System and method for facilitating commercial transactions over a data network

A method, a computer system and a computer program product to facilitate comparison-price shopping over a data network, such as the Internet, is provided that includes a price availability feature guaranteeing a price of a product associated with product-related information stored on a server. To that end, information that concerns a product is rendered on a display in a browser window. The information rendered typically includes offered price data. A server is provided that includes a plurality of addresses in an address space, and a subportion of the plurality of addresses is associated with an identification code. Acceptance to the offered price data is achieved by storing the information in the subportion, defining agreed price data. The agreed price data is maintained in the absence of a predetermined system event.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to communication over a data network. Specifically, the present invention is directed to facilitating commercial transactions over a wide area data network.

2. Description of the Related Art

Historically, product-related information, such as a description of the nature of a product, price of the product, warranties covering a product, customer service associated with a product, and the like, was disseminated using various types of media. The media chosen was typically independent of the mode in which the actual transaction concerning the product was to occur. Rather, the media was chosen based upon the anticipated market for the product. For example, advertisements for mining tools would typically be found in a trade journal, as opposed to be displayed on television. However, the popularity of commercial transactions over wide area data networks, such as the Internet, has caused companies to disseminate product-related information through the same media through which the transactions concerning the products occur. As a result, companies are investing enormous amounts of time, money and effort to provide product-related information over the Internet.

Companies have been assisted in the endeavor to provide product-related information over wide area networks by the technology available on the Internet. The Internet typically includes a number of users employing client terminals communicating with a remote server computer to transfer information therebetween. To facilitate the transfer, the client terminals have a “web” browser that provides graphical user interface (GUI)-based communication with a “web page” obtained from a server. One popular collection of servers uses a standardized Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to provide information and is known as the “World Wide Web.” The information is typically presented as web pages written as text with standardized formatting and control symbols known as Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML). HTML provides basic document formatting and allows a server to specify “links” to other servers and files. Use of an HTML-compliant browser involves specification of a link via a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). Upon such specification, the user's client terminal makes a TCP/IP request to the server identified in the link and receives an HTML file that is interpreted by the browser so that a electronic HTML document made up of one or more web pages may be displayed on the client's terminal.

One difficulty with commercial transactions over the Internet concerns shopping for items based on price (i.e., comparison-price shopping). Comparison-price shopping involves a user comparing prices for similar products to determine which the user desires. There are major factors endemic to the Internet that frustrate comparison-price shopping. First, the quantity of information frustrates the identification of a single product, much less multiple products having similar or analogous characteristics. A second difficulty is that the accuracy of the information on the Internet is often compromised by various conditions, such as the rapidity with which product-related information changes and the difficulty with updating large amounts of product-related information on the Internet. In addition, the accuracy of product-related information may be supplier-dependent. If a substitute supplier of a product is used, certain characteristics of product-related information may change (e.g., price).

With respect to finding information concerning specific products, the area is replete with attempts to augment the probability that the product-related information will be perceived by a user. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,390 to Hyodo discloses a method for determining the effectiveness of advertisements accessed over the Internet using a WWW browser. When accessing an advertisement, the user receives a toll-free telephone number of a store and calls the toll-free telephone number. A toll-free call control system connects the call to a store in which the desired product in available to determine whether the user would like to buy the advertised product. At the same time, information concerning the access is recorded as log information. This log information is posted to the service provider, and the service provider analyzes the hit rate from this log information and the WWW browser access log. From this result, the on-line service provider, or advertiser, can determine the effectiveness: of the given advertisement. However, a user cannot complete the transaction concerning the purchasing of the product entirely over the Internet, thereby requiring additional retail infrastructure.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,214 to Perkowski discloses a system and method for finding product and service related information the Internet. The system includes Internet Servers that contain information pertaining to Universal Product or Service Number (e.g., UPC number) preassigned to each product and service registered in the system, with Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) that point to the location of one or more information resources on the Internet (e.g., World Wide Web (WWW) websites). A user is provided with an “Internet Product/Service Information (IPSI) Finder” feature and a “Universal Product/Service Number (UPSN) Search” feature. The system enters its “IPSI Finder Mode” when the “IPSI Finder” feature is activated enters the “UPSN Search Mode” when the “UPSN Search” feature is activated. When the system is in its IPSI Finder Mode, a predesignated information resource (e.g., advertisement, product information, etc.) pertaining to any commercial product or service registered with the system is automatically accessed from the Internet and displayed from the Internet browser by simply entering the registered product's UPN or the registered service's USN into the Internet browser. When the system is in its “UPSN Search Mode”, a predesignated information resource pertaining to any commercial product or service registered with the system is automatically accessed from the Internet and displayed from the Internet browser by simply entering the registered product's trademark(s) or (service mark) and/or associated company name into the Internet browser.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,681 to Levine, et al., discloses an invention for maintaining a record of items selected for purchase from a group of selectable items. The invention includes a browser at a client station having a request module to send a shopping page request to a server. A shopping page module in the server sends a shopping page file to the browser in response to the shopping page request. The shopping page file contains items selectable by a user using the browser. A shopping module at the browser generates an add request and sends the add request to the server. This add request contains selected items from the items that were selectable in the shopping page file. A receiver at the server receives the add request from the browser, and a cart list module at the server initializes a shopping cart list. An add module at the server adds the selected items to the shopping cart list. A shopping page module at the server converts the cart list to a cart field, generates a new shopping page file, embeds the cart field in the new shopping page file and sends the new shopping page file to the browser. In this way, the shopping cart field is in a shopping page file that may be managed by the browser at the client station.

