Method and system for the creation and communication of notes concerning an auction participant or item within a network-based auction facility

• US 7,149,718 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Wilson, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jagdish
• Application Number:
  US09/747,204
• Time in Patent Office: 2,182 Days
• Field of Search: 705/37, 705/36, 705/38
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• 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 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A method of communicating information within a network-based auction facility includes facilitating creation of a note pertaining to a user or item available for auction via of an on-line auction facilitated by the network-based auction facility. The note is associated with the user or item of the on-line auction. Within an administrative environment, a note graphical icon is displayed to indicate an association of the note with the user or item of the on-line auction when displaying information concerning the user or item to an administrator of the on-line auction facility.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of communicating administrative information related to monitoring of a network-based auction facility, the method including:

generating an administrative note pertaining to an administrator-selected aspect of an on-line auction facilitated by the network-based auction facility, wherein the administrative note includes;

the administrative information related to the monitoring of the network-based auction facility; and

type information identifying the administrative note as being of a first type of a predetermined set of administrative note types;

associating the administrative note with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction; and

displaying a note indicator, on a display unit of a network device, to indicate an association of the administrative note with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction when displaying information concerning the administrator-selected aspect on the display of the network device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises a user of the network-based auction facility.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises an item offered for auction via the network-based auction facility.

4. The method of claim 1 including associating the administrative note with multiple administrator-selected aspects of the on-line auction.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the administrative note includes providing a menu of the predetermined set of administrative note types for user selection.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the type information indicates a reason for the generation of the administrative note.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the administrative note includes providing a user interface via which an administrator of the network-based auction facility is prompted to identify the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises a user and the user interface prompts the administrator to input a user identifier.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises an item offered for auction via the network-based auction facility and the user interface prompts the administrator to input an item identifier.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the administrative note includes calling a note function from any one of a plurality of administrative functions implemented by the network-based auction facility.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the note function comprises an Application Program Interface (API).

12. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a note indicator includes calling a note function that searches a plurality of administrative notes to locate an administrative note based on the administrator-selected aspect.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a note indicator comprises displaying a graphic icon adjacent a text identifier for the administrator-selected aspect.

14. A computer-implemented method of communicating administrative information concerning a user of a network-based auction facility, the method including:

automatically invoking a note creation function from one of a plurality of administrative applications of the network-based auction facility;

generating an administrative note via the note creation function, the administrative note including the administrative information concerning the user of the network-based auction facility,

the note creation function to associate the administrative note with the user, as identified by an administrator of the network-based auction facility to the note creation function; and

storing the administrative note in a database.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said automatically invoking the note creation function includes invoking a note creation user interface that presents a predetermined set of administrative note types for selection by the administrator, each administrative note type providing a reason for creation of the administrative note.

16. The method of claim 15 including presenting, via the note creation interface, the predetermined set of administrative note types for selection to the administrator as a drop-down menu.

17. The method of claim 15 including prompting the user, via the note creation user interface, for any one of a group of information items to be included within the administrative note concerning the user including a user identifier and whether the user is to be suspended.

18. The method of claim 14 including searching, via a note search function, a plurality of administrative notes based on user information.

19. The method of claim 14 including searching, via a note search function, a plurality of administrative notes based on auction item information.

20. The method of claim 14 including searching, via a note search function, a plurality of administrative notes based on type information, specifying a reason for the creation of the administrative note.

21. The method of claim 14 including searching, via a note search function, a plurality of administrative notes based on addressor information.

22. The method of claim 14 including searching, via a note search function, a plurality of administrative notes based on addressee information.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the note search function requires verification of identity of the administrator before permitting the search.

24. The method of claim 14 including purging the administrative note after an indicated expiration period.

25. A machine-readable medium storing a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

generate administrative data pertaining to an administrator-selected aspect of an on-line auction facilitated by the network-based auction facility, the administrative data further relating to monitoring of the network-based auction facility; and

associate the administrative data with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction, wherein the administrative data includes type information identifying the administrative data as being of a first type of a predetermined set of administrative data types; and

display a data indicator to indicate an association of the administrative data with the administrator selected aspect of the on-line auction when displaying information concerning the administrator-selected aspect on a display unit of a network device.

