Patent Publication Number: US-2002007322-A1

Title: Electronic product information system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
     [0001] The present application claims priority from Provisional Application Serial No. 60/199,341, filed Apr. 24, 2000, entitled ELECTRONIC PRODUCT INFORMATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RETAIL DIRECT MARKETING/CATALOG USERS: CUSTOMIZED “SEARCH ENGINE.” 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a system for providing supplemental product information to consumers over the Internet. More specifically, the present invention is a system for providing product-specific, manufacturer specifications and other technical information to the consumer upon request in order to supplement online catalog information or information presented in a printed catalog or newspaper advertising supplements.  
       [0003] During design and production of a product, manufacturers acquire and accumulate a great deal of information about their products. Manufacturers provide much of this information to resellers, and increasingly make such information available to consumers, as well. Resellers need this product information to select, promote and sell products they distribute. In addition, consumers often desire this information in order to make informed purchasing decisions. Advertisers, product analysts, manufacturer representatives, shippers, and many other people also need information about the product, which may not be readily available or apparent from the product packaging.  
       [0004] Typically, product packaging and print advertising is a primary outlet for disseminating product information. Such information is often a small sampling of available information. To the extent that the information is incorporated into the product packaging, the amount of information provided maybe limited by space considerations. In addition, such information is available only in the distribution of the product itself.  
       [0005] Since the 1870&#39;s when Montgomery Ward began its mail order business with the issue of its first catalog, catalog distribution has become one of the primary print media vehicles for dissemination of product information. However, product catalogs are also limited by space considerations, and the scope of the dissemination of information is limited to the catalog distribution. With the growth and increasing popularity of the Internet, many catalog distributors have begun offering their mail order services via the Internet. Despite the flexibility and possibilities afforded by the multimedia format of the Internet, catalog Internet sites tend to provide the same limited information and format as the traditional print media. Such formatting and content fails to take advantage of the potential and possibilities that the world wide web provides.  
       [0006] Increasingly, manufacturers are attempting to use the Internet to disseminate product specifications. By providing technical specifications and other product information on their own web sites, manufacturers provide supplemental information for consumers to educate themselves and to assist in the buying decision. However, such information is often difficult to locate, particularity when the uniform resource locator (URL) of the manufacturer&#39;s web site is not known or is different from the product name. Thus, though technical information and supplemental product information, which might assist in the consumer&#39;s buying decision, is available on the Internet, many consumers simply cannot find the information when they need it. In addition, often the information is not conveniently accessible to the consumer, because finding the information requires visiting a different web site, and locating the information within that other site.  
       [0007] An attempt has been made to make this information more readily accessible to a consumer by storing a table of web site addresses corresponding to universal product codes, such that consumers are redirected to a manufacturer&#39;s web site for additional product information. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,154,738 and 5,913,210 are embodiments of such a solution. However, such systems fail to maintain control of the consumer for the product reseller.  
       [0008] Direct marketing/catalog, retail and business-to-business sales represent a significant percentage of commerce conducted in the world-wide market place. Despite recent development by many catalog distributors (direct marketers) of Internet sites in conducting electronic commerce, the printed catalog continues to play an important role in the overall marketing/communication of product information for creating sales through the mail order/e-commerce distribution channel. A long-time limitation of printed catalog sales has been the restricted amount of space allowed for conveying product information to prospective customers. For most products in product catalogs, fractional space page units are used, generally restricted to a product photo, limited descriptive copy, and product price. Despite the absence of space limitations on the Internet, Internet catalog sites typically do not take advantage of the opportunity to convey all of the available product information, relying instead on traditional advertising copy and print media restrictions. Typically, online catalog web sites import the same space and text limitations from the printed catalog pages.  
       [0009] Today&#39;s Internet infrastructure makes it possible to provide catalog customers with product information beyond the limitations of the printed page. Space and size constraints no longer limit the product copy. In addition, the world wide web supports multimedia interactions, such as sound, animations, video and the like which cannot be provided by the printed page. Nevertheless, while it is now possible for manufacturers to provide access to such product information, conflicting objectives between direct marketing catalog distributors and their respective vendors generally interfere with such exploitation of the communicative power of the Internet. Specifically, out of fear of losing control of customers or losing a customer&#39;s attention, catalog and other resellers are generally unwilling to direct a potential customer away from their own web site, or direct them at any time or under any circumstances to the manufacturer&#39;s corporate web site.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] Within the pages of a printed catalog and its associated Internet site, selective product items offered by participating resellers are footnoted with a special graphic icon to invite customers to an independent, third-party web site to view additional product information deemed useful in making a buying decision. The link or icon contains embedded information for retrieving the specific product information. The web server displays a web page interface identifying the originating catalog and displaying the supplemental information about the product including technical information. Once the consumer is finished viewing the information over the Internet, the consumer is referred back to the reseller&#39;s site to complete the sales transaction. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the product information system of the present invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the product information system of the present invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 3A illustrates a printed catalog page containing an icon and web site address for the information system.  
