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US 2013/0297440 A1Published application
Social Media Transactions System and Methods
AssigneeSoldsie, Inc.
InventorsChris Bennett, Arrel Gray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for a sales transaction system (STS) in a social media network is presented. The invention provides a simple way to sell and purchase products in a social media environment allowing sellers to easily set up campaigns of a group of products they wish to sell. A member of the social network simply types a purchase direction statement (PDS) that is a keyword to indicate their desire to buy a listed product. The STS detects the PDS and invoices the buyer, updating the seller as to the completed payment, and directing them to ship to the appropriate address.
Claims19
A method of purchasing a product in a social network, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving member profile information, wherein the member profile information includes personal information of a member;
- creating a member profile page using the member profile information;
- receiving merchant profile information, wherein the merchant profile information includes entity information of a merchant;
- creating a merchant profile page using the merchant profile information;
- receiving contact information, wherein the contact information determines a flow of member and merchant information to other members in the social network and a flow of information to the member;
- identifying, using one or more processors associated with one or more computer servers, relationship information regarding relationships with other members in the social network, the identifying being based on member profile information and contact information;
- updating, using the one or more processors, a web feed with the member and merchant profile information, contact information, and the identified relationship information;
- enabling the other members in the social network to view the member and merchant profile information in accordance with a degree of separation preference specified by the member;
- connecting by the merchant via an internet connection to a sales transaction system software program;
- entering by the merchant, information for at least one product listing, using the software program of the sales transaction system;
- posting to the merchant profile page, the product listing(s);
- entering by the member on the merchant profile page in the product listing(s) a purchase direction script;
- and
- detecting, by the sales transaction system, the purchase direction script in the product listing(s) on the merchant page.
11 more elements
A system for completing a sales transaction within a social media environment, the system comprising:
- a module configured to connect to a social media environment;
- the social media environment having a module configured to monitor a plurality of activities in a social network environment;
- a module configured to monitor a plurality of news items regarding one or more activities, wherein one or more of the news items is for presentation to one or more viewing users;
- a link component configured to attach a link associated with at least one of the activities of another user to at least one of the plurality of news items where the link enables a viewing user to participate in the same activity as the other user;
- a privacy component configured to limit access to the plurality of news items to a set of viewing users;
- a media generator configured to display a web feed comprising two or more of the plurality of news items to at least one viewing user of the set of viewing users;
- a module configured such that a user may create a product listing that becomes a news item;
- and
- a module configured to detect an intent to purchase posted by a buyer by monitoring the web feed of the social media environment.
6 more elements
A method for auctioning a product within a social media environment, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving member profile information, wherein the member profile information includes personal information of a member;
- creating a member profile page using the member profile information;
- receiving contact information, wherein the contact information determines a flow of member and merchant information to other members in the social network and a flow of information to the member;
- identifying, using one or more processors associated with one or more computer servers, relationship information regarding relationships with other members in the social network, the identifying being based on member profile information and contact information;
- updating, using the one or more processors, a web feed with the member profile information, contact information, and the identified relationship information;
- enabling the other members in the social network to view the member and merchant profile information in accordance with a degree of separation preference specified by the member;
- connecting by the member via an internet connection to a sales transaction system software program;
- entering by the member, information for at least one product to create a product listing, using the software program of the sales transaction system, wherein the information includes at least auction start price and auction end date;
- posting to the member profile page the product listing;
- entering, by a buyer, in the product listing, a bid;
- detecting, by the sales transaction system, at least one bid;
- detecting, by the sales transaction system, a winner;
- posting, by the sales transaction system, the winner;
- sending, to the winner, a product invoice;
- sending, to the member, by the sales transaction system, a confirmation of payment;
- and
- enabling the other members in the social network to view an auction status in accordance with a degree of separation preference specified by the member.
14 more elements
A system for holding an auction within a social media environment, the system comprising:
- a module configured to connect to a social media environment;
- the social media environment having a module configured to monitor a plurality of activities in a social network environment;
- a module configured to monitor a plurality of news items regarding one or more activities, wherein one or more of the news items is for presentation to one or more viewing users and relates to an activity that was performed by another user;
- a link component configured to attach a link associated with at least one of the activities of another user to at least one of the plurality of news items where the link enables a viewing user to participate in the same activity as the another user;
- a privacy component configured to limit access to the plurality of news items to a set of viewing users;
- a media generator configured to display a web feed comprising two or more of the plurality of news items to at least one viewing user of the set of viewing users;
- a module configured such that a user may create a product listing that becomes a news item wherein the product listing contains auction information including starting bid and duration of auction;
- a module configured to detect at least one intent to purchase posted by a buyer by monitoring the web feed of the social media environment;
- a module configured to confirm the intent to purchase by posting a confirmation comment in the web feed of the social media environment;
- and
- a module configured to detect a winning buyer.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.