Methods and systems for a dynamic networked commerce architecture

• US 20060095343A1
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Local.com
• Original Assignee: Interchange Corporation (Local Corporation)
• Inventors: Holmes, David, Tanner, Theodore, Clarke, Heath B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides systems and methods, which allow a more efficient shopping experience. A cascading commerce menu provides access to a plurality of product, service, and/or content categories. In one embodiment, the cascading commerce menu is stored on a client computer, thereby providing quick access to the menu.

Claims

1. A method of generating a search query, comprising:

providing a menu including one or more product category menu items, wherein at least one of the product category menu items is associated with at least one subcategory menu item; and

generating the search query based at least in part on a selection of an item associated with the menu.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the menu includes a cascading menu.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the subcategory menu item includes one or more of the following:

a product listing menu item and a product category menu item.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein generating the search query includes generating a search string.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the search query is generated automatically.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one subcategory menu item is associated with the generated search query.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing results of the search query, wherein the search results are associated with one or more products from one or more vendors.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the search results are organized in an order.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the order is based on an aggregate cost, and the aggregate cost includes a base product cost and one or more of the following costs:

shipping cost, handling cost, insurance cost, and tax cost.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the order is based on data associated with satisfaction or performance of one or more previous purchases from at least one of the vendors.

11. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the order can be modified according to an adverting bid price associated with the products or the vendors.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the menu is dynamically generated.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the menu is configurable by a user to include, exclude, or modify one or more items associated with the menu.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected item associated with the menu includes a link to a website.

15. A method of generating a search query, comprising:

providing a menu including one or more product category menu items, wherein at least one of the product category menu items is associated with at least one subcategory menu item; and

rewarding a user at least partly in response to a selection of an item associated with the menu.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein rewarding the user includes providing one or more reward credits to the user.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the credits are associated with a monetary value.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein one or more of the reward credits are used to purchase an electronic content.

19. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising providing a referral reward to the user for at least in part causing one or more other users to participate in a desired activity.

20. A method of organizing a list:

receiving an indication of a desired product;

providing in response to the indication a list of vendors and for each vendor a corresponding aggregate price for the desired product, wherein at least a portion of the list is organized in an order based at least in part on the respective aggregate prices for the desired products and the aggregate prices include a base product price and at least one additional cost associated with a purchase of the desired product.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the additional cost includes one or more of the following:

a shipping cost, a handling cost, an insurance cost, and tax cost.

22. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the order is associated with an adverting bid price associated with the products or the vendors.

23. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the order is based on data associated with satisfaction or performance of one or more previous purchases from at least one of the vendors.