WO2006023656A2

WO2006023656A2 - Universal network market system

Info

Publication number: WO2006023656A2
Application number: PCT/US2005/029413
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhiliang Zheng
Original assignee: Lyhoo Inc.
Priority date: 2004-08-17
Filing date: 2005-08-17
Publication date: 2006-03-02
Also published as: EP1779277A2; WO2006023656A3

Abstract

A method and system for selecting and presenting advertisements (106 and promotions (106) to a user (250) based on one or more tasks that is of interest (206) to the user (250) is disclosed.

Description

UNIVERSAL NETWORK MARKET SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to electronic shopping and, more particularly, to selecting and presenting targeted advertising to a user based on the user's interest in one or more tasks.

BACKGROUND

Advertising using traditional media, such as television, radio, newspapers and magazines, is known. Advertisers have used such types of media to reach a large audience with their advertisements. To reach a more responsive audience, advertisers have used demographic studies. For example, advertisers may use broadcast events such as football games to advertise beer and action movies to a younger male audience. However, even with demographic studies and entirely reasonable assumptions about the typical audience of various media outlets, advertisers recognize that much of their ad budget is simply wasted because the target audience is not interested in the advertisements or promotional information that the target audience is receiving.

Interactive media, such as the Internet, has the potential for better targeting of advertisements. For example, some websites provide an information search functionality that is based on query keywords entered by the user seeking information. This user query can be used as an indicator of the type of information of interest to the user. By comparing the user query to a list of keywords specified by an advertiser, it is possible to provide some form of targeted advertisements to these search service users. The effectiveness may be limited to sites where the user enters a search query to indicate their topic of interest.

However, traditional advertising methods may not meet a user's particular needs. For example, traditional advertising methods do not identify advertisements related to tasks that help a user, which tasks are based on demographic information on the user and the user's specified needs. The traditional methods do not provide expert solutions directed to an identified task of interest and do not select promotions related to the tasks associated with the expert solutions for presentation to the user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an environment in which embodiments described herein may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a universal network market system in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an architecture for implementing embodiments of the universal network market system;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for providing targeted advertising in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an illustrative categorized shopping list that may be used as a shopping organizer in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 6 is an illustrative "My Immediate" shopping list of a representative buyer in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 7 is an illustrative buyer's service request list in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 8 is an illustrative item requirement list in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 9 presents an illustrative shopping expert that may be presented to a user by a universal network market system in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 10 shows illustrative tables that may be used to provide customer-oriented advertisements in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary timing-critical advertisement that may be presented to a buyer in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a table that may be used by a universal network market system to conduct a direct selling event in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 13 is an illustrative Customer-Specific Advertisement Magazine in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 14 is an example of a table that may be used to generate ID-related coupons in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; FIG. 15 is a table that may be used to afford an efficient advertisement reward referral system in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 16 is an example of an illustrative Linked Raking System in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 17 is an example of a Menu/Installation Software table that may be afforded by a universal network market system in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 18 is an exemplary browser/toolbar for a universal network market system in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a process for organizing items of interest for presentment to a user in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a process for presenting advertising alert to a user based on items of interest to the user in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a process for purchasing items in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative network system in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of a representative hardware environment in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of a process for allowing a user to refer items to third parties in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a process for linked ranking in accordance with certain embodiments;

Figs. 26A-26D illustrate a process for presenting targeted promotions to a user based on items selected by the user, in accordance with certain embodiments;

Figs. 27A-27B illustrate a process for presenting targeted promotions to a user based on a user's interest in certain tasks, in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart that illustrates a process for receiving and presenting expert solutions to a user, in accordance with certain embodiments; and

FIG. 29 is an exemplary expert platform, in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 30 depicts a networked system that includes several computer systems coupled together through a network.

FIG. 31 depicts a computer system for use in the system of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 depicts an example of a device effective for providing targeted information.

FIG. 33 depicts an example of a user needs database.

FIGS. 34A and 34B depict an example of a promotions database.

FIG. 35 depicts a flowchart of an example of a method for providing referrals.

FIG. 36 depicts a flowchart of an example of a method for linked ranking.

FIG. 37 depicts a flowchart of an example of a method for user oriented promotion presentation.

FIG. 38 depicts a flowchart of an example of a method for obtaining user needs. FIG. 39 depicts an example of a device effective for providing targeted information. FIG. 40 depicts a flowchart of an example of a method for generating an expert platform. FIG. 41 depicts an example of an expert platform.

FIG. 42 depicts a conceptual diagram of an example of a system for targeting users with user-oriented promotions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, several specific details are presented to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or in combination with other components, etc. In other instances, well- known implementations or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of various embodiments, of the invention.

In general, embodiments of a universal market network system that can provide expert criteria for assisting a shopper and provide a means for permitting shoppers to track and organize shopping items are described. Embodiments of the universal market network system may also be capable of providing users with time-critical targeted advertising.

Methods and computer program products for organizing items of interest for presentment to a user are described. Information is obtained about one or more items of interest to a user. For each item, the obtained information includes information identifying the item and information about one or more characteristics of the item. For each item, the user is permitted to assign the item to one or more categories of need. The items are categorized into a plurality of lists according to the assigned categories of need. The plurality of lists is presented to the user so that the user can review items assigned to the same category of need in the list associated with the given category of need.

In one embodiment, a network may be utilized to obtain the information from the user and present the lists to the user. In another embodiment, the information may be obtained from the user by presenting, to the user, an interface capable of receiving input about the items from the user. In such an embodiment, the interface may present a plurality of items from which the user can select the items of interest. The interface may also be capable of receiving textual input from the user.

In one embodiment, the plurality of lists may include a general list that includes all of the items obtained from the user. In another embodiment, the characteristics may be defined by the user. In a further embodiment, the categories of need may include a category of items needed immediately, a category of items needed regularly, and a category of items of general interest.

In one embodiment, the information about one or more characteristics of the item includes frequency information about a frequency that the item is purchased by the user, and wherein frequency information is used to generate a reminder notice to the user. The frequency information may be obtained from items associated with a category of regularly needed items. As an option, the generation of the reminder notice may include adding an entry for the item into a reminder list.

In one embodiment, information may be collected about the items from one, or more third party sites. In such an embodiment, links to the collected information may be included in at least one of the lists presented to the user. In another embodiment, evaluation information relating to the items may be collected. The collected evaluation information that is associated with a given item obtained from the user may then be presented to the user to provide advice to the user regarding the item. In such an embodiment, the user may also be queried for information relating to the user's interest in the given item. This information relating to the user's interest may then be used to generate a recommendation to the user about the item. In another implementation, embodiments are described for a system, method and computer program product for presenting advertising alerts to a user based on items of interest to the user where information is obtained about one or more items of interest to the user. For each item, the user is permitted to select whether to receive advertising alerts relating to the item. Subsequently, a determination may be made as to whether a promotion is available for an item selected to receive advertising alerts. When a promotion is available, the user is presented with an advertising alert about the promotion.

In one embodiment, the user may be permitted to specify criteria for selecting promotions. In such an embodiment, the determination may further include a determination as to whether the available promotion satisfies at least a portion of the criteria specified by the user so that the advertising alert may be presented for promotions that satisfy the portion of the specified criteria.

In one embodiment, the advertising alert may be transmitted to a wireless device of the user. In another embodiment, the advertising alert may be presented to the user via a network.

In a further embodiment, the determination may further include registering a seller in order to permit the seller to submit promotions for goods and services associated with the seller. In such an embodiment, a determination may be made as to whether any of the submitted promotions of the seller matches one of the items selected by the user to receive advertising alerts so that the advertising alert presented to the user may be associated with at least one submitted promotion that was determined to match one of the items submitted by the user. As an option, the user may also be permitted to contact the seller via a network.

In one embodiment, one or more third party sites may be searched for promotions that will expire within a predetermined amount of time. A determination may be made as to whether the promotion is directed to one or more of the items obtained from the user. The user may then be presented with an advertising alert relating to the promotion. In such an embodiment, the one or more items to which the promotion is related can include at least one item for which the user chose not to receive advertising alerts.

In one embodiment, one or more third party sites may be searched for new update information associated with at least one item obtained from the user. The user may then be presented with an alert that indicates the availability of the new update information. In another embodiment, a magazine may be generated that contains the promotions determined to be available, and wherein the magazine is presented to the user. As an option, the magazine may comprise an online magazine. The magazine may also contain identifiers associated with the promotions included in the magazine. The magazine may further include promotions for additional recommended items that are selected based on an association to the items for which promotions are determined to be available.

In one embodiment, the information for each item may further include information about one or more characteristics of the item. In such an embodiment, the determination of whether a promotion is available may include searching for promotions that relate to the information about the one or more characteristics of the item. In another embodiment, the user may be permitted to assign each item to one or more categories of need so that the items may be organized into a plurality of lists according to the assigned categories of need. The plurality of lists may then be presented to the user so that the user can review the items assigned to the same category of need in the list associated with the given category of need. In such an embodiment, the advertising alert may be presented in the list(s) to which the item is assigned.

In one embodiment, the promotion that is determined to be available may require an identifier associated with the user to be disclosed when redeeming the promotion. In another embodiment, the user may forward the advertising alert to a third party. If and when the third party accesses the promotion utilizing the advertising alert, the user may then be assigned a credit for the access by the third party with the value of the credit being assigned based on at least a degree of relatedness of the third party to the user.

In a further implementation, embodiments of a system, method and computer program product for purchasing items are described where information is obtained about one or more items of interest to a plurality of users. For each item, the number of users that identify the item as an item of interest is determined. Negotiations are conducted with a seller of the item for a discounted price for a number of items at least equal to the number of users determined to identify the item. A coupon is then sent to the users that identify the item as an item of interest. The coupon permits the purchase of the item at the negotiated discounted price. implementation, the presentment and the act of receiving can be through the Internet, telephone, e-mail, TV, interactive TV, interactive voice response (IVR), voice-over IP, call centers, store fronts, ATM, kiosks, any hand held device and other platform that can conduct business. In a further implementation, the presentment can be in the form of serving to the buyer the selected seller's information. In yet another implementation, the presentment can be in the form of sending to the buyer the selected seller's information.

In one embodiment, selected seller's information, or the buyer's information, or all of seller's information may be stored in a database. In one implementation, the database may be stored centrally on a network device. In another implementation, the database may be stored locally on a network device. In a further implementation, the database may be stored distributively on network devices.

In one embodiment, a seller's desire - which is the information about items a seller wishes to sell or serve - may be received. In such an embodiment, the seller's desire may be treated as seller's information. In another embodiment, the acts of selecting the seller's information may be based on the buyer's information available on the database, either while the buyer is using the network device or is not using the network device, or is offline. In a further embodiment, seller's information may be selected locally. In yet another embodiment, seller's information may be selected distributively over the network. In yet another embodiment, seller's information may be selected centrally.

In one embodiment, a computer or computing machine may select the seller's information. In another embodiment, a human being may select the seller's information manually. In a further embodiment, a user-friendly shopping organizer (e.g., a shopping list) may be provided.

According to certain other embodiments, tasks that are of interest to the user are identified, and expert solutions that are associated with the identified tasks of interest are presented to the user for selection. Products and services (items of interest) are offered to the user based on the user's selected expert solution or identified tasks. When the user selects the offered items of interest, such selected items can be used to select relevant advertisements and promotions for presentment to the user. In certain implementations, cross-selling and up-selling promotions and advertisements can be selected for presentment to the user based on the identification of sub-tasks and/or other tasks related to the tasks of interest to the user. ENVIRONMENT AND ARCHITECTURE

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary environment 100 in which embodiments described herein may be implemented. The exemplary environment comprises a universal market network system 102 that is coupled to one or more advertisers 104 and one or more advertising targets or buyers 106. In FIG. 1, an advertiser 104 may comprise a seller or service provider, and/or a party that provides advertising services on behalf of a seller or service provider, and/or an agent authorized to act on the advertiser's behalf. A seller may also be referred to herein as an advertiser. The universal network market system 100 may also be referred to herein as a shopping and advertising system. The universal network market system 100 provides an interface between the advertisers 104 (and thus sellers/service providers) and potential buyers 106 of goods and services.

The advertisements associated with advertiser 104 may exist in a variety of forms ranging from standard print advertisements, online advertisements, audio advertisements, audio/visual advertisement, or any other type of sensory message.

Promotions are used to advertise products/goods and services, promote events or present other commercial or non-commercial information. Advertisements may comprise any type of advertisements, promotions, coupons, bonus points, special offers, information on product releases, information on new products, and product updates. Advertisements may also be referred to herein promotions.

A product may include physical products, any commercial or non-commercial services that a company or individual can provide. An item may include physical products, any commercial or non-commercial services that a company or individual can provide events such as meetings, a desired task (e.g. skiing or acts associated with a product release), advertisements and so on. An item may possess characteristics (e.g. BMW car, new car, old car). The characteristics of an item can be used to categorize the item.

Generally, promotions are used for advertising goods or services, and promote events. A promotion is directed to one or more items (e.g. $500 of DELL laptop computer, the promotion is directed to laptop, computer, or DELL laptop computer).

For a given item, one or promotions or advertisements may "match" with the item. A "match" need not be an exact match. Instead, a match may be an indication of a relatively high degree of similarity, and/or a predetermined degree of similarity, and/or a

10 predetermined degree of relatedness. The predetermined degree of similarity can be based on the category (e.g. category "food"), the characteristics (e.g., tall people), or other relationships. For example, printer ink may be considered a related item of the printer. "Matched" items can include related items.

Promotions associated with related items can be considered related promotions associated with the item of interest. For example, if a Dell Printer is an item of interest, then the promotion, "$500 off Printer Ink" is a relative promotion associated with the item Dell Printer. Similarly, any promotions on Dell Printers are considered related promotions of printer ink.

The "highly" matched promotions (those promotions closely related to the item) of an item specified by a user may be presented to the user directly. The "less" matched promotions or related promotions (e.g. crossing-selling opportunities) can be presented to the user in the form of a recommended advertisement.

BUSINESS OPERATION

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a universal network market system 102 in accordance with certain embodiments. The universal network market system 102 may provide one or more of the following functions/services: market system customer- oriented advertisements, finding timing-critical advertisements, direct selling with minimum inventory, providing customer-specific advertisement magazines, ID-related coupons, an efficient advertising reward referral system, and a linked rating system. To carry out such functions/servers, the universal network market system 102 may include (as shown in FIG. 2) a seller/advertiser input/output (I/O) component 210 for interfacing with one or more sellers/advertisers 104, a seller/advertiser management component 220, one or more databases 230, one or more data processing units 240, a buyer/advertising target management component 260, a buyer/advertising target I/O component 250 for interfacing with one or more buyers/advertising targets 106, and a system 270 for selecting advertisements. The buyer/advertising target management component 260 also may include a shopping expert and a shopping list. The advertisement selection system/component 270 may be used for implementing various advertisement selection- related features of the universal network market system 102.

The functions and services of the universal network market system may be provided by utilizing the buyer/advertising management component 260, data processing unit 240, and

11 seller/advertiser management component 220 and the advertisement selection component 270.

The universal network market system may be utilized to build a company that has connections with, for example, commercial/merchant companies and financial companies. Such companies can use the universal market system to provide products and services to individual persons or other companies. Such services may include, for example, providing shopping experts, providing shopping lists, providing customer-oriented advertisements, and permitting direct selling with minimum inventory for any product.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of sample architecture 300 for implementing embodiments of the universal network market system. As shown in FIG. 3, the architecture 300 may includes multiple client devices 302, 304, 306, 308, 318, 320 or clients, a server device 310 and a network 312. The buyer and sellers of the universal network market system may be implemented as client devices while the universal network market may be implemented by the server. Client devices may comprise computers, handheld devices, phone cameras, or any other computing devices that can obtain access to the server via the network. By using a client device, a user can view shopping items (e.g., products/services) and insert selected products/services of interest into one or more electronic shopping lists.

Client devices may also include bar code scanning components to permit the scanning and reading of bar codes. In a mobile phone implementation of a client, the bar code scanning component may be implemented in part using a digital cameral component of the mobile phone. In such an implementation, the bar code component may be used to read bar codes presented with the shopping items in order to obtain information about the product/service of interest and that can be displayed to the shopper on a visual display component of the client device (e.g., information may pop-up automatically over a display of a mobile phone). Items that are displayed on the client device may then be selected by the shopper and moved into one or more electronic shopping lists. In certain implementations where radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is used, a client device may include a component capable of reading RFIDs attached to a product/service. The information read from the RFID may then be used to obtain information corresponding to the selected product/service. Such information can then be displayed to the shopper so that the shopper can select products/services for inclusion in the shopper's electronic shopping list.

12 The universal network market system may use a variety of communication channels such as, for example, the Internet, telephone networks, e-mail, television, Interactive television, interactive voice response (IVR), voice-over IP, call centers, store fronts, ATMs, kiosks, hand held devices and any other platform used for conducting business.

In one embodiment, the universal network market system may be implemented distributively on the client devices and servers over the network. In another embodiment, the universal network market system may be implemented locally on the client devices in the network.

OPERATION

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process 400 for providing targeted advertising in accordance with certain embodiments. Upon user login 402, the path taken through the process is dependent on whether the client is a seller/advertiser, in which case the seller path 404 is followed, or a buyer/advertising target in which case the buyer path 406 is followed.

If the seller path 404 is followed, then in block 408, the seller provides information to the universal network marketing system about goods and/or services the seller wishes to sell and/or advertise, coupons for the goods/service, promotion-related information, and product release related information. This information may then be stored in a seller database of the universal network market system (see block 410). If the buyer path 406 is followed, then in block 412, the buyer may access a shopping organizer/shopping list to provide information to and obtain information from the universal network market system. Information provided by the buyer may be stored in a buyer database of the universal network market system (see block 414). With either path 404, 406, information provided to the universal network market system (including, e.g., buyer requests 416) may be subject to one or more processes/functions (e.g., shopping expert functions, customer- orientated advertising functions, etc.) of the universal network market system in block 418 so that information about a buyer can be provided to a seller (see block 420) and information and solutions (fro example, how to buy or find advertisements, etc.) from the universal network market system can be provided to a buyer (see block 422). By using process 400, a seller can, for example, login to the system, get access to the shopping list /shopping organizer, and then use the shopping expert, customer-oriented advertisements and other services/functions of the universal network market system.

13 INTERFACE

Through a communication channel, a user can build a specific account with the universal network market system. An account may have a user-ID associated with it. If the client is a buyer/advertising target, then the buyer can login to the universal network market system using the associated user-ID to access the account and functionality/services of the universal network market system such as the shopping expert, the shopping list/shopping organizer, and customer-oriented-advertisements. The buyer can also obtain help from the universal network market system on how to choose a product/service. For example, a buyer may provide the universal network market system with a list of products/services that the buyer is interested in and the universal network market system can then find the right product, brand, company for the buyer.

