Peer-assisted shopping

• US 9,607,330 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2013
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aibuy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cinsay Incorporated
• Inventors: Spitz, Robert K., Sundukovskiy, Sergey, Galindo, Delfino Jr., Downing, Todd, Briggs, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Airapetian, Mila
• Application Number:
  US13/923,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20140032366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method for peer-assisted shopping, the method includes initiating, on a first endpoint corresponding to a first user, a display of media content. The method also includes initiating, on the first endpoint, an interactive feature configured to allow the first user to interact with the first endpoint in response to the display of media content. The method further includes initiating, on the first endpoint, an option for the first user to invoke a communication request with at least a second user corresponding to at least a second endpoint. Moreover, the method includes, upon selection of the option, initiating a connection request with the at least a second endpoint.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method for peer-assisted shopping, the method comprising:

executing a media container including a media player at a first endpoint compute device associated with a first user, the first endpoint compute device comprising one or more processors configured to execute the media player, the media player including an interface configured to display digital content including media content; and

using the media player to;

initiate, at the first endpoint compute device, a display of media content in the interface, the media content being associated with one or more products or services;

initiate, at the first endpoint compute device and in association with the media content, a display of one or more interactive features in the interface, at least one of the one or more interactive features configured to allow a transaction involving the one or more products or services without leaving the media container;

in response to receiving a selection of at least one of the one or more interactive features in the interface, initiate, at the first endpoint compute device, a display of one or more options in the interface to invoke a data connection request; and

in response to receiving a selection of at least one of the one or more options in the interface, initiate the data connection request to at least one second endpoint compute device associated with at least one second user, the data connection request configured to, upon confirmation of acceptance by the at least one second endpoint compute device, execute a media container on the second compute device, the media container executed on the second compute device including a media player and an interface configured to display digital content including media content and one or more interactive features.

2. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more interactive features include a product carousel configured to display graphics or text corresponding to the one or more products or services in the interface.

3. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the media content comprises real-time content captured by the first endpoint compute device.

4. The processor-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting at least some of the real-time content captured by the first endpoint compute device to the at least one second endpoint compute device.

5. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether compute devices associated with users in a list are connected to each of multiple communication networks, the communication networks comprising at least two different networks through which the first endpoint compute device is able to initiate the connection request; and

displaying to the first user, in the interface and based on the determination, which communication network or networks each respective compute device of the compute devices associated with the users in the list is currently connected to.

6. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining one or more parameters of the first endpoint compute device;

receiving one or more parameters corresponding to the at least one second endpoint compute device; and

negotiating, based on the parameters of the first endpoint compute device and the at least one second endpoint compute device, a channel of communication among multiple possible channels of communication between the first endpoint compute device and each of the at least one second endpoint compute device.

7. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one second endpoint compute device includes multiple second endpoint compute devices; and

the processor-implemented method further comprises establishing at least two disparate types of communication channels between the first endpoint compute device and the multiple second endpoint compute devices.

8. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the connection request includes at least two messages transmitted from the first endpoint compute device to at least two different second endpoint compute devices associated with a single second user, the at least two messages allowing the single second user to respond with any of the at least two different second endpoint compute devices.

17. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more interactive features include a tool in the interface configured to allow the media content to be shared with other users.

18. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more interactive features include a tool in the interface configured to allow content at a particular location within the media content to be shared with other users.

19. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more interactive features include a tool in the interface configured to allow a comment, tag, or annotation associated with at least one of the one or more products or services to be shared with other users.

20. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more interactive features include a tool in the interface configured to allow the media content to be shared with other users and to substantially synchronize playback of the media content for the first user and the other users.

21. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more interactive features include a tool in the interface configured to share an electronic shopping cart associated with the first user with other users.

9. An apparatus comprising a first endpoint compute device, the first endpoint compute device comprising:

at least one memory configured to store instructions implementing a media container including a media player; and

at least one processor configured to execute the instructions implementing the media container including the media player, the media player configured to, when implemented, provided an interface configured to display digital content including media content;

the instructions implementing the media container including the media player including instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to;

initiate, at the first endpoint compute device, a display of media content in the interface to a first user associated with the first endpoint compute device, the media content associated with one or more products or services;

initiate, at the first endpoint compute device and in association with the media content, a display of one or more interactive features in the interface, at least one of the one or more interactive features configured to facilitate a transaction for at least one of the one or more products or services within the media container;

in response to receipt of a selection of at least one of the one or more interactive features in the interface, initiate, at the first endpoint compute device, a display of one or more options in the interface to invoke a data connection request; and

in response to receipt of a selection of at least one of the one or more options in the interface, initiate the data connection request to at least one second endpoint compute device associated with at least one second user.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more interactive features include a product carousel configured to display graphics or text corresponding to the one or more products or services in the interface.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the media content includes real-time content captured by the first endpoint compute device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions implementing the media container including the media player further include instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to initiate transmission of at least some of the real-time content captured by the first endpoint compute device to the at least one second endpoint compute device.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions implementing the media container including the media player further include instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to:

determine whether compute devices associated with users in a list are connected to each of multiple communication networks, the communication networks comprising at least two different networks through which the first endpoint is able to initiate the connection request; and

display to the first user, in the interface and based on the determination, which communication network or networks each respective compute device of the compute devices associated with the users in the list is currently connected to.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions implementing the media container including the media player further include instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to:

determine one or more parameters of the first endpoint compute device;

receive one or more parameters corresponding to the at least one second endpoint compute device; and

negotiate, based on the parameters of the first endpoint compute device and the at least one second endpoint compute device, a channel of communication among multiple possible channels of communication between the first endpoint compute device and each of the at least one second endpoint compute device.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions implementing the media container including the media player further include instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to establish at least two disparate types of communication channels between the first endpoint compute device and different ones of multiple second endpoint compute devices.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the connection request includes at least two messages; and

the instructions implementing the media container including the media player further include instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to initiate transmission of the at least two messages to at least two different second endpoint compute devices associated with a single second user so that the single second user is able to respond with any of the at least two different second endpoint compute devices.

22. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more interactive features include a tool in the interface configured to allow the media content to be shared with other users.

23. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more interactive features include a tool in the interface, the tool configured to allow a particular location within the media content to be shared with other users.

24. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more interactive features include a tool in the interface, the tool configured to allow a comment, tag, or annotation associated with at least one of the one or more products or services to be shared with other users.

25. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more interactive features include a tool in the interface, the tool configured to allow the media content to be shared with other users and to substantially synchronize playback of the media content for the first user and the other users.

26. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more interactive features include a tool in the interface, the tool configured to allow a shopping cart associated with the first user to be shared with other users.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising:

computer readable program code defining a media container including a media player having an interface configured to display digital content including media content, the code defining the media container, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to;

initiate, at a first endpoint compute device associated with a first user, a display of media content in the interface, the media content associated with one or more products or services;

initiate, at the first endpoint compute device and in association with the media content, a display of one or more interactive features in the interface, at least one of the one or more interactive features configured to allow a transaction involving at least one of the one or more products or services in the media container;

in response to detecting a selection of at least one of the one or more interactive features in the interface, initiate, at the first endpoint compute device, a display of one or more options in the interface for invoking a data connection request; and

in response to detecting a selection of at least one of the one or more options in the interface, initiate the data connection request to at least one second endpoint compute device associated with at least one second user, the data connection request configured to initiate a media container on the second compute device.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the one or more interactive features include a product carousel configured to display graphics or text corresponding to the one or more products or services in the interface.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the media content includes real-time content captured by the first endpoint compute device.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the computer readable program code defining the media container including the media player, when executed by the at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to:

initiate transmission of at least some of the real-time content captured by the first endpoint compute device to the at least one second endpoint compute device.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the computer readable program code defining the media container including the media player, when executed by the at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to:

determine whether compute devices associated with users in a list are connected to each of multiple communication networks, the communication networks comprising at least two different networks through which the first endpoint compute device is able to initiate the data connection request; and

display to the first user, in the interface and based on the determination, which communication network or networks each respective compute device of the compute devices associated with the users in the list is currently connected to.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the computer readable program code defining the media container including the media player, when executed by the at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to:

determine one or more parameters of the first endpoint compute device;

receive one or more parameters corresponding to the at least one second endpoint compute device; and

negotiate, based on the parameters of the first endpoint compute device and the at least one second endpoint compute device, a channel of communication among multiple possible channels of communication between the first endpoint compute device and each of the at least one second endpoint compute device.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein:

the at least one second endpoint compute device includes multiple second endpoint compute devices; and

the computer readable program code defining the media container including the media player, when executed by the at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to establish at least two disparate types of communication channels between the first endpoint compute device and the multiple second endpoint compute devices.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein:

the data connection request includes at least two messages; and

the computer readable program code defining the media container including the media player, when executed by the at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to initiate transmission of the at least two messages from the first endpoint compute device to at least two different second endpoint compute devices associated with a single second user so that the single second user is able to respond with any of the at least two different second endpoint compute devices.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the one or more interactive features include an option to share with other users the media content.

36. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the one or more interactive features include an option to share with other users a particular location within the media content.

37. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the one or more interactive features include an option to share with other users a comment, tag, or annotation associated with at least one of the one or more products or services.

38. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the one or more interactive features include an option to share with other users the media content and to substantially synchronize playback of the media content for the first user and the other users.

39. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the one or more interactive features include an option to share with other users a shopping cart associated with the first user.

40. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the media content includes at least one of:

one or more images, video content, or a real-time video feed.