     [0014]FIG. 3B illustrates an on-line version of the catalog of FIG. 3A containing a clickable link to the information system.  
     [0015]FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram of a manufacturers interaction with the system of FIG. 2.  
     [0016]FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram of a catalog initiated consumer interaction with the system of FIG. 2.  
     [0017]FIG. 6 is a schematic flow diagram of a direct interaction of a consumer with the system of FIG. 1.  
     [0018]FIG. 7 is a schematic flow diagram of a consumer&#39;s interaction with a cross-marketing interface for the system of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0019]FIG. 1 provides a conceptual overview of the product information system  10 . A consumer  12  interacts over the Internet  14  with the product information system  10  to view supplemental product information, using a computer  16 , a bar code scanner  18 , a kiosk  20  located in a retail store, or other communication devices, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), and the like. Other communication means may also be used, such a digital phone via a wireless application protocol server (not shown) and the like. The bar code scanner  18  and kiosk  20  can also be configured to interact directly with the product information system  10 .  
     [0020] A consumer  12  views product information in a printed catalog  22  provided by a product reseller  24 . To learn about the product, the consumer  12  can visit a web site of the product reseller  24  over the Internet  14 . However, to view supplemental product information, the consumer  12  may have to search the Internet  14 , visit a web site of the manufacturer  26  over the Internet  14 , or visit a different reseller&#39;s web site (not shown). Generally, product resellers  24  do not want to lose the attention of the consumer  12  or direct a potential sale to a competitor. Thus, the product reseller  24  directs the consumer to the product information system  10  for supplemental information, thereby bypassing the manufacturer&#39;s web site and placing the product-specific information at the fingertips of the consumer  12 . The broken line in FIG. 1 illustrates that the connection that the reseller  24  does not want to encourage between the consumer  12  on his or her computer  16  and the manufacturer  26 . Without the product information system  10 , consumers  12  are encouraged to search for supplemental product-specific information, and may ultimately purchase a product from some other seller. Thus, the product information system  10  makes the product-specific information readily available to the consumer  12 , without losing control or losing the attention of the consumer  12 .  
     [0021] Generally, the product reseller  24  may sell products via any number of commercial channels, including the printed catalog  22 , an on-line web site, a building or store, and so on. The various elements shown in FIG. 1 are intended to present some of the different ways that consumers  12  may interact with the product information system  10 , as well as the positioning of the product information system  10  as a third-party to the interaction between a consumer  12  and a product reseller  24 .  
     [0022] As shown in FIG. 1, a reseller  24  may have an on-line web site presence  24   a,  a catalog  22  provided by a catalog reseller  24   b,  a bar-code scanner  18  and/or a kiosk  20  inside a store provided by reseller  24   c.  The business operations of a single reseller  24  may include a store  24   c,  a web site  24   b,  and a catalog operation  24   a  with its catalog  22 .  
     [0023] Using the product information system  10 , the printed catalog  22  contains information urging viewers to visit the product information system  10 , by displaying a web site address for the product information system  10  next to products offered in the catalog  22 . Thus, consumers  12  are invited to visit the product information system  10  directly using a computer  16  or any other means. Once the information is displayed for the consumer  12 , the consumer  12  is directed back to the referring reseller&#39;s web site  24   a  to complete a sale.  
     [0024] The product information system  10  acts as a third-party to the interaction of consumers  12  and resellers  24  or manufacturers or vendors  26 . Resellers  24  generally include catalog retailers, wholesalers, or any merchant who sells a product. Resellers  24  refer consumers  12  to the product information system  10  for supplemental product information to assist the consumer  12  in making a purchasing decision. The product information system  10  displays the requested information and returns the consumer  12  to the referring retailer  24   a  to complete the sale. Thus, the product information system  10  exists as a third-party to the purchase transaction, but does not cause the reseller  24  to lose control over the consumer  12  or to lose the consumer&#39;s attention.  
     [0025] Store resellers  24   c  may install kiosks  20  or bar code scanning terminals  18  on the sales floor which allow consumers  12  to scan a product to retrieve supplemental product information from the information system  10 , either directly via telephone or dedicated connection or indirectly via an Internet connection. Retailers can use kiosks  20 , bar code scanners  18 , keyboards and computer terminals  16  to retrieve supplemental product information to assist consumers  12  who require additional technical or general sales information before making a buying decision. Consumers  12  exploring retail shelves often find it difficult to get help from retail store clerks. Placing computer kiosks  20  or bar code scanners  18  with computer screens strategically within a retail store environment would permit consumers  12  to either bar code scan a product or type in the sku number via a direct link to the product information system  10 . Thus, access to the product information system  10  is not only valuable to the catalog companies, but also to retail store clerks, because it enhances their ability to detail a product for the benefit of the consumer  22 , and ultimately for the benefit of the vendor  26 .  