Depending on the implementation, buyers can provide the universal network market system with their personal information such as mailing address, billing information, and email addresses in order to help enhance the buyer's experience with the universal network market system. However, the universal network market system can be implemented so that buyers can choose not to provide some or all of their personal information to the universal network market system and still obtain access to their accounts and functions/services of the universal network market system. For further privacy control, an account may be identified only by an ID, for example.

Advertisements distributed by the universal network market system may be first routed to the universal network market system and then sent to a buyer's e-mail address or other address in such a manner that such distribution can be quickly disabled upon the buyer's request. Thus, a buyer can choose to block or receive any seller's advertisements.

A seller can also build an account in the universal network market system and provide the universal network market system with information about a variety of things including goods and services that the buyer wishes to sell/provide and advertise the types of advertisements, coupons, product releases. Using this information, the universal network market system may then be able to identify prospective customers (e.g., buyers/advertising targets) for the buyer.

The universal network market system may also include functionality/components for checking other data sources (including the Internet/World Wide Web) for information related to the information about the buyers and/or sellers. Some exemplary information

14 that may be collected includes, for example, information about other coupons offered by a seller as well as information about network browsing and shopping behavior of a buyer. The information collected from these other data sources may be provided to buyers and/or sellers depending on the service.

SHOPPING LIST (BUYING LIST/ SELLING LIST)

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an illustrative categorized shopping list 500 that may be used as a shopping organizer in accordance with certain embodiments. The shopping list is more than just a service for tracking shopping items. Users can organize and manage their shopping items using the shopping organizer of the universal network market system. The shopping list is a place that a customer can keep track of whatever products/services that the customer is interested in obtaining or what the customer wants to purchase or use some time in the future. Buyers view items of interest and move selected items to their shopping list.

In one embodiment, a small command/link: "Into shopping list" may be displayed adjacent goods and services presented to a customer so that the customer can review and select items by selection of the command. Thus, a buyer can simply click on "Into shopping list" adjacent a product/service to put the product/service into the buyer's shopping list. Inside the shopping list, buyer can choose whether or not to receive advertisements related to an item in the list. Via the shopping list, a buyer can also change the status of a "Wanna Ads" feature (which stands for Want to receive Advertisement or not) in the shopping list.

As an example, if a user selects the item "rice", then the universal network market system may properly associate "rice" with a "food category" in the shopping organizer. The default in this case can be "food category". The universal network market system allows the user to associate another category with the item "rice". For example, the user may use the category "edible." The user may be allowed to define his own category for "rice", according to certain embodiments. Rice can be assigned several different categories, simultaneously. The use of categories allows the universal network market system to manage data more efficiently. Also, the use of categories allows the universal network market system to determine the relationship between items for finding promotions, related items and related promotions.

15 The universal network market system may initially present a template shopping list to a buyer. In one embodiment, buyers and/or sellers can provide suggested templates that may be used as the template shopping list. The universal network market system may permit a buyer to customize the template shopping list to suit the buyer's own individual needs and desires. Buyers may also be permitted to maintain multiple shopping lists based on their needs and desires. Some sample shopping lists are shown in FIG. 5 and include a "My Immediate" shopping list 502, a "My Regular" shopping list 504, a "My Interested" shopping list 506, a "My Reminding" shopping list 508 and a "My Prediction" shopping list 510. The generated shopping list can use a shopping expert of the universal network market system to prepare information regarding the related price, item carrier, and product/service information for each item in the shopping list.

In one embodiment, default product expert criteria (e.g., a shopping expert) may be prepared for each item in the "My Immediate" shopping list 502 and the "My Regular" shopping list 504. With such a shopping list scheme, a buyer can go shopping using, for example, the buyer's "My Immediate" shopping list 502. Via the buyer's client device (e.g., a hand held computing device), the buyer may obtain access to the shopping expert and shopping list features of the universal network market system anywhere the buyer's device is in communication with the universal network market system.

In one embodiment a general list may be prepared for a client buyer. A general list may comprise a category of all possible products and service that are known to the universal network market system. One purpose of the general list is to help a buyer build up the buyer's own "My Immediate" shopping list 502, "My Regular" shopping list 504 and/or "My Reminding" shopping list 508. The buyer can review items presented (e.g., listed) in the general list, and then move whatever item to the buyer's "My Immediate" shopping list 502 and/or "My Regular" shopping list 504. The "My Interested" and "My Prediction" shopping lists 506, 510 may be used by the universal network market system to attempt to predict what the buyer may need based on a shopping profile of the buyer maintained by the universal network market system. Additional shopping list can be built according to a given buyer's needs or desires.

Any particular item can belong to one or more categories of shopping lists. For example, a staple product such as rice or milk can belong to the "My Immediate" and "My Regular" shopping lists 502, 504 at the same time while a digital camera, on the other

16 hand, may be included only in the "My Interested" shopping list 506 since it may be considered more of a specialty item.

The sample categorized shopping list (e.g., the shopping organizer) 500 shown in FIG. 5 may be presented to a user via a visual display of the client device used by the buyer. The shopping lists 502, 504, 506, 508, 510 included in the categorized shopping list 500 may each contain a user-selectable link to permit the user to access and display a given shopping list upon selection of the associated link.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative "My Immediate" shopping list 600 of a representative buyer in accordance with certain embodiments. Such a list 600 may be presented to a buyer upon selection of the associated link of the "My Immediate" shopping list 502 shown in FIG. 5. The "My Immediate" shopping list 600 shown in FIG. 6 presents a list of all of the items that a buyer may want to purchase or obtain immediately or at least in the near future. Thus, a buyer can go shopping using the "My Immediate" shopping list 600 in order to help remind the buyer of the items that are most desirable to the buyer and thereby facilitate/make more convenient a buyer's shopping experience.

The universal network market system may initially provide a buyer/user with a template for any given shopping list so that the buyer can immediately begin using the list and input items into the list. The universal network market system may also permit a user to customize and alter these templates to suit the needs of a given buyer/user. As shown in FIG. 6, a sample version of a template for the "My Immediate" shopping list 600 may include the following columns for presenting corresponding information about items on the list: Type I 602, Type II 604, Item 606, Size 608, Price 610, Carrier 612, Shopping Expert 614, Status 616, Advertisement 618, and Wanna Advertise 620. As previously mentioned, the universal network market system may permit a buyer to customize the buyer's "My Immediate" shopping list 600. In addition, a buyer may be permitted to add and/or remove items from the "My Immediate" shopping list 600.

The Type I and Type II columns 602, 604 allow categorization of items in the lists. Some sample Type I categories include Life and Home Office. Type II categories may comprise subcategories to an associated Type I category. Some sample Type II categories include clothing, food, electronics and office supplies.

The columns for size, price, carrier and shopping expert (columns 608, 610, 612, 614) include parameters that help buyers decide on products listed in column 606.

17 The Status column 616 identifies the shopping lists that is associated with item (e.g., the item can be included in My Immediate, My Regular, My Interest, My Reminding, My Predicting lists (see FIG. 5)). Since an item can belong to one or more of these lists, the status column can include multiple lists in the entry of any give item.

The Wanna Advertise column 620 is a column in which a buyer/user can specify whether to allow the universal network market system to find and send the buyer advertisements that are associated with an item of interest. As shown in FIG. 6, the Wanna Advertise field may have two choices: "Yes" - indicating that the buyer is willing to receive advertisements and "No" - indicating that the buyer is not interested in receiving advertisements.

The entries for the Advertisement column 618 are where coupons that have been found for the associated item can be stored and identified (if the user selects "Yes" in the Wanna Advertise column 620 for the item). We will update buyer for timing critical Ads. Additional columns can be added to the sample template of FIG. 6 to extend the services provided by the universal network market system.

The universal network system can also organize and present the "My Immediate" shopping list in a different format. For example, all of the items in the "My Immediate" shopping list can be organized according to shop/store (e.g., items that are available at Macy's can all be grouped together in one group while items that are available at Costco are grouped together in another group). Thus, a buyer may be able to optimize his "shopping path," so as to shop in a more focused and efficient fashion.

"MY REGULAR" SHOPPING LIST

The "My Regular" shopping list may be used to keep track a user's (e.g., a buyer) regular shopping behavior. For example, a person may need to regularly buy food, water, clothing, toiletries (e.g., toothpaste, toothbrush, toilette paper) as well as pay bills for utilities and other services. Such times can be grouped together in the user's "My Regular" shopping list.

The user's shopping behavior can then be set up to track a user's shopping habit related to any item that is listed in the user's "My Regular" shopping list. For example, if a user needs to buy one bag of rice, three tubes of toothpaste, five packs of napkins every three months (at, for instance, a given store such a Costco warehouse store for example), these items may be stored and organized in the My Regular shopping list for the user.

18 "MY REMINDING" SHOPPING LIST

Once a general shopping list for a user is established along with a "My Immediate" and "My Regular" shopping lists for the user, the universal network market system can use this information to help identify/ascertain a user's shopping behavior and shopping habits by knowing what product/service a user needs to buy regularly (from these lists). In use, the universal network market system may check the user's "My Regular" shopping list frequently (e.g., periodically). Once the universal network market system identifies through its analysis that some items in the "My Regular" shopping list need to be purchased again by the user, the universal network market system can place those items in the a "My Reminding" or "My Reminder" shopping list. The universal network market system can also send a notification to the user to remind the user that some items (e.g., the items in the "My Reminding" list) in their list may need to be replenished in the near future. Once the user receives the notification, the user can then check the My Reminding shopping list to identify which items need replenishment. The user can then move those necessary items to the user's "My Immediate" shopping list for immediate shopping.

Continuing with the earlier example, if the universal network market system knows that a user needs to buy one bag of rice, three tubes of toothpaste and five packs of napkins every three months at given store (e.g., Costco), then the universal network market system can place entries for the rice, toothpaste and napkins in the user's "My Reminding" shopping list every three months and remind the user when it is time to buy rice, toothpaste and napkins at Costco.

In one embodiment, the "My Reminder" shopping list may be used by users to intentionally keep items of which they want to be reminded. For example, a user may want to be reminded annually of a birthday (or birthday gift), anniversary, holiday, or the filing of a patent before a statutory or other deadline.

"MY INTERESTED" SHOPPING LIST

A user may selectively designate items for inclusion in the user's "My Interested" shopping list. In general, a user may place any items of interest in "My Interested" shopping list. When placing an item in the "My Interested" shopping list, user may also select whether to receive advertisements for the item (e.g., through the use of the "Wanna Advertise" field)

19 "MY PREDICTION" SHOPPING LIST

The "My Prediction" or "Predicting" shopping list is where the universal network market system can put items that the universal network market system predicts the user may need based on the user's shopping profile (e.g., shopping behavior captured from, for example, the user's various shopping lists). Cross-selling and up-selling of items can be achieved via the "My Prediction" list by having the universal network market system try to predict and present products/services and related product/service information that the user may be interested to the user.

In an implementation where buyer/users may be worried about privacy, the universal network market system may permit a user to set up an account with the universal network market system without the buyer having to include his or her personal information. In such a fashion, shopping lists in such an implementation can help improve a buyer's shopping experience without sacrificing the buyer's private information. Similar privacy can be afforded to sellers (e.g., commercial companies trying to sell a product or service) as well. For example, sellers can provide the universal network market system with items and services that they want to sell via the universal network market system. The universal network market system can then place the seller's information (e.g., information about a product, the product's release date and the product's applications as well as coupons for the product and other product/service information in the universal network market system).

FIG. 7 is an illustrative buyer's service request list 700 in accordance with certain embodiments. As shown in FIG. 7, the buyer's service request list 700 may include entries (e.g., rows) for items (as set forth in the items column 702) and may include columns for size 704, price 706, carrier 708, shopping expert 710 as well as "Wanna Advertise", Alerts and Alert Frequency columns 712, 714, 716 for each item. The size, price, carrier, shopping expert and "Wanna Advertise" columns 704, 706, 708, 710, 712 are as previously described. Via the Alert and Alert Frequency columns, a user can specify whether to receive alerts for an item and the frequency for receiving such alerts. If the buyer selects to receive alerts (e.g., a "Yes" for the item in the Alert column 714), the universal network market system can then provide alerts to the buyer about coupons, as well as product release information, that may be available for the item. Such alerts can be transmitted to the buyer via, for example, telephone calls, text messaging, email and so on. Thus, a buyer can be notified about coupons and other product information quickly.

20 The Alert Frequency column provides a buyer with an option to specify how often the buyer will be sent alerts (e.g., how often the buyer will be alerted).

With a buyer's service request list 700, a buyer can specify different services for different items. The service request list 700 can be extended to add or extend services as necessary.

In one implementation, the universal network market system may, for some timing critical advertisements, send alerts to buyers even when a buyer has chosen not to receive alerts (e.g., selected the "No" option in the Alerts column 714). For example, if the universal network market system finds an online coupon for a laptop for the discounted price of US$ 100 that is valid for only three hours, the universal network market system may update a buyer on this advertisement because its timing is critical.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative item requirement list 800 in accordance with certain embodiments. Like the buyer's service request, the item requirement list 800 may include columns for each item (listed in the item column 802) so that a buyer user can specify size 804, price 806, carrier 808, shopping expert 810 as well as location 812 and taste 814 for the items in the list. The location and taste columns 812, 814 allow a buyer to selectively define location and taste requirements for any item in the item requirement list. For example, in the location column 812, the buyer can specify whether to receive alerts and other information for pants from China and oranges from California. In the taste column 814, the user may be able to specify sweet oranges rather than tart ones, for example.

SHOPPING EXPERT

FIG. 9 presents an illustrative shopping expert 900 (which may also be referred to as "expert's criteria") that may be presented to a user by a universal network market system in accordance with certain embodiments. The universal network market system may utilize a shopping expert 900 to help educate a buyer on how to select a given item or service. In the illustrative shopping expert 900, for example, information is presented to a user by the universal network market system on how to choose a personal computer (PC). As shown, the universal network market system may generate a shopping expert for a PC that presents various information about PCs in a variety of rows and columns such as, for example, an option column 902, an item column 904, a "choosing standard" column 906 and a price column 908. The presented shopping expert 900 may also separate PC

21 options into different rows (or sets of rows) such as, for example, a basic system options, promotion offers, software, multi-media, Internet and carrier. Other columns may be added to present further information to a user.

The information presented by the universal network market system in a shopping expert 900 is intended to provide the buyer with criteria for evaluating a product or service. The universal network market system may also use the shopping expert 900 to list products and/or services that meet various criteria established by the buyer (via, e.g., information provided in the buyer's request list), and to identify locations (e.g., shops/websites) where the products and/or services are available. Some additional sample criteria can include, budget, performance parameters, closest store and/or service provider. As an example, a buyer can specify a price range, and performance parameters, and the Shopping Expert will show the buyer the most recommended products in the specified price range and that meet the specified performance parameters.

By using a shopping expert, buyers can tell the universal network market system what they are interested in buying or what services they are interested receiving. The shopping expert can then be used by the universal network market system as a vehicle to present detailed information/criteria on how to choose a product or service to the buyer. The shopping expert component of the universal network market system may be interactive. For example, the shopping expert can be used to teach the buyer how to evaluate and choose a product or service. Once the buyer becomes familiar with the presented criteria, the shopping expert may be used to conduct an online-interview with the buyer and ask the buyer questions related to the product or service. The shopping expert can then be used to suggest a list of available products or services based on the buyer's answers to the questions.

A shopping expert component of the universal network market system may categorize all the information on the commercial products/services stored in the universal network market system, such as electronics, hardware, kitchen and books, or services. The shopping expert component of the universal network market system can then build a product expert criteria form or page for each product/service. At the same time, the product and service database used by the shopping expert component can be continuously updated with, for example, the latest information on the best coupons for given products/services, the most attractive advertisements, the newest product releases and any

22 other product/service related information. Thus, the shopping expert component cans response to buyers' requests quickly and precisely.

CUSTOMER-ORIENTED ADVERTISEMENTS (ONE-TO-ONE MARKETING)

FIG. 10 shows illustrative tables that may be used to provide customer-oriented advertisements in accordance with certain embodiments. The universal network market system may use such tables to search for advertisements to present to various buyers. By using such a system, presenting advertisements changes from a passive approach to an active approach where buyers identify to the universal network market system the items and services of interest. Thus, the universal network market system can select advertisements for sending to the buyer based on the identified items and services of interest.

Based on buyers' shopping lists, the universal network market system can determine what buyers need and what buyers will be most receptive to receiving offers from sellers. Thus, the universal network market system can send the right advertisement to the buyer by electronic mail, interactive TV signal or hard-copy print or by other communication channels. Via the universal network market system, buyers can receive the latest advertisement, coupon, bonus point, and product releases of interest. As a result of such targeted advertising, a buyer may be more likely to read and give more attention to advertisements.

To provide customer-oriented-advertisements, the universal network market system utilizes two tables: a seller table 1002 and buyer table 1004. The seller table 1002 includes entries for a plurality of sellers with the name of each seller identified in a commercial company column 1006. The seller table 1002 also includes product, coupon number and match client columns 1008, 1010, 1012 in which products of a given seller can be identified along with specific coupons that are associated with the given product and the identities of buyers (e.g., clients) that have been determined to be "matches" for the product (e.g., buyers that are most likely to be interested in receiving promotional information about the given product). The buyer table 1004 includes entries for a plurality of buyers (e.g., clients) with the name of each buyer identified in a client or buyer column 1014. The buyer table 1004 may also include columns 1016, 1018, 1020 for desired products (e.g., shopping wishes), coupons that match desired products, and sellers associated with the matched coupons. The buyer table 1004 may also include

23 columns 1008, 1010, 1012 for product, coupon number, and matched client, in which products of a given seller can be identified along with specific coupons that are associated with the given product and the identities of buyers (e.g., clients) that have been determined to be "matches" to the product (e.g., buyers that are most likely to be interested in receiving promotional information about the given product).

Some or all of the columns of the buyer table 1004 can be populated with information obtained form the shopping expert and the buyer shopping lists. Based on this information, the universal network market system can find the right prospect for a given product of a given company. The universal network market system also can search for advertisements for a given product that is included in the buyer table 1004. Using such tables, a seller (e.g., a commercial company) can send a targeted advertisement to a potential customer. For example, using the tables 1002, 1004 shown in FIG. 10, Company_A can send an advertisement for a monitor to Client_A, Client_D, Client_E. The advertisement can be in the form of hard-copy print, E-mail, interactive TV signal, etc.

