Patent ID: 8442872
Filing Date: 2013-05-14
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A method for providing messages to a user located at a client system attached to a network while the client system is displaying a web page associated with a web site provided by a web server through the network, the method comprising: comparing, by a processor, the web site the user is viewing with a list of web sites; determining, by the processor, that the web site is included within the list of web sites; determining, by the processor, when the web site is included in the list of web sites, that the user is attempting to purchase a first item from the web site based on the user's response to a query provided by the web site; determining, by the processor, whether the first item is associated with an item list that includes items offered by each web site included in the web site list; comparing, by the processor, a purchase price of the first item with respective purchase prices of the items included in the item list; if the purchase price of the first item is higher than the purchase price of a second item offered by an alternative web site, generating a first message for display along with the web page, the message including a hyperlink for the user to purchase the second item at the alternate web site; if the purchase price of the first item is lower than the purchase prices of any other items included in the item list, generating a second message for display along with the web page, the second message including an indication that the price of the first item at the web site that the user is viewing is the lowest price that the user can purchase the item in relation to other web sites that offer the first item; and displaying either the first message or the second message to the user prior to the user choosing the first item for purchase.