user;

a second subcategory field containing a plurality of second subcategory entries corresponding to a selected first subcategory entry of said plurality of first subcategory entries; and

a third subcategory field containing a plurality of third subcategory entries corresponding to a selected second subcategory entry of said plurality of second subcategory entries.

30. The computer readable medium according to claim 25, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are graphically distinct areas.

31. The computer readable medium according to claim 30, wherein said at least one subcategory field is substantially adjacent to said category field.

32. The computer readable medium according to claim 30, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are page mark-up language documents.

17. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, cause said system to perform a method for facilitating category selection by a user in a computerized auction, said method comprising:

providing a category field containing a plurality of category entries;

selecting one category entry of said plurality of category entries in said category field;

providing at least one subcategory field containing a plurality of subcategory entries, said plurality of subcategory entries corresponding to said one category entry of said plurality of category entries; and

selecting at least one subcategory entry of said plurality of subcategory entries corresponding to said one category entry in said at least one subcategory field.

25. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, cause said system to perform a method for facilitating category selection by a user in a computerized auction, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of category entries in a category field to said user;

receiving a category entry of said plurality of category entries selected by said user;

providing a plurality of subcategory entries corresponding to said selected category entry in at least one subcategory field to said user; and

receiving at least one subcategory entry of said plurality of subcategory entries selected by said user.

33. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by said computer to perform a method for facilitating category selection by a user in a computerized auction, said method comprising:

providing a category field containing a plurality of category entries;

selecting one category entry of said plurality of category entries in said category field;

providing at least one subcategory field containing a plurality of subcategory entries, said plurality of subcategory entries corresponding to said one category entry of said plurality of category entries; and

selecting at least one subcategory entry of said plurality of subcategory entries corresponding to said one category entry in said at least one subcategory field.

34. The article of manufacture according to claim 33, wherein said method further comprises extracting a category number associated with said one category entry and said each subcategory entry.

35. The article of manufacture according to claim 33, wherein said category field comprises twelve category entries in alphabetical order.

36. The article of manufacture according to claim 34, wherein said method further comprises subsequently accessing said one category entry and said at least one subcategory entry using said category number.

37. The article of manufacture according to claim 33, wherein said providing at least one subcategory field further includes providing a first subcategory field containing a plurality of first sub category entries corresponding to said one category entry of said plurality of category entries;

providing a second subcategory field containing a plurality of second subcategory entries corresponding to a selected first subcategory entry of said plurality of first subcategory entries; and

a third subcategory field containing a plurality of third subcategory entries corresponding to a selected second subcategory entry of said plurality of second subcategory entries.

38. The article of manufacture according to claim 33, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are graphically distinct areas.

39. The article of manufacture according to claim 38, wherein said at least one subcategory field is substantially adjacent to said category field.

40. The article of manufacture according to claim 38, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are page mark-up language documents.

41. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by said computer to perform a method for facilitating category selection by a user in a computerized auction, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of category entries in a category field to said user;

receiving a category entry of said plurality of category entries selected by said user;

providing a plurality of subcategory entries corresponding to said selected category entry in at least one subcategory field to said user; and

receiving at least one subcategory entry of said plurality of subcategory entries selected by said user.

42. The article of manufacture according to claim 41, wherein said method further comprises providing a category number associated with selected category entry and said at least one selected subcategory entry to said user.

43. The article of manufacture according to claim 41, wherein said category field comprises twelve category entries in alphabetical order.

44. The article of manufacture according to claim 42, wherein said method further comprises subsequently receiving said category number from said user and providing and associated category entry and said at least one subcategory entry to said user.

45. The article of manufacture according to claim 41, wherein said at least one subcategory field further comprises a first subcategory field containing a plurality of first subcategory entries corresponding to said category entry of said plurality of category entries selected by said user;

a second subcategory field containing a plurality of second subcategory entries corresponding to a selected first subcategory entry of said plurality of first subcategory entries; and

a third subcategory field containing a plurality of third subcategory entries corresponding to a selected second subcategory entry of said plurality of second subcategory entries.

46. The article of manufacture according to claim 41, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are graphically distinct areas.

47. The article of manufacture according to claim 46, wherein said at least one subcategory field is substantially adjacent to said category field.

48. The article of manufacture according to claim 46, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are page mark-up language documents.

50. The system according to claim 49, wherein said category selection component further receives said at least one subcategory entry selected by said user and provides a category number associated with said one category entry and said at least one subcategory entry to said display component.

51. The system according to claim 49, wherein said category field comprises twelve category entries in alphabetical order.

52. The system according to claim 50, wherein said category selection component subsequently receives said category number and provides said one category entry and said at least one subcategory entry associated with said category number to said display component.

53. The system according to claim 49, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are graphically distinct areas.

54. The system according to claim 53, wherein said at least one subcategory field is substantially adjacent to said category field.

55. The system according to claim 53, wherein said category field and said at least one subcategory field are page mark-up language documents.

49. A system for facilitating category selection by a user in a computerized auction comprising:

a display component; and

a category selection component coupled to said display component for providing a category field containing a plurality of category entries to said display component;

said display component detecting selection of one category entry of said plurality of category entries by said user;

said category selection component receiving said one category entry selected by said user and providing at least one subcategory field containing a plurality of subcategory entries to said display component, said plurality of subcategory entries corresponding to said one category entry;

said display component detecting selection of at least one subcategory entry of said plurality of subcategory entries by said user.