While both Perkowski and Levine, et al., facilitate identification of products that a user is interested in purchasing, neither Perkowski nor Levine, et al., ensure the accuracy of the product-related information provided. What is needed, therefore, is a technique for easily identifying multiple products of similar characteristics that ensures the information corresponding to the products is accurate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method, a computer system and a computer program product to facilitate comparison-price shopping over a data network, such as the Internet, are provided that includes a price availability feature guaranteeing a price of a product associated with product-related information stored on a server. The information typically includes offered price data. A server is provided that includes a number of addresses in an address space, and a subportion of those addresses is associated with an identification code. Acceptance of the offered price data is achieved by storing the information in the subportion, defining an agreed price data. The agreed price data is maintained in the absence of a predetermined system event. In one embodiment, the predetermined system event may include an expiration of a preset amount of time. Alternatively, the predetermined system event may include dissociating information from the subportion of the addresses. Although the product-related information may correspond to any known product, the present invention is discussed with respect to product-related information regarding automobiles.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for managing information regarding a product is disclosed. The method includes selecting a selected feature from a number of such features and storing the information. The product can be configured with at least one of the features. The information includes the selected feature.

These and other embodiments of the present invention, along with many of its advantages and features, are described in more detail below and are shown in the attached drawings. The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. As will also be apparent to one of skill in the art, the operations disclosed herein may be implemented in a number of ways, and such changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader defined solely by the claims, will become apparent in the non-limiting detailed description set forth below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

INTRODUCTION

The present invention facilitates commercial transactions over a network such as the Internet. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention facilitate comparison-price shopping over a network (e.g., the Internet) by allowing a user to easily store information regarding one or more products. Also included is a price availability feature that guarantees a price of a product associated with product-related information stored on a server. To that end, information concerning a given product is typically rendered on a display (e.g., a browser window). The information rendered typically includes data regarding the price at which a given product is offered. A server is typically employed to provide centralized storage of product information. A subportion of that storage is associated with an identification code. Acceptance of the offered price data is effected by storing the information in the subportion, and so defining an agreed price. The agreed price is maintained on the server in the absence of a predetermined system event. In a first embodiment, the predetermined system event may include an expiration of a preset amount of time. Alternatively, the predetermined system event may include dissociating the information from the subportion of storage. Although the product-related information may correspond to any known product, the present invention is discussed with respect to product-related information regarding automobiles, as will be seen in the subsequent discussion.

