Patents by Inventor Paul Kotas

Paul Kotas has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7472077
    Abstract: An electronic marketplace system embodies various inventions for assisting users in listing products for sale, locating the listings for a product, and performing related actions. A user wishing to sell a product can browse to an existing description of the product in an electronic catalog and then select an option to create a corresponding listing. If the user previously purchased the product via the system, the user may alternatively select the product from a personal purchase history. To create the listing for the selected product, the user preferably specifies the product's condition and a selling price. The pending listings for a product are preferably displayed or summarized on the product's detail page in the catalog. When no such listings exist, an option to preorder the product from an unspecified seller may be provided. In one embodiment, the electronic catalog also serves as a retail sales catalog of a merchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Amazon.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil C. Roseman, Paul Kotas, Jeffrey P. Bezos, Bruce C. Moore, Richard L. Dalzell, Jeffrey M. Blackburn
  • Publication number: 20080243644
    Abstract: An electronic marketplace system provides various features for assisting users in listing products for sale, locating the listings for a product, and performing related actions. A user wishing to sell a product can browse to an existing description of the product in an electronic catalog and then select an option to create a corresponding listing. The pending listings for a product are preferably displayed or summarized on the product's detail page in the catalog. When no such listings exist, an option to preorder the product from an unspecified seller may be provided, and information regarding the resulting preorders may be displayed on the associated product detail pages to entice potential sellers. In one embodiment, the electronic catalog also serves as a retail sales catalog of a merchant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Bezos, Neil C. Roseman, Paul Kotas, Bruce C. Moore, Richard L. Dalzell, Jeffrey M. Blackburn, Michael M. George, Erin B. Kenny, Emily M. Tucker, Alandra S. Dilley
  • Publication number: 20080228592
    Abstract: An electronic marketplace system provides various features for assisting users in listing products for sale, locating the listings for a product, and performing related actions. A user wishing to sell a product can browse to an existing description of the product in an electronic catalog and then select an option to create a corresponding listing. If the user previously purchased the product via the system, the user may alternatively select the product from a personal purchase history. The system may also proactively send product-specific listing requests to those who have purchased or otherwise indicated ownership of specific products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Kotas, Neil C. Roseman, Jeffrey P. Bezos, Bruce C. Moore, Richard L. Dalzell, Jeffrey M. Blackburn, Michael M. George, Erin B. Kenny, Emily M. Tucker, Alandra S. Dilley
  • Patent number: 7389294
    Abstract: An online marketplace system provides various features for assisting users in listing products for sale, locating the listings for a product, and performing related actions. A user wishing to sell a product can browse to an existing description of the product in an electronic catalog and then select an option to create a corresponding listing. If the user previously purchased the product via the system, the user may alternatively select the product from a personal purchase history. The system may also proactively send product-specific listing requests to those predicted to own specific products. To create a listing for a selected product, the user preferably specifies the product's condition and a selling price. The pending listings for a product are preferably displayed or summarized on the product's detail page in the catalog. In one embodiment, the catalog also servers as a retail sales catalog of an online merchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Amazon.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Kotas, Neil C. Roseman, Jeffrey P. Bezos, Bruce C. Moore, Richard L. Dalzell, Jeffrey M. Blackburn, Michael M. George, Erin B. Kenny, Emily M. Tucker, Alandra S. Dilley
  • Publication number: 20080091548
    Abstract: A domain that hosts a general e-commerce marketplace establishes multiple sub-domains to host niche electronic marketplaces. These niche sub-domain sites are built around a concept and offer for sale items that relevant to that concept. The items may be selected from the general e-commerce marketplace at the host domain, or from other websites. The selected items are assigned at least one tag that is associated with the concept, thereby associating the items with the niche electronic marketplace. Other tags may also be assigned to the items to facilitate item searching and comparison. The sub-domain sites may also offer in-depth item information and a rich shopping experience that is tailored to the sophisticated shoppers who are familiar with the concept. As such, the sub-domain sites might offer professional-level commentary, community-based discussion forums, wiki-like product descriptions, blogs, and so forth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Paul A. Kotas, Joseph C. Park
  • Publication number: 20080082416
    Abstract: A domain that hosts a general e-commerce marketplace establishes multiple sub-domains to host niche electronic marketplaces. These niche sub-domain sites are built around a concept and offer for sale items that relevant to that concept. The sub-domain sites are operated by communities of individuals. Each community is responsible for determining many facets of the consumer experience at the sub-domain site. The community might, for example, select the items to offer for sale, specify the look and feel of the site, determine what content should be presented (e.g., professional-level commentary, community-based discussion forums, wiki-like product descriptions, blogs, and so forth), and manage the overall operation of the site. The community further determines which advertisements to place on the sub-domain sites and how to distribute any revenue generated by the site among the community members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Paul A. Kotas, Joseph C. Park
  • Publication number: 20080077508
