Patent ID: 8577134

Claim:
A method comprising: storing, in an attribute information database, color parameter values for items; wherein storing color parameter values for items includes, for each item of a plurality of items, storing, in association with the item, at least one color parameter value that represents a color of the item; receiving, from a user, a search request identifying a particular color; querying whether the user is interested in similar colors; in response to an indication that the user is interested in similar colors: determining a color parameter value range based on the particular color identified by the search request; searching the attribute information database for items having a color parameter value that falls within the color parameter value range; and in response to the search request, displaying one or more items that are associated with color parameter values that fall within the color parameter value range; in response to an indication that the user is not interested in similar colors: searching the attribute information database for items having a color parameter value that exactly matches the particular color identified by the search request; and in response to the search request, displaying one or more items that are associated with color parameter values that exactly match the particular color identified by the search request; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.