System and Method for an Interactive Online Social Classifieds Transaction System

• US 20110112912A1
• Filed: 11/11/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: En-Li Wu
• Original Assignee: En-Li Wu
• Inventors: Wu, En-li
• Application Number:
  US12/616,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20110112912A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.73
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

A web-based classified ads system providing tools that enable buyers and sellers to complete transactions in a social network environment. By integrating many of the transactions features such as classifieds, auctioning, bartering, event signups, with social networking elements such as profiles, chats, friend lists, groups, messages, degrees of separations, friend post notifications, feedbacks, and recommendations the system of the present invention reduces anxiety and cuts down on time and cost involved in business transactions.

Claims

1. A method for an interactive online social classifieds transaction system by a software program executed on a computer system comprising the steps of:

a. providing a computer server accessible by service providers, product retailers, and registered users;

b. allowing service providers and product retailers to post their advertisements;

c. allowing registered users to ask questions and provide comments regarding an advertisement;

d. providing means for allowing a registered user'"'"'s profile to be viewed;

e. allow registered users to places offers on an advertisement;

f. allow registered users to mark an advertisement for future reference; and

g. providing a platform for performing a sales transaction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said user profile includes:

a place for introduction of the users;

feedbacks and past transactions;

comments and recommendations;

friend &

group affiliations; and

degrees of separations.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

h. registering and inputting requested user information by a user into the computer system via a website interface;

i. storing said user information in a system database; and

j. viewing a plurality of pages after registration and login.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said viewable pages include:

a home page;

contacts manager;

forum for posting;

post manager; and

user profile information editor.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

k. providing announcements;

l. providing friends updates;

m. providing an RSS feed; and

n. providing a watch lists of post advertisements.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

o. searching the system'"'"'s database.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising a transactional component consisting of:

an auction site;

bartering;

activities;

groups;

discussion forums; and

classified ads.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a transactional component consisting of a user rating and feedback component includes means for;

adding or removing feedback; and

responding to feedback left by another member.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein the user profile database includes a picture or video;

location information;

group information;

friend connections;

an introduction;

a resume;

recommendations;

feedback; and

a post history.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the advertisement post website page includes:

a flagging system that allows users to report posts;

a degree of separation chain;

a picture of the poster'"'"'s logo or picture;

a link to a poster'"'"'s profile page;

a direction map to that user; and

means to allow a message to be send to the posting user.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

p. provided a feedback rating that is a running average of the feedback scores;

q. providing a post title and description section for showing items listed;

r. providing a response/offer box;

s. enabling users to make offers or confirm a deal;

t. providing a comment box; and

u. allowing a user to make comments and ask questions via the comment box.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

v. adding an offer to the website'"'"'s favorites list;

w. allowing other users to see the offer;

x. adding the offer to a user'"'"'s watch list for ease of monitoring;

y. providing a share box sending out an email invite to a friend to view a post.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising a social book marking enabling users to use third party social booking services to share information with their network.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising a live chatting box enabling users to start a conversation about the post with other users on that page.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising a translation box providing a translation program that translates the page with other languages.

16. The method of claim 4 wherein the profile consists of:

a profile picture of the individual or business;

user info, such as onsite user name, and date joined;

description area for the user to make a self-introduction;

feedback area which records all the feedback that a user has received from past transactions;

a list of current active postings;

a list of closed/expired postings; and

a recommendation area where said user may receive recommendations from people on his/her friend list;

a resume link to a user'"'"'s profile;

a comment area which allows other users to leave comments regarding the profile;

a live chat box that allows users who are on the page to start a conversation on that profile;

a group affiliation list which is a list of groups that said user participates within the site; and

a friend list that is a list of friends the user has within the site.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising a translation box providing a translation program that translates the page with other languages.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

z. allowing a current viewer of a page to add the viewee to his/her friend list and send an email to that user.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

aa. providing a degrees of separation module creates a simple relationship chart that maps the social distance between the current user viewing that profile and profile owner.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of:

bb. providing a referral tracking module that tracks the number of referrals the user has established.