Patents Assigned to Overstock.com, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20150051979
    Abstract: Personalized electronic content is generated for display on a user computer. The content is generated by first matching a targeted user online identifier to one of a plurality of user online identifiers associated with a master ID in a database. Using online user behavior associated with the user online identifiers of the master ID, a preliminary set of personalized electronic content is generated. A set of content usage parameters is applied to the preliminary set of personalized electronic content to define the personalized electronic content, which is then transmitted and displayed on a user computer. The personalized electronic content may comprise targeted advertisement utilized to populate a webpage or an email template defined by an online marketing campaign.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventors: JP Knab, Bradford Johnson, Cathy Diaz, Dustin Spangler, Kenneth Lines
  • Publication number: 20140164168
    Abstract: A system to facilitate electronic commerce associated with an online marketplace, program product, and methods are provided. Electronic commerce over a computer network is facilitated by a computer system that forms a community of computers that enable the users to buy and sell items in an online marketplace. To list the item on an online marketplace website, for example, the selling user posts an item with a seller marketplace item management website by completing an online-item marketplace item creation form. The form requires input related to the item, such as a description, sale price or minimum bid, shipping instructions, and the like, and an image file or image file location illustrating the marketplace item. The seller marketplace item management server provides a marketplace administrator server the marketplace item data including original image file or image file location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Holly C. MacDonald Korth, Samuel Jacob Peterson
  • Patent number: 8719075
    Abstract: A system to facilitate electronic commerce associated with an online marketplace, program product, and methods are provided. Electronic commerce over a computer network is facilitated by a computer system that forms a community of computers that enable the users to buy and sell items in an online marketplace. To list the item on an online marketplace website, for example, the selling user posts an item with the marketplace website by completing an online-item creation form. The form requires input related to the item, such as a description, sale price or minimum bid, shipping instructions, and the like. The selling user uploads an image file of the item to the marketplace website's server. The server contains a random image size generator that generates at least two additional images of the item that are presented to the selling user for selection of the image that the selling user wants to include on the selling website to advertise the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Holly C. MacDonald Korth, Samuel Jacob Peterson
  • Publication number: 20140122246
    Abstract: Systems, programs, non-transitory computer readable mediums, and methods of managing multiple and concurrent online advertising campaigns to eliminate user fatigue are disclosed. In particular, a campaign management server generates multiple target lists of users from a data warehouse for a plurality of pre-defined online advertising campaigns. The users on the target lists are selected to receive electronic communications, such as email or text, containing advertisements based upon target profiles associated with the campaigns as determined by marketing objectives. The advertising campaigns are prioritized such that users on a target list of a higher prioritized campaign are suppressed from lower prioritized campaigns in order to insure that the users receive a predetermined number of electronic communications within a set time frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: OVERSTOCK.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Bradford Hardy Johnson, Michael David Breitenbeker, Joshua Lloyd Selleneit, Jessica Leigh Hughes, Catherine Diaz
  • Publication number: 20140089099
    Abstract: Systems, programs, non-transitory computer readable media, and methods of providing gift recommendations to a user of a social media website hosted by a social media server are described. For example, the user may grant an administrator server authorization to interface with the social media server such that the administrator server can identify important life events of the user's social media contacts, such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and other events. If a social media contact of the user is determined to have an upcoming life event, then the administrator server generates a post containing (i) an advertisement that invites the user to review gift recommendations, and (ii) a link to a product page of an e-commerce website. Once generated, the post with the advertisement is streamed to a user device where it is displayed to the user in a ticker format along with other social media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: OVERSTOCK.COM, INC.