An Example Computing and Network Environment

FIG. 1is a block diagram of a wide area network (WAN)5(e.g., the Internet), which includes a number of networked servers10that are accessible by client terminals12. Communication between servers10and client terminals12typically occurs over a publicly accessible network, such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN) over ASDL telephone lines or large bandwidth trunks (e.g., T1 or OC3). Client terminals12access servers10through an Internet service provider (ISP) by executing application specific software (e.g., a “browser”) on a computer14, shown in detail inFIG. 2.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating a computer such as computer14. Computer14includes one or more system buses22, which place various components of computer14in data communication. For example, a microprocessor24is placed in data communication with both a read only memory (ROM)26and a random access memory (RAM)28via system bus22. ROM26contains, among other code, a Basic Input-Output System (BIOS), which controls basic hardware operations such as the interaction with peripheral components such as disk drives30and32, as well as a keyboard34. RAM28is the main memory into which the operating system and application programs are loaded. A memory management chip36is in communication with system bus22to control direct memory access (DMA) operations. DMA operations include passing data between RAM28, and hard disk drive30and floppy disk drive32. Also in communication with system bus22are various I/O controllers: a keyboard controller38, a mouse controller40, a video controller42, and an audio controller44. Keyboard controller38provides a hardware interface for keyboard36, mouse controller40provides the hardware interface for a mouse46, or other point-and-click device, and video controller40provides a hardware interface for a display48. A modem50enables data communication over WAN5, preferably facilitating data transmission speeds of at least 28.8 Kbps. The operating system of computer14may be MS-DOS™, WINDOWS™ 3.x, WINDOWS™ 95, WINDOWS™ NT 4.0, OS/2™, or other known operating system. Computer14also supports a number of Internet access tools, including, for example, an HTTP-compliant web browser, such as Netscape Navigator™, Microsoft Explorer™ or the like.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, browser54employs, for example, a TCP/IP connection to pass a request to an HTTP server10arunning an HTTP “service” (e.g., under the WINDOWS™ operating system) or a “daemon” (e.g., under a UNIX™ operating system). The request is typically satisfied by contacting HTTP server10ausing a protocol that can be used to communicate between server10aand one or more of client terminals12(e.g., HTTP). One of servers10then responds to the request, typically by sending a “web page” formatted as an HTML file. The browser interprets the HTML file and displays a visual representation of the web page using local resources (e.g., fonts, colors and the like).

An Example of a System Facilitating Commercial Transactions Over a Network

Referring toFIGS. 2,3and4, a visual representation of a “web page”56is depicted as web page56would be presented, for example, on display48. Web page56includes, inter alia, a hypertext link58(entitled “enter the site”). Employing mouse46, a cursor60may be placed proximate to hypertext link58, and a cursor event is effectuated (i.e., hypertext link58is activated). Activating hypertext link58results in a visual representation of a web page61being presented on display48. In this manner, hypertext link58allows navigation to web page61by having the same displayed on display48. Web page61includes a number of hypertext links62a–z, as well as a number of data entry fields64a–d. Also included on webpage61is a link66, which allows navigation to facilities that allow the propagation of information (e.g., over the Internet, via a file-transfer-protocol (FTP) or e-mail).

Hypertext links62a,62b,62c,62t,62u,62v,62w,62xand62yare provide to inform users of certain information not germane to the present invention. For example, hypertext links62aand62uallow navigation to webpages that discuss how to use the website. Hypertext links62b,62w,62xand62vprovide company information, such as summary of the company and its services, press releases, jobs available, and how to contact the company. Hypertext link62cdescribes how privacy is maintained on the website. Hypertext link62tallows navigation to web page61, and hypertext link62yallows navigation to information that discusses the terms and conditions for gaining access to the website.

Access to the present invention is gained through webpage61by activating a hypertext link62n. Before activating hypertext link62n, a user must either enter information corresponding to a preexisting account in data entry fields64cand64d, or register a new account. In this manner, a user may be associated with a subportion of the addresses in the address space of HTTP server10a, and referred to herein as a Virtual Garage™. To restrict access to the aforementioned subportion of addresses, a code that corresponds to the user is associated with the Virtual Garage™. The aforementioned code includes a user-name and a password. To gain access to the Virtual Garage™, the user's user-name is entered in data entry field64c, and the user's password is entered in data entry field64d. As is standard with most password security, the user's password is not displayed in data entry field64d.

In the case where a user attempts to gain access to the present invention for the first time, a hypertext link62oallows navigation to an account registration webpage65, shown inFIGS. 5a–5c. Account registration webpage65includes a number of data entry fields65a–s, in which the user's personal information can be entered. Also included on account registration webpage65are data fields66a–band67a–j. Data entry fields66a–bindicate the level of restriction on dissemination of the information provided in data fields65a–s. Information entered in data fields67a–iindicates how the user came to obtain knowledge of the existence of account registration webpage65.

A number of hypertext links can also be included on account registration webpage65. For example, hypertext links62a,62b,62c,62t,62u,62v,62w,62xand62yare the same as shown on webpage62, and are as discussed above. Hypertext links70a–callow navigation to additional websites that may be in data communication with databases having information concerning products that are the subject of commercial transactions over the data network. For example, were automobiles to be sold, hypertext link70aincludes information concerning various models of automobiles; hypertext link70bincludes information concerning custom ordering an automobile to have desired features; and hypertext link70cincludes information concerning financing of an automobile to be purchased. Hypertext link70d, on the other hand, allows navigation to a webpage having information concerning automobiles already selected by the user as being suitable for purchase, which is discussed more fully below.

