Patent ID: 8165924
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling a virtual shopping center, the method comprising: receiving a user input at a query input engine, wherein the user input indicates a shopping interest of the user; aggregating, by a controller, an output from the query input engine with a user preference to form a search criteria, wherein the search criteria comprises a first field derived from the output of the query input engine, and a second field derived from the user preference; searching a database using the search criteria from the controller; and displaying a plurality of images on a display screen to form the virtual shopping center to satisfy the indicated shopping interest, wherein the plurality of images are associated with matching products or services resulting from the search of the database, and wherein the plurality of images are positioned in the virtual shopping center based on a predetermined priority of vendors that provide the matching products or services, the predetermined priority being based on relative payments made by the plurality of vendors.