     [0026] Retail stores can program a computer terminal  16  to link to other possible sources of information, additional to the product information system  10 , such as inventory availability, in-store coupons, manufacturer rebate programs, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, linking of retail stores to the supplemental product information system  10  occurs through a customized database designed for point of purchase (POP) retail use only.  
     [0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the product information system includes a web server  28  and a database server  30  that are connected to the Internet  14  through a firewall  32 . Consumers  12  can interact with the web site interface provided by web server  28  either directly through the Internet  14  or indirectly through a reseller&#39;s web site interface  24   a,  which contains a link or button to the product information system  10 . Essentially, the product information system  10  is a third-party to the interaction between a consumer  12  and a product reseller  24   a.  The product information system  10  provides product-specific supplemental product information to the consumer  12  at the point of sale to assist the consumer  12  in making a buying decision, without diverting the consumer  12  away from the reseller web site  24   a.    
     [0028] Generally, if the system  10  is hosted by a third party Internet service provider, the firewall  32  will be provided by the Internet service provider. If the system  10  is its own Internet service provider, the firewall  32  is part of the product information system  10 .  
     [0029] The firewall  32  protects the web server  28  and its database  30  from unauthorized access. The manufacturer  26  can build the content by inputting product-specific information into the database  30  through the web server  28  by logging onto the web server  28  through the firewall  32 . Generally, access to supplemental product information stored in the database  30  does not require a password, but the database  30  does not permit changes to information except through authenticated, secure transactions. Ordinary access privileges do not include authority to alter the data records. Thus, consumers  12  who access the product information system  10  via the Internet  14  are provided “guest access” to view the specific product information.  
     [0030] The configuration of the product information system  10  permits consumers  12  to access supplemental product-specific information over the Internet  14 . The supplemental product information is stored in database  30 , and the consumer  12  accesses the information over the Internet  14  either from the reseller&#39;s on-line web site  24   a  (option A) containing a clickable link to the product information system  10 , or by typing in a web site address or URL and visiting the product information system  10  directly (option B).  
     [0031] Participating vendors  26  sign up with the product information system  10  to assist in marketing their products. Vendors  26  pay for the service for each product and expect their resellers  24  to include a link to the product information system  10  from their catalog web site  24   a,  printed catalogs  22 , printed circulars, and the like. Thus, the catalog web site  24   a,  printed catalogs  22  and newspaper circulars direct potential consumers  12  to the product information system  10  for additional product information, such as technical specifications and other information compiled and provided by the vendor  26 .  
     [0032] Generally, vendors  26  accumulate information about their products during the production process. Technical specifications combined with production information provides often-needed supplemental information designed to assist consumers  12  in making buying decisions. The product information system  10  is designed to host the supplemental product information and to place the supplemental product information at the consumer&#39;s fingertips, making the information quickly and conveniently available upon request.  
     [0033] The product information system  10  does not interfere with purchase transactions, but instead refers the consumer  12  back to the referring site  24   a  for the consumer  12  to complete the transaction decision. Catalog and retail merchants  24 , the vendor  26  and any other reseller  24  of the product can safely refer the consumer  12  to the product information system  10  for additional information without fear of losing the sale or of losing control over the consumer  12 . If the consumer  12  is referred by a reseller&#39;s web site  24   a,  the consumer  12  is referred back to the referring web site  24   a.  If the consumer  12  is referred to the product information system  10  via an advertisement in a printed catalog  22 , the product information system  10  will display the product-specific information and refer the cnosumer  12  back to the catalog reseller&#39;s on-line web site  24   a.    
     [0034] Participating vendors  26  who wish to utilize the supplemental product information of the product information system  10  expect the catalog company to include a hypertext link or icon on the catalog company Internet site linking to the product information system  10 . In addition, the hypertext link to the product information system  10  is promoted in the printed catalog  22  (as shown in FIG. 3A) so that consumers  12  who are perusing a product catalog can learn how to conveniently access supplemental product information over the Internet  14 . The printed catalog or newspaper circular promotes a URL to link the consumer  12  directly with the product information system  10 .  
     [0035] The web server  28  may be any server capable of connecting with the Internet  14  and with the database  30  and dynamically displaying information to a remote user. The data base  30  may be in any data base format, including relational, flat file, and the like, and may be written in any computer software language. The only limitations on the structure of database  30  is that the database  30  must be written so as to be web-enabled such that a web site interface maybe used to access the data and must be capable of permitting storage and retrieval of text, graphical information, and other multimedia file types including sound, video and the like. The database  30  provides a vehicle for disseminating product information which exceeds the capabilities and limitations of the printed page.  
