Communicating Information Relating to a Network Resource

• US 20070136418A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Wolfe, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers

Abstract

In an information retrieval system, a system and method for presentation of information and/or resources that are pertinent to an individual'"'"'s interests or task. Guiding individuals to places of interest on a network where information is stored. Displaying or otherwise presenting useful information to the user.

Claims

2. A storage medium having computer program instructions stored on it, where the computer program instructions are executable on a computer operated by a user and connected to a network, and where the computer program instructions cause the computer to be capable of carrying out the operations of:

(a) monitoring input from the user operating the computer;

(b) retrieving a plurality of web pages over the network at the direction of the user operating the computer,

where the operation of retrieving the plurality of web pages over the network is carried out by a web browser application that is executing on the computer and is controlled by the user, and

where the plurality of web pages are displayed by the web browser application in a web browser window on a display screen associated with the computer as the user browses each of the plurality of web pages;

(c) monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the plurality of web pages,

where the operation of monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the plurality of web pages is carried out by a browsing activity monitoring program that automatically monitors activity of the web browser application that is executing on the computer and is controlled by the user,

where the browsing activity monitoring program executes on the computer and interfaces with the web browser application in a manner that causes a menu item to be added to the web browser application that can be used to configure an aspect of the browsing activity monitoring program, and

where the operation of monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the plurality of web pages is carried out so that browsing activity associated with the plurality of web pages can be observed without requiring assistance from publishers of the plurality of web pages;

(d) retrieving a first web page over the network at the direction of the user operating the computer,

where the first web page is accessible from a web server connected to the network and is published by a first online merchant that performs sales transactions over the network, and

where the operation of retrieving the first web page over the network at the direction of the user is carried out by the web browser application after the operation of retrieving the plurality of web pages over the network at the direction of the user;

(e) displaying the first web page in the web browser window on the display screen associated with the computer,

where the first web page includes information about a first item offered for sale by the first online merchant at a first price, and

where the operation of displaying the first web page in the web browser window is carried out by the web browser application executing on the computer;

(f) monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the first web page,

where the operation of monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the first web page is carried out automatically by the browsing activity monitoring program,

where the operation of monitoring activity of the web browser application includes determining that the user may be shopping for the first item, and

where the browsing activity monitoring program is able to determine that the user may be shopping for the first item without requiring authorization from the first online merchant that publishes the first web page;

(g) displaying a price alert that informs the user that competitive prices may be available for the first item offered for sale by the first online merchant,

where the price alert is displayed for the user on the display screen associated with the computer while the first web page is in the web browser window,

where the price alert is independent of the first web page, meaning that it is not part of the first web page, and is not embedded within or referred to by the first web page,

where the price alert is automatically displayed without requiring further input from the user, and is based on the operation of determining that the user may be shopping for the first item, and

where the price alert includes a competitive price for the first item, where the competitive price is the price of the first item as offered by a second online merchant;

(h) monitoring the user'"'"'s selection of the price alert displayed on the display screen associated with the computer;

(i) detecting that the user has selected the price alert; and

(j) upon detecting that the user has selected the price alert, enabling the user to purchase the first item from the second online merchant.

3. The storage medium of claim 2,

where the price alert identifies the second online merchant as being associated with the competitive price for the first item, and where the competitive price is lower than the first price offered by the first online merchant;

and

where the price alert further identifies a third online merchant and an additional competitive price for the first item, where the additional competitive price is the price offered by the third online merchant for the first item, exclusive of shipping charges.

4. The storage medium of claim 2,

where the browsing activity monitoring program is downloaded over the network, tested for authenticity using a code signing procedure, and installed at the computer using a persistent storage mechanism;

and

where the operation of displaying a price alert includes the operation of determining whether the price alert should be displayed by using data stored locally at the computer, where the data is stored locally at the computer in anticipation of making such a determination, and prior to the operation of retrieving the first web page.