26. A system to communicate administrative information related to monitoring of a network-based auction facility, the system including:

a computing device;

a note creation application, executing on the computing device, to;

facilitate creation of an administrative note pertaining to an administrator-selected aspect of an on-line auction facilitated by the network-based auction facility, the administrative note further including the administrative information related to the monitoring of the network-based auction facility, and

to associate the administrative note with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction, wherein the administrative note includes type information identifying the administrative note as being of a first type of a predetermined set of administrative note types; and

a note displaying application, executing on the computing device, to display a note indicator to indicate an association of the administrative note with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction when displaying information concerning the administrator-selected aspect on a display unit of a network device.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises a user of the network-based auction facility.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises an item offered for auction via the network-based auction facility.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the note creation application associates the administrative note with multiple administrator-selected aspects of the on-line auction.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein the note displaying application generates a menu of the predetermined set of administrative note types for user selection.

31. The system of claim 26 wherein the type information indicates a reason for the generation of the administrative note.

32. The system of claim 26 wherein the note displaying application provides a user interface via which an administrator of the network-based auction facility is prompted to identify the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises a user and the user interface prompts the administrator to input a user identifier.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises an item offered for auction via the network-based auction facility and the user interface prompts the administrator to input an item identifier.

35. The system of claim 26 wherein the note creation application includes a note function of a plurality of administrative functions implemented by the network-based auction facility.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the note function is accessed via an Application Program Interface (API).

37. The system of claim 26 including a note search application that searches a plurality of administrative notes to locate an administrative note based on the administrator-selected aspect.

38. The system of claim 26 wherein the note displaying application displays a graphic icon adjacent a text identifier for the administrator-selected aspect.

39. A system to communicate administrative information concerning a user of a network-based auction facility, the system including:

a computing device;

a note creation function, executing on the computing device, to facilitate creation of an administrative note to include the administrative information concerning the user of the network-based auction facility; and

an administrative function, executing on the computing device, automatically to invoke the note creation function from one of a plurality of administrative applications of the network-based auction facility,

where the note creation function associates the administrative note with the user, as identified by an administrator of the network-based auction facility to the note creation function.

40. The system of claim 39 including a note creation user interface, that is invokable by the note creation function, that presents a predetermined set of administrative note types for selection by the administrator, each administrative note type provoking a reason for creation of the administrative note.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the note creation interface presents the predetermined set of administrative note types for selection to the administrator as a drop-down menu.

42. The system of claim 40 wherein the note creation user interface prompts the user for any one of a group of information items to be included within the administrative note concerning the user including a user identifier and whether the user is to be suspended.

43. The system of claim 39 including a note search function that facilitates the searching of a plurality of administrative notes based on user information.

44. The system of claim 39 including a note search function that facilitates the searching of a plurality of administrative notes based on auction item information.

45. The system of claim 39 including a note search function that facilitates the searching of a plurality of administrative notes based on type information, specifying a reason for the creation of the administrative note.

46. The system of claim 39 including a note search function that facilitates searching of a plurality of administrative notes based on addressor information.

47. The system of claim 39 including a note search function that facilitates searching of a plurality of administrative notes based on addressee information.

48. The system of claim 43 wherein the note search function requires verification of identity of the administrator before permitting the search.

49. The system of claim 39 wherein the note creation function purges the administrative note after an indicated expiration period.

50. A system to communicate administrative information relating to monitoring of a network-based auction facility, the system including:

means for facilitating creation of an administrative note pertaining to an administrator-selected aspect of an on-line auction facilitated by the network-based auction facility, and including the administrative information related to the monitoring of the network-based auction facility, and for associating the administrative note with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction, wherein the administrative note includes type information identifying the administrative note as being of a first type of a predetermined set of administrative note types; and

means for displaying a note indicator to indicate an association of the administrative note with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction when displaying information concerning the administrator-selected aspect on a display unit of a network device.

51. A computer-implemented method of communicating administrative information related to monitoring of a network-based auction facility, the method including:

generating an administrative note including the administrative information related to the monitoring of the network-based auction facility and pertaining to an administrator-selected aspect of an on-line auction facilitated by the network-based auction facility;

associating the administrative note with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction; and

displaying a note indicator, on a display unit of a network device, to indicate an association of the administrative note with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction when displaying information concerning the administrator-selected aspect on the display of the network device,

wherein displaying the note indicator includes calling a note function that searches a plurality of administrative notes to locate the administrative note based on the administrator-selected aspect.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises a user of the network-based auction facility.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises an item offered for auction via the network-based auction facility.