The advertisement may also include or be linked a coupon having the code A_0001 so that it can be more easily identified and tracked. Using the tables shown in FIG. 10, the appropriate coupons may be found and provided to a buyer via his or her shopping list. For example, Client_A wants to buy a monitor. Client_A may receive a coupon A_0001 from Company_A. Client E wants to buy a mouse and, as a result, the universal network market system may include coupons A_0003, E_0001 in the shopping list of Client E.

Using tables 1002, 1004, universal network market system may allow a buyer to specify items of interest and then send the advertisement information (such as coupon, new product release information) associated with the specified items of interest. The advertisement information may be sent by email, phone, text-message, hard-copy print or any method that is convenient to the client. For those items for which the buyer does not wish the advertisement information, the universal network market system does not have to send any advertisements information.

Using the shopping list, the universal network market system knows what product/service a buyer wants. A buyer can specify which item that they are willing to allow the universal network market system to send them advertisement and other information on (such as, for example, new products, product updates, events, promotions, special offers).

24 The universal network market system can provide the advertisement information corresponding to the item as specified by the buyer. For those items that the buyer does not want to receive advertisement information, the universal network market system will not send such advertisements to the buyer.

From the tables 1002, 1004 of FIG. 10, for example, the universal network market system can gather sufficient information on buyers and sellers so that effective management of buyer/seller information can be achieved - the universal network market system knows what buyers want to buy and what sellers can sell. Through such a table, a one-to-one market can be achieved.

Since the universal network market system has customer contact information, the universal network market system can help merchants (sellers) identify prospective buyers/customers. The universal network market system can be used to identify which customers are the most profitable for a given company. The universal network market system can also create a buyer's shopping profile. The shopping profile can be used to predict the likely behavior of each buyer for use in a given company's marketing efforts. The merchants or advertisers can access to the user's shopping profile through a mapped user ID so as not to compromise the buyer's privacy. The universal network market system can also make information on the buyer's needs available to advertisers. The advertisers can analyze such information for determining the most popular products and services, and for determining the buyers or group of buyers that are most likely to buy the advertisers' products and services.

Using the Customer-Oriented Advertisement approach facilitated by the universal network market system, sellers can achieve better advertising effects with less costs and effort. Cross-selling and up-selling can also be enhanced. Buyer's privacy does not have to be sacrificed since the universal network market system can be implemented to provide only user-IDs to buyers. In addition, contact between buyers and sellers may need to go through a communication channel of the universal network market system so that no advertisement can reach the client without permission from the client. In one implementation, direct contact between the seller and the buyer may be permitted if requested by a given buyer.

By using the Customer-Oriented Advertisement features of the universal network market system, commercial companies can identify the potential prospect/customer and send the

25 advertisements to such customers. The universal network market system can create a shopping profile and predict likely shopping behavior for a given client. Such features can be valuable to a company's marketing efforts.

Embodiments of the universal network market system can be implemented to minimize the interference with a user's shopping experience. In addition, the universal network market system can be used to achieve effective management of company (merchant)/customer information. By knowing what a buyer wants to buy, and what a seller can sell, the universal network market system can predict what type of product/service that is of interest to a buyer.

In one embodiment, the universal network market system may reserve a portion of its user interface to present products/service that a buyer may be interested in (e.g., a cross selling opportunity). While a buyer is interacting with the universal network market system, the universal network market system may present information/advertisements about products/services intended to catch the intention of the buyer. For example, if a buyer is looking for a coupon for a Dell laptop, the universal network market system can predict that the buyer may also be interested in a Dell printer. As a result, the universal network market system can present the latest advertisements, coupons, bonus points, product release information on various Dell printers to the buyer. The presentation of this information can be done in the reserved area of the interface so that the information will not interfere with the buyer's present shopping experience.

As another feature, the universal network market system can prepare present a list of categorized items and their related information (using shopping expert, shopping list, customer-oriented advertisement components of the universal network market system) to the buyer. For example, when a buyer is using the universal network market system to obtain information about a ballet performance (e.g., the location of the performance and/or any specials for the ballet performance), the universal network market system can deduce that the buyer is interested in the performance. The universal network market system can then present the buyer with categorized information on this performance such as, for example, Type of Performance, Actors, Location, and Parking information.

The universal network market system may also be implemented to respect a user's privacy by requiring all communications between a buyer and a sell to go through the universal network market system unless the buyer requests direct communication with a

26 seller and obtains the permission of the universal network market system to do so. Additional privacy is afforded because the buyer can choose what type of advertisements, products, companies, and brands that the buyer is interested in and block all other advertisements (e.g., via a buyer's request). Ads can be served or sent to a buyer through the universal network market system. In one embodiment, with the buyer's permission, the ads can be served/sent to buyer through any third-party, including the seller.

In sum, the Shopping Expert, shopping list, Customer-Oriented Advertisement may include information both from commercial companies and from all kinds of potential customers. By this way, a Virtual Link can be built through the universal network market system between commercial companies and their potential customers. This link allows a company (even small company) to build its own virtual sales force for any product, for even low-priced or low margin goods and services.

The Ads selection can be done at the background since the universal network market system may use buyer's stored information. The system may select Ads, promotions, production information for buyer while the buyer is using the network device or not using the network device. Then the system may send/present/serve the selected information to buyer, or keep the selected the information in the buyer's account. In one embodiment, such a process may be used to differentiate one of more aspects of the universal network market system from traditional search engines in that usually do their searching (or selecting) while a user is actively online.

FINDING TIMING-CRITICAL ADVERTISEMENTS AND INFORMATION

FIG. 11 is a sample timing-critical advertisement 1100 that may be presented to a buyer in accordance with one embodiment. Timing-critical advertisements may be provided by the universal network market system to present users with information/offers that they may not be aware of and that may last for a short duration. As an example, suppose there are several buyers using the universal network market system that indicate that there are interested in purchasing a discounted DELL laptop. If the universal network market system becomes aware of a short term promotion: "Dell Home Notebook Coupon -$750 off on select online Inspiron Notebook purchases $1500+ Coupon Code: ZD5$P0NS954P16" at "www.techbargains.com" on a given date. Most of traditional buyers would miss this advertisement because they either didn't know the web site "www.techbargains.com" or they didn't read the web site on that particular time when the

27 promotion was being presented. In contrast, the universal network market system scans the websites of known sellers for promotions. These sellers may be identified, for example, as those listed in buyers' shopping lists maintained by the universal network market system. If a short term promotion is encountered, the universal network market system notifies buyers that have indicated in their shopping lists that they are interested in purchasing a Dell computer. This information can be relayed to the appropriate buyer via email, cell-phone, or a hand-held device, etc.

The search for timing critical advertisements by the universal network market system may be conducted by searching sites of companies identified in the shopping lists of the buyer- users of the universal network market system as well as the sites of seller-users of the universal network market system. When an advertisement is found, the universal network market system can match the advertisement to buyers and sellers based on the buyer and seller profiles. In one implementation, the timing-critical advertising component of the universal network market system may include a search engine for advertisements. The universal network market system may search for items (products, product release, product information, promotions) available from sources other than from sellers having a seller's account with the universal network system. In one aspect, portions or all of this kind of search may be performed by a computer or by a human being.

Once the universal network market system has found a timing-critical advertising, the universal network market system will alert buyers it has matched to the advertisement to inform these buyers of the special offer.

DIRECT SELLING WITH MINIMUM PRODUCT INVENTORY

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a table 1200 that may be used by a universal network market system to conduct a direct selling event in accordance with certain embodiments. When the universal network market system has several (e.g., one or more) buyers including the same product or service in their shopping list, the universal network market system may undertake an effort to buy the product/service directly from its seller/manufacturer/provider at a lower price than would be available through traditional retail channels. This may be possible because the number of orders for the given item could be significant. The universal network market system may collect information from its buyer-user's shopping lists to ascertain a common or maximum purchase price at which the buyers would consider purchasing the product. In the example shown in FIG.

28 12, the product 1202 could be a digital cameral from Sony Corp. The table may include columns (e.g., fields) for the number of interested buyers 1204, the lowest market price 1206 (e.g., retail price) for the product, the median retail price 1208 for the product, a bargain price 1210 offered by the universal network market system, a value 1212 of an internal coupon and identification number 1214 of the internal coupon. In the example shown in FIG. 12, because of the large number of interested buyers, the universal network market system could hypothetically negotiate a bargain price that is $80 lower than the lowest retail price. One way that the bargain price can be offered to buyer-users of the universal network market system is to generate and send a coupon (with its coupon identification number) for the $80 discount to the buyers. The coupon identifier may be assigned to the coupon by the universal network market system when the coupon is generated by the universal network market system. One advantage of this bargain feature is that the universal network market system can determine the number of highly likely sales from the shopping lists of its buyers by identifying those buyers that include a camera in their "My Immediate" shopping list for example. This also helps to keep inventory of the product at the universal network market system down to a low minimum so that large warehousing costs are not incurred by the universal network market system (and such savings can be passed on in the lower bargain price).

In one embodiment, the universal network market system may provide the likely sales information to a seller/manufacturer/provider so that they can better control their inventory and production line.

GENERATING A BROCHURE OF CUSTOMER-SPECIFIC ADVERTISEMENTS

SOFT-COPY OR HARD-COPY

FIG. 13 is an illustrative Customer-Specific Advertisement Magazine 1300 that may be generated by certain embodiments of universal network market system using information 1302 collected from buyers' shopping lists. The generated Customer-Specific Advertisement Magazine 1300 may include a plurality of customer specific advertisements presented as images, tables, figures or other forms.

Based on buyers' shopping lists and buyer and seller tables, the universal network market can search for advertisements of sellers that may be of interest to a given buyer. These advertisements may then be used to generate the customer-specific advertisement magazine for the buyer that includes advertisements 1304 that the buyer may be

29 interested in based on the information obtained from the buyer's shopping list. The customer-specific advertisement magazine may also include advertisements 1306 (e.g., recommendations or recommended advertisements) for products that may be related to the buyer's needed items (e.g., cross-selling advertisements). The generated magazine can then be sent to the buyer over the Internet by email for example or in a hard copy via regular postal service mail. The advertisements can include an coupon identification number 1308 so that a buyer can then make a purchase of the item that takes advantage of the coupon. In an online version, the advertisements may comprise links to the particular page of a seller's website at which the identified product/service is being offered for sale.

As shown in the table 1302, the advertisement column 1314 identifies coupons that are associated with a given item (see the item column 1310) while the status column 1312 may be used to identify the urgency of the need of the buyer for the product. The coupon identifier may be stored in the Advertisement column 1314 with its associated coupon.

FIG. 14 is an example of a table 1400 that may be used to generate ID-related coupons in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. The Customer-Specific Ads features of allows the distinguishing between public coupons 1402 and private coupons 1404. A public coupon may be defined as coupons that are made available to everyone while a private coupon may be defined as an identifier (ID)-related coupon that can be generated for a particular person(s). Private coupons may be used as a tool to attract users to the universal network market system. An ID-Coupon may be associated an identifier of a given user such as a credit card number, driver license number, e-mail address, cellular phone number of the user. For example, a private coupon of "About Lyhoo" may be given to only employees of the company Lyhoo, Inc. Such a coupon can be associated with the identification of all employees of Lyhoo, Inc. This way the convenience of an electronic coupon may be facilitated while permitting an advertiser control that is to receive and use the coupon. In the present example, employees of Lyhoo, Inc. can simply present an appropriate ID (credit car, driver licenses, email address, cellular text message) to show that they are entitled to the coupon.

As shown in FIG. 14, the table 1400 may include an item column 1406 for identifying items associated with a given advertisement, an advertisement column 1408 for describing the advertisement associated with the item (including its coupon identification number). An associate column 1410 may be used to indicate whether a coupon is public or private by indicating whether or not a certain type of ID is needed to redeem the

30 coupon. For example, the public coupons may have a "No" entry in the association column 1410 to indicate that no special ID is needed to redeem the coupon while the entry in the associate column 1410 for a private coupon may indicate the specific ID (or types of ID) that are needed in order to redeem the coupon.

AN EFFICIENT ADVERTISEMENT REFERRAL SYSTEM

FIG. 15 is a table 1500 that may be used to afford an efficient advertisement reward referral system in accordance with certain embodiments. As shown in FIG. 15, the table 1500 includes rows for different types of reward criteria 1502 and rewards 1504. The table 1500 may also include columns that indicate the type 1506 and sub-types 1508 of reward criteria and rewards. For each sub-type, the table may also include a detail column 1510 for providing details about the specific reward criteria or reward subtype. An advantage column 1512 may also be included for providing details about various reward criteria or rewards. As shown in FIG. 15, reward criteria sub-types can include, reward credits, P_Timing, Tree Structure, and credit while rewards sub-types can include reward results, cash, and stock options.

The details column 1510 may set forth various algorithms used to define the associated sub-type. For example, the reward credit sub-type may be defined as the product of the P_Timing sub-type and the credit_all sub-type. As shown in FIG. 15, P_Timing may be defined by the earliness of the response: the earlier the response, the more important the user is and thus the user receives a higher coefficient P_Timing. P_timing is a scaling factor. In such a manner, early responses by buyers to advertisements can be rewarded more generously than later responses. The credit sub-type can come from both from direct references and indirect references from a direct reference where the measure of the reference is defined by distance. In one embodiment, the less distance the referral is away from the user, the more credit the user will get (e.g., the more direct the referrer, the more credit given).

DISTANCE

Distance may be further defined as how many "degrees of separation" a given user is from another user. Values may include, for example: one degree away - e.g., directly connected to the given user which means that the user is referred directly by the given user; and two, three or four degrees away: e.g., a friend of a friend is two degrees of distance, one of their friends is three degrees, and one of theirs is four degrees. In one

31 implementation, a user can get credits through all these referred-back distance. If there is more than four degrees of separation, less credit may be awarded for a user referral.

LINKED RATING SYSTEM

FIG. 16 is an example of an illustrative Linked Raking System 1600 in accordance with certain embodiments. A linked rating may be defined as a rating that is given by the people a user knows and/or trusts. A regular rating system typically rates a product/service based on the number of votes (e.g. pro or con votes) it receives. All votes are equal and the voters don't really know one another. In most cases, people tend to trust their friends or a similar group of people that may have similar ideas and tastes. As a result, such people may tend to give a similar rating to a particular item or service. Linked ratings are those ratings made by users that are linked as previously described (see Distance). As shown in FIG. 16, both public and linked ratings 1602, 1604 of a given product may be presented side by side by the universal network market system so that users can compare the various ratings on a product. In the example shown in FIG. 16, the public and private ratings for a Sony-brand digital camera are both high (e.g., the more faces, the higher the rating) while the Devil-brand laptop has a low public rating but a high linked rating. This indicates that the users that are linked to the given user viewing the rating comparison have given a higher rating to this laptop than the general public. This may be due to, for example, a common preference or need of the linked users that is unique to the linked users and not really found that prevalently in the general public. With such a linked rating, a user may decide to go against public opinion (as represented by the public rating) and purchase a Devil-brand laptop because other users that are linked to this user gave it a high rating.

A COLLECTION OF MENU, INSTALLATION SOFTWARE AND OTHER PRODUCT/SERVICE INFORMATION

FIG. 17 is an example of a Menu/Installation Software table 1700 that may be afforded by a universal network market system in accordance with one embodiment. In today's society, many products and services come with complicated product menus, installation software and other product/service information. Many people who buy these kinds products do not keep these documents, menus, installation software in an organized manner and, as a result, they cannot find these items when they subsequently need them. As an example, suppose a user purchases a Sony-brand TV, a Samsung-brand Karoke

32 system, an HP-brand printer, a Brother-brand fax machine, and a Dell-brand laptop. One day, the user may discover something wrong with his laptop and needs to use the system installation/recovery disk software to fix it but, of course, the user cannot locate the disk. An embodiment of the universal network market system may use a version of the shopping list to store such kinds of product related information. The universal network market system may collect or at least gather links to the various support documents of a given provider or product 1702 and present the support information 1704 in the table 1700 with user-selectable links 1706 to permit a user to access the support documents, the product/service Menu, Installation software and any other product/service information. The support documents may be categorized by the universal network market system according to, for example, company, product type, and service type. Using such a table may make it easier for a user to access such documents.

TOOLS AND NEW SERVICE

FIG. 18 is a sample browser/toolbar 1800 for a universal network market system in accordance with one embodiment. The universal network market system may include interfaces for buyers and sellers. The universal network market system may include software for our buyers and sellers to download to their own computer. Special interfaces may be created for interactive television, interactive voice response, handheld device or any other device. The toolbar 1800 may be created to help provide easy input by a user. When a user views a product, the toolbar may permit a user to decide whether to put a suggested item in the user's shopping list.

As for hardware, a buyer or seller user may use computers, handheld device, phone camera, TV, interactive voice response, call centers, store fronts, ATM, kiosks, digital camera or any other device that can get access to the service provided by the universal network market system. The universal network market system may use digital cameras or other readers to read a bar codes and then automatically connect a user to the universal network market system. Embodiments may also include RFID readers to read RFIDs to connect to the universal network market system.

Currently, advertisements on television are generally broadcast to its entire viewing audience. However, with the development of interactive television and radio, customer- specified-advertisements may be sent to a user using the universal network market system via these interactive channels. For example, a buyer may tell a television that he or she is

33 interested in a BMW car. Then, the television can will select Ads (e.g., promotions, product information, coupon) related to BMW cars and present the selected Ads and other proper Ads to the buyer. A buyer may also choose to view general Ads programs at the same time. In this case, the television may always present Ads to the television viewer. The television viewer may have to view some Ads whether the television viewer chooses Advertising alerts or not. In one embodiment, television viewers may be able to only choose Ads that he/she may like a little more.

Embodiments of the service provided by the universal network market system may be implemented so that they are buyer focused. In such implementations, a buyer can tell the system what they want to buy, and the universal network market system will do the rest for the buyer. Although, the universal network market system may include the step of matching buyer and seller needs once the universal network market system have both side's information.

A buyer or seller may organize/ store their information locally at their own computer or other device such as television. The universal network system and its related database can be implemented/ stored /executed centrally, distributively, locally, or in any above combination. The client (buyer or seller) may need to update our central universal network system database.

SAMPLE PROCESSES AND ENVIRONMENTS

Figure 19 is a flowchart of a process 1900 for organizing items of interest for presentment to a user in accordance with certain embodiments. In operation 1902, information may be obtained about one or more items of interest to a user (e.g., a buyer). For each item of interest to the user, the obtained information may include information identifying the item ("item identity information," e.g., what the item is, e.g., rice) and information about one or more characteristics of the item such as, for example, size and/or quantity of the item , a price for the item (e.g.,. a retail price and/or a price at which the buyer would be interested in purchasing the item), a seller, manufacture, designer and/or provider of the item (e.g., Safeway or Armani). In operation 1904, the user, for each item of interest, may be permitted to assign the item to one or more relative categories of need based on, for example, the relative need by the user for the item. In operation 1906, the items may be organized into a plurality of item lists according to the item's assigned categories of need. In operation 1908, the plurality of lists may be presented to the user in a user-

34 selectable format so that the user can select and review items assigned to the same category of need in the list associated with the given category of need.

