System and method for enabling a user of an e-commerce system to visually view and/or configure a product for purchase

Abstract

A system and method that enables a user to configure a customizable product for purchase in an e-commerce system. A user may launch a web browser on a client computer system to access a vendor's web site to purchase a customizable product. The user may customize the product for purchase by selecting one or more customizable components of the product. A user may select one or more customizable components of the product by using a forms/menu interface or a visual graphical user interface. The vendor's web site may receive the one or more user selections for the customized product and may, in response, send data and information to client computer system to visually depict the ‘as purchased’ customized product for user verification and product checkout.

1 . A method for enabling a user to configure a system in an e-commerce system, wherein the e-commerce system includes a client system coupled through a network to an electronic commerce server, the method comprising: 
 receiving a request from a user of the client system to configure the system, wherein the system includes one or more customizable components;    providing an image of the system to the client system for display, wherein images of at least a subset of the one or more customizable components form at least a portion of the image of the system;    receiving customizable component selections for at least one of the one or more customizable components of the system in response to user input, wherein said receiving customizable component selections comprises: 
 receiving user input selecting an image of a first customizable component which is visually depicted in the image of the system, wherein said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component operates to select the first customizable component for configuration; and  
 receiving user input selecting a first customizable component option for the first customizable component, wherein the user input selecting the first customizable component option comprises the customizable component selection for the first customizable component;  
 wherein the customizable component selections applied to the system specify a configured system.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing an image of the configured system to the client system for display, wherein the image of the configured system visually depicts the customizable component selections of the user.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said providing the image of the configured system includes providing customizable component selection images corresponding to the customizable component selections of the user.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein at least a subset of the customizable component selection images are visually depicted at their respective locations on the image of the configured system.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said providing the image of the configured system includes providing text corresponding to the customizable component selections of the user; 
 wherein the text is displayed in the image of the configured system.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the image of the configured system is viewable by the user and used by the user to evaluate and confirm the customizable component selections.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 receiving one or more new customizable component selections for at least one of the one or more customizable components of the configured system after said providing the image of the configured system to the client system, wherein the new customizable component selections applied to the configured system specify a new configured system;    providing an image of the new configured system, wherein the image of the new configured system visually depicts the new customizable component selections of the user.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said receiving selections includes: 
 receiving user input selecting a first customizable component;    providing a menu of possible options for the first customizable component to the client system for display after the user input selecting the first customizable component;    receiving user input selecting one of the possible options for the first customizable component.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component further includes: 
 receiving user input indicating that a position of a cursor of the client system overlaps a location of the image of the first customizable component displayed in the image of the system.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said receiving customizable component selections further includes: 
 providing a menu comprising customizable component options of the first customizable component for display on the client system after said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the menu comprising the customizable component options includes text indicating the customizable component options.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the menu comprising the customizable component options includes images indicating the customizable component options.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the menu is operable to be displayed proximate to the location of the image of the first customizable component  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said receiving customizable component selections further includes: 
 providing a sequence of images corresponding to the customizable component options of the first customizable component after said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said receiving user input selecting the first customizable component option includes: 
 providing customizable component option images corresponding to the customizable component options of the first customizable component;    receiving user input selecting a first customizable component option image corresponding to the first customizable component option.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 providing an image of the first customizable component option for display on the client system in response to said receiving user input selecting the first customizable component option for the first customizable component.    
     
