U.S. patent application number 12/972311 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-21 for identifying purchase patterns and marketing based on user mood.
This patent application is currently assigned to EBAY INC.. Invention is credited to Upendra Mardikar.
Application Number | 20120158503 12/972311 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46235597 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120158503 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mardikar; Upendra |
June 21, 2012 |
IDENTIFYING PURCHASE PATTERNS AND MARKETING BASED ON USER MOOD
Abstract
A system and method for facilitating electronic commerce over a
network, according to one or more embodiments, includes
communicating with a user via a user device and a business entity
via a business entity device over the network, monitoring user
navigation events over the network, determining a mood of the user
based on user navigation behavior, marketing to the user based on
the mood of the user, and storing user information related to the
user navigation events and the mood of the user.
Inventors: |
Mardikar; Upendra; (San
Jose, CA) |
Assignee: |
EBAY INC.
San Jose
CA
|
Family ID: |
46235597 |
Appl. No.: |
12/972311 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.53 ;
705/14.66 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0269 20130101;
G06Q 30/0255 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/14.53 ;
705/14.66 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20060101
G06Q030/00 |
Claims
1. A method for facilitating transactions over a network, the
method comprising: at a server, communicating with a user via a
user device and a business entity via a business entity device over
the network; at the server, monitoring user navigation events over
the network; at the server, determining a mood of the user based on
current user navigation behavior; at the server, marketing to the
user based on the mood of the user at the time of the current user
navigation behavior; and at the server, storing user information
related to the user navigation events and the mood of the user.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: at the server,
prompting the user to login over the network after communicating
with the user via the user device over the network; at the server,
obtaining user information including user identity information from
the user via the user device over the network; at the server,
determining the identity of the user based on the user information;
and at the server, accessing a user account related to the user
based on the identity of the user.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising tracking user
navigation events over the network at the server.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: at the server,
monitoring user selection events over the network; and at the
server, tracking user selection events over the network, wherein
determining the mood of the user is based on user navigation
behavior and user selection events.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: at the server,
monitoring user purchase events over the network; and at the
server, tracking user purchase events over the network, wherein
determining the mood of the user is based on user navigation
behavior and user purchase events.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the mood of the user
includes determining at least one of a psychological state,
emotional state, and a physical state of the user.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the business entity comprises at
least one of a merchant entity, social network entity, and an
information resource entity, and the business entity maintains a
network based website on the network including at least one of a
merchant site, social network site, and an information resource
site.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein marketing to the user includes
sending marketing messages to the user via the user device over the
network based on the mood of the user.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by the
network server adapted to communicate with the user device and the
business entity device over the network.
10. A system for facilitating transactions over a network, the
system comprising: a communication component adapted to:
communicate with a user via a user device and a business entity via
a business entity device over the network; a processing component
adapted to: monitor user navigation events over the network;
determine a mood of the user based on current user navigation
behavior; market to the user based on the mood of the user at the
time of the current user navigation behavior; and store user
information related to the user navigation events and the mood of
the user.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing component is
adapted to: prompt the user to login over the network after
communicating with the user via the user device over the network;
obtain user information including user identity information from
the user via the user device over the network; determine the
identity of the user based on the user information; and access a
user account related to the user based on the identity of the
user.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing component is
adapted to track user navigation events over the network.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing component is
adapted to: monitor user selection events over the network; and
track user selection events over the network, wherein determining
the mood of the user is based on user navigation behavior and user
selection events.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing component is
adapted to: monitor user purchase events over the network; and
track user purchase events over the network, wherein determining
the mood of the user is based on user navigation behavior and user
purchase events.
15. The system of claim 10, wherein the mood of the user comprises
at least one of a psychological state, emotional state, and a
physical state of the user.
16. The system of claim 10, wherein the business entity comprises
at least one of a merchant entity, social network entity, and an
information resource entity, and the business entity maintains a
network based website on the network including at least one of a
merchant site, social network site, and an information resource
site.
17. The system of claim 10, wherein marketing to the user includes
sending marketing messages to the user via the user device over the
network based on the mood of the user.
18. A computer readable medium on which are stored computer
readable instructions and when executed causes a processor to:
communicate with a user via a user device and a merchant via a
merchant device over the network; monitor user navigation events
over the network; determine a mood of the user based on user
navigation behavior; market to the user based on the mood of the
user; and store user information related to the user navigation
events and the mood of the user.
19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the mood of
the user comprises at least one of a psychological state, emotional
state, and a physical state of the user.
20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein marketing to
the user includes sending marketing messages to the user via the
user device over the network based on the mood of the user.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention generally relates to facilitating
electronic commerce over a network and, more particularly, to
identifying current purchase patterns indicating mood over a
network.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] In online financial transactions, users typically search for
and purchase products and services through electronic
communications with online merchants over electronic networks, such
as the Internet. When shopping, users navigate through various
merchant webpages to locate and select desirable items. However,
searching for and locating desirable items can be cumbersome
because merchants may have hundreds of items to navigate through.
As a result, some merchants may offer a means to narrow search
terms, but this can be time consuming and inconvenient because the
user may understand the procedure.
[0005] As such, there exists a need to improve user experience for
online searching and locating desirable items for purchase.
SUMMARY
[0006] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and
methods for facilitating electronic commerce including identifying
purchase patterns over a network. The systems and methods include
communicating with a user via a user device and a business entity
via a business entity device over the network, monitoring user
navigation events over the network, determining a mood of the user
based on current user navigation behavior, marketing to the user
based on the current mood of the user, and storing user information
related to the user navigation events and the mood of the user.
[0007] In one implementation, the systems and methods may include
prompting the user to login over the network after communicating
with the user via the user device over the network, obtaining user
information including user identity information from the user via
the user device over the network, determining identity of the user
based on the user information, and accessing a user account related
to the user based on the identity of the user.
[0008] In another implementation, the systems and methods may
include tracking user navigation events over the network,
monitoring user selection events over the network, tracking user
selection events over the network. The mood of the user may be
based on user navigation behavior and user selection events.