5. The storage medium of claim 2,

where the price alert identifies the second online merchant as being associated with the competitive price for the first item, and where the competitive price is lower than the first price offered by the first online merchant;

where the price alert further identifies a third online merchant and an additional competitive price for the first item, where the additional competitive price is the price offered by the third online merchant for the first item; and

where the operation of determining that the user may be shopping for the first item includes the operation of determining that the user may be shopping for the first item at the first online merchant.

6. The storage medium of claim 2,

where the price alert is displayed in an area on the display screen that automatically appears while the first web page is in the web browser window, and where information in the price alert is automatically removed after a period of time, but where the removal of the information can be delayed by movement of a pointing device associated with the computer;

where the price alert identifies the second online merchant as being associated with the competitive price for the first item; and

where the price alert further identifies a third online merchant and an additional competitive price for the first item, where the additional competitive price is the price offered by the third online merchant for the first item.

7. The storage medium of claim 2,

where the browsing activity monitoring program interfaces with the web browser application through an ActiveX or OLE interface;

and

where the browsing activity monitoring program interfaces with the web browser application so that a secondary area is displayed within the web browser window, where the secondary area is integrated into the web browser window so that it is part of the web browser window but is separate from a main web browser area within the web browser window in which the first web page is displayed, and where the secondary area can be closed by selection of a button displayed within the web browser window.

8. The storage medium of claim 2,

where the browsing activity monitoring program interfaces with the web browser application through an ActiveX/OLE interface;

where the price alert is displayed in a secondary area within the web browser window, where the secondary area is integrated into the web browser window so that it is part of the web browser window but is separate from a main web browser area in which the first web page is displayed; and

where the operation of enabling the user to purchase the first item from the second online merchant includes the operation of displaying a web page within the main web browser window in response to the browsing activity monitoring program commanding the web browser application, through the ActiveX/OLE interface with the web browser application, to display the web page.

9. A method of configuring a computer that is operated by a user and connected to a network, where the method comprises the acts of:

(1) making a browsing activity monitoring program available to be downloaded over the network;

(2) transferring the browsing activity monitoring program over the network to the computer; and

(3) enabling the installation of the browsing activity monitoring program at the computer using a persistent storage mechanism, where the operation of enabling the installation of the browsing activity monitoring program causes the computer to be capable of carrying out the operations of;

(a) monitoring input from the user operating the computer;

(b) retrieving a plurality of web pages over the network at the direction of the user operating the computer,

where the operation of retrieving the plurality of web pages over the network is carried out by a web browser application that is executing on the computer and is controlled by the user, and

where the plurality of web pages are displayed by the web browser application in a web browser window on a display screen associated with the computer as the user browses each of the plurality of web pages;

(c) monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the plurality of web pages,

where the operation of monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the plurality of web pages is carried out by the browsing activity monitoring program that executes on the computer,

where the browsing activity monitoring program automatically monitors activity of the web browser application that is executing on the computer and is controlled by the user, and

where the operation of monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the plurality of web pages is carried out so that browsing activity associated with the plurality of web pages can be observed without requiring assistance or authorization from publishers of the plurality of web pages;

(d) retrieving a first web page over the network at the direction of the user operating the computer,

where the first web page is accessible from a web server connected to the network and is published by a first online merchant that sells items through transactions made over the network, and

where the operation of retrieving the first web page over the network at the direction of the user is carried out by the web browser application after the operation of retrieving the plurality of web pages over the network at the direction of the user;

(e) displaying the first web page in the web browser window on the display screen associated with the computer,

where the first web page includes information about a first item offered for sale by the first online merchant, and

where the operation of displaying the first web page in the web browser window is carried out by the web browser application executing on the computer;

(f) monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the first web page,

where the operation of monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the first web page is carried out automatically by the browsing activity monitoring program,

where the operation of monitoring activity of the web browser application includes determining that the user may be shopping for the first item, and

where the browsing activity monitoring program is able to determine that the user may be shopping for the first item without requiring authorization from the first online merchant that publishes the first web page;