Upon acceptance of the registration data entered into data entry fields65a–g, Virtual Garage™ on server10ais accessed by activating hypertext link62n. Activation of hypertext link62ncauses navigation to a webpage75, shown inFIG. 6. Web page75includes information concerning products that a user is interested in purchasing. To that end, web page75facilitates comparison price shopping by allowing a user to store product-related information concerning multiple products and examine that information. Information concerning various products (in this example, automobiles) can be obtained by activating either of hypertext links70aor70b. Activating hypertext link70anavigates to a web page80, shown inFIG. 7, which includes, inter alia, a number of hypertext links that enable access to a database of information related to automobiles. For example, hypertext links80aand80dallow access to a database concerning information organized by the make and model of the available automobiles. Hypertext links80cand80fallow access to the same database, but facilitate searching based upon the features associated with automobiles in the database. Hypertext links80band80efacilitate comparison of automobiles associated with the aforementioned database with other automobiles associated therewith or with information stored by the user in the user's Virtual Garage™.

Referring toFIGS. 7,8and9, the activation of hypertext links80aor80dallows navigation to a webpage82. Webpage82includes a matrix82aof hypertext links having titles associated with various automobile manufactures. In addition, a hypertext link82bis present on webpage82that allows navigation to webpage80. Activating the hypertext links in matrix82anavigates to webpages having a listing of models of cars fabricated by the manufacturer associated with the hypertext link thus activated. For example, activating the hypertext link entitled “Ford” allows navigation to a webpage84, which includes a brief description of different models of automobiles sold or manufactured under the “Ford”™. In addition, webpage84includes hypertext links84a–vand82b. Hypertext link84aallows navigation to webpage82to allow a user to view models of automobiles associated with a different manufacturer.

Referring toFIGS. 9,10,11and12, hypertext links84b–vallow a user to obtain more specific information concerning particular automobiles sold/fabricated by the given manufacturer. For example, hypertext links84band84callow navigation to a webpage85that recites more detailed information concerning the Taurus model of automobile in text region85aentitled “overview.” Webpage85also includes various hypertext links that facilitate obtaining additional information concerning the Taurus model of automobile (shown as hypertext links85band85c).

For example, hypertext link85ballows navigation to a webpage86. Webpage86is similar to webpage85, excepting recitations86aconcerning the performance characteristics of the Taurus model and the presence of hypertext link86athat allows navigation to webpage85. Hypertext link85callows navigation to a webpage87, which in similar to webpage85, excepting recitations86aconcerning the features available on the Taurus model. Also, unlike webpages85and86, webpage87includes both hypertext links85aand86bthat allow navigation to webpages85and86, respectively.

Additionally, webpage85includes hypertext link84athat allows a user to navigate to webpage82to choose information concerning automobiles associated with a different manufacturer. A hypertext link85dallows a user to navigate to webpage84to obtain information related to a different model offered by the same manufacturer; Activating hypertext link84dallows a user to choose different groups of features for the present model of automobile that are provided by the manufacturer, referred to as option packages. In this manner, a user is able to “build” a model of an automobile having the desired features.

Referring toFIGS. 7,13a–cand14a–c, from webpage80, a user may search for a particular automobile based upon the features desired. To that end, hypertext links80cand80fallow navigation to a webpage90. Webpage90includes a number of hypertext links90a–fthat allow navigation to different webpages containing information concerning various features available on a list of automobiles recited in a column90g. Also included on webpage90are hypertext links70a–d, as well as a hypertext link66. Webpage also includes a data entry region90hhaving a number of data entry fields92a–h. Each of the data entry fields92a–hcorresponds to a range of values. One or more of data entry fields92a–hcan have data entered therein to indicate the price of a vehicle in which a user is interested. Hypertext link90ballows navigation to a webpage93. Webpage93is similar to webpage90, excepting a data entry region93awhich includes a number of data entry fields93b–nthat correspond to characteristics of an automobile, such as different body styles, drive trains and engine locations.