A network (such as, e.g., the Internet) may be utilized to obtain the information from the user and present the lists to the user. The information may be obtained from the user by presenting, to the user, an interface capable of receiving input about the items from the user. The interface may present graphical images of a plurality of items from which the user can select the items of interest. The interface may also be capable of receiving textual input from the user so that the user can input the specific names of items and their characteristics.

The plurality of lists may include a general list that includes all of the items obtained from the user. The characteristics for which information about the items of interest are obtained may be defined by the user (e.g., user-defined). The categories of need may include a category of items needed immediately (e.g., "My Immediate" list), a category of items needed regularly (e.g., "My Regular" list), a category of items of general interest (e.g., wish list or "My Interested" list) but that not needed regularly or immediately.

The information about the characteristics of the item may also include frequency information about a frequency that the item is purchased by the user. The frequency information may be used to generate a reminder notice that is sent to the user via the network to remind the user that it may be time to purchase the item and replenish the user's supply of that item (e.g., an upcoming "deadline" at which time the supply of the item will need to be replenished). The frequency information may also be used to generate the reminder information is obtained from items associated with a category of regularly needed items (e.g., "My Regular" list). The generating of the reminder notice may include adding an entry for the item into a reminder list (e.g., "My Reminder" list).

Information may be collected about the items obtained from the user from one or more third party sites. User-selectable links to the collected information about the items may then be included in at least one of the generated lists that are presented to the user. After selection of one of these links, at least a portion of the collected information may be presented to the user via the network.

Evaluation or criteria information relating to the items (or features of items) obtained from user may also be collected (e.g., from third party sources) and stored in a database. The collected evaluation information (that is associated with a given item obtained from

35 the user) may then be presented to the user (e.g., after selection of an appropriate link presented in the list in which the item is included) to provide advice to the user regarding the item and product related information that can be used by the user in evaluating whether or not to purchase the given item. The user may be queried (e.g., via the network) for information relating to the user's interest in the given item. This information relating to the user's interest can then be used to generate a recommendation or suggestion to the user about the item (e.g., a list of recommended products that will meet the needs of the user relating to the given item).

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a process 2000 for presenting advertising alert to a user based on items of interest to the user in accordance with certain embodiments. In operation 2002, information may be obtained about one or more items of interest to a user (e.g., a buyer). In operation 2004, for each item of interest, the user may be permitted to select whether or not to receive advertising alerts and/or product-information relating to the item. In operation 2006, it may be determined whether a promotion is available for an item selected to receive advertising alerts. In one embodiment, the determination may occur at any time (e.g., whether or not the user is currently/actively accessing the service). In operation 2008, the user may be presented with an advertising alert about the promotion when the promotion is available.

The user may be permitted to specify criteria for selecting promotions in which case, the determination may also include a determination as to whether the available promotion satisfies at least a portion of the criteria specified by the user. The advertising alert may then be presented, for example, for only those promotions that satisfy the at least a portion of the criteria. The advertising alert may be transmitted to a wireless device of the user (e.g., a cell phone, a wireless PDA). The advertising alert may also be presented to the user via a network.

The determination in operation 2006 may also include registering one or more sellers with the universal network market system to permit the seller to submit promotions for goods and services associated with the seller. In such an embodiment, it may be determined whether any of the submitted promotions of the seller matches one of the items selected by the user as an item that the user is interested in receiving advertising alerts for. In such as case, the advertising alert that are actually presented to the user may be associated with at least one submitted promotion that was determined to match the item(s) submitted selected by the user. In one implementation, the user may further be

36 provided with the option to contact the seller of the matching promotion directly via a network rather than having to go through the universal network market system.

In one implementation, one or more third party sites may be searched (e.g., via a network) for promotions that will expire within a predetermined amount of time in the future (e.g., timing-critical promotions that will expire in a short amount of time (e.g., in the near future)). Next, a determination may be made as to whether the promotion is directed to one or more of the items obtained from the user and, if so, an advertising alert may be generated and presented the user that indicates that the timing-critical promotion that will expire in the predetermined amount of time. As an option, timing-critical promotions may be generated for items that the user has chosen not to receive advertising alerts.

Third party sites may be further searched (e.g., via a network) for new update information associated with the item(s) obtained from the user. An alert may then be generated and presented the user that indicates the availability of the new update information.

In one implementation, a magazine/brochure may be generated that contains the promotions determined to be available, and wherein the magazine is presented to the user. The magazine that is generated may be an online magazine that is accessible for viewing via a network such as the Internet. As another option, the magazine may also be distributed as a hard-copy (e.g., paper) document. In any event, the magazine may also contain identifiers associated with the promotions that have been included in the magazine. These identifiers can be used when redeeming the promotion and for bookkeeping purposes in the universal network market system. The magazine may also includes promotions for additional recommended items (e.g., recommended ads) that are selected based on an association to the items for which promotions are determined to be available.

For each item of interest to the user, the obtained information may also include information about one or more characteristics of the item (such as, e.g., size and/or quantity of the item, a price for the item (e.g.,. a retail price and/or a price at which the buyer would be interested in purchasing the item), a seller, manufacture, designer and/or provider of the item (e.g., Safeway or Armani)). In such an embodiment, the determining whether a promotion is available or not may include a search for promotions that relate to the information about the one or more characteristics of the item.

37 The user may also be permitted to assign each item of interest to one or more relative categories of need (based on the relative need by the user for the item). The assigned items may then be organized into a plurality of item lists according to the item's assigned categories of need. These lists may be presented to the user in a user-selectable format so that the user can select and review items assigned to the same category of need in the list associated with the given category of need. As an option, the advertising alert may be presented in those lists in which the item is assigned.

In one embodiment, the promotion that is determined to be available may require that an identifier associated with the user to be disclosed when redeeming the promotion (e.g., the promotion is a private coupon). In another embodiment, the user may be permitted to forwards the advertising alert to a third party who can then access the promotion utilizing the advertising alert. The user may then be assigned a credit for the access by the third party with the value of the credit being assigned based on at least a degree of relatedness of the third party to the user.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a process 2100 for purchasing items in accordance with certain embodiments. In operation 2102, information may be obtained about one or more items of interest to a plurality of users (e.g., a buyer). For each item, the number of users that identify the item as an item of interest may be determined in operation 2104. In operation 2106, negotiations may be conducted with a seller of the item to negotiate a discounted price based on the number of users determined to identify the item. A coupon may then be to the users that identify the item as an item of interest. This coupon permits the users to purchase of the item at the negotiated discounted price upon redemption of the coupon. The coupon may be sent to a wireless device of the users that identify the item as an item of interest. The coupon may also be sent via a network such as the Internet.

As an option, the universal network market system may purchase the number of items in bulk from the seller on behalf of the users and then sell the items directly to the users. The determination conducted in operation 2104 may be performed for a set of the items of interest that are assigned by the users into a category of items needed immediately by the users. In another embodiment, the items of interest for each user may be organized into a plurality of item lists according to assigned categories of need. These lists may then be presented to the respective user in a user-selectable format so that the user can select and review items assigned to the same category of need in the list associated with

38 the given category of need. The coupon sent to users may be presented in the lists of the users having the item of interest (e.g., those lists that contain the item of interest).

In one implementation, users may be permitted to forward the coupon to a third party. If the third party redeems the coupon when purchasing the item associated with the coupon, the user may be assigned a credit for the redeeming of the coupon by the third party. The value of the credit may be assigned based on a degree of relatedness (e.g., the degree of separation) of the third party to the user.

In one implementation, reviews and critiques made by the users about at least one item may be collected. At least a portion of the reviews may have been made by users that are separated from each other by a predetermined degree of relatedness (e.g., degree of separation) or less (e.g., users that are linked to one another by a predetermined degree of relatedness or less (e.g., if the predetermined degree of relatedness is three degrees of separation, then users that are separated by three, two or one degree of separation would be included)). A user in the group of users that are separated from each other by the predetermined degree of relatedness may then be presented with a "linked" rating for the item based on the portion of reviews that were made by the users separated from each other by the predetermined degree of relatedness. A "general" rating for the item based on all of the reviews for the item may be presented adjacent the "linked" rating so that the user can compare the two ratings to one another.

In one implementation of a universal network market system, a process may be implemented for finding customer orientated Ads. In such an implementation, buyer's information may be obtained about one or more items of interest to a buyer. For each item, the buyer's information may comprise information identifying the item and information about one or more characteristics of the item. Seller's information may then be selected to present to the buyer according to the buyer' information.

In one embodiment, the selected seller's information may be presented to the buyer. In such an embodiment, the presenting can be in the form of text, print, audio, and video, data stream, icons or graphics images with links to host web servers. In another implementation, the presenting and receiving can be through Internet, telephone, e-mail, TV, Interactive TV, interactive voice response (IVR), voice-over IP, call center, store fronts, ATM, kiosks, any hand held device and other platform that can conduct the business. In a further implementation, the presenting can be in the form of serving the

39 buyer the selected seller's information. In yet another implementation, the presenting can be in the form of sending the buyer the selected seller's information.

In one embodiment, selected seller's information, or the buyer's information, or seller's information may be stored in a database. In one implementation, the database may be stored centrally on a network device. In another implementation, the database may be stored locally on a network device. In a further implementation, the database may be stored distributively on network devices, or stored in a network stream.

In one embodiment, a seller's desire - which is the information about items a seller wishes to sell or serve - may be received. In such an embodiment, the seller's desire may be treated as seller's information. In another embodiment, the selecting of the seller's information may be based on the buyer's information available on the database, while the buyer is using the network device or not using the network device. In a further embodiment, seller's information may be selected locally. In yet another embodiment, seller's information may be selected distributively over the network. In yet another embodiment, seller's information may be selected centrally.

In one embodiment, a computer or computing machine may select the seller's information. In another embodiment, a human being may select the seller's information manually. In a further embodiment, an easy shopping organizer (e.g., a shopping list) may be provided.

Figure 22 illustrates a sample network system 2200 with a plurality of components 2202 in accordance with one embodiment. As shown, such components include a network 2204 which take any form including, but not limited to a local area network, a wide area network such as the Internet, and a wireless network 2205. Coupled to the network 2204 is a plurality of computers which may take the form of desktop computers 2206, lap-top computers 2208, hand-held computers 2210 (including wireless devices 2212 such as wireless PDA's or mobile phones), or any other type of computing hardware/software. As an option, the various computers may be connected to the network 2204 by way of a server 2214 which may be equipped with a firewall for security purposes. It should be noted that any other type of hardware or software may be included in the system and be considered a component thereof.

A representative hardware environment associated with the various components of Figure 22 is depicted in Figure 23. In the present description, the various sub-components of

40 each of the components may also be considered components of the system. For example, particular software modules executed on any component of the system may also be considered components of the system. In particular, Figure 23 illustrates a sample hardware configuration of a computer 2300 having a central processing unit 2302, such as a microprocessor, and a number of other units interconnected via a system bus 2304. The computer 2300 shown in Figure 23 includes a Random Access Memory (RAM) 2306, Read Only Memory (ROM) 2308, an I/O adapter 2310 for connecting peripheral devices such as, for example, disk storage units 2312 and printers 2314 to the bus 2304, a user interface adapter 2316 for connecting various user interface devices such as, for example, a keyboard 2318, a mouse 2320, a speaker 2322, a microphone 2324, and/or other user interface devices such as a touch screen or a digital camera to the bus 2304, a communication adapter 2326 for connecting the computer 2300 to a communication network 2328 (e.g., a data processing network) and a display adapter 2330 for connecting the bus 2304 to a display device 2332. The computer may utilize an operating system such as, for example, a Microsoft Windows operating system (O/S), a Macintosh O/S, a Linux O/S and/or a UNIX O/S. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments may also be implemented on platforms and operating systems other than those mentioned. One of ordinary skilled in the art will also be able to combine software with appropriate general purpose or special purpose computer hardware to create a computer system or computer sub-system for implementing various embodiments described herein. It should be understood the use of the term logic may be defined as hardware and/or software components capable of performing/executing sequence(s) of functions. Thus, logic may comprise computer hardware, circuitry (or circuit elements) and/or software or any combination thereof.

EXPANDABLE PLATFORM

The universal network market system is highly scalable and is capable of accommodating many products, services, merchants, advertisers and buyers. In other words, the Shopping Expert, Shopping List, Customer-Oriented Advertisement mechanisms are highly scalable as well. Numerous commercial companies can be permitted to build Customer-Oriented Advertisements, Shopping Experts and Shopping Lists using such a scalable platform with our permission. Companies or users can submit expert solutions.

41 REFERRAL SYSTEM PROCESS

FIG. 24 is a flow chart of a process 2400 for referring items to third parties. In operation 2402, at least one item (product/service/service provider/event/promotion/advertising alert, e.g. promotion "$500 off Dell Laptop", or service provider Lyhoo, Inc) is presented to a user. In operation 2404, for each item, the user is permitted to refer the item (e.g., Lyhoo, Inc) to one or more third parties, such as classmates of the user. The user can invite the classmates to use the service provided by Lyhoo, Inc. In operation 2406, the user will be rewarded according to a predetermined criteria if at least one of the invited third parties uses the item. For example, a coupon "$500 of Dell Laptop" from Lyhoo, Inc is presented to a user but the user may not use the coupon to buy a computer. Instead, the user can entice a friend to use the coupon. If the friend uses the coupon, a reward will be given to the user or a credit will added to the user's account.

When the item is presented to the user, the item may be associated with the user's identity (e.g. driver license, user ID, or email-address). For example, the universal network market system can simply associate coupons "$500 of Dell Laptop" presented to the user with the user's email-address. Thus, when a third party uses the coupon, the universal network market system can identify the user immediately. The universal network market system permits the user to send an email to friends to invite them to join the universal network market system service. A link (associated with the user) to Lyhoo, Inc can be included in the email. Once the friend clicks on the link, a reward (such as $0.1) will be rewarded to the user. If the friend opens an account with Lyhoo, Inc., more rewards (such as $0.5) will be awarded to the user. In the case that the user identity is not associated with the item, the third party will be asked for referraHnformation. For example, when a new user attempts to join the service of Lyhoo, Inc., Lyhoo may ask whether any person has referred the Lyhoo service to the new user.

The predetermined criteria may be based on timeliness of response. The earlier the response by a third party to using the item referred by the user results in a more generous reward to the user who made the referral, according to certain embodiments. For example, a user asks a friend to join the service of Lyhoo, Inc. $0.1 will be rewarded if the friend joins within a week and $0.01 will be rewarded if the friend joins half a year later.

42 The predetermined criteria may also be based on the degree of separation associated with each referral. For example, are the referrals direct referrals or indirect referrals? For example, if a user refers friend- A, the user may be rewarded with $0.1. If friend-A refers a person-B, then friend-A may be rewarded $0.1, and the user may be rewarded of $0.02. Thus, the rewards awarded to the user include all rewards in the chain of referrals back to the user. The less distance the referral is away from the user in the chain, the more rewards the user gets.

Additional operations may be included. In operation 2408, the universal network market system may analyze the rewards presented to the user. For example, each time the user refers a person to the promotion "$500 off DELL laptop", the user gets a reward. A credit can be added to the user's account. The universal network market system can sum up all credits and decide whether to reward the user a monetary award or some non- monetary prize.

In operation 2410, the user may want to provide more information to a friend about DEVIL laptop since public opinion about the laptop is bad. The user can obtain the friend's demographic information. For example, the demographic information may be "Fancy game player, age 21, using high speed internet". Using this demographic information about the friend, the universal network market system can provide a linked ranking (from persons of similar demographic information) for the DEVIL laptop. The friend may then be convinced that the DEVIL laptop is expensive but is worth the expense and decides to make a purchase.

LINKED RATING PROCESS

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a process 2500 for presenting linked ranking. In operation 2502, at least one item (product/service/service provider/event/promotion/advertising alert, e.g. Sony Digital Camera or DEVIL laptop) is presented to a plurality of users. In operation 2504, for each user, the user is permitted to submit reviews for the item. In operation 2506, the users are separated based on a predetermined degree of relatedness of less (e.g. high school student, scientist). In operation 2508, the operation identifies the reviews made by the users separated from each by the predetermined degree of relatedness for the item (for example, reviews on Sony Digital Camera from high school students, reviews on Sony Digital camera from scientists). In operation 2510, a rating is made for the identified reviews. For example, the universal network market system may average the

43 reviews on Sony Digital Camera from high schools students; average the reviews on Sony Digital Camera from scientists, average the reviews on DEVIL laptop from high schools students, and average the reviews on DEVIL laptop from scientists. It is no surprise that both high school students and scientists give a high score for Sony Digital Camera. The high school students give a low score for DEVIL laptop (due to sky-high price of $10,000) while the scientists give a high score for DEVIL laptop (for its high performance).

The universal network market system may receive a user's information including identification of the user, payment information such as credit card number, shipment information, demographic information, and the user's specific information (e.g. user needs) in a particular situation. The universal network market system may receive and store additional information for users using various computer systems. The universal network market system stores the received additional information in association with the user. Such information can be used to separate users based on a predetermined degree of relatedness.

PRESENTING USER NEEDS ORIENTED PROMOTIONS

FIG. 26A-26D are flowcharts that illustrate a process for presenting user needs oriented promotions. FIG. 26A is shows a process 2600 for selecting user oriented promotions. In operation 2602, information on "user needs" may be obtained on one or more items of interest to the user (e.g., a buyer). The user can specify items of interest (e.g. information about car), specify tasks that the user would like to perform (e.g., skiing), specify items to buy (e.g., car), specify items to join (e.g. event of parade) and so on. In operation 2604, the process selects promotions based on the "user needs" information. The selection includes selecting those promotions associated with the items specified by the user (or based on the user needs information). The selection of the promotions may occur at any time (e.g. whether or not the user is currently accessing the service).

Promotions are used to advertise goods or services or events. It is clear that a promotion is directed to one or more items. For example, the promotion, "$500 of DELL laptop computer" is directed to laptops, computers, or DELL laptop computers. To illustrate, when a user specifies that he would like to purchase a monitor, the universal network market system simply chooses those promotions stored on a database 230, for example, that are associated with "monitor."

44 The user may be permitted to specify criteria, such as one or more characteristics about an item, the time frame for receiving a promotion, for selecting promotions. In such a case, the selection process may also include a determination as to whether the available promotion satisfies at least a portion of the criteria specified by the user. Additional operations may be included.