     [0036] As shown in FIG. 3A, a printed catalog contains a graphic icon adjacent to a particular product to invite the consumer to visit the product information system  10  to view supplemental product information. As shown in FIG. 3B, the on-line version of the same catalog contains a clickable icon or hypertext link, which links the consumer directly to the product information system over the Internet.  
     [0037] Within the pages of the printed catalog or newspaper circular or other print advertisement, selective product items produced by participating vendors  26  are footnoted with a special graphic icon to invite consumers  12  to an independent, proprietary web site to view additional product information deemed useful in making a buy decision. Each printed catalog page or circular includes a notice of the Internet product information system  10  with this special icon or logo next to each participating item number. For example, the icon could be a magnifying glass with a caption “want to take a closer look? http://www.productinfolink.com.” 
     [0038] Though vendors  26  accumulate product information and often include the product information in web site content on their Internet web sites, typically catalog resellers  24  do not display web addresses for the vendors  26  next to the product listing. Instead, the web site developer, advertising agency or someone at the offices of the reseller  24  makes a decision about what information should be communicated to the potential buyer to aid in making the buying decision. Since most web sites and print advertising have space limitations, much useful information is often discarded as being irrelevant to the buying decision.  
     [0039] At the time of the buying decision, though useful product information may be available, the product information is not made accessible by the reseller  24  for the consumer&#39;s benefit. While the reseller  24  could direct the consumer  12  to the web site of the vendor  26  for additional information, resellers  24  are understandably reluctant to do so. Generally, inserting such a link into the catalog web page diverts the consumer  12  away from the reseller  24 . Resellers  24  do not want to lose control over a customer or lose the customer&#39;s attention. Worse yet, resellers  24  do not want to lose a potential sale to a competitor. Manufacturer web sites could potentially lead consumers  12  to competitors or even invite direct sales by the vendor  26  to the consumer  12 , thereby interfering with the reseller&#39;s business.  
     [0040] The http://www.productinfolink.com link of the present invention is designed to open a new browser window and direct the consumer  12  directly to a supplemental description of the selected product. The supplemental information is provided from the database  30  through the web server  28  into the newly opened web page. The consumer  12  is permitted to browse the information provided, and then close the window. No other options are made available to the consumer  12  so the consumer  12  must close the new browser window in order to view the resellers web page. In the preferred embodiment, the clickable link does not open a new browser window, and ultimately directs the consumer  12  back to the ordering page of the referring reseller  24   a  to complete the sale.  
     [0041] Product brochures, technical specifications, accumulated test data, comparison charts and numerous other standard informational items provide expanded content that may assist consumers  12  in making buying decisions. The product information system  10  places this information at the consumer&#39;s fingertips, just one click away from the point of sale. Thus, the information is provided to the consumer  12  at the time of the buying decision, the most critical time for closing the sale.  
     [0042] The records in the database  30  reflect information content provided by the vendor  26 . Technical information, graphics, schematics, video, sound, and text may be incorporated to provide a flexible supplemental product overview, which does not have the space and format limitations of the printed page. The multimedia capabilities of the Internet impose no space and format constraints on the site&#39;s content. The supplemental product information can include video and sound, which cannot be communicated by the printed page. Thus, a vendor  26  can provide a video clip of a product demonstration to supplement the product information content, and the system  10  can stream the video upon request so that a consumer  12  can supplement his or her understanding of the product.  
     [0043] Within the database  30 , the product information for each product is identified within the database  30  by its manufacturer product number or catalog reseller  24  assigned item identifier unique to a specific product, such as an item number, a sku number, and the like. For some small vendors  26 , who do not yet assign product numbers to each product, the system  10  provides a custom product number for use in the newspaper circulars or other advertising copy so that the product may be easily retrieved for the consumer  12 . The information may be retrieved using any unique product identifier.  
     [0044] In addition to product information stored in the database  30 , information about the various online catalog companies or resellers  24  may be stored in the database  30 . Each referring catalog site  24   a  is a referral source, and links from a catalog site  24   a  to the product information system  10  included embedded catalog identifiers which are used to retrieve and display an indication of the referral source. The web server  28  retrieves both the referral source information and the product information, and displays the product information within a new customized web page so as to associate the product information with the referring reseller&#39;s web site  24   a.  In other words, the new web page contains a heading identifying the reseller using a logo or a dynamic text heading and the supplemental product information. If the catalog company wishes to license the use of its logo within the display page, the logo will be used. Otherwise, the header is built dynamically by the web server  28  so that the header displays the source of the referral.  
     [0045] Though FIG. 2 shows the system  10  of the present invention with respect to a single database  30  and a single web server  28 , multiple databases  14  and web servers  12  may be connected as the back end to the system  10 , provided the search engine is configured to scan multiple databases  14 .  
     [0046] Before the database  30  may be used by the web server  28 , information about the various product offerings must be stored in the database  30 . The information may be gathered and written by the vendor  26 , by the host of the product information system  10 , by a third party advertising agency, or any other number of companies or services. In one embodiment, the vendor  26  gathers the product information and technical specifications and transmits that information to the host of the product information system  10 , who then edits and organizes the information into a coherent and appealing informational layout of the product. In the preferred embodiment, the vendor  26  produces and edits the supplemental information by visiting the product information system  10  and inputting the product information directly into a template. The system  10  uses the template to format the customized product information layout, such that the vendor  26  can select the look and feel of the display pages.  
     [0047] As shown in FIG. 4, the vendor  26  visits the web site for the product information system  10  over the Internet  14  (step  36 ). The product information system  10  displays a web page for the vendor  26  to sign on to web server  28 , and the vendor  26  logs into the system  10  (step  38 ). The web server  28  verifies the user name and password of the vendor  26 , and, after authenticating the user, retrieves all related product listings from the database  30  according to the vendor  26  (step  40 ). The web server  28  then displays all of the retrieved related products in a clickable list for the vendor  26  (step  42 ). In the preferred embodiment, the list is displayed in chronological order such that the oldest items appear at the top of the list. Requiring the vendor  26  to sift through older items prior to find the product he or she wishes to amend helps each vendor  26  to identify and remove items that are no longer featured in a catalog or newspaper circular.  
     [0048] The list of products may be edited, products may be deleted, and new products may be added. The vendor  26  clicks on a button on the page with the clickable list for generating a new product. If the vendor  26  clicks the “new item” button, the web server  28  displays a new product form or template for the vendor  26  to edit. (step  44 ). If the vendor  26  clicks on a product in the clickable list, the web server  28  retrieves the product information from its database  30  and displays it for the vendor  26  (step  46 ).  
     [0049] The vendor  26  then enters the product information and/or edits the existing product information and uploads any associated files such as pictures in standard Internet  14  formats, sound files, video streams, and the like (step  48 ). Once the vendor  26  has finished editing or inserting new information, the vendor  26  clicks a button to save the product information to the database  30  (step  50 ). The web server  28  processes the product information provided to determine if the form is complete (step  52 ). If the form is incomplete (such as the manufacturer number is missing), the web server  28  displays a warning message (step  54 ) and returns the vendor  26  to the web form to complete the product information (step  48 ).  
     [0050] Once the web server  28  has processed the information (step  52 ) and determined that the form is complete, the web server  28  stores the product information in the database  30  (step  56 ). Then the vendor  26  is returned to the list of related product listing from the database  30  (steps  40  and  42 ).  
     [0051] Once the product information is stored in the database  30 , the product information is immediately available for retrieval via the web site interface. The information may be retrieved through a referral link with embedded information, a referral link to a front page retrieval form, a direct link over the Internet  14 , or through a cross-marketing interface (as discussed with respect to FIG. 7).  
     [0052] For participating vendors  26 , the on-line catalog displays a small icon or hypertext link on each web site page, which links to the product information system  10 . Additionally, on-line catalog resellers  24   a  place a link or clickable icon next to specific products for participating vendors  26 , linking the specific product to the product information system  10 . Additionally, print advertising promotes the URL or web site address for the product information system  10 , thereby encouraging consumers to visit the system  10  for additional product information.  
     [0053] As shown in FIG. 5, the consumer  12  is directed to the product information system  10  for supplemental product information from an on-line catalog reseller web site  24   a.  The reseller  24  uses an on-line web site  24   a  to conduct product sales. Consumers  12  visit the web site  24   a  of the reseller  24  and searches for products. If the consumer  12  wants to see additional information, the consumer  12  clicks on the link, which directs the consumer  12  to the product information system  10 . In addition to linking directly from the on-line web site  24   a  of the reseller  24 , consumers  12  may interact with the product information system  10  directly (as shown in FIG. 6). FIG. 5 illustrates the interaction of the consumer with the product information system  10 , when the consumer is referred by a link or an icon with embedded information from an on-line web site  24   a  of a reseller  24 .  
     [0054] When a consumer  12  visits the web site  24   a  of an on-line reseller  24  (step  58 ), they browse items for sale (step  60 ). If the consumer  12  wishes to see more information about a particular product, the consumer  12  clicks on a link or button to view more information about the item (step  62 ). The button contains embedded information, including the manufacturer product number or sku number and a referring catalog identifier.  
     [0055] The product information system  10  is customizable to provide the catalog brand information in the product information window for participating on-line catalog resellers  24 . An on-line catalog reseller  24   a  who wishes to have its trademark displayed by the product information system  10  in conjunction with referred consumers  12  can license the use of its mark for the limited purpose of displaying a customized product information page. Otherwise, the product information system  10  displays a dynamic header, which includes a statement indicating the referral source. The limited use of the catalog reseller&#39;s mark is intended to provide a customized product information page having the images of the reseller  24  so that the product information system  10  provides the information in an interface that shares the look and feel of the reseller  24 . Thus, the retrieval of the supplemental product information maintains a continuity with the referring site  24   a,  so that the retrieval and display of the information is seamless for the consumer  12 .  
     [0056] Clicking on the button to view more information causes the browser to open a new browser window and transmit source identifier and product information to the web server  28  (step  64 ). The web server  28  retrieves display information from the database  30  based on the catalog information (step  66 ). The display information includes image data and other information about the reseller  24 , which allows the product information system  10  to build a hypertext page that looks and feels like the web page of the reseller  24 , thereby making it seem to the consumer  12  as though the consumer  12  never left the reseller&#39;s web site.  
     [0057] Then the web server  28  retrieves the product information from the database  30  (step  68 ). The web server  28  dynamically builds a web page using the display information and the retrieved product information (step  70 ) and displays the web page in the new browser window (step  72 ). The consumer  12  then is able to browse the information provided and close the window when finished (step  74 ). Closing the window causes the consumer to be returned to the web site of the on-line reseller  24  to complete the sale.  
     [0058] The example described above anticipates opening of a new browser window upon clicking on the link to the product information system, thereby preventing the consumer  12  from being directed away from the site  24   a.  In the preferred embodiment, browser plugins and/or the web server  28  controls the activity of the consumer  12 , such that the consumer  12  is referred back to the referring reseller&#39;s web site  24   a  to complete the sale.  
     [0059] Though the link to the product information system  10  was described as a button, the link may also be a hypertext link, a clickable image or icon, or any other user initiated means. In the preferred embodiment, the clickable link is an icon and text indicating “more information.” 
     [0060] If the on-line catalog reseller  24   a  wishes to affiliate with the product information system  10 , the catalog provider may invite consumers  12  to enter their email address in the new built window and submit the email address if they are interested in receiving notices about sales and offers from that catalog reseller  24   a.  The system  10  provides a permission-based e-mail solicitation feature that may be initiated and controlled by the reseller  24   a.  The product information system  10  of the present invention monitors price changes with the on-line catalog company  24   a,  and also permits the catalog company  24   a  to provide notices to the product information system  10  about sales and other special offers which may then be transmitted to the email list. The list of email addresses is stored in the database  30  for later retrieval. In addition, the list may be transferred to the on-line catalog company  24   a  in digital or paper form, to assist the retailer  24   a  in building and maintaining an customer e-mail list.  
     [0061] As shown in FIG. 6, consumers  12  may visit the product information system  10  directly, using a web site address promoted in a printed catalog  22  or newspaper circular. The consumer  12  is required to enter the name of the printed catalog  22  or circular company and the product number so as to retrieve the product information and a link to the referring source to complete the sale. FIG. 6 illustrates the interaction of consumer  12  with the product information system  10  when the consumer  12  is referred to the system  10  by a printed catalog  22 .  
     [0062] Other options are also available. For example, a link is offered from the Internet web site interface of the product information system  10 , which allows vendors  26  to visit the web site and log into, enter new information or update information within the database  30  about their product offerings. (as discussed with respect to FIG. 4). In addition, catalog companies who partner directly with the product information system  10  can provide supplemental information and/or special pricing information to the product information system  10  directly.  
     [0063] Since direct access is not provided from a link, a web site interface is provided for the consumer  12  to enter the catalog name and product number. Since many people enjoy browsing printed catalogs, some consumers  12  may be looking at the printed catalog  22  or newspaper circular and desire to see more information about a product. Participating catalog or retail resellers  24  include a web site address to the product information system  10  next to specific products inside the printed advertising copy. A consumer  12  visits the web site address of the product information system  10  by typing in the URL (step  76 ).  
     [0064] The product information system  10  displays an Internet web site interface, which provides information about the services offered by the product information system  10 . Individuals who are interested in learning more about the product information system  10  click on a link and are given information about the system  10 . Consumers  12  who are interested in viewing more information about a specific product in a catalog, are required to enter the catalog name and product number (step  78 ). The consumer  12  enters the requested information (step  80 ) and submits the requested information (step  82 ).  
     [0065] Once the consumer  12  has submitted the requested information (step  82 ), the web server  28  retrieves the display information from the database  30  based on the catalog information provided (step  84 ). The web server  28  then retrieves the product information from the database  30  (step  86 ). The web server  28  dynamically builds a web page using the display information and the retrieved product information (step  88 ). The dynamically built web page includes a link to the web site of the participating catalog reseller  24 , so that the consumer  12  can click on a link to place the order. Then, the web server  28  displays the built web page for the consumer  12  (step  90 ). The consumer  12  browses the information provided (step  92 ), and then the consumer  12  may either close the window, enter a new product number to search, enter their email address as previously described, or leave the site entirely (step  94 ).  
     [0066] The product information system  10  does not complete the commercial transaction, but rather provides supplemental information to consumers  12  to assist in the purchase decision. Thus, the consumer  12  is referred back to the reseller&#39;s web site  24   a  to complete the transaction.  
     [0067] Alternatively, rather than asking the consumer  12  to type in the catalog information, the various catalogs companies  24   b  may be listed in a pop-up list so that the consumer  12  simply selects the catalog from the pop up list. Products shown in printed catalogs  22  not listed may be retrieved using the manufacturer&#39;s name, thereby allowing the vendor  26  to supplement product information for all of its products. As with the catalog reseller  24 , vendors  26  can refer consumers  12  to the product information system  10  for supplemental product information, instead of maintaining the information in multiple on-line web sites and instead of cluttering their own web site with the information. Thus, the product information system  10  serves both resellers  24  and vendors  26  by hosting the supplemental information, displaying the information upon request, and returning the consumer  12  to the referring site to complete the product sale.  
     [0068] In the preferred embodiment, the clickable link contained in the printed catalog  22  contains a path such that typing in the URL or web site address of the product information system  10  as provided, completes the catalog brand name entry so that the consumer  12  need only fill in the product item number. In other words, the printed catalog  22  may provide a web site address such as the following: “http://www.productinfolink.com/catalogname/”. By typing in the given URL, the consumer  12  is directed to a page to enter the product item number, thereby bypassing the ordinary user interface and proceeding directly to the product information.  
     [0069] The product search page includes both the reseller identifier and the product identifier. The consumer  12  is required to enter both pieces of information for the search to proceed. Failure to provide the reseller identifier (i.e. the catalog company&#39;s name, the manufacturer&#39;s name, the name of the reseller  24 , and the like) results in an error message. In the preferred embodiment, the reseller identifier is selected from a list in order to minimize typographical errors and search variations. The list may be a pop up list, a pull down menu, or any other similar list option for the consumer  12  to select the name of the reseller  24 .  
     [0070] It is possible to offer cross-marketing opportunities for vendors  26  and catalog resellers  24  who are interested in using the product information system  10  to market their product offerings. Specifically, the product information system  10  offers a web page interface that is unrelated to the consumer page previously described. Consumers  12  are attracted to the separate web page identified by a different URL by traditional online advertising, print advertising and the like. The cross-marketing interface allows consumers  12  to search for products based on descriptions and specifications and the like.  
     [0071] The cross-marketing interface does not undermine the other aspects of the present invention. Instead, the cross-marketing interface is separately advertised as a source for product information on all sorts of products. The consumer  12  is directed to a web site interface on a different domain from the previously discussed web sites, so that there is no confusion or misdirection of consumers  12  away from resellers  24 . Consumers  12  who visit the cross-marketing interface are attracted to the site through different means.  
     [0072] As shown in FIG. 7, the cross-marketing interface provides a advantageous marketing opportunity for resellers  24  to attract consumers  12  to their sites. Resellers  24  who sign up for the cross-marketing opportunity will be included in a list of resellers  24  of a product, and the product information system  10  refers consumers  12  to the resellers  24  through the list. Thus, consumers  12  who are looking for a product can visit the product information system  10  through the cross-marketing interface to view product information and clickable list of resellers  24  from which to purchase the product.  
     [0073] As shown in FIG. 7, the consumer  12  may interact with the system  10  through an entirely separate interface for finding products to fill a need. The consumer  12  visits a product search page over the Internet (step  96 ). The web server  28  displays a product search page (step  98 ). A consumer  12  enters search request information (step  100 ) and submits the search request to the web server  28  (step  102 ). The web server  28  then searches the database  30  for the requested products based on the information provided (step  104 ). If the web server  28  finds no products satisfying the search request, the web server  28  displays the product search page (step  98 ) with the message “NO PRODUCTS FOUND IN SEARCH” displayed below the search form.  
     [0074] If the search is successful, the web server  28  determines the catalog or on-line retailers who sell this particular product (step  106 ). The web server  28  dynamically builds a web page using the product information and the retrieved catalog reseller information (step  108 ). The web server  28  displays the built web page for the consumer  12  (step  110 ). The built web page contains the name of the found products and the name of the participating resellers  24  who sell the product.  
     [0075] The consumer  12  views the product information (step  112 ) and selects a product reseller  24  from the list (step  114 ). The web server  28  then retrieves the link for the reseller&#39;s purchase web page according to the reseller  24  chosen by the consumer  12  (step  116 ). The web server  28  dynamically refers the consumer  12  to the reseller&#39;s purchase page to complete the sale. (step  118 ). Thus, the product information system  10  refers consumers  12  to the reseller&#39;s web site  24   a  to complete the sale.  
