1 |
<HTML> |
2 |
<HEAD> |
3 |
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> |
4 |
<BASE TARGET="_top"> |
5 |
<TITLE>United States Patent: 5,960,411</TITLE> |
6 |
</HEAD> |
7 |
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"> |
8 |
<a name="top"></a> |
9 |
<HR> |
10 |
<TABLE WIDTH="100%"> |
11 |
<TR> <TD ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="50%"><B>United States Patent </B></TD> |
12 |
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" WIDTH="50%"><B> <A Name=h2 HREF=#h1></A><A HREF=#h3></A><B><I>5,960,411</I></B> |
13 |
</B></TD> |
14 |
</TR> |
15 |
<TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="50%"><b> |
16 |
Hartman |
17 |
, et al.</B> |
18 |
</TD><TD ALIGN="RIGHT" WIDTH="50%"> <B> |
19 |
September 28, 1999 |
20 |
</B></TD> |
21 |
</TR> |
22 |
</TABLE><HR> |
23 |
<font size="+1"> Method and system for placing a purchase order via a communications |
24 |
network |
25 |
</font><BR> |
26 |
<BR><CENTER><B>Abstract</B></CENTER> |
27 |
<P>A method and system for placing an order to purchase an item via the |
28 |
Internet. The order is placed by a purchaser at a client system and |
29 |
received by a server system. The server system receives purchaser |
30 |
information including identification of the purchaser, payment |
31 |
information, and shipment information from the client system. The server |
32 |
system then assigns a client identifier to the client system and |
33 |
associates the assigned client identifier with the received purchaser |
34 |
information. The server system sends to the client system the assigned |
35 |
client identifier and an HTML document identifying the item and including |
36 |
an order button. The client system receives and stores the assigned client |
37 |
identifier and receives and displays the HTML document. In response to the |
38 |
selection of the order button, the client system sends to the server |
39 |
system a request to purchase the identified item. The server system |
40 |
receives the request and combines the purchaser information associated |
41 |
with the client identifier of the client system to generate an order to |
42 |
purchase the item in accordance with the billing and shipment information |
43 |
whereby the purchaser effects the ordering of the product by selection of |
44 |
the order button. |
45 |
</P> |
46 |
<P> |
47 |
|
48 |
<STRONG>RMS Note:</STRONG> Translated into ordinary language, this means they ask you for |
49 |
some information about you, record it, and send your browser a cookie |
50 |
containing a customer number to identify you. |
51 |
</P> |
52 |
<P> |
53 |
|
54 |
Then, every time you click on a page from the same server, the browser |
55 |
sends back the cookie that it previously got from the same server. |
56 |
(That is not Amazon's idea; that is what browsers always do with |
57 |
cookies.) This gives the server your customer number. It uses your |
58 |
customer number to find your customer information. |
59 |
</P> |
60 |
<P> |
61 |
|
62 |
|
63 |
</P> |
64 |
<HR> |
65 |
<TABLE WIDTH="100%"> |
66 |
<TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="10%">Inventors: |
67 |
</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="90%"> |
68 |
<B>Hartman; Peri</B> (Seattle, WA); |
69 |
<B>Bezos; Jeffrey P.</B> (Seattle, WA); |
70 |
<B>Kaphan; Shel</B> (Seattle, WA); |
71 |
<B>Spiegel; Joel</B> (Seattle, WA) |
72 |
</TD></TR> |
73 |
<TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="10%">Assignee: |
74 |
</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="90%"> |
75 |
<B>Amazon.com, Inc.</B> (Seattle, WA) |
76 |
</TD></TR> |
77 |
<TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="10%" NOWRAP>Appl. No.: |
78 |
</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="90%"> |
79 |
<B> 928951</B></TD></TR> |
80 |
<TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="10%">Filed: |
81 |
</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="90%"> |
82 |
<B>September 12, 1997</B></TD></TR> |
83 |
</TABLE> |
84 |
<p> |
85 |
<TABLE WIDTH="100%"> |
86 |
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="40%"><B>U.S. Class:</B></TD> |
87 |
<TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN="RIGHT" WIDTH="60%"><B>705/26</B>; 705/27; 345/962 </TD></TR> |
88 |
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="40%"><B>Intern'l Class: </B></TD> |
89 |
<TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN="RIGHT" WIDTH="60%">G06F 017/60</TD></TR> |
90 |
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="40%"><B>Field of Search: </B></TD> |
91 |
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="60%"> |
92 |
705/26,27 |
93 |
380/24,25 |
94 |
235/2,375,378,381 |
95 |
395/188.01 |
96 |
345/962 |
97 |
</TD></TR> |
98 |
</TABLE> |
99 |
</P> |
100 |
<HR><CENTER><B>References Cited [Referenced By]</B></CENTER><HR> |
101 |
<CENTER><B>U.S. Patent Documents</B></CENTER> |
102 |
<TABLE WIDTH="100%"><TR><TD WIDTH="25%">4937863</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Jun., 1990</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">Robert et al.</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">380/4. |
103 |
</TD></TR> |
104 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">5204897</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Apr., 1993</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">Wyman</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">380/4. |
105 |
</TD></TR> |
106 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">5260999</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Nov., 1993</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">Wyman</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">384/4. |
107 |
</TD></TR> |
108 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">5627940</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">May., 1997</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">Rohra et al.</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">395/12. |
109 |
</TD></TR> |
110 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">5640501</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Jun., 1997</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">Turpin</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">395/768. |
111 |
</TD></TR> |
112 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">5640577</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Jun., 1997</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">Scharmer</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">395/768. |
113 |
</TD></TR> |
114 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">5664111</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Sep., 1997</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">Nahan et al.</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">705/27. |
115 |
</TD></TR> |
116 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">5715314</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Feb., 1998</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">Payne et al.</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">380/24. |
117 |
</TD></TR> |
118 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">5715399</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Feb., 1998</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">Bezos</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">705/27. |
