Patent ID: 7149804

Claim:
A method for providing evaluation information to a customer using a system comprising a first database configured to store data concerning text content and a customer database configured to store data concerning text content read by a customer, the method comprising the steps of: storing data exclusively concerning text content read by the customer in the customer database, receiving a search request comprising a search item from the customer, the search request being initiated by the customer to search for the search item; comparing data concerning the search item with the stored data associated with text content previously read by the customer, the comparing being facilitated by accessing the first database and the customer database to obtain rating data that is generated based on input from the customer regarding text content read by the customer or generated based on information from purchase records or transactions related to the text content read by the customer, and the comparing of data being responsive to receipt of the search request; and transmitting the obtained rating data for results from the search to the customer for display at a customer computer; whereby the rating data is partly augmented with transaction data associated with either the purchase records or transactions concerning the text content previously read by the customer.