     [0076] The system  10  is capable of organizing the list of resellers  24  for each product into a sorted list, by alphabetical order, by price and so on. Resellers  24 , retailers, and wholesalers of products can make use of the product information system  10  as well. Vendors  26  can notify retailers and other resellers  24  of their products that supplemental product information is available through this particular site based on the manufacturer number.  
     [0077] In addition to use with printed catalogs, the product information system  10  may be used in co-op advertising. When retailers run advertising in magazines or newspapers, they often will seek co-op advertising dollars from their resellers  24 . By using the product information system  10 , and linking the product information system  10  to resellers  24 , more co-op dollars can be attracted with the added value provided to the reseller  24 .  
     [0078] The product information system  10  offers consumers  12  the opportunity to comparison shop for competitive prices and to search for related products. If the consumer  12  is referred to the product information system  10  from a reseller&#39;s web site  24   a  or a printed catalog  22 , the comparison search and related product search are programmatically limited by the product information system  10  to only retrieve and display products sold by the reseller&#39;s web site  24   a  or printed catalog  22 . For example, a consumer  12  visits a reseller&#39;s web site  24   a  to browse for a certain type of product. The consumer  12  then clicks on a button that links the consumer  12  to the product information system  10 . The product information system  10  displays supplemental product-specific information to the consumer  12 . The consumer  12  then clicks on a button to compare prices. The product information system  10  retrieves similar products offered by the same reseller  24   a,  and displays the similar products in a list with the pricing information. Similarly, if the consumer clicks on a button to see related products, the product information system  10  retrieves related products offered by the same reseller  24   a,  and displays the similar products in a list. Thus, consumers  12  use the product information system  10  to find the best product for their needs that is offered by the referring reseller  24   a.    
     [0079] If the consumer  12  visits the cross-marketing interface of the product information system, the consumer  12  can search for related products and perform price comparisons, and the system  10  does not limit the searches to a referring reseller  24   a.  Instead, the consumer  12  can use the system  10  to find the best product available that is offered by any participating vendor  26  or reseller  24 . Thus, the product information system  10  serves consumers  12  by helping them find the best product at the best price, based on product-specific information stored in the database  30  of the system  10 .  
     [0080] The permission-based e-mail feature, described above with respect to on-line retailer  24   a  referrals, can also be accessed by catalog retailers  24   b  and store retailers  24   c.  Each referral source can activate the permission-based e-mail feature to begin building a list of e-mail addresses for use in on-line marketing. In addition, the cross-marketing interface can collect e-mail addresses to deliver broadcast announcements regarding product-specific sales, etc. Thus, the cross-marketing interface can build a list of e-mail subscribers in order to attract consumers  12  to view specific product offerings and then refer the consumer  12  to the reseller  24   a  to complete the sale. Thus, the product information system  10  provides a cost-effective way for resellers  24  to market their products.  
     [0081] The product information system  10  enhances the reseller&#39;s on-line web site  24   a  by providing supplemental, product-specific information at the click of a button. The consumer  12  has convenient, efficient and fast access to product-specific information at the point-of-purchase, thereby assisting the consumer  12  in making a purchase decision without losing the consumer&#39;s attention or losing control of the consumer  12 .  
     [0082] The product information system  10  is designed to provide a restricted product information environment, which allows for presentation of available information to a consumer  12  to assist in a buying decision, without interfering with the transaction. Rather than refer consumers  12  to a competing sellers site for information, such as the manufacturer&#39;s web site, catalog companies and retailers can refer the consumer  12  to a third-party, non-transactional, product information system  10 , which provides information and then returns the consumer  12  to the referring site for completion of the commercial transaction.  
     [0083] Generally, to parse URL search requests and to display pages dynamically, the web server  28  employs scripts. Common Gateway Interface (CGI) scripts, for instance, must be stored in a specific directory on the web server  28 . Other scripts may also be employed for both parsing the search requests and building results web pages for display.  
     [0084] In the preferred embodiment, the web server  28  uses scripts to build the web pages for display. The link on the reseller&#39;s web site, which links to the product information system  10 , can either open a new target window for the product display information or refer the consumer  12  directly. If the reseller  24  opens a new target window, the script builds the page such that all browser buttons are disabled and hidden, leaving the consumer  12  the option to close the window. If the reseller  24  refers the consumer  12  directly, the browser buttons are disabled by the script, with the exception of the “back” button, thereby requiring the consumer to return to the reseller&#39;s Internet site. For consumers  12  who visit the site directly, all browser buttons remain active and visible, so that consumers  12  can easily navigate the Internet site.  
     [0085] The product information system  10  receives a request for product information from a clickable link on the reseller&#39;s web site. A consumer clicks on the link, and the consumer is routed to another Internet domain (i.e. from www.catalogcompany.com to www.productinfolink.com, and the like) to view the supplemental information. The product information system  10  receives the product information request from a reseller  24 , retrieves and displays the product information, and returns the consumer to the reseller&#39;s web page.  
     [0086] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.