U.S. patent application number 14/847398 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-10 for customizable data management system.
This patent application is currently assigned to THERMODYNAMIC DESIGN, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is THERMODYNAMIC DESIGN, LLC. Invention is credited to Bradley Christiansen, Arvind Prabhu, Michael Vock.
Application Number | 20160070449 14/847398 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55437535 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160070449 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Christiansen; Bradley ; et
al. |
March 10, 2016 |
CUSTOMIZABLE DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Abstract
The invention relates to methods, systems, and computer-readable
media related to a system having a plurality of users, designed to
display a user-customized subset of item and/or provider
information to the user.
Inventors: |
Christiansen; Bradley;
(Centreville, VA) ; Prabhu; Arvind; (South Riding,
VA) ; Vock; Michael; (Loveland, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
THERMODYNAMIC DESIGN, LLC |
Potomac |
MD |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
THERMODYNAMIC DESIGN, LLC
Potomac
MD
|
Family ID: |
55437535 |
Appl. No.: |
14/847398 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62047102 |
Sep 8, 2014 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/765 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/9535 20190101;
G06Q 30/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0484 20060101
G06F003/0484; G06F 3/0481 20060101 G06F003/0481 |
Claims
1. A computer system comprising: a plurality of user devices each
having a display interface available to a user; a plurality of item
providers; a global database of data objects, each data object
comprising a unique object identifier of that object and a user,
item, or provider identifier of a user, item or provider to which
that object relates, the data objects including a user association
data object comprising a target user identifier of a target user
and a follower user identifier of a user following the target user,
wherein the global database is configured responsive to the target
user expressing a tracking interest in a data object representation
by instigating a tracking instruction at their user device to
create an association between the target user identifier and the
data object representation; a global tracking database configured
responsive to the target user expressing the tracking interest in
the data object to store the association; and an information
exchange computer configured, responsive to the target user
expressing the tracking interest in the data object to access the
global database and the global tracking database and to display the
data object representation to the follower user via the display
interface of their user device.
2. A computer implemented method of selecting data objects for
interaction with a user at a graphical user interface, the method
comprising: receiving a data stream from an item provider, the data
stream identifying items available from the item provider; storing
a data object in a global database with a provider identifier
uniquely identifying the item provider; storing for each item in
the data stream a data object with an item identifier uniquely
identifying the item; detecting a user interaction at a graphical
user interface of a user device, the interaction with an item or
item provider data object representation, and associating the data
object with a user identifier uniquely identifying the user;
storing in a tracking database the association between the data
object and the user identifier; and using the tracking database to
select a customised data set of data objects based on the
associations in the tracking database, the customised data set
being for presentation at the graphical user interface.
3. A computer system comprising: a plurality of user devices each
having a display interface available to a user; a plurality of item
providers; a global database of data objects, each data object
comprising a unique object identifier of that object and a user,
item, or provider identifier of a user, item or provider to which
that object relates, the data objects including a user association
data object comprising a target user identifier of a target user
and a follower user identifier of a user following the target user,
wherein the global database is configured responsive to the target
user initiating a conversation regarding a data object
representation by instigating a conversation instruction at their
user device to create a new conversation data object based on that
data object; a global tracking database configured responsive to
the target user initiating the conversation regarding the data
object representation to store an association between the user
identifier of the target user, the object identifier of that data
object, and the object identifier of the created conversation data
object; and an information exchange computer configured, responsive
to the target user initiating the conversation regarding the data
object representation to access the global database and the global
tracking database and to display the conversation data object
representation to the follower user via the display interface of
their user device.
4. A computer implemented method of selecting data objects for
interaction with a user at a graphical user interface, the method
comprising: receiving a data stream from an item provider, the data
stream identifying items available from the item provider; storing
a data object in a global database with a provider identifier
uniquely identifying the item provider; storing for each item in
the data stream a data object with an item identifier uniquely
identifying the item; detecting a user interaction at a graphical
user interface of a user device, the interaction with an item or
item provider data object representation and comprising initiating
a conversation regarding the data object representation, and
creating a conversation data object with a conversation identifier
uniquely identifying the user and the item or item provider
represented by the data object representation; creating in a
tracking database an association between the conversation data
object, the user and the item and/or item provider data object; and
using the tracking database to select a customised data set of data
objects based on the associations in the tracking database, the
customised data set being for presentation at the graphical user
interface.
5. A method of exchanging information on a system between a first
consumer-user and one or more additional consumer-users, the system
comprising (a) a plurality of consumer-users including the first
consumer-user and the one or more additional consumer-users,
wherein the first and one or more additional consumer-users are
connected in the system, and (b) a plurality of brands including
the first brand, wherein the system is configured to receive,
filter, and/or display information related to the first
consumer-user, the first brand, the plurality of consumer-users,
the plurality of brands, a commercial item, interaction data,
comparative interaction data and combinations thereof; the method
comprising acts of: a. Viewing, by the first consumer-user, a
subset of first brand information that is provided by the system to
the first consumer-user and the one or more additional
consumer-users; and b. Viewing, by the first consumer-user, an
interaction with the subset of first brand information comprising a
conversation initiated by the first consumer-user and/or the one or
more additional consumer-users, wherein the conversation relates to
one or more members of the subset of first brand information.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the conversation is displayed by
the system to the first consumer-user and one or more additional
consumer-users in a conversation data object.
7. The method of claim 5 further comprising, viewing, by the first
consumer-user and/or the one or more additional consumer-users a
modified conversation based on the conversation initiated in step
(b).
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the modified conversation is
displayed by the system to the first consumer-user and one or more
additional consumer-users in a modified conversation data object.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/047,102, filed Sep. 8, 2014, the entire contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference. Reference is made to
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/210,509, filed Mar. 14, 2014,
and Ser. No. 14/208,825, filed Mar. 13, 2014, the disclosures of
which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a customizable data management
system that enables users to personalize their online experience
and content providers to collect user information to create a
targeted online experience for users.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Despite the various sophisticated methods developed by
online content providers to enhance the user's online experience, a
simple and expedient system that provides users a personalized
interface based on the user's individual preferences remains
elusive. In particular, there is a substantial need for a system
that efficiently selects, manages, and displays data relevant to a
user's preferences. Moreover, it is desirable to further enrich the
user's online experience by synthesizing a data set that includes
information related to an individual user's personal preferences as
well as information related to preferences shared by the user and
one or more members of that user's online social networking
community.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention contemplates the following specific
embodiments. Various modifications, additions and alterations may
be made to embodiments described herein by one skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Such
modifications, additions, and alterations are intended to fall
within the scope of the claims.
[0005] Embodiments of the present invention are directed to solve
technical problems arising in the context of managing vast
quantities of data about items available from item providers, such
that a user seeking to locate particular items or particular item
providers has a simplified experience at his user interface.
According to one aspect of the invention, a data structure is
established which allows for more efficient data processing of data
objects in the data structure to allow selected and tailored visual
representations to be made available at the graphical user
interfaces of one or more user.
[0006] Another aspect of the invention provides a facility in a
system with multiple item providers and multiple users for tracking
both item providers and users so that a rich array of tailored
visual representations can be provided to one of the users, based
on activity by the other users and/or providers.
[0007] Therefore, the invention provides embodiment (a): a computer
implemented method of selecting data objects for interaction with a
user at a graphical user interface, the method comprising:
receiving a data stream from an item provider, the data stream
identifying items available from the item provider; storing a data
object in a global database with a provider identifier uniquely
identifying the item provider; storing for each item in the data
stream a data object with an item identifier uniquely identifying
the item; detecting a user interaction at a graphical user
interface of a user device, the interaction with an item or item
provider data object representation, and creating a user data
object with a user identifier uniquely identifying the user;
creating in a tracking database an association between the user
data object and the item and/or item provider data object; and
using the tracking database to select a customized data set of data
objects based on the associations in the tracking database, the
customized data set being for presentation at the graphical user
interface. In one example, each data object of embodiment (a) is
stored with an object identifier uniquely identifying that object,
and the association between the user data object and the item
and/or item provider data object is an association between the
object identifiers of those objects. Moreover, the association of
embodiment (a) conforms to an association data structure, the
association data structure comprising respective fields for those
object identifiers. The association can be further between those
object identifiers and the user identifier, and optionally, the
association data structure comprises a further field for the user
identifier. In a further example of embodiment (a), each data
object can conform to an object data structure, the object data
structure comprising respective fields for at least some of: an
object identifier of that object; a user or provider identifier of
a creator of that data object; a user, item, or provider identifier
of a user, item or provider to which that data object relates; and
additional information for said presentation at the graphical user
interface. The method of embodiment (a) can further include,
subsequent to the item provider creating a new data object
associated with the item and/or item provider data object, updating
the customized data set to include the new data object. The global
database of embodiment (a) can contain a category data object
associated with the item and/or item provider data object; and
wherein at least one of the selected data objects is also
associated with the category data object in the tracking database,
that data object being selected for inclusion in the customized set
on that basis; and optionally, the method further comprises,
subsequent to the item provider creating a new data object
associated with the category data object, updating the customized
set to include the new data object.
[0008] Moreover, the invention provides embodiment (b): a computer
system comprising: a plurality of user devices each having a
display interface available to a user; a plurality of item
providers; a global database of data objects, each data object
comprising a unique data object identifier of that object and a
user, item, or provider identifier of a user, item or provider to
which that data object relates; computer storage storing: (i) for
each item provider, a respective provider data table comprising a
unique provider identifier of that provider and one or more item
identifiers of items provided by that provider; (ii) for each user,
a respective user data table comprising a unique user identifier of
that user and one or more item identifiers, provider identifiers,
and/or category identifiers for items, providers and/or categories
in which that user has expressed a preference; and (iii) a
customized set of data tables selected for at least a first user,
the customized set selected from the user data tables and provider
data tables based on the item and/or the provider identifiers
contained in the first users data table; a global tracking database
configured responsive to the first user expressing an additional
preference for a provider or item by instigating an association
instruction at their user device to associate that first user's
user identifier with an object identifier of a data object
comprising the provider or item identifier of that provider or
item; and an information exchange computer configured, responsive
to the first user expressing the additional interest in the item or
provider, to select one or more additional provider data tables
and/or user data tables for inclusion in the first user's
customized set to update that set, and to select at least one data
object based on the first user's updated set for display to the
first user via the display interface of their user device. The
global database of embodiment (b) can contain a category data
object and the category data object is associated with the data
object comprising the provider or item identifier of the provider
or item in which the user has expressed a subsequent interest, and
wherein the selected data object is also associated with the
category data object in the tracking database.
[0009] Also provided is embodiment (c): a computer system
comprising: a plurality of user devices each having a display
interface available to a user; a plurality of item providers; a
global database of data objects, each data object comprising a
unique object identifier of that object and a user, item, or
provider identifier of a user, item or provider to which that
object relates, the data objects including a user association data
object comprising a target user identifier of a target user and a
follower user identifier of a user following the target user,
wherein the global database is configured responsive to the target
user expressing a tracking interest in a data object representation
by instigating a tracking instruction at their user device to
create a new derivative data object based on that data object; a
global tracking database configured responsive to the target user
expressing the tracking interest in the data object to store an
association between the user identifier of the target user, the
object identifier of that data object, and the object identifier of
the created derivative data object; and an information exchange
computer configured, responsive to the target user expressing the
interest in the data object to access the global database and the
global tracking database and to display the derivative data object
representation to the follower user via the display interface of
their user device.
[0010] Embodiments (a)-(c) are used to implement various methods
described herein, as well as systems and computer readable media
designed to practice those methods. For example, the following
embodiment ((1)-(13)) relate to how embodiment (a)-(c) can be
used:
[0011] Embodiment (1): a method of exchanging brand information on
a system, wherein the system has (i) a plurality of consumer-users
including a first consumer-user and one or more additional
consumer-users, and (ii) a plurality of brands including a first
brand, the method comprising acts of: (a) receiving first brand
information; (b) receiving first brand preference information
indicating that the first consumer-user has expressed a preference
for the first brand information; (c) filtering the first brand
information to create a subset of first brand information that is
provided to the first consumer-user; (d) displaying to the first
consumer-user one or more data object representations relating to
the subset of the first brand information; (e) receiving one or
more first consumer-user interactions with the one or more data
object representations relating to the subset of first brand
information; (f) displaying to the first brand: interaction data
relating to the first brand and specific to one or more
consumer-users; interaction data related to the first brand
aggregated for a plurality of consumer-users on the system;
comparative interaction data from a plurality of customer-users
related to the first brand relative to a one or more other brands
on the system; or combinations thereof.
[0012] Embodiment (1) can further include: receiving additional
brand information from a plurality of brands; receiving additional
brand preference information indicating that the first
consumer-user has expressed a preference for an additional subset
of the additional brand information; filtering the first brand
information and the additional brand information to create one or
more supplemental subsets of additional brand information that is
provided to the first consumer-user; displaying to the first
consumer-user one or more data object representations relating to
the one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand
information; receiving one or more first consumer-user interactions
with the one or more data object representations relating to the
one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand information;
and displaying to each of the additional brands: (i) interaction
data relating to the one or more additional brands and specific to
the one or more consumer-users expressing a preference for the one
or more additional brand information; (ii) interaction data related
to the one or more additional brands aggregated for a plurality of
consumer-users on the system; (iii) comparative interaction data
from a plurality of customer-users related to the one or more
additional brands relative to a one or more other brands on the
system; or (iv) combinations thereof.
[0013] Moreover, embodiment (1) can further comprise displaying to
the first consumer-user first brand information not previously
displayed to the first consumer-user on the system. The displaying
step (d) can also include displaying to one or more additional
consumer-users one or more data object representations relating to
the subset of the first brand information, wherein the one or more
additional consumer-users have a relationship with the first
consumer-user.
[0014] The interaction data in embodiment (1) comprises the number
and/or demographic information related to (i) one or more
consumers-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the system,
(ii) consumers-users expressing a preference for one or more
interest categories, (iii) one of more consumer-users of the
plurality of consumer-users on the system expressing a preference
for the first brand, (iv) one or more consumer-users on the system
expressing a preference for the first brand commercial item, (v)
all consumer-users of the system, or (vi) combinations thereof.
[0015] The one or more first consumer-user interactions with the
subset of data object representations in embodiment (1) includes:
viewing one or more data object representations of the subset,
expressing a preference for one or more data object representations
of the subset, commenting on one or more data object
representations in the subset, commenting on one or more derivative
data object representations in the subset, participating in a
dialog regarding one or more data object representations in the
subset, offering an opinion regarding one or more data object
representations of the subset, providing a rating for one or more
data object representations of the subset, clicking through one or
more data object representations of the subset to view additional
details, clicking through one or more data object of the subset to
view first brand-hosted information, participating in a survey
regarding one or more data object representations of the subset,
requesting further information from the first brand regarding one
or more data object representations of the subset, buying a
commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset from a third-party retailer/reseller,
buying a commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset directly from the first brand, buying
a commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset from an individual, participating in
an auction regarding one or more data object representations of the
subset, offering a commercial item displayed in one or more data
object representations in the subset for free, loan, sale, lease,
and/or rental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed
in one or more data object representations in the subset,
requesting that a discontinued commercial item displayed in one or
more data object representations in the subset is re-introduced by
the first brand and/or an authorized retailer/reseller thereof,
suggesting to the first brand product ideas, improvements, and/or
corrections regarding one or more data objects in the subset, or
combinations thereof.
[0016] The interaction data of embodiment (1) includes first brand
data object-consumer clicks, first brand data object consumer
impressions, first brand derivative data object consumer clicks,
first brand derivative data object-system consumer impressions,
total system-consumer clicks, system-consumer clicks per interest
category, total system-consumer impressions, system-consumer
impressions per interest category, average interest category click
through rate, interest category seasonal trend data, average
conversion rate, or combinations thereof.
[0017] The demographic information of embodiment (1) comprises
gender, ethnicity, age, income, education, home ownership,
location, employment status, shopping history, personal interests
and/or hobbies, or combinations thereof.
[0018] The comparative interaction data of embodiment (1) comprises
the number and/or demographic information related to (i) one or
more consumers-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the
system, (ii) consumers-users expressing a preference for one or
more interest categories, (iii) one of more consumer-users of the
plurality of consumer-users on the system expressing a preference
for the first brand, (iv) one or more consumer-users on the system
expressing a preference for the first brand commercial item, (v)
all consumer-users of the system, or (vi) combinations thereof.
[0019] The comparative interaction data of embodiment (1) can
further comprise first brand data object representation-consumer
clicks, first brand data object representation-consumer
impressions, first brand derivative data object representation
consumer clicks, first brand derivative data object
representation-consumer impressions, total system-consumer clicks,
system-consumer clicks per interest category, total system-consumer
impressions, system-consumer impressions per interest category,
average interest category click through rate, interest category
seasonal trend data, average conversion rate, or combinations
thereof.
[0020] The comparative interaction data of embodiment (1) is
optionally collected over a defined time interval. For example, the
defined time interval is a time period in which the first brand
and/or a first brand competitor has participated in the system.
[0021] The comparative interaction data of embodiment (1) further
comprises brand ranking data for the first brand in relation to the
plurality of brands; and/or brand ranking data for the first brand
in relation to one or more competitor brands of the plurality of
brands.
[0022] The first brand information of embodiment (1) comprises
general brand information including information related to one or
more brand trademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more
commercial item logos, brand description, interest categories
associated with brand, brand media, brand purchasing information,
retail information, brand promotional information, information
related brands within the brand portfolio, related brand
description, related brand products, or combinations thereof. For
example, brand media includes a brand-specific video file, a
brand-specific audio file, or print media, and/or brand-specific
supporting documents and information comprises one or more
literature references, reviews, blog link, press release, forum
link, or combinations thereof. In addition, the first brand
information of embodiment (1) comprises first brand commercial item
information including information related to one or more commercial
item trademarks, commercial item description information,
commercial item media, commercial item purchasing information,
commercial item retail information, commercial item promotional
information, related first brand products, or combinations
thereof.
[0023] The commercial item description information of embodiment
(1) comprises an item image, one or more item-specific supporting
documents and information, one or more commercial item reviews, a
commercial item rating, or combinations thereof. For example,
commercial item media includes a commercial item-specific video
file, a commercial item-specific audio file, or print media;
commercial item-specific supporting documents and information
comprises one or more literature references, reviews, blog link,
press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.
[0024] The first brand preference information of embodiment (1)
includes system tracking preference for the first brand information
and the method further comprises filtering the first brand
information to create a first supplemental subset of first brand
information that is provided to the first consumer-user expressing
a system tracking preference for the first brand information; and
displaying to the first consumer user one or more derivative data
object representations relating to the first supplemental subset of
the first brand information, wherein the one or more derivative
data objects are associated in the system with the one or more data
objects.
[0025] The method of embodiment (1) can further include receiving
first consumer-user preference information indicating that an
additional consumer-user has a system tracking preference for the
first consumer-user; filtering the first brand information to
create a second supplemental subset of first brand information that
is provided to the additional consumer-user expressing a system
tracking preference for the first consumer-user; and displaying to
the additional consumer-user one or more data object
representations and/or derivative data object representations
relating to the second supplemental subset of the first brand
information. The method of embodiment (1) can also include
receiving first consumer-user preference information indicating
that a first brand-user has a system tracking preference for the
first consumer-user; filtering the first brand information to
create a third supplemental subset of first brand information that
is provided to the first brand-user expressing a system tracking
preference for the first consumer-user; and displaying to the first
brand-user one or more data object representations and/or
derivative data object representations relating to the third
supplemental subset of the first brand information.
[0026] The system tracking preference of embodiment (1) is
expressed by following and/or listing a data object representation
and/or a derivative data object representation.
[0027] The method of embodiment (1) can further include receiving
additional brand preference information indicating that an
additional brand of the plurality of brands has a preference for
the first consumer-user; and displaying to the additional brand one
or more data object representations relating to the subset of the
first brand information. In one example of embodiment (1), a
preference is expressed as a following, listing, friending, and/or
liking a data object representation and/or a derivative data object
representation. A system tracking preference can be selected from
following and/or listing a data object representation and/or a
derivative data object representation. For example, the expression
of a system tracking preference for a data object representation by
the first consumer-user generates a derivative data object based on
the data object, wherein the derivative data object is associated
in the system with the data object and the first consumer-user. The
expression of a system tracking preference for a data object
representation by a first brand-user can generate a derivative data
object based on the data object, wherein the derivative data object
is associated in the system with the data object and the first
brand-user. In a specific example, a modification to a data object
generates a modification to all derivative data objects of the data
object. The modification can include an edit to one or more data
object elements, an addition to the data object, deletion of one or
more data object elements, the addition of a comment regarding a
data object, or combinations thereof.
[0028] The system in embodiment (1) can include a first brand-user
and the method further comprises displaying to the first brand-user
interaction data related to the plurality of consumer-users
expressing a preference for the first brand information; displaying
to the first brand-user the subset of data object representations
displayed to the first consumer-user; receiving subset preference
information indicating that the first brand-user has expressed a
preference for one or more data object representations of the
subset; and displaying to the first brand user interactions with
the subset of data object representations displayed to the first
consumer-user and the first brand-user.
[0029] The method of embodiment (1) can further include receiving
additional first brand information responsive to the first brand
interaction data and/or the first brand comparative interaction
data. The additional first brand information can include brand
media, brand purchasing information, retail information, brand
promotional information, one or more brand-specific supporting
documents and information, one or more brand reviews, a brand
rating, commercial item media, commercial item purchasing
information, commercial item retail information, commercial item
promotional information, one or more item-specific supporting
documents and information, one or more commercial item reviews, a
commercial item rating, or combinations thereof.
[0030] Embodiment (1)(a) relates to the subset of first brand
information created by the method of embodiment (1), and embodiment
(1)(b) relates to the subset of data object representations
displayed to the first consumer-user by the method of embodiment
(1).
[0031] Embodiment (2): a system, comprising: at least one
processor, programmed to: receive first brand information; receive
first brand preference information indicating that the first
consumer-user has expressed a preference for the first brand
information; filter the first brand information to create a subset
of first brand information that is provided to the first
consumer-user; display to the first consumer-user one or more data
object representations relating to the subset of the first brand
information; receive one or more first consumer-user interactions
with the subset of data object representations displayed to the
first consumer-user; display to the first brand: interaction data
relating to the first brand and specific to one or more
consumer-users; interaction data related to the first brand
aggregated for a plurality of consumer-users on the system;
comparative interaction data from a plurality of customer-users
related to the first brand relative to a one or more other brands
on the system; or combinations thereof.
[0032] The processor of embodiment (2) can be further programmed to
receive additional brand information from a plurality of brands;
receive additional brand preference information indicating that the
first consumer-user has expressed a preference for an additional
subset of the additional brand information; filter the first brand
information and the additional brand information to create one or
more supplemental subsets of additional brand information that is
provided to the first consumer-user; display to the first
consumer-user one or more data object representations relating to
the one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand
information; receive one or more first consumer-user interactions
with the one or more data object representations relating to the
one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand information;
and display to each of the additional brands: (i) interaction data
relating to the one or more additional brands and specific to the
one or more consumer-users expressing a preference for the one or
more additional brand information; (ii) interaction data related to
the one or more additional brands aggregated for a plurality of
consumer-users on the system; (iii) comparative interaction data
from a plurality of customer-users related to the one or more
additional brands relative to a one or more other brands on the
system; or (iv) combinations thereof. The processor can be further
programmed to display to the first consumer-user first brand
information not previously displayed to the first consumer-user on
the system. The processor is further programmed to display, to one
or more additional consumer-users, the one or more data object
representations relating to the subset of the first brand
information, wherein the one or more additional consumer-users have
a relationship with the first consumer-user.
[0033] The interaction data of embodiment (2) can comprise the
number and/or demographic information related to (i) one or more
consumers-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the system,
(ii) consumers-users expressing a preference for one or more
interest categories, (iii) one of more consumer-users of the
plurality of consumer-users on the system expressing a preference
for the first brand, (iv) one or more consumer-users on the system
expressing a preference for the first brand commercial item, (v)
all consumer-users of the system, or (vi) combinations thereof.
[0034] In embodiment (2), the one or more first consumer-user
interactions with the subset of data object representations
includes: viewing one or more data object representations of the
subset, expressing a preference for one or more data object
representations of the subset, commenting on one or more data
object representations in the subset, commenting on one or more
derivative data object representations in the subset, participating
in a dialog regarding one or more data object representations in
the subset, offering an opinion regarding one or more data object
representations of the subset, providing a rating for one or more
data object representations of the subset, clicking through one or
more data object representations of the subset to view additional
details, clicking through one or more data object representations
of the subset to view first brand-hosted information, participating
in a survey regarding one or more data object representations of
the subset, requesting further information from the first brand
regarding one or more data object representations of the subset,
buying a commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset from a third-party retailer/reseller,
buying a commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset directly from the first brand, buying
a commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset from an individual, participating in
an auction regarding one or more data object representations of the
subset, offering a commercial item displayed in one or more data
object representations in the subset for free, loan, sale, lease,
and/or rental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed
in one or more data object representations in the subset,
requesting that a discontinued commercial item displayed in one or
more data object representations in the subset is re-introduced by
the first brand and/or an authorized retailer/reseller thereof,
suggesting to the first brand product ideas, improvements, and/or
corrections regarding one or more data object representations in
the subset, or combinations thereof.
[0035] Interaction data, as used in embodiment (2), includes first
brand data object representation-consumer clicks, first brand data
object representation consumer impressions, first brand derivative
data object representation consumer clicks, first brand derivative
data object representation-system consumer impressions, total
system-consumer clicks, system-consumer clicks per interest
category, total system-consumer impressions, system-consumer
impressions per interest category, average interest category click
through rate, interest category seasonal trend data, average
conversion rate, or combinations thereof. Likewise, demographic
information, as used in embodiment (2), comprises gender,
ethnicity, age, income, education, home ownership, location,
employment status, shopping history, personal interests and/or
hobbies, or combinations thereof.
[0036] The comparative interaction data of embodiment (2) for the
first brand relative to the plurality of brands on the system
and/or a subset of the plurality of brands on the system comprises
the number and/or demographic information related to (i) one or
more consumers-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the
system, (ii) consumers-users expressing a preference for one or
more interest categories, (iii) one of more consumer-users of the
plurality of consumer-users on the system expressing a preference
for the first brand, (iv) one or more consumer-users on the system
expressing a preference for the first brand commercial item, (v)
all consumer-users of the system, or (vi) combinations thereof. In
addition, comparative interaction data comprises first brand data
object representation-consumer clicks, first brand data object
representation-consumer impressions, first brand derivative data
object representation consumer clicks, first brand derivative data
object representation-consumer impressions, total system-consumer
clicks, system-consumer clicks per interest category, total
system-consumer impressions, system-consumer impressions per
interest category, average interest category click through rate,
interest category seasonal trend data, average conversion rate, or
combinations thereof. As used in this specific example, demographic
information comprises gender, ethnicity, age, income, education,
home ownership, location, employment status, shopping history,
personal interests and/or hobbies, or combinations thereof.
[0037] Comparative interaction data in embodiment (2) can be
collected over a defined time interval, e.g., a time period in
which the first brand and/or a first brand competitor has
participated in the system.
[0038] Moreover, comparative interaction data in embodiment (2) can
further include brand ranking data for the first brand in relation
to the plurality of brands, e.g., comparative interaction data
further comprises brand ranking data for the first brand in
relation to one or more competitor brands of the plurality of
brands.
[0039] The first brand information of embodiment (2) can include
general brand information including information related to one or
more brand trademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more
commercial item logos, brand description, interest categories
associated with brand, brand media, brand purchasing information,
retail information, brand promotional information, information
related brands within the brand portfolio, related brand
description, related brand products, or combinations thereof. In
this specific embodiment, brand description information comprises a
brand image, one or more brand-specific supporting documents and
information, one or more brand reviews, a brand rating, or
combinations thereof. Brand media includes a brand-specific video
file, a brand-specific audio file, or print media; and
brand-specific supporting documents and information comprises one
or more literature references, reviews, blog link, press release,
forum link, or combinations thereof.
[0040] The first brand information of embodiment (2) can include
first brand commercial item information including information
related to one or more commercial item trademarks, commercial item
description information, commercial item media, commercial item
purchasing information, commercial item retail information,
commercial item promotional information, related first brand
products, or combinations thereof. In this example, commercial item
description information comprises an item image, one or more
item-specific supporting documents and information, one or more
commercial item reviews, a commercial item rating, or combinations
thereof; commercial item media includes a commercial item-specific
video file, a commercial item-specific audio file, or print media;
and/or commercial item-specific supporting documents and
information comprises one or more literature references, reviews,
blog link, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.
[0041] The first brand preference information of embodiment (2)
includes system tracking preference for the first brand information
and the processor is further programmed to filter the first brand
information to create a first supplemental subset of first brand
information that is provided to the first consumer-user expressing
a system tracking preference for the first brand information; and
display to the first consumer user one or more derivative data
object representations relating to the first supplemental subset of
the first brand information, wherein the one or more derivative
data objects are associated in the system with the one or more data
objects.
[0042] The processor of embodiment (2) can be further programmed to
receive first consumer-user preference information indicating that
an additional consumer-user has a system tracking preference for
the first consumer-user; filter the first brand information to
create a second supplemental subset of first brand information that
is provided to the additional consumer-user expressing a system
tracking preference for the first consumer-user; and display to the
additional consumer-user one or more data object representations
and/or derivative data object representations relating to the
second supplemental subset of the first brand information. The
processor of this embodiment (2) can be further programmed to
receive first consumer-user preference information indicating that
a first brand-user has a system tracking preference for the first
consumer-user; filter the first brand information to create a third
supplemental subset of first brand information that is provided to
the first brand-user expressing a system tracking preference for
the first consumer-user; and display to the first brand-user one or
more data object representations and/or derivative data object
representations relating to the third supplemental subset of the
first brand information.