    Abstract: An electronic marketplace system provides various features for assisting users in listing products for sale, locating the listings for a product, and performing related actions. A user wishing to sell a product can browse to an existing description of the product in an electronic catalog and then select an option to create a corresponding listing. The pending listings for a product are preferably displayed or summarized on the product's detail page in the catalog. When no such listings exist, an option to preorder the product from an unspecified seller may be provided, and information regarding the resulting preorders may be displayed on the associated product detail pages to entice potential sellers. In one embodiment, the electronic catalog also serves as a retail sales catalog of a merchant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bezos, Neil Roseman, Paul Kotas, Bruce Moore, Richard Dalzell, Jeffrey Blackburn
  • Patent number: 7318042
    Abstract: A facility for identifying users to whom to promote a selected auction is described. The facility maintains a representation of bidding histories of a plurality of users. At a point at which certain users have already bid in the selected auction, the facility identifies users that have not already bid in the selected auction that have bidding histories that are similar to those of users that have already bid in the selected auction. The facility then promotes the selected auction to the identified users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Amazon.com, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Kotas
  • Publication number: 20030204449
    Abstract: An online marketplace system provides various features for assisting users in listing products for sale, locating the listings for a product, and performing related actions. A user wishing to sell a product can browse to an existing description of the product in an electronic catalog and then select an option to create a corresponding listing. If the user previously purchased the product via the system, the user may alternatively select the product from a personal purchase history. The system may also proactively send product-specific listing requests to those predicted to own specific products. To create a listing for a selected product, the user preferably specifies the product's condition and a selling price. The pending listings for a product are preferably displayed or summarized on the product's detail page in the catalog. In one embodiment, the catalog also servers as a retail sales catalog of an online merchant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Paul Kotas, Neil C. Roseman, Jeffrey P. Bezos, Bruce C. Moore, Richard L. Dalzell, Jeffrey M. Blackburn
  • Publication number: 20030204447
    Abstract: An online marketplace system provides various features for assisting users in listing products for sale, locating the listings for a product, and performing related actions. A user wishing to sell a product can browse to an existing description of the product in an electronic catalog and then select an option to create a corresponding listing. To create the listing for the selected product, the user preferably specifies the product's condition and a selling price. Others may view and make purchases from such listings while browsing the catalog. In one embodiment which is part of a web page metadata service, the World Wide Web serves as the electronic catalog such that users may create, view and make purchases from product listings during viewing of third party web pages that describe the associated products. The system may also provide an option for buyers to preorder products from unspecified sellers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Richard L. Dalzell, Neil C. Roseman, Paul Kotas, Jeffrey P. Bezos, Bruce C. Moore, Jeffrey M. Blackburn
  • Publication number: 20030200156
    Abstract: An online marketplace system provides various features for assisting users in listing products for sale, locating the listings for a product, and performing related actions. A user wishing to sell a product can browse to an existing description of the product in an electronic catalog and then select an option to create a corresponding listing. If the user previously purchased the product via the system, the user may alternatively select the product from a personal purchase history. To create the listing for the selected product, the user preferably specifies the product's condition and a selling price. The pending listings for a product are preferably displayed or summarized on the product's detail page in the catalog. When no such listings exist, an option to preorder the product from an unspecified seller may be provided. In one embodiment, the catalog also servers as a retail sales catalog of an online merchant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Neil C. Roseman, Paul Kotas, Jeffrey P. Bezos, Bruce C. Moore, Richard L. Dalzell, Jeffrey M. Blackburn
  • Publication number: 20030083961
    Abstract: An online marketplace system provides various features for assisting users in listing products for sale, locating the listings for a product, and performing related actions. A user wishing to sell a product can browse to an existing description of the product in an electronic catalog and then select an option to create a corresponding listing. If the user previously purchased the product via the system, the user may alternatively select the product from a personal purchase history. The pending listings for a product are preferably displayed or summarized on the product's detail page in the catalog. When no such listings exist, an option to preorder the product from an unspecified seller may be provided, and the resulting preorders may be displayed on the associated product detail pages to entice potential sellers. In one embodiment, the catalog also servers as a retail sales catalog of an online merchant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Bezos, Neil C. Roseman, Paul Kotas, Bruce C. Moore, Richard L. Dalzell, Jeffrey M. Blackburn
  • Publication number: 20020002526
    Abstract: A facility for identifying users to whom to promote a selected auction is described. The facility maintains a representation of bidding histories of a plurality of users. At a point at which certain users have already bid in the selected auction, the facility identifies users that have not already bid in the selected auction that have bidding histories that are similar to those of users that have already bid in the selected auction. The facility then promotes the selected auction to the identified users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventor: Paul Kotas