U.S. patent application number 10/621294 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-12 for system and method for enabling a user of an e-commerce system to visually view and/or configure a product for purchase.
This patent application is currently assigned to National Instruments Corporation. Invention is credited to Lee, Reid.
Application Number | 20050102199 10/621294 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34549180 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050102199 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee, Reid |
May 12, 2005 |
System and method for enabling a user of an e-commerce system to
visually view and/or configure a product for purchase
Abstract
A system and method that enables a user to configure a
customizable product for purchase in an e-commerce system. A user
may launch a web browser on a client computer system to access a
vendor's web site to purchase a customizable product. The user may
customize the product for purchase by selecting one or more
customizable components of the product. A user may select one or
more customizable components of the product by using a forms/menu
interface or a visual graphical user interface. The vendor's web
site may receive the one or more user selections for the customized
product and may, in response, send data and information to client
computer system to visually depict the `as purchased` customized
product for user verification and product checkout.
Inventors: |
Lee, Reid; (Austin,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jeffrey C. Hood
Meyertons, Hood, Kivlin, Kowert & Goetzel PC
P.O. Box 398
Austin
TX
78767
US
|
Assignee: |
National Instruments
Corporation
|
Family ID: |
34549180 |
Appl. No.: |
10/621294 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10621294 |
Jul 17, 2003 |
|
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09498698 |
Feb 7, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.5 ;
705/27.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20130101;
G06Q 30/0641 20130101; G06Q 30/0643 20130101; G06Q 30/0621
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/027 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for enabling a user to configure a system in an
e-commerce system, wherein the e-commerce system includes a client
system coupled through a network to an electronic commerce server,
the method comprising: receiving a request from a user of the
client system to configure the system, wherein the system includes
one or more customizable components; providing an image of the
system to the client system for display, wherein images of at least
a subset of the one or more customizable components form at least a
portion of the image of the system; receiving customizable
component selections for at least one of the one or more
customizable components of the system in response to user input,
wherein said receiving customizable component selections comprises:
receiving user input selecting an image of a first customizable
component which is visually depicted in the image of the system,
wherein said receiving user input selecting the image of the first
customizable component operates to select the first customizable
component for configuration; and receiving user input selecting a
first customizable component option for the first customizable
component, wherein the user input selecting the first customizable
component option comprises the customizable component selection for
the first customizable component; wherein the customizable
component selections applied to the system specify a configured
system.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an image of
the configured system to the client system for display, wherein the
image of the configured system visually depicts the customizable
component selections of the user.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said providing the image of the
configured system includes providing customizable component
selection images corresponding to the customizable component
selections of the user.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein at least a subset of the
customizable component selection images are visually depicted at
their respective locations on the image of the configured
system.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein said providing the image of the
configured system includes providing text corresponding to the
customizable component selections of the user; wherein the text is
displayed in the image of the configured system.
6. The method of claim 2 wherein the image of the configured system
is viewable by the user and used by the user to evaluate and
confirm the customizable component selections.
7. The method of claim 2 further comprising: receiving one or more
new customizable component selections for at least one of the one
or more customizable components of the configured system after said
providing the image of the configured system to the client system,
wherein the new customizable component selections applied to the
configured system specify a new configured system; providing an
image of the new configured system, wherein the image of the new
configured system visually depicts the new customizable component
selections of the user.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said receiving selections
includes: receiving user input selecting a first customizable
component; providing a menu of possible options for the first
customizable component to the client system for display after the
user input selecting the first customizable component; receiving
user input selecting one of the possible options for the first
customizable component.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving user input
selecting the image of the first customizable component further
includes: receiving user input indicating that a position of a
cursor of the client system overlaps a location of the image of the
first customizable component displayed in the image of the
system.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving customizable
component selections further includes: providing a menu comprising
customizable component options of the first customizable component
for display on the client system after said receiving user input
selecting the image of the first customizable component.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the menu comprising the
customizable component options includes text indicating the
customizable component options.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the menu comprising the
customizable component options includes images indicating the
customizable component options.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the menu is operable to be
displayed proximate to the location of the image of the first
customizable component
14. The method of claim 10 wherein said receiving customizable
component selections further includes: providing a sequence of
images corresponding to the customizable component options of the
first customizable component after said receiving user input
selecting the image of the first customizable component.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein said receiving user input
selecting the first customizable component option includes:
providing customizable component option images corresponding to the
customizable component options of the first customizable component;
receiving user input selecting a first customizable component
option image corresponding to the first customizable component
option.
16. The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing an image of
the first customizable component option for display on the client
system in response to said receiving user input selecting the first
customizable component option for the first customizable
component.