     
         17 . A method for enabling a user to configure a measurement system in an e-commerce system, wherein the e-commerce system includes a client system coupled through a network to an electronic commerce server, the method comprising: 
 receiving a request from a user of the client system to configure the measurement system, wherein the measurement system includes one or more customizable components, wherein at least one of the customizable components is a measurement device;    providing an image of the measurement system to the client system for display, wherein images of at least a subset of the one or more customizable components form at least a portion of the image of the measurement system;    receiving customizable component selections for at least one of the one or more customizable components of the measurement system in response to user input, wherein said receiving customizable component selections comprises: 
 receiving user input selecting an image of a first customizable component which is visually depicted in the image of the measurement system, wherein said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component operates to select the first customizable component for configuration; and  
 receiving user input selecting a first customizable component option for the first customizable component, wherein the user input selecting the first customizable component option comprises the customizable component selection for the first customizable component;  
 wherein the customizable component selections applied to the measurement system specify a configured measurement system.  
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising providing an image of the configured measurement system to the client system for display, wherein the image of the configured measurement system visually depicts the customizable component selections of the user.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said providing the image of the configured measurement system includes providing customizable component selection images corresponding to the customizable component selections of the user.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein at least a subset of the customizable component selection images are visually depicted at their respective locations on the image of the configured measurement system.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said providing the image of the configured measurement system includes providing text corresponding to the customizable component selections of the user; 
 wherein the text is displayed in the image of the configured measurement system.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the image of the configured measurement system is viewable by the user and used by the user to evaluate and confirm the customizable component selections.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 receiving one or more new customizable component selections for at least one of the one or more customizable components of the configured measurement system after said providing the image of the configured measurement system to the client system, wherein the new customizable component selections applied to the configured measurement system specify a new configured measurement system;    providing an image of the new configured measurement system, wherein the image of the new configured measurement system visually depicts the new customizable component selections of the user.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said receiving selections includes: 
 receiving user input selecting a first customizable component;    providing a menu of possible options for the first customizable component to the client system for display after the user input selecting the first customizable component;    receiving user input selecting one of the possible options for the first customizable component.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component further includes: 
 receiving user input indicating that a position of a cursor of the client system overlaps a location of the image of the first customizable component displayed in the image of the measurement system.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said receiving customizable component selections further includes: 
 providing a menu comprising customizable component options of the first customizable component for display on the client system after said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the menu comprising the customizable component options includes text indicating the customizable component options.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the menu comprising the customizable component options includes images indicating the customizable component options.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the menu is operable to be displayed proximate to the location of the image of the first customizable component  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said receiving customizable component selections further includes: 
 providing a sequence of images corresponding to the customizable component options of the first customizable component after said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said receiving user input selecting the first customizable component option includes: 
 providing customizable component option images corresponding to the customizable component options of the first customizable component;    receiving user input selecting a first customizable component option image corresponding to the first customizable component option.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 providing an image of the first customizable component option for display on the client system in response to said receiving user input selecting the first customizable component option for the first customizable component.    
     
     
         33 . A method for enabling a user to configure a computer system in an e-commerce system, wherein the e-commerce system includes a client system coupled through a network to an electronic commerce server, the method comprising: 
 receiving a request from a user of the client system to configure the computer system, wherein the computer system includes one or more customizable components, wherein at least one of the customizable components is an electronic device;    providing an image of the computer system to the client system for display, wherein images of at least a subset of the one or more customizable components form at least a portion of the image of the computer system;    receiving customizable component selections for at least one of the one or more customizable components of the computer system in response to user input, wherein said receiving customizable component selections comprises: 
 receiving user input selecting an image of a first customizable component which is visually depicted in the image of the computer system, wherein said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component operates to select the first customizable component for configuration; and  
 receiving user input selecting a first customizable component option for the first customizable component, wherein the user input selecting the first customizable component option comprises the customizable component selection for the first customizable component;  
 wherein the customizable component selections applied to the computer system specify a configured computer system.  
   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising providing an image of the configured computer system to the client system for display, wherein the image of the configured computer system visually depicts the customizable component selections of the user.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said providing the image of the configured computer system includes providing customizable component selection images corresponding to the customizable component selections of the user.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein at least a subset of the customizable component selection images are visually depicted at their respective locations on the image of the configured computer system.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said providing the image of the configured computer system includes providing text corresponding to the customizable component selections of the user; 
 wherein the text is displayed in the image of the configured computer system.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the image of the configured computer system is viewable by the user and used by the user to evaluate and confirm the customizable component selections.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising: 
 receiving one or more new customizable component selections for at least one of the one or more customizable components of the configured computer system after said providing the image of the configured computer system to the client system, wherein the new customizable component selections applied to the configured computer system specify a new configured computer system;    providing an image of the new configured computer system, wherein the image of the new configured computer system visually depicts the new customizable component selections of the user.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein said receiving selections includes: 
 receiving user input selecting a first customizable component;    providing a menu of possible options for the first customizable component to the client system for display after the user input selecting the first customizable component;    receiving user input selecting one of the possible options for the first customizable component.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component further includes: 
 receiving user input indicating that a position of a cursor of the client system overlaps a location of the image of the first customizable component displayed in the image of the computer system.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said receiving customizable component selections further includes: 
 providing a menu comprising customizable component options of the first customizable component for display on the client system after said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the menu comprising the customizable component options includes text indicating the customizable component options.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the menu comprising the customizable component options includes images indicating the customizable component options.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the menu is operable to be displayed proximate to the location of the image of the first customizable component  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said receiving customizable component selections further includes: 
 providing a sequence of images corresponding to the customizable component options of the first customizable component after said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said receiving user input selecting the first customizable component option includes: 
 providing customizable component option images corresponding to the customizable component options of the first customizable component;    receiving user input selecting a first customizable component option image corresponding to the first customizable component option.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising: 
 providing an image of the first customizable component option for display on the client system in response to said receiving user input selecting the first customizable component option for the first customizable component.    
     