[0009] In another implementation, the systems and methods may
include monitoring user purchase events over the network and
tracking user purchase events over the network. The mood of the
user may be based on user navigation behavior and user purchase
events.
[0010] In various implementations, the mood of the user may include
a psychological state, emotional state, and a physical state of the
user. Marketing to the user may include sending marketing messages
(audio and/or video messages, advertisements, coupons, commercials,
emails, voice mails, text messages, etc.) to the user via the user
device over the network based on the mood of the user. The business
entity may include a merchant entity, a social network entity,
and/or an information resource entity, and the business entity may
maintain and operate a network based website on the network
including a merchant site, a social network site, and/or an
information resource site.
[0011] Systems and methods, in accordance with embodiments of the
present disclosure, are adapted to identify purchase patterns of a
user over a network including identifying user selection patterns
and user navigation patterns. In one aspect, identified navigation,
selection, and/or purchase patterns may be utilized to identify the
mood and/or persona identity of a user. For example, if a user's
mood is philanthropic, the user may be in a mood to donate, and the
user may not be in the mood to gamble. Therefore, marketing
messages may be generated and/or adjusted to meet and/or anticipate
the user's mood at a particular time during network navigation
including online shopping. In another aspect, navigation models,
marketing messages, identity systems, etc. related to the user may
be enhanced to match the mood of the user in real time. As such,
navigational behavior and purchase history of the user may be
utilized to model the mood and personality traits of the user to
provide a seamless experience during online navigation.
[0012] These and other aspects of the present disclosure will be
more readily apparent from the detailed description of the
embodiments set forth below taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system adapted to
facilitate electronic commerce over a network, in accordance with
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a method adapted to
facilitate electronic commerce over a network, in accordance with
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a computer system suitable
for implementing one or more embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0016] Embodiments of the invention and their advantages are best
understood by referring to the detailed description that
follows.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and
methods for facilitating electronic commerce over a network
including identifying user navigation patterns including user
purchase patterns. For instance, service providers may have users
purchasing different items, products, and services from different
network based websites. Merchants, developers, and social
networking entities may be classified into different categories.
User purchase patterns that are known by the service providers may
be utilized to identify a current mood of users, because user
purchasing may depend on the mood of the user at specific times.
Navigation models, marketing messages, identity systems, etc. may
be adapted to match the current mood of the user in real time.
Purchase history and navigational behavior may be utilized to model
mood and identity of users for seamless experiences during online
navigation. Thus, based on current mood of a user, specific offers
or information may be provided to the user to enable a richer user
experience and/or stimulate spending. These and other aspects of
the present disclosure are described in greater detail herein.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a system 100 adapted for
facilitating electronic commerce over a network 160, such as the
Internet and/or a mobile communication network. As shown in FIG. 1,
the system 100 includes a user device 120 (e.g., a client,
customer, or consumer device) adapted to interface with one or more
merchant devices 140 (e.g., one or more business entities
proffering items, products, and/or services for purchase), and a
service provider 160 (e.g., a network based transaction service
provider, such as a payment processing and/or settlement
transaction provider) over the network 160. In various aspects, the
merchant devices 140 may comprise information resource devices,
social networking devices, etc., without departing from the scope
of the present disclosure.
[0019] The network 160, in one embodiment, may be implemented as a
single network or a combination of multiple networks. For example,
the network 160 may include a wireless telecommunications network
(e.g., cellular telephone network) adapted for communication with
one or more other communication networks, such as the Internet. In
other examples, the network 160 may include the Internet, one or
more intranets, landline networks, wireless networks, and/or one or
more other appropriate types of communication networks. As such, in
various implementations, the user device 120, the one or more
merchant devices 140, and the service provider 180 may be
associated with a particular link (e.g., a link, such as a URL
(Uniform Resource Locator) to an IP (Internet Protocol)
address).
[0020] The user device 120, in various embodiments, may be
implemented using any appropriate combination of hardware and/or
software configured for wired and/or wireless communication over
the network 160. In one embodiment, the user device 120 may be
implemented as a mobile communication device (e.g., wireless
cellular phone) adapted for communication with the network 160. In
other embodiments, the user device 120 may be implemented as a
personal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a
notebook computer, and/or various other generally known types of
wired and/or wireless computing devices for communication with the
network 160. It should be appreciated that the user device 120 may
be referred to as a client device or a customer device without
departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0021] The user device 120, in one embodiment, includes a user
interface application 122, which may be utilized by a user to
conduct network based financial transactions (e.g., remote network
based electronic commerce) with the one or more merchant devices
140 and/or the service provider 180 over the network 160. In
various implementations, the user interface application 122 may be
implemented as a network commerce application and/or a mobile
commerce application to initiate, track, manage, and store data and
information (e.g., user identity data and information) related to
network based electronic commerce for viewing, searching, and/or
purchasing items, products, and/or services over the network 160.
In one aspect, the user device 120 may be linked to an account with
the service provider 160 for direct and/or automatic settlement of
purchase requests between a user and the one or more merchant
devices 140 via the user interface application 122.
[0022] In one embodiment, the user interface application 122
comprises a software program, such as a graphical user interface
(GUI), executable by a processor that is configured to interface
and communicate with the one or more merchant devices 140 and/or
the service provider 180 via the network 160. In one
implementation, the user interface application 122 comprises a
browser module adapted to provide a network interface to browse
information (e.g., user identity information) available over the
network 160. For example, the user interface application 122 may be
implemented, in part, as a web browser to view and search various
types of information available over the network 160. In another
example, the user is able to access merchant websites of the one or
more merchant devices 140 over the network 160 to view, search, and
select items, products, and/or services for purchase, and the user
is able to purchase selected items, products, and/or services from
the one or more merchant devices 140 via the service provider 180.
The user may conduct network based financial transactions with one
or more merchant devices 140 via the service provider 180.
[0023] In one embodiment, upon user instruction, the user interface
application 122 may be installed and/or run on the user device 120.
The user may run the user interface application 122 on the user
device 120 to access the service provider 180 via the network 160.
