System and method for assisting online product research by consumers

Abstract

Rating information is maintained that is associated with one or more sources from which a product of interest can be purchased. Search criteria is received from a user that defines a product of interest. A plurality of sources are selected from which the user can transact for a product that satisfies the search criteria based at least in part on the rating information associated with one or more sources in the set. One or more sources can be determined from the rating information that have an acceptable rating value, or alternatively, a higher rating value than other sources in the set. A plurality of links may be displayed that individually locate a corresponding one of the plurality of sources. The plurality of links may be positioned, for example, based on the referral compensation provided by the sources of one or more of the links. The link that identifies the source with the highest or higher rating values may be identified to the user.

1 . A method for assisting online product research, the method comprising:
 maintaining rating information that is associated with one or more sources from which a product of interest can be purchased;   receiving input from a user that defines a search criteria;   identifying a plurality of sources that enable individuals to transact for products that satisfy the user's search criteria and which share a designated characteristic that is not specified by the input from the user, wherein the designated characteristic is indicative that the one or more products are more desirable than other products in the plurality of products;   selecting some, but not all, of the plurality of sources, based at least in part on the rating information associated with the selected sources; and   displaying a plurality of links, wherein each link locates a corresponding one of the selected sources.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a plurality of products that satisfy the search criteria, wherein the plurality of products are provided by multiple providers;   identifying a subset of one or more products in the plurality of products that share the designated characteristic.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, from the rating information, a set of one or more of the plurality of sources that each have at least one of (i) a higher rating value than other sources in the plurality, or (ii) a rating value that satisfies a rating threshold. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising identifying, to the user, each of the plurality of links that locate the one or more sources of the set. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein identifying, to the user each of the plurality of links that locate the one or more sources includes distinguishing the links for the one or more sources of the set with one or more of a graphic object, size, color, or position 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein displaying a plurality of links includes positioning one or more links for corresponding sources in the plurality of sources based on a referral compensation provided for the user selecting any one of the one or more links. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the product corresponds to travel fares, and the search criteria includes a departure site and a destination site, and wherein identifying one or more products in the subset includes identifying (i) one or more travel fares that are direct routes, or (ii) one or more travel fares based on a duration of the travel time. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein displaying a plurality of links includes displaying links to at least one of providers for the travel fares, and online agents who enable the user to transact for the travel fares. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the product is for travel fares provided by a plurality of providers, and the search criteria includes a departure site and a destination site, and
 wherein maintaining rating information that is associated with one or more sources includes maintaining rating information that is specific to the provider and at least a portion of the search criteria.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the product of interest corresponds to one or more items selected from a group consisting of: (i) airfare, (ii) automobile rental, (iii) lodging accommodations, (iv) bus fare, (v) train fare, (vi) cruise fare, and (vii) travel packages