17. A method for enabling a user to configure a measurement system
in an e-commerce system, wherein the e-commerce system includes a
client system coupled through a network to an electronic commerce
server, the method comprising: receiving a request from a user of
the client system to configure the measurement system, wherein the
measurement system includes one or more customizable components,
wherein at least one of the customizable components is a
measurement device; providing an image of the measurement system to
the client system for display, wherein images of at least a subset
of the one or more customizable components form at least a portion
of the image of the measurement system; receiving customizable
component selections for at least one of the one or more
customizable components of the measurement system in response to
user input, wherein said receiving customizable component
selections comprises: receiving user input selecting an image of a
first customizable component which is visually depicted in the
image of the measurement system, wherein said receiving user input
selecting the image of the first customizable component operates to
select the first customizable component for configuration; and
receiving user input selecting a first customizable component
option for the first customizable component, wherein the user input
selecting the first customizable component option comprises the
customizable component selection for the first customizable
component; wherein the customizable component selections applied to
the measurement system specify a configured measurement system.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing an image of
the configured measurement system to the client system for display,
wherein the image of the configured measurement system visually
depicts the customizable component selections of the user.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein said providing the image of the
configured measurement system includes providing customizable
component selection images corresponding to the customizable
component selections of the user.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein at least a subset of the
customizable component selection images are visually depicted at
their respective locations on the image of the configured
measurement system.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein said providing the image of the
configured measurement system includes providing text corresponding
to the customizable component selections of the user; wherein the
text is displayed in the image of the configured measurement
system.
22. The method of claim 18 wherein the image of the configured
measurement system is viewable by the user and used by the user to
evaluate and confirm the customizable component selections.
23. The method of claim 18 further comprising: receiving one or
more new customizable component selections for at least one of the
one or more customizable components of the configured measurement
system after said providing the image of the configured measurement
system to the client system, wherein the new customizable component
selections applied to the configured measurement system specify a
new configured measurement system; providing an image of the new
configured measurement system, wherein the image of the new
configured measurement system visually depicts the new customizable
component selections of the user.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein said receiving selections
includes: receiving user input selecting a first customizable
component; providing a menu of possible options for the first
customizable component to the client system for display after the
user input selecting the first customizable component; receiving
user input selecting one of the possible options for the first
customizable component.
25. The method of claim 17 wherein said receiving user input
selecting the image of the first customizable component further
includes: receiving user input indicating that a position of a
cursor of the client system overlaps a location of the image of the
first customizable component displayed in the image of the
measurement system.
26. The method of claim 17 wherein said receiving customizable
component selections further includes: providing a menu comprising
customizable component options of the first customizable component
for display on the client system after said receiving user input
selecting the image of the first customizable component.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the menu comprising the
customizable component options includes text indicating the
customizable component options.
28. The method of claim 26 wherein the menu comprising the
customizable component options includes images indicating the
customizable component options.
29. The method of claim 26 wherein the menu is operable to be
displayed proximate to the location of the image of the first
customizable component
30. The method of claim 26 wherein said receiving customizable
component selections further includes: providing a sequence of
images corresponding to the customizable component options of the
first customizable component after said receiving user input
selecting the image of the first customizable component.
31. The method of claim 26 wherein said receiving user input
selecting the first customizable component option includes:
providing customizable component option images corresponding to the
customizable component options of the first customizable component;
receiving user input selecting a first customizable component
option image corresponding to the first customizable component
option.
32. The method of claim 17 further comprising: providing an image
of the first customizable component option for display on the
client system in response to said receiving user input selecting
the first customizable component option for the first customizable
component.
33. A method for enabling a user to configure a computer system in
an e-commerce system, wherein the e-commerce system includes a
client system coupled through a network to an electronic commerce
server, the method comprising: receiving a request from a user of
the client system to configure the computer system, wherein the
computer system includes one or more customizable components,
wherein at least one of the customizable components is an
electronic device; providing an image of the computer system to the
client system for display, wherein images of at least a subset of
the one or more customizable components form at least a portion of
the image of the computer system; receiving customizable component
selections for at least one of the one or more customizable
components of the computer system in response to user input,
wherein said receiving customizable component selections comprises:
receiving user input selecting an image of a first customizable
component which is visually depicted in the image of the computer
system, wherein said receiving user input selecting the image of
the first customizable component operates to select the first
customizable component for configuration; and receiving user input
selecting a first customizable component option for the first
customizable component, wherein the user input selecting the first
customizable component option comprises the customizable component
selection for the first customizable component; wherein the
customizable component selections applied to the computer system
specify a configured computer system.
34. The method of claim 33 further comprising providing an image of
the configured computer system to the client system for display,
wherein the image of the configured computer system visually
depicts the customizable component selections of the user.
35. The method of claim 34 wherein said providing the image of the
configured computer system includes providing customizable
component selection images corresponding to the customizable
component selections of the user.
36. The method of claim 35 wherein at least a subset of the
customizable component selection images are visually depicted at
their respective locations on the image of the configured computer
system.
37. The method of claim 34 wherein said providing the image of the
configured computer system includes providing text corresponding to
the customizable component selections of the user; wherein the text
is displayed in the image of the configured computer system.
