Patent Publication Number: US-2002002513-A1

Title: Computer network transaction system

Description:
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/109,833, filed Nov. 25, 1998. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention pertains to a system for conducting interactive electronic commerce, including shopping, bill payment, and investment portfolio activities, across a network, such as the Internet, among multiple merchant electronic commerce sites, multiple bill payment sites and multiple investment sites and, more particularly, to such a system that permits transactions with a plurality of such sites to be performed as a single operation.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] With the explosive commercial growth of the Internet in recent years, systems have been developed to support on-line electronic shopping, otherwise known as electronic commerce or e-commerce. An e-commerce merchant site is accessed by a potential customer using a browser such as the NAVIGATOR® browser of Netscape Communications Corporation or the EXPLORER® browser of Microsoft Corporation. With the browser, the customer enters the uniform resource locator (URL) for the e-commerce merchant site, or searches for the e-commerce merchant site using a search engine such as those identified by the marks EXCITE® of Excite Inc., YAHOO® of Yahoo! Inc., or LYCOS® of Lycos, Inc., and appropriate word queries. Once a desired e-commerce merchant site is located, e-commerce proceeds between the customer and such site.  
       [0004] To support e-commerce, merchant sites use e-commerce application programs of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,715,314 and 5,745,681, which operate on standard servers. Existing e-commerce application programs support e-commerce between a given customer and a given merchant site in a reasonably effective manner. Unfortunately, it tends to be inefficient and time consuming for a given customer to shop and order products from multiple e-commerce merchant sites. First, e-commerce merchant sites must be sequentially accessed by entry of the appropriate URL, by hypertext linking (if available to the desired merchant site) or by searching the World Wide Web (the web) with a suitable search engine.  
       [0005] If the customer wants to comparison shop by price, size, color and the like, it is necessary for the customer to independently record product information, e.g., print web pages, or write down information on a pad of paper, and then return to the merchant site offering the selected item to place an order. Next, the customer must complete a specified set of profile information to complete an order, e.g., name, shipping address, credit card number for each merchant, which takes time and can be frustrating. This process must then be repeated for each merchant site from which the customer wants to purchase a product. As a consequence, customers often shop at only a limited number of e-commerce merchant sites.  
       [0006] E-commerce has also been made somewhat easier recently by search engines and other electronic forums which contain hypertext links to multiple merchant sites in a single web page, sometimes known as electronic malls or virtual malls. Electronic malls may simplify locating merchant sites of interest, but they do not overcome the requirement to create separate customer profiles for each merchant site, place separate orders with each merchant site, and independently record comparison shopping information within or across merchant sites. Furthermore, known electronic malls typically only facilitate the sale of hard goods, not services and items that may be downloaded in digital form, e.g., software, business articles, music and medical research.  
       [0007] With the advent of Internet-based electronic banking, users can now authorize payment of certain bills electronically by specifying the payment type, payment source (e.g., credit card number or bank wire transfer number) and receiving entity. Also, users can enter a standing request with a bank or other financial institution to process a debit (e.g., a car loan) to a given source (e.g., a car loan) on a monthly or other regular basis. Furthermore, financial management software programs such as the one licensed by Intuit of Menlo Park, Calif., and identified by the trademark QUICKEN, permit users to pay bills to multiple entities electronically.  
       [0008] Various companies such as E-Trade Securities, Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. (www.etrade.com) permit users to buy and sell stocks, options and other investment vehicles on-line via the Internet. It is typically difficult for a user to record in his or her computer information available via the Internet regarding investment opportunities at the same time such information is being displayed on the display of the user&#39;s computer. Furthermore, it tends to be difficult with known Internet investment sites for the user to buy or sell in a single operation investment vehicles from more than one investment site or bank.  
       [0009] Unfortunately, it tends to be difficult for a user to submit payment for bills to multiple entities as a single transaction via the Internet with known electronic banking and commerce systems. In addition, known systems do not tend to provide users with the flexibility and functionality they desire in receiving, processing and paying bills electronically.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] One aspect of the present invention is a transaction service system in a service computer for supporting e-commerce across a distributed computer network including a user computer having a display and browser for navigating the network, and a plurality of merchant sites each having a unique URL and an e-commerce system for enabling sale or other transfer of items, which e-commerce system may be accessed via the network with the browser of the user computer. The transaction service system comprises an item template module that provides an item template, permits a user to enter in the item template information available at a merchant site regarding an item offered by the merchant site, and provides for viewing on a first portion of the display of the user&#39;s computer at least one of the item templates. In addition, the transaction service system includes an e-catalog module that permits a user to assemble an e-catalog containing information regarding items offered at more than one merchant site, and provides for viewing on a second portion of the display of the user&#39;s computer at least some of the information in the e-catalog. The first portion and the second portion are sized so that a third portion of the display of the user&#39;s computer is not occupied by the first portion and the second portion.  
       [0011] Another aspect of the present invention is an e-commerce system comprising a computer network, at least one user computer connectable with the network, with the at least one user computer having a display and a browser for navigating the network and a plurality of merchant computers connectable with the at least one user computer via said network. Each merchant computer is programmed to operate an e-commerce system for enabling e-commerce with the at least one user computer. The e-commerce system also includes a service computer connectable with the at least one user computer and the plurality of merchant computers via said network. The service computer is programmed to operate a shopping system that permits a user to order items in a single order from more than one of the merchant computers.  
       [0012] A further aspect of the present invention is a method of assisting a user having a user computer with a display and a browser in obtaining items offered at a plurality of merchant sites linked via a network that the user can navigate with the browser so as to access merchant sites. The method comprises, as a first step, providing a template to the user computer, via the network, in which a user may enter information regarding an item offered at a merchant site. The template is provided so that it may be viewed on the display of the user computer at the same time content from the merchant site may be viewed in the display of the user computer. The second step involves building a collection of the information regarding items offered at more than one merchant site and providing at least some of the information in the collection so that it may be viewed on the display of the user computer at the same time content from the merchant site may be viewed in the display of the user computer. As a third step, an order is created using the information in the collection for items from more than one merchant site and a request is transmitted to each merchant site for those items included in the order which each merchant site offers.  
       [0013] These and other aspects of the present invention are described in more detail below and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a e-commerce computer network in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the user&#39;s computer and its display when operating using the transaction service system of the present invention, and its relationship to sources of information contained in the display;  
     [0016]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the various modules in the application program of the transaction system of the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operations performed by the transaction service system and the user computer at an initial stage of operation;  
     [0018]FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  are diagrams illustrating the operations performed by the transaction system and the user computer following selection of the shopping service link;  
     [0019]FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operations performed by the transaction system and the user computer following selection of the select item category link;  
     [0020]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the operations performed by the transaction system and the user computer following selection of the create item category link;  
     [0021]FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the operations performed by the transaction system, the user computer and the merchant computer following selection of the find and enter new item link;  
     [0022]FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of the process by which a user populates an e-catalog based on information contained at merchant e-commerce sites;  
     [0023]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operations performed by the transaction system and the user computer following selection of the find existing items link;  
     [0024]FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the operations performed by the transaction system and a user computer following selection of the edit item link;  
     [0025]FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the operations performed by the transaction system and the user computer following selection of the view multimedia object link;  
     [0026]FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the operations performed by the transaction system and the user computer following selection of the sort/exclude items link;  
     [0027]FIGS. 14 a  and  14   b  are diagrams of the operations performed by the transaction system, the user computer and the merchant site following selection of the select items and send order link;  
     [0028]FIG. 15 a  is a schematic illustration of how a user can use the transaction system to complete a transaction involving multiple items from multiple merchants sites based on the contents of the e-catalog as a single transaction;  
     [0029]FIG. 15 b  is a schematic illustration of how a user completes multiple transactions to multiple merchants sites as multiple operations by completing the transactions outside the transaction system;  
     [0030]FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the operations of the transaction system and the user computer following completion of the submission of each SOEM to the outgoing queue operation in FIG. 14 a;    
     [0031]FIGS. 17 a  and  17   b  are diagrams illustrating the operations performed by the transaction system and the user computer following selection of the bill payment service link;  
     [0032]FIGS. 18 a  and  18   b  are diagrams illustrating the operations performed by the transaction system and the user computer following selection of the request investment portfolio service link;  
     [0033]FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating the operations of the transaction system and the user computer following selection of the retrieve e-mail for user link; and  
     [0034]FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating the operations of the transaction system and the user computer following selection of the edit profile/settings link. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0035] A. Overview  
     [0036] Referring to FIG. 1, as a brief overview, the present invention is transaction service system  20  (also referred to as “system  20 ”) for facilitating the purchase of goods and services, the acquisition of information, the payment of bills and the processing of investment portfolio transactions and other investment-related activities via e-commerce through a computer network  22 , such as the Internet. While system  20  is preferably used with the Internet, network  22  may also comprise an Intranet, a local or wide area network, or a dial-in network. Network  22  may be wireless, linked by cable and optical fiber, or a combination thereof.  
     [0037] Goods and services are typically not offered for sale directly by transaction service system  20 . Rather, system  20  is designed to aid a user in identifying, comparing and purchasing goods and services offered for sale by multiple e-commerce merchant sites  24  (only one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1). Bills may be paid using system  20  to multiple billing sites  25  (only one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1). Investment portfolio management, transactions and related activities may be conducted with multiple investment sites  26  (only one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1).  
     [0038] Assuming network  22  is the Internet, a user accesses transaction service system  20  using a browser  27  running on user computer  28 , and then simultaneously accesses one of merchant sites  24 , billing sites  25  or investment sites  26  using the browser. As described in detail below, transaction service system  20  provides a user with shopping, bill payment, and investment tools that appear together with information from a merchant site  24 , billing site  25  or investment site  26  in the display of user computer  28 .  
     [0039] The present invention provides various shopping service and related functions across the distributed computer network  30  made up of at least transaction service system  20 , network  22 , user computer  28 , and one of merchant site  24 , billing site  25  and investment site  26 . These functions are implemented within the distributed computer network as a sequence of computer implemented steps and as interconnected machine modules. The specific implementation will depend upon the computer hardware and software used, performance requirements and other factors. Some variation in implementation may also be required as operating platforms change.  
     [0040] Transaction service system  20  includes a computer  40  having a central processing unit (CPU)  42 , typically one or more microprocessors, memory  44 , typically fast access, low capacity memory such as RAM, and slower access, high capacity memory such as optical and magnetic disk drives, and an input/output (I/O) section  46 , typically including various communications adapters for communicating with network  22 , a keyboard (not shown), a display (not shown) and other devices. Computer  40  will typically be a conventional server computer of the type used in client-server networks. Although described as a single computer, computer  40  may comprise several linked computers, in a single or multiple locations.  
     [0041] Transaction service system  20  also includes application program  50  stored in memory  44  of computer  40 . As described in detail below, program  50  contains computing steps for achieving the shopping service, bill payment and investment management and transaction functions of the present invention. These steps are executed as logical operations by CPU  42  in combination with memory  44  and I/O section  46 .  
     [0042] Describing the overall distributed computer network  30  in somewhat greater detail, browser  27  of user computer  28  is a conventional browser of the type used to navigate network  22 . When network  22  is the Internet, suitable browsers are available from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, under the trademark EXPLORER and from Netscape Communications Corporation, Mountain View, Calif., under the trademark NAVIGATOR. User computer  28  may be one of a wide variety of computing systems such as personal computers, set-top boxes, mobile telephones, personal digital assistants, other so-called “thin client” computing systems, interactive TV and other electronic devices and venues. Each user computer  28  includes a display  52  for displaying graphics and text. While only two user computers  28  are illustrated in FIG. 1, it is to be appreciated that distributed computer network  30  may contain millions, and some day even billions, of user computers. Individuals, businesses, governments, universities and other entities may all have user computers  28 . The latter could be located in offices, cars, kiosks or be completely mobile.  
     [0043] E-commerce merchant sites  24  each include a merchant computer  60 , typically one or more conventional server computers, and an e-commerce application program  62  for enabling e-commerce with user computers  28  across network  22 . Exemplary e-commerce application programs that are usable as program  62  are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,314 to Payne et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,681 to Levine et al., which patents are incorporated herein by reference. Program  62 , as used herein, is considered to include multiple e-commerce programs and systems, such as electronic credit card verification systems, as well as related programs and systems, such as delivery service software systems. In this regard, each merchant site  24  must be able to manage customer information, execute on-line marketing programs like discount pricing, ensure secure and reliable order and financial transaction processes, and promptly and reliably ship, download (e.g., in the case of music or videos), or implement (e.g., in the case of a service) the transaction.  
     [0044] As used herein, including in the claims, “e-commerce” means any transaction that is initiated or otherwise effected by user computer  28  and involves communication via network  22  with other entities linked to the network such as merchant site  24 , billing site  25  and investment portfolio site  26 . E-commerce includes the purchase, sale, license and other transfer (including without charge) of goods, services, information of all types that may be provided in digital, printed or other form, and any other tangible or intangible item.  
     [0045] While only one merchant site  24  is illustrated in FIG. 1, it is to be appreciated that distributed computer network  30  may include millions of merchant sites. As used herein, a merchant site  24  means (a) an e-commerce merchant site that is Internet-based and has an Internet URL that is different from that of any other merchant site and (b) an e-commerce site that is based on a computer network other than the Internet and is accessed via a unique telephone number, in the case of a dial-up system, a unique file name in the case of a local or wide area network, or through other means of access specific to the e-commerce site.  
     [0046] Billing sites  25  in computer network  30  each include a billing computer  70  and a billing program  72  that is implemented by the billing computer for generating bills, receiving and processing bill payments and performing related functions. Billing site  25  may be the billing and payment computer system of any of a wide range of entities, e.g., a utility, a credit card company, an investment firm or a merchant site  24 . As used herein, a billing site  25  means (a) a billing site that is Internet-based and has an Internet URL that is different from that of any other billing site and (b) a billing site that is not Internet-based and is accessed via a unique telephone number, in the case of a dial-up system, a unique file name in the case of a local or wide area network, or through other means of access specific to the billing site.  
     [0047] Investment sites  26  in computer network  30  each include an investment computer  80  and an investment program  82  that is implemented by the investment computer for receiving and processing investment transactions and related functions. Investment site  26  may be operated by a brokerage house, bank or other entity involved in the purchase and sale of stocks, bonds and other financial instruments. As used herein, an investment site  26  means (a) an investment site that is Internet-based and has an Internet URL that is different from that of any other investment site and (b) an investment site that is not Internet-based and is accessed via a unique telephone number, in the case of a dial-up system, a unique file name in the case of a local or wide area network, or through other means of access specific to the investment site.  
     [0048] Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, as described in more detail below, a powerful feature of the transaction service system  20  is that multiple, preferably three, frames of information may be simultaneously presented in display  52  of user computer  28 . The term “frame” as used herein does not necessarily mean a structure that extends around the entire periphery of display  52 . Instead, “frame” means a portion of display  52 . In a preferred embodiment, frame  54  appears along the right edge of display  52 , frame  56  appears across the top of the display, and frame  58  occupies the remainder of the display. This permits a user to simultaneously view a page from, for example, a merchant site  24  in frame  58 , while working with information and tools provided by transaction service system  20  in frames  52  and  54 . As described in more detail below, system  20  provides dynamic operation such that at times the entire display  52  may be filed with a single frame, the system may provide information and tools in frame  58  and the size and relative placement of frames  54 ,  56  and  58  may be changed. Furthermore, with appropriate 3-D display graphics, frames  54 ,  56  and  58  may overlie one another such that content in “lower” frames may be viewed through content in “higher” frames.  
     [0049] When transaction service system  20  is implemented for use in an Internet environment, a user accesses the system just like any other site on the World Wide Web (hereinafter “web site”). Thus, the URL for system  20  (e.g., http://www.digishopper.com) is loaded via browser  27  and user computer  28  and using standard web-browsing protocols, e.g., HTML (HyperText Markup Language), HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) and TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) the home page for system  20  is located. In a preferred implementation for the Internet environment, user computer  28  functions as a client and system  20  functions as a server, with requests, selections and other operations merely being provided as inputs at user computer  28 , with the operations actually being performed at system  20 . Alternatively, system  20  may be implemented using the JAVA programming environment licensed by Sun Microsystems of Mountain View, Calif. or be implemented with other systems and in other environments.  
     [0050] The home page for system  20  contains a directory (not shown) to two separate areas of information and data content for two classes of users: members and the public. Access to the members area requires entry of username and password information, while access to the public area does not. Most of the functionality of system  20 , described below in detail, is provided in the members area. However, the public area includes information such as terms and conditions of use of the members area, a privacy policy, and a new member signup application. As discussed in more detail below and as illustrated in FIG. 3, application program  50  includes a user profile module  100  that controls operation of the new member signup process through, among other things, the provision of user profile  120  which is presented graphically in display  52 . Included in user profile  120  are multiple fields in which the new member enters data such as name, billing address, shipping address, credit card number, username and password. As described below, information in user profile  120  is linked to orders placed to merchant sites  24 , payment sites  25  and investment sites  26 .  
     [0051] If desired, user profile module  100  may be designed to permit a user to allow others to access one or more e-catalogs  124  (described below) which the user has created. For example, a user may populate e-catalog  124  with birthday or wedding gift suggestions which he or she desires others to access for the purpose of obtaining gift ideas. Alternatively, a user may populate e-catalog  124  with approved office supplies or computer equipment that the users&#39;s co-workers may purchase as needed. To achieve this functionality, system  20  permits a user to designate specified e-catalogs  124  as either generally publicly available or available upon entry of a specified password (which preferably differs from the password used to enter the members area of system  20 .) Should a third party desire to access such an e-catalog  124 , he or she enters system  20  through the public area and then is provided the option of connecting to a navigation site that permits the third party to locate and review an e-catalog  124  created by the user.  
     [0052] All of the communication between a user computer  28  and the member area are preferably achieved using suitable encryption and data security protocols, as are communications between the user computer and merchant site  24 , payment site  25  and financial site  26 . Exemplary encryption and data security protocols are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,518 to Rosen and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,279 to Taher, which are incorporated herein by reference.  
     [0053] B. Transaction Service Modules  
     [0054] As illustrated in FIG. 3, application program  50  of transaction service system  20  includes a plurality of modules which are operatively connected so as to perform the operations necessary to achieve the functionality of the transaction service system. These modules include a user profile module  100 , as discussed above, and a shopping service module  102 , which includes item template module  104 , e-catalog module  106  and order list module  108 . Application program  50  further includes bill payment module  110 , investment portfolio module  112 , e-mail module  114  and user-controlled operation module  116 . As described in more detail below, each of these modules of application program  50  is responsible for performing various operations including controlling the content, operation, and graphical display of an associated tool. More particularly, these tools associated with the various modules include user profile  120  associated with user profile module  110 , item template  122  associated with item template module  104 , e-catalog  124  associated with e-catalog module  106 , order list  126  associated with order list module  108 , payment form  128  associated with bill payment module  110 , transaction form  130  associated with investment portfolio module  112 , e-mail reader  132  associated with e-mail module  114  and user controls  134  associated with user-controlled operation module  116 . Modules  102 - 116  and their associated tools  120 - 134  are described in more detail below.  
     [0055] While various operations are performed by specific ones of modules  102 - 116 , as described below, it is to be appreciated the present invention is not limited to the specific implementations described. Certain operations which are described as performed by one module may be performed by another. In addition, as those skilled in the act will appreciate, significant cooperation and interaction exists between modules.  
     [0056] In connection with the following description of the operation of transaction service system  20 , various figures, e.g., FIG. 4, contain diagrams illustrating the operation of system  20  in relation to other elements of computer network  30 . In these diagrams, actions taken by browser  27  and user computer  28  occur in the column under the heading “User Actions,” operations performed by system  20  occur in the column under the heading “Service Action” and operations performed by a merchant site  24  occur in the column under the heading “Merchant Actions.”  
     [0057] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3 and  4 , to begin using transaction service system  20 , at step  140  a user enters an appropriate usemame and password in the member page via browser  27  and user computer  28 , which is transmitted via network  22  to system  20  where it is received at step  142  as a sign-on request. It is to be appreciated the actions performed at step  140  occur following some degree of communication between user computer  28  and system  20 . This communication includes an initial connection between user computer  28  and system  20  and selection of the member page directory. Communications occurring across network  22  between these various entities are identified by arrows extending between operations in the User Actions, Service Actions and Merchant Actions columns.  
     [0058] When network  22  is the Internet, communication between and among system  20 , user computer  28 , merchant site  24 , bill payment site  25  and investment site  26  is achieved using standard web-browsing protocols, e.g., HTML, JAVA, HTTP, TCP/IP. Much of this communication will be invisible to the user. However, as discussed below, in some cases email notes will be provided to the user in response to certain actions taken by the user. System  20  may be implemented in non-Internet environments as well as using communication protocols appropriate to the environment.  
     [0059] While not illustrated, user navigation tools such as icons, buttons and scroll arrows are provided to facilitate use of system  20 . Typically these navigation tools are preferably provided in frame  54  and/or frame  56 , although these tools may be provided elsewhere on display  52  of user computer  28 .  
     [0060] Next, at step  144  system  20  sends a member page to the user with links to various modules of application program  50 , i.e., shopping service module  102 , bill payment module  110 , investment portfolio module  112 , e-mail module  114  and user-controlled operation module  116 . The member page is received by user computer  28  at step  146  and depicted on display  52 . Then, at step  148 , the user selects one of the links provided in the member page. If the user selects link  150  to the shopping service, then user computer  20  at step  152  sends a request for the shopping service to system  20 . If the user selects link  154  to the bill payment service, then user computer  28  sends a request at step  156  for the bill payment service to system  20 . If the user selects link  158  to the investment portfolio service, then user computer  28  sends a request at step  160  for the investment portfolio service to system  20 . If the user selects link  162  to the e-mail reader, then user computer  28  sends a request for the e-mail reader at step  164  to system  20 . If the user selects link  166  for change profile/settings, then user computer  28  sends a request for change in profile/settings at step  168  to system  20 .  
     [0061] If the user selects link  170  to another web site, then user computer  28  at step  172  sends a request to another web site following an entry of the appropriate URL by the user or activation of a hypertext link by the user. As a final option identified at step  174 , the user can select to exit system  20 .  
     [0062] C. Shopping Service Module  
     [0063] Turning next to FIGS. 4, 5 a  and  5   b,  following transmission of request for the shopping service at step  152  by user computer  28 , transaction service system  20  receives this request at step  200  and then at step  202  sends a page to user computer  28  with links to these operations provided by shopping service module  102 : select item category, create item category, find and enter item, view items in category, edit item, view multimedia object, sort/exclude items, select items and send order and request member page. At step  204 , following receipt of the link page, the user selects a link to a given operation. If the user chooses select item category  206 , user computer  28  sends a request at step  208  for select item category to system  20 . If the user selects create item category link  210 , then user computer  28  at step  212  sends a request for create item category to system  20 . If the user chooses find and enter new item link  214 , then user computer  28  at step  216  sends a request for find and enter new items to system  20 . If the user selects find existing items link  218 , then user computer  28  at step  220  sends a request for find existing items to system  20 . If user selects edit item link  222 , then user computer  28  at step  224  sends a request for edit item to system  20 . If the user selects view multimedia object link  226 , then user computer  28  at step  228  sends a request for view multimedia object to system  20 . If the user selects sort/exclude items link  230 , then user computer  28  at step  232  sends a request for sort/exclude items to system  20 . If the user chooses select items and send order link  234 , then user computer  28  at step  236  sends a request for select items and send order to system  20 . Finally, the user may return to the member page with its links  150 - 170  by selecting link  238 . Selection of this link returns the user to step  146 . As an alternative, the user may select to exit system  20  at step  174 .  
     [0064] Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 3 ,  5   a  and  6 , before describing in more detail the result of selecting one of links  214 - 234 , it is important to note that shopping service module  102  controls operation of various functions that facilitate e-commerce with multiple merchant sites  24  by providing an organizational framework for products and services, i.e., items, that a user is considering acquiring. These item categories may include, without limitation, hard goods such as pants, boats, and furniture, services such as automobile repair services and home maintenance services, and digital data which may embody music, software, printed materials, videos and other information which may be represented digitally. Such other information may include, for example, book reviews, business articles, medical records and weather forecasts. While items acquired by merchant sites  24  will typically be purchased, system  20  is also adapted to permit users to acquire information by license. This is particularly true for items obtained in the form of digital data downloaded to user computer  28 , e.g., software and music. Shopping service module  102  may be used to acquire items offered by a merchant site  24  at a fixed price or in an auction format. Also, items may be offered for free, e.g., a free sample of a new product or information that can be delivered digitally to user computer  28 , e.g., “other information” of the type discussed above.  
     [0065] Shopping service module  102  is sufficiently flexible that a user need not organize items by category if he or she so chooses. In such case, all items are organized in a generic item category. In any event, each item category has an associated item template  122  (FIG. 3) containing multiple fields  250  (FIG. 2) of information pertaining to the given item category, including a multimedia object field  252  (FIG. 2). For example, if the item category is mens shirts, fields  250  in item template  122  for such item category may include neck size, sleeve length, color, type, material, manufacturer, and URL for the merchant site  24  selling the shirt, with multimedia object field  252  containing a visual depiction of the shirt or an audiovisual advertisement of the shirt. Typically, an identifier is provided adjacent a given field  250 , e.g., sleeve length above the field for this information. Shopping service module  102  includes a number of predefined item templates for common item categories, and also permits the user to create his or her own custom templates as discussed below. If no item categorization is desired, then a generic template is provided with a series of unlabeled fields  250 .  
     [0066] Templates  122  are the means by which a user enters items into his or her e-catalog  124 . As described in more detail below, following entry of an item into item template  122 , item template module  104  adds the item to user&#39;s e-catalog  124  for a given item category. In this way, e-catalogs  124  directed to specific items such as coats, soccer balls, skis and automobile repair services are available for use. In one implementation of the present invention, a single e-catalog  124  is created for each user, with each item being tagged by an item category identifier. When a user selects an item category, as described below, an e-catalog is generated containing the corresponding tagged items. It thus appears to the user, and for the purposes of the discussion below, that a unique e-catalog  124  for the item category selected.  
     [0067] E-catalog  124 , which is preferably displayed in frame  56 , lists some or all of the fields for a limited number, e.g., 3-5, of items in the e-catalog. As described below, the specific items depicted depend on sort and exclude operations performed by the user and hierarchical parameters of shopping service module  102 . However, for example, one of the items in e-catalog  124  depicted in frame  56  may be jeans from XYZ company, in a given color, having a given size, a given product number, and from a merchant site  24  having a specified URL. Only one item in frame  56  is depicted for ease of illustration. Following this introductory description of item templates  122  and e-catalogs  124 , the manner in which the templates and e-catalogs are created, modified and used is described in detail.  
     [0068] Referring next to FIGS. 3 a    5   a  and  6 , after user computer  28  at step  208  (FIG. 5 a ) sends a request for select item category to system  20 , the latter invokes operation F which starts at step  270  (FIG. 6). There, system  20  generates a list of all existing item categories, which it sends to user computer  28 . At step  272 , user computer  28  receives and displays the list and the user selects one of the item categories listed which is then transmitted to system  20 . Next, at step  274 , system  20  locates the associated item template  122  and e-catalog  124  for the selected item category and sends the item template and e-catalog to the user computer. Then, at step  276 , the user computer receives and displays the template, preferably in frame  54 , and displays several of the e-catalog items, preferably in frame  56 . At step  204 , the user then selects a link to other shopping service functions.  
     [0069] Turning now to FIGS. 2, 3,  5   a  and  7 , as noted above system  20  includes a number of predefined item templates  122  for common item categories. However, to enhance the flexibility of system  20 , the opportunity exists for a user to create new item categories and associated item templates  122 . In this regard, if user computer  28  sends a request at step  212  (FIG. 5 a ) to create an item category, in response thereto system  20  invokes operation G which begins at step  280 . There, system  20  generates and sends a form to user computer  28  which enables the user to create a new item category. At step  282 , the user completes the form by naming the item category and identifying the various fields to be included in the template  122  for the item category. Following receipt of the completed form from user computer  28 , at step  284 , system  20  stores the item category and creates an item template  122  for the new item category, as indicated at step  286 . Thereafter, at step  204  the user selects a link to another function.  
     [0070] The number of users purchasing goods and services over the Internet via e-commerce has increased dramatically in recent times. However, comparison shopping among various merchant sites  24  is difficult because merchant sites do not typically provide a way for users to segregate items of interest for future purchase. In addition, because items offered by a given merchant site  24  disappear from display  52  of user computer  28  as soon as the user links to another merchant site, it is difficult to compare similar items offered by different merchant sites. By contrast, with printed catalogs a user can comparison shop by spreading the catalogs on a table and then refer back and forth to items of interest in the catalogs. To perform similar comparison shopping with respect to items offered in e-commerce at merchant sites  24 , it is generally necessary for a user to write down on a piece of paper, print out web pages or type into another computer operating nearby the pertinent information with respect to items of interest for each merchant site. Then by comparing the handwritten, printed or computer-entered information, selected items could be purchased on a merchant site-by-merchant site basis. Transaction service system  20  overcomes this inability to readily comparison shop for items offered by different merchant sites  24  by permitting a user to enter items of interest from any number of merchant sites into the user&#39;s e-catalog  124 .  
     [0071] With reference to FIGS. 2, 3,  5   b  and  8 , when a user desires to perform comparison shopping in preparation for the purchase of items, the user selects find and enter new item link  214  (FIG. 5 b ), which results in user computer  28  sending a request for find and enter new items, as identified by step  216 , thereby invoking operation H by system  20 . Typically this request is sent after a user has selected an item category at step  272  or has completed a form to create a new item category at step  282 . If an item category has not been selected, system  20  following receipt of the request sent by user computer  28  at step  216 , provides links  206  and  210  to the user to permit selection of an item category (these latter link options are not illustrated in FIG. 8).  
     [0072] In any event, once the user has selected an item category, at step  300  system  20  locates the item template  122  and e-catalog  124  for the selected item category, and sends the item template and e-catalog to user computer  28 . At step  302 , user computer  28  receives item template  122  and e-catalog  124 , and displays the item template in frame  54  (FIG. 2) and several items in e-catalog  124  in frame  56 . If no items have been selected to date with respect to the item category, then no items are displayed in frame  56 .  
     [0073] At this juncture, comparison shopping can be initiated in at least three ways. If the user knows the URL for the merchant site  24  of interest, then at step  304  the user enters the URL with browser  27 , which then effects the link with the selected merchant site. Prior to linking with merchant site  24 , browser  27  appears in frame  58  of display  52 . As an alternative, represented at step  306 , the user may search for web sites with browser  27  by entering appropriate search commands such as the names of merchant sites of interest. Also with this approach, browser  27  is displayed in frame  58 . As a result of this search performed at step  308 , a number of “hits” are typically obtained and displayed in frame  58 . The user can then hypertext links to merchant sites of interest. As yet another alternative, identified by step  310 , transaction service system  20  may be designed to list a number of selected merchant sites  24 , and associated hypertext links. These pre-selected merchant sites are displayed in frame  58 . After reviewing the list, the user may access a merchant site of interest by hypertext linking. Content provided by merchant site  24  and displayed in frame  58  is viewable at the same time content in frames  54  and  56  may be viewed.  
     [0074] Regardless of whether the user following step  302  selects step  304 ,  306  or  310 , the result is the user computer  28  is linked to a selected merchant site  24 , as depicted at step  312 . Following this link, the merchant site  24  creates a home page and sends it to user computer  28 . At step  314 , the user computer  28  receives the home page and displays it in frame  58 . At this stage, system  20  has set up user computer  28  so that comparison shopping within a merchant site  24  and between various merchant sites  24  can be easily and effectively accomplished. In this regard, a user may navigate within a given site  24  to find items of interest using browser  27  of user computer  28 .  
     [0075] Referring now to FIGS. 2, 8 and  9 , at step  316  the user reviews the catalog  318  (FIG. 9) of the selected merchant site  24 . Once an item of interest is located, the user then enters pertinent information for the item in fields  250  and  252  of item template  122 . Next, at step  320 , system  20  enters information from the item template  122  into the user&#39;s e-catalog  124  for the selected item category. Such information is entered by typing, dragging and dropping, copying, using voice recognition programs or otherwise entering the information into fields  250  and  252  of item template  122 . As an example of this process by which items from catalog  318  of a given merchant site  24  are entered into the user&#39;s e-catalog  124 , assume a user is interested in collecting information for item  1 C in catalog  318 . Pertinent information for item  1 C, which is displayed in merchant catalog  318  is, for example, typed into fields  250  of item template  122 . This entry of information is made easy by providing item template  122  for viewing in frame  54  so that merchant site catalog  318  may be viewed in frame  58 , whereby the user may simultaneously view both the item template and the merchant site catalog.  
     [0076] Once the user has populated the fields  250  and/or  252  of item template  122 , the information contained in these fields is automatically transferred into the user&#39;s e-catalog  124 , as depicted by step  320 . Thus, item IC in merchant site catalog  318  becomes entry E 1  in e-catalog  124 . The user may repeat the operations in steps  316  and  320  and depicted in FIG. 9 multiple times with respect to a given merchant site catalog  318 . System  20  provides a new item template  122  for each item the user wishes to enter in e-catalog  124 , as indicated by templates  2 - 5  in FIG. 9. If desired, the user may print portions or all of e-catalog  124  at this or other stages in his or her use of system  20 .  
     [0077] Following entry of all items of interest from a given merchant site  24  into e-catalog  124 , system  20  provides the user with the option of locating a new merchant site, as identified by step  322 . The user may then select a link to another function, as identified by step  204 , or may link to a new merchant site following one of steps  304 ,  306  or  310  discussed above. Once a new merchant site  24  is linked to user computer  28 , the user reviews and selects items from the merchant site catalog  324  (FIG. 9) for that merchant site and enters them into template  122 , which causes them to be entered into e-catalog  124  as described above. For example, if a user is interested in saving information concerning item 2D in merchant site catalog  324  in his or her e-catalog  124 , this information is entered into item template and is then transferred into the e-catalog as item E 4 . Thus, a powerful feature of system  20  is that it permits a user to quickly and easily store information regarding items from multiple merchant sites  24  in the user&#39;s e-catalog  124  for a given item category, including, as noted above, a generic item category.  
     [0078] In some cases a user may desire to access an item previously entered in e-catalog  124 . For example, before ordering an item, editing an item or comparing the item to other items, it is necessary to locate the item from among the tens, hundreds or even thousands of items in e-catalog  124 . Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 ,  5   a,    8  and  10 , to find an existing item in e-catalog  124 , the user selects link  218  (FIG. 5 a ), thereby causing user computer  28  at step  220  to send a request to system  20  to find an existing item. Following receipt of this request, which invokes operation I, system  20  at step  340  sends an item category list to user computer  28 . An advantage of organizing items in specific item categories, as described above, is that location of a previously entered item is facilitated. Next, at step  342  the user selects an item category from those included in the list and sends the selection back to system  20 . Then at step  344 , system  20  locates item template  122  for the selected item category and e-catalog  124  for the selected item category, and then sends the template and e-catalog to user computer  28 .  
     [0079] Following receipt by user computer  28  of the template  122  and e-catalog  124  provided by system  20 , as indicated by step  346 , the user then locates the item of interest in one of two ways. First, as indicated by step  348 , the user may scroll through the e-catalog  124  until he or she locates the item of interest, as indicated by step  350 . Alternatively, at step  352 , the user may request a browser (not shown) from system  20 , which is provided by the system so as to preferably be displayed in frame  58 . Then the user may search for an item by entering in the browser in an appropriate search parameter, such as the name of the product, the name of the merchant site  24  from which the item was obtained, or the URL of the merchant site. Following receipt of the search request, at step  354  system  20  conducts a search in the e-catalog  124  to locate all items corresponding to the search parameter(s) provided by the user. At step  355 , all search results are organized and provided to user computer  28 . At step  356  user computer  28  receives the search results, which are typically displayed in frame  58 . Thereafter at step  358 , the user reviews the search results and locates an item of interest. The user then can perform follow-on activities with respect to the located item, e.g., order the item as described below by selecting an appropriate link at step  204 , print portions or all of e-catalog  124  or edit the item, as described below.  
     [0080] An activity that frequently follows location of a given item at step  350  is editing of the item, either as a prerequisite to purchase of the item or for purposes of accurately listing information for a given item in template  122  to facilitate comparison shopping. Turning next to FIGS.  1 - 3 ,  5   b  and  11 , when a user desires to edit an item in his or her e-catalog  124 , the user selects link  222  (FIG. 5 b ) which results in user computer  28  sending a request at step  224  to system  20  for item editing. Following receipt of the edit item request, which invokes operation J, at step  370  system  20  sends the item template  122  and e-catalog  124  for an item category selected by the user prior to step  370 , e.g., at step  342  (FIG. 10) or at step  272  (FIG. 6). These steps are omitted from FIG. 11 in the interest of brevity. Following receipt and display of the item template  122  and e-catalog  124  in frames  54  and  56 , respectively, as indicated by step  372 , the user at step  374  edits items in the e-catalog by typing in a change, dragging and dropping information from a merchant site  24  displayed in frame  58  or otherwise changing information associated with a given item. Item template module  104  (FIG. 3) and e-catalog module  106  (FIG. 3) are preferably implemented and linked so that when a user selects a given item, by either scrolling to the item, moving a cursor in display  52  to the item or otherwise identifying the item as may be permitted by system  20 , the information in fields  250  (FIG. 2) and  252  (FIG. 2) are automatically displayed in the item template  122  associated with the selected item. Changes to information in fields  250  and  252  may be made either by entering the changes in item template  122  depicted in frame  54  or by entering the changes in the items of e-catalog  124  depicted in frame  56 . Thus, a change to an item in e-catalog  124  automatically causes a change in the associated template for the item and visa versa. After editing of the item at step  374  is complete, user computer  28  sends the edited information to system  20  which updates and stores the new information for the item, at step  376 . Thereafter, system  20  provides user with the option of selecting another link at step  204 .  
     [0081] To permit effective comparison shopping, and otherwise enhance the utility of the shopping service functions of the present invention, system  20  permits a user to save a multimedia object for each item in e-catalog  124 . Typically, the multimedia object will be a photograph or other graphical representation of an item of interest, in two dimensional or three-dimensional representation, including rotating three dimensional representation. However, the multimedia object may consist of audio information or audio and visual information with respect to the item. As described in more detail below, the multimedia object may be displayed in frame  54  as multimedia object  252 , may be displayed so as to occupy the entire frame  58 , or multiple small or “thumbnail” multimedia objects may be displayed in frame  58 . In the latter case to facilitate comparison shopping, it may be desirable to simultaneously view multiple thumbnail multimedia objects for a limited set of items a user is contemplating purchasing. Known audio and video data comparison is preferably employed to reduce the file size of the multimedia object stored by system  20 .  
     [0082] Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 ,  5   b,    6  and  12 , if a user desires to view a multimedia object associated with one or more items in e-catalog  124 , the user selects link  226  (FIG. 5 b ), thereby causing user computer  28  to send a request at step  228  to system  20  to view multimedia object. Following receipt of this request, which invokes operation K, at step  400 , system  20  prepares and sends select item category link  206  and find existing item link  218  to user computer  28 , which is received at step  402  and displayed in frame  58 . Then, the user selects one of these links. If the user chooses select item category link  206 , system  20  processes this link as described above and illustrated in FIG. 6, including the step  274  of locating an item template  122  and e-catalog  124  for the item category selected by the user. In this regard, steps  270  and  272  are omitted from FIG. 12 in the interest of brevity. Shopping service module  102 , knowing that the select item category link  206  followed selection of the view multimedia object link  226 , prepares thumbnails for all multimedia objects in the e-catalog for the selected item category at step  404 . These thumbnails are provided to facilitate comparison and selection multimedia objects by the user. At step  406 , user computer  28  receives the thumbnails generated by system  20  and displays them in frame  58 . Should the user desire to view an enlarged version of a given thumbnail, the user selects a given multimedia object at step  408 , e.g., by moving a cursor to the multimedia object and clicking or otherwise by selecting the multimedia object, which, although not illustrated, causes system  20  to provide an expanded version of the multimedia object which fills frame  58 . Using the “back” button (not shown) in browser  27 , the user can return to the thumbnails for further comparison. Alternatively, the user may select other links at step  204 .  
     [0083] Should the user select find existing item link  218 , then system  20  processes this link as described above and illustrated in FIG. 10. These steps are not repeated here in the interest of brevity. Ultimately, at step  350  the user locates an item of interest, as described above. Because such item has been located following selection of view multimedia object link  226 , system  20  knows to retrieve the multimedia object for the selected item at step  410  and then provides the multimedia object to user computer  28  for display in frame  58 . Thereafter, the user selects another link at step  204 .  
     [0084] If desired, system  20  may be implemented so that items in e-catalog  124  are continuously organized in some hierarchy by e-catalog module  106 . Time and date of entry, with the most recent information last, is a preferred hierarchical scheme. However, price, URL and other schemes may be used. This organization function may operate with, subordinate to or in other relationship with the sort/exclude functions described above, as desired.  
     [0085] System  20  permits a user to organize items in his or her e-catalog  124  so as to facilitate comparison shopping, actual purchasing of items and other activities. Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 ,  5   b  and  13 , if a user desires to organize items in his or her e-catalog, the user selects sort/exclude items link  230  (FIG. 5 b ), which results in user computer  28  sending a request for sort/exclude items, at step  232  to system  20 . Following receipt of this request, which invokes operation L, at step  420  system  20  generates a list of all item categories. After user computer  28  receives this list and displays it in frame  58 , at step  422 , the user selects an item category. Then, at step  424 , system  20  generates and sends a page with links to sort by price, sort by merchant URL, sort by date added or modified, exclude by price, exclude by merchant URL, and exclude by date range. Other sort and exclude operations may be provided as desired. Following receipt of this page at step  426  by user computer  28 , the user selects one or more of these operations and provides relevant parameters, e.g., price, if the sort by price operation is selected. At step  428 , system  20  performs the sort or exclude operations requested at step  426  and prepares a list of all items meeting the operation parameters and sends the result to user computer  28 , where at least some results are displayed in frame  56 , as indicated by step  432 . All results are obtainable by scrolling or otherwise moving through the list of items. Thereafter, at step  204  the user selects another link.  
     [0086] As discussed above, one important drawback with existing electronics malls, e-commerce systems at merchant sites  24  and other on-line shopping services is that it is typically not possible to order items from more than one merchant site in a single transaction, i.e., by submitting a single order form. Another important drawback, as also noted above, is that only hard goods are typically available at electronic malls, not information such as business articles, industrial research reports, and items downloadable in digital form such as software, music and financial data. Shopping service module  102 , and in particular order list module  108  of system  20 , is designed to overcome these limitations. As described in detail below, shopping service module  102  permits a user to order any number of items present in the user&#39;s e-catalog  124 , from any number of merchant sites  24 , as a single operation.  
     [0087] Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 ,  5   b,    14   a  and  14   b,  when a user has reached a point where he or she is ready to order items in e-catalog  124 , the user chooses select items and send order link  234  (FIG. 5 b ), which results in user computer  28  at step  236 , sending a request for select items and send order to system  20 . This action invokes operation M. Following receipt of a request for select items and send order, shopping service module  102  and more particularly item template module  104 , generates an order list  126  at step  500  (FIG. 10) to enable the user to order items, and sends the list to user computer  28 . Order list  126  includes multiple fields for information pertinent to items the user orders. For example, if the user is ordering a men&#39;s shirt, the user will enter in order list  126  information like neck size, sleeve length, color, collar type, product number, price and quantity.  
     [0088] Once a user has identified the items he or she wants to purchase through the use of find existing item link  218 , sort/exclude items link  230 , or in other ways, the user selects items for purchase at step  501 . Order list module  108  of shopping service module  102  may provide different user input options for selecting items to be purchased. However, in one embodiment, a select item box  502  (FIG. 2) is included in each item entry for those items in e-catalog  124  displayed in frame  56 . With this implementation, the user may, for example, select an item by moving the cursor of display  52  to box  502  and then clicking a left mouse button. Preferably, order list module  108  identifies which items have been selected by changing the color, entering an “X” or otherwise indicating a change in box  502 . As those skilled in the art will appreciate, other techniques may be implemented for allowing a user to select items in e-catalog  124  to be purchased.  
     [0089] Following the user selection of items at step  501 , system  20  builds an order list of those selected items at step  503 . Then, at step  504 , all required fields  250  for each item are evaluated to verify appropriate information exists in such fields. For example, if an item to be purchased is women&#39;s shoes and the field  250  in item template  122  for shoe size is missing or is listed as “79,” order list module  108  identifies this missing information. At step  506  an order list  126  containing all selected items is generated and any missing information in the selected items are highlighted or otherwise identified to permit the user to complete such information. In connection with generating order list  126  at step  506 , system  20  presumes the user intends to order a single item and so provides an item quantity of “1” in the order list. System  20  then sends this order list to user computer  28  where, at step  508 , it is received and displayed in frame  58 . At step  510  the user enters greater quantities for the items included in the order list  126 , if desired, and/or completes any missing fields highlighted by system  20  at step  506 . This information is then sent by user computer  28  to system  20  where, at step  512 , order list  126  is updated. For services, order list  126  contains information relevant to specific services of interest, e.g., date services are to be performed, and a description of key aspects of the services to be performed.  
     [0090] Next, the total cost of the items in order list  108  is compared with a budget earlier established by the user and a notice is generated if the cost of the items exceeds the budget, as depicted at step  514 . While the steps for providing a budget comparison are not illustrated or described in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that such operation may be provided on an item category-by-item category basis, may be created by time period, e.g., by month, or may be an absolute number. At step  516 , system  20  generates a revised order list  126  based on the input provided by the user at step  510  and adds to the order list any notices generated at step  514  with respect to budget overages. System  20  then sends this order list and any notices to user computer  28  where it is received at step  518 . Next, at step  520  the user is given the option to order, edit or cancel items. In addition, the user can exit system  20  and place orders directly with merchant sites  24 , all as described below.  
     [0091] With reference to FIGS. 1, 5 a  and  14   a,  the user elects to edit the order, for example to delete items based on a budget overage notice, such editing occurs at step  522  and then the edited order list is provided to system  20  at step  503 , where a new order list is built. The operations described above follow this return to step  503 . Alternatively, if the user desires to cancel the order, a cancellation notice is generated by user computer  28  and is provided to system  20  at step  524  which, at step  525 , cancels the order. Thereafter, the user selects a new link at step  204 . As yet another alternative, as identified at step  526 , the user may place an order for the items on the order list directly with the various merchant sites  24  by telephone. Step  526  follows step  520  by a dotted line because system  20  is not involved in such ordering of items. After placing such an order, the user then can select new links at step  204 . As yet a further alternative following step  520 , the user may order items on the order list directly with a merchant site  24  using the e-commerce program  62  (FIG. 1) of the merchant site, as indicated by step  528 . In this regard, the user would typically hypertext link to the merchant site  24  relying on the URL field for each item in the order list to achieve such linking. The disadvantage with this approach is that a separate order needs to be placed for each merchant site  24  having items included in order list  126 . Step  528  follows step  520  with a dotted line because system  20  is not directly involved when the user places an order directly with a merchant site  24 . Thereafter, at step  204  a user may select another link.  
     [0092] Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 3 ,  14   a,    14   b  and  15   a,  if the user elects to place an order for items on order list  126  directly with merchant sites  24  as provided in steps  526  and  528 , the order list provides a single listing of items the user desires to purchase. This makes it easier for a user to purchase items, much like a shopping list facilitates shopping in a supermarket or conventional shopping mall. However, when the user purchases items directly from merchant sites  24 , he or she will need to place separate orders  530  (FIG. 15 a ) with each merchant site. Thus, the user will need to place an order  530  to merchant site  24 ′, an order  530 ″ to merchant site  24 ″ and an order  530 ′″ to merchant site  24 ′″. Following receipt of these orders  530 , merchant sites  24  then deliver the purchased items to the user.  
     [0093] To take full advantage of the functionality offered by transaction service system  20 , at step  520  a user orders items on order list  126  by placing an order at step  540  for the items on order list  126 , which is conveyed to system  20  by user computer  28 . At step  542 , system  20  generates a standard e-mail order message (SEOM) for each merchant site  24  having items included in order list  126 . Next, at step  544 , each SEOM is added to an outgoing queue of SEOMs. Then, at step  546 , system  20  reads the first SEOM in the queue and at step  548  retrieves the data in fields  250  and  252  in item template  122  associated with the items included in the SEOM. This data comprises the information in fields  250  of template  122  necessary to complete an order. Next, at step  550 , system  20  retrieves user profile and payment information from user profile module  110  and links it with the item order information obtained at step  546 .  
     [0094] Next, at step  552 , system  20  retrieves the e-mail address of the merchant e-mail order administrator (MEOA) for the merchant site  24  to which the SEOM prepared at steps  546 - 550  is directed from information in item templates  122  associated with the items in order list  126 . After creating a unique identification number at step  554  for the SEOM, system  20  completes assembly of the SEOM and sends it to the MEOA, as depicted by step  556 . Typically, but not necessarily, the MEOA is at the merchant site  24  to which the SEOM is directed.  
     [0095] Following receipt of the SEOM by the MEOA, as indicated at step  570 , the merchant site  24  retrieves and processes the SEOM at step  572 . This processing includes assessing if the ordered items are in inventory or otherwise available, assembling and packing the ordered items that are available, and arranging for delivery of the items. In the case of items that are deliverable electronically, e.g., software, the assembly, packing and delivery steps involve retrieving the items from memory, assembling an e-mail message with the software as attachments, and sending the e-mail message. For items that are services, e.g., window washing, merchant site  24  arranges for delivery of the services at the time and location specified in the SEOM.  
     [0096] Next, at step  574 , a warranty for the item may be generated and a description of extended service contract offerings may be created when appropriate for the items delivered. This description includes a form to enable the user to select one of the extended contract offerings available. In addition, a message to the user is prepared identifying which of the items in the SEOM are no longer available, are not available in the color, size, and other specifications requested, are on backorder or for other reasons cannot be provided in the form set forth in the SEOM. This message also includes confirmation of the items in the SEOM that have been shipped to the user. In the case of services, the message may specify when the services were performed. In addition, a questionnaire is generated and included in the message to enable the user to provide direction as to what he or she wants to do with respect to the items not currently available for delivery. The message together with the warranty and extended service contract offerings are then sent by merchant site  24  to transaction service system  20  where it is received at step  576 . In addition for items such as software, articles, and music which are licensed rather than sold (and are typically delivered electronically), a license agreement, e.g., a “click-wrap” agreement, may also be provided as part of the message.  
     [0097] Then, at step  578 , the message, warranty and extended service contract offerings are sent to the e-mailbox  132  (FIG. 3) of the user which is typically provided in frame  58 , and are received by user computer  28  at step  580 . The user then, at his or her option, completes the questionnaire, files the warranty using a “warranty file” prompt provided by system  20 , completes the extended service contract form if extended service for the item is desired and, if provided, indicates acceptance of the terms of the license agreement. Following completion of these actions, user computer  28  sends the questionnaire, warranty, extended service contract form, to the extent completed by the user, and executed license agreement, if provided, to system  20 .  
     [0098] Thereafter, at step  584  system  20  files the warranty in a warranty file for the user, and generates another SEOM containing the completed questionnaire, extended service contract form, warranty and license agreement, and provides this SEOM to merchant computer  28 . Merchant site  24  receives this SEOM at step  586  and processes any new orders for items in the questionnaire, e.g., sends an item in a different color than earlier ordered, as described above. Also at step  586 , merchant site  24  enters the extended service contract information contained in the form in its database and generates the actual service contract for the user. In addition, merchant site  24  may enter in its database the warranty and executed license agreement. Then at step  588  merchant site  24  generates a new message containing an order confirmation and the extended service contract requested in the form by the user. This message is then sent to system  20 , where it is received at step  590 , sent to the user&#39;s e-mailbox at step  592 , and received at step  594  by user computer  28 .  
     [0099] The process described above and illustrated in steps  542 - 594  is repeated for each merchant site  24  sourcing items in the queue developed at step  544 . Thus, while from the perspective of the user a single order is submitted at step  540 , behind such submission system  20  is generating and delivering a unique SEOM for each merchant site  24  providing items included in order list  126 .  
     [0100] Referring now to FIGS. 3, 14 b,    15   a  and  15   b,  the result of selecting step  540  after step  520 , rather than steps  524  or  526 , is illustrated in FIG. 15 b.  Placing an order for the items in order list  126  at step  540  results, from the user&#39;s perspective, in a single order  530  being generated. Order  530  is then broken up and distributed in SEOMs to merchant sites  24 ′,  24 ″ and  24 ′″ in a way that is invisible to the user. As described above in reference to FIG. 15 a,  from the user&#39;s perspective separate orders  530 ′,  530 ″ and  530 ′″ must be submitted to obtain all items in order list  126  if steps  524  or  526  are selected.  
     [0101] Referring now to FIGS. 5 b,    14   b  and  16 , after system  20  submits each SEOM to the outgoing queue at step  544 , it then removes the items from order list  126  at step  620 . Next, at step  622 , system  20  generates a list of all items ordered and sends the list to e-mailbox  132  which is received by user computer  28 . Following receipt of this list at step  624 , user computer  28  displays the list in frame  58 . Then the user can select another link at step  204 .  
     [0102] This completes a description of the functionality and operations of shopping service module  102  of application program  50 . Should the user desire to link to other service areas provided by system  20 , then at step  238 , following selection of link step  204 , the user can request the member page with the link provided at step  146  (FIG. 4). Alternatively, the user can elect to exit system  20 , at step  174 .  
     [0103] D. Bill Payment Module  
     [0104] Transaction service system  20  greatly facilitates e-commerce between a user and multiple merchant sites  24  for products and services, as described above. Referring to FIGS.  1 - 5 ,  17   a  and  17   b,  bill payment module  110  (FIG. 3) of application program  50  of system  20  similarly facilitates receipt, payment, organization and other handling of bills of any type, i.e., not just bills for products purchased in e-commerce from a merchant site  24 .  
     [0105] Described very generally, bill payment module  110  permits a user via user computer  28  to access his or her billing records from a billing site  25  (FIG. 1), e.g., a utility or a credit card company, and then create a bill file (not shown) in the same manner e-catalog  124  is created. In addition, bills to multiple billing sites  25  may be paid as a single operation through the use of a payment form  128  (FIG. 3), much like order list  126  may be used to order items from multiple merchant sites  24  as a single operation.  
     [0106] Describing bill payment module  110  in more detail, if at the user selects link step  148  in FIG. 4, the user selects bill payment service link  154 , a request is sent at step  156  by user computer  28  to system  20  for the bill payment service, as described above. Following receipt of this request at step  700 , system  20  sends a page to user computer  28  at step  702  having links to select bill category, create bill category, find and enter bill, view bills in category, edit bill, view multimedia object, sort/exclude bills, select bill and send payment and request member page with links. User computer  28  receives and displays the page created at step  702 , and then at step  704  the user selects one of the links provided at step  702 . Because the functionality provided by bill payment module  110  is very similar to that of shopping service module  102 , a detailed description of the operation of bill payment module  110  is omitted to avoid redundancy. In this regard it is to be appreciated bill payment module  110  includes submodules analogous to item template module  104 , e-catalog module  106  and order form module  108 , i.e., a bill template module, a bill file module and a bill payment module, respectively, even though specific reference to such submodules is not provided below. That said, bill module  110  is described in sufficient detail below to provide an understanding of the structure and functionality of the module.  
     [0107] If at step  704  the user chooses select bill category link  706 , then at step  708  a request for the same is sent to system  20  as indicated by operation F′. As items may be organized in item categories, so may bills be organized in bill categories. These bill categories may include, for example, utilities, credit cards, car payments and landscaping services. Each bill category has an associated bill template (not shown), analogous to item template  122 , in which fields pertinent to a given category of bill are provided, e.g., name and URL of billing entity, new purchases, balance, billing period. Bill files (not shown), analogous to e-catalog  124 , are generated for each bill category. If desired, bills may be categorized in a generic bill category which provides less organizational capability, but may be preferred by some users. Payment forms  128  (FIG. 3) are provided for listing the bills to be paid, which are analogous order lists  126  for ordering items.  
     [0108] The steps implemented by bill payment module  110  in operation F′ and user computer  28  are analogous to those implemented by shopping service module  102  in operation F and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIG. 6, subject to the differences described above. Thus at the end of operation F′, a bill template for the selected bill category is displayed in frame  54  and information for several bills in the selected bill file is displayed in frame  56 .  
     [0109] If at step  704  the user selects create bill category link  710 , then at step  712  a request for same is sent to system  20 , as indicated by operation G′. Just as shopping service module  102  permits a user to create new item categories, so does bill payment module  110  permit a user to create new bill categories. As a result, the steps implemented by system  20  in operation G′ and user computer  28  are analogous to those implemented by system  20  in operation G and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIG. 7. Thus at the end of operation G′ a template is created for the new bill category.  
     [0110] If at step  704  the user selects find and enter bill link  714 , then a request for same is sent to system  20 , as indicated by operation H′. Bill payment module  110  permits a user to access billing sites  25  and then enter billing information into billing files via a bill template much like item information is entered into e-catalog  24  via an item template  122  from a merchant site  24 . Access to such billing information typically requires entry of usemame and password information at billing site  25 , since the billing information sought is both personal to the user and private. Billing information from a billing site  25  is displayed in frame  56  of user computer  28 . In some cases it may be desirable to implement system  20  so as to permit billing sites  25  to send bills as e-mail notes to system  20 , which in turn provides the bills to e-mail reader  132  for the appropriate user computer  28 . Ideally, billing sites  25  will provide bills in the form of a bill template of the type provided by system  20 . While specific to billing information, the steps performed by system  20  in operation H′ and user computer  28  are analogous to those implemented by system  20  in operation H and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. Thus, at the end of operation H′ the user has entered billing information from one or more billing sites  25  into a billing file in the selected bill category (including a generic category, if desired). This ability to collect in a single bill file billing information from multiple billing sites  25  is an important feature of bill payment module  110 .  
     [0111] If at step  704  the user selects the view bill in category link  718 , then at step  270 , a request for same is sent to system  20  as indicated by operation I′. This link permits a user to access and view a specific bill just as find existing item link  218  permits a user to access and view a specific item. However, the search parameters provided by bill payment module  110  for accessing a bill may differ somewhat from those provided by shopping service module  102  for accessing an item as the parameters are specific for bills. Also bill templates and bill files are provided in operation I′ rather than item templates  122  and e-catalogs  124 . In other respects the steps performed in operation I′ by system  20  and user computer  28  are analogous to those performed in operation I by system  20  and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIG. 10.  
     [0112] Should the user select edit bill link  722  at step  704 , then at step  724 , a request for same is sent to system  20  as indicated by operation J′. As with the analogous link  222 , edit bill link  722  permits a user to edit a bill, for example to indicate the amount to be paid when less than the total amount due. Following selection of a desired bill category, system  20  sends user computer  28  the bill template and bill file for the bill category selected by the user. Operation J′ ends with system  20  storing the edited bill. Thus with these exceptions, the steps performed in operation J′ by system  20  and user computer  28  are analogous to those performed in operation J by system  20  and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIG. 11.  
     [0113] If at step  704  the user requests view multimedia object link  726 , then at step  728  a request for same is sent to system  20  as indicated by operation K′. While multimedia objects are less frequently associated with billing information than with products and services, under certain circumstances multimedia objects may be provided, e.g., advertisements or special promotions that relate to the business of the billing site  25 . Operation K′ results in the multimedia object being displayed in frame  58  of user computer  28 . The steps performed in operation K′ by system  20  and user computer  28  are analogous to those performed in operation K by system  20  and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIG. 12.  
     [0114] In the event the user chooses at step  704  the sort/exclude bills link  730 , then at step  732  a request for same is sent to system  20  as indicated by operation L′. In connection with bill payment, budget reconciliation and other operations users may desire to identify and aggregate bills meeting certain criteria. A series of sort and exclude operations are provided when sort/exclude bill link  730  is selected, much as links to sort and exclude operations are provided at step  424  following selection of sort/exclude item link  230  in shopping service module  102 , as described above and illustrated in FIG. 13. However, the sort/exclude operations provided by bill payment module  110  differ from those provided by shopping service module  102  in that they are specific to bill paying. In this regard the sort operations provided by bill payment module  110  include sort by balance amount, sort by URL of the payment site  25  and sort by date the bill was added or modified. The exclude operations include exclude by balance amount, exclude by URL of the payment site  25 , and exclude by date range. Other sort and exclude operations may be provided as desired. Operation L′ ends with user computer  28  receiving and displaying in frame  54  bills corresponding to the results of the sort and/or exclude operations. Except as described above, the steps performed in operation L′ by system  20  and user computer  28  are very analogous to those performed in operation L by system  20  and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIG. 13.  
     [0115] Finally, if at step  704  the user chooses select bills and send payment link  734 , then at step  736  a request for same is sent to system  20  as indicated by operation M′. The latter involves creating a payment form  128  which contains bills to be paid, much like order list  126  containing items to be ordered is created, as described above and illustrated in FIGS. 14 a  and  14   b.  However, one important difference exists. Frequently, items ordered from a merchant site  24  cannot be shipped at the time ordered. Steps  574 - 586 , in part, address this fact, as described above and illustrated in FIG. 14 b.  No analogous situation exists with payment of bills. Therefore, operation M′ differs from operation M in this regard and in that the operation pertains to generation and submission of a payment form  128  containing bills to be paid rather than generation and submission of an order list  126  containing items to be purchased. Thus, the SEOM will contain information pertinent to bill payment including the bills to be paid and account information with respect to the bank account or other payment source to be used in paying bills. Also, like an SEOM containing items to be ordered from multiple merchant sites  24  as a single operation, the SEOM generated in operation M′ allows bill payment to may made to multiple billing sites  25  as a single operation. Of course if a central bill paying entity is used, then a single SEOM containing bill payment information for all billing sites  25  may be provided to the single billing entity. If desired, bill payment module may be designed to allow a user to specify on payment form  128  when bills are to be paid. Thus, while the user may submit payment form  128  as a single operation, bill payment module  110  will only authorize release of payment funds at the date specified in payment form  128 . This allows bills to be paid at one time, but avoids distribution of funds until payment is actually required. Except as described above, the steps performed in operation M′ by system  20  and user computer  28  are analogous to those performed in operation M by system  20  and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIGS. 14 a  and  14   b.    
     [0116] If the user elects not to select any links at step  704 , then step  740  allows a user to request the member page with links provided at step  146 . Alternatively, at step  174  the user can exit system  20 .  
     [0117] E. Investment Portfolio Module  
     [0118] In addition to facilitating e-commerce between a user and multiple merchant sites  24  for products and services, and facilitating bill payment and related functions between a user and multiple billing sites  25 , as described above, transaction service system  20  is designed to facilitate investment portfolio activities. Referring to FIGS.  1 - 5 ,  18   a  and  18   b,  described very generally, investment portfolio module  112  (FIG. 3) of application program  50  of system  20  aids a user in the selection, analysis, purchase, sale, organization and other functions with respect to the contents of an investment portfolio such as stocks, bonds, options, commodities and the like. Thus, investment portfolio module  112  permits a user via user computer  28  to access his or her investment account from an investment site  26  (FIG. 1), e.g., a stock brokerage, and then create a investment portfolio in the same manner e-catalog  124  is created. Research regarding a company in which an investment is contemplated or exists may also be conducted by contacting Internet sites or other on-line sources of information in network  22  via user computer  28 , and then recording the results in a research file in the same manner e-catalog  124  is created. In addition, although perhaps less significant than with respect to the shopping bill payment services described above, investments may be purchased from multiple investment sites  26  as a single operation through the use of a transaction form  130  (FIG. 3), much like order list  126  may be used to order items from multiple merchant sites  24  as a single operation. This is desirable where, for example, a user works with one investment site  26  for 401(K) investments, another site that has expertise with emerging growth stocks, and a third site that has expertise with commodities.  
     [0119] Describing investment module  112  in more detail, if at the user selects link step  148  in FIG. 4, the user selects investment portfolio service link  158 , a request is sent at step  160  by user computer  28  to system  20  for the investment portfolio service, as described above. Following receipt of this request at step  800 , system  20  sends a page to user computer  28  at step  802  having links to select investment category, create investment category, find and enter investment, view investments in category, edit investment, view multimedia object, sort/exclude investments and select investment and effect transaction, and request member page with links. User computer  28  receives and displays the page created at step  802 , and then at step  804  the user selects one of the links provided at step  802 . Because the functionality provided by investment portfolio module  112  is very similar to that of shopping service module  102 , a detailed description of the operation of investment portfolio module  110  is omitted to avoid redundancy. In this regard it is to be appreciated investment portfolio module  112  includes submodules analogous to item template module  104 , e-catalog module  106  and order form module  108 , i.e., an investment template module, an investment account module and an investment transaction module, respectively, even though specific reference to such submodules is not provided below. That said, investment portfolio module  112  is described in sufficient detail below to provide an understanding of the structure and functionality of the module.  
     [0120] If at step  804  the user chooses select investment category link  806 , then at step  808  a request for the same is sent to system  20  as indicated by operation F″. As items may be organized in item categories, so may investments be organized in investment categories. These investment categories may include, for example, stocks, bonds, options and commodities. Alternatively, all investments with one stockbroker may be maintained in one investment category, all investments with a second stockbroker may be maintained in a second category, and so on. As yet another alternative, investment categories may be created for companies being analyzed for investment purposes, with one category being used for each company. In some cases, an investment category may be created for a group of companies meeting certain criteria. In these latter cases, the term “investment” is used somewhat loosely as it pertains to investment category, insofar as certain of the categories may not relate to specific investments, but rather to research pertaining to a potential or actual investment.  
     [0121] Each investment category, e.g., stocks, treasury bills and junk bonds, has an associated investment template, analogous to item template  122 , in which fields pertinent to a given category of investment are provided, e.g., name and URL of investment entity, name and quantity of investment, and purchase price. When tracking information about companies for investment purposes, fields in the investment template might include products, annual sales, profit margins, market share and stock price. A number of predefined investment templates for common investment types are typically provided by investment portfolio module  112 . Investment accounts, analogous to e-catalogs  124 , are generated for each investment category. Here too, the term “investment” as used with respect to investment accounts is not limited to merely investments such as stocks and bonds. Company research for a given company, for example, may be included in an investment account. If desired, investments may be categorized in a generic investment category which provides less organizational capability, but may be preferred by some users. Transaction forms  130  are provided for listing the investments to be purchased, which are analogous order lists  126  for ordering items.  
     [0122] The steps implemented by investment portfolio module  112  in operation F′ and user computer  28  are analogous to those implemented by shopping service module  102  in operation F and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIG. 6, subject to the differences described above. Thus at the end of operation F″, an investment template for the selected investment category is displayed in frame  54  and information for several investments in the selected investment account is displayed in frame  56 .  
     [0123] If at step  804  the user selects create investment category link  810 , then at step  812  a request for same is sent to system  20 , as indicated by operation G″. Just as shopping service module  102  permits a user to create new item categories, so does investment portfolio module  112  permit a user to create new investment categories. This flexibility in investment portfolio creation is important as very different templates are needed, for example, for stock a user owns, company research and market sector analyses. Except that the steps following selection of link  810  pertain to investments rather than items, the steps implemented by system  20  in operation G″ and user computer  28  are analogous to those implemented by system  20  in operation G and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIG. 7. Thus at the end of operation G″ a template is created for the new investment category.  
     [0124] In the event at step  804  the user selects find and enter new item link  814 , then at step  816  a request for same is sent to system  20 , as indicated by operation H″. Investment portfolio module  112  permits a user to access investment sites  26  and then enter investment information into investment accounts via an investment template much like item information is entered into item template  122  from a merchant site  24 . Access to such investment information typically requires entry of username and password information at investment site  26 , since the investment information sought is both personal to the user and private. Alternatively, a user may select and enter information from other Internet sites. For example, when researching a company for the purpose of a possible investment, information may be selected and entered following selection of link  814  by accessing the company&#39;s web site, the web sites of market research firms having information about the company, the web sites of newspapers and magazines and other Internet sources. Investment information from an investment site  26  or other web site is displayed in frame  56  of user computer  28 . While specific to investment information, the steps performed by system  20  in operation H″ and user computer  28  are analogous to those implemented by system  20  in operation H and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. Thus at the end. of operation H″ the user has entered investment information from one or more investment sites  26 , and/or from one or more other web sites, into an investment account in the selected investment category. This ability to collect in a single investment account information from multiple investment sites  26  is an important feature of investment portfolio module  112 .  
     [0125] If at step  804  the user selects the view investments in category link  818 , then at step  820  a request for same is sent to system  20  as indicated by operation I″. This link permits a user to access and view a specific bill just as find existing item link  218  permits a user to access and view a specific item. However, the search parameters provided by investment portfolio module  112  for accessing a bill may differ somewhat from those provided by shopping service module  102  for accessing an item as the parameters are specific for investments. Also investment templates and investment accounts are provided in operation I″ rather than item templates  122  and e-catalogs  124 . In other respects the steps performed in operation I″ by system  20  and user computer  28  are analogous to those performed in operation I by system  20  and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIG. 10.  
     [0126] Should the user select edit investment link  822  at step  804 , then a request for same is sent to system  20  as indicated by operation J″. As with the analogous link  222 , this link permits a user to edit an investment, for example to indicate a change in asset allocation or share price. Or when tracking company information, edit investment link  822  permits a user to modify previously entered data such as quarterly sales, new product offerings and the like. Following selection of a desired investment category, system  20  sends user computer  28  the investment template and investment account for the investment category selected by the user. Operation J″ ends with system  20  storing the edited investment. Thus, with these exceptions, the steps performed in operation J″ by system  20  and user computer  28  are analogous to those performed in operation J by system  20  and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIG. 11.  
     [0127] If at step  804  the user requests view multimedia object link  826 , then a request for same is sent to system  20  as indicated by operation K″. While multimedia objects are less frequently associated with investments than with products and services, under certain circumstances multimedia objects may be provided, e.g., company statements, interviews, press releases and investor presentations. Operation K″ results in the multimedia object being displayed in frame  58  of user computer  28 . The steps performed in operation K″ by system  20  and user computer  28  are very analogous to those performed in operation K by system  20  and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIG. 12.  
     [0128] In the event the user chooses at step  804  the sort/exclude investments link  830 , then at step  832  a request for same is sent to system  20  as indicated by operation L″. In connection with investment analysis and research users may desire to identify and aggregate investments and related information meeting certain criteria. A series of sort and exclude operations are provided when sort/exclude investment link  830  is selected, much as links to sort and exclude operations are provided at step  424  following selection of sort/exclude item link  230  in shopping service module  102 , as described above and illustrated in FIG. 13. However, the sort/exclude operations provided by investment portfolio module  112  differ from those provided by shopping service module  102  in that they are specific to investments and related analysis and research. In this regard the sort operations provided by investment portfolio module  112  include sort by URL of the investment site  26  and sort by date the investment was added or modified. The exclude operations include exclude by URL of the investment site  26 , and exclude by date range. Other sort and exclude operations may also be provided, as described. Operation L″ ends with user computer  28  receiving and displaying in frame  54  investments or related information, e.g., company research, corresponding to the results of the sort and/or exclude operations. Except as described above, the steps performed in operation L″ by system  20  and user computer  28  are very analogous to those performed in operation L by system  20  and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIG. 13.  
     [0129] Finally, if at step  804  the user chooses select investment and effect transaction link  834 , then at step  836  a request for same is sent to system  20  as indicated by operation M″. Creating a transaction form  130  which contains investments to be bought or sold is much like creating an order list  126  containing items to be ordered, as described above and illustrated in FIGS. 14 a  and  14   b.  Several differences do, however, exist. First, when a user submits a request to purchase or sell an investment, a unit price, e.g., dollars per share of stock, investment name and type and other information is typically required. Thus, operation M″ contains steps analogous to steps  504  and  506  to uncover and identify to the user whether all required information is provided.  
     [0130] Second, when an investment cannot be purchased or sold at the target price provided in transaction form  130 , in steps analogous to steps  572  and  574  (FIG. 14 b ) investment site  26  determines whether the investment can be purchased or sold at the target price and in the target quantities. If it can, then investment site  26  sends an order confirmation indicating the date, quantity, price and other pertinent factors of the transaction, which is received by system  20  at a step analogous to step  576 . If the investment cannot be purchased or sold at the target price and/or quantities, then investment site  26  sends a message advising such is the case. This message preferably includes a form requesting direction whether the transaction should be completed at another price and/or quantity target, or whether it should be canceled. Following action by the user with respect to the inquiry in the form, in a step analogous to step  582 , investment site  26  processes the revised request, if possible at the new price and/or quantity targets specified, and then sends an order confirmation to the user, in steps analogous to steps  586  and  588 . If the investment cannot be purchased or sold at the new price and/or quantity targets specified by the user, then another message and form requesting direction is provided by investment site  26 .  
     [0131] Like shopping service module  102 , investment portfolio module  112  generates an SEOM containing information pertinent to the purchase or sale of investments and account information with respect to the bank account or other payment source to be used in purchasing the investment. Also, like an SEOM containing items to be ordered from multiple merchant sites  24  as a single operation, the SEOM generated in operation M″ allows investments to be purchased or sold through multiple investment sites  26  as a single operation. Thus, except as described above, the steps performed in operation M″ by system  20  and user computer  28  are very analogous to those performed in operation M by system  20  and the user computer, as described above and illustrated in FIGS. 14 a  and  14   b .  
     [0132] If the user elects not to select any links at step  804 , then at step  840  the user may request the member page with links provided at step  146 . Alternatively, at step  174  the user can exit system  20 .  
     [0133] F. E-Mail Module  
     [0134] Referring to FIGS.  1 - 4  and  19 , if a user desires to send or retrieve e-mail, the user selects link step  148  (FIG. 4) and then the user chooses e-mail reader link  162 , thereby causing user computer  28  at step  164  to send a request for e-mail reader  132  to system  20 . Following receipt of this request, at step  900  system  20  retrieves e-mail for the user, and then at step  902  provides e-mail reader  132  that permits a user to read, write, find, organize, print and/or delete e-mail. In addition, unread and stored e-mail retrieved at step  900  is included in e-mail reader  132  and sent to user computer  28 . At step  904  user computer  28  receives and displays e-mail reader  132 , typically in frame  58 , although if desired the e-mail reader may occupy the entire display  52  of the user computer. Next, at step  906 , a user performs conventional e-mail processes, i.e., reads, writes, finds, organizes, deletes and/or prints e-mail using functionality (not shown) provided on e-mail reader  132 , and sends the results of this processing to user computer  28 . Then, at step  908 , user computer  28  performs the e-mail operations requested at step  906  and sends the results to user computer  28  along with two inquiries (steps  910  and  914 ) regarding further action to be taken by the user. Then, at step  910 , the user is provided with the option to return to the home page for system  20 . If the user elects this option, then, as noted by step  912 , the user returns to the home page. If the user elects not to return to the home page, then the user is given another option at step  914  to link to other web sites. If the user chooses this option and specifies the web site to which a link is requested, then at step  916  user computer  28  through its browser  26  attempts to effect this link. Alternatively, at step  918 , the user may choose to exit the e-mail service, thereby returning the user to the member page at step  146 .  
     [0135] If desired, system  20  may be implemented so that notices appear when the user first logs on to system  20  at the member page. These notices may include, for example, an indication new mail has been received (e.g., an order confirmation), special offers, new product listings, new bills, and investment opportunities. Thus, rather than requiring a user to select e-mail reader link  162  to obtain certain information concerning e-mail, it may be provided at the time of log in.  
     [0136] G. Change Profile/Settings Module  
     [0137] Turning now to FIGS.  1 - 4  and  20 , transaction service system  20  provides the user with the opportunity to edit his or her profile, for example to input a change of address, as well as to modify various settings, e.g., the relative size and placement of frames  54 ,  56  and  58 . If at step  148  (FIG. 4) the user selects link  166  to change profile/settings, then at step  168  user computer  28  sends such a request to system  20 . Upon receipt of this request, at step  1000 , system  20  sends a page with links to edit profile and edit settings. At step  1002 , user computer  28  receives and displays the link page and then the user selects one of the two links provided. If the user selects edit profile link  1004 , then user computer  28  sends this request to system  20  where, at step  1006 , the system retrieves the user profile and creates a profile page. This page is then sent to user computer  28  and at step  1008  the user edits his or her profile and sends it to system  20  where at step  1010  it is stored. After edit profile step  1008 , the user is provided with link  1012  where he or she is given the opportunity to return to the home page. If the user so desires, then at step  1014  the user returns to the home page. If the user indicates he or she does not want to return to the home page, then at link  1016  the user is given the opportunity to link to other web sites. If the user requests such a link, after providing the appropriate URL user computer  28  sends a request at step  1018  to the other web sites in an attempt to affect the link. If at step  1016  the user indicates link to other web sites is not desired, then at step  1020  an exit from the edit profile/settings services provided and the user is returned to user select link  148 .  
     [0138] If the user at step  1002  selects edit settings link  1030 , then user computer sends this request to system  20  where, at step  1032 , the system retrieves existing settings and generates and sends a change settings page to user computer  28 . Following receipt of this settings page and modifications of the existing settings at step  1034 , user computer  28  sends the edited settings to system  20 , where, at step  1036  they are stored. After the user submits the edited settings at step  1034 , the user is returned to link  1012 , as discussed above. Transaction service system  20  has been described above as a vehicle for facilitating transactions between a user computer  28  and one or more of a merchant site  24 , a bill payment site  25  and an investment site  26 . However, it is to be appreciated that system  20  is not constrained to operate only in such environments. In fact system  20  is extremely flexible in its application and may be used in virtually any environment for virtually any purpose. In its broadest implementation, system  20  has a template module (not shown) that provides a template (not shown) viewable on display  52  of user computer  28  that may be used to enter almost any type of information available from any site in network  22  with which the user computer is connected. In other words, the template module need not be, for example, an item template  122  that is specific to items. A folder module is also provided that permits a user to assemble a folder containing information regarding items offered at one or more site on network  22 . Thus, e-catalog  24  is only one implementation of the more generic folder module encompassed by the present invention. Also, system  20  may be used with sites where the items offered are information, and the information may be offered in the sense that it is made available, rather than sold or licensed.  
     [0139] Even in this broad implementation of system  20 , the template and information in the folder are provided for viewing in display  52  of user computer  28  so that they do not occupy the entire display. This permits the user to display content from a site on network  22  in portions of display  52  not occupied by the template and information from the folder.  
     [0140] Since certain changes may be made in the above system without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description as shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.