119 |
</TD></TR> |
120 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">5727163</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Mar., 1998</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">Bezos</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">705/27. |
121 |
</TD></TR> |
122 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">5745681</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Apr., 1998</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">Levine et al.</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">395/200. |
123 |
</TD></TR> |
124 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">5758126</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">May., 1998</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">Daniels et al.</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">395/500. |
125 |
</TD></TR> |
126 |
<TR><TD COLSPAN="4" ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Foreign Patent Documents</B></TD></TR> |
127 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">0855687 A2</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Jan., 1998</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">EP</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">. |
128 |
</TD></TR> |
129 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">0855659 A1</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Jan., 1998</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">EP</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">. |
130 |
</TD></TR> |
131 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">0845747A2</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Jun., 1998</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">EP</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">. |
132 |
</TD></TR> |
133 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">0883076A2</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Dec., 1998</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">EP</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">. |
134 |
</TD></TR> |
135 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">WO 95/30961</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Nov., 1995</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">WO</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">. |
136 |
</TD></TR> |
137 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">WO 96/38799</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">Dec., 1996</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">WO</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">. |
138 |
</TD></TR> |
139 |
<TR><TD WIDTH="25%">WO 98/21679</TD><TD WIDTH="25%">May., 1998</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="LEFT">WO</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="RIGHT">. |
140 |
</TD></TR> |
141 |
</TABLE> |
142 |
|
143 |
<BR> |
144 |
<TABLE WIDTH="90%"> |
145 |
<BR> |
146 |
<CENTER><B>Other References</B></CENTER> |
147 |
<TD ALIGN=LEFT><br>Jones, Chris. "Java Shopping Cart and Java Wallet; Oracles plans to join |
148 |
e-commerce initiative." Mar. 31, 1997, InfoWorld Media Group. |
149 |
<br>"Pacific Coast Software Software creates virtual shopping cart." Sep. 6, |
150 |
1996. M2 Communications Ltd 1996. |
151 |
<br>"Software Creates Virtual Shopping Cart." Sep. 5, 1996. Business Wire, Inc. |
152 |
<br>Terdoslavich, William. "Java Electronic Commerce Framework." Computer |
153 |
Reseller News, Sep. 23, 1996, CMP Media, Inc., 1996, pp. 126, |
154 |
http://www.elibrary.com/id/101/101/getdoc . . . |
155 |
rydocid=902269@library.sub.-- d&dtype=0.about.0&dinst=. ›Accessed Nov. 19, |
156 |
1998!. |
157 |
<br>"Internet Access: Disc Distributing Announces Interactive World Wide." |
158 |
Cambridge Work-Group Computing Report, Cambridge Publishing, Inc., 1995, |
159 |
http://www.elibrary.com/id/101/101/getdoc . . . |
160 |
docid=1007497@library.sub.-- a&dtype=0.about.0&dinst=0. ›Accessed Nov. 19, |
161 |
1998!. |
162 |
<br>Nance, Barry, "Reviews: A Grand Opening for Virtual Storefront With |
163 |
Middleware." Jun. 1, 1997, CMP Media, Inc. 1997, p. 80, |
164 |
http://www.elibrary.com/getdoc.egi?id=117 . . . |
165 |
docid=1257247@library.sub.-- a&dtype=0.about.0&dinst=0. ›Accessed Nov. 19, |
166 |
1998!. |
167 |
<br>"Go-Cart Shopping Cart Software Features." 1996 GO International, Inc. |
168 |
http://www.go-cart.com/features.html. ›Accessed Nov. 19, 1998!. |
169 |
<br>"PerlShop Manual (version 2.2)." 1996, ARPAnct Corp. |
170 |
http://www.w3u.com/grokksoft/shop/perlman.html. ›Accessed Nov. 19, 1998!. |
171 |
<br>"Sax Software Announces Sax NetSell; Sax NetSell's design-time ActiveX |
172 |
controls make Internet commerce easy."1997, Sax Software Corp. |
173 |
<br>Baron, Chris and Bob Weil, "Implementing a Web Shopping Cart," Dr. Dobb's |
174 |
Journal, Sep. 1996, pp. 64, 66, 68-69, and 83-85. |
175 |
<br>Hoque, Reaz, "A Shopping Cart Application with JavaScript," Web Techniques, |
176 |
May 1998, pp. 63, 65-66, and 68. |
177 |
</TD></TABLE> |
178 |
<BR> |
179 |
<I>Primary Examiner:</I> Trammell; James P. |
180 |
<BR> |
181 |
<I>Assistant Examiner:</I> Smith; Demetra R. |
182 |
<BR> |
183 |
<I>Attorney, Agent or Firm:</I> Perkins Coie LLP |
184 |
<BR> |
185 |
<HR> |
186 |
<CENTER><B><I>Claims</I></B></CENTER> |
187 |
<HR> |
188 |
<BR><BR>1. A method of placing an order for an item comprising: |
189 |
<BR><BR>under control of a client system, |
190 |
<BR><BR>displaying information identifying the item; and |
191 |
<BR><BR>in response to only a single action being performed, sending a request to |
192 |
order the item along with an identifier of a purchaser of the item to a |
193 |
server system; |
194 |
<BR><BR>under control of a single-action ordering component of the server system, |
195 |
<BR><BR>receiving the request; |
196 |
<BR><BR>retrieving additional information previously stored for the purchaser |
197 |
identified by the identifier in the received request; and |
198 |
<BR><BR>generating an order to purchase the requested item for the purchaser |
199 |
identified by the identifier in the received request using the retrieved |
200 |
additional information; and |
201 |
<BR><BR>fulfilling the generated order to complete purchase of the item |
202 |
<BR><BR>whereby the item is ordered without using a shopping cart ordering model. |
203 |
</P> |
204 |
<P> |
205 |
<STRONG>RMS Note:</STRONG> Note that this list of elements includes a several things that any |
206 |
E-commerce web site must do. The result is a long list of elements, |
207 |
only a few of which have to do with one-click purchasing. |
208 |
</P> |
209 |
<P> |
210 |
<BR><BR>2. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying of information includes |
211 |
displaying information indicating the single action. |
212 |
<BR><BR>3. The method of claim 1 wherein the single action is clicking a button. |
213 |
<BR><BR>4. The method of claim 1 wherein the single action is speaking of a sound. |
214 |
<BR><BR>5. The method of claim 1 wherein a user of the client system does not need |
215 |
to explicitly identify themselves when placing an order. |
216 |
<BR><BR>6. A client system for ordering an item comprising: |
217 |
<BR><BR>an identifier that identifies a customer; |
218 |
<BR><BR>a display component for displaying information identifying the item; |
219 |