38. The method of claim 34 wherein the image of the configured
computer system is viewable by the user and used by the user to
evaluate and confirm the customizable component selections.
39. The method of claim 34 further comprising: receiving one or
more new customizable component selections for at least one of the
one or more customizable components of the configured computer
system after said providing the image of the configured computer
system to the client system, wherein the new customizable component
selections applied to the configured computer system specify a new
configured computer system; providing an image of the new
configured computer system, wherein the image of the new configured
computer system visually depicts the new customizable component
selections of the user.
40. The method of claim 39 wherein said receiving selections
includes: receiving user input selecting a first customizable
component; providing a menu of possible options for the first
customizable component to the client system for display after the
user input selecting the first customizable component; receiving
user input selecting one of the possible options for the first
customizable component.
41. The method of claim 33 wherein said receiving user input
selecting the image of the first customizable component further
includes: receiving user input indicating that a position of a
cursor of the client system overlaps a location of the image of the
first customizable component displayed in the image of the computer
system.
42. The method of claim 33 wherein said receiving customizable
component selections further includes: providing a menu comprising
customizable component options of the first customizable component
for display on the client system after said receiving user input
selecting the image of the first customizable component.
43. The method of claim 42 wherein the menu comprising the
customizable component options includes text indicating the
customizable component options.
44. The method of claim 42 wherein the menu comprising the
customizable component options includes images indicating the
customizable component options.
45. The method of claim 42 wherein the menu is operable to be
displayed proximate to the location of the image of the first
customizable component
46. The method of claim 42 wherein said receiving customizable
component selections further includes: providing a sequence of
images corresponding to the customizable component options of the
first customizable component after said receiving user input
selecting the image of the first customizable component.
47. The method of claim 42 wherein said receiving user input
selecting the first customizable component option includes:
providing customizable component option images corresponding to the
customizable component options of the first customizable component;
receiving user input selecting a first customizable component
option image corresponding to the first customizable component
option.
48. The method of claim 33 further comprising: providing an image
of the first customizable component option for display on the
client system in response to said receiving user input selecting
the first customizable component option for the first customizable
component.
49. A memory medium comprising program instructions for enabling a
user to configure a system in an e-commerce system, wherein the
e-commerce system includes a client system coupled through a
network to an electronic commerce server, wherein the program
instructions are executable to implement: receiving a request from
a user of the client system to configure the system, wherein the
system includes one or more customizable components; providing an
image of the system to the client system for display, wherein
images of at least a subset of the one or more customizable
components form at least a portion of the image of the system;
receiving customizable component selections for at least one of the
one or more customizable components of the system in response to
user input, wherein said receiving customizable component
selections comprises: receiving user input selecting an image of a
first customizable component which is visually depicted in the
image of the system, wherein said receiving user input selecting
the image of the first customizable component operates to select
the first customizable component for configuration; and receiving
user input selecting a first customizable component option for the
first customizable component, wherein the user input selecting the
first customizable component option comprises the customizable
component selection for the first customizable component; wherein
the customizable component selections applied to the system specify
a configured system.
50. A memory medium comprising program instructions for enabling a
user to configure a computer system in an e-commerce system,
wherein the e-commerce system includes a client system coupled
through a network to an electronic commerce server, wherein the
program instructions are executable to implement: receiving a
request from a user of the client system to configure the computer
system, wherein the computer system includes one or more
customizable components, wherein at least one of the customizable
components is an electronic device; providing an image of the
computer system to the client system for display, wherein images of
at least a subset of the one or more customizable components form
at least a portion of the image of the computer system; receiving
customizable component selections for at least one of the one or
more customizable components of the computer system in response to
user input, wherein said receiving customizable component
selections comprises: receiving user input selecting an image of a
first customizable component which is visually depicted in the
image of the computer system, wherein said receiving user input
selecting the image of the first customizable component operates to
select the first customizable component for configuration; and
receiving user input selecting a first customizable component
option for the first customizable component, wherein the user input
selecting the first customizable component option comprises the
customizable component selection for the first customizable
component; wherein the customizable component selections applied to
the computer system specify a configured computer system.