FIG. 26B is a flow chart of a process 2660 for presenting user oriented promotions. In operation 2606, the selected promotions are presented to the user. For each item of interest, the user may be permitted to select whether or not to receive promotions related to the item. If the universal network market system considers a promotion valuable to the user, the universal network market system may present the promotion to the user even if the user chose not to have any advertising alert sent to him. If the promotion may expire within a predetermined amount of time in the near future, or the promotion is in limited supply, an advertising alert may be presented to the user.

The presentment can be in the form of serving the user the selected promotion (e.g. presented in the user's shopping organizer, show the selected promotion to the user on a television). In yet another implementation, the presentment can be in the form of sending the user the selected promotion (e.g. sending a promotion magazine). The presentment of selected promotions may occur at any time (put the selected promotions in the user's shopping organizer (e.g., whether or not the user is currently actively accessing the service). The promotions may be transmitted to a wireless device of the user (e.g. a cell phone, a wireless PDA, etc.). The promotions may also be presented to the user via a network. The presenting can be in a form selected from the group comprising text, print, audio, and video, data stream and icons or graphics images with links to host web servers.

While the user needs information can be obtained from one client device, the selected promotions may be presented through another device. For example, the user can specify to buy a BMW car and put the item (BMW car) in the shopping organizer through one computer. The promotions on the car, particularly promotions on BMW car can be presented to the user through a television or presented to the user through a playstation portable (PSP).

In operation 2608, the process may also include permitting advertisers to submit promotions associated with the advertiser. In such embodiments, the advertiser can specify a plurality of items in association with the promotion, and a plurality of related

45 items related to the promotion. The specified items will be linked with the promotion. The specified related items will be linked with the promotion separately. In operation 2610, third party sites may be further searched (e.g. via a network) for promotions. The universal network market system may update such searched promotions as necessary.

In operation 2612, the user needs information, the promotions, the promotions related information (e.g. items, related items), certain selected promotions, or a combination thereof may be stored in one or more databases. Accordingly, the promotion selection process may occur at any time (e.g., whether or not the user is currently actively accessing the service).

In one implementation, the database may be stored centrally on a plurality of network devices. In another implementation, the database may be stored locally on a plurality of client devices. In other implementations, the database may be stored distributively on a plurality of network devices, or stored in a network stream. Accordingly, the promotion selection process may occur centrally on a plurality of network devices, locally on a plurality of client devices, or distributively over the network devices. The presentment may occur at any time (e.g. whether or not the client device can communicate with a third party via a network). The user can check the promotions on a playstation portable (PSP) while waiting in the airport, for example.

The user may also be permitted to assign each item of interest to one or more related categories of need (based on the need by the user for the related item). The assigned items may then be organized into a plurality of item lists according to the item's assigned categories of need. These lists may be presented to the user in a user-selectable format so that the user can select and review items assigned to the same category of need in the list associated with the given category of need. As an option, the selected promotions may be presented in those lists in which the item is assigned. A machine (e.g. computer machine) or a human being can perform the selection process.

FIG. 26C is a flow chart of a process 2680 for pre-processing the promotions. The pre¬ processing of promotions can facilitate and speed up the selection process. In operation 2614, for each promotion, analyzing the promotion to identify a plurality of items or related items for the promotion is performed, and linking the identified items or related items with the promotion is performed. In operation 2616, a catalog is generated for known items based on predetermined criteria (e.g. location, manufacturer, size, taste). An

46 item can be associated with one or more categories. In operation, 2618, for each item, known promotions directed to the item or known related promotions associated with the item are identified. Linking the identified promotions with the item, and linking the identified related promotions with the item separately are also performed.

The universal network market system may use this pre-process for generating a catalog of known promotions. The promotions are categorized based on the items, and a sub- category is generated for the related promotions associated with the item. The sub- category is linked to "the item category". Once the universal network market system obtains user needs information from a user, for each item appearing in the user needs information, the universal network market system simply selects those promotions and related promotions linked with the item (for example, it selects the promotions or related promotions under the category of the item). In case no such pre-process has been performed, in order to select promotions for an item appearing in the user needs information, the universal network market system needs to determine whether there are any promotions associated with the item. For each promotion, the universal network market system determines whether the promotion is associated with the item, and determines whether the promotion is a related promotion of the item.

Similarly, at least one advertiser can specify promotions associated with targeted items (items directed by the promotions). The universal network market system can select users who have an interest in the targeted items. Those selected users are the targeted users (potential buyers) that are the most desired by advertisers.

FIG. 26D is a flow chart of a process 2690 for obtaining user needs information. In operation 2620, the user directly specifies one or more items of interest (items of interest, items to buy, items to do and so on). The universal network market system receives the specified information on items of interest from the user. In operation 2622, an electronic version of a catalog that lists known items (or things). A user, who is a potential purchaser, may browse through the catalog using a browser and select various items of interest. The selected items may moved to a "Shopping Organizer". In operation 2624, a user may perform queries on one or more items, and decide whether the queried items are items of interest once the user is provided more information by the expert (machine or human being). In operation 2628, user's information (e.g. demographic information, shopping behavior, task of interest such as "to start a company") is obtained. In operation 2628, based on the user's information or query, or task of interest to the user, the expert

47 of universal network market system presents a plurality of recommended items for the user to browse. The user can then choose items of interest. In case, little or no information is obtained from the user, the most popular items will be recommended.

The "user needs" information may be obtained from the user by presenting to the user, an interface capable of receiving input from the user. In certain embodiments, various different means can be used to obtain the user's information. For example, an interface may receive audio input from the user, receive one or more keys strokes by the user, receive one or more button activations on a remote control device (e.g. television remote control) caused by the user, receive selections using any pointing device effected by the user, or receive textual input from the user.

The universal network market may even obtain "user needs" information on a household by household basis. A person (e.g. salesperson, our registered users) may visit homes, help users identify "user needs" (items of interest to the user), and obtain "user needs" information from users. A standard punch card listing a catalog may be sent to homes (with the homeowner's permission). Users can select the items on the punch card, and then use a machine (computer machine) to scan the punch card, or mail the punch card back to the universal network market system.

PRESENTING USER ORIENTED PROMOTIONS

In many situations, a user may not know how to perform a task. For example, a new 25 year-old graduate gets a new idea and wants to start a company. The new graduate may not have enough knowledge to start a company. He may not know the importance of patents, for example. Thus, promotions on patent books, legal services on patent may have little significance to him.

In other situations, a user may not be able identify the task he needs to perform in order to achieve a given objective. For example, a new immigrant to USA may not know he needs to buy life insurance, and health insurance. Thus, promotions on life insurance and health insurance may have little significance to him.

Tasks, such as skiing, hiking, are manageable projects. However, bigger task (including big events) are complicated and may need to be divided into sub-tasks. For example, we can divide the task, "to start a company" into "get a idea", "patent the idea if new", "incorporate the company", "build up a team", "develop products", etc. The sub-task "build up a team" may be divided into "find a CTO", "find a CEO", and "find engineers".

48 The universal network market system attempts to understand the user, identify and obtain tasks of interest to the user. For each task, the universal network market system identifies the expert solutions for the task, identifies the items (product/service) necessary to complete the task, links the identified items to the task, and presents promotions associated with the identified items to the user. Thus, the promotions are user-task oriented and thus are likely to gain more attention from the user.

Expert solutions may include steps for performing a task, answers to questions, recommendations, recipes and so on. The system expert can be a human being or an expert system (machine).

FIGS. 27A-27B are flowcharts of a process for presenting user-task oriented promotions. In operation 2702 of FIG. 27A, "user task" information may be obtained about one or more tasks of interest to the user. The tasks of interest may be specified by the user. For example, the user can specify major tasks of interest (e.g. to start a company), or specify minor tasks (e.g., product release or skiing). In operation 2704, the process selects expert solutions to present to the user based on the "user task" information. The selection includes selecting expert solutions associated with the tasks specified by the user (or based on "user task" information). The expert solution may recommend a plurality of items for accomplishing the task. The selection of expert solutions may occur at any time (e.g. whether or not the user is currently actively accessing the service). In operation 2706, promotions will be selected for presenting to the user. The selection of promotions includes selecting promotions directed to those items associated with the selected expert solutions. For example, in order to start up a company, the universal network market system may identify the task "Patent the idea if new". The expert solutions for "Patent the idea "will be identified. The expert solutions may suggest books such as "Patent it yourself or may suggest the services of law firms such as "Perkins Coie L.L.P."

In operation 2708, the selected promotions are presented to the user. In operation 2710, the expert solution will recommend a plurality of items to accomplish the task. The user can view the recommended items and then specify items of interest from the plurality of items. In turn, "user needs" information (items of interest) is identified. Promotions can be selected, accordingly. More accurate promotions can be presented to the user, accordingly. In operation 2712, the "user task" information, user needs information, the promotions, the promotions related information (e.g. items, related items), the selected promotions, or a combination thereof may be stored in one or more databases.

49 Accordingly, the selection process may occur at any time (e.g., whether or not the user is currently actively accessing the service).

The user may also be permitted to assign each task of interest to one or more relative categories of action based on predetermined criteria (such work, life, sport, or urgent and any-time). The assigned tasks may then be organized into a plurality of task lists according to the task's assigned categories of action. These lists may be presented to the user in a user-selectable format so that the user can select and review tasks assigned to the same category of action in the list associated with the given category of action. As an option, the selected promotions may be presented in those lists in which the task is assigned. A machine (e.g. computer machine) or a human being can perform the selection process.

In operation 2714, third party sites may be further searched (e.g. via a network) for expert solutions. The universal network market system may update those searched expert solutions as necessary. I n operation 2716, a catalog can be generated for known tasks based on predetermined criteria (e.g. life, work, education). A task can be associated with one or more category.

In operation 2718, for each task, an expert may identify expert solutions known for the task, and link the identified solutions with the task. The expert may also identify the recommended items from the identified solutions, link the recommended items to the task and then link promotions directed to the recommended items with the task. The universal network market system may identify and link relative promotions to the task. Similar to related items, the universal network market system can define "match" task as related tasks. The universal network market system can identify the related tasks for the task at hand, then identify the promotions associated with the related tasks, and then link those identified promotions with the task.

In operation 2720, an author (the user who submits expert solutions) is permitted to submit expert solutions. For each expert solution, the user is permitted to identify the tasks related to the submitted expert solution, identify the recommended items from the submitted expert solutions, and link the recommended items to the task (directed by the submitted expert solution). The universal network system then link promotions (directed to the recommended items by the author) with the task. Such pre-processing of the promotions/task can facilitate and speed up the selection process.

50 Similarly, at least one advertiser can specify promotions associated with targeted items (items directed by the promotions). The universal network market system can select users who have an interest in the targeted items. Those selected users are the targeted users (potential buyers) that are the most desired by advertisers.

In operation 2722, users are permitted to submit reviews for the expert solution. The Expert of universal network market system may submit reviews for the expert solutions. For each expert solution, overall ranking and linked ranking will be determined. Such rankings are available to users (e.g. posted on the Web-site).

The process 2690 of FIG. 26D for obtaining items of interest to the user can be accommodated to obtain tasks of interest to user. An additional operation 2732 can be included to break-up complicated task into sub-tasks in order to find expert solutions for the sub-task.

In operation 2724, the user directly specifies one or more tasks of interest. The universal network market system receives the tasks of interest from the user. In operation 2726, an electronic version of a catalog that lists known tasks or things can be presented to the user. The user, who may be a potential purchaser, may browse through the catalog using a browser and may select various tasks of interest (e.g. task to accomplish, such as "a high school student wants to be a doctor"). The selected tasks may be moved to an "Action Organizer". In operation 2728, a user may submit queries about one or more tasks, and may decide whether the queried tasks are tasks of interest once the user is provided more information by the expert (machine or human being). In operation 2727, user's information (e.g. demographic information, shopping behavior, task of interest") is obtained. In operation 2730, based on the user's information or query, or task of interest, the expert of universal network market system presents a plurality of recommended tasks for the user to browser. For each task of interest to user, the universal network market system may identify the related task as the recommended tasks. The user can choose tasks of interest. In case, little or no information is obtained from the user, the most popular tasks (e.g. how to get a good job) can be recommended.

MARKETING METHOD

For marketing purposes, the universal network market system may make all the expert solutions open for viewing to all users. Alternatively, the universal network market

51 system may make only some expert solution open to all users, while reserving some other expert solutions for qualified users only.

For example, the universal network market system may create a recipe for an "Analog Circuit Design Step by Step". The recipe is divided into ten sections. The first two sections may be made available to everyone, while the universal network market system may reserve the rest of the eight sections only for qualified users. The universal network market system may allows any user to view the first two sections of recipe. The universal network market system may require a user to refer a pre-determined number of friends (e.g. 10 friends) to join the service of the universal network market system in order to read the reserved sections of the recipe.

GENERATING AN EXPERT PLATFORM

FIG. 28 is a flow chart of a process 2800 for generating an expert platform. In operation 2802, an indication is displayed for expert solutions to be submitted. In operation 2804, the universal network market system receives the submitted expert solution. In operation 2806, the expert platform stores the expert solutions in one or more databases.

In operation 2808, the universal network market system presents the submitted expert solutions to one or more users. The presentment can be in the form of web-page posting. Further, the presentment can be in a form selected from the group comprising text, print, audio, and video, data stream and icons. In operation 2810, for each expert solution, the author(s) of the expert solution is rewarded based on predetermined criteria. The predetermined criteria can be the number of users viewing the expert solution, the ranking (public ranking, linked ranking) of the expert solution and so on. In operation 2812, for each expert solution, tasks to which the expert solution is directed are identified. The universal network market system links the expert solution to the identified tasks. The universal network market system identifies the recommended items to accomplish the task and links the recommended items to the task.

In operation 2814, for each expert solution, the author is permitted to identify the tasks directed by the submitted expert solution, and to recommend items to accomplish the task. The universal network market system may link the submitted expert solution to the identified tasks. The universal network market system may link the recommended items to the identified tasks separately. In operation 2818, for each expert solution, the

52 universal network market system associates the expert solutions with the authors who submit the expert solutions.

In operation 2826, a catalog is generated for known tasks based on predetermined criteria (e.g. life, work, education). A task can be associated with one or more categories. In operation 2828, for each task, an expert may identify expert solutions that are known for the task, and link the identified solutions with the task. The expert may also identify the recommended items from the identified solutions, link the recommended items to the task and then link promotions directed to the recommended items with the task. In operation 2822, users are permitted to submit reviews for the expert solution. The expert of the universal network market system may submit reviews for the expert solutions also. For each expert solution, overall ranking and linked ranking can be determined. Those ranking can be made available to users (e.g. posted on the Web-site).

AN EXPERT PLATFORM

FIG. 29 is a non-limiting sample expert platform. Instruction 2902 indicates that at least one author (the user who submit the expert solution) can submit expert solutions. The author can recommend items to accomplish the task directed by the expert solutions owned by the author. The submitted expert solution may be ranked. The author may be rewarded for the submitted expert solution based on predetermined criteria. The predetermined criteria can be the number of persons accessing the expert solution and or the ranking of the expert solution. The ranking may include public ranking and linked ranking.

The tasks are categorized based on school 2910, and business 2920. The category of school 2910 includes the tasks of "go to primary school 2912", "go to high school 2914", and "go to college 2916". The category of business includes the tasks of "start a company 2922" and "sell books on line 2924". The task, "start a company 2922" is divided into "patent the idea 2932", "incorporate 2934", and "build a team 2936".

There is no any expert solution linked to (specifically for) the tasks of "go to college 2916", "incorporate 2934", "build a team 2936", and "sell books on line 2924". "Go to primary school 2912" has three expert solutions 2950, 2952, 2954. Expert solution 2950 has the highest ranking, while expert solution 2952 has the lowest ranking. "Go to high school 2914" has one expert solution 2956, which has the highest ranking. "Start a company 2922" has one expert solution 2960. It is a complicated task, and has a an

53 expert solution associated with it. "Patent an idea 2932" has one expert solution 2962, which has the highest score.

Advertising using traditional media, such as television, radio, newspapers and magazines, is known. Advertisers have used these types of media to reach a large audience with their advertisements. To reach a more responsive audience, advertisers have used demographic studies. For example, advertisers may use broadcast events such as football games to advertise beer and action movies to a younger male audience. However, even with demographic studies and entirely reasonable assumptions about the typical audience of various media outlets, advertisers recognize that much of their ad budget is simply wasted because the target audience is not interested in the ad they are receiving.

More accurately targeting information is a problem that continues to be the subject of research and development in the advertising and e-commerce industries. Inventions that improve the targeting of information are of great economic value.

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools, and methods that are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above- described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.

A technique for providing targeted information to users involves using demographic or specific user data. Each user may have some demographic data associated with them, which may be compared to, by way of example but not limitation, another user, a product,

54 information, a location, or other goods or services. Promotions that take demographic information into account can be effective in presenting information to a user, which is more beneficial to both the user and a vendor or expert associated with the promotion. Specific user information can be used to address specific user needs.

An example of a factor that may be of importance to a user in general, or to a user of a particular demographic, is providing information and advertisements in a timely manner, particularly information and advertisements that are timing-critical.

An example of another factor that may be of importance to a user in general, or to an advertiser of goods or services, is direct selling to a demographic with minimum product inventory. Assuming the advertiser has better information regarding consumer demographics, an advertiser may take advantage of this. Vendors may be willing to provide discounts to advertisers with good demographic information because the advertisers can be more effective in their targeting of consumers who would want a given good or service. Advertisers with improved demographic information may be able to maintain more accurate inventories, thereby avoiding large storage costs, or to even go without inventory if acting as a conduit for a vendor. This ability may be further augmented by the ability to predict sales that are highly likely for a given user or group of users.

An example of another factor that may be of importance to a user in general, or to an advertiser of goods or services, is customer-specific advertising. Demographic or specific knowledge about a user or group of users can vastly improve advertising effectiveness and efficiency. It is particularly important to provide hard copies of advertisements to those consumers that are likely to buy a given good or service, due to the expense associated with hard copies. Thus, targeted information can reduce costs for both soft copy and hard copy advertisement.

An example of another factor that may be of importance to a user in general, or to an advertiser of goods or services, is taking advantage of one-to-one marketing. Users can specify what goods or services that interest them. Demographic or specific knowledge about a user can improve the prompts to obtain such user information, thereby benefiting both the user and the vendor of the goods or services.

An example of another factor that may be of importance to a user in general, or to an advertiser of goods or services, is taking advantage of referrals. Users who are effectively

55 targeted may be willing to provide referrals to other users, as a favor, for personal profit, or both. Referrals can be accompanied by, for example, a linked ranking that would be tuned to the demographic or specific information associated with the sender of the referral or the receiver.

An example of another factor that may be of importance to a user in general, or to a user of a particular demographic, is user needs oriented promotions. By addressing user needs, information can be more effectively targeted. User needs may be ascertained from a user who has indicated an interest, or from needs that are derived from demographic information, such as by way of example but not limitation, needed information regarding immigration for immigrant groups or information related to obtaining a drivers' license for users who have reached or will soon reach the legal age to drive.

A technique for providing user-oriented promotions includes linking a good or service to an expert solution in which a user has potential interest. Expert solutions may include sequences of tasks that should be accomplished in order to obtain a goal. Typically, expert solutions are desired by users who do not know how to complete a complex task on their own. Accordingly, the complex tasks are broken down into chunks that are more manageable. Each chunk may have an associated good or service that may be of value. Matching the goods or services to the tasks can result in improved targeting of users who may be interested in purchasing the good or service. This can be further improved by maintaining user-specific information related to each user.

In alternative embodiments, linking a good or service to the expert solution is not required; the expert solution itself is the service. In this embodiment, the expert solution may be a paid-for service, or may be provided to particular users as a perk for becoming a member or as a reward. Alternatively, the expert solution may be a tool for obtaining user-specific information so that further targeting of the user with promotions that would interest the user can be achieved.

The proposed system can offer, among other advantages, a dynamic referral system with rewards based upon, by way of example but not limitation, time, relatedness of referee and referrer, hierarchical considerations, item associations, or other factors. The proposed system can offer, among other advantages, a user-oriented marketing system. These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art

56 upon a reading of the following descriptions and a study of the several figures of the drawings.

FIG. 30 depicts a networked system 8100 that includes several computer systems coupled together through a network 8102, such as the Internet. The term "Internet" as used herein refers to a network of networks which uses certain protocols, such as the TCP/IP protocol, and possibly other protocols such as the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) for hypertext markup language (HTML) documents that make up the World Wide Web (the web). The physical connections of the Internet and the protocols and communication procedures of the Internet are well known to those of skill in the art.

The web server 8104 is typically at least one computer system which operates as a server computer system and is configured to operate with the protocols of the World Wide Web and is coupled to the Internet. The web server system 8104 can be a conventional server computer system. Optionally, the web server 8104 can be part of an ISP which provides access to the Internet for client systems. The web server 8104 is shown coupled to the server computer system 8106 which itself is coupled to web content 8108, which can be considered a form of a media database. While two computer systems 8104 and 8106 are shown in Fig. 30, the web server system 8104 and the server computer system 8106 can be one computer system having different software components providing the web server functionality and the server functionality provided by the server computer system 8106, which will be described further below.

Access to the network 8102 is typically provided by Internet service providers (ISPs), such as the ISPs 8110 and 8116. Users on client systems, such as client computer systems 8112, 8118, 8122, and 8126 obtain access to the Internet through the ISPs 8110 and 8116. Access to the Internet allows users of the client computer systems to exchange information, receive and send e-mails, and view documents, such as documents which have been prepared in the HTML format. These documents are often provided by web servers, such as web server 8104, which are referred to as being "on" the Internet. Often these web servers are provided by the ISPs, such as ISP 8110, although a computer system can be set up and connected to the Internet without that system also being an ISP.

Client computer systems 8112, 8118, 8122, and 8126 can each, with the appropriate web browsing software, view HTML pages provided by the web server 8104. The ISP 8110 provides Internet connectivity to the client computer system 8112 through the modem

57 interface 8114, which can be considered part of the client computer system 8112. The client computer system can be a personal computer system, a network computer, a web TV system, or other computer system. While Fig. 30 shows the modem interface 8114 generically as a "modem," the interface can be an analog modem, isdn modem, cable modem, satellite transmission interface (e.g. "direct PC"), or other interface for coupling a computer system to other computer systems.

Similar to the ISP 8114, the ISP 8116 provides Internet connectivity for client systems 8118, 8122, and 8126, although as shown in Fig. 30, the connections are not the same for these three computer systems. Client computer system 8118 is coupled through a modem interface 8120 while client computer systems 8122 and 8126 are part of a LAN 8130.

Client computer systems 8122 and 8126 are coupled to the LAN 8130 through network interfaces 8124 and 8128, which can be Ethernet network or other network interfaces. The LAN 8130 is also coupled to a gateway computer system 8132 which can provide firewall and other Internet-related services for the local area network. This gateway computer system 8132 is coupled to the ISP 8116 to provide Internet connectivity to the client computer systems 8122 and 8126. The gateway computer system 8132 can be a conventional server computer system.

Alternatively, a server computer system 8134 can be directly coupled to the LAN 8130 through a network interface 8136 to provide files 8138 and other services to the clients 8122 and 8126, without the need to connect to the Internet through the gateway system 8132.

FIG. 31 depicts a computer system 8140 for use in the system 8100 (FIG. 30). The computer system 8140 may be a conventional computer system that can be used as a client computer system or a server computer system or as a web server system. Such a computer system can be used to perform many of the functions of an Internet service provider, such as ISP 8110 (FIG. 30). The computer system 8140 includes a computer 8142, I/O devices 8144, and a display device 8146. The computer 8142 includes a processor 8148, a communications interface 8150, memory 8152, display controller 8154, non-volatile storage 8156, and I/O controller 8158. The computer system 8140 may be couple to or include the I/O devices 8144 and display device 8146.

The computer 8142 interfaces to external systems through the communications interface 8150, which may include a modem or network interface. It will be appreciated that the

58 communications interface 8150 can be considered to be part of the computer system 8140 or a part of the computer 8142. The communications interface can be an analog modem, ISDN modem, cable modem, token ring interface, satellite transmission interface (e.g. "direct PC"), or other interfaces for coupling a computer system to other computer systems.

The processor 8148 may be, for example, a conventional microprocessor such as an Intel Pentium microprocessor or Motorola power PC microprocessor. The memory 8152 is coupled to the processor 8148 by a bus 8160. The memory 8152 can be Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) and can also include Static RAM (SRAM). The bus 8160 couples the processor 8148 to the memory 8152, also to the non- volatile storage 8156, to the display controller 8154, and to the I/O controller 8158.

The I/O devices 8144 can include a keyboard, disk drives, printers, a scanner, and other input and output devices, including a mouse or other pointing device. The display controller 8154 may control in the conventional manner a display on the display device 8146, which can be, for example, a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD). The display controller 8154 and the I/O controller 8158 can be implemented with conventional well known technology.

The non- volatile storage 8156 is often a magnetic hard disk, an optical disk, or another form of storage for large amounts of data. Some of this data is often written, by a direct memory access process, into memory 8152 during execution of software in the computer 8142. One of skill in the art will immediately recognize that the terms "machine-readable medium" or "computer-readable medium" includes any type of storage device that is accessible by the processor 8148 and also encompasses a carrier wave that encodes a data signal.

The computer system 8140 is one example of many possible computer systems which have different architectures. For example, personal computers based on an Intel microprocessor often have multiple buses, one of which can be an I/O bus for the peripherals and one that directly connects the processor 8148 and the memory 8152 (often referred to as a memory bus). The buses are connected together through bridge components that perform any necessary translation due to differing bus protocols.

Network computers are another type of computer system that can be used with the present invention. Network computers do not usually include a hard disk or other mass storage,

59 and the executable programs are loaded from a network connection into the memory 8152 for execution by the processor 8148. A Web TV system, which is known in the art, is also considered to be a computer system according to the present invention, but it may lack some of the features shown in FIG. 31, such as certain input or output devices. A typical computer system will usually include at least a processor, memory, and a bus coupling the memory to the processor.

In addition, the computer system 8140 is controlled by operating system software which includes a file management system, such as a disk operating system, which is part of the operating system software. One example of operating system software with its associated file management system software is the family of operating systems known as Windows® from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington, and their associated file management systems. Another example of operating system software with its associated file management system software is the Linux operating system and its associated file management system. The file management system is typically stored in the non- volatile storage 8156 and causes the processor 8148 to execute the various acts required by the operating system to input and output data and to store data in memory, including storing files on the non-volatile storage 8156.

Some portions of the detailed description are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of operations leading to a desired result. The operations are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as "processing" or "computing" or "calculating" or "determining" or

60 "displaying" or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

The present invention, in some embodiments, also relates to apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise a general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but is not limited to, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magnetic- optical disks, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and each coupled to a computer system bus.

The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the description below. In addition, the present invention is not described with reference to any particular programming language, and various embodiments may thus be implemented using a variety of programming languages.

FIG. 32 depicts an example of a device 8140 effective for targeting information. The device 8140 includes a processor 8166, a memory 8168, and a bus 8170 operationally connecting the processor 8166 to the memory 8168. The processor 8166 is effective to execute code or access data that is stored in the memory 8168 in a manner that is well- known.

In the example of FIG. 32, the memory 8168 includes a user needs oriented targeting engine 8172, a user needs database 8174, a goods/services database 8176. The memory 8168 may also include additional optional databases including, by way of example but not limitation, a promotions database 8178, a demographics database 8180, a time-sensitive advertisement database 8182, a rankings database 8184, a referral database 8186, a

61 coupon database 8188, and a search engine 8190. The databases include entries. These entries may be stored as records in a conventional database, as objects in an object- oriented system that functions as a database, or in some other manner that is effective to store data for reliable maintenance and access. The databases may be maintained locally, at a remote location, or at multiple locations. Each entry is associated with one or more fields that include data. As used herein, a field is a general term for a data set found in a record of a database, an array of an object, or some other data structure or group of data structures that is stored in association with the entry.

In the example of FIG. 32, the user needs database 8174 is effective to include a plurality of user needs database entries. In an embodiment, each user needs database entry is associated with a user and includes a contact field and an interest field. The contact field includes data sufficient to contact the user. In an aspect of this embodiment, the contact field includes data such as, by way of example but not limitation, a phone number, an email address, or some other data that is effective as both an identifier of the user and contact data. Thus, the user needs database entry is associated with the user because the user can be identified thereby. Alternatively, the contact field may include some other data that does not directly identify the user, such as a web site, a bulletin board, or a mailing list. In this case, the user needs database entry may include a user field that has data sufficient to identify the user. For example, the user field could be a name, a serial number, a login ID, a user ID, a login name, or some other user-specific data. In another alternative, the user field and the contact field could be sufficient to redundantly identify the user. The interest field may include data related to goods or services that may be of interest to the user. The data may include specific items or models that the user indicated an interest in, or classes of goods or services. The data may be derived from the user's activities or by demographic data associated with the user, or the user may have explicitly indicated the interest. The user needs database entries may include other fields, which need not be described to understand the principles described herein.

FIG. 33 depicts an example of a user needs database 8174. The user needs database 8174 includes a plurality of user needs database entries 8202-1 to 8202 -N (referred to hereinafter collectively as the user needs database entries 8202). Each of the user needs database entries 8202 include a plurality of fields. In the example of FIG. 33, the fields include a contact field 8204 and an interest field 8206. The contact field 8204 includes an email address, which is but one of a myriad of ways to contact a user or to facilitate

62 contact of a user. The interest field 8206 includes a plurality of sub-fields for identifying various goods and/or services. In the example of FIG. 33, the user associated with the email address userl@lyhoo.com has multiple sub-fields in the interest field 8206, which are depicted as items 8208-1 to 8208-N (referred to hereinafter collectively as the items 8208). For illustrative purposes, the user associated with the email address user2@lyhoo.com has one sub-field in the interest field 8206, which is depicted as item 8209, and the user associated with the email address userN@lyhoo.com has no items of interest. Due to the great number of possible user interests in goods and services, it may be desirable to maintain the sub-fields dynamically. That is, each user needs database entry may grow in size if a user have multiple interests. The detail of each item of interest may also vary greatly depending upon the specificity and type of item. Examples of more specific items of interest are described later.

Referring once again to FIG. 32, in operation, the user needs oriented targeting engine 8172 targets a user to inform the user of goods and/or services in the goods/services database 8176 that match the interests of the user, as identified in the user needs database 8174. The goods/services database 8176 can facilitate direct selling with minimum product inventory. For example, if one or more users have indicated an interest in the same good or service, the system 8100 may attempt to purchase the good or service from a seller at a lower price than would normally be available through a retail channel by virtue of, for example, the number of orders for the item by users of the system 8100. The system 8100 may take into account a common, average, or maximum purchase price in making offers to sellers. The sellers may lower their prices to meet a demand by offering, for example, coupons to potential buyers who have indicated an interest in the good or service at a particular price. This can lead to improved targeting of consumers who have already expressed an interest in the product. Among other advantages, this tends to reduce the "junk" nature of advertisements to particular users. This also typically keeps the product inventory lower for the intermediary running the system 8100. In an embodiment, the intermediary may also provide sales information to companies regarding potential sales so that the companies can also keep their inventories at a beneficial level.

Improved targeting can lead to time and cost-savings for generating a brochure of customer-specific advertisements (in soft or hard copy). The brochure may be printed as an e-magazine or an actual catalog with customer-specific advertisements presented as images, tables, figures, or other forms that aid the customer in deciding upon a purchase.

63 The advertisements may include ads that were provided by a company, found with a search, created internally, or generated from referrals by other users. The customer- specific catalogs may include recommendations that are related to identified user needs, thereby taking advantage of cross-selling of advertisements. The catalogs may be sent to the user electronically or by post. One or more of the advertisements in the catalog could include a coupon identification number so that the consumer can make a purchase using the coupon. Users who make referrals may be rewarded if the consumer makes use of a coupon associated with their referral. Online advertisements may include links to, for example, a seller's website. The advertisements may include a status that identifies deadlines to act or other information. The catalog may include both coupons that are available to everyone (or a demographic) and coupons that are customer-specific, such as referrals from acquaintances.

Advantageously, other engines and databases can be used to target users in a time- sensitive, promotion-driven, demographics-driven, referral-driven, or other manner. The specificity possible with the system described herein permits ranking of goods or services by users that can be applied to the interests of other users, thereby improving the value of the rankings. This can lead to more efficient use of a promotions database to target users with promotions and advertising.

FIGS. 34A and 34B depict an example of a promotions database 8178. In the example of FIG. 34A, the promotions database 8178 has a promoter-based index. In the example of FIG. 34B, the promotions database 8178 has a consumer-based index. The databases may or may not be logically combined, but for the purposes of example, the promotions database 8178 is generally referred to herein as a combination of the promoter-based and consumer-based indexes, which are treated as interchangeable. In alternative embodiments, the promotions database 8178 may actually be split into two databases similar to those depicted in the examples of FIGS. 34A and 34B.

In the example of FIG. 34A, the promotions database 8178 is shown as including promotions database entries 8210-1 to 8210-N (referred to hereinafter collectively as the promotions database entries 8210). In the example of FIG. 34A, each of the promotions database entries 8210 have a company field 8212, a product field 8214, a coupon field 8216, and a consumer field 8218. For the purposes of illustration, the company field associated with the promotions database entry 8210-1 includes an identifier of "Company 1". The product field may include a list of products such as, for the purposes of

64 illustration, "Product A", "Product B", and "Product C". For the purposes of illustration, the promotions database entry 8210-1 includes coupon IA (Company 1, Product A) and coupon 1C (Company 1, Product C). A coupon may be for a particular good or service or for a class or sub-class of a good or service. The coupon may include a sale price or a discount on a good or service. A coupon may or may not include a serial number or coupon code to uniquely (or generally) identify the coupon, possibly to determine the origin of the coupon. For the purposes of illustration, "Product B" does not have an associated coupon. For the purposes of illustration, the promotions database entry 8210-1 includes an identifier of Consumers 1 to Consumers N, which are associated with Product A (as shown by being entered on the same line as Product A in the example of FIG. 34A). The association between the consumers and the product, the company, or both is made by, by way of example but not limitation, comparing user needs in the user needs database 8174 with goods or services in the goods/services database to find a match. If any coupons are available, the user may be made aware of the coupons along with the availability of the good or service. Alternatively, the user may be made aware of the good or service only if a coupon is available. The notification of the user that a match has been made may be determined by an administrator, it may be configurable by the user, or there may be some automated procedure in place.

In the example of FIG. 34B, the promotions database 8178 is shown as including promotions database entries 8220-1 to 8220-N (referred to hereinafter collectively as the promotions database entries 8220). The promotions database entries 8220 include a consumer field 8222, product field 8224, coupon field 8226, and company field 8226. For the purposes of illustration, the consumer field associated with promotions database entry 8220-1 includes an identifier of "Consumer 1". The product field may include a list of products such as, for the purposes of illustration, "Product A", "Product B", and "Product F". For the purposes of illustration, the promotions database entry 8220-1 includes coupon IA (Company 1, Product A) and coupon 4A (Company 4, Product A). For the purposes of illustration, the promotions database entry 8220-1 includes "Company 1" and "Company 4" in association with the relevant products (as shown by being entered on the same line as the relevant products).

In operation, the device 8140 (FIG. 32) can use the promotions database 8178 to match not only goods and services to users based upon the users' needs, but also to match promotions. For example, an Internet-scouring device, such as a spider, could gather

65 information related to promotional material for presentation to a user. Alternatively, companies could voluntarily enter their promotional coupons into the database using a submission procedure or some other procedure.

Advantageously, the promotions database 8178 facilitates customer-oriented advertisements and one-to-one marketing. Using the promotions database 8178, advertising changes from a passive approach to an active approach where buyers identify their needs. Based on their needs, the user needs oriented targeting engine 8172 can provide the advertisements to which the users will be most receptive. In an embodiment, the advertisements may even be sent in a manner that the user prefers (email, TV signal, hard copy printed material, or other communication channel). As a result of the targeting, the user is more likely to respond favorably to the advertising.

In an embodiment, the user needs oriented targeting engine 8172 may use the promotions database 8178 in two tables similar to the tables depicted in the examples of FIGS. 34A and 34B. The user needs oriented targeting engine 8172 matches items the user needs with goods and services a company provides. Since it can be determined what buyers want and what sellers can provide, one-to-one marketing can be achieved. Sellers may be provided with information that is useful to decide what items would be most valuable to provide, or to which group of users to advertise. Cross-selling and up-selling can be enhanced.

The user needs targeting engine 8172 may provide a user interface to present items to a user. In an embodiment, the user needs targeting engine 8172 may reserve a portion of its user interface to present products/service that a user may be interested in (i.e., a cross selling opportunity). In another embodiment, the user needs targeting engine 8172 may present advertisements intended to anticipate the user's interests. For example, if a user is looking for a coupon for a Dell laptop, the user needs targeting engine 8172 can predict that the buyer may also be interested in a DELL printer. As a result, the user needs targeting engine 8172 can present the latest advertisements, coupons, bonus points, product release information on various DELL printers to the user. The presentation of this information can be done in a reserved area of the interface so that the infoπnation won't interfere with the user's shopping experience,

In another embodiment, the user needs targeting engine 8172 can present a list of categorized items and their related information to the user. For example, when a user is

66 attempting to obtain information about a ballet performance (e.g., the location of the performance and/or any specials for the ballet performance), the user needs targeting engine 8172 can deduce that the buyer is interested in the performance. The user needs targeting engine 8172 can then present the buyer with categorized information on this performance such as, for example, Type of Performance, Actors, Location, and Parking information.

