Method and apparatus for providing compatible components for purchase

A method for allowing the purchase of components for a hardware device using a computer system, the method comprising:

• automatically determining the identity of a hardware device capable of communicating with computer systems, including comparing received device information for the hardware device with database device information for a plurality of hardware devices stored in a database;
• causing a display of a list of devices if the received device information does not match any of the database device information for the plurality of hardware devices in the database, such that the user can identify the hardware device by selecting one or more options from the list, wherein an association of the received device information and the hardware device identified by the user from the list is stored, such that when a predetermined number of users have made the same association, the association is used in future determinations of the identity of hardware devices to automatically match device information to the identified hardware device;
• and
• causing a display on the computer system of at least one component for the hardware device based on the identity of the hardware device, such that a user can select the at least one component for purchase, wherein the at least one component is compatible with and for use with the hardware device.

A computer-implemented method for allowing the purchase of components for a hardware device using a computer system, the method comprising:

• (i) receiving device information for a hardware device capable of communicating with computer systems;
• (ii) when the received device information does not match any database device information for a plurality of hardware devices stored in a database:
• (a) receiving an identification of a hardware device from a list of hardware devices for use with computer systems, the identification made by a user;
• and
• (b) mapping the received device information and a particular hardware device identified by the user from the list;
• (iii) automatically matching the received device information to the particular hardware device when the received device information does not match any database device information stored in a database, and the mapping between the received device information and the hardware device in the list has been previously performed a predetermined number of times;
• and
• (iv) causing the display on the computer system of at least one component for the identified particular hardware device, such that a user can select the at least one component for purchase, wherein the at least one component is compatible with and for use with the hardware device.

A computer-readable medium including program instructions for allowing the purchase of components for a hardware device using a computer system, the program instructions for performing steps comprising:

• automatically determining the identity of a hardware device capable of communicating with computer systems, including comparing received device information for the hardware device with database device information for a plurality of hardware devices stored in a database;
• causing a display of a list of devices if the received device information does not match any of the database device information for the plurality of hardware devices in the database, such that the user can identify the hardware device by selecting one or more options from the list, wherein an association of the received device information and the hardware device identified by the user from the list is stored, such that when a predetermined number of users have made the same association, the association is used in future determinations of the identity of hardware devices to automatically match device information to the identified hardware device;
• and
• causing a display on the computer system of at least one component for the hardware device based on the identity of the hardware device, such that a user can select the at least one component for purchase, wherein the at least one component is compatible with and for use with the hardware device.

A computer-readable medium including program instructions for allowing the purchase of components for a hardware device using a computer system, the program instructions for performing steps comprising:

• (i) receiving device information for a hardware device capable of communicating with computer systems;
• (ii) when the received device information does not match any database device information for a plurality of hardware devices stored in a database:
• (a) receiving an identification of a hardware device from a list of hardware devices for use with computer systems, the identification made by a user;
• and
• (b) mapping the received device information and a particular hardware device identified by the user from the list;
• (iii) automatically matching the received device information to the particular hardware device when the received device information does not match any database device information stored in a database, and the mapping between the received device information and the hardware device in the list has been previously performed a predetermined number of times;
• and
• (iv) causing the display on the computer system of at least one component for the identified particular hardware device, such that a user can select the at least one component for purchase, wherein the at least one component is compatible with and for use with the hardware device.