(g) presenting a competitive offering notice that informs the user that competitive information may be available that is relevant to the first item offered for sale by the first online merchant,

where the competitive offering notice is displayed for the user on the display screen associated with the computer while the first web page is in the web browser window,

where the competitive offering notice is independent of the first web page, meaning that it is not part of the first web page, and is not embedded within or referred to by the first web page, and

where the competitive offering notice is automatically presented to the user based on the operation of determining that the user may be shopping for the first item;

(h) monitoring the user'"'"'s selection of the competitive offering notice displayed on the display screen associated with the computer;

(i) detecting that the user has selected the competitive offering notice;

(j) upon detecting that the user has selected the competitive offering notice, displaying for the user competitive item information relevant to the first item,

where the competitive item information relevant to the first item includes a plurality of links to information about competitive items offered by a plurality of competing online merchants, and

where the competitive item information further includes pricing information relating to the competitive items offered by the plurality of competing online merchants; and

(k) enabling the user to purchase one of the competitive items offered by one of the plurality of competing online merchants.

10. The method of claim 9,

where the operation of displaying for the user competitive item information relevant to the first item includes the operations of:

displaying competitive pricing information from a second online merchant, where the competitive pricing information from the second online merchant identifies the second online merchant and includes a price offered by the second online merchant for the first item; and

displaying competitive pricing information from a third online merchant, where the competitive pricing information from the third online merchant identifies the third online merchant and includes a price offered by the third online merchant for the first item.

11. The method of claim 9,

where the act of enabling the installation of the browsing activity monitoring program includes the act of testing the browsing activity monitoring program for authenticity using a code signing procedure;

and

where the operation of presenting a competitive offering notice includes the operation of determining whether the competitive offering notice should be displayed by using data stored locally at the computer, where the data is stored locally at the computer in anticipation of making such a determination, and prior to the operation of retrieving the first web page.

12. The method of claim 9,

where the competitive offering notice is presented to the user by displaying the competitive offering notice in an area on the display screen that automatically appears after monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the first web page.

13. The method of claim 9,

where the browsing activity monitoring program interfaces with the web browser application through an ActiveX or OLE interface;

and

where the browsing activity monitoring program interfaces with the web browser application so that a secondary area is displayed within the web browser window, where the secondary area is integrated into the web browser window so that it is part of the web browser window but is separate from a main web browser area within the web browser window in which the first web page is displayed, and where the secondary area can be closed by selection of a user interface element within the web browser window.

14. The method of claim 9,

where the browsing activity monitoring program interfaces with the web browser application through an ActiveX/OLE interface;

where the browsing activity monitoring program interfaces with the web browser application so that a secondary area is displayed within the web browser window, where the secondary area is integrated into the web browser window so that it is part of the web browser window but is separate from a main web browser area within the web browser window in which the first web page is displayed; and

where the operation of enabling the user to purchase one of the competitive items includes the operation of displaying a web page within the main web browser window in response to the browsing activity monitoring program commanding the web browser application, through the ActiveX/OLE interface with the web browser application, to display the web page.

15. The method of claim 9,

where the operation of presenting a competitive offering notice includes the operation of determining whether the competitive offering notice should be displayed by using data stored locally at the computer, where the data is stored locally at the computer in anticipation of making such a determination, and prior to the operation of retrieving the first web page;

and

where the operation of displaying for the competitive information is dependent upon the rate paid by the second online merchant.

16. A method of configuring a computer that is operated by a user and connected to a network, where the method comprises the acts of:

(1) making a user activity monitoring program available to be downloaded over the network;

(2) transferring the user activity monitoring program over the network to the computer; and

(3) enabling the installation of the user activity monitoring program at the computer using a persistent storage mechanism, where the operation of enabling the installation of the user activity monitoring program causes the computer to be capable of carrying out the operations of;

(a) monitoring input from the user operating the computer;

(b) retrieving a plurality of web pages over the network at the direction of the user operating the computer,

where the operation of retrieving the plurality of web pages over the network is carried out by a web browser application that is executing on the computer and is controlled by the user, and

where the plurality of web pages are displayed by the web browser application in a web browser window on a display screen associated with the computer as the user browses each of the plurality of web pages;