In another embodiment, the user needs targeting engine 8172 may be implemented to respect a user's privacy by requiring all communications between a buyer and a seller to go through the user needs targeting engine 8172 unless the buyer requests direct communication with a seller and obtains the permission of the user needs targeting engine 8172 to do so. Additional privacy is afforded because the user can choose what type of advertisements, products, companies, and brands that the user is interested in and block all other advertisements (e.g., via a user request). Ads can be served or sent to a user through the user needs targeting engine 8172. In one embodiment, with user permission, the ads can be served/sent to user through any third-party, including the seller.

Ad selection can be done in the background since the user needs targeting engine 8172 may use user's stored information. The user needs targeting engine 8172 may select advertisements, promotions, production information for a user regardless of whether the user is using the network device or not using the network device. Then the user needs targeting engine 8172 may send/present/serve the selected information to user, or keep the selected information in the user's account. Notably, this is different from traditional search engines that typically do their searching (or selecting) while a user is actively online.

Advantageously, a Virtual Link can be built through the user needs targeting engine 8172 between commercial companies and their potential customers. This link allows a company (even small company) to build its own virtual sales force for any product, for even low-priced or low margin goods and services.

Some companies may wish to target a particular demographic. Advantageously, promotions may be matched to the demographics database 8180. The demographics database 8180 may, in an embodiment, actually be a part of the user needs database 8174, where demographics data is associated with each user. However, for the purpose of example, the demographics database 8180 is treated as a distinct database.

67 Promotions or advertisements may be time-sensitive. Such promotions may be entered into the time-sensitive advertisement database 8182 and matched to users based upon indicated need. The time to respond may or may not also be provided to the user. Advantageously, users may be provided with time-critical advertising that they might miss if the system 8100 were not actively searching for and tracking the ads. For example, www.techbargains.com might have a short-term promotion for Dell Home Notebook Computers on August 17, 2004. A user might not be aware of the ad or might forget to act upon the ad on the given date. The system 8100, on the other hand, can scan various web sites for promotions, match the promotions to user needs, and identify the promotions to the user when the promotions become available, or compiled in a list, including dates on which to act. The notification may be provided to the user however the user prefers, such as, by way of example but not limitation, IM, email, cell-phone, or other notification means. The users may indicate they wish to make a purchase, either now or in the future, and the system 8100 can execute the transaction at the indicated time.

The search for timing-critical advertisements may be conducted by searching sites of companies identified in the user needs database 8174 as preferred companies, or sites that are preferred by the user. The system 8100 can match buyers to sellers based upon a user profile in the user needs database 8174 and company profiles in the goods/services database 8176. In an embodiment, the system 8100 may include a search engine 8190 that searches for advertisements. The search engine 8190 may or may not search for items available from sources other than from sellers having an account or with listings in the goods/services database 8176. In an aspect of this embodiment, some or all of the search may be performed by a computer, while some of the search is performed by a human being.

Users, automated agents, or others may rank items based upon utility, popularity, price, or other factors. The rankings may be entered into the rankings database 8184. Advantageously, since information about the users is known, rankings can be augmented with, by way of example but not limitation, demographic data. In this way, users of a first demographic may receive rankings that are different from users of a second demographic for an identical item or category of items.

Users may provide referrals of items to other users. Data associated with a referral may be stored in the referral database 8186. Referrals may or may not be rewarded according

68 to one or more criteria. By way of example but not limitation, a user who makes a referral may be rewarded based upon how quickly the referred user responds to the referral, or the user who makes a referral may be rewarded for referrals made by the first user who responds to the referral, thereby rewarding a user for descendants of an initial referral. Rewards may be tracked by increasing credit of the user. Additional rewards may be provided if the credit reaches a threshold value.

FIG. 35 depicts a flowchart 8260 of an example of a method for providing referrals. In the example of FIG. 35, the flowchart 8260 starts at decision point 8261 where it is determined whether linked rankings are in effect. Linked rankings are optional. So, in an embodiment, linked rankings may not be available. In embodiments where linked rankings are available, a user may or may not be able to request linked rankings. An example of linked ranking is described later with reference to FIG. 36.

In the example of FIG. 35, if at decision point 8261 it is determined that linked ratings are not available or are not requested (8261 -N), then at block 8262 an item is presented to a first user. On the other hand, if at decision point 8261 it is determined that linked rankings are available and are requested, or are automatically available (8261 -Y), then at block 8263 a linked ranking is presented to the first user. In either case, the flowchart 8260 continues at block 8264 wherein the first user is given the opportunity to refer the item to a second user. The item may be goods (e.g., a product, promotion for a product, advertising alert, etc.) or a service (e.g., a service provider, an event, a promotion for a service, an advertising alert, or an expert task). In one or more embodiments, items are intended to encompass any good or service. At block 8262, the item may or may not be presented to multiple first users, and/or multiple items may or may not be presented to the first user(s). At block 8263, the linked ranking may or may not be presented to multiple first users (e.g., first users who share a demographic detail), and/or multiple linked rankings may or may not be presented to the first user(s). At block 8264, the first user may or may not refer the item or linked ranking to multiple second users, and/or multiple items or linked rankings may be referred to the second user(s).

In the example of FIG. 35, the flowchart 8260 continues at decision point 8265 where it is determined whether the second user acts on the referral. The first user may be motivated to encourage the second user to act on a referral because of the rewards. For example, if a coupon "$500 off of any Dell Laptop at www.lyhoo.com" is presented to the second user, the second user may not immediately purchase the computer. However, the first user may

69 encourage the second user to act because they will earn a reward of, for example, $20 if the second user acts. If the second user does not act on the referral (8265-N), then the flowchart 8260 does not proceed. It may be noted that referrals may have a "shelf life" that causes the flowchart 8260 to eventually end if the second user does not act on the referral. Thus, in an embodiment, the first user may or may not be rewarded simply for making a referral. Alternatively, rewards may diminish if the second user takes longer to act on the referral. Alternatively, the referral may time out after some time and a reward may be provided to the first user even if the second user never acts on the referral.

In the example of FIG. 35, if the second user acts on the referral (8265-Y), then the flowchart 8260 continues at block 8266 where the first user is rewarded. Acting on a referral may include purchasing a good or service associated with the referral, investigating the good or service, following a link to a web site and making a purchase that is either related or unrelated to the good or service for which the second user was referred, answering a questionnaire related to the referral, or performing some other affirmative action. The referral may or may not also invite the second user(s) to make use of the referring system, which, if acted upon, may have its own associated rewards for the first user. The first user may also be rewarded for indirect referrals (e.g., acted upon referrals by the second user to a third user).

In the example of FIG. 35, the flowchart 8260 continues at decision point 8267 where it is determined whether a rewards threshold has been met. The rewards threshold may be met every time a referral is acted upon (thus crediting an account with each referral acted upon) or the rewards threshold may be met after a certain number of referrals, or value of referrals, have been acted upon, or both (e.g., each referral that is acted upon may result in a credit, and after receiving a set number of credits, additional rewards may be earned). If at decision point 8267 the rewards threshold is not met (2867-N), then the flowchart 8260 does not progress until additional referrals have been acted upon by the second or other users that have received referrals from the first user (or by third or other users who have received referrals from the second user that are related to the referral provided by the first user to the second user). Indirect referrals may have diminishing rewards as the distance from an initial referral increases.

Distance may be thought of as degrees of separation. For example, if the first user refers the second user, then the first and second user may be thought of as one degree separated. If the second user then refers a third user, the first and third users may be thought of as

70 two degrees separated. Rewards to the first user may diminish according to the degrees of separation between them and a referred user. Alternatively or in addition, the first user may receive diminishing rewards over time so that faster referrals result in higher rewards than slower referrals.

In the example of FIG. 35, if at decision point 8267 the rewards threshold is met (8267- Y), then the flowchart 8260 continues at block 8268 where rewards for the first user are processed, and the flowchart 8260 ends. It may be noted that if users are credited for each acted-upon referral, and additionally rewarded for a certain number or value of referrals, then the flowchart 8260 may continue to loop at decision point 8267 for the additional rewards, while simultaneously crediting the first user at block 8268. For example, a user may receive credit for referrals, and earn, e.g., a new bicycle as a reward for amassing $5,000 worth of credit (in addition to the credits themselves) or, e.g., a new car for amassing $50,000 worth of credit. Also, additional rewards may be provided to the first user if the second user joins the referring system. The reward for joining the referral system may be instead of or in addition to the rewards for acting upon the referral.

Rewards may also be provided for checking a link associated with the first user. For example, the referral by the first user may include some identifier, such as a link to the first user's email, user account, or other location. If the second user checks the link to ensure that the referral is from the first user, the first user may be rewarded as if the second user had acted upon the referral. If the second user subsequently makes a purchase or joins the referral system, the rewards may be greater. If the first user is not identified in the referral, the second user may be asked for the first user's identity, and the first user may be rewarded without actually being explicitly linked to the referral,_.

FIG. 36 depicts a flowchart 8270 of an example of a method for linked ranking. Linked rankings may allow, for example, a first user to over-ride general rankings about particular items. Since general rankings tend to be an average of all demographics and user inputs, general rankings may not accurately reflect the desirability of an item to a particular demographic. For example, a first user may love the DEVIL laptop even though general rankings rate it relatively low because the DEVIL laptop is generally believed to be not worth its hefty price. If a user is a "high-end game player, age 21, using high speed Internet", and other users with the same associated demographic information rate the DEVIL laptop highly, then the linked rankings may reflect this. And

71 another user who receives the referral from the user may be provided the linked rankings appropriate for their demographic. In an embodiment, linked rankings may be defined as rankings by users that a given user knows and/or trusts. Thus, rather than demographic information, a user may receive linked rankings from a user who the user has indicated they know or trust. This can improve the confidence a user has in the rankings of a given item. Alternatively, the linked ranking may combine the general ranking, demographic- weighted ranking, and/or known or trusted rankings using a formula. This would presumably be superior to a typical rating system that simply ranks goods or services based on an average of equally weighted votes it receives. Multiple ratings (e.g., unweighted rankings alongside trusted rankings) may be provided to a user who requests linked rankings.

In the example of FIG. 36, the flowchart 8270 starts at block 8271 where an item is presented to a first user. The flowchart 8270 continues at block 8272 where the first user submits a review of the item. The first user may be different from other users by virtue of differing demographics information, previous referrals to certain users, identification of known or trusted users, or other information. The first user's review of an item may be applied to a general review (where all reviews are weighted equally). Alternatively, or in addition, the flowchart 8270 continues at block 8273 where the first user's review of the item is weighted based upon user-specific information. For example, a self-described scientist who reviews a Sony Digital Camera may be given greater weight with respect to other scientists than to high school students. As another example, a user in California may have different expectations regarding products than a user in New York, which is but one example of demographics information (which may be derived from input by the user, from shipping information, or some other data). In the example of FIG. 36, the flowchart 8270 continues at block 8274 where the weighted reviews are compiled based upon the user-specific information associated with a second user, and at block 8275 where the reviews are provided with weighted rankings to a second user.

Referring once again to FIG. 32, coupons may be recorded in the coupons database 8188. The coupons can be provided to users in a manner that is consistent with user oriented promotions.

FIG. 37 depicts a flowchart 8280 of an example of a method for user oriented promotion presentation. In the example of FIG. 37, the flowchart 8280 starts at block 8281 where promotions are received. Promotions may be received from advertisers who may specify

72 items for promotion. The advertisers may also be able to specify items or categories that are related to the promoted items. Alternatively, the promotions may be obtained by searching websites and updating promotions as they are found. In this alternative, the advertiser may or may not be aware that their promotions are being provided. Promotions are generally used to advertise goods or services (including promoting events).

In the example of FIG. 37, the flowchart 8280 continues at block 8282 where user needs information regarding one or more items of interest to a user is received. The user may specify particular items of interest, items to buy, items to join, or categories of interest. For each item of interest, the user may be able to select whether to receive promotions related to the item. If it is determined that a particular promotion is of interest to a user, and advertising alert may be sent even if the user has indicated no interest in receiving a promotion. Advertising alerts may also be sent if the promotion is going to expire, or if there are a limited number of items associated with the item. The user may be able to specify criteria (e.g., one or more characteristics about an item, the time frame to receive a promotion, etc.) for selecting promotions. The user may be able to select a preferred client device on which to receive promotions. The user may be able to assign each item of interest to one or more relative categories of need based, by way of example but not limitation, on the relative need by the user for an item. The assigned items may then be organized into item lists according to the assigned category of need. The lists may be provided to the user in a user-selectable format so that the user can select and review items assigned to the same category.

In the example of FIG. 37, the flowchart 8280 continues at block 8283 where promotions are selected for presentation to the user based upon the user needs information. The selection is accomplished by matching user needs to items available. The selection of promotions may occur at any time (e.g., whether or not the user is currently accessing the service). Portions of the selecting process may be performed in whole or in part by a machine or a human being. In an embodiment, promotions may be analyzed to identify items associated with the promotion and items related to the promotion, and to link the associated items and related items with the promotion. This may facilitate the creation of a catalog for known items based on criteria associated with the promotions and/or items. The promotions can be categorized based on related and associated items; a sub-category may be generated for the related promotions. The linking of associated and related items can also facilitate an accurate and fast selecting process.

73 In the example of FIG. 37, the flowchart 8280 continues at block 8284 where selected promotions are presented to the user. The presenting may occur at any time (e.g., whether or not a client device can communicate via a network). For example, the user can check the promotions on a PlayStation Portable (PSP) while waiting in an airport. Selected promotions may be presented in lists based upon the category of the item. The selected promotions may also be stored for future reference.

FIG. 38 depicts a flowchart 8290 of an example of a method for obtaining user needs. In the example of FIG. 38, the flowchart 8290 has four alternative exemplary blocks 8291, 8292, 8293, and 8294, which may occur simultaneously, intermittently, or not at all, depending upon the implementation and choices of users or agents. In block 8291, a user provides user needs information. The user can specify what items are of interest, what items to buy, what items to do, demographic information, or other information. In block 8292, a catalog of known items is provided to the user and to facilitate selection of one or more items of interest by the user. In block 8293, a user may ask questions, and be provided with recommended items (at block 8295) from which the user selects items of interest (at block 8296). In block 8294, demographic information associated with the user is obtained, and recommended items are provided to the user based upon the demographic information (at block 8295) from which the user selects items of interest (at block 8296). Demographic information may be obtained in any of a number of ways including, by way of example but not limitation, telephone interviews, electronic questionnaires, shipping information, in person interviews, previous purchases, Internet habits, etc.

User oriented promotions can be presented for expert solutions. Expert solutions are advantageous as user oriented promotions because a person may not know how to perform a task, or how to recognize important parts of a task. For example, starting a company is a big task that may require patents, legal services, and other services that might not mean much to the person. So, even if the such services are promoted to the user, the user may not recognize their importance or significance. The tasks may be broken down into chunks that are small enough to be readily comprehended and followed by users. 1'hese chunks are manageable projects. Tasks may be divided into sub-tasks, and eventually into a series of chunks that, when completed, provide an expert solution to a problem. For example, an expert solution to start a company may be broken into sub- tasks including get an idea, patent the idea if new, incorporate, build a team, develop a product, etc. These sub-tasks may be further divided. For example, building a team may

74 be divided into find a CTO, find a CEO, find engineers, etc. Eventually, the tasks should be broken down into chunks that can be readily accomplished.

FIG. 39 depicts an example of a system 8100 for providing expert solutions to users. The system 8100 includes user information that enables the system to identify and obtain tasks of interest to the user in much the same way as goods and services are matched to user needs, as described above with reference to FIGS. 32-38. FIG. 39 is similar to FIG. 32, but includes an expert database 8192. In an embodiment, the expert database 8192 includes expert solutions to a task, including identifications (or links to) items in the goods/services database 8176 that are needed to finish the task. In an embodiment, the promotions database 8178 may include promotions associated with the identified items for presentation to users having an interest or identified need for the expert solutions. The promotions can be tied to the expert solutions in such a way that the promotions are user task oriented, solve the user's concerns, and/or get more attention from the user. The expert solutions may include instructions how to do something, steps to perform a task, recommendations, recipes, and so on. Human experts, expert systems, and human know- how can all be incorporated into expert solutions.

FIG. 40 depicts a flowchart 8310 of an example of a method for generating an expert platform. In the example of FIG. 40, the flowchart 8310 starts at block 8311 where an expert solution is received. In alternative embodiments, or selectively in an embodiment, the system may prompt a user to submit the expert solution, or the user may submit the expert solution without prompting. At block 8312 the expert solution is stored in a database such as, by way of example but not limitation, the expert database 8192 (FIG. 39).

In the example of FIG. 40, the flowchart 8310 continues at block 8313 where the user who submitted the expert solution identifies tasks related to the expert solution, and/or identifies recommended items for association with the expert solution. It may be noted that the tasks may be already identified at the time of submission. In addition, if the expert solution is not already explicitly associated with the user, the expert solution is associated with the user so that the user can be rewarded, if applicable. The user may be queried as to whether a task is sufficiently broken down as to be manageable. The evaluation may be by an automated agent or a human being.

75 In the example of FIG. 40, the flowchart 8310 continues at block 8314 where the expert solution is linked to identified tasks, and identified tasks are linked to the recommended items (and the expert solution is linked to the user, if necessary). This may include linking associated promotions to the expert solution, the tasks, or the recommended items. The user who submitted the expert solution may or may not be able to explicitly link the expert solution to items and promotions.

In the example of FIG. 40, the flowchart 8310 continues at block 8315 where tasks are categorized. This may entail asking the user who submitted the expert solution, may be determined based upon the identified tasks or recommended items, or may be categorized according to some other criteria. When tasks are categorized, the tasks may be further linked to other tasks or recommended items at block 8314. Categorizations may include general categories such as, by way of example but not limitation, life, work, education, etc. A task, or its subtasks, may or may not be associated with multiple categories.

In the example of FIG. 40, the flowchart 8310 continues at block 8316 where the expert solution is presented to one or more other users. The presentation can be in the form of web-page postings, or other forms. The presentation can include text, print, audio, video, data stream, icons, or other components. Presenting expert solutions to other users may be improved by targeting users as described previously. The system may identify user needs and match the needs to the expert solution, to tasks associated with the expert solution, or with items associated with the expert solution. Promotions related to the expert solution may be presented to users in a similar manner. Demographics information may be used to fine-tune presentations to users. For example, an expert solution regarding how to become a doctor may be characterized as "how a high school student would go about becoming a doctor" and the expert solution could be adjusted according to the "high school student" demographic (or some other demographic or goal, such as where the user would want to practice medicine after graduation). Where little or no information about a user is known, the most popular tasks, such as "how to get a job" may be recommended.