51. A memory medium comprising program instructions for enabling a
user to configure a measurement system in an e-commerce system,
wherein the e-commerce system includes a client system coupled
through a network to an electronic commerce server, wherein the
program instructions are executable to implement: receiving a
request from a user of the client system to configure the
measurement system, wherein the measurement system includes one or
more customizable components, wherein at least one of the
customizable components is a measurement device; providing an image
of the measurement system to the client system for display, wherein
images of at least a subset of the one or more customizable
components form at least a portion of the image of the measurement
system; receiving customizable component selections for at least
one of the one or more customizable components of the measurement
system in response to user input, wherein said receiving
customizable component selections comprises: receiving user input
selecting an image of a first customizable component which is
visually depicted in the image of the measurement system, wherein
said receiving user input selecting the image of the first
customizable component operates to select the first customizable
component for configuration; and receiving user input selecting a
first customizable component option for the first customizable
component, wherein the user input selecting the first customizable
component option comprises the customizable component selection for
the first customizable component; wherein the customizable
component selections applied to the measurement system specify a
configured measurement system.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 09/498,698, filed Feb. 7, 2000, entitled
"System and Method for Enabling a User of an E-Commerce System to
Visually View and/or Configure a Product for Purchase" by Lee
(Attorney Docket No. 5150-40800) which is incorporated herein in
its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of
electronic commerce. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a system and method for enabling a user of an e-commerce
system to visually view and/or configure a product for
purchase.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] Electronic commerce or Internet commerce has become an
increasingly popular form of commerce in the United States and
throughout the world. In general, electronic commerce or
Internet-based commerce, often referred to as e-commerce, provides
vendors and service providers the ability to greatly increase their
sales channel and distribution network with minimal cost. An
electronic commerce site provides a convenient and effective
mechanism for potential customers to use, select and purchase
products in an easy and simple fashion.
[0004] E-commerce based applications are gaining rapid acceptance
in various industries ranging from retail to healthcare. Products
sold via e-commerce range from consumer goods to heavy industrial
equipment. A major benefit of e-commerce technology is the ability
to customize a product or a service to solve a problem for a
specific user or customer.
[0005] Various systems have been developed for purchasing products
over the Internet. However, these systems have generally provided a
very limited visualization capability to display the specific
product being purchased by the prospective purchaser or user. For
example, some systems display a bill of materials for the product
being purchased. This method may provide specific components
included with the product being purchased, but it fails to provide
a graphical visualization of the product being purchased. Some
other systems may display an image of a general product being
ordered, but it may not represent the specific product being
purchased by the user. For example, if a purchaser orders a
personal computer over the Internet, the web site may display a
general photo or an image of the type of personal computer being
ordered, but the web site may not be able to visually display the
customizable attributes of the specific personal computer being
purchased.
[0006] Purchasing of a configurable or a complex product, such as a
computer system, an automobile, a test system or an automation
system, via the Internet, each with numerous customizable
attributes, complicates the purchasing decision for the user. A
configurable product, often simply referred to as a system, may
include many user selectable or configurable components. These
components are often assembled and packaged together on a
customized basis for a specific purchase order. However, with
current e-commerce systems a user may experience difficulty in the
selection or configuration of various options or components in the
system. The user may further experience difficulty in simply
visualizing the various possible options or components in the
system and their relative position or orientation with respect to
the system as a whole.
[0007] It may be desirable to provide a more graphical or visual
method for enabling a user to select or configure components in a
system to be purchased. It may also be highly desirable to utilize
a `What You See Is What You Get` (WSYIWYG) philosophy for products
purchased in electronic commerce. Thus, it would be highly
desirable to provide a system and method enabling a user of an
e-commerce system to visually or graphically configure a product as
well as to visually depict the final configured product, consistent
with the user configured product options.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The problems outlined above are in large part solved by a
system and method that enables a user to visually or graphically
configure and/or view a customizable product, such as for purchase
in an e-commerce system. In one embodiment, the e-commerce system
includes an e-commerce server, maintained by an e-commerce vendor.
The e-commerce server hosts an e-commerce site or a web site of the
e-commerce vendor. The e-commerce system also preferably includes a
client system which includes web browser software for accessing the
web site of the e-commerce vendor.
[0009] A user may launch the web browser on the client system to
access the vendor's web site to purchase a customizable product.
The e-commerce server for the vendor's web site may present, in one
embodiment, a forms based GUI to display customizable component
options of a product on a client computer system. In another
embodiment the GUI may be in the form of an image or graphics
visually depicting the customizable product. Images of the
customizable components of the product may be visually depicted on
the client display in close proximity to their respective locations
on the image of the customizable product displayed.
[0010] The user may customize the product for purchase by selecting
one or more customizable component options of the product. A user
may select one or more customizable component options of the
product by using a forms/menu interface or a visual graphical user
interface. In one embodiment, the user may select a customizable
component for configuration by selecting the visually displayed
image of the customizable component, wherein the customizable
components may be positioned on the image of the customizable
product corresponding to their actual position in the system. After
a customizable component has been selected, the customizable
component options may then be selected, such as by using a pop-up
menu or by the user selecting images of the options.
[0011] The vendor's web site may receive the one or more user
selections for the customized product and may, in response, send
data and information to client computer system using dynamic web
page generation technology to visually depict the current or final
`as purchased` customized product. The user may verify the visually
depicted customized product for accuracy, completeness, etc. prior
to proceeding with payment and final check out.
[0012] The present invention provides a number of benefits to
e-commerce vendors as well as e-commerce users or customers. First,
the system and method may increase the amount of revenue for
e-commerce vendors through increased closure and/or volume of
purchases. In addition, the system and method may decrease the
number of product returns due to incorrectly configured products.