54. The method of claim 51 including associating the administrative note with multiple administrator-selected aspects of the on-line auction.

55. The method of claim 51 wherein the administrative note includes type information identifying the administrative note as being of a first type of a predetermined set of administrative note types.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein generating the administrative note includes providing a menu of the predetermined set of administrative note types for user selection.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein the type information indicates a reason for the generation of the administrative note.

58. The method of claim 51 wherein generating the administrative note includes providing a user interface via which an administrator of the network-based auction facility is prompted to identify the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises a user and the user interface prompts the administrator to input a user identifier.

60. The method of claim 58 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises an item offered for auction via the network-based auction facility and the user interface prompts the administrator to input an item identifier.

61. The method of claim 51 wherein generating the administrative note includes calling a note function from any one of a plurality of administrative functions implemented by the network-based auction facility.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the note function comprises an Application Program Interface (API).

63. The method of claim 51 wherein displaying a note indicator comprises displaying a graphic icon adjacent a text identifier for the administrator-selected aspect.

64. A system to communicate administrative information related to monitoring of a network-based auction facility, the system including:

a computing device;

a note creation application, executing on the computing device, to;

facilitate creation of an administrative note including administrative information related to the monitoring of a network-based auction facility and pertaining to an administrator-selected aspect of an on-line auction facilitated by the network-based auction facility, and

associate the administrative note with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction;

a note displaying application, executing on the computing device, to display a note indicator to indicate an association of the administrative note with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction when displaying information concerning the administrator-selected aspect on a display unit of a network device; and

a note search application to search a plurality of administrative notes and to locate the administrative note based on the administrator-selected aspect.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises a user of the network-based auction facility.

66. The system of claim 64 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises an item offered for auction via the network-based auction facility.

67. The system of claim 64 wherein the note creation application associates the administrative note with multiple administrator-selected aspects of the on-line auction.

68. The system of claim 64 wherein the administrative note includes type information identifying the administrative note as being of a first type of a predetermined set of administrative note types.

69. The system of claim 68 wherein the note displaying application generates a menu of the predetermined set of administrative note types for user selection.

70. The system of claim 68 wherein the type information indicates a reason for the generation of the administrative note.

71. The system of claim 68 wherein the note displaying application provides a user interface via which an administrator of the network-based auction facility is prompted to identify the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction.

72. The system of claim 71 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises a user and the user interface prompts the administrator to input a user identifier.

73. The system of claim 71 wherein the administrator-selected aspect comprises an item offered for auction via the network-based auction facility and the user interface prompts the administrator to input an item identifier.

74. The system of claim 64 wherein the note creation application includes a note function of a plurality of administrative functions implemented by the network-based auction facility.

75. The system of claim 74 wherein the note function is accessed via an Application Program Interface (API).

76. The system of claim 64 wherein the note displaying application displays a graphic icon adjacent a text identifier for the administrator-selected aspect.

77. A machine-readable medium storing a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

generate administrative data related to monitoring of a network-based auction facility and pertaining to an administrator-selected aspect of an on-line auction facilitated by the network-based auction facility;

associate the administrative data with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction; and

display a data indicator to indicate an association of the administrative data with the administrator selected aspect of the on-line auction when displaying information concerning the administrator-selected aspect on a display unit of a network device, and to call a function that searches a plurality of administrative data to locate the administrative data based on the administrator-selected aspect.

78. A system to communicate administrative information relating to monitoring of a network-based auction facility, the system including:

means for facilitating creation of an administrative note including the administrative information related to the monitoring of the network-based auction facility and pertaining to an administrator-selected aspect of an on-line auction facilitated by the network-based auction facility, and for associating the administrative note with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction; and

means for displaying a note indicator to indicate an association of the administrative note with the administrator-selected aspect of the on-line auction when displaying information concerning the administrator-selected aspect on a display unit of a network device, wherein the means for displaying the note indicator is to call a note function that searches a plurality of administrative notes to locate the administrative note based on the administrator-selected aspect.