Referring toFIGS. 13aand15a–c, hypertext link90callows navigation to a web page94. Webpage94is similar to webpage90, excepting a data entry region94awhich includes a number of data entry fields94b–mthat correspond to the characteristics of the engine associated with the automobile being configured. The aforementioned characteristics include the horsepower and the number of cylinders.

Referring toFIGS. 13aand16a–c, hypertext link90dallows navigation to a web page95. Webpage95is similar to webpage90, excepting data entry region95athat includes a number of data entry fields95b–ithat correspond to fuel economy of the automobile being configured. As a result, a user may select an automobile based upon a desired fuel economy that the automobile must achieve.

Referring toFIGS. 13aand17a–c, hypertext link90eallows navigation to web page96. Webpage96is similar to webpage90, excepting data entry region96awhich includes a number of data entry fields94b–nthat correspond to the characteristics an automobile's interior. The aforementioned characteristics may include the type of seats included with the automobile (e.g., bench or bucket seats), as well as the upholstery thereof. Additionally, the type of sound system may be chosen from data entry regions96i–n.

Referring toFIGS. 13aand18a–c, hypertext link90fallows navigation to a web page97. Webpage97is similar to webpage90, excepting a data entry region97a, which includes a number of data entry fields97b–hthat correspond to the safety characteristics of the automobile being configured. This allows selecting automobiles based upon the available safety restraint systems associated therewith (e.g., driver-side airbag, integrated child safety seat, roadside assistance, and the like).

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 19, from webpage80a user may also select automobiles based upon side-by-side comparisons. To that end, hypertext links80band80eallow navigation to a webpage100. Webpage100has a number of floating frames100a–fand data entry regions100g–p. A subset of floating frames100a–f(floating frames100a–c) and a subset of data entry regions100g–p(data entry regions100g–k) are associated with product information concerning a first automobile. The remaining ones of floating frames100a–f(floating frames100d–f) and the remaining ones of data entry regions100g–p(data entry regions100l–p) are associated with product information concerning a second automobile.

To compare product-related information of two automobiles, one of data entry regions100gand100his selected. For example, to compare information stored in the user's Virtual Garage™, data entry region100his activated. For the present discussion, it is assumed that data entry region100gis activated. Floating frame100ais entitled “select make” and includes a virtual button101a. Activating the virtual button expands floating frame100a. This enables a user to scroll through a list of automobile manufacturers and select a particular manufacture, for the first automobile, by highlighting the same and effectuating a cursor event. The remaining floating frames (floating frames101band101c), entitled select model and select trim, respectively, operate in a manner similar to floating frame101a. This enables a user to select the first automobile based upon the manufacturer, model and trim. The second automobile is selected in a similar fashion using floating frames100d–fand data entry regions100l–p.

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 19, if the user desires to compare product-related information concerning the second automobile with product-related information stored in the Virtual Garage™, data entry region100his made the subject of a cursor event, navigating to a web page102. Webpage102is identical to webpage100, excepting for the absence of floating frames100a–c. In place of floating frames100a–c, a floating frame100qis present and is entitled “select garage car”. Activating virtual button101bthat is associated with floating frame100qexpands floating frame100qto enable a user to scroll through a list of automobiles for which information is stored in the user's Virtual Garage™.

Referring toFIGS. 20,21and22a–c, after selecting the make, model and trim for the two automobiles to be compared on webpage102, the user navigates to a webpage103. Webpage103is identical to webpage102except for the inclusion of a hypertext link100rentitled “compare”. Hypertext link100rallows navigation to a webpage104. In addition to including product-related information, webpage104includes six floating frames104a–fthat correspond to floating frames100a–f, as well as six data entry regions104i–nthat correspond to data entry regions100i–kand100n–p. Two additional floating frames are included on webpage104(floating frames104gand104h), entitled “auto-generate a comparable car”, as well as two hypertext links (hypertext links104oand104p). The product-related information is arranged in two columns (columns105aand105b), with information concerning the first automobile recited in column105aand that concerning the second automobile recited in column105b. The information is preferably arranged so that analogous, or common, characteristics of the two automobiles are recited in a common row. For example, information concerning the transmission of the first automobile in column105ashould be directly across from the transmission information concerning the second automobile recited in column105b. In this manner, a user may quickly and easily compare the characteristics of the two (or more) automobiles.