The present invention may also provide a number of benefits to the
user, including ease of use in the selection, configuration and
ordering of products using the Internet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] A better understanding of the present invention can be
obtained when the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following
drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an Exemplary Network System for
Performing E-Commerce;
[0015] FIGS. 2A and 2B are a flowchart diagram illustrating one
embodiment of an E-commerce transaction;
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a graphical user interface to select
customizable component selections of a product;
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a graphical user interface to visually depict a
customized product purchased by the customer;
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a measurement system, an embodiment of a
customizable product; and
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates a computer system, another embodiment of
a customizable product.
[0020] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications
and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by
way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in
detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and
detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the
invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary,
the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] FIG. 1: Network System for Performing E-Commerce
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified and exemplary electronic
commerce (e-commerce) or Internet commerce network system according
to one embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 1 includes one e-commerce server 102 and one
client system 106, which may be connected to a network 104 such as
the Internet. However, it is noted that the present invention may
be utilized with respect to any number of e-commerce servers 102
and client systems 106.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, a vendor who offers products, for sale
over network 104, such as the Internet, preferably maintains the
e-commerce server 102. One example of an e-commerce vendor is
Amazon.com, which sells books and other items over the Internet.
The e-commerce server 102 may offer various products for sale. As
used herein, the term "product" is intended to include various
types of products, such as books, CDs, content subscription
services, furniture, online auction items, clothing, ISP service,
consumer electronics, travel, software, medical supplies,
automobiles, computer systems, measurement, test and automation
systems, etc.
[0024] As shown, the e-commerce server 102 may be connected to a
network 104, preferably the Internet 104. The Internet 104 is
currently the primary mechanism for performing electronic commerce.
However, the present invention may be used with any of various
types of wide-area networks, or networks of networks, such as the
Internet, which connects computers and networks of computers
together, thereby providing the connectivity for enabling
electronic commerce to operate. Thus, the network 104 may be any of
various types of networks, including wired and wireless networks,
or combinations thereof.
[0025] Client system 106 may also be connected to the Internet 104.
The client system 106 may be of various kinds of systems such as a
computer system, a network appliance, an Internet appliance, a
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), WEB TV, telephone, two way pager,
etc. The client system 106 may execute web browser software for
allowing a user of the client system 106 to browse and/or search
the Internet 104, as well as enabling the user to conduct
transactions or commerce over the Internet 104. The web browser
software in client computer system 106 may optionally utilize a
64-bit or 128-bit encryption technology to securely communicate
with the e-commerce server 102.
[0026] When the user of the client system 106 desires to purchase a
product from a vendor over the Internet 104, the web browser
software preferably accesses the Web site of the respective
e-commerce server, such as e-commerce server 102. The client system
106 may access a web page of the e-commerce server 102 directly or
may access the site through a link from a third party. The user of
the client computer 106 may also be referred to as a customer, a
client or a user.
[0027] The everyday shopping process may be applied in an
e-commerce environment. The customer accessing an e-commerce
vendor's home page may be analogous to a customer entering a store
for shopping. The customer may initiate the electronic commerce
shopping process by utilizing a virtual shopping cart, passing
through various `sections` within the virtual store and adding one
or more products to the virtual shopping cart. The customer may end
the shopping process by checking out, i.e., by paying for the
contents of the shopping cart, at a virtual check out counter.
[0028] Server 102
[0029] The e-commerce server 102 may include various standard
components such as one or more processors or central processing
units, one or more memory media, and other standard components,
e.g., a display device, input devices, a power supply, etc. The
e-commerce server 102 may also be implemented as two or more
different computer systems.
[0030] The e-commerce server 102 preferably includes a memory
medium on which computer programs according to the present
invention are stored. The term "memory medium" is intended to
include various types of memory or storage, including an
installation medium, e.g., a CD-ROM, or floppy disks, a computer
system memory, e.g., RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, EDO RAM, Rambus RAM,
etc., or a non-volatile memory such as a magnetic media, e.g., a
hard drive, or optical storage. The memory medium may comprise
other types of memory as well, or combinations thereof. In
addition, the memory medium may be located in a first computer in
which the programs are executed, or may be located in a second
different computer which connects to the first computer over a
network. In the latter instance, the second computer provides the
program instructions to the first computer for execution. Also, the
server 102 may take various forms, including a computer system,
mainframe computer system, workstation, or other device. In
general, the term "computer system" or "server" can be broadly
defined to encompass any device having a processor that executes
instructions from a memory medium.
[0031] The memory medium preferably stores software for an
e-commerce system to enable a user to configure and/or view a
product according to the methods or flowcharts described below. The
software program may be implemented in any of various ways,
including procedure-based techniques, component-based techniques,
and/or object-oriented techniques, among others. For example, the
software program may be implemented using ActiveX controls, C++
objects, Java objects, Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), or other
technologies or methodologies, as desired. As another example, the
dynamic web page generation may be implemented using technologies
such as Common Gateway Interface (CGI), Java Servlets, Active
Server Pages (ASP) and other similar technologies. A CPU, such as
the host CPU, executing code and data from a memory medium
comprises a means for implementing an e-commerce system to enable a
user to configure a product according to the methods or flowcharts
described below.
