Patent ID: 6525747
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A method in a computer system of a non-participant for starting a discussion relating to an item offered for sale, the method including:providing information describing a plurality of items being offered for sale; receiving from an originating participant a selection of one of the items being offered for sale; providing to the originating participant information describing the selected item offered for sale and an indicator for starting a discussion relating to the item being offered for sale, the information and the indicator to be displayed to the originating participant; in response to selection of the displayed indicator by the originating participant of the discussion, providing to the originating participant an initial discussion thread that includes a description of the item being offered for sale; receiving from the originating participant comments to be added to the discussion thread; receiving from the originating participant an indication of one or more other participants of the discussion; providing the discussion thread, with the description of the item and the received comments added along with a link that when selected effects the placing of an order to purchase the item, to the one or more other participants, and tracking the discussion thread as one or more of the participants add comments to the discussion.