Abstract: Methods and systems for automated alternative selection for compound price quotes are provided. A requesting party submits a request that includes information regarding at least one specification. A database is searched based on the information provided by the request. The search results are evaluated to determine whether they meet a predefined target. When the search results do not meet a predefined target, an alternative specification is identified. At least a second set of search results is retrieved from the database that may be used to meet the target. Vehicles are selected for inclusion in a compound price quote. A compound price quote including multiple price quotes for each selected vehicles is generated.

Abstract: A system is provided for determining an item location in a distribution center. The system includes an audio device, a transparent display, and a mobile device in communication with the audio device and the transparent display. The mobile device receives a request to determine item location from the audio device, determines a location of the mobile device, and determines an item location. The mobile device also outputs item location information to the transparent display and outputs additional information to the transparent display in response to a change of the location of the mobile device.

Abstract: One embodiment sets forth technique for computing a similarity score between two digital items is computed based on interaction histories associated with global users and interaction histories associated with local users. Global counts indicating the number of interactions associated with each unique pair of digital items are weighted based on a mixing rate. The weighted global counts are then combined with local counts to compute total counts. An effective interaction probability indicating the likelihood of a user interacting with one digital item in the pair of digital items after interacting with the other digital item in the pair is computed based on the total counts. The effective interaction probability is then corrected for noise, resulting in a similarity score indicating the similarity between the pair of digital items.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating a self-updating naturally-reading narrative product summary including assertions about a selected product. In one embodiment, the system and method includes evaluating an existing narrative product summary, comparing an existing attribute name, attribute value, attribute unit, and assertion model, respectively, to a current attribute name, attribute value, attribute unit, and assertion model to determine if one of the comparisons shows a change. The system and method further determines a new attribute associated with the selected product, selects an alternative product, retrieves a new assertion model with assertions that describe the selected product and identify an alternative product in a natural manner.

Abstract: A methodology, system and business model are disclosed for facilitating a fully automated buyer's auction in which the major types of transaction costs are significantly reduced by providing the buyer and the sellers with near-perfect information about one another, including information about buyer preferences and competing sellers' offers. The system implements a buyer's auction with multidimensional bidding that minimizes market intelligence, search, bargaining and transaction execution costs and thus creates more competitive, frictionless markets. Buyers and sellers can efficiently conduct the buyer's auction within a unified environment, thereby minimizing buyer integration costs as well. The buyer's auction generates commercially marketable proprietary information and a revenue stream for the auctioneer providing such a service.

Abstract: A system providing seller pre-qualification during the matching phase of an electronic commerce transaction includes a directory structure comprising multiple hierarchically organized product classes, each product class categorizing multiple products and defining one or more attributes of the products categorized in the product class. The system also includes one or more pointers for each product class, each pointer identifying a seller database in which product data enabling a product transaction is stored for products categorized in the product class. The system further includes a search interface configured to communicate a search query for product data only to one or more seller databases associated with sellers having seller attribute values matching the specified seller attribute criteria, these seller databases being identified by the one or more pointers associated with the selected product class.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for automatically displaying information comparing items. In use, a first item is received for displaying information associated the first item. Furthermore, information comparing the first item and a second item is automatically displayed in response to the receipt of the first item, the second item sharing at least one aspect with the first item.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for providing dynamic item pricing to a customer during online shopping and/or purchasing of wireless devices. In a representative embodiment, a dynamic pricing system is executed in a computing device that generates a network page to send to a client device over a network, the network page including a price for a specified wireless device. The dynamic pricing system communicates with the client device over the network to obtain a selected service plan associated with the specified wireless device. The dynamic pricing system determines an updated price for the specified wireless device in response to the selected service plan for access by the customer.

Abstract: A dynamic, fully-integrated computer-server-based platform (platform) provides users with tools for making informed decisions about available energy upgrades and for implementing desired home energy upgrades. In various embodiments, the platform provides various combinations of: (i) a variety of educational and assessment tools, including a Virtual Home Energy Audit (VHEA), which provides users with a customized home energy-savings plan detailing the financial and/or environmental impact of each upgrade alternative on a relative and absolute basis, (ii) product selection and purchase, (iii) access to arrangement and scheduling of in-home services through a network of professionals, (iv) financing solutions, and (v) a data registry that verifies completed upgrades and associated savings. The platform takes a holistic view of energy solutions, and provides tools across a broad spectrum of energy-related products and/or services.