<BR><BR>a single-action ordering component that in response to performance of only |
220 |
a single action, sends a request to a server system to order the |
221 |
identified item, the request including the identifier so that the server |
222 |
system can locate additional information needed to complete the order and |
223 |
so that the server system can fulfill the generated order to complete |
224 |
purchase of the item; and |
225 |
<BR><BR>a shopping cart ordering component that in response to performance of an |
226 |
add-to-shopping-cart action, sends a request to the server system to add |
227 |
the item to a shopping cart. |
228 |
<BR><BR>7. The client system of claim 6 wherein the display component is a browser. |
229 |
<BR><BR>8. The client system of claim 6 wherein the predefined action is the |
230 |
clicking of a mouse button. |
231 |
<BR><BR>9. A server system for generating an order comprising: |
232 |
<BR><BR>a shopping cart ordering component; and |
233 |
<BR><BR>a single-action ordering component including: |
234 |
<BR><BR>a data storage medium storing information for a plurality of users; |
235 |
<BR><BR>a receiving component for receiving requests to order an item, a request |
236 |
including an indication of one of the plurality of users, the request |
237 |
being sent in response to only a single action being performed; and |
238 |
<BR><BR>an order placement component that retrieves from the data storage medium |
239 |
information for the indicated user and that uses the retrieved information |
240 |
to place an order for the indicated user for the item; and |
241 |
<BR><BR>an order fulfillment component that completes a purchase of the item in |
242 |
accordance with the order placed by the single-action ordering component. |
243 |
<BR><BR>10. The server system of claim 9 wherein the request is sent by a client |
244 |
system in response to a single action being performed. |
245 |
<BR><BR>11. A method for ordering an item using a client system, the method |
246 |
comprising: |
247 |
<BR><BR>displaying information identifying the item and displaying an indication of |
248 |
a single action that is to be performed to order the identified item; and |
249 |
<BR><BR>in response to only the indicated single action being performed, sending to |
250 |
a server system a request to order the identified item |
251 |
<BR><BR>whereby the item is ordered independently of a shopping cart model and the |
252 |
order is fulfilled to complete a purchase of the item. |
253 |
<BR><BR>12. The method of claim 11 wherein the server system uses an identifier |
254 |
sent along with the request to identify additional information needed to |
255 |
generate an order for the item. |
256 |
<BR><BR>13. The method of claim 12 wherein the identifier identifies the client |
257 |
system and the server system provides the identifier to the client system. |
258 |
<BR><BR>14. The method of claim 11 wherein the client system and server system |
259 |
communicate via the Internet. |
260 |
<BR><BR>15. The method of claim 11 wherein the displaying includes displaying an |
261 |
HTML document provided by the server system. |
262 |
<BR><BR>16. The method of claim 11 including sending from the server system to the |
263 |
client system a confirmation that the order was generated. |
264 |
<BR><BR>17. The method of claim 11 wherein the single action is clicking a mouse |
265 |
button when a cursor is positioned over a predefined area of the displayed |
266 |
information. |
267 |
<BR><BR>18. The method of claim 11 wherein the single action is a sound generated |
268 |
by a user. |
269 |
<BR><BR>19. The method of claim 11 wherein the single action is selection using a |
270 |
television remote control. |
271 |
<BR><BR>20. The method of claim 11 wherein the single action is depressing of a key |
272 |
on a key pad. |
273 |
<BR><BR>21. The method of claim 11 wherein the single action is selecting using a |
274 |
pointing device. |
275 |
<BR><BR>22. The method of claim 11 wherein the single action is selection of a |
276 |
displayed indication. |
277 |
<BR><BR>23. The method of claim 11 wherein the displaying includes displaying |
278 |
partial information supplied by the server system as to the identity of a |
279 |
user of the client system. |
280 |
<BR><BR>24. The method of claim 11 wherein the displaying includes displaying |
281 |
partial shipping information supplied by the server system. |
282 |
<BR><BR>25. The method of claim 11 wherein the displaying includes displaying |
283 |
partial payment information supplied by the server system. |
284 |
<BR><BR>26. The method of claim 11 wherein the displaying includes displaying a |
285 |
moniker identifying a shipping address for the customer. |
286 |
</P> |
287 |
<HR> |
288 |
<CENTER><B><I> Description</I></B></CENTER> |
289 |
<HR> |
290 |
<BR><BR>TECHNICAL FIELD |
291 |
<BR><BR>The present invention relates to a computer method and system for placing |
292 |
an order and, more particularly, to a method and system for ordering items |
293 |
over the Internet. |
294 |
<BR><BR>BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION |
295 |
<BR><BR>The Internet comprises a vast number of computers and computer networks |
296 |
that are interconnected through communication links. The interconnected |
297 |
computers exchange information using various services, such as electronic |
298 |
mail, Gopher, and the World Wide Web ("WWW"). The WWW service allows a |
299 |
server computer system (i.e., Web server or Web site) to send graphical |
300 |
Web pages of information to a remote client computer system. The remote |
301 |
client computer system can then display the Web pages. Each resource |
302 |
(e.g., computer or Web page) of the WWW is uniquely identifiable by a |
303 |
Uniform Resource Locator ("URL"). To view a specific Web page, a client |
304 |
computer system specifies the URL for that Web page in a request (e.g., a |
305 |
HyperText Transfer Protocol ("HTTP") request). The request is forwarded to |
306 |
the Web server that supports that Web page. When that Web server receives |
307 |
the request, it sends that Web page to the client computer system. When |
308 |
the client computer system receives that Web page, it typically displays |
309 |
the Web page using a browser. A browser is a special-purpose application |
310 |
program that effects the requesting of Web pages and the displaying of Web |
311 |
pages. |
312 |
<BR><BR>Currently, Web pages are typically defined using HyperText Markup Language |
313 |
("HTML"). HTML provides a standard set of tags that define how a Web page |
314 |
is to be displayed. When a user indicates to the browser to display a Web |
315 |
page, the browser sends a request to the server computer system to |
316 |
transfer to the client computer system an HTML document that defines the |
317 |
Web page. When the requested HTML document is received by the client |
318 |
computer system, the browser displays the Web page as defined by the HTML |
319 |
document. The HTML document contains various tags that control the |
320 |
displaying of text, graphics, controls, and other features. The HTML |
321 |
document may contain URLs of other Web pages available on that server |
322 |
computer system or other server computer systems. |
323 |
<BR><BR>The World Wide Web is especially conducive to conducting electronic |
324 |