[0043] As used in embodiment (2), a system tracking preference is
expressed by following and/or listing a data object representation
and/or a derivative data object representation.
[0044] The processor of embodiment (2) can be further programmed to
receive additional brand preference information indicating that an
additional brand of the plurality of brands has a preference for
the first consumer-user; and display to the additional brand one or
more data object representations relating to the subset of the
first brand information. For example, preference is expressed as a
following, listing friending, and/or liking a data object
representation and/or a derivative data object representation. The
preference can be a system tracking preference selected from
following and/or listing a data object representation and/or a
derivative data object representation.
[0045] The processor of embodiment (2) can be further programmed to
generate a derivative data object in response to the expression of
a system tracking preference for a data object representation by
the first consumer-user, and associate the derivative data object
in the system with the data object and the first consumer-user. The
processor of this embodiment can also be further programmed to
generate a derivative data object in response to the expression of
a system tracking preference for a data object representation by a
first brand-user, and associate the derivative data object in the
system with the data object and the first brand-user.
[0046] The system of embodiment (2) can also include a first
brand-user and the processor is further programmed to display to
the first brand-user interaction data related to the plurality of
consumer-users expressing a preference for the first brand
information; display to the first brand-user the subset of data
object representations displayed to the first consumer-user;
receive subset preference information indicating that the first
brand-user has expressed a preference for one or more data object
representations of the subset; and display to the first brand user
interactions with the subset of data object representations
displayed to the first consumer-user and the first brand-user.
[0047] Still further, the processor of embodiment (2) can be
further programmed to receive additional first brand information
responsive to the first brand interaction data and/or the first
brand comparative interaction data, e.g., the additional first
brand information comprises brand media, brand purchasing
information, retail information, brand promotional information, one
or more brand-specific supporting documents and information, one or
more brand reviews, a brand rating, commercial item media,
commercial item purchasing information, commercial item retail
information, commercial item promotional information, one or more
item-specific supporting documents and information, one or more
commercial item reviews, a commercial item rating, or combinations
thereof.
[0048] Embodiment (2)(a) is a subset of first brand information
created by the system of embodiment (2). Embodiment (2)(b) is a
subset of data object representations displayed to the first
consumer-user by the system of embodiment (2).
[0049] Embodiment (3): at least one computer-readable storage
medium having instructions recorded thereon which, when executed by
at least one computer, perform a method of exchanging brand
information on a system, wherein the system has (i) a plurality of
consumer-users including a first consumer-user, and (ii) a
plurality of brands including a first brand, the method comprising
acts of: receiving first brand information; receiving first brand
preference information indicating that the first consumer-user has
expressed a preference for the first brand information; filtering
the first brand information to create a subset of first brand
information that is provided to the first consumer-user; displaying
to the first consumer-user one or more data object representations
relating to the subset of the first brand information; receiving
one or more first consumer-user interactions with the one or more
data object representations relating to the subset of first brand
information; displaying to the first brand: interaction data
relating to the first brand and specific to one or more
consumer-users; interaction data related to the first brand
aggregated for a plurality of consumer-users on the system;
comparative interaction data from a plurality of customer-users
related to the first brand relative to a one or more other brands
on the system; or combinations thereof.
[0050] The method of the at least one computer-readable storage
medium of Embodiment (3) can further comprise: receiving additional
brand information from a plurality of brands; receiving additional
brand preference information indicating that the first
consumer-user has expressed a preference for an additional subset
of the additional brand information; filtering the first brand
information and the additional brand information to create one or
more supplemental subsets of additional brand information that is
provided to the first consumer-user; displaying to the first
consumer-user one or more data object representations relating to
the one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand
information; receiving one or more first consumer-user interactions
with the one or more data object representations relating to the
one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand information;
and displaying to each of the additional brands: (i) interaction
data relating to the one or more additional brands and specific to
the one or more consumer-users expressing a preference for the one
or more additional brand information; (ii) interaction data related
to the one or more additional brands aggregated for a plurality of
consumer-users on the system; (iii) comparative interaction data
from a plurality of customer-users related to the one or more
additional brands relative to a one or more other brands on the
system; or (iv) combinations thereof. Moreover, the method can also
include displaying to the first consumer-user first brand
information not previously displayed to the first consumer-user on
the system.
[0051] The displaying step of the at least one computer readable
storage medium of embodiment (3) can also include displaying to one
or more additional consumer-users one or more data object
representations relating to the subset of the first brand
information, wherein the one or more additional consumer-users have
a relationship with the first consumer-user.
[0052] The interaction data of embodiment (3) can comprise the
number and/or demographic information related to (i) one or more
consumers-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the system,
(ii) consumers-users expressing a preference for one or more
interest categories, (iii) one of more consumer-users of the
plurality of consumer-users on the system expressing a preference
for the first brand, (iv) one or more consumer-users on the system
expressing a preference for the first brand commercial item, (v)
all consumer-users of the system, or (vi) combinations thereof.
[0053] The first consumer-user interactions with the subset of data
object representations of embodiment (3) includes: viewing one or
more data object representations of the subset, expressing a
preference for one or more data object representations of the
subset, commenting on one or more data object representations in
the subset, commenting on one or more derivative data object
representations in the subset, participating in a dialog regarding
one or more data object representations in the subset, offering an
opinion regarding one or more data object representations of the
subset, providing a rating for one or more data object
representations of the subset, clicking through one or more data
object representations of the subset to view additional details,
clicking through one or more data object of the subset to view
first brand-hosted information, participating in a survey regarding
one or more data object representations of the subset, requesting
further information from the first brand regarding one or more data
object representations of the subset, buying a commercial item
displayed in one or more data object representations of the subset
from a third-party retailer/reseller, buying a commercial item
displayed in one or more data object representations of the subset
directly from the first brand, buying a commercial item displayed
in one or more data object representations of the subset from an
individual, participating in an auction regarding one or more data
object representations of the subset, offering a commercial item
displayed in one or more data object representations in the subset
for free, loan, sale, lease, and/or rental, requesting to purchase
a commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations in the subset, requesting that a discontinued
commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations in the subset is re-introduced by the first brand
and/or an authorized retailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to the
first brand product ideas, improvements, and/or corrections
regarding one or more data object representations in the subset, or
combinations thereof.
[0054] The interaction data of embodiment (3) can also include
first brand data object representation-consumer clicks, first brand
data object representation consumer impressions, first brand
derivative data object representation consumer clicks, first brand
derivative data object representation-system consumer impressions,
total system-consumer clicks, system-consumer clicks per interest
category, total system-consumer impressions, system-consumer
impressions per interest category, average interest category click
through rate, interest category seasonal trend data, average
conversion rate, or combinations thereof.
[0055] Demographic information, as used in relation to embodiment
(3), comprises gender, ethnicity, age, income, education, home
ownership, location, employment status, shopping history, personal
interests and/or hobbies, or combinations thereof.
[0056] Moreover, as used in embodiment (3), comparative interaction
data for the first brand relative to the plurality of brands on the
system and/or a subset of the plurality of brands on the system
comprises the number and/or demographic information related to (i)
one or more consumers-users of the plurality of consumer-users on
the system, (ii) consumers-users expressing a preference for one or
more interest categories, (iii) one of more consumer-users of the
plurality of consumer-users on the system expressing a preference
for the first brand, (iv) one or more consumer-users on the system
expressing a preference for the first brand commercial item, (v)
all consumer-users of the system, or (vi) combinations thereof.
Still further, the comparative interaction data can comprise first
brand data object representation-consumer clicks, first brand data
object representation-consumer impressions, first brand derivative
data object representation consumer clicks, first brand derivative
data object representation-consumer impressions, total
system-consumer clicks, system-consumer clicks per interest
category, total system-consumer impressions, system-consumer
impressions per interest category, average interest category click
through rate, interest category seasonal trend data, average
conversion rate, or combinations thereof. In one example of
embodiment (3), the comparative interaction data is collected over
a defined time interval, e.g., wherein the defined time interval is
a time period in which the first brand and/or a first brand
competitor has participated in the system.
[0057] The comparative interaction data of embodiment (3) further
comprises brand ranking data for the first brand in relation to the
plurality of brands, e.g., the comparative interaction data further
comprises brand ranking data for the first brand in relation to one
or more competitor brands of the plurality of brands.
[0058] The first brand information of embodiment (3) comprises
general brand information including information related to one or
more brand trademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more
commercial item logos, brand description, interest categories
associated with brand, brand media, brand purchasing information,
retail information, brand promotional information, information
related brands within the brand portfolio, related brand
description, related brand products, or combinations thereof.
[0059] The brand description information of embodiment (3)
comprises a brand image, one or more brand-specific supporting
documents and information, one or more brand reviews, a brand
rating, or combinations thereof. For example, brand media includes
a brand-specific video file, a brand-specific audio file, or print
media; and brand-specific supporting documents and information
comprises one or more literature references, reviews, blog link,
press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.
[0060] The first brand information of embodiment (3) comprises
first brand commercial item information including information
related to one or more commercial item trademarks, commercial item
description information, commercial item media, commercial item
purchasing information, commercial item retail information,
commercial item promotional information, related first brand
products, or combinations thereof. For example, commercial item
description information comprises an item image, one or more
item-specific supporting documents and information, one or more
commercial item reviews, a commercial item rating, or combinations
thereof. Still further, commercial item media includes a commercial
item-specific video file, a commercial item-specific audio file, or
print media; and commercial item-specific supporting documents and
information comprises one or more literature references, reviews,
blog link, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.
[0061] The first brand preference information of embodiment (3)
includes system tracking preference for the first brand information
and the method further comprises filtering the first brand
information to create a first supplemental subset of first brand
information that is provided to the first consumer-user expressing
a system tracking preference for the first brand information; and
displaying to the first consumer user one or more derivative data
object representations relating to the first supplemental subset of
the first brand information, wherein the one or more derivative
data objects are associated in the system with the one or more data
objects.
[0062] The at least one computer-readable storage medium of
embodiment (3) further comprises receiving first consumer-user
preference information indicating that an additional consumer-user
has a system tracking preference for the first consumer-user;
filtering the first brand information to create a second
supplemental subset of first brand information that is provided to
the additional consumer-user expressing a system tracking
preference for the first consumer-user; and displaying to the
additional consumer-user one or more data object representations
and/or derivative data object representations relating to the
second supplemental subset of the first brand information.
[0063] Moreover, the at least one computer-readable storage medium
of embodiment (3) further comprises receiving first consumer-user
preference information indicating that a first brand-user has a
system tracking preference for the first consumer-user; filtering
the first brand information to create a third supplemental subset
of first brand information that is provided to the first brand-user
expressing a system tracking preference for the first
consumer-user; and displaying to the first brand-user one or more
data object representations and/or derivative data object
representations relating to the third supplemental subset of the
first brand information. The system tracking preference of
embodiment (3) can be expressed by following and/or listing a data
object and/or a derivative data object. The at least one
computer-readable storage medium of embodiment (3) may further
include receiving additional brand preference information
indicating that an additional brand of the plurality of brands has
a preference for the first consumer-user; and displaying to the
additional brand one or more data object representations relating
to the subset of the first brand information. In this example, the
preference is expressed as a following, listing, friending, and/or
liking a data object and/or a derivative data object. In one
specific example, the preference is a system tracking preference
selected from following and/or listing a data object and/or a
derivative data object. Moreover, in another example, the
expression of a system tracking preference for a data object
representation by the first consumer-user generates a derivative
data object based on the data object, wherein the derivative data
object is associated in the system with the data object, the first
consumer-user, and the one or more additional consumer-users having
a relationship with the first consumer-user. In addition or
alternative, the expression of a system tracking preference for a
data object representation by a first brand-user generates a
derivative data object based on the data object, wherein the
derivative data object is associated in the system with the data
object, a first brand-user, and one or more additional
consumer-users and/or brand-users having a relationship with the
first brand-user. For example, a modification to a data object
generates a modification to all derivative data objects of the data
object, e.g., the modification includes an edit to one or more data
object elements, an addition to the data object, deletion of one or
more data object elements, the addition of a comment regarding a
data object, or combinations thereof.
[0064] The system of the at least one computer-readable storage
medium of embodiment (3) includes a first brand-user and the method
further comprises displaying to the first brand-user interaction
data related to the plurality of consumer-users expressing a
preference for the first brand information; displaying to the first
brand-user the subset of data object representations displayed to
the first consumer-user; receiving subset preference information
indicating that the first brand-user has expressed a preference for
one or more data object representations of the subset; and
displaying to the first brand user interactions with the subset of
data object representations displayed to the first consumer-user
and the first brand-user.
[0065] The at least one computer-readable storage medium of
embodiment (3) can also include receiving additional first brand
information relating to (a) the general first brand information
and/or the first brand commercial item; and (b) responsive to the
first brand interaction data and/or the first brand comparative
interaction data. For example, the additional first brand
information comprises brand media, brand purchasing information,
retail information, brand promotional information, one or more
brand-specific supporting documents and information, one or more
brand reviews, a brand rating, commercial item media, commercial
item purchasing information, commercial item retail information,
commercial item promotional information, one or more item-specific
supporting documents and information, one or more commercial item
review s, a commercial item rating, or combinations thereof.
[0066] Embodiment (3)(a): the subset of first brand information
created by the at least one computer readable storage medium of
embodiment (3).
[0067] Embodiment (3)(b): the subset of data object representations
displayed to the first consumer-user by the at least one computer
readable storage medium of embodiment (3).
[0068] Embodiment (4): a method of exchanging information on a
system having a plurality of consumer-users including a first
consumer-user, the method comprising acts of: receiving information
indicating that a first consumer-user has a preference for a
commercial item and/or brand; receiving item and/or brand
information, provided by at least some of the plurality of
consumer-users and/or the brand relating to the commercial item
and/or brand; filtering the item and/or brand information to create
a subset of the item and/or brand information that is provided to
the first consumer-user; and displaying to the first consumer user
one or more data object representations relating to the subset of
the item and/or brand information.
[0069] The method of embodiment (4) may further include: receiving
additional brand information from a plurality of brands; receiving
additional brand preference information indicating that the first
consumer-user has expressed a preference for an additional subset
of the additional brand information; filtering the first brand
information and the additional brand information to create one or
more supplemental subsets of additional brand information that is
provided to the first consumer-user; displaying to the first
consumer-user one or more data object representations relating to
the one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand
information; receiving one or more first consumer-user interactions
with the one or more data object representations relating to the
one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand information;
and displaying to each of the additional brands: (i) interaction
data relating to the one or more additional brands and specific to
the one or more consumer-users expressing a preference for the one
or more additional brand information; (ii) interaction data related
to the one or more additional brands aggregated for a plurality of
consumer-users on the system; (iii) comparative interaction data
from a plurality of customer-users related to the one or more
additional brands relative to a one or more other brands on the
system; or (iv) combinations thereof.
[0070] Moreover, the method of embodiment (4) can further include
displaying to the first consumer-user first brand information not
previously displayed to the first consumer-user on the system. The
displaying step (d) in this embodiment can also include displaying
to one or more additional consumer-users one or more data object
representations relating to the subset of the first brand
information, wherein the one or more additional consumer-users have
a relationship with the first consumer-user.
[0071] Embodiment (4) can also include receiving additional
information relating to the commercial item and/or brand; filtering
the additional item and/or brand information to create an
additional subset of the additional item and/or brand information
that is provided to consumer-users included in the group of
consumer-users having an interest in the commercial item and/or
brand; and displaying to the first consumer-user one or more
derivative data object representations relating to the additional
subset of additional item and/or brand information.
[0072] In embodiment (4), the one or more data object
representations can be displayed in an order based at least in part
on an order in which item and/or brand information is received from
consumer-users in the group of consumer-users having a relationship
with the first consumer-user. Alternatively or additionally, the
one or more data object representations can be displayed in an
order based at least in part on an order in which information
indicating that the first consumer-user has an interest in a
corresponding one or more commercial items and/or brands is
received. Still further, a separate data object for each commercial
item and/or brand selected by the first consumer-user is displayed
in embodiment (4).
[0073] Embodiment (4)(a): the subset of first brand information
created by the method of embodiment (4).
[0074] Embodiment (4)(b): the subset of data object representations
displayed to the first consumer-user by the method of embodiment
(4).
[0075] Embodiment (5): a system, comprising at least one processor,
programmed to: receive information indicating that the first
consumer-user has an interest in a commercial item and/or brand;
receive item and/or brand information, provided by at least some of
the plurality of consumer-users, relating to the commercial item
and/or brand; filter the item and/or brand information to create a
subset of the item and/or brand information that is provided by the
first consumer-user; and display to the first consumer-user one or
more data object representations relating to the subset of the item
and/or brand information.
[0076] The system of embodiment (5) wherein the processor can be
further programmed to receive additional brand information from a
plurality of brands; receive additional brand preference
information indicating that the first consumer-user has expressed a
preference for an additional subset of the additional brand
information; filter the first brand information and the additional
brand information to create one or more supplemental subsets of
additional brand information that is provided to the first
consumer-user; display to the first consumer-user one or more data
object representations relating to the one or more supplemental
subsets of additional brand information; receive one or more first
consumer-user interactions with the one or more data object
representations relating to the one or more supplemental subsets of
additional brand information; and display to each of the additional
brands: (i) interaction data relating to the one or more additional
brands and specific to the one or more consumer-users expressing a
preference for the one or more additional brand information; (ii)
interaction data related to the one or more additional brands
aggregated for a plurality of consumer-users on the system; (iii)
comparative interaction data from a plurality of customer-users
related to the one or more additional brands relative to a one or
more other brands on the system; or (iv) combinations thereof. The
processor can also be programmed to display to the first
consumer-user first brand information not previously displayed to
the first consumer-user on the system.
[0077] The system of embodiment (5) wherein the processor can be
further programmed to display, to one or more additional
consumer-users, one or more data object representations relating to
the subset of the first brand information, wherein the one or more
additional consumer-users have a relationship with the first
consumer-user.
[0078] The processor of embodiment (5) can be further programmed to
receive additional information relating to the commercial item
and/or brand provided by at least some of the plurality of
consumer-users relating to the commercial item and/or brand; filter
the additional item and/or brand information to create an
additional subset of the additional item and/or brand information
that is provided to consumer-users included in the group of
consumer-users having a relationship with the first consumer-user;
and display to the first consumer-user one or more derivative data
object representations relating to the additional subset of
additional item and/or brand information.
[0079] The one or more derivative data objects of embodiment (5)
can be associated in the system with the one or more data
objects.
[0080] The processor of embodiment (5) can be programmed to display
the one or more data object representations in an order which is
based at least in part on an order in which item information is
received from consumer-users in the group of consumer-users having
a relationship with the first consumer-user. Additionally or
alternatively, the processor can be programmed to display the one
or more data object representations in an order which is based at
least in part on an order in which information indicating that the
first consumer-user has an interest in a corresponding one or more
commercial items is received. In a specific example of embodiment
(5), the processor is programmed to display a separate data object
for each commercial item selected by the first consumer-user.
[0081] Embodiment (5)(a): a subset of first brand information
created by the system of embodiment (5).
[0082] Embodiment (5)(b): a subset of data object representations
displayed to the first consumer-user by the system of embodiment
(5).
[0083] Embodiment (6): at least one computer-readable storage
medium having instructions recorded thereon which, when executed by
at least one computer, perform a method for use in a system having
a plurality of consumer-users including a first consumer-user, the
method comprising acts of: receiving information indicating that a
first consumer-user has a preference for a commercial item and/or
brand; receiving item and/or brand information, provided by at
least some of the plurality of consumer-users and/or the brand
relating to the commercial item and/or brand; filtering the item
and/or brand information to create a subset of the item and/or
brand information that is provided to the first consumer-user; and
displaying to the first consumer user one or more data object
representations relating to the subset of the item and/or brand
information.
[0084] The method carried out by the at least one computer-readable
storage medium of embodiment (6) may further include: receiving
additional brand information from a plurality of brands; receiving
additional brand preference information indicating that the first
consumer-user has expressed a preference for an additional subset
of the additional brand information; filtering the first brand
information and the additional brand information to create one or
more supplemental subsets of additional brand information that is
provided to the first consumer-user; displaying to the first
consumer-user one or more data object representations relating to
the one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand
information; receiving one or more first consumer-user interactions
with the one or more data object representations relating to the
one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand information;
and displaying to each of the additional brands: (i) interaction
data relating to the one or more additional brands and specific to
the one or more consumer-users expressing a preference for the one
or more additional brand information; (ii) interaction data related
to the one or more additional brands aggregated for a plurality of
consumer-users on the system; (iii) comparative interaction data
from a plurality of customer-users related to the one or more
additional brands relative to a one or more other brands on the
system; or (iv) combinations thereof. Optionally, the method
further comprises displaying to the first consumer-user first brand
information not previously displayed to the first consumer-user on
the system.
[0085] The displaying step of embodiment (6) can also include
displaying to one or more additional consumer-users one or more
data object representations relating to the subset of the first
brand information, wherein the one or more additional
consumer-users have a relationship with the first consumer-user.
Moreover, embodiment (6) can further comprise receiving additional
information relating to the commercial item and/or brand provided
by at least some of the plurality of consumer-users relating to the
commercial item and/or brand; filtering the additional item and/or
brand information to create an additional subset of the additional
item and/or brand information that is provided to consumer-users
included in the group of consumer-users having a relationship with
the first consumer-user; and displaying to the first consumer-user
one or more derivative data object representations relating to the
subset of additional item and/or brand information.
[0086] The at least one computer-readable storage medium of
embodiment (6) can further include displaying the one or more data
object representations in an order based at least in part on an
order in which item information is received from consumer-users in
the group of users having a relationship with the first
consumer-users; displaying the one or more data object
representations in an order based at least in part on an order in
which information indicating that the first consumer-user has an
interest in a corresponding one or more commercial items is
received; or displaying a separate data object for each commercial
item selected by the first consumer-user.
[0087] Embodiment (6)(a): a subset of first brand information
created by the at least one computer-readable storage medium of
embodiment (6).
[0088] Embodiment (6)(b): a subset of data object representations
displayed to the first consumer-user by the at least one
computer-readable storage medium of embodiment (6).
[0089] Embodiment (7): a method of exchanging information on a
system between a first brand and a first consumer-user, the system
comprising (a) a plurality of consumer-users including the first
consumer-user, and (b) a plurality of brands including the first
brand, wherein the system is configured to receive, filter, and/or
display information related to the first consumer-user, the first
brand, the plurality of consumer-users, the plurality of brands, a
commercial item, interaction data, comparative interaction data and
combinations thereof; the method comprising acts of: viewing, by
the first brand, interaction data related to the plurality of
consumer-users expressing a preference for first brand information;
and providing additional first brand information responsive to the
first brand interaction data.
[0090] The method of embodiment (7) can also include viewing, by
the first brand, brand comparative interaction data for the first
brand relative to the plurality of brands on the system and/or a
subset of the plurality of brands on the system; and providing
additional first brand information relating to (i) the general
first brand information and/or the first brand commercial item; and
(ii) responsive to the first brand interaction data and/or the
first brand comparative interaction data. Optionally, prior to
viewing step (a), the method can also include providing, by the
first brand, first brand information relating to general first
brand information and/or the first brand commercial item.
[0091] The interaction data of embodiment (7) can include the
number and/or demographic information related to (i) one or more
consumers-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the system,
(ii) consumers-users expressing a preference for one or more
interest categories, (iii) one of more consumer-users of the
plurality of consumer-users on the system expressing a preference
for the first brand, (iv) one or more consumer-users on the system
expressing a preference for the first brand commercial item, (v)
all consumer-users of the system, or (vi) combinations thereof.
[0092] In embodiment (7), the one or more first consumer-user
interactions with the subset of data object representations can
include: viewing one or more data object representations of the
subset, expressing a preference for one or more data object
representations of the subset, commenting on one or more data
object representations in the subset, commenting on one or more
derivative data object representations in the subset, participating
in a dialog regarding one or more data object representations in
the subset, offering an opinion regarding one or more data object
representations of the subset, providing a rating for one or more
data object representations of the subset, clicking through one or
more data object representations of the subset to view additional
details, clicking through one or more data object of the subset to
view first brand-hosted information, participating in a survey
regarding one or more data object representations of the subset,
requesting further information from the first brand regarding one
or more data object representations of the subset, buying a
commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset from a third-party retailer/reseller,
buying a commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset directly from the first brand, buying
a commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset from an individual, participating in
an auction regarding one or more data object representations of the
subset, offering a commercial item displayed in one or more data
object representations in the subset for free, loan, sale, lease,
and/or rental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed
in one or more data object representations in the subset,
requesting that a discontinued commercial item displayed in one or
more data object representations in the subset is re-introduced by
the first brand and/or an authorized retailer/reseller thereof,
suggesting to the first brand product ideas, improvements, and/or
corrections regarding one or more data objects in the subset, or
combinations thereof.
[0093] The interaction data of embodiment (7) can comprise first
brand data object-consumer clicks, first brand data object consumer
impressions, first brand derivative data object consumer clicks,
first brand derivative data object-system consumer impressions,
total system-consumer clicks, system-consumer clicks per interest
category, total system-consumer impressions, system-consumer
impressions per interest category, average interest category click
through rate, interest category seasonal trend data, average
conversion rate, or combinations thereof.
[0094] As used in embodiment (7), demographic information comprises
gender, ethnicity, age, income, education, home ownership,
location, employment status, shopping history, personal interests
and/or hobbies, or combinations thereof; comparative interaction
data for the first brand relative to the plurality of brands on the
system and/or a subset of the plurality of brands on the system
comprises the number and/or demographic information related to (i)
one or more consumers-users of the plurality of consumer-users on
the system, (ii) consumers-users expressing a preference for one or
more interest categories, (iii) one of more consumer-users of the
plurality of consumer-users on the system expressing a preference
for the first brand, (iv) one or more consumer-users on the system
expressing a preference for the first brand commercial item, (v)
all consumer-users of the system, or (vi) combinations thereof;
comparative interaction data comprises first brand data object
representation-consumer clicks, first brand data object
representation-consumer impressions, first brand derivative data
object representation consumer clicks, first brand derivative data
object representation-consumer impressions, total system-consumer
clicks, system-consumer clicks per interest category, total
system-consumer impressions, system-consumer impressions per
interest category, average interest category click through rate,
interest category seasonal trend data, average conversion rate, or
combinations thereof. Comparative interaction data can be collected
over a defined time interval, e.g., wherein the defined time
interval is a time period in which the first brand and/or a first
brand competitor has participated in the system.
[0095] The comparative interaction data of embodiment (7) can also
include brand ranking data for the first brand in relation to the
plurality of brands, e.g., the comparative interaction data further
comprises brand ranking data for the first brand in relation to one
or more competitor brands of the plurality of brands.
[0096] The first brand information of embodiment (7) can include
general brand information including information related to one or
more brand trademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more
commercial item logos, brand description, interest categories
associated with brand, brand media, brand purchasing information,
retail information, brand promotional information, information
related brands within the brand portfolio, related brand
description, related brand products, or combinations thereof. In a
specific example, brand description information comprises a brand
image, one or more brand-specific supporting documents and
information, one or more brand reviews, a brand rating, or
combinations thereof; brand media includes a brand-specific video
file, a brand-specific audio file, or print media; and/or
brand-specific supporting documents and information comprises one
or more literature references, reviews, blog link, press release,
forum link, or combinations thereof.
[0097] The first brand information of embodiment (7) can include
first brand commercial item information including information
related to one or more commercial item trademarks, commercial item
description information, commercial item media, commercial item
purchasing information, commercial item retail information,
commercial item promotional information, related first brand
products, or combinations thereof. The commercial item description
information comprises an item image, one or more item-specific
supporting documents and information, one or more commercial item
reviews, a commercial item rating, or combinations thereof;
commercial item media includes a commercial item-specific video
file, a commercial item-specific audio file, or print media;
commercial item-specific supporting documents and information
comprises one or more literature references, reviews, blog link,
press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.
[0098] The preference of embodiment (7) can be expressed as a
following, friending, and/or liking a data object representation
and/or a derivative data object representation. For example, the
preference is a system tracking preference selected from following
and/or listing a data object representation and/or a derivative
data object representation. The expression of a system tracking
preference for a data object representation by the first
consumer-user generates a derivative data object based on the data
object, wherein the derivative data object is associated in the
system with the data object, the first consumer-user, and the one
or more additional consumer-users having a relationship with the
first consumer-user. Alternatively or additionally, the expression
of a system tracking preference for a data object representation by
a first brand-user generates a derivative data object based on the
data object, wherein the derivative data object is associated in
the system with the data object, a first brand-user, and one or
more additional consumer-users and/or brand-users having a
relationship with the first brand-user.
[0099] The method of embodiment (7) can include a modification to a
data object generates a modification to all derivative data objects
of the data object. For example, the modification includes an edit
to one or more data object elements, an addition to the data
object, deletion of one or more data object elements, the addition
of a comment regarding a data object, or combinations thereof.
[0100] The additional first brand information of embodiment (7) can
include brand media, brand purchasing information, retail
information, brand promotional information, one or more
brand-specific supporting documents and information, one or more
brand reviews, a brand rating, commercial item media, commercial
item purchasing information, commercial item retail information,
commercial item promotional information, one or more item-specific
supporting documents and information, one or more commercial item
reviews, a commercial item rating, or combinations thereof.
[0101] Embodiment (8): a method of exchanging information on a
system between a first brand and a first consumer-user, the system
comprising (a) a plurality of consumer-users including the first
consumer-user, and (b) a plurality of brands including the first
brand, wherein the system is configured to receive, filter, and/or
display information related to the first consumer-user, the first
brand, the plurality of consumer-users, the plurality of brands, a
commercial item, interaction data, comparative interaction data and
combinations thereof; the method comprising acts of: viewing, by
the first consumer-user, first brand information; expressing a
preference for the first brand information; and viewing, by the
first consumer-user, a subset of first brand information that is
provided by the system to the first consumer-user.