In one aspect, upon installation and/or execution of the user
interface application 122, the user may be prompted to establish a
user account for login with the service provider 180, wherein the
user may use the user interface application 122 and the user device
120 to access the service provider 180 via the network 160. When
establishing a user account, the user may be asked to provide
personal information, such as name, location information (e.g.,
address), phone number, etc., and financial information, such as
banking information, credit card information, etc. In another
aspect, referring to FIG. 1, information related to the user may be
packaged as a user identifier 126, which is described in greater
detail herein.
[0024] The user device 120, in various embodiments, may include
other applications 124 as may be desired in one or more embodiments
of the present disclosure to provide additional features available
to the user. In various examples, such other applications 124 may
include security applications for implementing user-side security
features, programmatic client applications for interfacing with
appropriate application programming interfaces (APIs) over the
network 160, and/or various other types of generally known programs
and/or software applications. In various other examples, other
applications 124 may interface with the user interface application
122 for improved efficiency and convenience. In one example, files,
data, and/or information may be imported from various types of
accounting software (e.g., a spreadsheet application) directly into
the user interface application 122 for improved tracking of
payments and settlements related to purchases via the network 160.
Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the user interface
application 122 and each of the other applications 124 are adapted
to make API calls over the network 160.
[0025] The user device 120, in various embodiments, may include the
user identifier 126, which may be implemented as operating system
registry entries, cookies associated with the user interface
application 122, identifiers associated with hardware of the user
device 120, and/or various other appropriate identifiers. The user
identifier 126 may include one or more attributes related to the
user, such as personal information related to the user (e.g., one
or more user names, passwords, photograph images, biometric ids,
addresses, phone numbers, etc.) and banking information (e.g., one
or more banking institutions, credit card issuers, user account
numbers, security data and information, etc.). In various aspects,
the user identifier 126 may be passed with user transaction
requests to the service provider 180 via the network 160, and the
user identifier 126 may be utilized by the service provider 180 to
associate the user with a particular user account maintained by the
service provider 180.
[0026] The user device 120, in one embodiment, may include a
network interface component (NIC) 128 adapted for communication
with the network 160. In various implementations, the network
interface component 128 may comprise a wireless communication
component, such as a mobile cellular component, a wireless
broadband component, a wireless satellite component, or various
other types of wireless communication components including radio
frequency (RF), microwave frequency (MWF), and/or infrared
frequency (IRF) components adapted for communication with the
network 160. In various other implementations, the network
interface component 128 may be adapted to interface with a DSL
(e.g., Digital Subscriber Line) modem, a PSTN (Public Switched
Telephone Network) modem, an Ethernet device, and/or various other
types of wired and/or wireless network communication devices
adapted for communication with the network 160.
[0027] The one or more merchant devices 140, in one embodiment, may
be implemented using any appropriate combination of hardware and/or
software configured for wired and/or wireless communication over
the network 160. In various implementations, the merchant devices
140 may be implemented as a network server, a personal computer
(PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a notebook computer,
and/or various other generally known types of wired and/or wireless
computing devices for communication with the network 160. In
another implementation, the merchant device 140 may be implemented
as a mobile device (e.g., a wireless cellular phone) adapted for
communication with the network 160.
[0028] In another embodiment, the one or more merchant devices 140
may be maintained as one or more network servers by one or more
business entities (e.g., merchant sites, resource information
sites, utility sites, real estate management sites, social
networking sites, etc.) offering various items, products, and/or
services for purchase and payment, which may need registration of
user identity information as part of offering the items, products,
and/or services to one or more users over the network 160.
Accordingly, each of the one or more merchant devices 140 may
comprise at least one network based server in communication with
the network 160 having a merchant interface application 142 and a
products/services database 144 for presenting and identifying one
or more available items, products, and/or services for purchase via
the network 160, which may be made available to the user device 120
for viewing and purchase by the user. In one aspect, each of the
network based merchant servers may be accessible via a mobile
communication device (e.g., wireless cellular phone) for management
purposes. For example, each merchant entity may remotely access and
interact with their own network based merchant server via a mobile
communication device for management purposes.
[0029] In one embodiment, each of the merchant devices 140 includes
the merchant interface application 142, which may be utilized by
the one or more merchant devices 140 to conduct network based
financial transactions (e.g., remote network commerce, such as
shopping, purchasing, bidding, etc.) with one or more users via one
or more user devices 120 and/or the service provider 180 over the
network 160. For example, the merchant interface application 142
may be implemented as an electronic commerce application to
initiate, track, manage, and store data and information (e.g., user
identity data and information) related to remote network based
commerce for the viewing, searching, and purchasing of items,
products, and/or services over the network 160. In one aspect, each
merchant device 140 may be linked to an account with the service
provider 160 for direct and/or automatic settlement of purchase
requests between each merchant 140 and one or more users via the
merchant interface application 142.
[0030] In one implementation, the merchant interface application
142 comprises a software program, such as a GUI, executable by a
processor configured to interface and communicate with one or more
users via one or more user devices 120 and/or the service provider
180 via the network 160. In another implementation, merchant
interface application 142 comprises a network interface module that
makes information available to the user device 120 over the network
160. For example, the merchant interface application 142 may be
implemented, in part, as a website manager to provide, list, and
present information to the user device 120 via the network 160. In
another example, each merchant 140 is capable of providing one or
more network based merchant websites to allow viewing, searching,
and selecting of items, products, and/or services for purchase by
the user via the user device 120, and the user is able to purchase
items, products, and/or services from the one or more merchant
devices 140 via the merchant websites and the service provider 180.
As such, each of the merchant devices 140 may conduct financial
transactions with the user via the merchant interface application
142 and the service provider 180.
[0031] In various implementations, the merchant interface
application 142 may include a marketplace application, which may be
configured to provide transaction information related to the
products and/or services database 144 to the user interface
application 122 of the user device 120 via the network 160. In one
aspect, the transaction information may include user identity
information. For example, the user may interact with the merchant
140 via the marketplace application through the user interface
application 122 over the network 160 to search and view various
items, products, and/or services available for purchase from the
products/services database 144. In one implementation, the
marketplace application may include a checkout module adapted to
facilitate online financial transactions with the user 120, and the
checkout module may be adapted to accept payment from the user 120
and process the payment via interaction with the service provider
180.