    Inventor: Ryan Money
  • Patent number: 8676632
    Abstract: The pricing of a product is programmatically defined as a solution to a price optimization equation that includes an in-date constraint and an out-date constraint. The in-date constraint may require that the price established by the price optimization equation be predicted not to exhaust an inventory of the product during a first time interval. The out-date constraint may require that the same price established by the price optimization equation be predicted to exhaust an inventory of the product by the end of a second time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Angela Watson, Rebecca Richardson, Anshu Jalora, Wendy Liu, Ryan Hofmann
  • Patent number: 8583480
    Abstract: Program product, systems, and methods of providing to social network websites advertising and incentives from an electronic retailer, are provided. A system can include a social network website displaying social network content and also displaying a link that reroutes the consumer to an electronic retailer website when the consumer clicks on the link. The system can also include program product for tracking purchase and other information about the consumer by the electronic retailer, and generating a commission for the provider of the social network website based on the tracked information about the consumer. The link can be embedded within the social network content or the link can be part of an advertisement and displayed adjacent the social network content. Also, a product featured in the advertisement can be affiliated with one main subject of the social network content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Byrne
  • Publication number: 20130218722
    Abstract: Electronic commerce over a publicly accessible computer network such as the Internet is facilitated and leveraged by a computer system that forms a community of computer user parties based on personal and business connections of the parties involved. Personal connections are created between users by invitation and mutual acceptance. Business connections are created between users when a transaction takes place between those users. Users search to perform any one or more of a variety of actions such as to purchase products, browse departments and categories for purchasing products, or explore the connections between the parties involved to find items to buy. Different groupings of the parties involved may be the users themselves and other buyers/sellers in the business network, the users themselves and their friends in the personal networks, or some combination of buyers/sellers and friends from each of the types of networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: OVERSTOCK.COM, INC.
    Inventor: Overstock.com, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130041779
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for conducting e-commerce. In one example, a method of conducting an e-commerce transaction includes a method of operating an online retail website. The method includes providing access to a computer interface for suppliers and presenting information to the suppliers through the computer interface regarding activity of the supplier's stock keeping unit (SKU). The suppliers are then enabled to directly modify at least one parameter associated with a presentation of the supplier's SKU on the retail website by way of the interface. The modification of the parameter may include, for example, modification of the presentation of the SKU including, for example, changing the title, adding video or photograph, or adding some other information. The modification of the parameter may also include, for example, modifying the price or entering into a bilateral agreement with the operator of the retail web site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: OVERSTOCK.COM, INC.
    Inventor: Patrick M. Byrne
  • Patent number: 8370269
    Abstract: Electronic commerce over a publicly accessible computer network such as the Internet is facilitated and leveraged by a computer system that forms a community of computer user parties based on personal and business connections of the parties involved. Personal connections are created between users by invitation and mutual acceptance. Business connections are created between users when a transaction takes place between those users. Users search to perform any one or more of a variety of actions such as to purchase products, browse departments and categories for purchasing products, or explore the connections between the parties involved to find items to buy. Different groupings of the parties involved may be the users themselves and other buyers/sellers in the business network, the users themselves and their friends in the personal networks, or some combination of buyers/sellers and friends from each of the types of networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Holly C. MacDonald-Korth, Samuel Jacob Peterson
  • Publication number: 20130024260
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for conducting transactions, such as electronic transactions over the internet. In one embodiment, an offer for a specified product or service is made by an online provider or retailer. The offer may be made in connection with certain preliminary or qualifying conditions being met. A customer may accept the offer by purchasing the good or service identified and then be provided with an incentive to publicize their purchase in an effort to get others to consider purchasing the item and also, possibly, participate in the incentive program. Certain parameters are monitored after an individual has purchased the product, and, eventually, a determination is made as to what type of reward the purchaser(s) will receive, if any. Any reward earned in accordance with the incentive program is then provided to the purchaser(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: OVERSTOCK.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Samuel J. Peterson, Ryan C. Berger
  • Patent number: 8326662
    Abstract: Example embodiments provide program products, systems, and associated methods of presenting a seller with a graphical representation of demand for a potential product listing so that the seller can intelligently price and position the product. A website server associated with a website of product listings captures in a database product preference criteria for a consumer, including, for example, price information. The website server aggregates the captured product preference criteria for a plurality of consumers and determines an imputed consumer demand for a potential product listing. The website server displays on a display device associated with a computer of a seller a multi-dimensional graph of demand for the potential product listing so that the seller can gauge market demand prior to listing a product for sale. Embodiments further include two-dimensional graphs plotting demand versus price, contour lines for the demand imposed on pricing graphs, and color-coded demand heat maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Michael Byrne, Geoffrey Russell Atkinson
  • Publication number: 20120246579
    Abstract: A social choice engine is disclosed for eliciting and receiving responses to questions or issues and ranking the responses using the Borda ranking system. The social choice engine provides a user interface to a survey administrator that allows for the defining of the social choice survey. The social choice engine also provides a pick list of possible participants, where the possible participants are members of an online community. To administer the social choice survey, the social choice engine sends electronic notifications to selected participants. The participants respond to the social choice survey through a user interface that includes interactive features. The results of the social choice survey are then displayed to the survey administrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: OVERSTOCK.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Michael Byrne, Susan Park
  • Patent number: 8214804
    Abstract: A system and method to efficiently and randomly place users into a test group associated with a test running on a website being hosted on a server is disclosed. When a user first accesses the website, a random value is transmitted to the user in such a manner that the random value is stored in a computer-readable memory local to the user. Each subsequent time the user accesses the website, the random value is returned to the server from the user. The server may then place the user into a test group for a test to which the user will be exposed on the website based upon the result of an operation that includes the random value received from the user and a unique test value previously associated with the test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian B. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20110270717
    Abstract: A system to facilitate electronic commerce associated with an online marketplace, program product, and methods are provided. Electronic commerce over a computer network is facilitated by a computer system that forms a community of computers that enable the users to buy and sell items in an online marketplace. To list the item on an online marketplace website, for example, the selling user posts an item with a seller marketplace item management website by completing an online-item marketplace item creation form. The form requires input related to the item, such as a description, sale price or minimum bid, shipping instructions, and the like, and an image file or image file location illustrating the marketplace item. The seller marketplace item management server provides a marketplace administrator server the marketplace item data including original image file or image file location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: OVERSTOCK.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Holly C. MacDonald Korth, Samuel Jacob Peterson
  • Patent number: 7983963
    Abstract: Systems, program product, and methods of electronic communication network guided navigation which allow users to obtain more relevant product search results much more quickly, are provided. An example of a system can allow a user to enter or start a product search request for a relatively broad term in a search engine and quickly start looking for relevant information by assisting the user in narrowing the product search results in a more efficient guided search. The results can be displayed to a user in a row of boxes, which focus the user on categories of potential intentions or meanings behind the product search request term or terms so that the user's intent can be quickly ascertained and the user directed to results more closely aligned with or coinciding with the user's intent behind the product search request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Byrne, Samuel Jacob Peterson, Seth Allen Moore, Thayne Lewis, Geoffrey Atkinson
  • Patent number: 7979340
    Abstract: Electronic commerce over a computer network is facilitated by a computer system that forms a community of computers that enable the users to buy and sell items in an online marketplace. To list the item on an online marketplace website, for example, the selling user posts an item with a seller marketplace item management website by completing an online-item marketplace item creation form. The form requires input related to the item, such as a description, sale price or minimum bid, shipping instructions, and the like, and an image file or image file location illustrating the marketplace item. The seller marketplace item management server provides a marketplace administrator server the marketplace item data including original image file or image file location. The server contains a random image size generator that generates at least two additional images of the marketplace item for display in a seller marketplace item web page to advertise the marketplace item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Holly C. MacDonald Korth, Samuel Jacob Peterson
  • Publication number: 20110004525
    Abstract: Program product, systems, and methods of providing to social network websites advertising and incentives from an electronic retailer, are provided. A system can include a social network website displaying social network content and also displaying a link that reroutes the consumer to an electronic retailer website when the consumer clicks on the link. The system can also include program product for tracking purchase and other information about the consumer by the electronic retailer, and generating a commission for the provider of the social network website based on the tracked information about the consumer. The link can be embedded within the social network content or the link can be part of an advertisement and displayed adjacent the social network content. Also, a product featured in the advertisement can be affiliated with one main subject of the social network content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Byrne
  • Publication number: 20090171813
    Abstract: Systems, program product, and methods of electronic communication network guided navigation which allow users to obtain more relevant product search results much more quickly, are provided. An example of a system can allow a user to enter or start a product search request for a relatively broad term in a search engine and quickly start looking for relevant information by assisting the user in narrowing the product search results in a more efficient guided search. The results can be displayed to a user in a row of boxes, which focus the user on categories of potential intentions or meanings behind the product search request term or terms so that the user's intent can be quickly ascertained and the user directed to results more closely aligned with or coinciding with the user's intent behind the product search request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Byrne, Samuel Jacob Peterson, Seth Allen Moore, Thayne Lewis, Geoffrey Atkinson
  • Publication number: 20090164323
    Abstract: Program product, systems, and methods of providing to social network websites advertising and incentives from an electronic retailer, are provided. A system can include a social network website displaying social network content and also displaying a link that reroutes the consumer to an electronic retailer website when the consumer clicks on the link. The system can also include program product for tracking purchase and other information about the consumer by the electronic retailer, and generating a commission for the provider of the social network website based on the tracked information about the consumer. The link can be embedded within the social network content or the link can be part of an advertisement and displayed adjacent the social network content. Also, a product featured in the advertisement can be affiliated with one main subject of the social network content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Byrne