[0102] The first brand information of embodiment (8) can include
general brand information including information related to one or
more brand trademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more
commercial item logos, brand description, interest categories
associated with brand, brand media, brand purchasing information,
retail information, brand promotional information, information
related brands within the brand portfolio, related brand
description, related brand products, or combinations thereof. For
example, brand description information comprises a brand image, one
or more brand-specific supporting documents and information, one or
more brand reviews, a brand rating, or combinations thereof; brand
media includes a brand-specific video file, a brand-specific audio
file, or print media; and brand-specific supporting documents and
information comprises one or more literature references, reviews,
blog link, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.
[0103] In a specific example of embodiment (8), the first brand
information comprises first brand commercial item information
including information related to one or more commercial item
trademarks, commercial item description information, commercial
item media, commercial item purchasing information, commercial item
retail information, commercial item promotional information,
related first brand products, or combinations thereof. For example,
the commercial item description information comprises an item
image, one or more item-specific supporting documents and
information, one or more commercial item reviews, a commercial item
rating, or combinations thereof; the commercial item media includes
a commercial item-specific video file, a commercial item-specific
audio file, or print media; and/or the commercial item-specific
supporting documents and information comprises one or more
literature references, reviews, blog link, press release, forum
link, or combinations thereof. In a specific example, a preference
is expressed as a following, friending, and/or liking a data object
and/or a derivative data object, e.g., a system tracking preference
selected from following and/or listing a data object and/or a
derivative data object.
[0104] Example (9): a method of exchanging information on a system
between a first consumer-user and one or more additional
consumer-users, the system comprising (a) a plurality of
consumer-users including the first consumer-user and the one or
more additional consumer-users, wherein the first and one or more
additional consumer-users are connected in the system, and (b) a
plurality of brands including the first brand, wherein the system
is configured to receive, filter, and/or display information
related to the first consumer-user, the first brand, the plurality
of consumer-users, the plurality of brands, a commercial item,
interaction data, comparative interaction data and combinations
thereof; the method comprising acts of: viewing, by the first
consumer-user, a subset of first brand information that is provided
by the system to the first consumer-user and the one or more
additional consumer-users; and viewing, by the first consumer-user,
an interaction with the subset of first brand information
comprising: (i) a preference expressed by the first consumer-user
and/or the one or more additional consumer-users, wherein the
preference is for one or more members of the subset of first brand
information; (ii) a comment provided by the first consumer-user
and/or the one or more additional consumer-users, wherein the
comment relates to one or more members of the subset of first brand
information, wherein the comment is provided by the first
consumer-user and/or the one or more additional consumer-users; or
(iii) combinations thereof.
[0105] In embodiment (9), the interaction with the subset can
include: viewing one or more data object representations of the
subset, expressing a preference for one or more data object
representations of the subset, commenting on one or more data
object representations in the subset, commenting on one or more
derivative data object representations in the subset, participating
in a dialog regarding one or more data object representations in
the subset, offering an opinion regarding one or more data object
representations of the subset, providing a rating for one or more
data object representations of the subset, clicking through one or
more data object representations of the subset to view additional
details, clicking through one or more data object of the subset to
view first brand-hosted information, participating in a survey
regarding one or more data object representations of the subset,
requesting further information from the first brand regarding one
or more data object representations of the subset, buying a
commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset from a third-party retailer/reseller,
buying a commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset directly from the first brand, buying
a commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset from an individual, participating in
an auction regarding one or more data object representations of the
subset, offering a commercial item displayed in one or more data
object representations in the subset for free, loan, sale, lease,
and/or rental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed
in one or more data object representations in the subset,
requesting that a discontinued commercial item displayed in one or
more data object representations in the subset is re-introduced by
the first brand and/or an authorized retailer/reseller thereof,
suggesting to the first brand product ideas, improvements, and/or
corrections regarding one or more data objects in the subset, or
combinations thereof.
[0106] The first brand information of embodiment (9) can include
general brand information including information related to one or
more brand trademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more
commercial item logos, brand description, interest categories
associated with brand, brand media, brand purchasing information,
retail information, brand promotional information, information
related brands within the brand portfolio, related brand
description, related brand products, or combinations thereof; brand
description information comprises a brand image, one or more
brand-specific supporting documents and information, one or more
brand reviews, a brand rating, or combinations thereof; brand media
includes a brand-specific video file, a brand-specific audio file,
or print media; and/or brand-specific supporting documents and
information comprises one or more literature references, reviews,
blog link, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.
[0107] The first brand information of embodiment (9) can also
include first brand commercial item information including
information related to one or more commercial item trademarks,
commercial item description information, commercial item media,
commercial item purchasing information, commercial item retail
information, commercial item promotional information, related first
brand products, or combinations thereof; commercial item
description information comprises an item image, one or more
item-specific supporting documents and information, one or more
commercial item reviews, a commercial item rating, or combinations
thereof; commercial item media includes a commercial item-specific
video file, a commercial item-specific audio file, or print media;
and/or the commercial item-specific supporting documents and
information comprises one or more literature references, reviews,
blog link, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.
[0108] Embodiment (10): a method of exchanging brand information on
a system, wherein the system has (i) a plurality of consumer-users
including a first consumer-user and one or more additional
consumer-users, and (ii) a plurality of brands including a first
brand, the method comprising acts of: receiving first brand
information; receiving first brand preference information
indicating that the first consumer-user has expressed a preference
for the first brand information; filtering the first brand
information to create a subset of first brand information that is
provided to the first consumer-user, wherein the subset comprises
first brand information not previously displayed to the first
consumer-user on the system; displaying to the first consumer-user
one or more data object representations relating to the subset of
the first brand information; receiving one or more first
consumer-user interactions with the one or more data object
representations relating to the subset of first brand information;
displaying to the first brand: interaction data relating to the
first brand and specific to one or more consumer-users; interaction
data related to the first brand aggregated for a plurality of
consumer-users on the system; comparative interaction data from a
plurality of customer-users related to the first brand relative to
a one or more other brands on the system; or combinations
thereof.
[0109] The method of embodiment (10) can further include: receiving
additional brand information from a plurality of brands; receiving
additional brand preference information indicating that the first
consumer-user has expressed a preference for an additional subset
of the additional brand information; filtering the first brand
information and the additional brand information to create one or
more supplemental subsets of additional brand information that is
provided to the first consumer-user; displaying to the first
consumer-user one or more data object representations relating to
the one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand
information; receiving one or more first consumer-user interactions
with the one or more data object representations relating to the
one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand information;
and displaying to each of the additional brands: (i) interaction
data relating to the one or more additional brands and specific to
the one or more consumer-users expressing a preference for the one
or more additional brand information; (ii) interaction data related
to the one or more additional brands aggregated for a plurality of
consumer-users on the system; (iii) comparative interaction data
from a plurality of customer-users related to the one or more
additional brands relative to a one or more other brands on the
system; or (iv) combinations thereof.
[0110] The method of embodiment (10) can further include displaying
to the first consumer-user first brand information not previously
displayed to the first consumer-user on the system. In addition,
the displaying step of embodiment (10) can also include displaying
to one or more additional consumer-users one or more data object
representations relating to the subset of the first brand
information, wherein the one or more additional consumer-users have
a relationship with the first consumer-user.
[0111] The interaction data of embodiment (10) can include the
number and/or demographic information related to (i) one or more
consumers-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the system,
(ii) consumers-users expressing a preference for one or more
interest categories, (iii) one of more consumer-users of the
plurality of consumer-users on the system expressing a preference
for the first brand, (iv) one or more consumer-users on the system
expressing a preference for the first brand commercial item, (v)
all consumer-users of the system, or (vi) combinations thereof.
[0112] In embodiment (10), the one or more first consumer-user
interactions with the subset of data object representations can
include: viewing one or more data object representations of the
subset, expressing a preference for one or more data object
representations of the subset, commenting on one or more data
object representations in the subset, commenting on one or more
derivative data object representations in the subset, participating
in a dialog regarding one or more data object representations in
the subset, offering an opinion regarding one or more data object
representations of the subset, providing a rating for one or more
data object representations of the subset, clicking through one or
more data object representations of the subset to view additional
details, clicking through one or more data object of the subset to
view first brand-hosted information, participating in a survey
regarding one or more data object representations of the subset,
requesting further information from the first brand regarding one
or more data object representations of the subset, buying a
commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset from a third-party retailer/reseller,
buying a commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset directly from the first brand, buying
a commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations of the subset from an individual, participating in
an auction regarding one or more data object representations of the
subset, offering a commercial item displayed in one or more data
object representations in the subset for free, loan, sale, lease,
and/or rental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed
in one or more data object representations in the subset,
requesting that a discontinued commercial item displayed in one or
more data object representations in the subset is re-introduced by
the first brand and/or an authorized retailer/reseller thereof,
suggesting to the first brand product ideas, improvements, and/or
corrections regarding one or more data object representations in
the subset, or combinations thereof. In one specific example, the
interaction data includes first brand data object-consumer clicks,
first brand data object consumer impressions, first brand
derivative data object consumer clicks, first brand derivative data
object-system consumer impressions, total system-consumer clicks,
system-consumer clicks per interest category, total system-consumer
impressions, system-consumer impressions per interest category,
average interest category click through rate, interest category
seasonal trend data, average conversion rate, or combinations
thereof.
[0113] As used in embodiment (10), demographic information
comprises gender, ethnicity, age, income, education, home
ownership, location, employment status, shopping history, personal
interests and/or hobbies, or combinations thereof.
[0114] The comparative interaction data of embodiment (10) can
include the number and/or demographic information related to (i)
one or more consumers-users of the plurality of consumer-users on
the system, (ii) consumers-users expressing a preference for one or
more interest categories, (iii) one of more consumer-users of the
plurality of consumer-users on the system expressing a preference
for the first brand, (iv) one or more consumer-users on the system
expressing a preference for the first brand commercial item, (v)
all consumer-users of the system, or (vi) combinations thereof. For
example, the comparative interaction data comprises first brand
data object representation-consumer clicks, first brand data object
representation-consumer impressions, first brand derivative data
object representation consumer clicks, first brand derivative data
object representation-consumer impressions, total system-consumer
clicks, system-consumer clicks per interest category, total
system-consumer impressions, system-consumer impressions per
interest category, average interest category click through rate,
interest category seasonal trend data, average conversion rate, or
combinations thereof. In one example, the comparative interaction
data is collected over a defined time interval, e.g., the defined
time interval is a time period in which the first brand and/or a
first brand competitor has participated in the system. In an
additional example, the comparative interaction data further
comprises brand ranking data for the first brand in relation to the
plurality of brands, e.g., comparative interaction data further
comprises brand ranking data for the first brand in relation to one
or more competitor brands of the plurality of brands.
[0115] The first brand information of embodiment (10) can comprise
general brand information including information related to one or
more brand trademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more
commercial item logos, brand description, interest categories
associated with brand, brand media, brand purchasing information,
retail information, brand promotional information, information
related brands within the brand portfolio, related brand
description, related brand products, or combinations thereof. The
brand description information can include a brand image, one or
more brand-specific supporting documents and information, one or
more brand reviews, a brand rating, or combinations thereof; the
brand media includes a brand-specific video file, a brand-specific
audio file, or print media; and/or the brand-specific supporting
documents and information comprises one or more literature
references, reviews, blog link, press release, forum link, or
combinations thereof. Moreover, the first brand information can
include first brand commercial item information including
information related to one or more commercial item trademarks,
commercial item description information, commercial item media,
commercial item purchasing information, commercial item retail
information, commercial item promotional information, related first
brand products, or combinations thereof. For example, the
commercial item description information comprises an item image,
one or more item-specific supporting documents and information, one
or more commercial item reviews, a commercial item rating, or
combinations thereof; the commercial item media includes a
commercial item-specific video file, a commercial item-specific
audio file, or print media; the commercial item-specific supporting
documents and information comprises one or more literature
references, reviews, blog link, press release, forum link, or
combinations thereof.
[0116] The first brand preference information of embodiment (10)
can include system tracking preference for the first brand
information and the method further comprises filtering the first
brand information to create a first supplemental subset of first
brand information that is provided to the first consumer-user
expressing a system tracking preference for the first brand
information; and displaying to the first consumer user one or more
derivative data object representations relating to the first
supplemental subset of the first brand information, wherein the one
or more derivative data object representations are associated in
the system with the one or more data object representations.
[0117] The method of embodiment (10) can further comprise receiving
first consumer-user preference information indicating that an
additional consumer-user has a system tracking preference for the
first consumer-user; filtering the first brand information to
create a second supplemental subset of first brand information that
is provided to the additional consumer-user expressing a system
tracking preference for the first consumer-user; and displaying to
the additional consumer-user one or more data object
representations and/or derivative data object representations
relating to the second supplemental subset of the first brand
information. The method of embodiment (10) can also include
receiving first consumer-user preference information indicating
that a first brand-user has a system tracking preference for the
first consumer-user; filtering the first brand information to
create a third supplemental subset of first brand information that
is provided to the first brand-user expressing a system tracking
preference for the first consumer-user; and displaying to the first
brand-user one or more data object representations and/or
derivative data object representations relating to the third
supplemental subset of the first brand information. The system
tracking preference of embodiment (10) can be expressed by
following and/or listing a data object and/or a derivative data
object.
[0118] The method of embodiment (10) can include receiving
additional brand preference information indicating that an
additional brand of the plurality of brands has a preference for
the first consumer-user; and displaying to the additional brand one
or more data object representations relating to the subset of the
first brand information.
[0119] A preference in embodiment (10) can be expressed as a
following, listing, friending, and/or liking a data object
representation and/or a derivative data object representation. For
example, the preference can be a system tracking preference
selected from following and/or listing a data object representation
and/or a derivative data object representation. The expression of a
system tracking preference for a data object representation by the
first consumer-user can generate a derivative data object based on
the data object, wherein the derivative data object is associated
in the system with the data object and the first consumer-user.
Additionally or alternatively, the expression of a system tracking
preference for a data object representation by a first brand-user
can generate a derivative data object based on the data object,
wherein the derivative data object is associated in the system with
the data object and the first brand-user.
[0120] The method of embodiment (10) can include a modification to
a data object that generates a modification to all derivative data
objects of the data object. For example, the modification includes
an edit to one or more data object elements, an addition to the
data object, deletion of one or more data object elements, the
addition of a comment regarding a data object, or combinations
thereof.
[0121] The system in embodiment (10) can include a first brand-user
and the method further comprises displaying to the first brand-user
interaction data related to the plurality of consumer-users
expressing a preference for the first brand information; displaying
to the first brand-user the subset of data object representations
displayed to the first consumer-user; receiving subset preference
information indicating that the first brand-user has expressed a
preference for one or more data object representations of the
subset;
[0122] and displaying to the first brand user interactions with the
subset of data object representations displayed to the first
consumer-user and the first brand-user.
[0123] The method of embodiment (10) can also include receiving
additional first brand information responsive to the first brand
interaction data and/or the first brand comparative interaction
data. For example, the additional first brand information comprises
brand media, brand purchasing information, retail information,
brand promotional information, one or more brand-specific
supporting documents and information, one or more brand reviews, a
brand rating, commercial item media, commercial item purchasing
information, commercial item retail information, commercial item
promotional information, one or more item-specific supporting
documents and information, one or more commercial item reviews, a
commercial item rating, or combinations thereof.
[0124] Embodiment (10)(a): a subset of first brand information
created by the method of embodiment (10).
[0125] Embodiment (10)(b): a subset of data object representations
displayed to the first consumer-user by the method of embodiment
(10).
[0126] Embodiment (10)(c): a system comprising a processor
programmed to practice the method of embodiment (10).
[0127] Embodiment (10)(d): at least one computer-readable storage
medium having instructions recorded thereon which, when executed by
at least one computer, perform a method of any one of embodiment
(10).
[0128] Embodiment (11): a method of or employed by a system and/or
computer readable medium of any one of the previous embodiments
embodiment in which the subset identifies the first brand
information not previously displayed to the first
consumer-user.
[0129] Embodiment (12): a system of any one of the previous
embodiments, wherein said subset identifies the first brand
information not previously displayed to the first
consumer-user.
[0130] Embodiment (13): at least one computer readable medium of
any one of the previous embodiments wherein said subset identifies
the first brand information not previously displayed to the first
consumer-user.
[0131] Embodiment (14): a computer system comprising: a plurality
of user devices each having a display interface available to a
user; a plurality of item providers; a global database of data
objects, each data object comprising a unique object identifier of
that object and a user, item, or provider identifier of a user,
item or provider to which that object relates, the data objects
including a user association data object comprising a target user
identifier of a target user and a follower user identifier of a
user following the target user, wherein the global database is
configured responsive to the target user expressing a tracking
interest in a data object representation by instigating a tracking
instruction at their user device to create an association between
the target user identifier and the data object representation;
[0132] a global tracking database configured responsive to the
target user expressing the tracking interest in the data object to
store the association; and [0133] an information exchange computer
configured, responsive to the target user expressing the tracking
interest in the data object to access the global database and the
global tracking database and to display the data object
representation to the follower user via the display interface of
their user device.
[0134] Embodiment (15): a computer implemented method of selecting
data objects for interaction with a user at a graphical user
interface, the method comprising: [0135] receiving a data stream
from an item provider, the data stream identifying items available
from the item provider; [0136] storing a data object in a global
database with a provider identifier uniquely identifying the item
provider; [0137] storing for each item in the data stream a data
object with an item identifier uniquely identifying the item;
[0138] detecting a user interaction at a graphical user interface
of a user device, the interaction with an item or item provider
data object representation, and associating the data object with a
user identifier uniquely identifying the user; [0139] storing in a
tracking database the association between the data object and the
user identifier; and [0140] using the tracking database to select a
customized data set of data objects based on the associations in
the tracking database, the customized data set being for
presentation at the graphical user interface.
[0141] Embodiment (16): a computer system comprising: [0142] a
plurality of user devices each having a display interface available
to a user; [0143] a plurality of item providers; [0144] a global
database of data objects, each data object comprising a unique
object identifier of that object and a user, item, or provider
identifier of a user, item or provider to which that object
relates, the data objects including a user association data object
comprising a target user identifier of a target user and a follower
user identifier of a user following the target user, wherein the
global database is configured responsive to the target user
initiating a conversation regarding a data object representation by
instigating a conversation instruction at their user device to
create a new conversation data object based on that data object;
[0145] a global tracking database configured responsive to the
target user initiating the conversation regarding the data object
representation to store an association between the user identifier
of the target user, the object identifier of that data object, and
the object identifier of the created conversation data object; and
[0146] an information exchange computer configured, responsive to
the target user initiating the conversation regarding the data
object representation to access the global database and the global
tracking database and to display the conversation data object
representation to the follower user via the display interface of
their user device.
[0147] Embodiment (17): a computer implemented method of selecting
data objects for interaction with a user at a graphical user
interface, the method comprising:
[0148] receiving a data stream from an item provider, the data
stream identifying items available from the item provider; [0149]
storing a data object in a global database with a provider
identifier uniquely identifying the item provider;
[0150] storing for each item in the data stream a data object with
an item identifier uniquely identifying the item;
[0151] detecting a user interaction at a graphical user interface
of a user device, the interaction with an item or item provider
data object representation and comprising initiating a conversation
regarding the data object representation, and creating a
conversation data object with a conversation identifier uniquely
identifying the user and the item or item provider represented by
the data object representation;
[0152] creating in a tracking database an association between the
conversation data object, the user and the item and/or item
provider data object; and
[0153] using the tracking database to select a customised data set
of data objects based on the associations in the tracking database,
the customised data set being for presentation at the graphical
user interface.
[0154] Embodiment (18): a method of exchanging information on a
system between a first consumer-user and one or more additional
consumer-users, the system comprising (a) a plurality of
consumer-users including the first consumer-user and the one or
more additional consumer-users, wherein the first and one or more
additional consumer-users are connected in the system, and (b) a
plurality of brands including the first brand, wherein the system
is configured to receive, filter, and/or display information
related to the first consumer-user, the first brand, the plurality
of consumer-users, the plurality of brands, a commercial item,
interaction data, comparative interaction data and combinations
thereof; the method comprising acts of:
[0155] a. Viewing, by the first consumer-user, a subset of first
brand information that is provided by the system to the first
consumer-user and the one or more additional consumer-users;
and
[0156] b. Viewing, by the first consumer-user, an interaction with
the subset of first brand information comprising a conversation
initiated by the first consumer-user and/or the one or more
additional consumer-users, wherein the conversation relates to one
or more members of the subset of first brand information.
[0157] The conversation displayed in embodiment (18) can be
displayed by the system to the first consumer-user and one or more
additional consumer-users in a conversation data object. Moreover,
the method of embodiment (18) can further include viewing, by the
first consumer-user and/or the one or more additional
consumer-users a modified conversation based on the conversation
initiated in step (b), and optionally, the modified conversation is
displayed by the system to the first consumer-user and one or more
additional consumer-users in a modified conversation data
object.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0158] The accompanying drawings are provided to illustrate rather
than limit the scope of the invention.
[0159] FIG. 1(a) is a schematic representation of the system,
including a processor, filter and analysis programs, collective
brand data table, and a collective consumer data table, wherein the
collective brand data table draws information from an individual
brand data table, and likewise, the collective consumer data table
draws information from an individual consumer data table.
[0160] FIGS. 1(b)-(f) are schematic illustrations of the flow of
data in the system from one or more system components to
another.
[0161] FIG. 1(g) is a schematic illustration of an association
between a user, A, data object X, derivative data object X', and
the followers of user A, users B, C, and D.
[0162] FIG. 1(h) is an illustration of a data object and the types
of data stored within the data object database and the data object
representation generated by the system.
[0163] FIG. 2(a) illustrates how a consumer-user can create a
profile on the system.
[0164] FIG. 3(a) is one example of a consumer-user profile creation
screen that can be used on the system. FIG. 3(b) shows one
embodiment of a brand-de-selection screen that can be used to
create a profile on the system. FIG. 3(c) shows one or more lists
that can be created by the consumer-user during profile set-up on
the system.
[0165] FIG. 3(d)-(e) schematically illustrate the profile creation
process on the system.
[0166] FIG. 4(a)-(f) illustrate several embodiments of a
consumer-user's landing page on the system.
[0167] FIG. 5(a)-(c) illustrate one embodiment of how a brand can
create a profile on the system.
[0168] FIG. 6(a)-(f) is a schematic illustration of the process
used to create a brand profile.
[0169] FIG. 7(a)-(b) illustrate several embodiments of a brand's
landing page on the system.
[0170] FIGS. 8-9 are graphical representations of the system and
its subcomponents.
[0171] FIGS. 10(a)-(b) illustrate the display of a set of data
object representations on a computer screen.
[0172] FIGS. 11(a)-(c) and 12(a)-(d) illustrate the display of a
set of data object representations on a television screen.
[0173] FIGS. 13(a)-(f) illustrate alternative embodiments of system
configurations that (i) do not include derivative data object(s),
and/or (ii) illustrate conversational data objects on the
system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0174] Descriptions of certain embodiments for practicing aspects
of the invention will be discussed below. The examples should not
be considered limiting, but are intended to illustrate certain
inventive aspects. It will be useful to appreciate, in reading the
detailed description, that certain words or terms have defined
meanings unless another meaning is apparent.
[0175] The invention provides an online community that offers the
user a way to stay abreast of items and innovations, especially new
items and developments, from their favorite providers without
having to independently research the providers and items in which
they have interest. The system allows users to form a personal
relationship with the providers they are interested in and share
the experience with followers, e.g., via an online social
networking system, as well as other users of the system. The system
focuses on provider loyalty to offer a unique online experience for
users and a novel tool for providers that gathers information about
users interested in their products and/or services. The system uses
a "push modality" to present to users provider and item information
in which they have expressed interest while also providing valuable
opportunities for providers to interact with users interested in
their products and/or services.
[0176] The system aggregates items submitted by numerous providers
and presents them to users in a customizable user graphical user
interface ("GUI"). Users of the system do not have to search for
items (although the system includes, e.g., key-word and/or Boolean
search functionality). Rather, new or existing items are
periodically pushed to users based on their item and/or provider
preferences without prompting from the user. In addition to
enabling the user to follow providers they like, the system also
allows users to discover new providers and items in which they
might have an interest.
[0177] In addition, users can set up a network of contacts (or
import or link their user page on the system to any of a number of
social networking sites, including but not limited to, Facebook,
Twitter, MySpace, Friendster, YouTube, Linkedin, etc.) with whom
they can share their favorite providers, interests, items,
promotions, etc., and/or with whom they interact regarding an item,
provider, contemplated purchase, etc. Users can be notified of
their contacts' activities on the system via the user interface or
via one or more social networking sites, such as when they express
an interest in a provider or item, e.g., by following an item or
provider, liking an item or provider, etc. In one embodiment, a
user can create lists of data objects representing items or
providers wherein the items or providers listed are related to a
user-defined theme, activity, etc.
[0178] Still further, the system provides a mechanism for providers
to communicate with existing and potential users. Providers can
share any information that is pertinent to a user that has shown
interest in a given provider by, e.g., following the provider or an
item offered by that provider. The ability to push item pre-release
announcements, special promotions, incentives to participate in
provider/item surveys and focus groups, etc. to such a targeted
group of users is extremely valuable to the provider.
DEFINITIONS
[0179] "Computer" or "computer system" as used herein shall mean
one or more computing devices, regardless of the number and
location of processing elements. For example and without
limitation, the term computer or computer system includes personal
computers, desktop computers, tablet computers, computer networks,
personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones (whether smart
phones, PDA phones or digital cell phones), web TV, portable e-mail
devices, game consoles, media players, home theater computer
systems, global positioning systems (GPS), and so forth. In
addition, a computer system can provide access to two or more
consumer-users at different computers in the same or different
locations, in direct or indirect contact with a server(s) and/or
each other via a network (for example, the global internet and its
World Wide Web).
[0180] A "user" as used herein is an individual who has a
preference for an item, provider, brand, event, or service listed
in the system described herein. In a specific embodiment, a user
has a preference for a commercial item, provider, brand, event, or
service listed in the system, and in this context, a user can be
referred to as a "consumer" or "consumer-user." The terms
"consumer" and "consumer-user" are used alternatively herein. A
"provider" is an individual, organization, or entity that provides
an item, event, and/or service on the system. In a specific
embodiment, a provider is a brand, e.g., a provider of one or more
products or categories of products. A "consumer-user" is
distinguishable from a "brand-user," e.g., an individual or group
of individuals authorized by a provider to access and/or modify
provider information in a provider data table. A consumer-user can
be a private individual, whereas a brand-user can be a volunteer,
employee, or contractor working on behalf of a provider, e.g., a
company, merchant, retailer, reseller, event-planner, service
provider, etc.
[0181] "Database" as used herein refers to any organized data
structure or structures used for storing, retrieving, and
manipulating information having a predefined meaning. Without
limitation, a database can be a flat file structure, a relational
structure, or any other form of information storage. A database may
include one or more data tables, wherein the one or more data
tables include data relevant to providers, brands, users and other
general system data. Data tables can be subdivided to uniquely
identify a particular provider, brand, consumer-user, etc.
[0182] "Data object" as used herein refers to a database including
data related to an item, provider, list, individual, category,
interest, etc., wherein the data is displayed by the system in a
selectable common visual representation of that item, provider,
list, individual, category, interest, etc. A data object can be
created by a consumer-user and/or provider and displayed by the
system in the consumer-user GUI and/or the provider GUI. In one
embodiment, the data associated with each data object on the
system, regardless of origin, is displayed by the system in a
common visual representation, referred to herein as a data object
representation, that comprises one or more of the following
elements: standardized or customized layout, color scheme,
typeface, and organization of elements of the data object
representation, e.g., title, description, image/media, and optional
commentary fields. For example, the data object representation can
include a tile, board, icon, etc., and in a specific embodiment,
the data object representation includes a standardized layout,
including a title, item image and/or provider logo or trademark,
optionally price, and commentary fields, such that in this specific
embodiment, each data object representation on the system comprises
the same standardized layout. Each data object representation is
selectable in that a data object representation can be selected by
a user of the system to view a more detailed visual representation
of the item, provider, brand, list, individual, category, interest,
etc. including additional fields/information related to that item,
provider, brand, list, individual, category, interest, etc. Each
data object representation is also selectable in that data object
representations include one or more icons that a user can select to
interact with a data object representation, e.g., following,
liking, listing, conversing, friending, etc. Therefore, the data
object representation is a portal for the user to access and
interact with the data available in the data object (i.e., the
database) related to the item, provider, brand, list, individual,
category, interest, etc., represented by that data object
representation. As used herein, a user views and/or interacts with
a data object representation.
[0183] In a specific embodiment, each data object representation
relating to an item or provider includes a commentary field that
includes comments about that item or provider provided by a
consumer-user, one or more followers of that consumer-user of the
system, as well as providers affiliated with that item or provider.
Therefore, each data object representation displayed in a
consumer-user's GUI or a provider GUI is customized by the system
for that consumer-user or brand-user based on their profile
settings and preferences, and includes comments provided by that
consumer-user, a brand-user, followers of that consumer-user and/or
brand-user, and/or those followed by that consumer-user and/or
brand-user. The system is configured to preferentially display
those data object representations that relate to a consumer-user's
preferences e.g., data object representations that relate to an
item, provider, or individual that a consumer-user follows on the
system are displayed in the consumer-user's GUI (other data object
representations relating to items, provider, or individuals not
followed by the consumer-user are nevertheless visible on the
system to the consumer-user, but the consumer-user's GUI is
configured to automatically display data object representations in
which the consumer-user has expressed a preference). An unrelated
consumer-user of the system can modify a data object in which the
first consumer-user has a preference but because the first
consumer-user does not follow the unrelated consumer that modified
data object is not displayed in the first consumer-user's GUI.