commerce. Many Web servers have been developed through which vendors can |
325 |
advertise and sell product. The products can include items (e.g., music) |
326 |
that are delivered electronically to the purchaser over the Internet and |
327 |
items (e.g., books) that are delivered through conventional distribution |
328 |
channels (e.g., a common carrier). A server computer system may provide an |
329 |
electronic version of a catalog that lists the items that are available. A |
330 |
user, who is a potential purchaser, may browse through the catalog using a |
331 |
browser and select various items that are to be purchased. When the user |
332 |
has completed selecting the items to be purchased, the server computer |
333 |
system then prompts the user for information to complete the ordering of |
334 |
the items. This purchaser-specific order information may include the |
335 |
purchaser's name, the purchaser's credit card number, and a shipping |
336 |
address for the order. The server computer system then typically confirms |
337 |
the order by sending a confirming Web page to the client computer system |
338 |
and schedules shipment of the items. |
339 |
<BR><BR>Since the purchaser-specific order information contains sensitive |
340 |
information (e.g., a credit card number), both vendors and purchasers want |
341 |
to ensure the security of such information. Security is a concern because |
342 |
information transmitted over the Internet may pass through various |
343 |
intermediate computer systems on its way to its final destination. The |
344 |
information could be intercepted by an unscrupulous person at an |
345 |
intermediate system. To help ensure the security of the sensitive |
346 |
information, various encryption techniques are used when transmitting such |
347 |
information between a client computer system and a server computer system. |
348 |
Even though such encrypted information can be intercepted, because the |
349 |
information is encrypted, it is generally useless to the interceptor. |
350 |
Nevertheless, there is always a possibility that such sensitive |
351 |
information may be successfully decrypted by the interceptor. Therefore, |
352 |
it would be desirable to minimize the sensitive information transmitted |
353 |
when placing an order. |
354 |
<BR><BR>The selection of the various items from the electronic catalogs is |
355 |
generally based on the "shopping cart" model. When the purchaser selects |
356 |
an item from the electronic catalog, the server computer system |
357 |
metaphorically adds that item to a shopping cart. When the purchaser is |
358 |
done selecting items, then all the items in the shopping cart are "checked |
359 |
out" (i.e., ordered) when the purchaser provides billing and shipment |
360 |
information. In some models, when a purchaser selects any one item, then |
361 |
that item is "checked out" by automatically prompting the user for the |
362 |
billing and shipment information. Although the shopping cart model is very |
363 |
flexible and intuitive, it has a downside in that it requires many |
364 |
interactions by the purchaser. For example, the purchaser selects the |
365 |
various items from the electronic catalog, and then indicates that the |
366 |
selection is complete. The purchaser is then presented with an order Web |
367 |
page that prompts the purchaser for the purchaser-specific order |
368 |
information to complete the order. That Web page may be prefilled with |
369 |
information that was provided by the purchaser when placing another order. |
370 |
The information is then validated by the server computer system, and the |
371 |
order is completed. Such an ordering model can be problematic for a couple |
372 |
of reasons. If a purchaser is ordering only one item, then the overhead of |
373 |
confirming the various steps of the ordering process and waiting for, |
374 |
viewing, and updating the purchaser-specific order information can be much |
375 |
more than the overhead of selecting the item itself. This overhead makes |
376 |
the purchase of a single item cumbersome. Also, with such an ordering |
377 |
model, each time an order is placed sensitive information is transmitted |
378 |
over the Internet. Each time the sensitive information is transmitted over |
379 |
the Internet, it is susceptible to being intercepted and decrypted. |
380 |
<BR><BR>SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION |
381 |
<BR><BR>An embodiment of the present invention provides a method and system for |
382 |
ordering an item from a client system. The client system is provided with |
383 |
an identifier that identifies a customer. The client system displays |
384 |
information that identifies the item and displays an indication of an |
385 |
action (e.g., a single action such as clicking a mouse button) that a |
386 |
purchaser is to perform to order the identified item. In response to the |
387 |
indicated action being performed, the client system sends to a server |
388 |
system the provided identifier and a request to order the identified item. |
389 |
The server system uses the identifier to identify additional information |
390 |
needed to generate an order for the item and then generates the order. |
391 |
<BR><BR>The server system receives and stores the additional information for |
392 |
customers using various computer systems so that the server system can |
393 |
generate such orders. The server system stores the received additional |
394 |
information in association with an identifier of the customer and provides |
395 |
the identifier to the client system. When requested by the client system, |
396 |
the server system provides information describing the item to the |
397 |
requesting client system. When the server system receives a request from a |
398 |
client system, the server system combines the additional information |
399 |
stored in association with the identifier included in the request to |
400 |
effect the ordering of the item. |
401 |
<BR><BR>BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS |
402 |
<BR><BR>FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate single-action ordering in one embodiment of the |
403 |
present invention. |
404 |
<BR><BR>FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present |
405 |
invention. |
406 |
<BR><BR>FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a routine that enables single-action ordering |
407 |
for a customer. |
408 |
<BR><BR>FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a routine to generate a Web page in which |
409 |
single-action ordering is enabled. |
410 |
<BR><BR>FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a routine which processes a single-action |
411 |
order. |
412 |
<BR><BR>FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a routine for generating a single-action order |
413 |
summary Web page. |
414 |
<BR><BR>FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a routine that implements an expedited order |
415 |
selection algorithm. |
416 |
<BR><BR>FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate a hierarchical data entry mechanism in one |
417 |
embodiment. |
418 |
<BR><BR>DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION |
419 |
<BR><BR>The present invention provides a method and system for single-action |
420 |
ordering of items in a client/server environment. The single-action |