Abstract: A device executes a program including a process stored in a storage device. The process includes obtaining possessed product information of a possessed product of a user, and usage status information which indicates usage of the possessed product, the process product information being based on a request from the user device, obtaining first product information corresponding to the obtained possessed product information and a second product information of a comparison target product, the first product information and the second product information including a content of the possessed product and the comparison target described in a plurality of items, respectively, extracting a prescribed item from among the items of the first product information and second product information based on the obtained usage status information, and transmitting the content based on the content of the first product information and second product information corresponding to the extracted item to the user device.

Abstract: A computerized product comparison and selection system configured to communicate with a plurality of product provider systems and a plurality of user access devices, and configured to enable a user of one of the user access devices to sequentially compare sets of different product images of a selected product type to determine user preferences for the various characteristics of the product type. A specific product is determined by the system by inferentially defining and identifying the user's preferences through analysis of visual product images selected by the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems allowing a consumer to use a graphical tool that summarizes, compares and browses multiple offers for products or services over a network or communications medium such as via the Internet. In specific embodiments, potential purchasers can make declarations to buy, which sellers can use to generate improved and customized offers.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating a self-updating naturally-reading narrative product summary including assertions about a selected product. In one embodiment, the system and method includes evaluating an existing narrative product summary, comparing an existing attribute name, attribute value, attribute unit, and assertion model, respectively, to a current attribute name, attribute value, attribute unit, and assertion model to determine if one of the comparisons shows a change. The system and method further determines a new attribute associated with the selected product, selects an alternative product, retrieves a new assertion model with assertions that describe the selected product and identify an alternative product in a natural manner.

Abstract: A method and system allows a user to aggregate product information or compare multiple products by a single query. A sales representative or end consumer is provided quick access to accurate detailed product information and comparison information, which can make shopping less confusing. The method involves generating a comparison report of two or more products, including detailed product information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system allowing a customer in a retail location to interact with the inventory of said retail location, as well as a method of using said system. The system allows for searching, sorting, and viewing the inventory information through a user device, as well as requesting, purchasing, and reserving products for sale by said retail location.

Abstract: Data mining systems and methods are disclosed for generating data that is helpful to users in selecting between items represented in an electronic data repository, such as an electronic catalog. One disclosed data mining method generates pairwise comparison data for particular pairs of items. The pairwise comparison data for a given item pair reveals a tendency of users who consider both items in the pair to select one item over the other. The pairwise comparison data may be appropriately exposed to users of the electronic repository. For instance, an item detail page for item A may be supplemented with an indication that users who view both item A and item B select item B a specified percentage of the time. Another data mining method uses item viewing histories and item purchase histories of users in combination to identify pairs of items that are good candidates for being recommended in combination.

Abstract: Comparison values are calculated for evaluating a commercial transaction. A request for quote received from a buyer agent includes a product specification data set that identifies items that differ in accordance with at least one parameter. Price data sets received from seller agents identify items and prices in response to the product specification data set. At least one of the price data sets identifies an item having a different parameter value as compared to the item in another price data set. A comparison value for each price data set is generated by determining a price total from the price data set and calculating a summed market price total by summing market price totals for each of the items. Calculating market price totals includes obtaining metric data indicative of market prices. The summed market price total is compared to the price total for the price data set to generate the comparison value.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an information management application that provides users with the ability to create and customize matrix displays of information relating to a particular product or service for navigation by other users is provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of sales generation, including sales generation employing reverse lead generation using vehicle data systems and methods, are presented herein. In particular, in certain embodiments a user may utilize the vehicle data system to obtain pricing data corresponding to a desired vehicle configuration. When the user is presented with the pricing data associated with the specified vehicle configuration the user may additionally be presented with an upfront price offered by a dealer, where by providing their personal information the user may obtain the name of the dealer offering the upfront price and may additionally be offered the opportunity to purchase the desired, or similar, vehicle at the upfront price.

Abstract: Systems and methods enable displaying an indication of traffic quality. The system retrieves keyword or other traffic data for at least one keyword associated with at least one search engine. The system compares the traffic data for a first time period to the traffic data for a second time period, according to one or more date ranges and other parameters selected by a user for each time period. As a result of the comparison, an indication of the traffic quality associated with a disparity between the first time period data and the second time period data, if any, is displayed.

Abstract: In a consumer information system, a method of comparing products and services including providing product specific information, providing merchant specific information on the specified product, providing merchant specific business information, providing product specific information collected by third parties, providing merchant specific information collected by third parties, applying weighting factors to the information provided, producing an aggregate value for each merchant based on the weighting factors as applied to the information provided, and producing a ranking of the merchants offering the specified product based on the aggregate value for each merchant. The system provides for consumers to select a set of standardized weighting factors or to modify the standardized weighting factors or to create their own weighting factors. The system provides detailed information to consumers on the breakdown of factors influencing the rating.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for making price-related predictions of items based on training a classifier using historical information including pricing information for the items and labels relating to the price-related information that are generated automatically from the historical information. A prediction system provides price-related predictions for airline tickets. The prediction system collects flight information for flights on a daily basis. The prediction system generates training data to train a classifier to make the price-related predictions using the flight information. After training the classifier, the prediction system then can make the price-related predictions for a trip.

Abstract: A system and method are described for collecting motor vehicle information and generating an individually ranked list from seller information, public databases and buyer inputs and behavior. The ranked list is dynamically generated and presents to the buyer a relevant result set from millions of non-relevant listings.

Abstract: A user account including a personal profile is stored by a server for subsequent use. The user is provided a list of displayable entries sortable using specified criteria in a manner that allows the user to review a selection of entries and to make a change to the selection prior to submitting a transaction for processing. Responsive to a request to log into the user account, the identity of the user is verified. Once verified, the transaction is facilitated between a vendor and the user pursuant to instructions from the user. The instructions are generated based on a shopping cart screen rendered by a client device of the user. The user is sent a confirmation message regarding the transaction while the user is logged in the server. The user can be provided an account screen allowing access to information relating to user transactions and information relating to an account balance.

Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a system for selecting a desired personal care product from a database of such products. The system scans the target application to determine the digital color value of the target. The resulting color value is converted into a standardized color value for comparison to a list of products with reference digital color values. A suggested product is found by searching the list for products whose reference color value closely matches the standardized color value obtained from the scan. The system is further capable of tracking customer data, sales history, and a variety of similar functions.

Abstract: An interactive system personalizes pages of an electronic catalog with information reflective of related orders placed by the user. In one embodiment, when a user requests a category page (such as a browse node page, author page, or artist page) of an electronic catalog, the system determines whether the user previously ordered any items falling within the associated category. If any such orders are identified, information regarding the prior order(s) is incorporated into the requested category page. This information may include, for example, an indication of the particular item(s) ordered, and the order date and/or status of each such order. The system may also personalize item detail pages with information regarding any orders placed for the corresponding items and/or similar items.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of controlling a virtual shopping center can include: receiving a user input at a query input engine; aggregating an output from the query input engine with a user preference, such as a purchase history or other expressed interest, to form a search criteria; searching a database using the search criteria; and displaying an image associated with a matching product or service resulting from the search of the database.

Abstract: A method for performing an action based on user interaction with a graphical presentation, according to one embodiment. In use, output data is generated corresponding to a multidimensional presentation of graphical representations of two or more consumer products in relation to each other. Additionally, positions of the graphical representations of the consumer products relative to each other are based on multiple attributes of the products. Further, none of the dimensions correlates to a side by side ordering of the consumer products. Further still, a user selection of one or more of the consumer products is received. Also, a transaction is performed based on additional input received from the user. Additional embodiments are also presented.

Abstract: A computerized system and method for monitoring an order placed by a customer for a product produced by a supplier to be delivered to a retail location. The method includes presenting an order-entry interface to collect order information about the order to be transmitted to the supplier and store the order information in a computer-accessible order database. Warehouse information authorized by the supplier and transmitted to the warehouse is also stored. A carrier database stores a shipping rate of carriers for transporting the product ordered by the customer to the retail location, and a report generation subsystem collects at least a portion of the order information, the warehouse information and the shipping rate and generates a report displaying the collected information in a single display to be substantially simultaneously reviewed by a supervisor.

Abstract: A system and method for a manufacturer to attract a customer for a distributor, via a public access network, and perform product information and ordering transactions with the customer, where payment is made to the manufacturer by credit card or from another financial account maintained by or on behalf of the customer and where the manufacturer subsequently pays the distributor and an associated manufacturer's representative. The system and method includes the customer submitting a price/quotation request or product order to a host system via the public access communications network. The host system interacts with the customer, the manufacturer, the distributor (who provides purchase order information) and a third party who provides financial approval in order to fulfill the customer request. The host system also interacts with the manufacturer, customer, distributor, manufacturer's representative and third party who provided financial approval to fulfill the order.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing specialty product information to consumers.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that enables users to share product-related information across web pages. The system includes a client that executes on a user computer. The client interacts with a data server to provide user access to product-related information associated with products represented on web pages accessed by the user. The product-related information may include information submitted by other users via other instances of the client.