[0184] A graphical user-interface ("GUI") is a type of
user-interface that allows a user to interact with an electronic
device using images and/or text commands A GUI allows a user to
manipulate graphical icons, data object representations, visual
indicators and/or text-based interfaces. Actions are performed by
direct manipulation of graphical or text elements in the GUI. While
certain embodiments described herein or components thereof are
described by reference to a desktop interface, such descriptions
are for illustrative purposes only. It will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various adjustments can be made to the
system and its components without departing from the spirit or
scope of the invention. For example, the GUI and components thereof
can be adjusted for use in any format depending on the amount of
data that can be displayed per screen, e.g., a GUI in a desktop
environment can display more data per screen than a GUI in a smart
phone. While the appearance of a GUI may be adjusted because of the
size limitations of the format (e.g., desktop vs. smart phone), the
system functionality remains unchanged and it is within the skill
of the ordinary artisan to adjust the GUI as needed for any
individual computer format. Likewise, the elements of the GUI can
be organized or displayed in any manner without departing from the
spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the layout of
individual elements or fields in the GUI can be adjusted, e.g., the
relative position of search fields, data tables, data object
representations, item or provider information, elements of a
consumer and/or provider profile, etc. without altering the system
functionality And while the system is illustrated and described
herein by reference to one or more GUI layouts, those embodiments
are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as
limitations on the scope of the invention.
[0185] An "item" as used herein, is a product, service, event, etc.
The item can be a commercial item, e.g., supplies and services of a
type customarily used by the general public, including but not
limited to components and any combination of items or services, as
well as management and professional support services providing
assistance, advice or training.
[0186] A provider or user can provide "provider information"
regarding an item or provider. In a specific embodiment, if the
provider is a brand, a brand or user can provide "brand
information" regarding an item or brand. Provider information
includes general information about the provider, as well as
commercial item information. In a specific embodiment, brand
information includes general brand information and commercial item
information. General provider information includes information
about the provider that is not specifically related to a distinct
item, including but not limited to information related to one or
more provider trademarks, one or more provider logos, one or more
commercial item logos, provider description, interest categories
associated with provider, provider media, provider purchasing
information, retail information, provider promotional information,
information related providers within the provider portfolio,
related provider description, related provider products, or
combinations thereof. In the specific embodiment in which a
provider is a brand, general brand information includes information
about the brand that is not specifically related to a distinct
item, including but not limited to information related to one or
more brand trademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more
commercial item logos, brand description, interest categories
associated with brand, brand media, brand purchasing information,
retail information, brand promotional information, information
related brands within the brand portfolio, related brand
description, related brand products, or combinations thereof.
Commercial item information pertains to a specific item, including
but not limited to, information related to one or more commercial
item trademarks, commercial item description information,
commercial item media, commercial item purchasing information,
commercial item retail information, commercial item promotional
information, related first brand products, or combinations
thereof.
[0187] A user can have a "preference" for an item, provider and/or
another user (e.g., consumer-user and/or brand-user) represented by
a data object on the system. A "preference" on the system expressed
by one user for another user, an item, or provider, is expressed
by, e.g., "following" a data object representation signifying that
user, item, or provider, which enables one user to track the system
activities of another user, item, or provider; "friending" e.g.,
one user requests to join another's group of contacts and the other
user accepts or rejects that request, and by accepting the
invitation, the first user is able to track the system activities
of the other user; "liking" a data object representing an item,
user, or provider, enables the user to indicate a predilection for
that item or provider in a way that does not allow the user to
track activities related to that item or provider; "listing" a data
object representing an item or provider, which allows the user to
include that item, provider, or individual in one or more lists
created by that user; and/or "conversing" about a data object
representing a user, item, or provider, which generates a
conversation data object representation associated with a source
data object and the user initiating the conversation and that
conversation data object representation is visible to followers of
the user initiating the conversation.
[0188] In a preferred embodiment, a consumer-user of the system
expresses a preference for an item, provider, or individual by
following, listing, conversing, or liking a data object
representation signifying that item, provider or individual. In one
particular embodiment of the system, if a first user follows a data
object representation signifying an item, individual, or brand, the
identity and one or more of the system activities of that first
user with respect to that followed data object are visible to other
users of the system that follow that first user and/or those other
users the first user follows. In particular, the followed data
object representation will be displayed in the first user's GUI and
it may also be displayed in the GUI of followers of the first user
and/or those followed by the first user. In addition, other users
of the system that do not have a relationship with the first user
can also view his/her followed data object representations under
his/her user profile on the system, but the followed data object
representations of the first user will only be displayed
automatically on the GUI of those other users that follow the first
user and/or those users that the first user follows. (Of course,
the system can be adjusted to enable one or more additional
interactions with a data object representation, e.g., listing,
conversing, or liking, to be automatically displayed to other users
of the system and/or the set of followers of a user on the system
in the same way as the action of following a data object
representation is automatically displayed.) With respect to one
consumer-user expressing a preference for another consumer-user on
the system, e.g., by following a data object representation
signifying that individual, such interactions on the system between
one consumer-user and another can be likened to those individuals
having a "relationship" and/or a connection on the system. The
preferences described above can be expressed by a consumer-user
and/or a brand-user on his/her own behalf or on behalf of a
provider he/she is authorized to represent on the system.
[0189] One type of preference that can be expressed on the system
is a "system tracking preference" i.e., an action taken by one
consumer-user (or brand-user) with respect to a data object
representing an item, provider, consumer-user, etc. that enables
the actor (i.e., the consumer-user expressing the preference) to
track the identity and system activities associated with that data
object. In a preferred embodiment, a consumer-user of the system
expresses a preference for an item, provider, or individual by
following, listing, conversing, or liking a data object
representation signifying that item, provider or individual. In a
specific embodiment, if a first user or brand follows a data object
representation signifying an item, individual, or brand, the act of
following constitutes an expression of a system tracking preference
that enables that first consumer-user to view and track the system
activities of the other consumer-user, provider, item, etc. in
which he/she has expressed a system tracking preference. (Once
again, the system can be adjusted to enable one or more additional
interactions with a data object representation, e.g., listing,
conversing, or liking, to constitute a "system tracking preference"
that enables the actor to track the identity and system activities
associated with that data object.)
[0190] As described above, a provider or consumer-user creates a
data object related to an item or provider. In a specific
embodiment, if another user follows that data object then the
system creates a derivative data object specific for and visible to
the follower (and his/her followers). The original data object
representation (or source data object) can be, for example, liked,
listed, or followed by additional users of the system, but in this
embodiment, the act of following (i.e., the expression of a system
tracking preference) creates a derivative data object and that
derivative data object representation is visible to the follower
and his/her followers. Likewise, if a provider elects to follow a
data object representation created by another provider or a
consumer-user on the system, then the system creates a derivative
data object specific for and visible to that provider and followers
of that provider. (This is one example of a system configuration
and the skilled artisan will readily appreciate that the system can
be adjusted to expand the list of interactions that constitute
system tracking preferences that generate derivative data
objects.)
[0191] In an alternative embodiment of the system, if a user
follows a data object representation then the system does not
create a derivative data object as described above. Instead, the
system generates an association between the user that followed the
data object and that data object and that association is stored to
a global tracking database. In this alternative embodiment, once a
user follows a data object then the system displays the data object
representation of that data object to the user and his/her
followers.
[0192] Expressing a preference for a data object representation
signifying an item, provider, or another user, is one form of
"interaction" a user can have with a data object representation (or
a derivative data object representation). An "interaction" with a
data object, as used herein, includes but is not limited to,
viewing a data object representation, expressing a preference for a
data object representation, commenting on a data object
representation, generating a conversation data object based on a
source data object, participating in a dialog regarding a data
object representation and/or a conversation data object
representation, offering an opinion regarding a data object
representation and/or a conversation data object representation,
providing a rating for a data object representation, clicking
through a data object representation to view additional details,
clicking through a data object representation to view first
provider-hosted information, participating in a survey regarding a
data object representation, requesting further information from the
provider regarding a data object representation, buying a
commercial item displayed in a data object representation from a
third-party retailer/reseller, buying a commercial item displayed
in a data object representation directly from the first provider,
buying a commercial item displayed in a data object representation
from an individual, participating in an auction regarding a data
object representation, offering a commercial item displayed in a
data object representation for free, loan, sale, lease, and/or
rental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed in a
data object representation, requesting that a discontinued
commercial item displayed in a data object representation is
re-introduced by the first provider and/or an authorized
retailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to the first provider product
ideas, improvements, and/or corrections regarding a data object,
removing a data object representation from one or more lists
("de-listing"), sharing a data object representation with an
individual or group, e.g., emailing the data object representation
(or a hyperlink to the data object), including a hyperlink for that
data object representation on a social networking system, etc.,
"un-liking" a data object representation, e.g., removing that data
object representation from the list of liked data object
representations in a consumer-user's profile, "un-friending", e.g.,
removing that data object representation from the list of "friends"
in a consumer-user's profile, or combinations thereof.
[0193] It will be understood by the skilled artisan that the system
described herein is not limited to a method of managing and/or
exchanging information about items or providers, but it can also be
extended to a method of managing and/or exchanging any type of
information, e.g., between a merchant and a customer, an
event-planner and an attendee, a service provider and a customer,
within a business entity between employees of that business, etc.
In a specific embodiment, the system described herein relates to a
method of exchanging information about commercially available
items, providers, brands, services, events, etc. In a particular
embodiment, the set of information exchanged and/or managed on the
system uniformly relates to commercially available items, brands,
services, events, etc. While other social networking sites, e.g.,
Facebook, Twitter, etc., can include item or provider-related posts
and/or comments, that is ancillary to the purpose of the sites,
i.e., to encourage social interaction between users for any
purpose. In contrast, the present system encourages social
interaction between users and providers about commercial items,
brands, services, events, etc.
[0194] Customizable Data Management System
[0195] The invention provides a streamlined method of transferring
data through the system to synthesize a dataset that is customized
for a particular user of the system based on the user's preferences
and relationships on the system. That customized dataset is
displayed in the user's GUI. Likewise, the system synthesizes a
customized dataset for each individual user and provider on the
system and displays that unique customized dataset in the
user's/provider's GUI. Because each user, provider, item, category,
and data object on the system includes a unique identifier, each
time a participant on the system (user or provider) expresses a
preference for a data object (e.g., via a data object
representation), that action is uniquely associated in the system
with the user (or provider) and one or more data object
representations, either the original data object and/or a
derivative data object, depending on the type of preference
expressed. If the user expresses a system tracking preference, a
derivative data object is generated and uniquely associated with
that user; the system then generates a subset of that user's
followers and copies a reference to that data object into one or
more sections, channels, or feeds of the follower's GUI so that the
user's followers are apprised of the user's activity on the system.
If, on the other hand, the user expresses a preference that does
not constitute a system tracking preference, a derivative data
object is not generated, but the user's preference for the original
data object is recorded in the system and the system copies a
reference to that original data object into one or more sections,
channels, or feeds of the user's GUI.
[0196] In particular, each user, item, provider, category, brand,
etc., is associated in the system with a data object and each data
object, user, provider, category, and item on the system is
associated in the system with a unique identifier (ID). Each data
object (and derivative data object) includes a reference to the
user ID of the user that created it, as well as the provider ID
associated with that data object, and all data objects (and
derivative data objects) and the unique identifiers associated with
them are stored in a collective data object database. In one
embodiment, if user A chooses to follow data object X (i.e., the
user expresses a system tracking preference for data object X), the
system creates a derivative data object having identifier X'. The
system then creates an association between user A, data object X,
and data object X' and that association is stored in a global
tracking database. Therefore, in this specific example, the
association that is created includes the following data: user A,
data object X, and data object X'. The system then surveys the
global tracking database for the dataset of followers of user A on
the system, e.g., users B, C, and D. If user A has no followers,
derivative data object X' (i.e., a derivative data object X'
representation) is displayed in one or more user A customized
channels or feeds, e.g., those channels or feeds related to user
A's recent activities on the system. If user A has a follower,
e.g., user B, the system displays derivative data object X'
representation in a user B customized channel or feed designed to
display data object representations new to user B on the system;
and likewise, if user A has additional followers, e.g., users C and
D, the system displays derivative data object X' representation in
a user C customized channel or feed and a user D customized channel
or feed, respectively.
[0197] In an alternative embodiment, if user A chooses to follow
data object X (i.e., the user expresses a system tracking
preference for data object X), the system does not create a
derivative data object, although the system creates an association
between user A and data object X and that association is stored in
a global tracking database. Therefore, in this specific alternative
embodiment, the association that is created includes the following
data: user A and data object X. The system then surveys the global
tracking database for the dataset of followers of user A on the
system, e.g., users B, C, and D. If user A has no followers, data
object X representation is displayed in one or more user A
customized channels or feeds, e.g., those channels or feeds related
to user A's recent activities on the system. If user A has a
follower, e.g., user B, the system displays data object X
representation in a user B customized channel or feed designed to
display data object representations new to user B on the system;
and likewise, if user A has additional followers, e.g., users C and
D, the system displays data object X representation in a user C
customized channel or feed and a user D customized channel or feed,
respectively.
[0198] As described above, the act of following a data object
constitutes a system tracking preference that creates an
association between the follower and the data object and in
optionally, the system generates a derivative data object based on
the followed data object representation. In one specific embodiment
of the system, the act of liking a data object representation does
not generate a system tracking preference, although an association
is created between the liked data object representation and the
user that liked that representation. Therefore, in this specific
embodiment, if user A likes data object X representation, that
preference is associated with data object X in the collective data
object database and likewise, user A's preference for data object X
is stored in user A's profile, but the system does not generate a
derivative data object. An association between user A and data
object X is created and stored to the global tracking database
and/or an additional tracking database, which may be a component of
the global tracking database or a separate database in the system.
The system displays data object X representation in one or more of
user A's GUI sections, channels, or feeds as well as one or more
sections, channels, or feeds of user A's followers.
[0199] A further data transfer and management embodiment is
provided in which the system generates a customizable section,
channel or feed of data object representations not previously
displayed to a user of the system in his/her customizable GUI,
referred to as New Channel. In this embodiment, if a user chooses
to view his/her New Channel, the system retrieves a dataset of data
objects previously displayed in the New Channel, queries the
collective data object database for objects not previously
displayed in the user's New Channel, generates a dataset of new
data objects, deletes those data objects previously displayed or
viewed on the system, and displays the new data object
representations of the dataset in the New Channel. If no new data
objects are available in the collective data object database, the
system displays a message to the user via the GUI that the New
Channel is empty. In one embodiment, the system can determine
whether a data object representation has been viewed by a user,
e.g., by detecting via JavaScript in the browser that the data
object representation was displayed in the GUI and a message is
sent to the server to instruct the system to remove the data object
from the New Channel data table. When the New Channel is refreshed,
that data object representation will no longer be displayed.
Alternatively, the system may not detect actual "views" by a user
in his/her browser, but instead, simply maintain an inventory of
data objects that have been presented in the New Channel and once
presented, the reference to that data object is deleted from the
New Channel data table. In yet another alternative, the system can
delete a reference to a data object within a selected time from
first display in the New Channel, e.g., within one week, one month,
three months, etc.
[0200] The system uses this method to create a variety of
synthesized datasets that are customized for each user or provider
on the system, depending on the type of information they would like
to view on the system. In one embodiment, the invention provides a
computer implemented method of selecting data objects for
interaction with a user at a graphical user interface, the method
comprising: receiving a data stream from an item provider, the data
stream identifying items available from the item provider; storing
a data object in a global database with a provider identifier
uniquely identifying the item provider; storing for each item in
the data stream a data object with an item identifier uniquely
identifying the item; detecting a user interaction at a graphical
user interface of a user device, the interaction with an item or
item provider data object, and creating a user data object with a
user identifier uniquely identifying the user; creating in a
tracking database an association between the user data object and
the item and/or item provider data object; and using the tracking
database to select a customized data set of data objects based on
the associations in the tracking database, the customized data set
being for presentation at the graphical user interface.
[0201] Moreover, the invention provides a computer system
comprising: a plurality of user devices each having a display
interface available to a user; a plurality of item providers; a
global database of data objects, each data object comprising a
unique data object identifier of that object and a user, item, or
provider identifier of a user, item or provider to which that data
object relates; computer storage storing: (i) for each item
provider, a respective provider data table comprising a unique
provider identifier of that provider and one or more item
identifiers of items provided by that provider; (ii) for each user,
a respective user data table comprising a unique user identifier of
that user and one or more item identifiers, provider identifiers,
and/or category identifiers for items, providers and/or categories
in which that user has expressed a preference; and (iii) a
customized set of data tables selected for at least a first user,
the customized set selected from the user data tables and provider
data tables based on the item and/or the provider identifiers
contained in the first users data table; a global tracking database
configured responsive to the first user expressing an additional
preference for a provider or item by instigating an association
instruction at their user device to associate that first user's
user identifier with an object identifier of a data object
comprising the provider or item identifier of that provider or
item; and an information exchange computer configured, responsive
to the first user expressing the additional interest in the item or
provider, to select one or more additional provider data tables
and/or user data tables for inclusion in the first user's
customized set to update that set, and to select at least one data
object based on the first user's updated set for display to the
first user via the display interface of their user device.
[0202] Also provided is a computer system comprising: a plurality
of user devices each having a display interface available to a
user; a plurality of item providers; a global database of data
objects, each data object comprising a unique object identifier of
that object and a user, item, or provider identifier of a user,
item or provider to which that object relates, the data objects
including a user association data object comprising a target user
identifier of a target user and a follower user identifier of a
user following the target user, wherein the global database is
configured responsive to the target user expressing a tracking
interest in a data object by instigating a tracking instruction at
their user device to create a new derivative data object based on
that data object; a global tracking database configured responsive
to the target user expressing the tracking interest in the data
object to store an association between the user identifier of the
target user, the object identifier of that data object, and the
object identifier of the created derivative data object; and an
information exchange computer configured, responsive to the target
user expressing the interest in the data object to access the
global database and the global tracking database and to display the
derivative data object to the follower user via the display
interface of their user device.
[0203] In an additional embodiment, the invention provides a
computer system comprising: a plurality of user devices each having
a display interface available to a user; a plurality of item
providers; a global database of data objects, each data object
comprising a unique object identifier of that object and a user,
item, or provider identifier of a user, item or provider to which
that object relates, the data objects including a user association
data object comprising a target user identifier of a target user
and a follower user identifier of a user following the target user,
wherein the global database is configured responsive to the target
user expressing a tracking interest in a data object representation
by instigating a tracking instruction at their user device to
create an association between the target user identifier and the
data object representation; a global tracking database configured
responsive to the target user expressing the tracking interest in
the data object to store the association; and an information
exchange computer configured, responsive to the target user
expressing the tracking interest in the data object to access the
global database and the global tracking database and to display the
data object representation to the follower user via the display
interface of their user device.
[0204] In this additional embodiment, the invention therefore
provides a computer implemented method of selecting data objects
for interaction with a user at a graphical user interface, the
method comprising: receiving a data stream from an item provider,
the data stream identifying items available from the item provider;
storing a data object in a global database with a provider
identifier uniquely identifying the item provider; storing for each
item in the data stream a data object with an item identifier
uniquely identifying the item; detecting a user interaction at a
graphical user interface of a user device, the interaction with an
item or item provider data object representation, and associating
the data object with a user identifier uniquely identifying the
user; storing in a tracking database the association between the
data object and the user identifier; and using the tracking
database to select a customized data set of data objects based on
the associations in the tracking database, the customized data set
being for presentation at the graphical user interface.
[0205] Still further, the invention includes a computer system
comprising: a plurality of user devices each having a display
interface available to a user; a plurality of item providers; a
global database of data objects, each data object comprising a
unique object identifier of that object and a user, item, or
provider identifier of a user, item or provider to which that
object relates, the data objects including a user association data
object comprising a target user identifier of a target user and a
follower user identifier of a user following the target user,
wherein the global database is configured responsive to the target
user initiating a conversation regarding a data object
representation by instigating a conversation instruction at their
user device to create a new conversation data object based on that
data object; a global tracking database configured responsive to
the target user initiating the conversation regarding the data
object representation to store an association between the user
identifier of the target user, the object identifier of that data
object, and the object identifier of the created conversation data
object; and an information exchange computer configured, responsive
to the target user initiating the conversation regarding the data
object representation to access the global database and the global
tracking database and to display the conversation data object
representation to the follower user via the display interface of
their user device.
[0206] In this embodiment, the invention provides a computer
implemented method of selecting data objects for interaction with a
user at a graphical user interface, the method comprising:
receiving a data stream from an item provider, the data stream
identifying items available from the item provider; storing a data
object in a global database with a provider identifier uniquely
identifying the item provider; storing for each item in the data
stream a data object with an item identifier uniquely identifying
the item; detecting a user interaction at a graphical user
interface of a user device, the interaction with an item or item
provider data object representation and comprising initiating a
conversation regarding the data object representation, and creating
a conversation data object with a conversation identifier uniquely
identifying the user and the item or item provider represented by
the data object representation; creating in a tracking database an
association between the conversation data object, the user and the
item and/or item provider data object; and using the tracking
database to select a customized data set of data objects based on
the associations in the tracking database, the customized data set
being for presentation at the graphical user interface.
[0207] In a specific embodiment, the invention provides a method of
exchanging provider information on a system, wherein the system has
(i) a plurality of consumer-users including a first consumer-user
and one or more additional consumer-users, wherein optionally, the
first and one or more additional consumer-users have a relationship
on the system, and (ii) a plurality of provider including a first
provider, the method comprising acts of: [0208] Receiving first
provider information; [0209] Receiving first provider preference
information indicating that the first consumer-user has expressed a
preference for the first provider information; [0210] Filtering the
first provider information to create a subset of first provider
information that is provided to the first consumer-user; [0211]
Displaying to the first consumer-user one or more data object
representations relating to the subset of the first provider
information; [0212] Receiving one or more first consumer-user
interactions with the one or more data object representations
relating to the subset of first provider information; [0213]
Displaying to the first provider: [0214] Interaction data relating
to the first provider and specific to one or more consumer-users;
[0215] Interaction data related to the first provider aggregated
for a plurality of consumer-users on the system; [0216] Comparative
interaction data from a plurality of customer-users related to the
first provider relative to a one or more other provider on the
system; or [0217] Combinations thereof.
[0218] In a specific embodiment, the invention provides a method of
exchanging brand information on a system, wherein the system has
(i) a plurality of consumer-users including a first consumer-user
and one or more additional consumer-users, wherein optionally, the
first and one or more additional consumer-users have a relationship
on the system, and (ii) a plurality of brands including a first
brand, the method comprising acts of: [0219] Receiving first brand
information; [0220] Receiving first brand preference information
indicating that the first consumer-user has expressed a preference
for the first brand information; [0221] Filtering the first brand
information to create a subset of first brand information that is
provided to the first consumer-user; [0222] Displaying to the first
consumer-user one or more data object representations relating to
the subset of the first brand information; [0223] Receiving one or
more first consumer-user interactions with the one or more data
object representations relating to the subset of first brand
information; [0224] Displaying to the first brand: [0225]
Interaction data relating to the first brand and specific to one or
more consumer-users; [0226] Interaction data related to the first
brand aggregated for a plurality of consumer-users on the system;
[0227] Comparative interaction data from a plurality of
customer-users related to the first brand relative to a one or more
other brands on the system; or [0228] Combinations thereof.
[0229] For example, the plurality of users of the system includes a
plurality of consumer-users of the system, as well as brands that
offer commercial items on the system. The processor receives
information indicating that a first consumer-user of the system has
a preference for (i) a commercial item offered by a brand on the
system, and/or (ii) a brand offering one or more commercial items
on the system. The processor receives item and/or brand information
relating to the commercial item and/or brand, and filters the item
and/or brand information to create a subset of the item and/or
brand information that is provided to consumer-users in which the
first user has expressed a preference. The processor displays one
or more data object representations relating to the subset to the
first user in the GUI. The processor also receives information
related to interactions the first consumer-user has with the subset
of data object representations displayed to the first
consumer-user, e.g., viewing the data object representation,
purchasing an item depicted in a data object representation,
comments to a data object representation, liking or following a
data object representation, initiating a conversation regarding a
data object representation and thereby generating a conversation
data object regarding a source data object, etc., and the system
displays to the first brand, interaction data related to the
plurality of consumer-users having a preference for the first
brand. The system also displays to the first brand interaction data
related to the first brand aggregated for a plurality of
consumer-users on the system, as well as comparative interaction
data from the plurality of users of the system related to the first
brand relative to other brands on the system.
[0230] Whereas the system includes a plurality of brands, the
method also includes the following steps: receiving additional
brand information from a plurality of brands; receiving additional
brand preference information indicating that the first
consumer-user has expressed a preference for an additional subset
of the additional brand information; filtering the first brand
information and the additional brand information to create one or
more supplemental subsets of additional brand information that is
provided to the first consumer-user; displaying to the first
consumer-user one or more data object representations relating to
the one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand
information; receiving one or more first consumer-user interactions
with the one or more data object representations relating to the
one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand information;
and displaying to each of the additional brands: (i) interaction
data relating to the one or more additional brands and specific to
the one or more consumer-users expressing a preference for the one
or more additional brand information; (ii) interaction data related
to the one or more additional brands aggregated for a plurality of
consumer-users on the system; (iii) comparative interaction data
from a plurality of customer-users related to the one or more
additional brands relative to a one or more other brands on the
system; or (iv) combinations thereof.
[0231] In a particular embodiment, the invention provides a method
of exchanging provider information on a system as described above,
wherein the system displays to the first consumer-user provider
information not previously displayed to a consumer-user on the
system. In a specific embodiment, the system preferentially
displays brand information not previously displayed to the
consumer-user relative to other brand information the system
previously displayed to that consumer-user, thereby identifying
those data object representations not previously displayed to the
consumer-user. In another embodiment, the system displays to a
consumer-user brand information not displayed to a consumer-user
within a defined time frame, e.g., one year, 6 months, 3 months, 1
month, etc. In this regard, the system displays one or more data
object representations related to new items, brands, etc. that the
consumer-user has not seen on the system, i.e., that subset of
brand information on the system in which the consumer-user has
expressed a preference that is new to that consumer-user.
Therefore, the consumer-user GUI displays a subset of information
related to items and/or brands not previously displayed to the
consumer-user by the system. For example, the new brand or item
information may include but is not limited to, a new item offered
by a brand, a new item or brand in an interest category preferred
by the consumer-user and for a new brand, products offered by that
new brand, new description information related to an item or brand,
new purchasing information related to an item or brand, a promotion
related to that item or brand, an image, video, or another graphic
related to an item or brand not previously displayed to the
consumer-user, a new review for that item or brand, new items or
brands associated with an item or brand or that may be used with
that item or brand (and vice versa), new comments about that item
or brand made by followers of the user, etc.
[0232] In addition, if a consumer-user expresses a system tracking
preference for provider information, the system filters that
provider's information to create a first supplemental subset of
provider information that is provided to that consumer-user and
his/her followers and displays the data object representations,
and/or in one specific embodiment, one or more derivative data
object representations that relate to that first supplemental
subset of provider information. Likewise, if an additional
consumer-user of the system expresses a system tracking preference
for a first consumer-user, the system filters the first provider
information in which the first consumer-user has expressed a
preference to create a second supplemental subset of first provider
information and displays one or more data object representations
and/or derivative data object representations relating to that
second supplemental subset to the additional consumer-user.
Moreover, if a brand-user of the system expresses a system tracking
preference for a first consumer-user, the system filters the first
provider information in which the first consumer-user has expressed
a preference to create a third supplemental subset of first
provider information and displays one or more data object
representations and/or derivative data object representations
relating to that third supplemental subset to the brand-user. In a
specific example, if a consumer-user expresses a system tracking
preference for brand information, the system filters that brand's
information to create a first supplemental subset of brand
information that is provided to that consumer-user and his/her
followers and displays one or more data object representations
and/or derivative data object representations that relate to that
first supplemental subset of brand information. Likewise, if an
additional consumer-user of the system expresses a system tracking
preference for a first consumer-user, the system filters the first
brand information in which the first consumer-user has expressed a
preference to create a second supplemental subset of first brand
information and displays one or more data object representations
and/or derivative data object representations relating to that
second supplemental subset to the additional consumer-user.
Moreover, if a brand-user of the system expresses a system tracking
preference for a first consumer-user, the system filters the first
brand information in which the first consumer-user has expressed a
preference to create a third supplemental subset of first brand
information and displays one or more data object representations
and/or derivative data object representations relating to that
third supplemental subset to the brand-user.
[0233] In another embodiment, the invention includes a method of
exchanging information on a system having a plurality of
consumer-users including a first consumer-user, the method
comprising acts of (a) receiving information indicating that a
first consumer-user has a preference for a commercial item and/or
provider; (b) receiving item and/or provider information, provided
by at least some of the plurality of consumer-users and/or the
provider relating to the commercial item and/or provider; (c)
filtering the item and/or provider information to create a subset
of the item and/or provider information that is provided to the
consumer-user; and (d) displaying to the first consumer user one or
more data object representations relating to the subset of the item
and/or provider information. For example, the invention includes a
method of exchanging information on a system having a plurality of
consumer-users including a first consumer-user, the method
comprising acts of (a) receiving information indicating that a
first consumer-user has a preference for a commercial item and/or
brand; (b) receiving item and/or brand information, provided by at
least some of the plurality of consumer-users and/or the brand
relating to the commercial item and/or brand; (c) filtering the
item and/or brand information to create a subset of the item and/or
brand information that is provided to the consumer-user; and (d)
displaying to the first consumer user one or more data object
representations relating to the subset of the item and/or brand
information.
