System and method for visual communication between buyers and sellers

Abstract

A visual communications (VC) tool enables visual communication over a data communications network. An email is sent to a recipient containing a link to a first visual arrangement generated by a sender. The first visual arrangement may include images of various products. The first visual arrangement is displayed via a web browser in a first display area of the VC tool in response to actuation of the link in the email message. The recipient then selects a first image in the first display area. The selection may include dragging and dropping the first image into a second display area of the VC tool. The selection triggers the generating of a second visual arrangement which includes a copy of the first image. The copy of the first image is displayed in a second display area concurrently with the display of the first image in the first display area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for visual communication over a data communications network comprising:
 receiving from a recipient of an email message, actuation of a link included in the email message, wherein the link is associated with a first visual arrangement generated by a sender, the first visual arrangement including a plurality of images for a plurality of products;   providing to the recipient a visual communications tool including a first display area and a second display area;   causing display of the first visual arrangement including the plurality of images in the first display area of the visual communications tool in response to receipt of the actuation of the link in the email message;   receiving from the recipient selection of a first image from the plurality of images displayed in the first display area; and   in response to the selection of the first image, generating a second visual arrangement including a copy of the first image and causing display of the copy of the first image in a second display area of the visual communications tool concurrently with the display of the first image in the first display area.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating the second visual arrangement includes:
 storing the copy of the first image in an image database;   storing an association between the copy of the first image and the recipient;   storing an association between the copy of the first image and the second visual arrangement; and   storing an association between the second visual arrangement and the recipient.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of images in the first visual arrangement is associated with information for a product depicted in the corresponding image, wherein the generating the second visual arrangement includes:
 making a copy of the information for the product depicted in the first image; and   storing an association between the copy of the information and the copy of the first image.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second visual arrangement includes a plurality of other images, the method further comprising:
 causing display of the copy of the information in response to actuation of the copy of the first image;   receiving a modification to the displayed information;   receiving identification of one or more of other images in the second visual arrangement; and   applying the modification to the displayed information and to information for products depicted in the identified one or more of the other images.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 receiving a user command to replace the copy of the first image; and 
 replacing the copy of the first image with a second image in response to the user command without replacing the information for the product depicted in the first image. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection of the first image includes dragging and dropping the first image into the second display area. 
     
     
         7 . The method of claim I further comprising:
 providing via the visual communications tool a notes option to enter notes for a particular image included in the first visual arrangement;   receiving actuation of the notes option; and   causing display of a window for entering notes for the particular image in response to the actuation of the notes option.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 receiving the notes entered for the particular image; 
 in response to receipt of the notes, associating the notes to a copy of the particular image and adding the copy of the particular image to the second visual arrangement, wherein the notes are retrieved in response to selecting the copy of the particular image in the second visual arrangement. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 identifying a user selected display layout; 
 identifying a recipient of the second visual arrangement; and 
 causing display of the second visual arrangement for the recipient according to the selected layout. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving a search term entered via the visual communications tool; 
 invoking a search of images stored in one or more remote information sources based on the search term and displaying one or more matching images in the first display area of the visual communications tool; 
 receiving user selection of one of the matching images; and 
 in response to the user selection, adding a copy of the selected image to the second visual arrangement and causing display of the copy of the selected image in the second display area of the visual communications tool concurrently with the display of the selected image in the first display area. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user selection of the matching image includes dragging and dropping the matching image into the second display area. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving a change associated with the first visual arrangement; and 
 taking a snapshot of the first visual arrangement including the change; 
 storing the snapshot in a database. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the taking the snapshot includes making a copy of information records associated with the first visual arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the change is adding a new image to the first visual arrangement, or deleting one of the plurality of images included in the first visual arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the change is modifying information of a product depicted in one of the plurality of images included in the first visual arrangement. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving a user command to view a history of revisions associated with the first visual arrangement; 
 causing display of a plurality of revision entries in response to the user command; 
 receiving user selection of one of the revision entries; 
 retrieving a first snapshot of the first visual arrangement associated with the selected revision entry; 
 retrieving a second snapshot of the first visual arrangement associated with a revision entry prior to the selected revision entry; 
 comparing the first snapshot with the second snapshot and identifying differences in the first visual arrangement between the first and second snapshots; and 
 causing a display of a list of the differences. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing via the visual communications tool an order option for placing an electronic order for a particular product depicted in an image included in the first visual arrangement; 
 receiving actuation of the order option; 
 causing display of an order pad for the particular product; 
 receiving via the order pad a quantity of the product to be ordered. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the each of the plurality of images are associated with a group and displayed according to the group to which the image belongs, the method further comprising:
 providing a visual order confirmation including an image for each ordered product, wherein the image of the ordered product is displayed according to the group to which the image belongs.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 tracking status of the email; 
 updating a report for the sender based on the tracked status. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the tracking includes tracking whether the email was viewed by the recipient. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the tracking includes tracking whether one or more of the plurality of the products was ordered by the recipient. 
     
     
         22 . A computer apparatus adapted for visual communication over a data communications network comprising, the computer apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including:
 receiving from a recipient of an email message, actuation of a link included in the email message, wherein the link is associated with a first visual arrangement generated by a sender, the first visual arrangement including a plurality of images for a plurality of products; 
 providing to the recipient a visual communications tool including a first display area and a second display area; 
 causing display of the first visual arrangement including the plurality of images in the first display area of the visual communications tool in response to receipt of the actuation of the link in the email message; 
 receiving from the recipient selection of a first image from the plurality of images displayed in the first display area; and 
 in response to the selection of the first image, generating a second visual arrangement including a copy of the first image and causing display of the copy of the first image in a second display area of the visual communications tool concurrently with the display of the first image in the first display area.