[0032] Various embodiments further include receiving or storing
instructions and/or data implemented in accordance with the
foregoing description upon a carrier medium. Suitable carrier media
include memory media or storage media such as magnetic or optical
media, e.g., disk or CD-ROM, as well as signals such as electrical,
electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication
medium such as networks and/or a wireless link.
[0033] FIGS. 2A and 2B: E-Commerce Flowchart
[0034] FIGS. 2A and 2B are a flowchart which illustrate one
embodiment of an e-commerce method wherein a user of an e-commerce
system may visually configure a product, and wherein the product
may be visually depicted, consistent with the user configured
product options.
[0035] In step 20, a user or customer, using the client system 106
executing web browser software, submits a request to the e-commerce
server 102 to purchase a customizable product offered by the
vendor's web site.
[0036] Some products may be purchased `off-the-shelf`, i.e.,
without further modification. Some other products, referred to
herein as configurable products, may require the customer to
specify additional options or select certain components of the
product, which may require further modification to the
`off-the-shelf` product before being shipped to the customer.
Purchasing of a configurable product, such as a computer system, an
automobile, a test, measurement, or an automation system, each with
numerous user selectable attributes, may complicate the purchasing
decision for the user. A configurable product, often simply
referred to as a system, may include many user selectable or
configurable or specifiable components. These components may often
be assembled and packaged together on a customer specific basis for
a specific purchase order. The process of specifying or selecting
or configuring one or more components of the product may be
described as customization of the product.
[0037] A product may be described as being customizable if it
includes one or more attributes, properties or components that may
be selected, configured or specified by the customer. One or more
components of a product may be described as being customizable if
the one or more components include attributes or properties that
may be selected or configured, or where the user may select one of
various possible component options. Customizable component options
may be included for every customizable component. After a
customizable component has been selected for configuration, the
customizable component options may then be presented or displayed,
wherein the user can select one or several of the customizable
component options to specify the customizable component. A
customizable component option that is selected by the user becomes
a customizable component selection. Customizable component
selections applied to a customizable product specify a customized
product.
[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates a measurement system, which is one
example of a customizable product. Customizable components of a
measurement system may include plug-in data acquisition board 520,
software 522, computer 512, signal conditioning boards 521,
sensor/transducer 524, etc. When the user specifies selections for
one or more customizable components, the measurement system may be
described as a customized product, which has been designed to meet
the requirements for a specific user. FIG. 6 illustrates a computer
system, which is another example of a customizable product. Other
examples of customizable products include, but are not limited to,
audio systems, video systems, televisions, automobiles, etc.
[0039] In step 22, the e-commerce server for the vendor's web site
may receive a customer request to purchase a customizable product.
The e-commerce server may parse the customer request to generate a
response. For example, the customer may be browsing the vendor's
web site and select the customizable product for possible
purchase.
[0040] In step 24, the e-commerce server 102 sends data and
information related to the requested customizable product to the
client system 106 for display. In step 24 the e-commerce server 102
may send data and information related to the customizable component
options of the customizable product.
[0041] In step 26, the client system 106 receives the data and
information sent by the e-commerce server 102. The client system
106 may then display an image or graphics, such as in the form of a
graphical user interface (GUI) in response to the data received
from the e-commerce server 102. The graphical user interface (GUI)
transmitted by the e-commerce server 102 in step 24 which is used
to customize the requested product may take various shapes or
forms.
[0042] In one embodiment, the GUI may be in the form of a menu.
Customizable components of the customizable product and
customizable component options for the customizable component may
be listed. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a portion of a forms
based GUI to select customizable components of a product. The user
may be allowed to select customizable component options, e.g.,
select choices, by clicking in a check box, in one embodiment, or
selecting a radio button, in another embodiment. Text corresponding
to the customizable components of the customizable product and/or
the customizable component options may be displayed in close
proximity to each other, in one embodiment.
[0043] In another embodiment, the GUI may be in the form of an
image or a graphic visually depicting the customizable product. The
customizable components of the product may be visually depicted on
the image of the customizable product, preferably in close
proximity to or "at" the respective location on the product
displayed on the client system 106 screen. For example, FIG. 4
illustrates one embodiment of a GUI visually depicting an image of
a measurement system which has already been customized. In FIG. 4,
each of the slots in the chassis may represent a customizable
component. The customizable component options of the customizable
components may also be visually depicted. For example, in FIG. 4
the customizable component options may be displayed in menus under
the image of the customizable product. Alternatively, the
customizable component options may be displayed in close proximity
to the respective location of the customizable component on the
image of the customizable product displayed on the client system
106.