[0234] The invention also includes a method of exchanging
information on a system between a first provider and a first
consumer-user, the system comprising (a) a plurality of
consumer-users including the first consumer-user, and (b) a
plurality of providers including the first provider, wherein the
system is configured to receive, filter, and/or display information
related to the first consumer-user, the first provider, the
plurality of consumer-users, the plurality of providers, a
commercial item, interaction data, comparative interaction data and
combinations thereof; the method comprising acts of (a) viewing, by
the first provider, interaction data related to the plurality of
consumer-users expressing a preference for first provider
information; and (b) providing additional first provider
information responsive to the first provider interaction data. The
method can also include viewing, by the first provider, provider
comparative interaction data for the first provider relative to the
plurality of providers on the system and/or a subset of the
plurality of providers on the system; and providing additional
first provider information responsive to the first provider
interaction data and/or the first provider comparative interaction
data. For example, the invention includes a method of exchanging
information on a system between a first brand and a first
consumer-user, the system comprising (a) a plurality of
consumer-users including the first consumer-user, and (b) a
plurality of brands including the first brand, wherein the system
is configured to receive, filter, and/or display information
related to the first consumer-user, the first brand, the plurality
of consumer-users, the plurality of brands, a commercial item,
interaction data, comparative interaction data and combinations
thereof; the method comprising acts of (a) viewing, by the first
brand, interaction data related to the plurality of consumer-users
expressing a preference for first brand information; and (b)
providing additional first brand information responsive to the
first brand interaction data. The method can also include viewing,
by the first brand, brand comparative interaction data for the
first brand relative to the plurality of brands on the system
and/or a subset of the plurality of brands on the system; and
providing additional first brand information responsive to the
first brand interaction data and/or the first brand comparative
interaction data.
[0235] In addition, also provided is a method of exchanging
information on a system between a first provider and a first
consumer-user, the system comprising (a) a plurality of
consumer-users including the first consumer-user, and (b) a
plurality of providers including the first provider, wherein the
system is configured to receive, filter, and/or display information
related to the first consumer-user, the first provider, the
plurality of consumer-users, the plurality of providers, a
commercial item, interaction data, comparative interaction data and
combinations thereof; the method comprising acts of: (a) viewing,
by the first consumer-user, first provider information relating to
(i) the general first provider information and/or the first
provider commercial item; (ii) expressing a preference for (i) the
general first provider information and/or the first provider
commercial item; and (iii) viewing, by the first consumer-user, a
subset of first provider information that is provided by the system
to the first consumer-user. For example, also provided is a method
of exchanging information on a system between a first brand and a
first consumer-user, the system comprising (a) a plurality of
consumer-users including the first consumer-user, and (b) a
plurality of brands including the first brand, wherein the system
is configured to receive, filter, and/or display information
related to the first consumer-user, the first brand, the plurality
of consumer-users, the plurality of brands, a commercial item,
interaction data, comparative interaction data and combinations
thereof; the method comprising acts of: (a) viewing, by the first
consumer-user, first brand information relating to (i) the general
first brand information and/or the first brand commercial item;
(ii) expressing a preference for (i) the general first brand
information and/or the first brand commercial item; and (iii)
viewing, by the first consumer-user, a subset of first brand
information that is provided by the system to the first
consumer-user.
[0236] Moreover, also included is a method of exchanging
information on a system between a first consumer-user and one or
more additional consumer-users, the system comprising (a) a
plurality of consumer-users including the first consumer-user and
the one or more additional consumer-users, wherein the first and
one or more additional consumer-users are connected in the system,
and (b) a plurality of providers including the first provider,
wherein the system is configured to receive, filter, and/or display
information related to the first consumer-user, the first provider,
the plurality of consumer-users, the plurality of providers, a
commercial item, interaction data, comparative interaction data and
combinations thereof; the method comprising acts of: (a) viewing,
by the first consumer-user, a subset of first provider information
that is provided by the system to the first consumer-user and
optionally one or more additional consumer-users; and (b) viewing,
by the first consumer-user, an interaction with the subset of first
provider information comprising: (i) a preference for one or more
members of the subset of first provider information, wherein the
preference is expressed by the first consumer-user and/or the one
or more additional consumer-users; (ii) a comment regarding one or
more members of the subset of first provider information, wherein
the comment is provided by the first consumer-user and/or the one
or more additional consumer-users; or (iii) combinations thereof.
Also contemplated in this method is (c) interacting, by the first
consumer-user, with the subset of first provider information, e.g.,
expressing an additional preference for a data object within the
subset, responding to a comment provided by another consumer-user,
etc. For example, the invention contemplates a method of exchanging
information on a system between a first consumer-user and one or
more additional consumer-users, the system comprising (a) a
plurality of consumer-users including the first consumer-user and
the one or more additional consumer-users, wherein the first and
one or more additional consumer-users are connected in the system,
and (b) a plurality of brands including the first brand, wherein
the system is configured to receive, filter, and/or display
information related to the first consumer-user, the first brand,
the plurality of consumer-users, the plurality of brands, a
commercial item, interaction data, comparative interaction data and
combinations thereof; the method comprising acts of: (a) viewing,
by the first consumer-user, a subset of first brand information
that is provided by the system to the first consumer-user and
optionally one or more additional consumer-users; and (b) viewing,
by the first consumer-user, an interaction with the subset of first
brand information comprising: (i) a preference for one or more
members of the subset of first brand information, wherein the
preference is expressed by the first consumer-user and/or the one
or more additional consumer-users; (ii) a comment regarding one or
more members of the subset of first brand information, wherein the
comment is provided by the first consumer-user and/or the one or
more additional consumer-users; or (iii) combinations thereof. Also
contemplated in this method is (c) interacting, by the first
consumer-user, with the subset of first brand information, e.g.,
expressing an additional preference for a data object within the
subset, responding to a comment provided by another consumer-user,
etc.
[0237] The foregoing methods are illustrated in the figures and the
accompanying description. While one or more of the figures
illustrate one embodiment of the system in which the provider is a
brand and the information exchanged on the system relates to
commercial items and information associated therewith, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that the system described
herein and illustrated in the figures can be used to manage
datasets of any type and provided by any manner of provider. The
system described herein provides an efficient mechanism to manage
and display customizable datasets to a user, simplifying and
enriching the user experience on the system, and creating
efficiencies in the transfer and management of data between two or
more databases on the system.
[0238] As shown in FIG. 1, the system includes a collective
consumer data table (101), a collective brand data table (102), a
processor (103), an interface (104), and a set of filtering and
analysis programs and associated databases (105). The collective
consumer data table stores all information about the plurality of
consumer-users that participate on the system and likewise, the
collective brand data table stores all information about the
plurality of brands that participate on the system. The collective
consumer data table comprises one or more sets of consumer data,
one of which is depicted in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(f) as individual
consumer data (106). For each consumer-user with a profile on the
system, there is a corresponding consumer data table or individual
consumer data table stored within the collective consumer data
table. Each individual consumer data comprises one or more
additional data tables, including but not limited to a consumer
profile (107) and purchasing preferences including brand
preferences (108), item preferences (109), a contact, follower,
and/or following data table (110), and an interest data table
(111). The brand and/or item preferences can also include one or
more brand and/or item lists created by the consumer-user (not
shown), which may be used by the consumer-user to group brands
and/or items in a consumer-user created ontology.
[0239] The collective brand data table comprises one or more brand
data, one of which is depicted in FIG. 1(a) as individual brand
data (112). For each brand that participates on the system, there
is a corresponding brand data table or individual brand data table
stored within the collective brand data table. Each individual
brand data comprises one or more additional data tables, including
but not limited to an item catalog including a list of all items of
the brand offered on the system (113), a contact, follower, and/or
following data table (114) including a list of all consumer-users
on the system that have expressed a preference for that brand or an
item offered by that brand on the system, and an interest data
table (115), including those interest categories that are relevant
to the items offered by the brand. In an optional embodiment, the
collective brand data table includes a system ontology comprising
item and brand categories, wherein brand information is organized
within one or more brand data tables in accordance with the system
ontology.
[0240] The processor (103) includes a filtering program configured
to filter the collective brand data table based on the consumer's
preferences, e.g., item, category and/or brand preferences. In
other words, the processor filters the item, category, and/or brand
information in the collective brand data table and the collective
consumer data table to create a subset of the item and/or brand
information that relates only to those items and/or brands in which
a first user has expressed a preference. For example, if a first
user identified an interest in item X, the system uses that
information to filter the collective brand data table for
information related to item X, generating a consumer-customized
data table that includes information related to item X. The system
also filters the collective consumer data table for one or more
users from among the plurality of users on the system followed by
the first user that have provided item and/or brand information
about item X. Therefore, the GUI for that consumer-user displays a
selected subset of information related to item X to that consumer,
e.g., an item X data object that includes a description of item X,
purchasing information, an image, video, or another graphic of item
X, reviews for item X, sales or promotional information associated
with item X, items related to item X, items used in connection with
item X, and as described in more details below, comments about item
X made by followers of the user (derivative data objects related to
item X). Likewise, if a first user identified an interest in item
category N, the system uses that information to filter the
collective brand data table for information related to items that
are associated with category N, generating a consumer-customized
data table that includes information related to item n, m, and p.
The system then displays data object representations of items n, m,
and p.
[0241] In one embodiment, the filtering program provides a method
of organizing the collective brand data table based on the
consumer's preferences, e.g., item, category, and/or brand
preferences. In other words, the processor filters the item and/or
brand information in the collective brand data table and the
collective consumer data table to create a subset of the item
and/or brand information that relates only to those items and/or
brands in which a first user has expressed a preference and the
system displays that subset to the consumer-user in a section or
portion of the GUI dedicated to one or more of the consumer-user's
preferences. For example, if a first user identified an interest in
item X, the system uses that information to filter the collective
brand data table for information related to item X, generating a
consumer-customized data table that includes information related to
item X. The system also filters the collective consumer data table
for one or more users from among the plurality of users on the
system followed by the first user that have provided item and/or
brand information about item X. Therefore, the GUI for that
consumer-user displays a selected subset of information related to
item X to that consumer, e.g., an item X data object representation
that includes a description of item X, purchasing information, an
image, video, or another graphic of item X, reviews for item X,
sales or promotional information associated with item X, items
related to item X, items used in connection with item X, and as
described in more details below, comments about item X made by
followers of the user (derivative data object representations
related to item X).
[0242] The GUI for that consumer-user can display the selected
subset of information in any suitable format. In one embodiment,
the GUI displays the selected subset of information in a channel or
feed which is organized according to a consumer-user's preferences
and the consumer-user can navigate between channels in the GUI. The
system can include a set of defined channels or feeds and/or the
consumer-user can customize one or more channels or feeds based on
his/her preferences. The set of predefined channels or feeds can
include, but is not limited to, popular data object representations
(e.g., data objects that have received or been the subject of high
system activity in a given time period), promotional data object
representations (e.g., promotions or deals are offered by a brand
in relation to the data objects in the channel or feed; "Deals
Channel"), new data object representations (e.g., data objects that
have not been viewed by the consumer-user on the system, as
described herein), all data object representations, and/or all
brand data object representations. Moreover, the set of predefined
channels or feeds can further include a set of channels or feeds
that are consumer-user specific, e.g., new data object
representations to that consumer-user, brand data object
representations for which that consumer-user has expressed a
preference (e.g., "My Brands Channel"), one or more collections of
lists of data object representations of that consumer-user (e.g.,
"My Lists Channel"), one or more collections of friends, followers,
etc. associated with that consumer-user on the system (e.g., "My
People Channel"), liked data object representations (e.g., "My
Likes"), individuals or brands that follow that consumer-user
(e.g., "Following Me Channel" and subchannels within can include
"People Following Me" and/or "Brands Following Me"), data object
representations the consumer-user has acted upon in the system
(e.g., "My Activity Channel"), and/or data object representations
the consumer-user has followed, liked, or otherwise expressed a
preference for in the system (e.g., "My Following Activity," "My
Liked Activity," etc.). Still further, the consumer-user can also
define one or more customized channels or feeds based on criteria
selected by that consumer-user. For example, the consumer-user can
define a channel for data object representations related to his/her
interests, e.g., golf, running, cooking, etc., such that the
channel would organize data object representations for which the
consumer-user has defined a preference that are related to that
interest (e.g., "My Golf Channel"). Therefore, the GUI displays a
plurality of channels or feeds in the consumer-user's GUI,
including predefined and/or customized channels or feeds, wherein
the content of each channel or feed is based on each individual
consumer-user's preferences on the system. Each channel or feed is
individually selectable.
[0243] Still further, the system includes an interface (104) which
enables a consumer-user to interact with the system and his/her
profile and preferences. The consumer-GUI allows the consumer to
search, browse, and view item and brand listings on the system, and
as described in more detail below, individual item data object
representations, brand data object representations, etc.,
unfiltered and/or filtered by the system based on a consumer-user's
preferences. Moreover, the consumer-GUI enables the consumer to
modify or edit his/her profile and preferences on the system.
Likewise, the interface also includes a brand GUI configured to
enable interaction of a brand representative ("brand-user") with
brand information and/or interaction data generated by the system
for the brand. The consumer- and brand-interfaces are described in
more detail below.
[0244] Use of the system is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1(b).
A consumer-user creates a profile on the system (116) (the profile
set-up process is described in more detail below). The profile is a
component of the individual user data (not shown in FIG. 1(b)),
which is a component of the collective user data table (117). The
system filters the collective user data table and the collective
brand data table (118) based on the preferences and interests
identified in the profile. A consumer customized data table is
created by this filtering process (119) and the results are
displayed in the consumer GUI (120). The system periodically
queries the collective user data table, collective brand data
table, and the consumer profile for updates (121), e.g., each time
a consumer-user logs into the system, and once on the system, the
processor is programmed to refresh the data displayed in the
consumer GUI in real time or on a periodic basis, e.g., every
minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, etc. If there
are one or more updates since the last query, the consumer
customized data table is updated (122) and if there are no updates,
the consumer customized data table is not updated (123).
[0245] One embodiment of data transfer and management on the system
is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1(c). Each data object, user,
provider, item, and category on the system is associated in the
system with a unique identifier (ID) and as described above in
reference to FIG. 1(a), each provider is associated in the system
with an individual provider data table (124). Moreover, each user,
item, provider, brand, etc., is associated in the system with a
data object and each data object is stored in a collective data
object database (125) on the system (a component of element (105)
in FIG. 1(a)). As described above, each provider is associated in
the system with a provider profile (126). Each data object includes
a reference to the user identifier (ID) of the user (or provider)
who created it, as well as the unique ID of the user, provider,
item, category, etc. referenced in that data object. Therefore, for
example, a user having user identifier A, referred to below as user
A, accesses the system via a web page (127), mobile application
view (128), or other viewing mechanism (129), and for example,
chooses to follow a provider data object having identifier X, and
the system then creates a derivative data object having identifier
X' (131). In this example, data object X is a source data object
and derivative data object X' is a derivative of source data object
X. Derivative data object X' is stored in the collective data
object database. The system then creates an association between
user A, data object X, and data object X' (132) and that
association is stored in a global tracking database (133) (also a
component of element (105) in FIG. 1(a)). Therefore, in this
specific example, the association that is created includes the
following data: user A, data object X, and data object X'. The
system then surveys the global tracking database for the dataset of
followers of user A on the system, i.e., users B, C, and D (134).
If user A has no followers, derivative data object X'
representation is displayed in one or more user A customized
sections, channels or feeds, e.g., a section, channel and/or feed
related to recent user A activities on the system (135). If user A
has a follower, e.g., user B, the system displays derivative data
object X' representation in a user B customized section, channel or
feed (136) designed to display data object representations new to
user B on the system (137); and likewise, if user A has additional
followers, e.g., users C and D, the system displays derivative data
object X' representation in a user C customized channel or feed and
a user D customized channel or feed, respectively. If an additional
association is added to the global tracking database related to
user A and/or data object X', the system identifies those
additional associations global tracking database (138) and displays
any updates to the dataset of additional associations in the New
Channel.
[0246] An additional embodiment is depicted in FIG. 1(d) in which
user A likes data object X representation. As described above, in
one specific embodiment of the system, the act of following a data
object representation constitutes a system tracking preference that
generates a derivative data object based on the followed data
object, whereas liking a data object representation does not
generate a system tracking preference. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
1(d), if user A likes data object X representation, that preference
is associated with data object X in the collective data object
database and likewise, user A's preference for data object X is
stored in user A's profile (under the item preferences data table
(142)), but the system does not generate a derivative data object.
An association between user A and data object X is created and
stored to the global tracking database and/or an additional
tracking database, which may be a component of the global tracking
database or a separate database in the system. The system displays
data object X representation (140) in one or more of user A's GUI
sections, channels, or feeds (141) as well as one or more sections,
channels, or feeds of user A's followers.
[0247] A further data transfer and management embodiment is
illustrated schematically in FIG. 1(e). If a user interfaces with
the system via a web page, mobile application, or other viewing
mechanism and chooses to view his/her New Channel (143), the system
retrieves a dataset of data objects previously displayed in the New
Channel (144), queries the collective data object database for
objects not previously displayed in the user's New Channel (145),
generates a dataset of new data objects (146), deletes those data
objects previously displayed or viewed on the system (147), and
displays the dataset of new data object representations in the New
Channel (148). If no new data objects are available in the
collective data object database, the system displays a message to
the user via the GUI that the New Channel is empty (149). In one
embodiment, the system can determine whether a data object
representation has been viewed by a user, e.g., by detecting via
JavaScript in the browser that the data object was displayed in the
GUI and a message is sent to the server to instruct the system to
remove the data object from the New Channel data table. When the
New Channel is refreshed, that data object representation will no
longer be displayed. Alternatively, the system may not detect
actual "views" by a user in his/her browser, but instead, simply
maintain an inventory of data objects that have been presented in
the New Channel and once presented, the reference to that data
object is deleted from the New Channel data table. In yet another
alternative, the system can delete a reference to a data object
within a selected time from first display in the New Channel, e.g.,
within one week, one month, three months, etc.
[0248] A further illustration of one embodiment of data transfer
and management on the system is illustrated schematically in FIG.
1(f). User A (i) interfaces with the system on his GUI (104) and
choses to follow data object X representation (130), a data object
created by provider Z. As described above, provider Z is
represented by a data table (112), which includes a profile (126)
including provider Z's ID, provider Z's item catalog (113) (and
each item in that catalog has a unique item ID), a contact,
follower, and following data table (114), and an interest and/or
category data table (115) which includes the interest and/or
category IDs for each interest and/or category, as well as the
unique item IDs for each product in an interest and/or category of
provider Z. When user A choses to follow data object X
representation, that preference is (ii) stored in user A's data
table (106), which includes his user profile (107), including his
user ID, his contact, follower, and following data table (110), and
user A's preferences (109). Data object X, stored in the collective
data object database (125) is used by the system's filtering and
analysis programs (105) to (iii) generate a derivative data object
having identifier X' (131). Derivative data object X' is also
stored in the collective data object database. The system then (iv)
creates an association between user A, data object X, and data
object X' (132) and that association is (v) stored in a global
tracking database (133) (also a component of element (105)). The
system then surveys the global tracking database to (vi) generate
the dataset of followers of user A on the system, i.e., users B, C,
and D (134). The system (vii) displays derivative data object X'
representation to the followers of user A, e.g., users B, C, and C
in a B, C, and D customized section, channel or feed (149, 150, and
151, respectively) designed to display data object representations
new to users B, C, and D, respectively, on the system.
[0249] As illustrated in FIGS. 1(c)-(f), the global tracking
database provides a simple organizational structure that allows the
system to identify relationships between data objects, users,
providers, categories, etc. It allows the system to track an
evolving network of relationships between data objects, users,
providers, categories, etc. For example, as illustrated in FIG.
1(g), and in the examples described above, an association is
created between user A, data object X, and derivative data object
X' (132). The system then queries the global tracking database for
followers/followees of user A and identifies the dataset of
followers/followees of user A, users B, C, and D (168), associates
the followers/followees of user A with the A-X-X' association
(169), and then associates the followers/followees of user A, users
B, C, and D, with derivative data object X' (170). This iterative
process is used continuously as new associations are added to the
global tracking database.
[0250] An example of a data object and the accompanying data object
representation is illustrated in FIG. 1(h). Data object X is a
database (152), that includes an item ID (153), a title (154), item
description (155), a price (156), optionally, an image and/or media
(157), a commentary field (158), the provider ID (159), optionally,
a category ID for the category associated with the item (160),
optionally, a hyperlink to a website (161), e.g., a product
website, a provider website, a reseller/distributor website, etc.,
and one or more interactions (or interaction data) (171) one or
more users and/or providers on the system have had with that data
object. As described above, the one or more interactions can
include but are not limited to: viewing the data object
representation, expressing a preference for the data object
representation, commenting on the data object representation,
initiating a conversation regarding the data object representation
and thereby creating a conversation data object representation,
participating in a dialog regarding the data object representation,
offering an opinion regarding the data object representation,
providing a rating for the data object representation, clicking
through the data object representation to view additional details,
clicking through the data object representation to view first
brand-hosted information, participating in a survey regarding the
data object representation, requesting further information from a
brand regarding the data object representation, buying a commercial
item displayed in the data object representation from a third-party
retailer/reseller, buying a commercial item displayed in the data
object representation directly from the brand, buying a commercial
item displayed in the data object representation from an
individual, participating in an auction regarding the data object
representation, offering a commercial item displayed in the data
object representation for free, loan, sale, lease, and/or rental,
requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed in the data
object representation, requesting that a discontinued commercial
item displayed in the data object representation is re-introduced
by the brand and/or an authorized retailer/reseller thereof,
suggesting to the brand product ideas, improvements, and/or
corrections regarding the data object representation, or
combinations thereof.
[0251] The system extracts the data contained in the data object to
generate a data object X representation (162), including a title
(163), item description (164), a price (165), an image and/or media
(166), a commentary field (167), optionally, a hyperlink to a
website, e.g., a product website, a provider website, a
reseller/distributor website, etc. (not shown), and one or more
interactions with the data object representation (172). The data
object representation can include less than the full dataset
contained in the database, e.g., omitting a visual representation
of the item ID, provider ID, and category ID.
[0252] As described herein in reference to FIG. 1(h), each data
object includes interaction data for that data object. The system
also includes a global interaction data database that stores all
interaction data for each data object in the collective data object
database. The global interaction data database can be a
subcomponent of the global tracking database or a separate database
maintained on the system. The system uses the interaction data
stored in the global interaction data database to generated
marketing data for providers that participate on the system, as
described herein. In specific example, if data object X
representation has been liked 10 times and user A indicates that he
also likes data object X representation, then the number of users
on the system that have liked data object X representation will be
increase to 11. If user A un-likes data object X representation,
the number of users liking data object X representation is reduced
to 10. For the purpose of reporting usage statistics and other
analytics to a provider, the system records the number of
interactions with the data object, e.g., in this specific example,
the total number of likes the data object X representation has ever
received on the system (11), together with the total number of
un-likes the data object X representation has received on the
system (1), such that the current like count is 10, which is the
number of likes displayed in field (172) of the data object X
representation. Each interaction with a data object representation
is recorded separately in the global interaction data database
along with the user ID of the user who interacted with the data
object representation and the date that it occurred. This enables
the system to display statistics to the providers and to do
time-series analysis of the user activity.
[0253] In one specific example, if a provider would like to
understand how users are interacting with a data object
representation, the system can query the global interaction data
database for the set of interactions taken by users on the system
regarding that data object representation. The set of interactions
generated by the system will include the number of comments,
ratings, likes, shares, followers, etc. associated with that data
object. The set of interactions will also include the click through
rate of the data object, the number of purchases associated with
that data object, etc. The provider can also compare the
interaction data set related to a particular data object relative
to other data objects in the provider's catalog, a competitor
provider's catalog, data objects in the same product category as
the particular data object, etc. These and other marketing
analytics, described in more detail below, can be explored using
the interaction data associated with a data object and stored in
the global interaction data database.
[0254] Another embodiment of data transfer and management on the
system is illustrated schematically in FIG. 13(a). In this
alternative embodiment, user A accesses the system via a web page
(1301), mobile application view (1302), or other viewing mechanism
(1303), and for example, chooses to follow a provider data object X
(1304) (available in the provider profile (1305)). The system
creates an association between user A and data object X (1306) and
that association is stored in the global tracking database (1307).
Therefore, in this specific example, the association that is
created includes the following data: user A and data object X.
Unlike the example described above, the system creates an
association between user A and data object X, but a derivative data
object X' is not created in response to user A's decision to follow
data object X. The system then surveys the global tracking database
for the dataset of followers of user A on the system, i.e., users
B, C, and D (1308). If user A has no followers, data object X
representation is displayed in one or more user A customized
sections, channels or feeds, e.g., a section, channel and/or feed
related to recent user A activities on the system (1309). If user A
has a follower, e.g., user B, the system displays data object X
representation in a user B customized section, channel or feed
(1310) designed to display data object representations new to user
B on the system; and likewise, if user A has additional followers,
e.g., users C and D, the system displays data object X
representation in a user C customized channel or feed and a user D
customized channel or feed, respectively. If an additional
association is added to the global tracking database related to
user A and/or data object X, the system identifies those additional
associations in the global tracking database and displays any
updates to the dataset of additional associations in the New
Channel.
[0255] An additional embodiment is depicted in FIG. 13(b) in which
user A generates a conversation data object based on a source data
object X representation. In this embodiment, if user A generates a
conversation data object X based on a source data object X
representation (1311), the system creates a conversation data
object X (1312), which is stored to the collective data object
database (1313), and an association is created between user A, the
source data object X, and the conversation data object X (1314).
The association between user A, data object X, and conversation
data object X is created and stored to the global tracking database
(1307) and/or an additional tracking database, which may be a
component of the global tracking database or a separate database in
the system. The system then surveys the global tracking database
for the dataset of followers of user A on the system, i.e., users
B, C, and D (1308). If user A has no followers, conversation data
object X representation is displayed in one or more user A
customized sections, channels or feeds, e.g., a section, channel
and/or feed related to recent user A activities on the system
(1309). If user A has a follower, e.g., user B, the system displays
conversation data object X representation in a user B customized
section, channel or feed (1315) designed to display data object
representations new to user B on the system; and likewise, if user
A has additional followers, e.g., users C and D, the system
displays conversation data object X representation in a user C
customized channel or feed and a user D customized channel or feed,
respectively.
[0256] Additional details regarding conversation data objects and
how they are stored and displayed in the system are depicted in
FIG. 13(c). In this embodiment, if user B, a follower of user A,
comments on a conversation data object X (1316), then the
conversation data object X representation is modified to include
user B's comment (1317), and that modified form of conversation
data object X is stored in the collective data object database
(1313). In one specific embodiment, the action of starting a
conversation about a data object generates a conversation data
object, but participating in a conversation about a conversation
data object, adding one or more comments to a conversation data
object and/or responding to one or more comments in a conversation
data object modifies the original conversation data object but
participating in a conversation does not generate a new
conversation data object. An association is generated between user
B, the source data object X, and the conversation data object X
(1318) and that association is stored in the global tracking
database (1307). The system then surveys the global tracking
database for the dataset of followers of user B on the system,
i.e., users C and D (1319). If user B has no followers,
conversation data object X representation is displayed in one or
more user B customized sections, channels or feeds, e.g., a
section, channel and/or feed related to recent user B activities on
the system (1320). If user B has a follower, e.g., user C, the
system displays conversation data object X representation in a user
C customized section, channel or feed (1321) designed to display
data object representations new to user C on the system; and
likewise, if user B has additional followers, e.g., user D, the
system displays conversation data object X representation in a user
D customized channel or feed.
[0257] As shown in FIG. 13(d), it is possible for more than one
user of the system to converse about a data object. In this
embodiment, users A and C each start an independent conversation
regarding source data object X representation (1322 and 1323,
respectively), and the system generates two conversation data
objects X based on the actions of users A and C on the system,
i.e., user A conversation data object X (1324a) and user C
conversation data object X (1324b). An association is generated
between user A, the source data object X, and the user A
conversation data object X (1325) and that association is stored in
the global tracking database (1307); and an association is also
generated between user C, data object X, and user C conversation
data object X (1326) and that association is also stored in the
global tracking database. The system then surveys the global
tracking database for the dataset of followers of users A and C on
the system (1327 and 1328, respectively). If users A and C have no
followers, user A conversation data object X and user C
conversation data object X are each separately displayed in one or
more user A and C customized sections, channels or feeds,
respectively, e.g., a section, channel and/or feed related to
recent user A and C activities on the system (1329 and 1330,
respectively). If users A and C have one or more followers, the
system displays user A conversation data object X representation
and user C conversation data object X representation in those
followers customized section, channel or feed (1331) designed to
display data object representations new to that additional user on
the system.
[0258] A further illustration of one embodiment of data transfer
and management on the system is illustrated schematically in FIG.
13(e). User A (i) interfaces with the system on his GUI (1332) and
choses to follow data object X representation (1333), a data object
created by provider Z. As described above, provider Z is
represented by a data table (1334), which includes a profile (1335)
including provider Z's ID, provider Z's item catalog (1336) (and
each item in that catalog has a unique item ID), a contact,
follower, and following data table (1337), and an interest and/or
category data table (1338) which includes the interest and/or
category IDs for each interest and/or category, as well as the
unique item IDs for each product in an interest and/or category of
provider Z. When user A choses to follow data object X
representation, that preference is (ii) stored in user A's data
table (1339), which includes his user profile (1340), including his
user ID, his contact, follower, and following data table (1341),
and user A's preferences (1342). The system then (iii) creates an
association between user A and data object X (1343) and that
association is (iv) stored in a global tracking database (1307)
(also a component of element (105)). The system then surveys the
global tracking database to (v) generate the dataset of followers
of user A on the system, i.e., users B, C, and D (1344). The system
(vii) displays data object X representation to the followers of
user A, e.g., users B, C, and C in a B, C, and D customized
section, channel or feed (1345, 1346, and 1347, respectively)
designed to display data object representations new to users B, C,
and D, respectively, on the system.
[0259] An example of a conversation data object and the
accompanying conversation data object representation is illustrated
in FIG. 13(f). Much like the data object depicted in FIG. 1(h),
conversation data object X is a database (1348), that includes an
item ID (1349), a title (1350), item description (1351), a price
(1352), optionally, an image and/or media (1353), a commentary
field (1354), the provider ID (1355), optionally, a category ID for
the category associated with the item (1356), optionally, a
hyperlink to a website (1357), e.g., a product website, a provider
website, a reseller/distributor website, etc., and one or more
interactions (or interaction data) (1358) one or more users and/or
providers on the system have had with that data object. The
conversation data object X database also includes the user ID of
the user that created the conversation data object (1359).
Interactions are stored in the system as associations between the
conversation data object and the user interacting with the
conversation data object representation. As described above, the
one or more interactions can include but are not limited to:
viewing the conversation data object representation, expressing a
preference for the conversation data object representation,
commenting on the conversation data object representation,
participating in a dialog regarding the conversation data object
representation, offering an opinion regarding the conversation data
object representation, providing a rating for the conversation data
object representation, clicking through the conversation data
object representation to view additional details, clicking through
the conversation data object representation to view first
brand-hosted information, participating in a survey regarding the
conversation data object representation, requesting further
information from a brand regarding the conversation data object
representation, buying a commercial item displayed in the
conversation data object representation from a third-party
retailer/reseller, buying a commercial item displayed in the
conversation data object representation directly from the brand,
buying a commercial item displayed in the conversation data object
representation from an individual, participating in an auction
regarding the conversation data object representation, offering a
commercial item displayed in the conversation data object
representation for free, loan, sale, lease, and/or rental,
requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed in the
conversation data object representation, requesting that a
discontinued commercial item displayed in the conversation data
object representation is re-introduced by the brand and/or an
authorized retailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to the brand
product ideas, improvements, and/or corrections regarding the
conversation data object representation, or combinations
thereof.
[0260] The system extracts the data contained in the conversation
data object to generate a conversation data object X representation
(1360), including a title (1361) and one or more of the following
optional fields: the item description (1362), a price (1363), an
image and/or media (1364), a commentary field (1365), a hyperlink
to a website, e.g., a product website, a provider website, a
reseller/distributor website, etc. (not shown), and one or more
interactions with the data object representation (1366). The
conversation data object representation can include less than the
full dataset contained in the database, e.g., omitting a visual
representation of the item ID, provider ID, and category ID. A
conversation data object representation can also optionally include
a visual indicator in the representation to distinguish the
conversation data object from a source data object, e.g., a text
box surrounding the item image (1367), as well as a representation
of the user who created the conversation data object (1368) and a
subtitle that indicates the context of the conversation that is the
subject of the data object representation (1368). In one specific
embodiment, a conversation data object representation includes a
title that refers to the item represented by the conversation data
object, a representation of the user who created the conversation
data object, and a subtitle that indicates the context of the
conversation represented by the conversation data object
representation.
[0261] Consumer-User Profile & Interface
[0262] A consumer-user can use the system without signing in,
specifying any item/brand preferences and/or interests, or
providing any personal information. In this embodiment, the system
allows an unregistered consumer-user to view the content of the
system, but an unregistered consumer-user's access can be limited
to unrestricted functions of the system, e.g., the unregistered
consumer-user can search the collective brand data table and/or a
specific brand data table, view item and/or brand details (item or
brand data object representations, respectively), view
consumer-user and brand-user activity as it is occurring across all
of the users, etc., while a registered consumer-user can create one
or more item and/or brand lists, follow one or more items, brands
and/or individuals in the system, etc.
[0263] In a preferred embodiment, a consumer-user creates a profile
on the system that includes a consumer-user profile comprising
his/her name, email, password, and optionally one or more
additional fields, e.g., address, telephone number, sex, date of
birth, approximate individual or household income, employment
information, a reference to a separate social networking website,
age verification information, e.g., driver's license number or
another form of personal identification, nickname(s), avatar, place
of birth, occupation, hobbies, alma mater(s), marital status, the
age and identity of one or more relatives, etc. A method of
creating a profile on the system is illustrated in FIG. 2(a). An
unregistered consumer-user accesses the system (201) and
optionally, is given the opportunity to explore the system by
viewing a system demonstration (202). If the consumer-user elects
to view the demonstration, the system displays the demonstration to
the user (203) and redirects the user to the initial landing page
for an unregistered user (201). In addition, the consumer-user is
given the option to view the various brands that participate in the
system (204), optionally directing the system to display a
searchable brand listing (205), and/or the consumer-user can simply
search the collective brand data table for brands that participate
in the system. The consumer-user is given the opportunity to create
a profile on the system (206), and if selected, the system displays
a sign-up screen (209) that includes information the system will
use to identify that consumer-user (210).
[0264] In one embodiment, the profile creation process includes
collecting information from a consumer-user regarding his/her
interests in one or more interest categories, as well as, e.g.,
his/her hobbies, occupation, etc. FIG. 3(a) illustrates one method
of creating a profile on the system. FIG. 3(a) is an example of a
profile creation screen. The module displays a series of interests
(301) and the consumer-user selects those interests he/she prefers.
The module can then display a series of brands that fall within the
interest categories selected and the consumer-user can de-select
brands within that interest category in which the consumer-user is
not interested (302) (FIG. 3(b)). Likewise, the module can display
avatars of people the consumer-user is following once the
consumer-user links the system to his/her contacts in a social
networking site, and the consumer-user can de-select those people
he/she does not wish to follow on the system (not shown). Moreover,
the module can display one or more lists the consumer-user may wish
to create in view of his/her interests and the consumer-user can
de-select those lists he/she does not wish to populate on the
system and/or create new lists he/she wants to populate on the
system (FIG. 3(c)).
[0265] FIG. 3(d) is a schematic illustration of how a consumer-user
can create a profile on the system. In one embodiment, the
consumer-user signs into a social networking site (303) and he/she
is directed to a system sign in screen (304). The consumer-user is
prompted to enter his/her social network login credentials (305)
and the system connects (306) with the social network (307) to
confirm that the credentials are valid (308). If the credentials
are not valid, the system prompts the consumer-user to login
without using his/her social network credentials. If the
credentials are valid, the system queries the collective consumer
data table (309, 310) to confirm that consumer-user has an existing
profile on the system (311). If the consumer-user has an existing
profile (312), the system displays the consumer-user landing page
for that profile (313) based on information drawn from the
consumer-user profile data table (314). If the consumer-user does
not have an existing profile, the system creates a new profile on
the system for that consumer-user and stores profile information in
a consumer profile data table for that consumer-user. The system
presents a consumer-user with one or more listings of brands and/or
item categories for the consumer-user to select his/her favorites,
as described above in reference to FIGS. 3(a)-(c) (315), and
information regarding brands, brand categories, items, and item
categories, presented at this stage of the process is supplied by
the collective brand data table (316). The system also includes a
feature that facilitates favorite selection (317), known as a
favorite wizard (318), and described below. The consumer-user
selects favorite brands and item categories (319), as well as
optional subcategories (not shown), and the system draws
information for this process from the collective brand data table
(320), saving the results in the consumer brand preferences data
table for that consumer-user (321). At the conclusion of this
process, a consumer-user profile is created (322).
[0266] Once a consumer-user expresses a preference for a data
object, the system software determines which consumer-users GUIs,
channels or feeds the data object should be displayed in by
querying the followee/follower relationships stored in the
collective consumer data table, individual consumer-data tables,
collective brand data table, and/or individual brand data tables.
For example, if consumer-user Bob follows Brand Y shoes on the
system and Brand Y adds a new shoe data object, the system will
query the collective consumer data table, individual consumer-data
tables, collective brand data table, and/or individual brand data
tables to look for a preference Bob has expressed in Brand Y shoes
so that the new shoe data object is displayed in one or more
sections, channels, or feeds of Bob's consumer-user GUI. The system
will copy a reference to the data object into the appropriate
pre-defined or customized channel or feed data tables and a
consumer-user associated with each pre-defined or customized
channel will see the new data object upon the next refresh of the
channel or feed GUI. Moreover, for the channels or feeds designed
to display data object representations not previously viewed by a
consumer-user (e.g., "New Channel"), after the system has
determined that a data object has been viewed by a given
consumer-user and/or previously presented by the system to the
consumer-user in his/her GUI, the system will remove the data
object from the New Channel by deleting the reference from the New
Channel data table. In one embodiment, the system can determine
whether the data object has been viewed by a consumer-user, e.g.,
by detecting via JavaScript in the browser that the data object was
displayed in the consumer-user's GUI and a message is sent to the
server to instruct the system to remove the data object from the
New Channel data table. When the New Channel is refreshed, that
data tile will no longer be displayed. Alternatively, the system
may not detect actual "views" by a consumer-user in his/her
browser, but instead, simply maintain an inventory of data objects
that have been presented in the New Channel and once presented, the
reference to that data object is deleted from the New Channel data
table. In yet another alternative, the system can delete a
reference to a data object within a selected time from first
display in the New Channel, e.g., within one week, one month, three
months, etc.
[0267] FIG. 3(e) illustrates the favorite wizard (318) referenced
above. The favorite wizard presents the consumer-user a view of all
interest categories (319), based on information drawn from the
collective brand data table (320). The consumer-user selects
favorite interest categories (321) and optionally, subcategories
(322) and those selections are saved to the consumer profile (323).
The system optionally presents one or more fields regarding
optional information (324), e.g., concerning the consumer-user's
occupation, average household income, home ownership, purchasing
responsibilities, children, marital status, etc., that can be used
by the system to generate item/brand suggestions. If the
consumer-user elects to include the optional information in the
profile, he/she inputs the information (325), which is saved to the
consumer profile (323). The system optionally generates additional
interest category and/or brand suggestions (327) based on the
optional information provided by the consumer-user and information
contained in the collective brand data table (326), and the
consumer-user selects from the additional suggestions (328) to
generate a profile stored to the consumer-user profile (323).
[0268] In an additional embodiment, the favorite wizard can also
compare the consumer-user's profile information, e.g., age range,
sex, and interests, to item and/or brand selections of comparable
consumer-users on the system, and the system displays suggestions
based on that comparison. For example, if a consumer-user is a
male, age 45, with an interest in golf, the system will survey the
item/brand preferences of additional male consumer-users on the
system within the same age range that have also expressed an
interest in golf, and display items and/or brands the additional
consumer-users have selected as suggested favorites.
[0269] The following example serves to illustrate the profile
creation system described above and illustrated in FIGS. 3(a)-(e):
the consumer-user identifies one or more preferred interest
categories, e.g., sports and outdoors, and the system displays one
or more preferred interest subcategories, e.g., within the category
of sports and outdoors, the consumer-user can specify an interest
in team sports, exercise and fitness, outdoor recreation, athletic
and outdoor clothing, etc. For each additional interest category
selected, the consumer-user can optionally select interest
subcategories, e.g., within the category of toys, the consumer-user
can specify an interest in video games, dolls, and/or construction
toys, and within the category of small consumer electronics, the
consumer-user can specify an interest in cameras, telephones,
and/or radios. Each preferred interest subcategory can be further
categorized into additional subcategories, e.g., within the
subcategory of cameras, the consumer-user can specify an interest
in digital cameras, SLRs, and camcorders, etc. The system can
include one or more predefined interest categories and
subcategories and/or the consumer-user can define
consumer-user-specific interest categories and subcategories. As
described above, each category (and subcategory) comprises a unique
ID and products and/or brands associated with that category also
comprise a unique ID. Therefore, if a consumer-user expresses a
preference for a particular category of products on the system, an
association is made by the system between the user ID and the
category ID, and the system then uses that association to identify
item IDs included in that category and display those item IDs to
the user. Hence, the system matches the unique user IDs, category
IDs and item IDs within that category to generate a tailored subset
of data objects matching his/her preferences.
[0270] Once the consumer-user has selected an interest category
and/or one or more subcategories, the selection screen is updated
to display representative brands that participate in the system
that are categorized within the interest categories and/or
subcategories highlighted by the consumer-user. In one embodiment,
a brand can pay an additional fee to be prominently displayed in
the selection screen, e.g., to be displayed in the first grouping
of representative brands that are categorized within a selected
interest category (this is an example of one way of "featuring" an
item which is described in more detail below). The interest
category selection step can be updated at any time during the
selection process by the consumer-user. The various representative
brands can be shown in the selection screen using the individual
brand logo or the field can include a list of brands by brand name.
The consumer-user can select and/or de-select one or more brands
from the lists provided in the profile set-up, i.e., to select
favorite brands and/or to remove brands the consumer-user does not
want to browse on the system. Alternatively, the consumer-user need
not select and/or de-select any brands from the lists provided in
the profile set-up which allows the consumer-user to view
information from all brands categorized within the general interest
categories/subcategories selected by the consumer-user. For
example, the consumer-user can specify an interest in women's
clothing of any brand or of a particular designer. In addition, the
consumer-user can de-select women's clothing made by a particular
manufacturer which would inform the system to filter the
consumer-user's results to remove that manufacturer from the
consumer-user's view. Still further, the consumer-user can refresh
all or part of the brand selection process at any time during
profile set-up.
[0271] In addition or alternatively, the consumer-user can also
select one or more brands during the profile set-up without any
reference to a particular interest category. In this embodiment,
the system presents a list of brands that participate in the system
and the consumer-user selects those brands in which he/she has an
interest. The list of brands can be displayed to the consumer-user
in any order, e.g., alphabetical or divided into one or more
interest categories. The consumer-user can also provide information
regarding which items/brands the consumer-user already owns or has
experience with in order to allow the system to filter the results
of a brand's item offerings to eliminate items/brands the
consumer-user already owns. In this regard, the system can provide
targeted shopping results including items that are new to a given
consumer-user, albeit not necessarily a newly released item on the
system or in the general marketplace.
[0272] The system can collect additional information from a
consumer-user that may better inform the system regarding the
consumer-user's shopping preferences. For example, the system can
collect information regarding occupation, income, home ownership,
whether the consumer-user is primarily responsible for the
household shopping, and whether he/she has any children and their
approximate age ranges. Information about whether the consumer-user
is primarily responsible for household shopping because while the
consumer-user may not have an interest in household items, as the
primary household shopper, he/she will nevertheless be interested
in items related to housewares, cleaning supplies, etc., e.g.,
goods and services associated with maintaining a household (a
consumer-user can also chose not to provide this information if
he/she is not interested in receiving information about such
items). Similarly, information about the number of children the
consumer has may inform the system and/or a brand that the
consumer's interests may extend to items for children, e.g.,
clothing and toys, although the consumer-user has not necessarily
expressed an interest in those items at another stage of the
profile creation process (a consumer-user can also chose not to
provide this information if he/she is not interested in receiving
information about such item). These optional categories of
additional information can be added to the user's profile to extend
the scope of data objects the system can display to the user.
[0273] The consumer-user can also include a list of one or more
contacts in his/her profile. The contacts need not be
consumer-users of the system. In a preferred embodiment, one or
more of the consumer-user's contacts are also consumer-users
("additional consumer-users") of the system. In one embodiment, a
consumer-user's contact data table is populated by importing one or
more contacts of a consumer-user's contact data table of a social
networking website. Alternatively or additionally, the contact data
table can be populated by importing one or more contacts of a
consumer-user's contact data table of an email exchange system. In
one embodiment, the contact data table includes a list of
individuals and/or brands followed by the consumer-user and/or
those brands and/or individuals that follow the consumer-user.
Alternatively, the consumer-user profile can include a
follow/follower data table that includes a list of individuals
and/or brands followed by the consumer-user and/or those brands
and/or individuals that follow the consumer-user and the
follower/follower data table is separated from the contact data
table.
[0274] The system can allow a consumer-user to manage interactions
with contacts or contacts on a social networking site via the
system, e.g., to browse and search all users of the system that
participate in a particular social networking site, to invite other
system users to become contacts via a social networking site, to
accept and/or reject friend invitations via the system, delete
contacts or contacts from a contacts or contacts list on the
system, to send a private message to one or more contacts or
contacts in their network via the system, to block communications
from a contact in their network over the system, and/or to report a
friend's or contact's misconduct on the system to a system
administrator. Moreover a consumer-user can view their contact list
in a grid or list format, sort their contacts or contacts list
alphabetically by first or last name, perform keyword (or name)
searching on a contacts or contacts list, group contacts or
contacts in one or more lists, and filter a contacts or contacts
list to display all contacts or contacts, those recently added
and/or with updated profiles, etc., and add a contacts from a
contacts list to one or more preferred lists, e.g., a gift list
and/or a watch list.
[0275] In addition, the consumer-user can also create one or more
lists in his/her consumer-user profile populated by his/her
preferred interests, items and/or brands. Each individual consumer
profile includes one or more additional data tables including a
consumer-user's purchasing preferences, e.g., brand preferences,
item preferences, and interest categories. The one or more
additional data tables can include one or more item lists organized
in any manner defined by the consumer-user. For example, a
consumer-user can create one or more lists, including but not
limited to: desired items, owned items, used items, preferred
items, items identified by a consumer for a third party, items
viewed by the consumer, items shared or commented on by the
consumer with a contact, items shared or commented on by a contact
with a consumer, and all items, as well as one or more brand lists
(also organized in any manner defined by the consumer-user),
including but not limited to: desired brands, owned brands, used
brands, preferred brands, brands identified by the consumer for a
third party, brand data object representations shared or commented
on by the consumer with a friend, brand data object representations
shared or commented on by a friend with the consumer, and all
brands.
[0276] For example, the consumer-user can create one or more lists
of items for specific reasons, e.g., a wish list, gift list,
birthday list and/or holiday list. As used herein, a wish list is a
list of item/brands desired by a consumer-user, while a gift list
is a list of items/brands the consumer-user may want as a gift for
a third party. A birthday list and holiday list are each examples
of specialized gift lists that can be created for a specific
occasion. In one embodiment, the consumer-user can grant access to
one or more lists in his/her consumer-user profile to one or more
contacts. For example, the consumer-user can grant a friend access
to a limited number of the lists in his or her profile, e.g., only
his/her wish or gift list, or one or more of his/her contacts can
be granted full access to all of his/her lists. In this regard, the
access granted to a friend can be view-only access or the friend
can be granted permission by the consumer-user to comment on one or
more of the items in the consumer-user's lists. For example, if the
consumer-user creates a wish list for a given event, e.g., a
wedding or baby registry, he/she can grant access to that registry
to one or more contacts, and the contacts can be permitted to
indicate whether they purchased one or more items on the registry,
optionally identifying themselves by name. Still further, the
consumer-user profile can also include a list of items and/or brand
pages available on the system bookmarked by the consumer-user and
one or more contacts can be granted access to the consumer-user's
bookmarks.
[0277] For an item and/or brand data object representation, a
consumer-user can provide a comment, write a review and/or rate the
item or brand. A comment from one user to another regarding a brand
or item can be about any subject, including but not limited to, a
suggestion to purchase that item for oneself or an individual, an
indication that one user likes or dislikes the item, an indication
that one user would like to purchase an item from another user,
etc. The following attributes for the item/brand rating and reviews
can be included by the consumer-user in his/her comment and/or
review: consumer-user name or anonymous rating, comment or review
date, rating (e.g., on a scale of one to five stars or another
rating system created by the system), and comment and/or review
text. In a preferred embodiment, the consumer-user can provide a
comment on an item and/or data object representation and contacts
of the consumer-user can do the same. A brand can also include a
comment on an item and/or brand data object representation. Because
the filtering program is configured to select that information
relevant to an individual consumer-user on the system, only those
comments supplied by a contact, follower, and/or one followed by
the specific consumer-user and/or by a brand in which that
consumer-user has expressed an interest are displayed in the data
object representation for that item and/or brand as it appears in
that specific consumer-user's interface.
[0278] In addition, as described above, a consumer-user can also
interact with a data object representation as follows: viewing one
or more data object representations, expressing a preference,
commenting on one or more data object representations and/or
derivative data object representations, participating in a dialog
regarding one or more data object representations or derivative
data object representations, offering an opinion, providing a
rating, clicking through one or more data object representations to
view additional details, clicking through one or more data object
to view first brand-hosted information, participating in a survey,
requesting further information, buying a commercial item displayed
in one or more data object representations from a third-party
retailer/reseller, buying a commercial item displayed in one or
more data object representations of the subset directly from the
brand, buying a commercial item displayed in one or more data
object representations from an individual, participating in an
auction, offering a commercial item displayed in one or more data
object representations in the subset for free, loan, sale, lease,
and/or rental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed
in one or more data object representations, requesting that a
discontinued commercial item displayed in one or more data object
representations in the subset is re-introduced by the first brand
and/or an authorized retailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to the
first brand product ideas, improvements, and/or corrections
regarding one or more data object representations in the subset,
removing a data object representation from one or more lists
("de-listing"), sharing a data object representation with an
individual or group, e.g., emailing the data object representation
(or a hyperlink to the data object), including a hyperlink for that
data object on a social networking system, etc., "un-liking" a data
object, e.g., removing that data object representation from the
list of liked data object representations in a consumer-user's
profile, "un-friending", e.g., removing that data object
representation from the list of "friends" in a consumer-user's
profile, or combinations thereof.
[0279] Once the consumer-user creates a consumer-user profile and
an system profile, the information provided by the consumer-user is
formatted by the network to create a consumer-user GUI or
consumer-user landing page (or a "home page") that is tailored to
the consumer-user's profile. One non-limiting example of a
consumer-user GUI landing page is depicted in FIGS. 4(a)-(f). The
GUI includes a header (401) that includes a search field (402) and
an optional consumer avatar (403) that identifies the consumer-user
GUI as one that has been customized by the system for the consumer
represented by that avatar (in an alternative embodiment, the
consumer avatar can be replaced by a username field (not shown)). A
series of data object representations are shown in FIG. 4(a) (404)
and a more detailed view of a data object representation is shown
in FIG. 4(b), wherein that data object representation includes a
selectable common visual representation of an item, including an
item image (405), a title (406), a price (407), and a commentary
field (408), including comments from contacts or followers of the
individual consumer-user, including the brand that supplies the
item depicted in the data object representation (409), as well as a
field that can be selected by the user to add a comment to the
commentary field (410). An additional item data object
representation is depicted in 411, which includes promotional
information related to an item or brand in which the consumer-user
has expressed an interest. The consumer-user interface can also
include an activity feed (412) which provides information regarding
activities the consumer-user has engaged in on the system and/or
activities of contacts or follows of the consumer-user. The
activity feed can be displayed in chronological, reverse
chronological, random order, or a consumer-user defined order. In a
preferred embodiment, the activity feed is displayed in reverse
chronological order. Each data object representation can also
include icons (413-414) that the consumer-user can select to
indicate a preference for that data object (e.g., "like" (413) or
"follow" (414) or to add a comment regarding that data object
representation if a commentary field has not been added by a friend
or follower of that consumer-user (415).
[0280] As noted above, each data object representation can be
selected by a consumer-user and the system displays additional
information related to that data object. An example of a more
detailed view of a data object representation is shown in FIG.
4(c). The detailed view includes one or more item image(s), an item
title, an item price, a detailed description of the item,
purchasing options, and a commentary field, including comments from
contacts of the individual consumer-user, including the brand that
supplies the item depicted in the data object, as well as a field
that can be selected by the user to add a comment to the commentary
field.
[0281] FIG. 4(d) illustrates one embodiment of a screen a
consumer-user can access via the landing page (e.g., via a
drop-down menu under the consumer-user icon or username (not shown)
to provide more detail regarding one or more lists the
consumer-user has created in the system. Each list is represented
by a data object representation (416), and that data object
representation can include a name for that list (417) and
optionally one or more images of items included in that list (418).
Another screen a consumer-user can access via the landing page is
shown in FIG. 4(e), which includes more detail regarding one or
more individuals and/or brands the consumer-user follows on the
system and/or one or more individuals and/or brands that follow the
consumer-user on the system. Each individual or brand is
represented by a data object representation (419) and the data
object representation can include the individual or brands name
(420) and optionally, an avatar (421) or brand logo or trademark
(422). Moreover, the consumer-user can also access a screen via the
landing page that includes more detail regarding groups of
individuals and/or brands the consumer-user follows on the system
and/or one or more individuals and/or brands that follow the
consumer-user on the system (FIG. 4(f)). Each group of individuals
or brands is represented by a data object representation (423) and
the data object representation can include the group name (424) and
optionally, one or more avatars (425) or brand logos or trademarks
(426).
[0282] As noted above, a consumer-user can interact with one or
more contacts on the system, e.g., by sharing items or brands with
contacts or followers, by adding to and/or commenting on a data
object representation, etc. In one specific embodiment, a
consumer-user can also use the system to solicit comments from one
or more contacts or followers regarding one or more item or brand
data object representations in which the consumer-user is
interested. For example, if a consumer-user is considering a
purchase of two or more items, he/she can share those item pages
with one or more contacts or followers via the system and ask those
contacts or followers to vote for or otherwise comment on the item
or brand he/she should purchase. In one embodiment, the system
offers a voting mechanism that can be sent via the system from a
consumer-user to one or more contacts or followers, and the voting
mechanism enables the one or more contacts or followers to indicate
which item or an item of a brand the consumer-user should purchase.
In addition, the voting mechanism also includes a field that allows
the one or more contacts or followers to comment on the item
offerings.
[0283] Likewise, the system displays items/brands in a variety of
formats, including but not limited to, a grid, list, slide show,
and/or carousel format, and the system allows the consumer-user to
page through items/brands in the display. The system can display
the total number of items and/or the consumer-user can specify the
number of items that can be viewed on a given page. The system can
display featured and/or unreleased items in a visually
distinguishable way in the displayed format from other items. In a
slide show and/or carousel format, the consumer-user can view the
slide show in full- or partial screen mode. Any of the display
formats include a feature to navigate from the selected view to the
item details page, as well as, bookmarking an item so as to create
a redacted list of items to be viewed in detail at a later time. In
addition, the slide show and/or carousel formats includes
navigation controls that enable the consumer-user to go to the
beginning and end of the slide show, go forward and reverse one
item page in the slide slow, continuously play and/or pause the
slide show. Any of the display formats can also provide a Quick
View button over the item image when the consumer-user moves
his/her cursor/mouse over the item. The Quick View can display a
popup sub-display containing an abbreviated list of item details
and the Quick View also enables the consumer-user to navigate from
the Quick View to the full item display page.
[0284] In addition, any of the landing pages described herein can
display a sampling of information about additional consumer-users
of the system, including but not limited to contacts, followers,
celebrities, subject matter experts, and critics. In one
embodiment, a consumer-user can select the categories of additional
consumer-users that the system displays on the landing page. In
addition, the consumer-user can identify specific additional
consumer-users he/she wants displayed on the landing page, e.g.,
certain specific contacts, followers, celebrities, subject matter
experts, and/or critics, or a select group of contacts, followers,
celebrities, and/or critics. Alternatively, the system can randomly
select additional consumer-users that can be displayed on the
landing page, e.g., in the absence of instructions from the
consumer-user. For example, the system can randomly display
information regarding contacts or followers from the
consumer-user's contacts data table and the system can periodically
rotate the display of information regarding contacts from the
contacts data table on the landing page, e.g., changes can be
implemented by the system each time the consumer-user logs into the
system, daily, weekly, monthly, etc. Similarly, the system can
randomly display information regarding celebrities, subject matter
experts, and/or critics, e.g., celebrities, subject matter experts,
and/or critics that have identified certain items and/or brands
identified by the consumer-user in his/her preferences. The system
can periodically rotate the display of information regarding
celebrities and/or critics on the landing page, e.g., changes can
be implemented by the system each time the consumer-user logs into
the system, daily, weekly, monthly, etc.
[0285] The system can display a collection of featured items based
on one or more system criteria. For example, the system can display
a collection of items most viewed/searched by system
consumer-users, ranked e.g., by a combination of criteria selected
from the number of item page viewings, the number of times the item
page is added to a preferred item list by system consumer-users
(e.g., a favorite, wish, watch, and/or gift list), the number of
times the item page is bookmarked by system consumer-users, and/or
consumer-user ratings for the item. The system can also display a
collection of items having the highest ratings provided by system
consumer-users. Moreover, the system can display a collection of
items recommended by a consumer-user based on the consumer-user's
profile. Consumer-users can filter the results of these item
collections, in ascending or descending order, based on one or more
of the following criteria: brand, price, average review, relevance
to a search criteria, release date, etc., and a consumer-user can
display the collection or a filtered view of the collection in a
grid, list, carousel, or slide show presentation view.
[0286] The system can also display a list of all brands available
on the system. The data table can be organized alphabetically
and/or by interest category/subcategory. Consumer-users can perform
a keyword search of brands and items in the all brand data table
and the consumer-user can filter the brand data table and/or the
results of a keyword search based on the following criteria:
item/brand category, time, price, average customer review,
relevance, release date, etc. A consumer-user can display the all
brand data table or a filtered view of the data table in a grid,
list, carousel, or slide show presentation view.
[0287] The system allows the consumer-user to search the site,
including the item/brand pages and all related content using
keyword searches. The system can segregate the search results by
the following content types: brands, items, articles, reviews,
blogs, etc. For each content type, the number of search results for
that type are displayed and the search results for each content
type are displayed in a list format. The display of brand search
results can include a picture of the brand logo, the brand name,
and a description of the brand, among other information. The
consumer-user can view the brand's page by clicking on the brand
logo or the name of the brand. The display of item search results
can include in or more of the following attributes: one or more
item images, the item name, a description of the item, the price,
average item rating, and the number of ratings. The consumer-user
can to view the item details page for an item by clicking on either
the item picture or the item name. The display of results of
searching within articles can include a picture of the author, if
provided, the author name, the title of the article, the date the
article was written, and an introduction to the article. The
consumer-user can view the entire article by clicking on the title
of the article. The display of results of searching within item
reviews can include a picture of the item being reviewed, the name
of the item, the reviewer's name or alias, the date the review was
written, and an introduction to the review. The consumer-user can
view the entire review by clicking on the title of the review. The
display of results of searching within blogs can include a picture
or avatar of the blogger, the blogger's name or alias, the date the
blog was written, the blog title, and an introduction to the blog.
The consumer-user can view the entire blog by clicking on the title
of the blog.
[0288] The system is configured to send consumer-users
notifications regarding new items/brands and/or new information
about items and/or brands and the consumer-user can receive such
notifications via any of a variety of methods. In one embodiment,
such notifications are modifications to item or brand data objects,
including derivative data objects, and those modified data object
representations are displayed in the consumer-user GUI in reverse
chronological order, as described above. In addition or
alternatively, the system can also notify a consumer-user by email,
text messaging and/or private messaging. The system can also send a
notification to a consumer-user in a social networking site, e.g.,
Facebook, Twitter, Friendster, MySpace, etc. An additional system
consumer-user or brand can send the consumer-user a variety of
notifications, including but not limited to: (a) a consumer-user of
the system can send an additional consumer-user a message regarding
an item, an interest category, a brand, a brand category, etc.; (b)
a brand can send the consumer-user a message regarding new
information related to an item, the brand, an interest category,
etc. and/or a brand can send the consumer-user a message regarding
a new item and/or category of items available (in a preferred
embodiment, the brand can instruct the system to send a group of
consumer-users that have expressed a preference for a brand or
brand item, rather than giving a brand access to individual
consumer-user's contact information); (c) a consumer-user can
receive a friend invitation; (d) a consumer-user can receive a
notification that another consumer-user and/or brand has elected to
follow that consumer-user; (e) a consumer-user can receive a
notification regarding a friend's or follower's impending birthday,
anniversary, or the like; (f) a consumer-user can receive an
invitation to join the system and/or to join a brand or item club;
(g) a consumer-user can receive a notification that a brand has
been added to an additional consumer-user's preferred brand data
table, e.g., a friend or follower of the consumer-user; (h) a
consumer-user can receive a notification that an item category has
been added to a friend's or follower's preferred item data table;
(i) a consumer-user can receive a notification that an item has
been added to a friend's or follower's preferred item data table;
(j) a consumer-user can receive a notification that an item has
been added to a friend's or follower's wish, watch, and/or gift
list; and/or (k) a consumer-user can receive a notification that a
friend or follower has commented on, posted an item review and/or
blog entry for, and/or suggested an item and/or brand. Moreover, a
consumer-user can filter the notifications they receive in a
variety of ways, including but not limited to: (a) received from a
particular consumer-user; (b) received from a particular brand; (c)
date; and (d) regarding a particular item/brand in the
consumer-user's preferred item/brand data table; in ascending or
descending order.
[0289] It will be understood that the components described above
can be organized and depicted in a user-interface in a variety of
ways, but such variations fall within the full scope of the
invention. Moreover, various additional features can be included in
the homepage, e.g., advertising materials, featured items, brands,
additional consumer-users, additional links to the consumer-user's
profile, one or more consumer data tables, additional system
browsing features, etc., and such additional features are within
the full scope of the invention.
[0290] Brand Profile & Interface
[0291] Brands also create an system profile that includes brand
information, including but not limited to the brand's name, contact
information, website and a link thereto, email, and password, as
well as a list of authorized brand-users of the brand profile. The
brand can designate one or more brand managers or users (referred
to herein as "brand-users"), e.g., an individual or group of
individuals authorized to access and/or modify the brand profile or
components thereof, and the brand profile will also include contact
information, e.g., a name and email, and a password for each
brand-user. A brand can also include a brand identifying key or
password used to identify the brand or a brand-user if one or more
of verifiable credentials are not provided at login to the
system.
[0292] As shown in FIG. 5(a), in one embodiment, the brand
establishes a profile on the system using a designated brand name,
a website URL, and optionally one or more brand logos or trademarks
and item lists. Much like the consumer-user's ability to create one
or more lists, a brand can also organize its items in one or more
lists grouped by the brand, e.g., current, discontinued, new, sale,
and future item lists. Optionally, a brand can create one or more
brand interest categories (not shown), including a description for
each interest category, or in an alternative or additional
embodiment, the brand can adopt one or more brand item categories
created by the system to list the brand items on the system. For
each item, a brand can create a data object that includes the
common visual representation of an item or brand described above,
as shown in FIG. 5(b). The data object representation includes one
or more of the following: an item name (501), a description (502),
an image 5603), optional additional media (504), e.g., videos,
additional images, supporting documentation, etc., interest
categories lists in which the item is included (505), one or more
links to purchasing options (507), and a website URL for the brand
(or authorized retailer or reseller) that offers the item (508).
Preferably, each data object on the system regardless of origin
includes an item image, item name, item price, and a commentary
field (not shown; the commentary field is preferably automatically
incorporated into the data object by the system once the data
object is created by the brand). If selected by a consumer-user,
the data object representation will display additional information
regarding the item, e.g., a more detailed description of the item,
additional media, purchasing options, a website URL for the brand,
item ratings, etc. Item information that can be included in an item
data object includes but is not limited to: an item identifier,
optional SKU and/or custom identifier, a description of the item,
an item image, item media (e.g., item-specific video and audio
files as well as print media), retail price, shipping and handling
information, sales, coupons, etc., advertising materials, item
reviews and/or ratings, discussion forums, item-related news and
events, instructions for use and/or assembly, associated/related
items and/or accessories offered by the brand and/or an associated
brand, item statistics, the identity and contact information for
authorized retailers and/or resellers, authorized service providers
for a given item or brand (e.g., for item assembly or after-market
detailing), etc., item-specific supporting documents and
information, e.g., an item insert, specifications, manual,
instructions, literature references, reviews, blog links, links to
discussion forums, etc., purchasing information including but not
limited to price, coupons or discounts offered by the manufacturer,
authorized retailer and/or wholesaler, shipping and handling
information, the identity and contact information for an authorized
retailer, wholesaler, and/or distributor, warrantee information,
etc. In a specific embodiment, some of the information listed above
for a given item may only be available to members of a brand or
item club (described in more detail herein). For example, certain
promotional opportunities may only be accessed by or offered to
item and/or brand club members, e.g., coupons, discounts, etc.
[0293] Certain types of specialty items/brands may warrant the
inclusion of additional information, including but not limited to,
geographic-specific information related to authorized
retailers/resellers/service providers, shipping restrictions,
seasonal availability or other availability limitations or
restrictions (e.g., backorder), and suggested storage and handling
information. For example, for brands that offer perishable food
stuffs, e.g., produce, the brand can include information related to
the seasonal availability for a given item or group of items in a
particular geographic location, specific authorized
retailers/resellers in a given city, state, etc., as well as any
shipping restrictions that may apply and safe handling information.
For brands that offer items that require an owner's license or
permit, the brand can also include information related to where
and/or how a consumer-user can obtain the appropriate license and
this information can differ from one geographic location to the
next. The brand can also include a list and/or hyperlinks to a
website of one or more licensing authorities. In this embodiment,
the system can include a mechanism to allow a brand to verify a
consumer-user's license, age, etc., e.g., when prompted for an item
requiring license and/or age-restrictions, a consumer-user can
provide his/her license identification number, age, etc., and the
system can verify the validity of the license and/or that the
consumer-user has indicated an appropriate age.
[0294] In a preferred embodiment, a data object related to a
commercial item can include one or more commercial item trademarks,
commercial item description information, commercial item media,
commercial item purchasing information, commercial item retail
information, commercial item promotional information, related first
brand products, or combinations thereof; the commercial item
description information can comprise an item image, one or more
item-specific supporting documents and information, one or more
commercial item reviews, a commercial item rating, or combinations
thereof; the commercial item media may include a commercial
item-specific video file, a commercial item-specific audio file, or
print media; and the commercial item-specific supporting documents
and information comprises one or more literature references,
reviews, blog link, press release, forum link, or combinations
thereof.
[0295] In addition or alternatively, as described above, a
consumer-user of the system can create an item data object using,
for example, the process illustrated in FIG. 5(b) and described
above.
[0296] A brand can also create a brand data object as shown in FIG.
5(c), which includes a brand name (509), brand description (510),
brand logo or trademark (511), additional brand media (612), item
lists (513), purchasing option links (514), and a website URL
(515). The brand data object can also include one or more interest
categories associated with that brand (not shown). The purpose of a
brand data object is distinct from that of an item data object in
that the latter is designed to provide the viewer with information
about a single item, whereas a brand data object is designed to
give the viewer general information about the brand, e.g., the
types of item or services they offer, their logos or trademarks,
where their items can be purchased, etc. The brand data object can
be accessed via one or more hyperlinks on the system, e.g., by
selecting the brand name or brand icon under the list of brands
available on the system.
[0297] Much like an item data object, each brand data object on the
system regardless of origin includes an image, e.g., a brand logo
or trademark, a brand name, and a commentary field (and like the
item data object, the commentary field is preferably automatically
incorporated into the data object by the system once the data
object is created by the brand). If selected by a consumer-user,
the brand data object representation will display additional
information regarding the brand, e.g., a more detailed description
of the brand, additional media, purchasing options, a website URL
for the brand, brand ratings, etc. Information that can be included
in a brand data object includes but is not limited to: a list of
brand items, brand media (e.g., video and audio files as well as
print media), sales, coupons, etc., advertising materials, item
reviews and/or ratings, discussion forums, brand-related news and
events, associated brand(s), brand statistics, the identity and
contact information for the brand and/or for authorized retailers
and/or resellers, authorized service providers for a given item or
brand, etc., the identity and contact information for an authorized
wholesaler and/or distributor, warrantee information, etc. In a
specific embodiment, some of the information listed above for a
given brand may only be available to members of a brand or item
club (described in more detail herein). For example, certain
promotional opportunities may only be accessed by or offered to
item and/or brand club members, e.g., coupons, discounts, etc.
[0298] In a preferred embodiment, a brand data object can include:
one or more brand trademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more
commercial item logos, brand description, interest categories
associated with brand, brand media, brand purchasing information,
retail information, brand promotional information, information
related brands within the brand portfolio, related brand
description, related brand products, or combinations thereof. The
brand description information can include a brand image, one or
more brand-specific supporting documents and information, one or
more brand reviews, a brand rating, or combinations thereof; brand
media can include a brand-specific video file, a brand-specific
audio file, or print media; brand-specific supporting documents and
information can include one or more literature references, reviews,
blog link, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.
[0299] Alternatively or additionally, the brand has the option of
creating a stand-alone brand page that is directly accessible on
the system via one or more hyperlinks, e.g., by selecting the brand
name or brand icon under the list of brands available on the
system.
[0300] The brand page optionally includes a brand banner a brand
description, brand media (including but not limited video files and
pictures, as well as audio files, press releases, etc.), featured
item categories, featured items, item lists, and avatars of one or
more individuals that like the brand, e.g., celebrity endorsements
or subject-matter experts in the relevant field. The brand page can
also be customized to include additional information, including but
not limited to a listing of one or more brand trademarks or service
marks, brand retail information, brand item distributors, a brand
description, brand media, brand items, a brand portfolio, etc. A
brand page can be viewed by any consumer-user of the system, with a
system profile or not, or the brand page can be configured to be
viewed only by those consumer-users of the system that follow the
brand or a brand item.
[0301] A brand can be a corporate brand, an umbrella brand, a
family brand, and combinations thereof, in which case, the brand
can include one or more related brands (alternatively referred to
herein as "brand associates"), e.g., an endorsed brand, a
sub-brand, an individual item brand, and combinations thereof.
Therefore, the brand page can include additional information
regarding one or more brand associates. The brand description can
include but is not limited to, an item ontology, a target market
description, and combinations thereof. The brand information can
further include advertising materials, brand reviews and/or
ratings, discussion forums, brand-related news and events, brand
statistics, the identity and contact information for authorized
retailers and/or resellers, authorized service providers (e.g., for
item assembly or after-market detailing), etc. The brand can
include literature references, blog and/or discussion forum links,
etc. The brand information can include brand media including but
not limited to video files, audio files, print media and press
releases. The brand page can be accessed via one or more hyperlinks
on the system, e.g., by selecting the brand name or brand icon
under the list of brands available on the system.
[0302] A brand may opt to highlight certain promotional offers for
an item or brand by creating an item or brand data object that
includes an indicator in the visual representation to reflect the
fact that that item or brand is associated with a promotion, e.g.,
item data objects of discontinued items can be displayed in
different color scheme than those of non-discounted items, etc.
Likewise, the data object representations of new items recently
created by the brand can include a color scheme that differentiates
those data object representations from other data object
representations on the system. If an item will be discounted in the
future, the brand can add a comment to the data object
representation and/or alter the data object content to notify
consumer-users interested in that item that it will soon be
discounted. Data object representations of discounted or sale items
can also include icons designed to indicate the time and/or
quantity remaining for that discount or sale, e.g., a clock or time
appears on the data object that counts down the remaining time for
that discount or sale and/or counts down the quantity of items
available at that discounted price. In an alternative or additional
embodiment, a brand can also create a specialized brand page
focused on one or more item categories, e.g., promotional,
discontinued, new, sale, and/or future items.
[0303] Optionally, the system allows the brand to promote its items
in various ways. For example, the brand can elect to allow the
system to feature the brand, which authorizes the system to
prominently display brand advertising and/or items in a featured
items section of the GUI. For example, featured items can be
displayed in a consumer-user's GUI if he/she has expressed interest
in the corresponding interest category, in general advertising for
the system, in the profile set-up process as described above, etc.,
and each of these methods of featuring an item may garner the same
or a different fee. In one embodiment, the brand pays an extra fee
for this service. Alternatively, the brand can compete with other
brands on the system to be displayed in the featured brands section
of the system, e.g., by a competitive bidding process based e.g.,
on a bid offered by the brand in terms of a value of cost per
click. One or more mechanisms for featuring a brand or item can be
provided by the system and there can be an additional fee
associated with each type of featuring mechanism, for a group of
featuring mechanisms (e.g., for one price the brand can feature its
items in a variety of ways), or for all featuring mechanisms
offered by the system (e.g., for one price the brand can feature
its item using all featuring mechanisms offered by the system).
[0304] The brand can also specify security settings that enable the
brand to segregate certain categories, data tables, and/or data
tables of information provided in the brand profile from view from
consumer-users of the system. For example, while item listings can
be viewable by a consumer-user of the system, brand profile,
inventory, and supply information may only be available to one or
more designated brand users. Likewise, a brand can also specify
security settings that enable the brand to grant view only or full
access of one or more brand-users to certain categories, data
tables, and/or data tables of information provided in the brand
profile.
[0305] The creation of a brand profile on the system is further
illustrated in FIG. 6(a). A brand creates a profile (601) and
optionally views a demonstration of the system (602, 603). The
system presents a sign-up screen (605), which allows the brand
administrator and/or an authorized brand user to enter pertinent
information about the brand, e.g., parent company information,
contact information, password information, etc. (606). The system
creates a brand profile (607) which is stored to the collective
brand data table (not shown) in an individual brand data table
(608). The brand can add information to the profile regarding the
brand (609), e.g., the ability to define associated or related
brands (610-613), associated items (614-615), and a budget for use
of the system, e.g., for advertising and marketing on the system by
the brand (616-617). This information is stored to the brand
profile (618) in the brand data table.
[0306] As shown in FIG. 6(b), a brand can also edit brand
information in the brand profile (620-621), include logos,
associated images, and brand media (622), etc., which is stored to
the brand data table. The brand can optionally create a brand page
(625) that can be edited to include brand-defined content,
websites, and media (626-628), which is also stored to the brand
data table (630). FIG. 6(c) shows that each associated brand (631)
can also be defined as described above and the content of the
associated brand profile can also be adjusted by the brand
administrator and/or an authorized brand-user and stored to the
brand data table. The brand-administrator and/or authorized
brand-user also has the ability to modify access of one or more
additional brand-users of a brand profile, as illustrated in FIG.
6(d). The brand administrator enters contact information for each
authorized brand-user and the system creates credentials for that
brand-user to enable the brand-user to activate the profile and be
associated in the system as an authorized user for the brand
(636-641). The identity and login information for each authorized
brand-user is stored to the brand data table (647). In addition,
each brand-user activates his/her profile on the system (642), by
viewing an activation screen (643), and changing the default system
password (644). That information is stored to the system in the
brand data table (645, 647).
[0307] A brand (and/or consumer-user) can create an item data
object as illustrated in FIG. 6(e). The system queries the brand
administrator and/or authorized brand-user for item information
(753) and the user (brand-user if created by a brand or
consumer-user if created by a consumer-user) edits the item
information (654-655), which is stored to the brand data table
(658). The system allows the brand to define interest categories
and subcategories (649-651), which are stored to the brand data
table. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6(f), a brand can define a
budget for use of the system (659), which can be edited, further
defined, and stored to the brand data table (660-665).
[0308] In one embodiment, based on the information provided for the
brand profile, the system will configure a brand landing page that
allows consumer-users to browse brand items, brand information,
etc. The brand landing page can be automatically configured by the
system or customized by the brand as described above, e.g., to
display certain brand advertising, banners, trademarks, service
marks, etc., in a manner designated by the brand. The brand landing
page can display brand items or item categories randomly or based
on item or category popularity (as defined by item page viewings,
item purchases, or another item classification mechanism). The
brand landing page can include a brand club link to a brand club
website available only to members of the brand club. The brand
landing page can also display a random sample of consumer-users
that have added their brand or a brand item to their consumer-user
profile, if permitted by the consumer-user. In addition, the brand
landing page can display one or more of the following: the number
of consumer-users who have added the brand or a brand item to their
favorites, the number of consumer-users that have followed the
brand, the number of consumer-users and/or other brands the brand
follows, a list of its most popular items, a sample of its item
categories, a hyperlink to the brand's website, a hyperlink to the
brand's club(s), and one or more advertisements for the brand
and/or for a brand affiliate. It will be understood that the
components described above can be organized and depicted in a brand
page in a variety of ways, but such variations fall within the full
scope of the invention.
[0309] In one embodiment, a brand can also create a brand and/or
item club that includes featured item information and/or
promotional opportunities available only to brand club members,
e.g., consumer-users of the system that have expressed particular
interest in a brand, e.g., via the creation of a brand-specific
consumer-user profile. The brand/item club can display
brand/item-specific content, e.g., video, audio, print media,
discussion forms, etc., available only to brand/item club members,
as well as item pre-release announcements, special promotions,
incentives to participate in brand/item surveys and focus groups,
etc. to members of the brand club. For example, the brand club can
include press releases regarding the brand and/or related items, as
well as hyperlinks to discussion forums related to the brand and/or
item. Still further, the brand can identify certain celebrities,
critics, and/or consumer advocate groups that have identified with
and/or commented on the brand and/or one or more items of the
brand. For example, if a brand has a celebrity endorsement
relationship, the brand can display information about that
celebrity and his/her endorsement of the brand and/or an item on
the brand page. Similarly, the brand can identify certain
individuals or groups as critics of the brand, items, or a category
or subcategory of items for which the brand is known and the brand
can provide information regarding the item/brand opinions of those
individuals or groups. Such information can be provided in a
hyperlink to a third party website, or as an audio, video, or text
file, as well as a link to a blog or other discussion forum. It
will be understood that the components described above can be
organized and depicted in a user-interface in a variety of ways,
but such variations fall within the full scope of the invention.
Moreover, various additional features can be included in the item
and/or brand club page, e.g., advertising materials, featured
items, additional system browsing features, etc., and such
additional features are within the full scope of the invention.
[0310] A brand can interact with one or more followers on the
system, e.g., by sharing items or brands with followers and those
consumer-users the brand follows, by adding to and/or commenting on
a data object, etc. In one specific embodiment, a brand can also
use the system to solicit comments from one or more
followers/following regarding one or more item or brand data
objects in which the followers/following are interested. For
example, a brand can add a comment to an item data object asking
its followers/following to comment or give a rating of that item.
The brand can also use the commentary field in the data object
representation to notify consumer-users of related items it offers,
e.g., if a consumer-user likes a brand item, then the brand can
suggest that that item can be used with one or more accessories,
e.g., offered by that brand or by a related brand. The system can
also be used by a brand to compare its items with those of a
competitor brand. For example, a brand can comment on or create a
promotional data object regarding a competitor brand, thereby
challenging that competitor brand to submit its comments in
response, as well as users of those brand/competitor brand items to
engage in the challenge.
[0311] In a preferred embodiment, the processor is configured to
notify the consumer regarding new item information, new brand
information, or combinations thereof, based on the consumer
purchasing preferences, interaction data, or combinations thereof.
The system can send the consumer-user a message, as described
above, and/or the system can display those data object
representations not previously displayed to the consumer-user in
the consumer-user GUI in a more prominent position in the GUI
relative to other data object representations. For example, those
data object representations not previously displayed by the system
to the consumer-user can be displayed in reverse chronological
order, so that the newest data object representations appear at the
top of the interface (this is one embodiment of how newer data
object representations can be featured in the GUI relative to other
data object representations and it not intended to be a limiting
embodiment). The new item information includes a new item offered
on the system and information related to that new item offering;
new information regarding an existing item offered on the system
(e.g., an item represented by a data object that may have been
previously displayed to the consumer-user, but new information
about that item that was not previously displayed to the
consumer-user); an item offering new to the consumer based on the
consumer purchasing preferences and information related to the item
offering new to that consumer; and combinations thereof. The new
item information can include the identity of newly released
item(s), new item description information, new item media, new
purchasing information, and combinations thereof. The new item
description information can include new item-specific supporting
documents and information, item accessories and/or related items,
item recall information, discontinued item information, and
combinations thereof. New purchasing information includes but is
not limited to new item pricing information, new shipping and
handling information, new authorized retailer information, new
availability (e.g., removal from backorder), item trademarks, item
description, item media, new purchasing information, retail
information, or combinations thereof.
[0312] Likewise, the system can also notify consumer-users of new
brand information, e.g., a new brand of items offered on the system
and information related to the new brand of items; new information
related to an existing brand of items offered on the system; a
brand of items new to the consumer based on the consumer purchasing
preferences and information related to the brand items new to the
consumer, and combinations thereof. Such new brand information can
include information related to one or more brand trademarks, brand
description, brand media, new purchasing information, retail
information, brand items, brand portfolio, related brands within
the brand portfolio, related brand description, related brand
items, and combinations thereof. Brand description information can
include a brand image, one or more brand-specific supporting
documents and information, one or more brand reviews, a brand
rating, and combinations thereof. Brand media includes a
brand-specific video file, a brand-specific audio file, and print
media. Brand-specific supporting documents and information are
selected from the group consisting of a literature references,
reviews, blog link, press release, forum link, and combinations
thereof.
[0313] The system can also be directed by a brand to send a
consumer-user direct advertising or promotional information via the
system. Such direct advertising can be informed by the interaction
data generated by the system, so that the brand can direct those
materials to only those consumer-users on the system that have
expressed an interest in the brand or its items. In a preferred
embodiment, direct advertising and/or promotional information
regarding an item or brand is relayed to those consumer-users
having an interest in that item or brand by advertising- or
promotion-specific data object representations that are displayed
by the system on the consumer-user's GUI.
[0314] Once a brand profile has been created, a brand-user GUI is
displayed by the system that is displayed only to authorized
brand-users and includes details regarding the items offered on the
system, followers of the brand and its items, statistics regarding
how users are interfacing with the brand on the system (as
described in more detail below), etc. As shown in FIG. 7(a), the
brand-user GUI includes one or more data object representations
(701-705) representing individual item (and/or interest) categories
(706), a section of the GUI including general information about the
brand and links to more details regarding brand items, followers,
and individuals the brand follows (707), an activity field (708)
that displays activities of the brand and/or followers or
individuals the brand follows on the system. Finally, the
brand-user GUI also includes a selectable menu (709) that allows
the brand-user to access more information regarding brand items,
followers, individuals followed by the brand ("following"), brand
statistics on the system, system settings, and a link to logout of
the system. In addition, much like the consumer-user GUI, as shown
in FIG. 7(b), the brand-user GUI also displays more detailed
information about individuals following that brand (710), as well
as individuals the brand follows (not shown).
[0315] Marketing Analytics
[0316] The system offers the consumer a way to stay abreast of new
items and innovations from their favorite brands, allowing
consumers to form a personal relationship with the brands they are
passionate about and share the experience with their contacts and
other passionate shoppers that are part of the system community. As
described above, the system aggregates new items submitted by
numerous brands and presents them to consumers in an elegant,
organized, and compelling way. Consumer-users do not have to hunt
for or accidentally stumble across new items, but rather the new
items are pushed to them in a timely manner Consumer-users are kept
up-to-date and informed so that they can make educated decisions
about what and when to purchase. In addition to enabling the user
to follow brands they like, the system also allows consumers to
discover new brand and items. Based on what the consumer has viewed
or otherwise expressed an interest in, the system makes
recommendations for items and brands with which the consumer may
not have been familiar.
[0317] In addition, the system includes a mechanism for brands to
communicate with existing and potential customers. In one
embodiment, the brand communicates with consumer-users on the
system by modifying brand-related data object representations as
described above, or by sharing information with members via push
notifications and/or directly with members of a brand club or item
club. Alternatively or additionally, the brand can inform the
system administrator to send directed advertising materials, item
or brand information, etc., via email through the system to all
consumer-users that have expressed an interest in a brand or its
items via one or more purchasing preferences. The ability to
provide item pre-release announcements, special promotions,
incentives to participate in brand/item surveys and focus groups,
etc. to such a targeted group of consumers is extremely valuable to
the brand.
[0318] The system provides interaction data to the brand so that a
brand can optimize its marketing strategy and consumer outreach.
The aggregation and analysis of data collected on the shopping and
buying habits of the community of consumer-users is a valuable
source of market research data. Surveys, reports, analysis, data
mining and visualizations of the data collected by the system can
be offered to brands to enable them to optimize their marketing
strategy and consumer outreach. As described above in reference to
FIG. 1(h), the system generates interaction data for each data
object and stores that interaction data with the data object, as
well as in a global interaction data database. The interaction data
includes but are not limited to, the number and identity of:
consumers of the system, consumers of one or more interest
categories, and consumers of one or more interest categories;
consumer demographics of: all consumer-users of the system,
consumer-users of one or more interest categories, system-consumer
clicks, system-consumer clicks per interest category,
system-consumer impressions, system-consumer impressions per
interest category, average interest category click through rate,
interest category seasonal trend data, average conversion rate, and
combinations thereof. Consumer demographics includes information
related to system-users' gender, ethnicity, age, income, education,
home ownership, location, employment status, shopping history,
interests, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the system
provides interaction data including consumer-users' shopping
history, e.g., a history of items purchased via the system, items
purchased via a third party shopping system, items browsed via the
system, brands of items purchased via the system, items identified
in the consumer purchasing preferences, brands of items purchased
via a third party shopping system, brand browsing history via the
system, brands identified in the consumer purchasing preferences,
or combinations thereof. Shopping history interaction data can be
made available to the brand if individual consumer-users provide
such information and if those consumer-users allow dissemination of
that information to a brand.
[0319] In a further preferred embodiment, the system generates data
object-specific interaction data, e.g., for each individual data
object or a data object and its derivative data objects the system
collects interaction data which is accessible to the brand
associated with that data object. This data object-specific
interaction data includes but is not limited to, the number and
identity of: consumers of the system interacting with that data
object representation, consumers of one or more interest categories
that interact with that data object representation, consumer
demographics of all consumer-users interacting with that data
object representation, data object representation clicks, data
object representation impressions, data object representation click
through rate, data object seasonal trend data, average conversion
rate for that data object, and combinations thereof. Consumer
demographics that can be collected for an individual data object
includes information related to system-users' gender, ethnicity,
age, income, education, home ownership, location, employment
status, shopping history, interests, and combinations thereof. In
one embodiment, the system provides data object-specific
interaction data including consumer-users' shopping history, e.g.,
a history of items purchased via the system, items purchased via a
third party shopping system, items browsed via the system, brands
of items purchased via the system, items identified in the consumer
purchasing preferences, brands of items purchased via a third party
shopping system, brand browsing history via the system, brands
identified in the consumer purchasing preferences, or combinations
thereof. Shopping history interaction data can be made available to
the brand if individual consumer-users provide such information and
if those consumer-users allow dissemination of that information to
a brand.
[0320] In one embodiment, the processor includes an analysis
program configured to generate a comparative analysis for each
brand on the system based on interaction data over a defined time
interval. The comparative analysis includes a comparison of one or
more interaction data parameters described above for one brand vs.
one or more additional brands on the system. The comparison can be
for all brands on the system, and/or for all brands within the
interest category or subcategory. For example, if a brand sells
shoes, the system can generate an analysis of interaction data for
the brand itself, but the system can also provide a comparison of
the brand and other brands on the system that sell shoes. In this
regard, the interaction data provided by the system for the brand
can include the number of consumers on the system with an interest
in shopping for shoes, the demographics of those consumers
interested in shoes, system-consumer clicks within the shoe
interest category, system-consumer impressions within the shoe
category, average click through rate for consumers browsing for
shoes on the system, seasonal trend data for the shoe interest
category, average conversion rate within the shoe interest
category, etc. If a sampling of consumer-users have provided
shopping history information, the interaction data can include a
history of shoe purchases via the system for those consumer-users,
shoe purchases via a third party shopping system(s), shoes browsed
via the system, shoe brands purchased via the system, shoes
identified in the consumers' purchasing preferences, shoe brands
purchased via a third party shopping system, shoe brand browsing
history via the system, shoe brands identified in the consumers'
purchasing preferences, and combinations thereof. In a further
embodiment, the analysis program can generate a comparative
analysis of a brand versus one or more brands selling items in the
same interest category and optionally within the same price point
range. In this regard, the brand can better understand how it
compares to a brand with the same customer base. The analysis
program can generate a comparative analysis over a defined time
interval, e.g., for the entire time the brand or a brand comparator
(a brand in the same interest category as another brand) has
participated in the system (e.g., from the date a brand profile was
created to the present), over a given range of time the brand or a
brand comparator has participated in the system, a defined number
of years, months, or days prior to a consumer login date on the
system, e.g., from 1-5 years prior to a consumer login on the
system, 1-6 months prior to a consumer login on the system,
etc.
[0321] The analysis program can also provide an analysis based on
brand interaction data, including but not limited to brand item
data object representation-consumer clicks, brand item data object
representation-consumer impressions, brand item data object
representation click through rate(s), brand item data object
conversion rate, brand interest category-consumer clicks, brand
interest category-consumer impressions, brand interest category
click through rate(s), brand interest category conversion rate, and
combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the brand interaction data
are for (i) consumers that have identified a brand in the consumer
purchasing preferences; (ii) consumers that have identified a brand
interest category in the consumer purchasing preferences; (iii)
consumers that have identified a brand item in the consumer
purchasing preferences; (iv) consumers that have identified a brand
interest category in the consumer purchasing preferences; (v)
consumers that have followed a brand; (vi) consumers that have
followed a brand item; (vii) consumers that have liked a brand;
(viii) consumers that have liked a brand item; (ix) consumers that
have commented on and/or rated a brand; (x) consumers that have
comments on and/or rated a brand item; (xi) consumers that have
added a brand item to one or more lists; and (xii) combinations
thereof.
[0322] The processor can also provide a brand ranking data in
relation to an additional brand in the same brand and/or interest
category and/or the collective brand and/or interest category.
Therefore, the processor can generate a ranked ordered list of
brands in a given brand and/or interest category, based on e.g.,
the number of: brand items sold on the system, consumers that have
identified that brand in their consumer purchasing preferences,
etc. For example, the processor can generate a ranked order list of
shoe brands on the system in descending/ascending order of the
number of shoes sold on the system and/or the total shoe sales on
the system. Such ranking data can be generated for a brand without
reference to a time interval or in relation to a specified time
interval, e.g., since the brand registered on the system, and/or
from a defined date to the present.
[0323] The processor can generate interaction data for a given
location relative to others. For example, if consumer-users have
provided their geographic location, the system can generate a map
of a country, county, city, etc., that reflects where
consumer-users reside that have expressed an interest in that item
and/or brand. The brand can select the geographic location it wants
to receive interaction data about or the system can create a map
that reflects the location of all consumer-users interested in the
brand. The map can also reflect the relative interest of
consumer-users in that brand from one geographic locations or
territory to another. For example, the map may highlight a city in
red that includes a large number of consumer-users of the system
interested in the brand, whereas a city in blue indicates a
relatively low number of interested consumer-users. The map can
further reflect the relative number of interested consumer-users in
relation to the overall population of that geographic location. A
brand can use this information, e.g., to identify those geographic
locations that may be well served by a physical brand store front
because of high demand in a relatively dense population.
[0324] Aggregation & Presentation of Selected System
Content
[0325] In an additional embodiment, the system allows a
consumer-user, a brand, and/or a group of consumer-users to select
and aggregate content available on the system, e.g., videos, slide
shows, audio, graphics, print media, etc., and combinations
thereof, into a data table on the system and organize, annotate,
and present that content in any suitable presentation format or
medium and make that presentation available to additional
consumer-users of the system. The content can be generally
available to all system consumer-users or content or a selection
thereof can be made available to a subset of consumer-users, e.g.,
members of an item or brand club. An individual can optionally
annotate the presentation, e.g., adding written, audio, and/or
video commentary to all or a portion of the presentation, save that
presentation to a selected data table on the system, and share that
presentation with the community of consumer-users of the system or
a selection thereof.
[0326] For example, if a brand wants to promote items in a
particular interest category, it can aggregate item media available
on the system for items within that interest category, e.g., print
media (e.g., written materials and print advertising), video media
(e.g., video advertising (commercials), item demonstrations, video
reviews, etc.), audio media (e.g., audio advertising, audio
discussion forums, or podcasts), etc., in any suitable presentation
format, e.g., in a streaming video that can be viewed on a
television and/or on a computer, with or without supplementary
written, visual, or auditory commentary, and make that presentation
available to consumer-users of the system or a selection thereof.
The brand can create a collection of such presentation materials,
e.g., for items within a selected interest category, across item
categories, or for all items, and the brand can save the collected
presentations in one or more data tables on the system. Each
presentation is optionally identified by a name and description,
and the presentations can be modified, e.g., new items or content
can be added, updated, and/or deleted from the data table, by the
creator or a representative thereof. In addition, a consumer-user
can aggregate item and/or brand media available on the system,
e.g., items and/or brands in which the consumer-user has expressed
an interest, e.g., print media, video media, audio media, etc., in
any suitable presentation format, with or without written, visual,
or auditory commentary, and make that presentation available to
additional consumer-users of the system or a selection thereof.
Likewise, a group of consumer-users or a consumer-advocate group or
representative thereof can also aggregate item and/or brand media
available on the system, e.g., items and/or brands that have been
reviewed by that group, e.g., print media, video media, audio
media, etc., in any suitable presentation format, with or without
written, visual, or auditory commentary, and make that presentation
available to additional consumer-users of the system or a selection
thereof.
[0327] Presentation of data object representations in a desktop
and/or mobile computing interface preferentially can be a reverse
chronological stream of most recently updated and/or created data
object representations. As illustrated in FIG. 10(a), the stream of
data object representations, elements A-X in FIG. 10(a), can be
presented in a continuous flow, from left to right and down in the
GUI. In a specific embodiment, the GUI displays an infinite scroll
of data object representations if system activity on those data
object representations is continuous. Alternatively, the GUI can
display a certain pre-defined number of data object representations
per screen of the GUI, depending on GUI size and resolution. The
user can scroll down the screen of the browser, if web-based, or
application interface, if the application is native to a computing
device. In this way the system can batch up the viewable data
object representations in sets because the number of data object
representations approaches infinity and therefore cannot be
displayed on the computing device as one complete set. As the user
scrolls down, the interface fetches the next set of data object
representations to display. Additionally, as described herein, the
user interacts with a specific data object representation by
selecting it to open a detailed view of the selected data object.
This view can be an overlay view (1001) as illustrated in FIG.
10(b) or it can be a full screen view (not shown).
[0328] To present this same set of data object representations on a
television, the dataset can be organized into a video stream where
each frame is a certain defined set of data object representations
viewable in one television screen. This is illustrated in FIG.
11)(a)-(c), wherein the available set of data object
representations are organized, in this case, as six data object
representations per frame (e.g., Frame 1 (1101), Frame 2 (1102),
Frame 3 (1103), and Frame 4 (1104)), with a potentially infinite
set of frames each containing some number of data object
representations. It is beneficial that each data object
representation viewable in a frame is completely viewable on the
television screen to provide an optimal experience for the viewer.
The system can provide one or more different streams of data object
representations based on system preferences and/or user
preferences. Each of these streams can be broadcast to one or more
specific frequencies or channels for television viewing as
allocated to the system by a governing entity. The system can
continuously broadcast the various streams of data object
representations as the system is used. The transition from one
frame to the next can have a system-provided, pre-programmed delay
to provide the user an optimum time to sufficiently view each
frame, for example, 3 seconds per frame meaning, each frame is
viewed for 3 seconds before transitioning to the next frame. This
is merely an example of a representative delay timeframe. The "3
second delay" can also be realized by repeating each frame a
prescribed number of times consecutively in the stream to emulate a
normal video viewing experience.
[0329] In viewing a particular stream of data object
representations, the television decoder, referred to as decoder,
can dictate how the user can interact with the stream of data
object representations. Various decoders support decoding received
television broadcast transmissions, namely, Digital Video
Broadcasting (DVB) via satellite (DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-SH), cable
(DVB-C, DVB-C2) and other internationally-recognized mechanisms for
transmission, into a form which can be viewed on a television. The
stream can also be transmitted over UHF or VHF on a provided
frequency (e.g., channel) received over a standard antenna without
a decoder meaning the viewer cannot interact with the stream. They
can only view content as it streams on their television screen.
[0330] If viewing a particular stream on a decoder, for example,
Cable Digital Video Recorder (DVR), TiVO, Roku, DirectTV, GoogleTV,
Apple TV, gaming systems, including but not limited to, XBOX360,
XBOX1, PS3, PS4, and/or WiiU, and others, the system can generate a
more interactive experience on the stream of data object
representations for the user. These interactive experiences can be
realized on a decoder using a development environment, for example,
DVB Multimedia Home Platform which provides a platform for
developing commercial video applications on decoders. Since the
autonomous unit in the stream is the frame of data object
representations, using a "select" function of the decoder and/or
its remote control can identify the currently viewed frame for
detailed viewing. The stream of data object representations can
pause for the user when viewing the data object details of a
particular frame. The decoder can be enabled to request from the
system the data object representations contained in the selected
frame. The system can return the full set of data for each data
object representation in the frame or a smaller set of one or more
data object representations if the data is too large to send in one
message to the decoder. In this way, the decoder can request the
details of one or more data object representations to present to
the user. As illustrated in FIGS. 11(b) and (c), the first data
object, data object representation A (1105), can be displayed in
full detail (1106) much like the computer orientation view (as
shown in FIGS. 10(a)-(b)). Additionally, the user can scroll
through the provided set of data object representations using a
"left" and "right" control (1107) on the decoder and/or its remote
control. An "up" and "down" control (not shown) can be used also to
provide the same function. The single-data-object
representation-viewing modality is illustrated in FIGS. 11(a)-11(c)
but all of the data object representations can be displayed in
summary view much like the frame or as a list, and the user can use
the up/down/left/right and select controls to navigate to the
desired data object representation for viewing. The user can press
the "exit" control on the decoder and/or its remote control to
return to the stream which resumes streaming.
[0331] As described above, there can be one or more streams of data
object representations. Each stream can be allocated to its own
broadcast frequency or the various streams can be provided using an
"on demand" modality as illustrated in FIGS. 12(a)-12(d). The
viewer can select a prescribed channel on the decoder which can
provide a list of available streams to view (referred to in FIGS.
12(a)-12(d) as Primary Streams 1-3 and n, (1201-1204,
respectively), a summary view of a set of representative data
object representations (1205), and a description of the stream
(1206). The available streams can be those provided by default by
the system. The viewer can choose a stream using the up/down and
select control on the decoder and/or its remote control. Once a
stream is chosen the user starts viewing as illustrated in FIG.
12(b) with the same interaction as described for FIG. 11.
[0332] There can also be a "personal" stream (1207) available for
the viewer which on selection requires the user to log into the
system as illustrated in FIG. 12(c), establishing a user-specific
session. The system can provide the information of who is logged in
through the decoder, as illustrated in lower left corner as an
example, where, no one is logged in or ultimately someone is logged
in. The decoder can also provide the user session control and
display itself. Once logged in, the user can view the additional
set of data object representation streams available just for that
user as illustrated in FIG. 12(d). The user can then interact with
the list as described for FIG. 12(a).
[0333] The mechanism of the viewer logging into the system from
their television decoder can be made more efficient by the decoder
providing to the user a decoder-specific "key," i.e., an
alphanumeric string, for example, and optionally including one or
more special characters. The decoder uses one or more
art-recognized methods (algorithms) to decode signals (and likewise
encode), and suitable methods include but are not limited to QAM
for cable, ATSC for over the air transmissions, IP for Internet
content, and the like. The key can then be entered into the system
by the viewer via the web, mobile or other computer-oriented
interface which can associate the user's television decoder with
the user's login on the system. In this way, the user can be
automatically logged into the system once they turn on the
television as the decoder can automatically authenticate itself
with the system. The mechanism of getting the decoder's key can be
either presented to the user on the television screen for them to
manually enter into the system or this can be performed
automatically between the decoder and the system without user
intervention. The key can also be copied off the decoder to an
external storage medium, for example, USB stick, which is then
uploaded into the system via a service provided by the system. The
key can also be passed to the system by the decoder after a user
manually logs into the system from the decoder. Typically it is
best practice to inform the user of this kind of interaction
between the decoder and system, giving them the option to opt-out
of storing the decoder's key on the system. In addition, the system
can support the viewer having one or more television decoders in
the case of the viewer having multiple decoders.
[0334] Monetization
[0335] The system can be monetized by any suitable method. In one
embodiment, consumer-users can pay for membership on the system or
general access membership can be free, but access to certain
services or portions of the system can garner a fee. For example,
while general access membership can be free of charge,
consumer-users can pay a fee to become a member of a brand or item
club.
[0336] In a preferred embodiment, consumer-users are granted full
access to the system free of charge, while brands pay to access and
promote their items on the system as described above. In one
embodiment, brands will pay a fee to advertise on the system and/or
to include a hyperlink of a brand website to view a brand item on
the system. In addition, a brand can pay a registration fee, e.g.,
a one-time flat fee for general access to the site, or a periodic
subscription charge, e.g., a flat fee for general access to the
site payable e.g., on a monthly, bimonthly, annual, semi-annual,
etc. basis. In one embodiment, general access for a brand to the
system is free, while the creation and display of a brand page on
the system can be offered for a one time flat fee, a periodic flat
fee, a flat fee per impression (known in the art as a cost per
impression or CPM), flat fee per click (known as the cost per click
or CPC) for a click-through to a brand website. Alternatively, the
addition of an item listing on the system can be offered for a one
time flat fee, a periodic flat fee, a flat fee per impression of
the item listing on the system, or a fee based on a percentage of
the sales of the item. In one embodiment, the brand can list a
defined number of items on the system for free and for an
additional fee the brand can list a number of items above that
basic number.
[0337] Still further, the inclusion of certain features in the
brand page can garner an additional fee. In one embodiment, the
brand can include a defined number of images, video, and other
media in the brand page, but for an additional fee the brand can
include additional documents (e.g., item insert, manual, etc.)
images, video, and other media. The additional fee can be based on
a flat rate per additional image, video, or media, or on the number
of impressions that yield a click through to view that image,
video, or media. In addition, the inclusion of a website link to
the brand or to a retailer or distributor of that brand can be
offered for an additional flat fee, a cost per click through to
that website, or a charge based on a percentage of item sales. The
brand can also include a call button on the brand page, e.g., a
link to a brand phone number (e.g., brand customer service, sales
representative, etc.) that when clicked by the consumer-user places
a call to that phone number. The inclusion of a call button can be
offered for a flat fee per call button, a cost per click for each
click through to the call button, or a charge calculated based on a
percentage of item sales. As discussed above, the addition of an
item on a featured item list and/or the addition of a brand on a
featured brand list can also garner an additional fee in terms of a
cost per impression for display in a featured list, a cost per
click for display in a featured list, an auction among brands on
the system to compete for display in a featured list (with bids
made in terms of a flat price, a cost per impression, or a cost per
click).
[0338] Monetization can also be based on items purchased via the
system. For example, if an item is purchased directly through the
system or a third party website, the brand will pay a cost per
click flat fee for each time the item purchase is initiated on the
system (even if the purchase is consummated on a third party
website), a cost per click based on item sales, or a percentage of
sales for all or some of the items purchased during the session on
a third party website initiated on the system.
[0339] Still further, advertising items on the system, e.g.,
prominent advertising placement of a search result screen and/or a
recommendations screen. Each of these advertising methods can be
offered for a cost per click, cost per impression, or a flat fee,
and optionally in an auction among brands on the system to compete
for advertising space on the system.
[0340] Additional methods of monetization are also contemplated.
For example, the system can offer the brand various types of
interaction data free of charge, while certain types of interaction
data or presentation of interaction data in different formats or
custom formats can be offered for an additional fee. For example,
demographic information can be offered for an additional fee, and
optionally, the presentation of demographic information in a way
that also reflects the relative geographic location of
consumer-users with that demographic can also garner an additional
fee. Moreover, the system can also offer a companion application
that will operate on a smart phone, GPS, tablet, etc., and displays
items from the system that are available from a store visited by a
consumer-user. The companion application can be offered for a fee
to the consumer-user and/or to the brand, retailer, etc. The
companion application can also be offered for a fee to the
consumer-user by the brand, retailer, etc. A companion application
could also be developed for consumer-users specifically for a
brand, retailer, etc.
[0341] Still further, the version of the system can be offered to a
brand that allows the brand to create a system as described above
with a singular focus on that brand's items. This tailored version
of the system can be offered at an initial price for software
customization, a percentage of sales made using the system as a
brand platform, service charges for running the system servers,
etc.
Specific Embodiments
(a) System for Children
[0342] In a preferred embodiment, a system as described above is
designed for use by children. The items included in this type of
system are, for example, child safe and preferably include relevant
safety information in the data objects, and further include an
educational rating and an indication of a suitable age-range and
gender. The system preferably requires a child's profile to be
linked to a parent profile and the child's profile includes
parental control settings that enables the parent to view the
child's activities on the system, as well as to customize the
fields the child can view of a data object, e.g., removing price,
advertisements, and age-inappropriate content and commentaries
associated with that data object. The parent also has the ability
to restrict access to the child's activities on the system to a
limited set of additional consumer-users and brand-users of the
system. In addition, the system can include elements that are
geared toward children, e.g., age-appropriate jokes, games,
etc.
(b) Voting Mechanism
[0343] As noted above, a consumer-user can interact with one or
more contacts on the system, e.g., by sharing items or brands with
contacts, by adding to and/or commenting on a data object
representation, etc. In one specific embodiment, a consumer-user
can use the system to solicit comments from one or more contacts
regarding one or more items or brand data objects in which the
consumer-user is interested. For example, if a consumer-user is
considering a purchase of two or more items, he/she can share those
item pages with one or more contacts in his/her contacts network
via the system and ask those contacts to vote for or otherwise
comment on the item or brand he/she should purchase. In one
embodiment, the system offers a voting mechanism that can be sent
via the system from a consumer-user to one or more contacts, and
the voting mechanism enables the one or more contacts to indicate
which item or brand the consumer-user should purchase. In addition,
the voting mechanism also includes a field that enables the one or
more contacts to comment on the item offerings. In one embodiment,
the consumer-user can request feedback on an item/brand comparison
such as this of a subset of contacts in his/her network, e.g., only
a select group of contacts or family. The contacts or family
included in this voting mechanism can add any comments to the
commentary field of the data object representation and contacts or
family can also suggest other item/brand the consumer-user may
consider in the alternative. A time limit can optionally be placed
by the consumer-user on this voting mechanism or it may be
unlimited. If the consumer-user places a time limit on the voting
mechanism, the data object representation can be modified to
include a countdown that indicates the time remaining in the vote.
In one embodiment, voting mechanism dialogs such as this can be
monitored by brands and brands are free to engage in the dialog
regarding the item or brand. A data object representation that is
the subject of a voting mechanism can also be highlighted in some
way to differentiate it from other data object representations in
the system, e.g., color-coded to indicate that it is the subject of
a voting mechanism.
(c) Brand-Brand Challenge
[0344] The system can also be used by a brand to compare its items
with those of a competitor brand. For example, a brand can comment
on or create a promotional data object regarding a competitor
brand, thereby challenging that competitor brand to submit its
comments in response, and users of those brand/competitor brand
items can also engage in the challenge. In one specific embodiment,
a car manufacturer creates a data object for a new car and that
data object representation highlights those features of the car
that are superior to its competitor in the same class. The car
manufacturer notifies the competitor car manufacturer that it has
created this data object that includes information related to the
competitor and the competitor can comment on that data object
representation in the commentary field, e.g., in words or by the
inclusion of supporting documentation challenging the superiority
of the first car manufacturer. This debate is displayed in the
system to consumer-users that have a relationship with the car
manufacturer and/or the competitor car manufacturer, and those
consumer-users can also submit their comments to the debate in the
data object representation. Like the voting mechanism described
above, the brand-brand challenge can have a time limit imposed on
it, set by either party to the challenge, and data object
representations created for this purpose can be highlighted to
differentiate it from other data object representations in the
system, e.g., color coded, to indicate that it is the subject of a
brand-brand challenge.
[0345] System Architecture
[0346] FIG. 8 shows an example of a suitable computing system
environment (800) which may be used to implement various aspects of
the invention. This computing system environment is only one
example of a suitable computing environment, and is not intended to
suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of
the invention. Neither should the computing environment (800) be
interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any
one or combination of components illustrated in the exemplary
operating environment (800). The invention is operational with
numerous other general-purpose or special-purpose computing system
environments or configurations. Examples of well-known computing
systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable
for use with the invention include, but are not limited to,
personal computers, server computers, hand-held devices (e.g.,
"smartphones," tablet devices, etc.), laptop devices,
multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top
boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs,
minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing
environments that include any of the above systems or devices, or
components thereof, and the like.
[0347] The computing environment may execute computer-executable
instructions, such as one or more program modules. Generally,
program modules include routines, programs, objects, components,
data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement
particular abstract data types. The invention may also be practiced
in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by
remote processing devices that are linked through a communications
network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules
may be located in both local and remote computer storage media
including memory storage devices.
[0348] FIG. 8 shows an example system for implementing aspects of
the invention, which includes computer (810). Components of
computer (810) may include, but are not limited to, a processing
unit (820), a system memory (830), and a system bus (821) that
couples various system components including the system memory to
the processing unit (820). The system bus (821) may comprise any
suitable bus structure.
[0349] Computer (810) typically includes a variety of computer
readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media
that can be accessed by computer (810) and includes both volatile
and nonvolatile, and removable and non-removable media. By way of
example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise
computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage
media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and
non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for
storage of information. Information may include, for example,
computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or
other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to,
RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM,
digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage,
magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other
magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to
store the desired information and which can accessed by computer
(810). Communication media typically embodies computer readable
instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a
modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport
mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term
"modulated data signal" means a signal that has one or more of its
characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode
information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation,
communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or
direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF,
infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the
above should also be included within the scope of computer readable
media.
[0350] The system memory (830) includes computer storage media in
the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only
memory (ROM) (831) and random access memory (RAM) (832). A basic
input/output system (833) (BIOS), containing the basic routines
that help to transfer information between elements within computer
(810), such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM (831).
RAM (832) typically contains data and/or program modules that are
immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by
processing unit (820). By way of example, and not limitation, FIG.
8 shows operating system (834), application programs (835), other
program modules (836), and program data (837).
[0351] The computer (810) may also include other
removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage
media. For example, FIG. 8 depicts a hard disk drive (841) that
reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media,
a magnetic disk drive (851) that reads from or writes to a
removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk (852), and an optical disk
drive (855) that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile
optical disk (856) such as a CD ROM or other optical media. Other
removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage
media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment
include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash
memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid
state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive (841)
is typically connected to the system bus (821) through a
non-removable memory interface such as interface (840), and
magnetic disk drive (851) and optical disk drive (855) are
typically connected to the system bus (821) by a removable memory
interface, such as interface (850).
[0352] The drives and their associated computer storage media
discussed above provide storage of computer readable instructions,
data structures, program modules and other data for the computer
(810). For example, hard disk drive (841) is shown as storing
operating system (844), application programs (845), other program
modules (846), and program data (847). These components may either
be the same as or different from operating system (834),
application programs (835), other program modules (836), and
program data (837). Operating system (844), application programs
(845), other program modules (846), and program data (847) are
given different numbers here to illustrate that at a minimum they
are different copies of the same set(s) of instructions.
[0353] A user may enter commands and information into the computer
(810) through input devices such as a keyboard (862) and pointing
device (861), which may include a touch screen, mouse, trackball,
etc. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone,
joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, etc. These and other
input devices are often connected to the processing unit (820)
through a user input interface (860) that is often coupled to the
system bus, but may alternatively be connected by other interface
and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port or a
universal serial bus (USB). A monitor (891) or other type of
display device is also connected to the system bus (821) via an
interface, such as a video interface (890). In addition to the
monitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices
such as speakers (897) and printer (896), which may be connected
through a output peripheral interface (895).
[0354] The computer (810) may operate in a networked environment
using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as
a remote computer (880) in the example configuration shown. The
remote computer (880) may be a server, personal computer, router,
network PC, peer device or other common network node, and typically
includes many or all of the elements described above in relation to
the computer (810), although only a memory storage device (881) is
shown. The logical connections depicted include a local area
network (LAN) (871) and a wide area network (WAN) (873), but may
also include other networks. Such networking environments are
commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks,
intranets and the Internet.
[0355] When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer
(810) is connected to the LAN (871) through a network interface or
adapter (870). When used in a WAN networking environment, the
computer (810) typically includes a modem (872) or other means for
establishing communications over the WAN (873), such as the
Internet. The modem (872), which may be internal or external, may
be connected to the system bus (821) via the user input interface
(860), or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment,
program modules depicted relative to the computer (810), or
portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage
device. By way of example, remote application programs (885) are
shown residing on memory device (881). It will be appreciated that
the network connections shown are merely examples and other means
of establishing a communications link between computers may be
used.
[0356] FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment in which invention can
also be practiced in a distributed computing environment (900)
where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are
linked through a communications network. In the distributed
environment depicted in FIG. 9, a user input interface is provided
on a local computer (901) that includes a web browser (902) and/or
a user input interface is provided on a smart phone (903) that
includes an application (904) that can access the system (905). The
system (905) comprises one or more remote processing devices that
are linked through a communications network, where each remote
processing device performs one or more tasks or routines by
executing and/or interfacing with one or more programs, objects,
components, data structures, etc. In the system depicted in FIG. 9,
a website operated by module (906) interfaces with web browser
(902) and that website interfaces with a web services device (907).
Alternatively, application (904) can interface directly with the
web services device (907). The web services device collects and/or
sends interaction data from a database (908). In one embodiment,
the system further includes one or more worker modules (909)
configured to receive messages and process those messages in the
message queue (910) to efficiently manage data traffic on the
system. For example, if the system receives information from a
consumer-user to modify a data object, the worker module can
process that message, e.g., to create a derivative data object and
display that derivative data object to a subset of consumer-users
and/or brand-users in the system.
[0357] Having thus described several aspects of at least one
embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated that various
alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to
those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and
improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are
intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Further, though some advantages of the present invention are
indicated, it should be appreciated that not every embodiment of
the invention will include every described advantage, and other
advantages not described may be realized. Further, some embodiments
may not implement features described as advantageous herein.
Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of
example only.
[0358] The above-described embodiments of the present invention can
be implemented in any of numerous ways. For example, the
embodiments may be implemented using hardware, software or a
combination thereof. When implemented in software, the software
code can be executed on any suitable processor or collection of
processors, whether provided in a single computer or distributed
among multiple computers. Such processors may be implemented as
integrated circuits, with one or more processors in an integrated
circuit component. Though, a processor may be implemented using
circuitry in any suitable format. Further, it should be appreciated
that a computer may be embodied in any of a number of forms, some
of which are described above.
[0359] As noted, a computer may have one or more input and output
devices. These devices can be used, among other things, to present
a user interface. Examples of output devices that can be used to
provide a user interface include printers or display screens for
visual presentation of output and speakers or other sound
generating devices for audible presentation of output. Examples of
input devices that can be used for a user interface include
keyboards, and pointing devices, such as mice, touch pads, and
digitizing tablets. As another example, a computer may receive
input information through speech recognition or in other audible
format.
[0360] Also, the various methods or processes outlined herein may
be coded as software that is executable on one or more processors
that employ any one of a variety of operating systems or platforms.
Additionally, such software may be written using any of a number of
suitable programming languages and/or programming or scripting
tools, and also may be compiled as executable machine language code
or intermediate code that is executed on a framework or virtual
machine.
[0361] In this respect, the invention may be embodied as a computer
readable storage medium (or multiple computer readable media)
(e.g., a computer memory, one or more floppy discs, compact discs
(CD), optical discs, digital video disks (DVD), magnetic tapes,
flash memories, circuit configurations in semiconductor devices, or
other tangible computer storage medium) encoded with one or more
programs that, when executed on one or more computers or other
processors, perform methods that implement the various embodiments
of the invention discussed above. As is apparent from the foregoing
examples, a computer readable storage medium may retain information
for a sufficient time to provide computer-executable instructions
in a non-transitory form. Such a computer readable storage medium
or media can be transportable, such that the program or programs
stored thereon can be loaded onto one or more different computers
or other processors to implement various aspects of the present
invention as discussed above. As used herein, the term
"computer-readable storage medium" encompasses only a
computer-readable medium that can be considered to be a
manufactured (e.g., article of manufacture) or a machine.
Alternatively or additionally, the invention may be embodied as a
computer readable medium other than a computer-readable storage
medium, such as a propagating signal.
[0362] The terms "program" or "software" are used herein in a
generic sense to refer to any type of computer code or set of
computer-executable instructions that can be employed to program a
computer or other processor to implement various aspects of the
present invention as discussed above. Additionally, it should be
appreciated that according to one aspect of this embodiment, one or
more computer programs that when executed perform methods of the
present invention need not reside on a single computer or
processor, but may be distributed in a modular fashion amongst a
number of different computers or processors to implement various
aspects of the present invention.
[0363] Computer-executable instructions may be in many forms, such
as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other
devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs,
objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular
tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically the
functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed
as desired in various embodiments.
[0364] Also, data structures may be stored in computer-readable
media in any suitable form. For simplicity of illustration, data
structures may be shown to have fields that are related through
location in the data structure. Such relationships may likewise be
achieved by assigning storage for the fields with locations in a
computer-readable medium that conveys relationship between the
fields. However, any suitable mechanism may be used to establish a
relationship between information in fields of a data structure,
including through the use of pointers, tags or other mechanisms
that establish relationship between data elements.
[0365] The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the
specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, various
modifications of the method in addition to those described herein
will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing
description and accompanying figures. Such modifications are
intended to fall within the scope of the claims. Various
publications are cited herein, the disclosures of which are
incorporated by reference in their entireties.
* * * * *