421 |
ordering system of the present invention reduces the number of purchaser |
422 |
interactions needed to place an order and reduces the amount of sensitive |
423 |
information that is transmitted between a client system and a server |
424 |
system. In one embodiment, the server system assigns a unique client |
425 |
identifier to each client system. The server system also stores |
426 |
purchaser-specific order information for various potential purchasers. The |
427 |
purchaser-specific order information may have been collected from a |
428 |
previous order placed by the purchaser. The server system maps each client |
429 |
identifier to a purchaser that may use that client system to place an |
430 |
order. The server system may map the client identifiers to the purchaser |
431 |
who last placed an order using that client system. When a purchaser wants |
432 |
to place an order, the purchaser uses a client system to send the request |
433 |
for information describing the item to be ordered along with its client |
434 |
identifier. The server system determines whether the client identifier for |
435 |
that client system is mapped to a purchaser. If so mapped, the server |
436 |
system determines whether single-action ordering is enabled for that |
437 |
purchaser at that client system. If enabled, the server system sends the |
438 |
requested information (e.g., via a Web page) to the client computer system |
439 |
along with an indication of the single action to perform to place the |
440 |
order for the item. When single-action ordering is enabled, the purchaser |
441 |
need only perform a single action (e.g., click a mouse button) to order |
442 |
the item. When the purchaser performs that single action, the client |
443 |
system notifies the server system. The server system then completes the |
444 |
order by adding the purchaser-specific order information for the purchaser |
445 |
that is mapped to that client identifier to the item order information |
446 |
(e.g., product identifier and quantity). Thus, once the description of an |
447 |
item is displayed, the purchaser need only take a single action to place |
448 |
the order to purchase that item. Also, since the client identifier |
449 |
identifies purchaser-specific order information already stored at the |
450 |
server system, there is no need for such sensitive information to be |
451 |
transmitted via the Internet or other communications medium. |
452 |
<BR><BR>FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate single-action ordering in one embodiment of the |
453 |
present invention. FIG. 1A illustrates the display of a Web page |
454 |
describing an item that may be ordered. This example Web page was sent |
455 |
from the server system to the client system when the purchaser requested |
456 |
to review detailed information about the item. This example Web page |
457 |
contains a summary description section 101, a shopping cart section 102, a |
458 |
single-action ordering section 103, and a detailed description section |
459 |
104. One skilled in the art would appreciate that these various sections |
460 |
can be omitted or rearranged or adapted in various ways. In general, the |
461 |
purchaser need only be aware of the item or items to be ordered by the |
462 |
single action and of the single action needed to place the order. The |
463 |
summary description and the detailed description sections provide |
464 |
information that identifies and describes the item(s) that may be ordered. |
465 |
The shopping cart section provides the conventional capability to add the |
466 |
described item to a shopping cart. The server system adds the summary |
467 |
description, the detailed description, and the shopping cart sections to |
468 |
each Web page for an item that may be ordered. The server system, however, |
469 |
only adds the single-action ordering section when single-action ordering |
470 |
is enabled for that purchaser at that client system. (One skilled in the |
471 |
art would appreciate that a single Web page on the server system may |
472 |
contain all these sections but the single-action ordering section can be |
473 |
selectively included or excluded before sending the Web page to the client |
474 |
system.) This example single-action ordering section allows the purchaser |
475 |
to specify with a single click of a mouse button to order the described |
476 |
item. Once the purchaser clicks the mouse button, the item is ordered, |
477 |
unless the purchaser then takes some action to modify the order. The |
478 |
single-action ordering section contains a single-action ordering button |
479 |
103a, purchaser identification subsection 103b, and single-action ordering |
480 |
information subsections 103c and 103d. The purchaser information |
481 |
subsection displays enough information so that the purchaser can verify |
482 |
that the server system correctly recognizes the purchaser. To reduce the |
483 |
chances of sensitive information being intercepted, the server system |
484 |
sends only enough information so that the purchaser is confident that the |
485 |
server system correctly identified the purchaser but yet not enough |
486 |
information to be useful to an unscrupulous interceptor. The additional |
487 |
information subsections allow the purchaser to obtain various settings or |
488 |
obtain more information related to the single-action ordering. If the |
489 |
purchaser wants to verify the shipping address, the purchaser can select |
490 |
the "check shipping address" label. In response to this selection, the |
491 |
server system may require the purchaser to perform a "login" so that the |
492 |
identity of the purchaser can be verified before the shipping information |
493 |
is viewed or modified. The server system then sends a Web page to the |
494 |
client system for display and possible modification of the shipping |
495 |
address. In this way, the transmitting of the sensitive shipping address |
496 |
can be avoided unless requested by the verified purchaser. |
497 |
<BR><BR>When the purchaser selects the single-action ordering button, the client |
498 |
system sends a message to the server system requesting that the displayed |
499 |
item be ordered. After the server system processes the message, the server |
500 |
system provides to the client system a new Web page that confirms receipt |
501 |
of the single-action order. FIG. 1B illustrates the display of a Web page |
502 |
confirming a single-action order. The confirming Web page contains |
503 |
essentially the same information as the Web page describing the item |
504 |
(i.e., FIG. 1A) except that an order confirmation section 105 is displayed |
505 |
at the top of the Web page. The order confirmation section confirms that |
506 |
the order has been placed and provides an opportunity for the purchaser to |
507 |
review and change the single-action order. Alternatively, the confirming |
508 |
Web page can be identical to the Web page describing the item (i.e., FIG. |
509 |
1A), except that the single-action ordering button is replaced with a |
510 |
message confirming the order. |
511 |
<BR><BR>If a single-action ordering is not currently enabled for the client system |
512 |
but could be enabled, then the server system can generate a Web page like |
513 |
FIG. 1A, except that the single-action ordering button 103a is replaced by |
514 |
a single-action ordering enable button. Such a replacement button could |
515 |
contain text instructing the purchaser to click on the button to enable |
516 |
single-action ordering. When the purchaser clicks on that button, the |
517 |
server system would send the Web page of FIG. 1A to be displayed. |
518 |
Single-action ordering can be enabled whenever the server system has |
519 |
stored sufficient purchaser-specific order information for that client |
520 |
system to complete a single-action order. If the server system does not |
521 |
have sufficient information, then when the purchaser selects the |
522 |
single-action ordering button, the server system can provide a Web page to |
523 |
collect the additional information that is needed. The server system may |
524 |
require the purchaser to "login" so that the identity of the purchaser can |
525 |
be verified before the single-action ordering is enabled. |
526 |
<BR><BR>To help minimize shipping costs and purchaser confusion, the server system |
527 |
may combine various single-action orders into a multiple-item order. For |
528 |
example, if a purchaser orders one item using the single-action ordering |
529 |
and five minutes later orders another item using the single-action |
530 |
ordering, then those orders may be cost effectively combined into a single |
531 |
order for shipping. The server system combines the single-action orders |
532 |
when their expected ship dates are similar. For example, if one item is |
533 |
immediately available and the other item will be available in one day, |
534 |
then the two single-action orders may be cost-effectively combined. |
535 |
However, if the other item will not be available for two weeks, then the |
536 |
two single-item orders would not be combined. FIG. 1C illustrates the |
537 |
display of a Web page representing four single-action orders that have |
538 |
been combined into two separate multiple-item orders based on the |
539 |
availability of the items. The order information 106 indicates that item 1 |
540 |
and item 2, which will be available in three or fewer days, have been |
541 |
combined into one order. The order information 107 indicates that items 3 |
542 |
and 4, which will not be available within one week, are combined into a |
543 |
separate order. In one embodiment, the server system may combine |
544 |
single-action orders that are placed within a certain time period (e.g., |
545 |
90 minutes). Also, the server system may combine or divide orders when the |
546 |
orders are scheduled for shipment based on the then current availability |
547 |
of the items ordered. This delayed modification of the orders is referred |
548 |
to as "expedited order selection" and is described below in detail. |
549 |
<BR><BR>FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present |
550 |
invention. This embodiment supports the single-action ordering over the |
551 |
Internet using the World Wide Web. The server system 210 includes a server |
552 |
engine 211, a client identifier/customer table 212, various Web pages 213, |
553 |
a customer database 214, an order database 215, and an inventory database |
554 |
216. The server engine receives HTTP requests to access Web pages |
555 |
identified by URLs and provides the Web pages to the various client |
556 |
systems. Such an HTTP request may indicate that the purchaser has |
557 |
performed the single action to effect single-action ordering. The customer |
558 |
database contains customer information for various purchasers or potential |
559 |
purchasers. The customer information includes purchaser-specific order |
560 |
information such as the name of the customer, billing information, and |
561 |
shipping information. The order database 215 contains an entry for each |
562 |
order that has not yet been shipped to a purchaser. The inventory database |
563 |
216 contains a description of the various items that may be ordered. The |
564 |
client identifier/customer table 212 contains a mapping from each client |
565 |
identifier, which is a globally unique identifier that uniquely identifies |
566 |
a client system, to the customer last associated with that client system. |
567 |
The client system 220 contains a browser and its assigned client |
568 |
identifier. The client identifier is stored in a file, referred to as a |
569 |
"cookie." In one embodiment, the server system assigns and sends the |
570 |
client identifier to the client system once when the client system first |
571 |
interacts with the server system. From then on, the client system includes |
572 |
its client identifier with all messages sent to the server system so that |
573 |
the server system can identify the source of the message. The server and |
574 |
client systems interact by exchanging information via communications link |
575 |
230, which may include transmission over the Internet. |
576 |
<BR><BR>One skilled in the art would appreciate that the single-action ordering |
577 |
techniques can be used in various environments other than the Internet. |
578 |
For example, single-action ordering can also be in an electronic mail |
579 |
environment in which an item is described in an electronic mail message |
580 |
along with an indication of the single action that is to be performed to |
581 |
effect the ordering of the item. Also, various communication channels may |
582 |
be used such as local area network, wide area network, or point-to-point |
583 |
dial up connection. Also, a server system may comprise any combination of |
584 |
hardware or software that can generate orders in response to the single |
585 |
action being performed. A client system may comprise any combination of |
586 |
hardware or software that can interact with the server system. These |
587 |
systems may include television-based systems or various other consumer |
588 |
products through which orders may be placed. |
589 |
<BR><BR>FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a routine that enables single-action ordering |
590 |
for a customer. To enable single-action ordering, a server system needs to |
591 |
have information about the customer that is equivalent to the |
592 |
purchaser-specific order information. The server system can obtain this |
593 |
information in various ways. First, the server system could ask the |
594 |
customer if they would like to have single-action ordering enabled. If so, |
595 |
then the server system could prompt the customer using a Web page for the |
596 |
purchaser-specific order information. Second, the server system could also |
597 |
save the purchaser-specific order information collected when an order is |
598 |
placed conventionally. The server system could, either automatically or |
599 |
with the customer's assent, enable single-action ordering. In step 301, |
600 |
the server system retrieves the client identifier that was sent by the |
601 |
client system. In step 302, the server system updates the client |
602 |
identifier/customer table to indicate that the generated client identifier |
603 |
has been associated with that customer. In step 303, the server system |
604 |
sets a flag indicating that single-action ordering is enabled for that |
605 |
client identifier and that customer combination. That flag may be stored |
606 |
in the client identifier/customer table. In step 304, the server system |
607 |
supplies a confirming Web page to the client system. The next time a |
608 |
purchaser attempts to order an item, the client system will supply its |
609 |
client identifier to the server system. If single-action ordering is |
610 |
enabled for that purchaser, the server system will assume that the |
611 |
purchaser is the customer associated with that client identifier in the |
612 |
client identifier/customer table. Thus, a purchaser may not want to allow |
613 |
the server system to enable single-action ordering if there is a |
614 |
possibility that someone else may use that same client system. |
615 |
<BR><BR>FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a routine to generate a Web page in which |
616 |
single-action ordering is enabled. When single-action ordering is enabled, |
617 |
the server system generates a Web page describing an item as is |
618 |
conventionally done and then adds a single-action ordering section. In one |
619 |
embodiment, the server system adds partial purchaser-specific order |
620 |
information to the section. This information may include the customer's |
621 |
name, a shipping address moniker selected by the purchaser (e.g., "at |
622 |
home"), and the last five digits of a credit card number or a nickname |
623 |
selected by the purchaser. Such partial information should be the minimum |
624 |
information sufficient to indicate to the purchaser whether or not the |
625 |
server system is using the correct purchaser-specific order information. |
626 |
In step 401, the server system generates a standard shopping cart-type Web |
627 |
page for the item. In step 402, if the single-action ordering flag has |
628 |
been set for the client identifier and customer combination, then the |
629 |
server system continues at step 403, else the server system completes. In |
630 |
step 403, the server system adds the single-action section to the Web page |
631 |
and completes. |
632 |
<BR><BR>FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a routine which processes a single-action |
633 |
order. When a purchaser performs the single action needed to place an |
634 |
order, the client system notifies the server system. The server system |
635 |
then combines the purchaser-specific order information for the customer |
636 |
associated with the client system with the item order information to |
637 |
complete the order. The single-action order may also be combined with |
638 |
other single-action orders and possibly with other conventionally placed |
639 |
orders to reduce shipping costs. In one embodiment, single-action orders |
640 |
can be combined if they are placed within a certain time period of each |
641 |
other (e.g., 90 minutes). This routine illustrates the combining of the |
642 |
single-action orders into a short-term order (e.g., available to be |
643 |
shipped in less than a week) and a long-term order (e.g., available to be |
644 |
shipped in more than a week). One skilled in the art would appreciate that |
645 |
the single-action orders can be combined in various ways based on other |
646 |
factors, such as size of shipment and intermediate-term availability. In |
647 |
step 501, if the item is expected to be shipped in the short term, then |
648 |
the server system continues at step 502, else the server system continues |
649 |
at step 505. In step 502, if a short-term order has already been opened |
650 |
for the purchaser, then the server system continues at step 504, else the |
651 |
server system continues at step 503. In step 503, the server system |
652 |
creates a short-term order for the purchaser. In step 504, the server |
653 |
system adds the item to the short-term order and continues at step 508. In |
654 |
step 505, if a long-term order has already been opened for the purchaser, |
655 |
then the server system continues at step 507, else the server system |
656 |
continues at step 506. In step 506, the server system creates a long-term |
657 |
order for the purchaser. In step 507, the server system adds the item to |
658 |
the long-term order. In step 508, the server system generates and sends |
659 |
the confirmation and completes. |
660 |
<BR><BR>FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a routine for generating a single-action order |
661 |
summary Web page. This Web page (e.g., FIG. 1C) gives the user the |
662 |
opportunity to view and modify the short-term and long-term single-action |
663 |
orders. In step 601, the server system adds the standard single-action |
664 |
order information to the Web page. In step 602, if a short-term order is |
665 |
open, then the server system adds the short-term order to the Web page in |
666 |
step 603. In step 604, if a long-term order is open, then the server |
667 |
system adds the long-term order information to the Web page in step 605 |
668 |
and completes. |
669 |
<BR><BR>FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a routine that implements an expedited order |
670 |
selection algorithm. The goal of the expedited order selection algorithm |
671 |
is to minimize the number of orders sent to each destination so that |
672 |
shipping costs are reduced. A destination may be a specific shipping |
673 |
address plus a specific purchaser's billing details. Orders that are sent |
674 |
to the same destination are known as "sibling orders." The algorithm has |
675 |
two stages. In the first stage, the algorithm schedules for shipment the |
676 |
orders for destinations for which all the sibling orders are filled. An |
677 |
order is filled when all its items are currently in inventory (i.e., |
678 |
available) and can be shipped. For each group of sibling orders, the |
679 |
algorithm combines those sibling orders into a single combined order so |
680 |
that only one order is currently scheduled for shipment to each |
681 |
destination. In the second stage, the algorithm combines and schedules |
682 |
groups of sibling orders for which some of the sibling orders are not |
683 |
filled or partially filled. The algorithm may split each partially filled |
684 |
sibling order into a filled sibling order and a completely unfilled |
685 |
sibling order. The algorithm then combines all the filled sibling orders |
686 |
into a single combined order and schedules the combined order for |
687 |
shipment. If any group has only one sibling order and that order is |
688 |
partially filled, then the algorithm in one embodiment does not split that |
689 |
order to avoid making an extra shipment to that destination. |
690 |
<BR><BR>During the second stage, the algorithm may select and schedule groups of |
691 |
sibling orders in a sequence that is based on the next fulfillment time |
692 |
for an item in the group. The next fulfillment time for a group of sibling |
693 |
orders is the minimum expected fulfillment time of the items in that group |
694 |
of sibling orders. For example, if a group of sibling orders has seven |
695 |
items that are not yet fulfilled and their expected fulfillment times |
696 |
range from 3 days to 14 days, then the next fulfillment time for that |
697 |
group is 3 days. The algorithm first schedules those groups of sibling |
698 |
orders with the largest next fulfillment time. For example, if 6 groups |
699 |
have next fulfillment times of 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, and 14 days, respectively, |