[0032] In one implementation, upon merchant instruction, the
merchant interface application 142 may be installed and/or run on
each merchant device 140. Each merchant may run the merchant
interface application 142 on their merchant device 140 to access
service provider 180 via the network 160. In one aspect, upon
installation and/or execution of the merchant interface application
142, each merchant may be prompted to establish a merchant account
for login with the service provider 180, wherein each merchant may
use merchant interface application 142 and merchant device 140 to
access the service provider 180 via the network 160. In one aspect,
when establishing a merchant account, each merchant may be asked to
provide business information, such as business name, location
information (e.g., address), phone number, etc., and financial
information, such as banking information, credit card information,
taxing entity, etc. In another aspect, information related to the
merchant may be packaged as a merchant identifier 146, which is
described in greater detail herein.
[0033] In various implementations, the merchant interface
application 142 may include one or more other applications as may
be desired to provide additional features available to the
merchant. In various examples, such other applications may include
security applications for implementing user-side security features,
programmatic applications for interfacing with appropriate
application programming interfaces (APIs) over the network 160,
and/or various other types of generally known programs and/or
software applications. In various other examples, files, data,
and/or information may be imported from various types of accounting
software (e.g., a spreadsheet application) directly into the
merchant interface application 142 for improved tracking of
payments and settlements related to electronic commerce via the
network 160. As such, it should be appreciated that merchant
interface application 142 and any other application may be adapted
to make API calls over the network 160.
[0034] Each of the merchant devices 140, in various embodiments,
may include at least one merchant identifier 146, which may be
included as part of the one or more items, products, and/or
services made available for purchase so that, e.g., particular
items, products, and/or services are associated with particular
merchant devices 140. In one implementation, the merchant
identifier 146 may include one or more attributes and/or parameters
related to the merchant, such as business and/or banking
information. For example, the merchant identifier 146 may be passed
from each particular merchant 140 to the service provider 180 when
the user selects an item, product, and/or service for holding,
monitoring, and/or purchasing from each particular merchant 140. In
one aspect, the merchant identifier 146 may be used by the service
provider 180 to associate particular items, products, and/or
services selected for purchase with a particular merchant account
maintained by the service provider 180. In another aspect, the user
may conduct financial transactions (e.g., selection, monitoring,
purchasing, and/or providing payment for items, products, and/or
services) with each merchant server 140 via the service provider
180 over the network 160.
[0035] In various embodiments, each of the one or more business
entities having a related merchant server 140 may need to establish
at least one merchant account with the service provider 180. When
establishing a merchant account, each of the one or more business
entities may need to provide business information, such as owner
name, owner address, social security number, date of birth, phone
number, email address, etc., and financial information, such as
banking information, merchant account information, credit card
information, payment processing information, etc.
[0036] In one embodiment, each merchant device 140 includes at
least one network interface component (NIC) 148 adapted for
communication with the network 160. For example, in various
implementations, the network interface component 148 may comprise a
wireless communication component, such as a mobile cellular
component, a wireless broadband component, a wireless satellite
component, or various other types of wireless communication
components including radio frequency (RF), microwave frequency
(MWF), and/or infrared frequency (IRF) components adapted for
communication with the network 160. In various other
implementations, the network interface component 148 may be adapted
to interface with a DSL (e.g., Digital Subscriber Line) modem, a
PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) modem, an Ethernet device,
and/or various other types of wired and/or wireless network
communication devices adapted for communication with the network
160.
[0037] The service provider 180, in one embodiment, may be
maintained and operated by a network based transaction processing
entity, which may provide processing for network based transactions
including online information and/or financial transactions on
behalf of the user via the user device 120 and/or each merchant
device 140. As shown in FIG. 1, the service provider 180 includes a
service interface application 182, which may be adapted to interact
with the user device 120 and/or each merchant 140 over the network
160 to facilitate electronic commerce including processing user
identity data and information. In various examples, financial
transactions may include the selection, purchase, and/or payment of
items, products, and/or services by a user via the user device 120
from one or more merchant devices 140. In some examples, purchase
and payment for selected items, products, and/or services may
include one or more tax assessments. In one embodiment, the service
provider 180 may be provided by a network based transaction
processing entity, such as PayPal, Inc. and/or eBay of San Jose,
Calif., USA.
[0038] The service interface application 182, in one embodiment, is
adapted to utilize a processing module 184 to interact with the
user via the user interface application 122 over the network 160
and process information transactions including purchases and/or
payments for financial transactions between the user device 120 and
each of the merchant devices 140. In one implementation, the
processing module 184 is adapted to resolve financial transactions
through validation, delivery, and settlement. For example, the
processing module 184 may be adapted to communicate with a clearing
house, such as automated clearing house (ACH), to debit a user
account related to the user according to an amount specific in a
payment and credit therewith a merchant account related to a
merchant. In another implementation, the processing module 184 is
adapted to assess and disperse taxes for financial transactions
through validation, delivery, and settlement. For example, tax
assessment may include automatically calculating tax on Internet
purchases based on buyer location, seller location, and/or type of
items, products, and/or services purchased. Accordingly, the
service interface application 182 in conjunction with the
processing module 184 is adapted to settle indebtedness on behalf
of a user between the user device 120 and each of the merchant
devices 140, wherein accounts may be directly and/or automatically
debited and/or credited, respectively, of monetary funds in a
manner as accepted by the banking industry.
[0039] The service interface application 182, in one embodiment, is
adapted to utilize a pattern identifying module 186 to interact
with the user via the user interface application 122 over the
network 160 and identify selection, navigation, and/or purchase
patterns of the user for network based transactions. In one
implementation, the pattern identifying module 186 is adapted to
utilize user selection, navigation, and/or purchase patterns to
identify the mood and identity of the user during information
transactions over the network 160, such as when navigating and/or
purchasing items (i.e., goods, products, and/or services) over the
network 160, such as the Internet. In one aspect, the pattern
identifying module 186 is adapted to identify a user's mood and/or
identity via the user device 120 over the network 160.
[0040] In one implementation, the pattern identifying module 186 is
adapted to monitor, track, log, and store data and information
related to user selection, navigation, and/or purchasing events
during online navigation by the user via the user device 120. In
one aspect, the pattern identifying module 186 allows the service
provider 180 to monitor, track, log, and store user selection
events during online navigation over the network 160. For example,
the service provider 180 interfaces with the user device 120 via,
e.g., a browser window to monitor, track, log, and store navigation
events related to the user and the user device 120 during online
navigation on various merchant sites, social network sites,
information resource sites, etc. The pattern identifying module 186
may be utilized by the service provider 180 to monitor, track, log,
and store user selections of merchant information, social network
information, resource information, etc. In another example, the
pattern identifying module 186 may be utilized by the service
provider 180 to identify user selection patterns for determining
the mood of the user and/or verifying the identity of the user. In
another example, the service provider 180 may utilize the pattern
identifying module 186 to review user navigational history and user
navigational behavior for modeling the mood of a user, including a
psychological state, an emotional state and/or a physical state of
the user.
[0041] In one implementation, the pattern identifying module 186 is
adapted to notify users of data and information (e.g., marketing
messages) based on the mood of the user. For example, the pattern
identifying module 186 is adapted to notify or alert the user of
merchant sites related to the mood of the user with notifications
or alerts (e.g., email message, text message, instant message,
voice message, etc.) provided over the network 160.
[0042] In one implementation, the pattern identifying module 186 is
adapted to process user selection events during online shopping by
the user via the user device 120. In one aspect, the pattern
identifying module 186 allows the service provider 180 to process
user selections during online navigation and shopping events over
the network 160. For example, the service provider 180 interfaces
with the user device 120 via, e.g., a browser window to monitor the
user and the user device 120 during navigation and shopping events
on various merchant sites, social network sites, information
resource sites, etc. The pattern identifying module 186 may be
utilized by the service provider 180 to monitor user selections of
one or more items, products, and/or services. In another example,
the pattern identifying module 186 may be used by the service
provider 180 to provide the user with estimated tax amounts for
items, products, and/or services held in an online shopping
cart.
[0043] In one aspect, the service provider 180 is adapted to
monitor, track, log, and store data and information related to user
selection, navigation, and purchase events from multiple online
sites over the network 160. As such, user selection, navigation,
and purchase patterns known by the service provider 180 may be
utilized to identify the mood of the user, including the mental and
emotional state of the user, and orient marketing information to
the mood of the user at a specific time. For example, if a user's
mood is philanthropic, the user may be inclined to donate, and at
the same time, the user may not be inclined to gamble. Therefore,
the service provider 180 is adapted to enhance user navigation
models, marketing messages, identity systems, etc. to match the
mood of the user in real time. In one aspect, user behavior
including selection, navigation, and purchase history may be
utilized by the service provider 180 to model mood and/or the
identity of a user. For example, if a user is prone to purchase
electronic items, the user is provided with a seamless experience
during online navigation.
[0044] The service provider 180, in one embodiment, may be
configured to maintain one or more user accounts and merchant
accounts in an account database 190, each of which may include
account information 192 associated with one or more individual
users and the one or more merchant devices 140. In various
examples, account information 192 may include user identity data
and information related to one or more users and/or merchants. In
various other examples, account information 192 may include
inventory information, such as types of items, products, and/or
services proffered for sale by the user and/or merchants. As such,
it should be appreciated that the user may be considered a buyer or
seller and proffer items, products, and/or services for sale over
the network 160, without departing from the scope of the present
disclosure. It should also be appreciated that the merchant may be
considered a buyer or seller and proffer items, products, and/or
services for sale over the network 160, without departing from the
scope of the present disclosure.
[0045] In another example, account information 192 may include
private financial data and information of the user and/or each
merchant 140, such as one or more locations, addresses, account
numbers, passwords, credit card information, banking information,
or other types of financial information, which may be used to
facilitate online financial transactions between the user and the
one or more merchant devices 140. In various implementations, the
methods and systems described herein may be modified to accommodate
additional users and/or additional merchants that may or may not be
associated with at least one existing user account and/or merchant
account, respectively.
[0046] In one implementation, the user and/or user device 120 may
have identity attributes stored with the service provider 180 as
the user identifier 126, and the user and/or user device 120 may
have credentials to authenticate or verify identity with the
service provider 180. In one aspect, user attributes may include
personal information and banking information, as previously
described, including location, tax rates, etc. In other aspects,
the user attributes may be passed to the service provider 180 as
part of a login and/or transaction request, and the user attributes
may be utilized by the service provider 180 to associate the user
and/or the user device 120 with one or more particular user
accounts in the account database 190 maintained by the service
provider 180.
[0047] In another implementation, each of the merchants and/or
merchant devices 140 may have identity attributes stored with the
service provider 180 as merchant identifiers 146, and each of the
merchant devices 140 may have credentials to authenticate or verify
identity with the service provider 180. In one aspect, merchant
attributes may include personal, business, and banking information,
as previously described, including location, tax rates, etc. In
other aspects, the merchant attributes may be passed to the service
provider 180 as part of a login and/or transaction request, and the
merchant attributes may be utilized by the service provider 180 to
associate each of the merchant devices 140 with one or more
merchant accounts in the account database 190 maintained by the
service provider 180.
[0048] The service provider 180, in various embodiments, may
include a network interface component (NIC) 194 adapted for
communication with the network 160 and any network based
communication devices including the network interface component 128
of the user device 120 and the network interface component 148 of
each merchant 140. In various implementations, the network
interface component 194 of the service provider 180 may include a
wireless communication component, such as a wireless broadband
component, a wireless satellite component, or various other types
of wireless communication components including radio frequency
(RF), microwave frequency (MWF), and/or infrared frequency (IRF)
components adapted for communication with the network 160. In other
various implementations, the network interface component 148 may be
adapted to interface with a DSL (e.g., Digital Subscriber Line)
modem, a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) modem, an
Ethernet device, and/or various other types of wired and/or
wireless network communication devices adapted for communication
with the network 160.
[0049] The service provider 180, in one embodiment, may include one
or more databases 196 (e.g., internal and/or external databases)
for storing and tracking information related to financial
transactions, including user identity data and information, between
one or more users, merchant devices 140, and service provider 180.
In one implementation, the databases 196 may provide a historical
survey of financial transactions between the user device 120, the
one or more merchant devices 140, and the service provider 180. For
example, the service interface application 182 may be adapted to
monitor, track, log, and store transaction information, including
user identity data and information, related to network based
electronic commerce between the user device 120, each merchant 140,
and/or the service provider 180, and the stored transaction
information is accessible from the databases 196 for assessment,
analysis, maintenance, and settlement.
[0050] FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a method 200 for facilitating
electronic commerce including identifying purchase patterns over a
network 160. It should be appreciated that, for purposes of
explanation, the method 200 of FIG. 2 is described in reference to
the system 100 of FIG. 1, but should not be limited thereto.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 2, the service provider 180 is adapted to
communicate with a user via the user device 120 over the network
160 (block 210). In one implementation, the service provider 180
utilizes the service interface application 182 to communicate with
the user over the network 160 via the user interface application
122 of the user device 120. The processing module 184 may be
utilized by the service interface application 182 to process
transactions (e.g., information and financial transactions) over
the network 160. The pattern indentifying module 186 may be
utilized by the service interface application 182 to monitor,
track, log, and store data and information related to user
selection, navigation, and purchase events over the network
160.
[0052] The service provider 180 is adapted to obtain user
information, such as identity data and information, from
communication with the user via the user device 120 over the
network 160 (block 214). In one implementation, the service
provider 180 may prompt the user to login from the user device 120
over the network 160. As such, the user may login to a server of
the service provider 180 to provide user related information.
[0053] The service provider 180 is adapted to determine user
identity based on information obtained from communication with the
user via the user device 120 over the network 160 (block 218). In
one aspect, user identity information may include attributes
related to the user, such as personal information related to the
user (e.g., usernames, passwords, account numbers, payment media
information, photograph images, biometric ids, addresses including
location information, phone numbers, etc.) and banking information
(e.g., banking institutions, debit card issuers, credit card
issuers, user account numbers, payment media information, security
information, etc.). In one aspect, the user identity information
may be utilized by the service provider 180 to verify the identity
of the user along with verifying payment media, such as debit cards
and/or credit cards.
[0054] The service provider 180 is adapted to access a user account
related to the user in the account database 190 based on user
information passed from the user device 120 over the network 160
(block 222). In one implementation, the service provider device 180
is adapted to locate and access an account related to the user in
the account database 190. If the user is determined to be an
existing user by the service provider 180, then the service
provider 180 is adapted to verify the user account and user
identity information obtained from the user 102 by comparing the
obtained user information with account information 192 stored as
part of the user account in the account database 190. The service
provider 180 may determine if the user account is current and
active. In some instances, user account information may need to be
updated, and as such, the service provider device 180 may prompt
the user 102 to update user account information 188, including
payment media information (e.g., debit card and/or credit card
numbers, expiration dates, etc.), in the user account. The updated
information may include other payment media information, including
a change of address.
[0055] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
the service provider 180 may cancel any user request at any time
during the process of method 200 if, for example, it is determined
by the service provider 180 that the user enters wrong information
or the user is trying to access an account with criminal
intent.
[0056] In one implementation, referring to FIG. 2, the service
provider 180 is adapted to monitor user selection events over the
network 160 (block 226). As described herein, the service
application 182 is adapted to utilize the pattern identifying
module 186 to monitor, track, log, and store data and information
related to user selection events during online navigation by the
user via the user device 120 over the network 160. In one aspect,
the service provider 180 interfaces with the user device 120 via
the user interface application 122 (e.g., a browser application) to
monitor, track, log, and store user selection events during online
navigation over the network 160. For example, a user may visit an
online resource, social, and/or merchant website and select pages
to view data and information related to the particular site. In
another aspect, the pattern identifying module 186 may be utilized
by the service provider 180 to identify a mood of the user based on
user selections events. For example, the user may visit a social
networking website to search for a companion. Around the same time,
the user may access a healthy living website. Therefore, an
assumption about the user may be made that the user is in a
self-improving mood. In one aspect, mood of the user refers to a
psychological state, emotional state, and/or physical state of the
user.
[0057] In one implementation, referring to FIG. 2, the service
provider 180 is adapted to monitor user navigation events over the
network 160 (block 230). As described herein, the service
application 182 is adapted to utilize the pattern identifying
module 186 to monitor, track, log, and store data and information
related to user navigation events during online navigation by the
user via the user device 120 over the network 160. In one aspect,
the service provider 180 interfaces with the user device 120 via
the user interface application 122 (e.g., a browser application) to
monitor, track, log, and store user navigation events during online
navigation over the network 160. For example, a user may visit an
online resource, social, and/or merchant website and navigate
through pages to view data and information related to the
particular site. In another aspect, the pattern identifying module
186 may be utilized by the service provider 180 to identify a mood
of the user based on user navigation events. For example, the user
may visit a philanthropic website to make donations to a charity.
Around the same time, the user may not access a gambling website.
Therefore, an assumption about the user may be made that the user
is in a philanthropic mood.
[0058] In one implementation, referring to FIG. 2, the service
provider 180 is adapted to monitor user purchase events over the
network 160 (block 234). As described herein, the service
application 182 is adapted to utilize the pattern identifying
module 186 to monitor, track, log, and store data and information
related to user purchase events during online navigation by the
user via the user device 120 over the network 160. In one aspect,
the service provider 180 interfaces with the user device 120 via
the user interface application 122 (e.g., a browser application) to
monitor, track, log, and store user purchase events during online
navigation over the network 160. For example, a user may visit an
online resource, social, and/or merchant website and navigate
through pages to view data and information related to purchasing
websites. In another aspect, the pattern identifying module 186 may
be utilized by the service provider 180 to identify a purchasing
mood of the user based on user purchase events. For example, the
user may visit personal electronics website and purchase mobile
communication device. Around the same time, the user may access a
video gaming website. Therefore, an assumption about the user may
be made that the user is currently in a mobile gaming mood.
[0059] In one aspect, a user may visit an online merchant website
and navigate through the product pages to select one or more items
for purchase. The selected items are placed in a virtual shopping
cart until checkout. When the user is done shopping, the user
accesses a merchant webpage for viewing the selected items in the
virtual shopping cart. At this merchant page, the user may decide
to checkout (i.e., purchase) and select a link to the service
provider 180 to request processing of the purchase transaction.
Upon user selection, the service provider 180 receives a purchase
request in reference to the shopping cart and the one or more items
selected for purchase. In one implementation, the user purchase
request includes information related to the transaction including
user information (e.g., user name, user account, user location,
payment media information, etc.) and merchant information (e.g.,
merchant name, merchant account, merchant location, and one or more
items selected for purchase including item description, category,
price, weight, size, etc.).
[0060] Referring to FIG. 2, in one implementation, the service
provider 180 is adapted to determine user navigation behavior based
on user selection, navigation, and/or purchasing events over the
network 160 (block 238). In one aspect, the service provider 180
monitors the navigation behavior of the user as the user visits,
searches, and purchases different things from different websites
over the network 160. Each of the merchants, developers, and/or
service entities may be arranged into different categories, wherein
user selection, navigation, and/or purchase patterns known to the
service provider 180 may be utilized to determine the user's
navigation behavior at different periods of time.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 2, in one implementation, the service
provider 180 is adapted to determine user mood based on user
selection, navigation, and/or purchasing events over the network
160 (block 242). In one aspect, the service provider 180 monitors
the navigation behavior of the user as the user visits, searches,
and purchases different things from different websites over the
network 160. Each of the merchants, developers, and/or service
entities may be arranged into different categories, wherein user
selection, navigation, and/or purchase patterns known to the
service provider 180 may be utilized to determine the user's mood
at different periods of time.
[0062] In one aspect, the service provider 180 may monitor and
track webpages visited, webpages viewed, content or webpages
visited and/or viewed, content of searches conducted by the user,
frequency of searches, movements, and/or behavior conducted by the
user. In another aspect, the mood of the user may be determined
based on the identity persona of the user and/or personality type
of the user. In another aspect, the mood of the user in real time
may be adjusted based on navigation behavior during a certain
period of time to provide deviations and/or variations in marketing
to the user. In another aspect, mood may be determined based on the
type of music the user is listening to and/or interested within a
particular interval of time. The mood of the user may be determined
in any number of suitable ways, in any number of suitable
algorithms. For example, if a user has been reading about a
disaster, such as an earthquake, hurricane, etc., the user may be
in a mood for giving or more prone to charity. If a user has just
purchased one or more high-priced items or made a purchase totaling
a high dollar amount, the user may be in a mood to do more
shopping. In another example, if the use is searching for and/or
purchasing religious items, the user's mood may be more spiritual
and more prone to purchasing spiritual items or donating to
religious organizations. If a user is searching for deals and/or
using coupons, the user may be in the mood to find good deals and
less apt to spend money on full price or costly items.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 2, the service provider 180 is adapted to
market to the user based, at least, on current user navigation
behavior and/or mood of the user (block 246). In one aspect,
navigation behavior models, marketing messages, identity systems,
etc. may be oriented to match the mood of the user in real time. In
another aspect, selection history, navigation history, purchase
history along with navigational behavior may be utilized by the
service provider 180 to model mood and/or identity of the user to
provide a seamless experience during online navigation. In another
aspect, the service provider 180 may suggest websites to the user
to visit or make offers to the user depending on the determined
mood of the user. In another aspect, the service provider 180 is
adapted to utilize what is known about the user coupled with
selection, navigation, and/or purchase events to determine or
adjust marketing messages provided to the user to promote and
solicit to the user. For example, if the user is in a charitable,
giving, or generous mood, the user may be provided with offers to
donate to various charities. If the user is in a high-dollar
spending mood, the user may be provided offers to purchase high-end
items related to current or past purchases. If the user is in a sad
mood, the user may be provided offers to make the user happy or
smile, such as what the user has enjoyed purchasing before,
pictures, songs, etc.
[0064] In one implementation, marketing involves a process by which
business entities (e.g., merchants 140) utilize to generate
interest in particular items, products, goods and/or services
offered by the business entities. Marketing schemes may be
developed to generate a business strategy that emphasizes market
research, sales techniques, business communication, and/or business
development. Marketing may incorporate various integrated processes
that assist business entities with building strong customer
relationships. Marketing may involve any type of business activity
adapted to create, communicate, present, deliver, and exchange
offerings that have a perceived value for customers. For example,
offerings may include advertisements, coupons, commercials, etc.
that relay marketing information to targeted customers to thereby
entice the targeted customers to purchase particular items,
products, goods and/or services from a particular business entity.
In electronic commerce, offerings may include electronic
advertisements, coupons, and commercials including audio and video
(AV) offerings delivered over a network, such as the Internet.
[0065] In another implementation, marketing may be utilized to
identify customers, satisfy customers, and retain customers.
Marketing may involve management of business activities to identity
particular customers as a primary focus. Marketing may involve
strategies that assist business entities with shifting production
focus to the mood of customers as a means of staying profitable.
Marketing techniques may be adapted to research and develop
strategies to anticipate and meet the psychological, emotional,
and/or physical needs of customers.
[0066] In another implementation, marketing involves achieving
business development goals depending on knowing the needs and wants
of target customers and delivering satisfaction to the targeted
customers. Marketing is adapted to anticipate the needs and wants
of customers with a focused goal of satisfying these needs and
wants more effectively than competitors.
[0067] The service provider 180 is adapted to store user
information (block 250). In one aspect, user information may
include attributes related to the user including user name, user
account number, user location, payment media information, etc.,
which may be stored as part of the user account in the account
database 190. In another aspect, user information may include data
and information related to monitoring user selection events,
monitoring user navigation events, and/or monitoring user purchase
events, which may be stored as part of the user account in the
account database 190. In another aspect, user information may
include data and information related to user navigation behavior
and/or mood of the user as determined by the service provider 180,
which may be stored as part of the user account in the account
database 190. In still another aspect, user information may include
data and information related to user marketing based on user
navigation behavior and/or mood of the user, which may be stored as
part of the user account in the account database 190.
[0068] In one implementation, the service provider 180 may utilize
one or more other databases (e.g., internal and/or external
databases 196) for storing data and information related to user
information. Databases utilized by the service provider 180 may
provide a historical survey of user information and financial
transactions between the user device 120, the one or more merchant
devices 140, and the service provider 180. The service provider 180
may be adapted to monitor, track, log, and store user information
related to network based information exchanges between the user
device 120, each merchant 140, and/or the service provider 180. The
stored user information is accessible from the databases 196 for
assessment, analysis, maintenance, and settlement.
[0069] In another implementation, any data and information related
to monitoring user selection events, monitoring user navigation
events, monitoring user purchase events, user navigation behavior,
mood of the user, and/or user marketing may be displayed via a
display device to a user of the user device 120 and/or an
administrator of the service provider 180 without departing from
the scope of the present disclosure.
[0070] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computer system 300 suitable
for implementing various embodiments of the present disclosure,
including the user device 120, the merchant devices 140, and the
service provider device 180. In various implementations, the user
device 120 may comprise a network communication device (e.g.,
mobile cellular phone, laptop, personal computer, etc.) capable of
communicating with the network 160, the merchant devices 140 may
comprise a network computing device (e.g., a network server), and
the service provider device 180 may comprise a network computing
device (e.g., a network server). In other implementations, it
should be appreciated that the merchant devices 140 and the service
provider device 180 may comprise a network communication device
(e.g., mobile cellular phone, laptop, personal computer, etc.)
capable of communicating with the network 160, without departing
from the scope of the present disclosure. Hence, it should be
appreciated that each of the devices 120, 140, 180 may be
implemented as the computer system 300 for communication with the
network 160 in a manner as follows.
[0071] In accordance with various embodiments of the present
disclosure, computer system 300, such as a mobile communication
device and/or a network server, includes a bus 302 or other
communication mechanism for communicating information, which
interconnects subsystems and components, such as processing
component 304 (e.g., processor, micro-controller, digital signal
processor (DSP), etc.), system memory component 306 (e.g., RAM),
static storage component 308 (e.g., ROM), disk drive component 310
(e.g., magnetic or optical), network interface component 312 (e.g.,
modem or Ethernet card), display component 314 (e.g., CRT or LCD),
input component 316 (e.g., keyboard), cursor control component 318
(e.g., mouse or trackball), and image capture component 320 (e.g.,
analog or digital camera). In one implementation, disk drive
component 310 may comprise a database having one or more disk drive
components.
[0072] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure,
computer system 300 performs specific operations by processor 304
executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions
contained in system memory component 306. Such instructions may be
read into system memory component 306 from another computer
readable medium, such as static storage component 308 or disk drive
component 310. In other embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be
used in place of or in combination with software instructions to
implement the present disclosure.
[0073] Logic may be encoded in a computer readable medium, which
may refer to any medium that participates in providing instructions
to processor 304 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms,
including but not limited to, non-volatile media and volatile
media. In various implementations, non-volatile media includes
optical or magnetic disks, such as disk drive component 310, and
volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as system memory
component 306. In one aspect, data and information related to
execution instructions may be transmitted to computer system 300
via a transmission media, such as in the form of acoustic or light
waves, including those generated during radio wave and infrared
data communications. In various implementations, transmission media
may include coaxial cables, copper wire, and fiber optics,
including wires that comprise bus 302
[0074] Some common forms of computer readable media includes, for
example, floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any
other magnetic medium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch
cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of
holes, RAM, PROM, EPROM, FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or
cartridge, carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer
is adapted to read.
[0075] In various embodiments of the present disclosure, execution
of instruction sequences to practice the present disclosure may be
performed by computer system 300. In various other embodiments of
the present disclosure, a plurality of computer systems 300 coupled
by communication link 330 (e.g., network 160 of FIG. 1, such as a
LAN, WLAN, PTSN, and/or various other wired or wireless networks,
including telecommunications, mobile, and cellular phone networks)
may perform instruction sequences to practice the present
disclosure in coordination with one another.
[0076] Computer system 300 may transmit and receive messages, data,
information and instructions, including one or more programs (i.e.,
application code) through communication link 330 and communication
interface 312. Received program code may be executed by processor
304 as received and/or stored in disk drive component 310 or some
other non-volatile storage component for execution.
[0077] Where applicable, various embodiments provided by the
present disclosure may be implemented using hardware, software, or
combinations of hardware and software. Also, where applicable, the
various hardware components and/or software components set forth
herein may be combined into composite components comprising
software, hardware, and/or both without departing from the spirit
of the present disclosure. Where applicable, the various hardware
components and/or software components set forth herein may be
separated into sub-components comprising software, hardware, or
both without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In
addition, where applicable, it is contemplated that software
components may be implemented as hardware components and
vice-versa.
[0078] Software, in accordance with the present disclosure, such as
program code and/or data, may be stored on one or more computer
readable mediums. It is also contemplated that software identified
herein may be implemented using one or more general purpose or
specific purpose computers and/or computer systems, networked
and/or otherwise. Where applicable, the ordering of various steps
described herein may be changed, combined into composite steps,
and/or separated into sub-steps to provide features described
herein.
[0079] It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are
used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the
figures, wherein showings therein are for purposes of illustrating
embodiments of the present disclosure and not for purposes of
limiting the same.
[0080] The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the
present disclosure to the precise forms or particular fields of use
disclosed. As such, it is contemplated that various alternate
embodiments and/or modifications to the present disclosure, whether
explicitly described or implied herein, are possible in light of
the disclosure. Having thus described embodiments of the present
disclosure, persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize
that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from
the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure
is limited only by the claims.
* * * * *