(c) monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the plurality of web pages,

where the operation of monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the plurality of web pages is carried out by the user activity monitoring program that executes on the computer;

where the user activity monitoring program automatically monitors activity of the web browser application that is executing on the computer and is controlled by the user,

where the user activity monitoring program is in a separate code module that executes on the computer and that provides functionality in addition to that provided by the web browser application, and

where the operation of monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the plurality of web pages is carried out at a variety of web sites without requiring authorization or assistance from any publisher of the plurality of web pages;

(d) retrieving a first web page over the network at the direction of the user operating the computer,

where the first web page is accessible from a web server connected to the network and is published by a first entity, and

where the operation of retrieving the first web page over the network at the direction of the user is carried out by the web browser application after the operation of retrieving the plurality of web pages over the network at the direction of the user;

(e) displaying the first web page in the web browser window on the display screen associated with the computer,

where the operation of displaying the first web page in the web browser window is carried out by the web browser application executing on the computer;

(f) monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the first web page,

where the operation of monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the first web page is carried out automatically by the user activity monitoring program,

where the user activity monitoring program obtains user activity data associated with the first web page identifying the user as having an interest in information published by the first entity, and

where the user activity monitoring program obtains the user activity data associated with the first web page without requiring involvement or assistance from the first entity that publishes the first web page;

(g) determining whether a commercial message should be communicated to the user by using data stored locally at the computer, where the data is stored locally at the computer in anticipation of determining whether a commercial message should be communicated to the user, and prior to the operation of retrieving the first web page;

(h) presenting to the user a commercial message relevant to the first web page,

where the commercial message is independent of the first web page and is not part of the first web page, and is not embedded within or referred to by the first web page,

where the commercial message is automatically selected to be presented to the user based on the user activity data associated with the first web page identifying the user as having an interest in information published by the first entity so that the commercial message tends to appeal to the user'"'"'s interest in information published by the first entity,

where the commercial message identifies a commercial entity responsible for the commercial message and includes a promotional message from the commercial entity responsible for the commercial message, and

where the commercial message is presented to the user by automatically displaying the commercial message in an area on the display screen that appears after monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the first web page browsed to by the user using the web browser application;

(i) retrieving a second web page over the network at the direction of the user operating the computer,

where the operation of retrieving the second web page over the network at the direction of the user is carried out by the web browser application after the operation of presenting to the user the commercial message relevant to the first web page; and

(i) displaying the second web page in the web browser window on the display screen associated with the computer by replacing the first web page displayed in the web browser window with the second web page, but where the commercial message relevant to the first web page remains in the area on the display screen.

17. The method of claim 16,

where the act of enabling the installation of the user activity monitoring program includes the act of testing the user activity monitoring program for authenticity using a code signing procedure;

and

where the commercial message is selected further based on the rate paid by the commercial entity responsible for the commercial message; and

where the commercial entity is in a market competitive with that of the first entity.

18. The method of claim 16,

where the act of enabling the installation of the user activity monitoring program includes the act of testing the user activity monitoring program for authenticity using a code signing procedure;

and

where the commercial message is presented to the user by automatically displaying the commercial message in a web page within a new web browser window that appears on the display screen upon monitoring activity of the web browser application associated with the first web page.

19. The method of claim 16,

where the operation of presenting to the user a commercial message relevant to the first web page includes the operation of presenting to the user a commercial message in a window having a size that is substantially equal to a desktop area on the display screen associated with the computer.

20. The method of claim 16,

where the operation of presenting to the user a commercial message relevant to the first web page includes the operation of choosing to present a commercial message relevant to the first web page rather than relevant to another web page in an inactive window that is also on the display screen.

21. The method of claim 16,

where the operation of presenting to the user a commercial message relevant to the first web page includes the operation of presenting to the user a commercial message in a window that is initially located on the display screen under another window.