Should the user desire to vary the product-related information being compared, the user can change the information in either of columns105aand105b. To that end, the user can use floating frames104a–104fto select a different manufacturer and/or model, as well a trim, as discussed above with respect to webpage100. Alternatively, hypertext links104oand/or104pcan be activated to obtain product-related information stored in the Virtual Garage™. Finally, the user can employ floating frame104gto cause server10a(which hosts software implementing the Virtual Garage™) to automatically generate information concerning an automobile that is comparable to that for which information is displayed in column105a. To effect such generation, a user activates a virtual button105cto select a criteria by which to seek a comparable automobile. The criteria can include, for example, price and/or features. In a similar fashion, the product-related information in column105bcan also be varied through the use of floating frame104h.

Referring toFIGS. 22a–c,23and24, hypertext links105fand105gcan be activated in order to save product-related information in column105aand column105b, respectively. For example, hypertext link105fallows navigation to a webpage106, which includes a hypertext link106a. Activation of hypertext link106asaves the product-related information concerning the first automobile, recited in column105a, in the user's Virtual Garage™. From webpage106, a user may also vary the product-related information concerning the first automobile before saving that vehicle to the user's Virtual Garage™. To that end, a number of data entry regions106b–gcorresponding to differing exterior and interior colors are provided. Additionally, by activating a hypertext link106h, information concerning the first automobile can be varied by selecting differing option packages associated with the model selected for the first automobile. Hypertext link106hallows navigation to a webpage108, which includes data entry regions108a–i. Data entry regions108a–iallow selection between different options provided by the manufacturer. From webpage108, information concerning the first automobile can be saved to the user's Virtual Garage™ by activation of a hypertext link108j. Finally, activation of a hypertext link108kallows a user to obtain an updated price for the vehicle.

Referring toFIGS. 6,7,24,25and26, a user may obtain product-related information concerning an automobile by activating hypertext link70b, and in so doing navigates to a webpage110. Webpage110includes floating frames110a,110band110cthat serve functions identical to floating frames100a,100band100c(shown on webpage100). Also included on webpage110is a hypertext link110dthat allows navigation to webpage80to facilitate researching information concerning product-related information, as discussed above. Once the desired information is selected in floating frames110a,110band110c, the user navigates to a webpage111. Webpage111in identical to webpage110except that additional hypertext links (hypertext links111a,111b,111cand111d) are provided. In addition, summary product-related information111e(corresponding to the make, model and trim selected) is also displayed on webpage111. Hypertext link111aallows navigation to webpage84, providing a list of models associated with the manufacturer selected in floating frame110a. Hypertext link111ballows navigation to a webpage112, which provides a list of option packages provided by the manufacturer selected in floating frame110a. Hypertext link110callows navigation to webpage85, which includes the information discussed above, and hypertext link111dallows navigation to webpage106. As mentioned above, webpage106includes data entry regions106b–g, which correspond to differing exterior and interior colors that are provided by the manufacturers, as well as a hypertext link106hthat allows navigation to webpage108to facilitate selection of different options provided by the manufacturer selected in floating frame110a. In this manner, a user may save the product-related information thus generated to the user's Virtual Garage™.

To that end, referring toFIGS. 1 and 27, a user views product-related information displayed in a browser window (step202). The user then associates a group of the addresses of the address space of server10awith a code (step204). The product-related information includes the product's price. The user then agrees to the price of the product associated with the product-related information by storing the same in the aforementioned group of addresses (step206). The aforementioned price is maintained in the absence of a predefined system event, such as the expiration of a predetermined time period (step208). For example, were the product-related information stored in the aforementioned group of addresses for longer than seven days without the user agreeing to purchase the product associated therewith, the price associated therewith might then be modified at server10a. Additionally, changes in any of the information associated with the product-related information stored in the aforementioned group of addresses prior to the user agreeing to purchase the product associated therewith can also result in modification of the price stored at server10a. This is demonstrated by assuming product-related information concerning an automobile is stored at the aforementioned subgroup of addresses and then the trim associated with the automobile changes before the user agrees to purchase the automobile. In this scenario, the price of the automobile can be changed at server10a, resulting in the user having to pay the new price. Otherwise, the price agreed to by the user is the price of the product associated with the product-related information at the time the user agreed to the purchase (step210).

Although the foregoing method has been described with step204occurring after step202, step204could occur at any point during the method so long as step204precedes step206. In addition, the embodiment discussed above illustrates a use of the present invention for facilitating commercial transactions over a data network involving automobiles. It should be understood, however, that the present invention can also be applied to commercial transactions involving any product, such as furniture, cleaning products, maid services, travel services and the like.

Thus, while particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims.