Abstract:
A web-based classified ads system providing tools that enable buyers and sellers to complete transactions in a social network environment. By integrating many of the transactions features such as classifieds, auctioning, bartering, event signups, with social networking elements such as profiles, chats, friend lists, groups, messages, degrees of separations, friend post notifications, feedbacks, and recommendations the system of the present invention reduces anxiety and cuts down on time and cost involved in business transactions.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/113,665, entitled “A System and Method for an Interactive Online Social Classifieds Transaction System”, filed on 12 Nov. 2008. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates generally to a system and method for a transactional system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an integrated website system that allows for an interactive transaction system between buyers and sellers through classified ads in a social networking setting. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to techniques for using information about a financial transaction to augment information in a representation of an online social network. A person typically values advice from people within their own social network over advice from people outside of their social network. As access to the Internet becomes more widespread, interactions between people are increasingly occurring through the Internet. For example, online social networks are appearing on the Internet, which has led to the emergence of new communities, such as Facebook, and MySpace. These online social networks enable members to quickly obtain information from other members about other members. 
         [0006]    The present invention was created as a solution to the problem of trusting people on a classified ads site. The present invention creates a social network environment within a transaction system so that users can use the community to quickly obtain information from other members to form a confidence level in the transaction. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A web-based classified ads system providing tools that enable buyers and sellers to complete transactions in a social network environment. By integrating many of the transactions features such as classifieds, auctioning, bartering, event signups, with social networking elements such as profiles, chats, friend lists, groups, messages, degrees of separations, friend post notifications, feedbacks, and recommendations the system of the present invention reduces anxiety and cuts down on time and cost involved in business transactions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a flowchart illustrating how a user might interact with different parts of the website of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates the advertisement post on a website page of the present invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a profile area of the website page of the present invention for registered providers. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    In the following are detailed descriptions of the invention of exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
         [0013]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. 
         [0014]    Now referring to  FIG. 1 , the flowchart view illustrating how a user will interact with different parts of the website is shown. Before a user  35  can login they must first register  36  and input requested user information  37  into the computer system via the website interface. Once a user is registered  36  and logged in  38 , they can view a plurality of pages, including but not limited to a home page  39 , contacts manager  40 , forum for posting  41 , post manager  42 , and edit their user profile information  43  previously entered during registration  36 . The system, via the website interface, will also provide announcements, friends updates, an RSS feed, and watch lists  44 . Additionally, a user can search the system&#39;s database  45  for information. The transactional component  46  consists of an auction site, bartering, activities, groups, discussion forums, and classified ads. The user rating or feedback component  47  includes means for adding or removing feedback and responding to feedback left by another member. Finally, the user profile database  48  may also include a picture or video and other information such as location, group and friend connections, an introduction, resume, recommendations, feedback, and a post history. 
         [0015]    Now referring to  FIG. 2  the advertisement post website page of the present invention is illustrated. The advertisement post website page is designed to provide the user with a wealth of information to make decisions easier. The advertisement post website page consists of: A flagging system that allows users to report inappropriate, illegal, or out of date posts  1 . A degree of separation chain makes it easier to connect and trust the poster  2 . A picture of the poster&#39;s logo or picture  3 , link to a poster&#39;s profile page  4 , direction map to that user  5  and means to allow a message to be send to that user  6  are also provided. Also provided is a Feedback rating  7  that a running average of the feedback scores. A post title and description  8  section is present for showing items listed. A response (offer) box  9  enables users to make offers or confirm a deal while a comment box  10  allows a user to make comments and ask questions. Additionally, a user can add the offer to the website&#39;s favorites list and allows other users to see  11  is and add the offer to a user&#39;s watch list for ease of monitoring  12 . A share box  13  sends out an email invite to a friend to view this post. Social book marking  14  enables users to use third party social booking service to share it with their network. Pictures  15  provide a place for pictures and lets users download them. A live chatting box  16  enables users to start a conversation about the post with other users on that page. A translation box  17  provides a third party translation program that translates the page with other languages. 
         [0016]    Now referring to  FIG. 3 , a profile area for registered providers is shown. This area helps individuals build their personal brand and provide useful information for anyone who is interested in doing business with those individuals. The profile area consists of: a profile picture of the individual or business  18 ; User info, such as onsite user name, and date joined which adds to the trust factor  21 ; Description area for that user to make a self-introduction  22 ; Feedback area which records all the feedbacks that user has received from past transaction  23 ; List of current active postings  24 ; List of closed/expired postings  25 ; and a recommendation area  26  where said user may receive recommendations from people on his/her friend list. This recommendation area  26  helps a new user, who lacks transaction feedbacks, to establish some credibility. The profile area also consists of: a resume link  32  to a user&#39;s profile; a comment area  27  which allows other users to leave comments regarding that profile; a live chat box  28  that allows users who are on the page to start a conversation on that profile; a third party language translation software  29  which translates the contents of the profile page into different languages; a group affiliation list  33  which is a list of groups that said user participates within the site; and a friend list  34  that is a list of friends the user has within the site. Additionally, the website provides a function that allow the current viewer of the page to add the viewee to his/her friend list  19  and a function that sends an email to that user  20 . A degrees of separation  30  module creates a simple relationship chart that maps the social distance between the current user viewing that profile and profile owner. Finally, a referral tracking  31  module tracks the number of referrals the user has established. 
         [0017]    Thus, it is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.