In the example of FIG. 40, the flowchart 8310 continues at block 8317 where the user who submitted the expert system is rewarded. The rewards may vary depending upon the implementation. For example, rewards may depend upon the number of users who view the expert solution, the ranking (public ranking or linked ranking) of the expert solution, or other factors.

76 In the example of FIG. 40, the flowchart 8310 continues at block 8318 where the system receives reviews of the expert solution. Users who view or use the expert solution can rank the expert solution as they feel is appropriate. The rankings may be linked, as described previously with respect to FIGS. 32-38, to provide more accurate rankings based upon user-specific information. Users who submit expert solutions that are well ranked may receive additional rewards at block 8317.

It may be noted that the system 8100 may search for expert solutions from non-users much as the system 8100 can search for promotions and advertisements, using, by way of example but not limitation, the search engine 8190.

FIG. 41 depicts an example of an expert platform 8320. The expert platform includes multiple expert solutions 8322 in general categories 8324, organized according to tasks 8326, and subtasks 8328. Each expert solution 8322 includes a ranking. It should be noted that a single (apparently) general ranking is depicted for the purposes of illustration, but each expert solution could include rankings based upon user-specific needs or demographic information or multiple rankings for each expert solution.

In the example of FIG. 41, the expert solutions 8322 are divided into two general categories 8324, "school" and "business". Of course, other categories are anticipated, and categories could be cross-linked or further subdivided. The "school" category is divided into tasks 8326 that include "go to primary school", "go to high school", and "go to college". The "business" category is divided into tasks 8326 that include "start a company" and "sell books online". For illustrative purposes, the "start a company" task is further subdivided into subtasks 8328 that include "patent an idea", "incorporate", and "build a team". The description of these items as tasks (or subtasks) instead of categories is for illustrative purposes only, and is due to the character of the tasks being goals that can be accomplished. In some cases the designation as a "category" or a "task" may be somewhat blurrier. In some embodiments the designation of category or task is not of particular importance, while in other embodiments, the terms may have specific meanings.

Expert solutions 8322 may be linked to a task or subtask. For illustrative purposes only, the "go to college" and "sell books online" tasks have no associated expert solutions. Similarly, the "incorporate" and "build a team" subtasks have no associated expert solutions. The "go to high school" and "start a company" tasks have a single associated

77 expert solution, and the "patent an idea" subtask has a single associated expert solution. For illustrative purposes only, the "go to primary school" task has multiple expert solutions.

As an example, say user-specific information is known that tends to indicate a possible need for an expert solution for "go to primary school". This may be due to the fact that the user is of primary school age; the user is a parent of a primary school age child, knowledge of book purchases that would suggest an interest in primary school, or other user-specific or demographic information. The user may be presented with a promotion advertising the expert solutions available, including the rankings. The expert solutions 8322 include three expert solutions related to "go to primary school", which could be ranked for the user. Depending upon the implementation, the rankings could differ depending upon the user-specific information, in a manner that has been described previously. If the user relies upon the rankings, the user will likely select the highest ranked solution.

The system described herein is expandable. Theoretically, any number of goods or services, with any degree of specificity or categorizations could be implemented. Moreover, companies could be granted licenses to use a platform of the system to build up their own customer-oriented advertisement, shopping experts, shopping lists, etc. Thus, other companies could submit expert solutions and have access to user-specific information, such as shopping profiles, though user privacy will preferably not be sacrificed.

FIG. 42 depicts a conceptual diagram of an example of a system 8330 for targeting users with user-oriented promotions. The system 8330 may be used to target goods or services (including expert solutions). The system 8330 includes a targeting engine 8332, a promotions information database 8334, a goods/services information gatherer 8336, providers 8338, a network 8340, an admin console 8342, a user-specific information database 8344, a user-specific information gatherer 8346, and a user 8348.

In operation, the targeting engine 8332 matches information from the promotions information database 8334 with information from the user-specific information database 8344, and sends user-oriented promotions to the user 8348 via the network 8340. The user 8348 may receive the promotions in any conventional (or as-of-yet undeveloped) manner. In an alternative, the targeting engine 8332 could be local with respect to the

78 user 8348, obviating the necessity of sending the promotions via the network 8340. The network 8340 may include telephone networks if, by way of example but not limitation, the promotions are sent to the user 8348 via a telephone or cell phone.

The promotions information database 8334 may receive data from the goods/services information gatherer 8336. The goods/services information gatherer 8336 may receive explicit input from providers 8338 or through an admin console 8342. The goods/services information gatherer 8336 may analyze and/or categorize the input data, and/or request additional data from the providers 8338 or admin console 8342. In addition, the goods/services information gatherer 8336 may scour the network looking for information related to goods and/or services. Such information may include new release information, promotions, coupons, and the like.

The user-specific information database 8344 may receive data from the user-specific information gatherer 8346. The user-specific information gatherer 8346 may receive explicit input from the user 8348 or through the admin console 8342. The user-specific information gatherer 8346 may analyze and/or categorize the input data, and/or request additional data from the user 8348 or admin console 8342. In addition, the user-specific information gatherer 8346 may search the network 8340, transactional information, and other sources for information related to the user 8348.

As used herein, the term "embodiment" means an embodiment that serves to illustrate by way of example but not limitation.

As used herein, the term "item" may be defined to include any good or service (including an activity, event, or occurrence) that may be listed in a catalog, online, or in any other form. An item may include characteristics that may be used to categorize the item. An item may match another item if the characteristics of the items are similar. The match need not be an exact match. Rather, a match may be an indication of a relative degree of similarity or an absolute degree of similarity, or a degree of relatedness. The absolute degree of similarity may indicate belonging to a same category (e.g., a "food" category), same characteristic (e.g., costing over a certain amount of money), or other relationship (e.g., ink is related to printers). Matched items are considered to be related items.

As used herein, the term "promotion" may refer to advertisements, notices used to promote events, or brochures for presenting commercial or non-commercial information. Generally, promotions are used to advertise goods and services (including events). A

79 promotion may or may not be directed to one or more items (e.g., a computer), associated with one or more items (e.g., a coupon for a monitor from a specific retail outlet), or about one or more items (e.g., a particularly sweet pineapple described in promotional literature). A promotion may or may not be associated with one or more advertisers (or identities of advertisers). Promotions for specific items may be treated as promotions for all related items.

As used herein, the term "advertisement" may refer to a variety of forms of promotions, including but not limited to standard print advertisements, online advertisements, audio advertisements, audio/visual advertisement, or any other type of sensory message desired by an advertiser. Advertisements may include advertising, promotions, coupons, bonus points, special offers, product releases, new products, product updates, or any other information.

As used herein, the term "product" includes real products and any commercial or non¬ commercial services that a company or individual can provide.

As used herein, the term "need" is akin to the term "want" or "like."

As used herein, the term "user" refers to a person with a networked computer. The user may or may not be a member of a system associated with the teachings described herein.

It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that the preceding examples and embodiments are exemplary and not limiting to the scope of the present invention. It is intended that all permutations, enhancements, equivalents, and improvements thereto that are apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings are included within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims include all such modifications, permutations and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented using computer programming or engineering techniques including computer software, firmware, hardware or any combination or subset thereof. Any such resulting program - having computer-readable code - may be embodied or provided in one or more computer-readable media, thereby making a computer program product (e.g., an article of manufacture) implementation of one or more embodiments described herein. The computer readable media may be, for instance, a fixed drive (e.g., a hard drive), diskette, optical disk, magnetic tape,

80 semiconductor memory such as for example, read-only memory (ROM), flash-type memory, etc., and/or any transmitting/receiving medium such as the Internet and/or other communication network or link. An article of manufacture containing the computer code may be made and/or used by executing the code directly from one medium, by copying the code from one medium to another medium, and/or by transmitting the code over a network. In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art of computer science may be able to combine the software created as described with appropriate general purpose or special purpose computer hardware to create a computer system or computer sub-system embodying embodiments or portions thereof described herein.

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Claims

We Claim:

1. A method for advertising, the method comprising the computer-implemented acts of: obtaining information, from a user, on at least one task that is of interest to said user when said user is online; and selecting advertisements based on said information, wherein said selected advertisements are for presenting to said user.

2. The method of Claim 1, further comprising: selecting at least one expert solution directed to said at least one task based on said information; identifying items for implementing said at least one expert solution, wherein said items comprise one or more of products, and services; and presenting said items to user for selection.

3. The method of Claim 1, wherein presenting advertisements includes selecting advertisements based on selected items selected by said user when said user is presented with a list of items identified for accomplishing said at least one task.

4. The method of Claim 1, wherein selecting advertisements includes selecting advertisements based on said at least one task.

5. The method of Claim 1, wherein selecting advertisements includes selecting advertisements based other tasks that are related to said at least one task.

6. The method of Claim 4, further comprising selecting up-selling type advertisements.

7. The method of Claim 4, further comprising selecting cross-selling type advertisements.

8. The method of Claim 1, wherein selecting advertisements occurs dynamically while said user remains online.

9. The method of Claim 1, further comprising storing, on a database, said information on said at least one task, identification of at least one expert solution directed to said at least one task, and identification of items for implementing said at least one expert solution, demographic information on said user, and user input.

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10. The method of Claim 9, wherein selecting advertisements occurs when said user is offline by analyzing information stored on said database.

11. The method of Claim 1, wherein obtaining information on said at least one task further comprises allowing said user to describe said at least one task.

12. The method of Claim 1, wherein obtaining information on said at least one task further comprises providing a catalog of tasks and said user selects said at least one task from said catalog.

13. The method of Claim 1, wherein obtaining information on said at least one task further comprises: receiving one or more queries from said user; obtaining demographic information on said user; and recommending, to said user for selection, a plurality of tasks based on said one or more queries in view of said demographic information.

14. The method of Claim 1, wherein obtaining information on said at least one task further comprises: providing a list plurality of expert solutions on a variety of tasks to said user; permitting said user to select an expert solution that is of interest to said user; identifying said at least one task based on an expert solution selected by said user.

15. The method of Claim 14, further comprising: permitting a registered user to obtain a complete view of said user selected expert solution.

16. The method of Claim 14, further comprising: permitting an unregistered user to obtain a partial view of said user selected expert solution, wherein said unregistered user is permitted to obtain a complete view of said user selected expert solution when said unregistered user recruits a pre-determined number of users to register.

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17. A system for advertising, the system comprising: one or more analysis engines for analyzing user queries, user demographic information, user input for identifying one or more tasks that are of interest to a user; a relational database for managing information on said user queries, said user demographic information, said user input and advertisement information; and logic for selection of particular advertisements that are based on said identified one or more tasks.

18. The system of Claim 17, further comprising: a provisioning mechanism for providing expert solutions to said user; logic for identifying sub-tasks and related tasks associated with said identified one or more tasks that are of interest to said user; and logic for identifying advertisements associated with said sub-tasks and said related tasks.

19. A system for advertising, the system comprising: means for identifying one or more tasks that are of interest to a user; means for gathering information needed for selecting advertisements based on said identified one or more tasks; and means for analyzing said gathered information for selecting advertisement to present to said user.

20. The system of Claim 19, further comprising: means for providing expert solutions to said user; and means for identifying sub-tasks and related tasks associated with said identified one or more tasks that are of interest to said user.

21. A system comprising : a user needs database effective to include a plurality of user needs database entries, wherein a user needs database entry is associated with a user, includes information to facilitate contacting the user, and includes information related to goods or services that may be of interest to the user;

84 a goods/services database effective to include a plurality of goods/services database entries, wherein a goods/services database entry includes information related to available goods or services; a user needs oriented targeting engine effective to: utilize the information to facilitate contacting the user to target the user, and utilize the information related to available goods or services and information related to goods or services that may be of interest to the user to provide to the targeted user information associated with available goods or services.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the goods/services database entry identifies a good or service that is being promoted, wherein the user needs oriented targeting engine is effective to provide to the targeted user a promotion for the good or service based on the information related to goods or services that may be of interest to the user.

23. The system of claim 21 , further comprising a promotions database including a promotions database entry associated with a first goods/services database entry and associated with a second goods/services database entry, wherein the first goods/services database entry identifies a good or service that is being promoted and the second goods/services database entry identifies a good or service that is related to the first entry.

24. The system of claim 21 , wherein the user needs database entry further includes demographic data, further comprising: a promotions database including a promotions database entry associated with a first goods/services database entry and associated with a second goods/services database entry, wherein the first goods/services database entry identifies a good or service that is being promoted and the second goods/services database entry identifies a good or service that is related to the first entry; a demographics database effective to include a demographics database entry, wherein the user needs oriented targeting engine identifies the second goods/services database entry as related to the first goods/services database entry using a demographics database entry to establish a relationship based on the demographic data in the user needs database entry.

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25. The system of claim 21 , further comprising:

^" a promotions database including a promotions database entry associated with the goods/services database entry, wherein the goods/services database entry identifies a good or service that is being promoted; a promotions engine effective to search for promotions and update the promotions database if a new promotion is found.

26. The system of claim 21, further comprising a user needs identification engine effective to obtain user needs information from users and update the user needs database if new information is obtained, wherein the user needs information includes data associated with goods or services of interest to the users.

27. The system of claim 21, further comprising a user needs identification engine effective to obtain user needs information from users and update the user needs database if new information is obtained, wherein the user needs information includes demographic data associated with the users.

28. The system of claim 21, further comprising a promotions analysis engine effective to link goods/services database entries to promotions for presentation to users.

29. The system of claim 21, further comprising a promotions analysis engine effective to link goods/services database entries to promotions that are related to goods or services that may be of interest to the user.

30. A method comprising: receiving promotions; receiving user needs information regarding one or more items of interest; selecting promotions for presentation to the user based on the user needs information; presenting the selected promotions to the user.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the user provides the user needs information.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the user selects the user needs information from a catalog.

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33. The method of claim 30, further comprising: receiving a query from the user; providing recommended items to the user; receiving from the user a selection of recommended items.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising: obtaining demographic information associated with the user; providing recommended items to the user; receiving from the user a selection of recommended items.

35. A system comprising: a means for maintaining user needs information; a means for maintaining good/services information; a means for matching user needs information to goods/services information to target users associated with the user needs information with promotions.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising a means for maintaining demographics information to improve targeting of users with promotions.

37. The system of claim 35 further comprising a means for maintaining time-sensitive advertisements to ensure timely targeting of users with promotions.

38. The system of claim 35 further comprising a means for maintaining a rankings database to ensure that targeted users receive ranking that are relevant based upon available user information.

39. The system of claim 35 further comprising a means for maintaining a referral database to reward users who help in the targeting of users with promotions.

40. The system of claim 35 further comprising a means for obtaining additional promotions for providing to users.

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41. A system comprising: a user needs database effective to include a plurality of user needs database entries, wherein a user needs database entry is associated with a user, includes information to facilitate contacting the user, and includes information related to expert solutions that may be of interest to the user; an expert solutions database effective to include a plurality of expert solutions database entries, wherein an expert solutions database entry includes information related to available expert solutions; a user needs oriented targeting engine effective to: utilize the information to facilitate contacting the user to target the user, and utilize the information related to available expert solutions and information related to expert solutions that may be of interest to the user to provide to the targeted user information associated with available expert solutions.

42. The system of claim 41 , further comprising a goods/services database with a goods/services database entry that identifies a good or service that is being promoted, wherein the good or service that is being promoted is associated with the expert solutions database entry.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the expert solutions database entry includes a link to the good or service that is being promoted, and wherein the user needs oriented targeting engine is effective to provide to the targeted user a promotion for the good or service based on the information related to expert solutions that may be of interest to the user.

44. The system of claim 42, further comprising a promotions database including a promotions database entry associated with a first goods/services database entry and associated with a second goods/services database entry, wherein the first goods/services database entry identifies a good or service that is being promoted and the second goods/services database entry identifies a good or service that is related to the first entry.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the user needs database entry further includes demographic data, further comprising: a promotions database including a promotions database entry associated with a first goods/services database entry and associated with a second goods/services database entry, wherein the first goods/services database entry identifies a good or service that is being promoted in association with the expert solutions database entry and the second goods/services database entry identifies a good or service that is related to the expert solutions database entry; a demographics database effective to include a demographics database entry, wherein the user needs oriented targeting engine identifies the second goods/services database entry as related to the first goods/services database entry using a demographics database entry to establish a relationship based on the demographic data in the user needs database entry.

46. The system of claim 41 , further comprising: a promotions database including a promotions database entry associated with the goods/services database entry, wherein the goods/services database entry identifies a good or service that is being promoted in association with the expert solutions database entry; a promotions engine effective to search for promotions and update the promotions database if a new promotion is found.

47. The system of claim 41, further comprising a user needs identification engine effective to obtain user needs information from users and update the user needs database if new information is obtained, wherein the user needs information includes data associated with goods or services of interest to the users.

48. The system of claim 41 , further comprising a user needs identification engine effective to obtain user needs information from users and update the user needs database if new information is obtained, wherein the user needs information includes demographic data associated with the users.

49. The system of claim 41, further comprising a promotions analysis engine effective to link expert solutions database entries to promotions for presentation to users.

50. The system of claim 41, further comprising a promotions analysis engine effective to link expert solutions database entries to promotions that are related to goods or services that may be of interest to the user.

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51. A method comprising: receiving an expert solution; storing the expert solution in a database; linking the expert solution to related items; receiving user-specific information for a user; matching the expert solution to the user based on the user-specific information; providing user-oriented promotions associated with the related items to the user.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising categorizing the expert solution.

53. The method of claim 51 further comprising receiving input regarding related tasks from the person who submitted the expert solution.

54. The method of claim 51 further comprising rewarding the person who submitted the expert solution.

55. The method of claim 51 further comprising receiving reviews of the expert solution and providing rankings based upon the reviews.

56. The method of claim 51 further comprising linking the expert solution to related tasks.

57. A system comprising: a means for receiving an expert solution; a means for linking the expert solution to a good or service that is related to the expert solution; a means for maintaining user-specific information, including information specific to a first user; a means for identifying a potential interest in the expert solution for the first user by analyzing the information specific to the first user; a means for promoting the good or service that is related to the expert solution to the first user.

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58. The system of claim 57, further comprising a means for promoting the expert solution to the first user.

59. The system of claim 57, further comprising a means for obtaining information related to the good or service.

60. The system of claim 57, further comprising a means for categorizing the expert solution.

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