     
         49 . A memory medium comprising program instructions for enabling a user to configure a system in an e-commerce system, wherein the e-commerce system includes a client system coupled through a network to an electronic commerce server, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement: 
 receiving a request from a user of the client system to configure the system, wherein the system includes one or more customizable components;    providing an image of the system to the client system for display, wherein images of at least a subset of the one or more customizable components form at least a portion of the image of the system;    receiving customizable component selections for at least one of the one or more customizable components of the system in response to user input, wherein said receiving customizable component selections comprises: 
 receiving user input selecting an image of a first customizable component which is visually depicted in the image of the system, wherein said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component operates to select the first customizable component for configuration; and  
 receiving user input selecting a first customizable component option for the first customizable component, wherein the user input selecting the first customizable component option comprises the customizable component selection for the first customizable component;  
 wherein the customizable component selections applied to the system specify a configured system.  
   
     
     
         50 . A memory medium comprising program instructions for enabling a user to configure a computer system in an e-commerce system, wherein the e-commerce system includes a client system coupled through a network to an electronic commerce server, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement: 
 receiving a request from a user of the client system to configure the computer system, wherein the computer system includes one or more customizable components, wherein at least one of the customizable components is an electronic device;    providing an image of the computer system to the client system for display, wherein images of at least a subset of the one or more customizable components form at least a portion of the image of the computer system;    receiving customizable component selections for at least one of the one or more customizable components of the computer system in response to user input, wherein said receiving customizable component selections comprises: 
 receiving user input selecting an image of a first customizable component which is visually depicted in the image of the computer system, wherein said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component operates to select the first customizable component for configuration; and  
 receiving user input selecting a first customizable component option for the first customizable component, wherein the user input selecting the first customizable component option comprises the customizable component selection for the first customizable component;  
 wherein the customizable component selections applied to the computer system specify a configured computer system.  
   
     
     
         51 . A memory medium comprising program instructions for enabling a user to configure a measurement system in an e-commerce system, wherein the e-commerce system includes a client system coupled through a network to an electronic commerce server, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement: 
 receiving a request from a user of the client system to configure the measurement system, wherein the measurement system includes one or more customizable components, wherein at least one of the customizable components is a measurement device;    providing an image of the measurement system to the client system for display, wherein images of at least a subset of the one or more customizable components form at least a portion of the image of the measurement system;    receiving customizable component selections for at least one of the one or more customizable components of the measurement system in response to user input, wherein said receiving customizable component selections comprises: 
 receiving user input selecting an image of a first customizable component which is visually depicted in the image of the measurement system, wherein said receiving user input selecting the image of the first customizable component operates to select the first customizable component for configuration; and  
 receiving user input selecting a first customizable component option for the first customizable component, wherein the user input selecting the first customizable component option comprises the customizable component selection for the first customizable component;  
 wherein the customizable component selections applied to the measurement system specify a configured measurement system.