Abstract: A method and a system facilitate merchandising for higher bids. In example embodiments, a proposed price for a first listing may be received from a user. In response to receiving of the proposed price, a message may be conveyed to the user when the proposed price is lower than an expected price for the first listing. In supporting the message, the user may be provided with price and popularity information related to one or more second listings similar to the first listing.

Abstract: The sales of automobiles are promoted by providing to a customer a portable media player including a user interface permitting the customer to selectively play one or more walkaround instruction files so that the customer may engage in one or more guided walkaround examinations of vehicles without the presence of a salesperson. The user interface further permits the customer to send a wireless signal requesting salesperson assistance. In response to such a signal, the salesperson engages in face-to-face interaction with the customer. The training of sales personnel may be enhanced by the same or similar portable media player as is provided to the customer, allowing the sales personnel to selectively play one or more sales training files. The media player may signal a base computer of the completion of selected training files, allowing automobile dealership management to track sales training.

Abstract: The invention comprises a financial management program and one or more databases containing information on merchants and their products. The program interacts with the databases containing the product information to return the prices and availability of goods located in a designated area. The program compares prices from various merchants and displays the results to the consumer. The program also allows the consumer to compare the prices with a household budget an financial data, while keeping track of trends in the consumer's spending and buying habits.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium for generating an itinerary in response to a request from a user are provided. The system includes a memory for storing a market table associated with a respective market, a rule table comprising rules associated with a respective fare class, and a fare table comprising fares associated with each fare class within a respective rule table. Each market table includes rule identifiers corresponding to at least one connection path, and each rule table is associated with a rule identifier corresponding to one of the rule identifiers contained within a respective market table. The system also includes a processing element for determining whether criteria associated with each connection path satisfies the rules within a respective rule table and determining a fare from a respective fare table for at least one connection path corresponding to each fare class associated with the satisfied rules within a respective rule table.

Abstract: Providing a comparison of a set of similar items includes: receiving from a first member of an online community a selection of a stored prior comparison created by another online community member of a set of similar items; providing to the first member a template for the comparison, the template being at least partially pre-populated using data from the stored prior comparison created by the other online community member; and receiving from the first member a submission of the comparison, wherein the comparison includes one or more modifications as made by the first member to the template.

Abstract: The disclosure enables a buyer to beat an advertised price and make a deal and a donation via a network by specifying at least one of a product and a service desired for purchase by the buyer, calculating a price range from a real-time network search of a comparable advertised product or service and making an offer to at least one registered seller based on a graded price from the price range comprising the seller's asking price. Furthermore, the disclosure transacts a deal between the buyer and a seller and transfers a difference between the graded price and the seller's asking price to a charity or a third party of the buyer's choice. Also, a loss difference to the seller between the seller's asking price and a graded price may be donated to a charity of the seller's choosing from the seller's proceeds and a difference with the graded price.

Abstract: Behavior-based associations, such as item-to-item or query-to-item associations, are extrapolated to other items to create new associations. The items to which the associations are extrapolated may be “behavior deficient” items, or items for which the quantity of collected user activity data is insufficient to create meaningful or reliable behavior-based associations. The behavior-based associations are extrapolated based on content-based associations, or another type of “substitutability” association, between items. The items can be any type of item (e.g., products, web sites, documents, etc.) for which user behaviors (e.g., purchases, accesses, downloads, etc.) can be monitored and analyzed to detect behavior-based associations, and for which item content or other available information can be used to assess item substitutability.

Abstract: In a remote communication environment, a method for real-time presentation of information to one or more users accessing one or more websites using an electronic communications device. Various aspects of the method comprise at least the following. Communication is established via the electronic communications device between the user and the website to conduct one or more primary transactions. One or more electronic identifiers associated with the user are obtained. One or more further or additional data elements related to the user are obtained from a third party using the at least one electronic identifier. Based at least on the electronic identifier and the further data element, the information is selected for presentation to the user in real time with the primary transaction. The information is presented to the user in real time with the primary transaction.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for recognizing and classifying clothes. During operation, the system captures at least one image of a clothing item. The system further determines a region on the captured image which corresponds to a torso and/or limbs. The system also determines at least one color composition, texture composition, collar configuration, and sleeve configuration of the clothing item. Additionally, the system classifies the clothing item into at least one category based on the determined color composition, texture composition, collar configuration, and sleeve configuration. The system then produces a result which indicates the classification.

Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating business rules for the purpose of promoting or demoting an item listing are presented. Consistent with an example embodiment, a conditional statement of a business rule that includes one or more expressions involving an item attribute and/or a seller attribute for an item listing is evaluated. If the conditional statement evaluates true, an adjustment factor set forth in the business rule is applied to a ranking score assigned to the item listing. The item listing is then presented in a search results page in a position relative to other item listings based upon the adjusted ranking score.

Abstract: A method of comparing a plurality of decision options is provided. The method can include entering a plurality of factors; determining a plurality of decision options based on the plurality of factors; calculating a score for the plurality of factors; ranking each decision option based on the total score of each factor; outputting the rankings for each decision option.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automated alternative selection for compound price quotes are provided. A requesting party submits a request that includes information regarding at least one specification. A database is searched based on the information provided by the request. The search results are evaluated to determine whether they meet a predefined target. When the search results do not meet a predefined target, an alternative specification is identified. At least a second set of search results is retrieved from the database that may be used to meet the target. Vehicles are selected for inclusion in a compound price quote. A compound price quote including multiple price quotes for each selected vehicles is generated.

Abstract: Behavior-based associations are extrapolated to items for which the quantity of collected user activity data is insufficient to create meaningful or reliable behavior-based associations (“behavior-deficient” items). The behavior-based associations are extrapolated based on content-based associations, or another type of “substitutability” association, between the behavior-deficient items and other items. The items can be any type of item for which user behaviors (e.g., purchases, accesses, downloads, etc.) can be monitored and analyzed to detect behavior-based associations, and for which item content or other available information can be used to assess item substitutability. For example, the items can be products represented in an electronic catalog, web pages or other documents accessible on a network, or web sites.

Abstract: Managing bid pricing information comprises receiving transaction information and item data from a buyer, generating a bid invitation containing entries relating to the transaction information and item data, and making the bid invitation available to a plurality of potential bidders, receiving from one or more of the potential bidders bid invitations containing a complex pricing structure and corresponding complex pricing amounts, and selecting a winning bidder based on the complex pricing amounts.

Abstract: An electronic catalog system, which may be implemented as a web site or another type of interactive system, presents context-sensitive information to customers reflective of their prior orders. In one embodiment, when a customer requests an item detail page for a particular item, the system may supplement the item detail page with information reflective of one or more related orders previously placed by the customer. This information may include, for example, an indication that the customer previously ordered this item or a related item, and may include information, such as status information, regarding such previously placed order(s). If the customer previously ordered a related item, the information provided on the item detail page may include an indication of whether the previously ordered item is compatible or interoperable with the item being viewed.

Abstract: A method and system for interactively shopping for groceries, especially on an Internet web site, where the user may create a shopping list, shop for items from the list at a selected grocery store, arrange for pick up or delivery of the selected items, and provide payment. A user may also download a created shopping list to a handheld computing device (e.g., PDA) or print the list with reference to the layout of a particular grocery store. Users are required to register and provide specific demographic information (useful to manufacturers and stores) to be eligible to receive the benefits of use of the web site, such as menu creation, coupon downloads, menu planning, and recipe input. Shopping lists may be created from a single input screen using standard language text. Products may be automatically suggested to the user based on best regular price or retailer's specials. Recipes may be altered to meet numbers of servings or to comply with dietary requirements.

Abstract: Providing a comparison of a set of similar items is disclosed. In some embodiments, a selection of a set of similar items to be included in a comparison is received from a first member of an online community, and the comparison is stored so that the comparison can be presented to a second member of the online community when an indication is received that the comparison is of interest to the second member.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method are described in which an appropriate pricing structure for a new stationery design is identified by automatically comparing attributes of the stationery design with attributes of existing stationery designs which have assigned pricing structures. In one embodiment, the attributes are prioritized such that certain attributes are weighted more than other attributes when determining an appropriate price structure. For example, in this embodiment, a search is initially performed for a price structure of an existing stationery product which shares all of the same attributes as the new stationery product. If a match is not found, then the least significant attribute is removed from the set of search criteria and another search is performed. This process continues until an existing pricing structure of a stationery product which shares the most significant attributes of the new stationery product is identified.