Jennifer L Dobson

US Patent:

6460072, Oct 1, 2002

Filed:

Nov 23, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/447229

Inventors:

John K. Arnold - Kent WA
John R. Bennett - Seattle WA
Peter O. Claar - Seattle WA
Kurt D. Dahl - Seattle WA
Jennifer L. Dobson - Seattle WA
Charles A. Fontaine - Seattle WA
Philip H. Johanson - Seattle WA
Donald G. McGuire - Mount Vernon WA
Mary Swanson - Edmonds WA
David G. Wagner - Issaquah WA
Steve Wainright - Seattle WA

Assignee:

InfoSpace, Inc. - Bellevue WA

International Classification:

G06F 1516

US Classification:

709203, 709200, 709213, 709217, 709219, 709227, 705 26, 705 27, 707 10

Abstract:

A method for establishing and maintaining a virtual outlet (âVOâ) relationship on the Internet between an entity that controls and manages a Web site constituting a VO and a merchant that controls and manages a different Web site. The VO presents a series of VO Web pages to customers that contain descriptive information about products from one or more merchants. Customers can link through the VO Web pages directly to a merchant Web page provided to the customer computer by the merchant computer for the purpose of obtaining more detailed information about the product and for ordering the product. When the customer has finished ordering a product, the customer computer returns to a VO Web page. To the customer, it appears that the entire ordering process is conducted entirely within the VO Web pages. The merchant then credits the VO for the sale of the product to the customer, charges the purchase to the customer, and sends the ordered product to the customer.

US Patent:

60165049, Jan 18, 2000

Filed:

Aug 28, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/704143

Inventors:

John K. Arnold - Kent WA
John R. Bennett - Seattle WA
Peter O. Claar - Seattle WA
Kurt D. Dahl - Seattle WA
Jennifer L. Dobson - Seattle WA
Charles A. Fontaine - Seattle WA
Philip H. Johanson - Seattle WA
Donald G. McGuire - Mount Vernon WA
Mary Swanson - Edmonds WA
David G. Wagner - Issaquah WA
Steve Wainright - Seattle WA

Assignee:

InfoSpace.com, Inc. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1760
G06F 1730

US Classification:

709200

Abstract:

A method for establishing and maintaining a virtual outlet ("VO") relationship on the Internet between an entity that controls and manages a Web site constituting a VO and a merchant that controls and manages a different Web site. The VO presents a series of VO Web pages to customers that contain descriptive information about products from one or more merchants. Customers can link through the VO Web pages directly to a merchant Web page provided to the customer computer by the merchant computer for the purpose of obtaining more detailed information about the product and for ordering the product. When the customer has finished ordering a product, the customer computer returns to a VO Web page. To the customer, it appears that the entire ordering process is conducted entirely within the VO Web pages. The merchant then credits the VO for the sale of the product to the customer, charges the purchase to the customer, and sends the ordered product to the customer.