[0044] The customizable components, i.e., the displayed images of
the customizable components, may be highlighted or clearly
identified in some way to indicate to the user that the respective
component is customizable. The user may activate the selection
process for a customizable component by clicking on the component
or area. In another embodiment, when the user drags a cursor of the
client system 106 over the component or area, a pop-up window or
menu may appear to enable the user to select or configure the
customizable component. The pop-up window, in one embodiment, may
include text information displayed in close proximity to the image
of the associated customizable component which displays or
indicates the customizable component options. In another
embodiment, a user may use other drag-and-drop techniques to make
customizable component selections.
[0045] In step 28, in one embodiment, as the user selects or
configures the one or more customizable components, i.e., as the
user selects customizable component options for each customizable
component, the client system 106 submits the selections for the one
or more customizable components to the vendor's e-commerce server
102. In step 30, the vendor's e-commerce server 102 receives the
data and information associated with the customer selections.
[0046] In one embodiment, on receiving the data and information
associated with the customer selections, the e-commerce server 102
may perform further processing to prepare a response or display the
current configuration selected. Thus, further processing of the
data and information received may include preparing a response to
display an image or a drawing to visually depict the current `as
ordered` customized product on a customer screen.
[0047] Instead of having every possible combination of user
selectable options and their corresponding product images stored in
separate graphics files. In one embodiment, each customizable
component image of the product may be stored in graphic files. The
e-commerce server 106 preferably dynamically integrates the
separately stored images into a single image or a drawing to
visually depict the current or final `as ordered` customized
product. The dynamic web page generation can be implemented in an
e-commerce server by using technologies like Common Gateway
Interface (CGI), Java Servlets, Active Server Pages (ASP) and other
similar technologies.
[0048] In step 32, the vendor's e-commerce server 106 sends the
data and information to the client system 106 to enable it to
generate a display to visually depict the current or final `as
ordered` customized product. In step 34, the client system 106, in
one embodiment, generates a GUI to visually depict the `as ordered`
customized product. The GUI, in another embodiment, utilizes `What
You See Is What You Get` (WSYIWYG) techniques to display a photo or
an image or a graphic to visually represent the specific,
customized product ordered by the customer. FIG. 4 illustrates one
embodiment of a visual depiction of a customized product ordered by
the customer. The user may verify the visually depicted customized
product for accuracy, completeness, etc. prior to proceeding with
payment and final check out.
[0049] In one embodiment, the process of selecting one or more
customizable components of a customizable product, then
subsequently selecting the customizable component options for the
selected customizable component, and then displaying the current
configuration, may be an interactive process performed in
real-time. The user may select a first customizable component of a
customizable product, view a plurality of options for the
customizable component, and may then make a first customizable
component selection among the various options associated with the
first customizable component. The client system 106 may receive and
display an image substantially like the current configured product,
including an image of the first customizable component selection
for the first customizable component, for user verification, etc.
Thus where the user has selected a module for a certain slot of the
PXI chassis of FIG. 4, the e-commerce server 102 may transmit an
image displaying the current state of the PXI chassis with the
selected module comprised in the chassis. The interactive process
may continue until the user has selected the desired number or
required number of customizable components and/or customizable
component options. Thus steps 28 through 34 may be repeated in an
interactive manner in real-time until the user evaluates, confirms
and completes the purchase of the customized product.
[0050] In another embodiment, the process of selecting customizable
components and visually depicting the selections of the customized
product may be a batch process, wherein the user may select options
for each of the one or more customizable components of a
customizable product and may submit a single request to the
e-commerce server for all user selections. The client system 106
may generate a GUI to visually depict, e.g., an image substantially
like the purchased product, the final customized product for user
verification, etc. The user may then verify the accuracy, etc. of
the visually depicted customized product. If the displayed
customized product is found not to meet user requirements, then
steps 28 through 34 may be repeated till the user requirements have
been met and the user completes the transaction to purchase the
customized product.
[0051] FIG. 5: Measurement System--An Example of a Customizable
Product
[0052] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary measurement system 510,
which is one embodiment of a customizable product. The system 510
comprises a computer 512, which connects to one or more
instruments. The one or more instruments may include a GPIB
(general purpose interface bus) instrument 514, a VXI (VME
eXtension for Instrumentation) chassis 516 comprising one or more
VXI card instruments, a serial instrument 518 and/or a data
acquisition board 520. The GPIB instrument 514 may be coupled to
the computer 512 via a GPIB interface provided by the computer 512.
The VXI instrument 516 may be coupled to the computer 512 via a VXI
bus or MXI bus provided by the computer. The serial instrument 518
may be coupled to the computer 512 through a serial port, such as
an RS-232 port, provided by the computer 512. Finally, the data
acquisition device 520 may be coupled to the computer 512,
typically by being plugged in to an I/O slot in the computer such
as a PCI bus slot, provided by the computer 512. The data
acquisition device 520 may couple through signal conditioning
logic. In typical measurement systems an instrument will not be
present of each interface type and in fact many systems may only
have one or more instruments of a single interface type, such as
only GPIB instruments.