700 |
then the algorithm first selects and schedules the sibling orders in the |
701 |
group with the next fulfillment time of 14 days, followed by the group |
702 |
with the next fulfillment time of 11 days, and so on. By delaying the |
703 |
scheduling of groups with short next fulfillment times, the algorithm |
704 |
increases the chances of additional items becoming available (because of |
705 |
the shortness of the next fulfillment time) and thus combined with the |
706 |
scheduled order. |
707 |
<BR><BR>Steps 701-703 represent the first stage of the expedited order selection |
708 |
algorithm, and steps 704-706 represent the second stage of the expedited |
709 |
selection order algorithm. In steps 701-703, the algorithm loops selecting |
710 |
groups in which all sibling orders are filled and combining the orders. In |
711 |
step 701, the algorithm selects the next group with all sibling orders |
712 |
that are filled. In step 703, if all such groups have already been |
713 |
selected, then the algorithm continues with the second stage in step 704, |
714 |
else the algorithm continues at step 703. In step 703, the algorithm |
715 |
combines and schedules the orders in the selected group and loops to step |
716 |
701. In step 704, the algorithm selects the next group of sibling orders |
717 |
that has the largest next fulfillment time. In step 705, if all such |
718 |
groups have already been selected, then the algorithm is done, else the |
719 |
algorithm continues at step 706. In step 706, the algorithm combines and |
720 |
schedules the orders in the selected group and loops to step 704. When the |
721 |
expedited order selection algorithm is being performed, new orders and new |
722 |
inventory may be received. Whenever such new orders and new inventory is |
723 |
received, then the algorithm restarts to schedule and combine the new |
724 |
orders as appropriate. |
725 |
<BR><BR>Although the algorithm has been described as having two stages, it could be |
726 |
implemented in an incremental fashion where the assessment of the first |
727 |
and second stages are redone after each order is scheduled. One skilled in |
728 |
the art would recognize that there are other possible combinations of |
729 |
these stages which still express the same essential algorithm. |
730 |
<BR><BR>FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate a hierarchical data entry mechanism in one |
731 |
embodiment. When collecting information from a user, a Web page typically |
732 |
consists of a long series of data entry fields that may not all fit onto |
733 |
the display at the same time. Thus, a user needs to scroll through the Web |
734 |
page to enter the information. When the data entry fields do not fit onto |
735 |
the display at the same time, it is difficult for the user to get an |
736 |
overall understanding of the type and organization of the data to be |
737 |
entered. The hierarchical data entry mechanism allows a user to understand |
738 |
the overall organization of the data to be entered even though the all |
739 |
data entry fields would not fit onto the display at the same time. FIG. 8A |
740 |
illustrates an outline format of a sample form to be filled in. The sample |
741 |
form contains various sections identified by letters A, B, C, and D. When |
742 |
the user selects the start button, then section A expands to include the |
743 |
data entry fields for the customer name and address. FIG. 8B illustrates |
744 |
the expansion of section A. Since only section A has been expanded, the |
745 |
user can view the data entry fields of section A and summary information |
746 |
of the other sections at the same time. The user then enters data in the |
747 |
various data entry fields that are displayed. Upon completion, the user |
748 |
selects either the next or previous buttons. The next button causes |
749 |
section A to be collapsed and section B to be expanded so that financial |
750 |
information may be entered. FIG. 8C illustrates the expansion of section |
751 |
B. If the previous button is selected, then section A would collapse and |
752 |
be displayed as shown in FIG. 8A. This collapsing and expanding is |
753 |
repeated for each section. At any time during the data entry, if an error |
754 |
is detected, then a Web page is generated with the error message in close |
755 |
proximity (e.g., on the line below) to the data entry field that contains |
756 |
the error. This Web page is then displayed by the client system to inform |
757 |
the user of the error. In addition, each of the data "entry" fields may |
758 |
not be editable until the user clicks on the data entry field or selects |
759 |
an edit button associated with the data entry field. In this way, the user |
760 |
is prevented from inadvertently changing the contents of an edit field. |
761 |
When the user clicks on a data entry field, a new Web page is presented to |
762 |
the user that allows for the editing of the data associated with the |
763 |
field. When editing is complete, the edited data is displayed in the data |
764 |
"entry" field. Because the fields of the form are thus not directly |
765 |
editable, neither "named-submit" buttons nor Java are needed. Also, the |
766 |
form is more compact because the various data entry options (e.g., radio |
767 |
button) are displayed only on the new Web page when the field is to be |
768 |
edited. |
769 |
<BR><BR>Although the present invention has been described in terms of various |
770 |
embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to these |
771 |
embodiments. Modification within the spirit of the invention will be |
772 |
apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the server system can |
773 |
map a client identifier to multiple customers who have recently used the |
774 |
client system. The server system can then allow the user to identify |
775 |
themselves by selecting one of the mappings based preferably on a display |
776 |
of partial purchaser-specific order information. Also, various different |
777 |
single actions can be used to effect the placement of an order. For |
778 |
example, a voice command may be spoken by the purchaser, a key may be |
779 |
depressed by the purchaser, a button on a television remote control device |
780 |
may be depressed by the purchaser, or selection using any pointing device |
781 |
may be effected by the purchaser. Although a single action may be preceded |
782 |
by multiple physical movements of the purchaser (e.g., moving a mouse so |
783 |
that a mouse pointer is over a button), the single action generally refers |
784 |
to a single event received by a client system that indicates to place the |
785 |
order. Finally, the purchaser can be alternately identified by a unique |
786 |
customer identifier that is provided by the customer when the customer |
787 |
initiates access to the server system and sent to the server system with |
788 |
each message. This customer identifier could be also stored persistently |
789 |
on the client system so that the purchaser does not need to re-enter their |
790 |
customer identifier each time access is initiated. The scope of the |
791 |
present invention is defined by the claims that follow. |
792 |
<BR><BR><CENTER><B>* * * * *</B></CENTER> |
793 |
<HR> |
794 |
</BODY> |
795 |
</HTML> |