# US 9,436,957 B2 · System, method, and computer-readable storage device for providing a buy option in a social networking posting when user input is classified as having a sale intent > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,957 B2 - Document ID: US9436957B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/018,497 - Filed: 2016-02-08 - Published: 2016-06-02 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-31 - Assignees: Monticello Enterprises LLC - Applicants: Monticello Enterprises LLC - Inventors: Thomas M. Isaacson; Ryan C. Durham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436957B2 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0613: {using intermediate agents} - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 16/248: Presentation of query results - G06F 16/951: Indexing; Web crawling techniques - G06F 16/9535: Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation - G06F 16/9538: Presentation of query results - G06F 18/24: Classification techniques - G06Q 10/40: Business processes related to social networking or social networking services - G06Q 20/384: {using social networks} - G06Q 30/0617: {Representative agent} - G06Q 30/0623: {by investigating goods or services} - G06Q 30/0625: {by formulating product or service queries, e.g. using keywords or predefined options} - G06Q 30/0633: {Managing shopping lists, e.g. compiling or processing purchase lists (shipping orders G06Q10/083; order filling G06Q10/087)} - G06Q 30/0635: {replenishment orders; recurring orders} - G06Q 30/0641: {utilising user interfaces specially adapted for shopping} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Disclosed herein are methods for providing a buy option to social networking communications. The method includes communicating with a social networking site that posts images from posting entities to receiving entities. The image can have data that points to a product database. The data is processed to determine whether there is a sale-related intent such as a product in a product database. The data is used to access a database of products for sale from the merchant. When the sale-related intent applies, the system transmits the image through the social networking site with a buy button associated with the transmission such that a recipient can easily purchase a product. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, from a posting entity, a posting of an image or a video through a social networking site, wherein the social networking site receives and transmits posted items from the posting entity to receiving entities; analyzing, via a processor, the posting of the image or the video for associated text-based data; determining, via processor, whether the associated text-based data identifies a product within a product database for sale from the posting entity to yield a determination; and when the determination indicates that there is no reference to the product in the product database: transmitting the posting of the image or the video through the social networking site without an option to buy; and when the determination indicates that the posting of the image references the product in the product database, and thus indicating a sale-related intent: transmitting the posting of the image or the video through the social networking site with a buy option associated with the posting of the image or the video, wherein the buy option comprises one of a button, a drop-down menu, or a hyperlink; receiving a purchase interaction associated with the buy option; and processing a purchase of an item based on the purchase interaction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the social networking site is one of a video or image sharing site, or a pinboard site. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the posting of the image or the video is associated with the product in the product database from the posting entity comprises communicating between the social networking site and the product database via an application programming interface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein processing delivery of the item comprises: managing a payment for the item via a payment account associated with the social networking site in which the payment account is not stored with the posting entity; and informing the posting entity selling the item through an application programming interface to ship the item. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a user has a pre-existing account storing preferences governing how the posting of the image or the video and the buy option are presented. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the buy option comprises a one-click purchasing option. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the purchase interaction is received from a recipient of the posting of the image or the video. ### Claim 8 A system comprising: a processor; and a computer-readable storage device storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving, from a posting entity, a posting of an image or a video through a social networking site, wherein the social networking site receives and transmits posted images or videos from the posting entity to receiving entities; analyzing the posting of the image or the video for associated text-based data; determining whether the associated text-based data identifies a product within a product database for sale from the posting entity to yield a determination; and when the determination indicates that there is no reference to the product in the product database: transmitting the posting of the image or the video through the social networking site without an option to buy; and when the determination indicates that the posting of the image or the video references the product in the product database, and thus indicating a sale-related intent: transmitting the posting of the image or the video through the social networking site with a buy option associated with the posting of the image or the video, wherein the buy option comprises one of a button, a drop-down menu, or a hyperlink; receiving a purchase interaction associated with the buy option; and processing a purchase of an item based on the purchase interaction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the social networking site is one of a video or image sharing site, or a pinboard site. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein determining whether the posting of the image or the video is associated with the product in the product database from the posting entity comprises communicating between the social networking site and the product database via an application programming interface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein processing delivery of the item comprises managing a payment for the item and informing the posting entity selling the item through an application programming interface to ship the item. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein a user has a pre-existing account storing preferences governing how the posting of the image or the video and the buy option are presented. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein receiving the purchase interaction is received from a recipient of the posting of the image or the video. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein receiving the purchase interaction is received from a recipient of the posting of the image or the video. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving, from a posting entity, a posting of an image or a video through a social networking site, wherein the social networking site receives and transmits posted images or videos from the posting entity to receiving entities; analyzing the posting of the image or the video for associated text-based data; determining whether the associated text-based data identifies a product within a product database for sale from the posting entity to yield a determination; and when the determination indicates that there is no reference to the product in the product database: transmitting the posting of the image or the video through the social networking site without an option to buy; and when the determination indicates that the posting of the image or the video references the product in the product database, and thus indicating a sale-related intent: transmitting the posting of the image or the video through the social networking site with a buy option associated with the posting of the image or the video, wherein the buy option comprises one of a button, a drop-down menu, or a hyperlink; receiving a purchase interaction associated with the buy option; and processing a purchase of an item based on the purchase interaction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the social networking site is one of a video or image sharing site, or a pinboard site. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein determining whether the posting of the image or the video is associated with the product in the product database from the posting entity comprises communicating between the social networking site and the product database via an application programming interface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein processing delivery of the item comprises managing a payment for the item and informing the posting entity selling the item through an application programming interface to ship the item. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein receiving the purchase interaction is received from a recipient of the posting of the image or the video. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the buy option comprises a one-click purchasing option.