[0053] The instruments may be for coupling to a unit under test
(UUT) 523, a process, or are coupled to receive field signals,
typically generated by sensors or transducers 524 which have been
designed to measure variables such as temperature, flow, pressure,
motion, etc. related to the UUT 523. The measurement system 510 may
be used in a data acquisition and control application, or may
instead be used in a test and measurement application. If the
system 510 is used in a data acquisition application, the system
510 also preferably includes signal conditioning circuitry 521
coupled between the data acquisition board 520 and transducers
524.
[0054] As discussed above, the user may configure a customized
measurement system by specifying customizable component selections
of various customizable components in the customizable measurement
system. The customization process may be performed in any desired
manner, such as starting with the transducers 524 and ending up
with the computer 512. For example, the user may start
customization with the selection of the sensor/transducers 524,
selection of signal conditioning modules 521, selection of the type
of data acquisition device 520 that has the desired sample rate,
desired number of channels, desired accuracy, etc., and then
selection of the appropriate software for the user's application,
e.g., LabVIEW, NI-DAQ driver level software, and possibly selection
of the type of computer 512. The customizable components may
include, but may not be limited to, one or more types of data
acquisition board 520, one or more types of signal condition
modules that make up signal conditioning circuitry 521, type of bus
interface (GPIB, VXI, MXI, etc.), type of VXI, GPIB or serial
instruments, software 522. The term "instrument" used herein also
includes software code or software objects, which implement
instrument functionality or are used to control instruments.
[0055] FIG. 6: Computer System--An Example of a Customizable
Product
[0056] FIG. 6 illustrates a computer system 790, which is another
embodiment of a customizable product. Customizable components of
computer system may include CPU type, memory type and/or amount
(system memory and non-volatile memory), and selection of add-in
cards or boards 710, video monitor or display 700, keyboard 720,
CD-ROM 730, pointing device 740, printer 750, scanner 760, and
other peripherals 770. Peripherals 770 may include devices such as
CRT/video monitor 700, keyboard 720, CD-ROM 730, mouse 740, printer
750, scanner 760, floppy disk (not shown), etc. The customizable
components of the computer system may also include the software,
e.g., operating system and desired applications. The above are
merely examples of customizable components, it being noted that
various other components or attributes may be selectable by a user
in configuring a computer system
[0057] The various CPU options may include CPU type, e.g., Intel
Pentium, Intel Merced, AMD Athlon, PowerPC, as well as the CPU
speed, e.g., 500 MHz, 600 MHZ, 700 MHz, etc.
[0058] The various memory options may include system memory type,
such as standard DRAM, RAMBUS RAM, synchronous DRAM, etc., memory
speed, and amount of memory, e.g., 64 Mbytes,128 Mbytes, 256
Mbytes. The various memory options may also include non-volatile
memory options such as size, e.g., 6 Gbytes, 10 Gbytes, 20 Gbytes
etc., type, e.g., magnetic or optical storage, and access time,
among others.
[0059] The various add-in card options may include choice of sound
card and speakers, choice of video card, choice of 3D graphics
card, choice of modem or other communications device, choice of
network card, and choice of instrument or automation cards, among
others.
[0060] The various display options may include display size, e.g.,
15" viewable area, 17" viewable area, and display type, e.g.,
analog CRT, LCD, flat screen, as well as refresh rate, resolution,
etc.
[0061] The various peripheral options may include selections among
different types of keyboards, such as ergonomic keyboards, type and
speed of CD-ROM, type of pointing device, such as mouse, trackball,
choice of printer, scanner, and other peripherals.
[0062] The various software options may include the operating
system, e.g., Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Linux, Mac OS,
and applications, such as word processing software, web browser
software, games, etc.
[0063] The user may initiate the customization process by selecting
the customizable components of the computer system 790. The
customization process may utilize a menu or forms based approach,
including use of menus and sub-menus. In another example, as
illustrated in FIG. 6, the customization process may utilize a
visual approach to customize the customizable components of the
product. For example, the vendor may visually depict the computer
system on a client system 106 screen, and the user may select
images of the customizable components for customization. As noted
above, the visual based approach to product customization process
may identify, with the use of color, animation, etc., all
customizable components of a product. The user may click on an
image of a customizable component for further selection and/or
specification.
[0064] Using a hierarchical approach in the selection process, the
environment related selections may specify a country where the
computer may be installed, thereby specifying the power
voltage/frequency requirements, telephone requirements, audio/video
requirements, language preferences, etc. The hardware selections
may include all boards for the computer system 790, including
motherboard, memory board, I/O boards, etc., storage devices and
then branching out to the peripheral devices such as printer 750,
etc. The software selections may include the type of operating
system, the type of web browser, optional application software,
etc.
[0065] Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent
to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully
appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be
interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.
* * * * *