System and Method of Browsing Electronic Catalogs from Multiple Merchants

Abstract

A system and method of browsing electronic catalogs from a plurality of merchants. The electronic catalog system emulates the portability and usability of a traditional paper and ink catalog, especially when realized on a tablet or mobile device. Product data feeds from multiple merchants are collected and processed to build a product database. A server retrieves product data and serves it to users browsing the electronic catalogs. Users can request more detailed information and order products through the server and merchant websites. Users communicate with the server and merchant websites either through a standalone software application or via a standard web browser. Merchants are able to update the contents of their electronic catalogs through a merchant portal.

1 . A method of browsing multiple electronic catalogs of products from a plurality of merchants, said method comprising:
 receiving from each merchant a product feed that includes data related to products in a merchant's catalog;   storing item data received from each merchant in a product database; and   providing to a user the ability to browse and search products in said product database.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising converting said product feed received from each merchant into a uniform format. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising in response to a user request to buy or see more detailed information related to a product, sending said user to the product page on a merchant's website. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising in response to a user request to buy products:
 placing said products in a self-contained global shopping cart;   when a user is ready to checkout and purchase said products, separating said products into multiple orders, each order associated with a single merchant;   sending via electronic data interchange (EDI) each order to a corresponding merchant website for order processing.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing a user the ability to create a wish list of selected products within a single catalog and across multiple merchant catalogs. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing said user a content tab whereby product categories associated with a merchant's catalog are displayed and mini catalogs of said categories can be viewed. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing hyperlinks to one or more social media websites. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising categorizing said merchant catalogs into departments whereby all merchant catalogs associated with a department are presented to a user. 
     
     
         9 . A method of browsing multiple electronic catalogs of products from a plurality of merchants, said method comprising:
 receiving from each merchant a product feed that includes data related to products in a merchant's catalog;   converting said product data received from each merchant into a uniform format;   storing said formatted product data in a product database; and   wherein said product database is accessed in response to requests generated by a user for product data.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising providing the ability for merchants to update their respective catalog data after the transfer of an initial product feed. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein converting said product data comprises adapting to and learning the format of a merchant's product feed. 
     
     
         12 . A method of browsing multiple electronic catalogs of products from a plurality of merchants, said method comprising:
 receiving a request from a user for information about one or more products in one of a plurality of electronic catalogs, each electronic catalog generated from product feeds received from a plurality of merchants and stored in a product database;   in response to said request, retrieving data corresponding to said requested one or more products from said product database; and   serving said requested data to said user.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising converting said product feed received from each merchant into a uniform format. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising in response to a user request to buy or see more detailed information related to a product, sending said user to a product page on the merchant's website. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising in response to a user request to buy products:
 placing said products in a self-contained global shopping cart;   when a user is ready to checkout and purchase said products, separating said products into multiple orders, each order associated with a single merchant;   sending via electronic data interchange (EDI) any or all said shopping cart orders to one or more corresponding merchant websites for order processing.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising providing said user the ability to create a wish list of selected products within a single catalog and across multiple merchant catalogs. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising providing said user a content tab whereby product categories associated with a merchant's catalog are displayed and mini catalogs of said categories can be viewed. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising providing to said user hyperlinks to one or more social networking websites. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising categorizing said merchant catalogs into departments whereby all merchant catalogs associated with a department are presented to said user. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising presenting said user with one or more special offers from merchants. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising presenting said user with a cover page of each merchant's catalog. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising presenting said user with one or more navigation controls to aid in browsing through a merchant's catalog. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising presenting said user with one or more recommended products from a merchant's catalog that are related to a main product currently displayed. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising providing the ability for merchants to update their respective catalog data via a merchant services portal. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein each electronic catalog is identified and located by its own unique Uniform Resource Locator (URL). 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein requests from and responses to users are sent through the Internet. 
     
     
         27 . A method of browsing multiple electronic catalogs of products from a plurality of merchants, said method comprising:
 providing a user multiple browsing options for viewing an electronic catalog of products, said product catalog generated from product data feeds received from a plurality of merchants and stored in a product database on a server;   in response to a user request to view catalog items, sending a request to said server for product data corresponding to said requested catalog items;   in response to said request, receiving from said server product data corresponding to said requested catalog items;   displaying product data corresponding to said requested catalog items to said user.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising in response to a user request to buy or see more detailed information related to a product, sending said user to a product page on the merchant's website. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising in response to a user request to buy products:
 placing said products in a self-contained global shopping cart;   when a user is ready to checkout and purchase said products, separating said products into multiple orders, each order associated with a single merchant;   sending via electronic data interchange (EDI) any or all shopping cart orders to one or more corresponding merchant websites for order processing.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising providing said user the ability to create a wish list of selected products within a single catalog and across multiple merchant catalogs. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising providing said user a content tab whereby product categories associated with a merchant's catalog are displayed and mini catalogs of said categories can be viewed. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising providing said user hyperlinks to one or more social networking websites. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising categorizing said merchant catalogs into departments whereby all merchant catalogs associated with a department are presented to said user. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising presenting said user with one or more special offers from merchants. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising presenting said user with a cover page of each merchant's catalog. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising presenting said user with one or more navigation controls to aid in browsing through a merchant's catalog. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising providing an ability for merchants to update their respective catalog data via a merchant services portal. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein said browsing options comprise page turning or page sliding that emulate a printed catalog. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising providing a user login whereby users can save preferences and wish lists and perform other personal catalog related action. 
     
     
         40 . A system for browsing multiple electronic catalogs of products from a plurality of merchants, comprising:
 a product database for storing data related to products in a merchant's catalog;   a server computer operative to receive a product feed from multiple merchants and generate electronic catalogs therefrom stored in said product database; and   said server computer incorporating a web-based interface and operative to access said product database in response to requests for product data received from users over a network and to serve product pages generated from product data retrieved from said product database to said users.   
     
     
         41 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein said server computer is operative to provide said user the ability to create a wish list of selected products within a single catalog and across multiple merchant catalogs. 
     
     
         42 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein said server computer is operative to provide said user a content tab whereby product categories associated with a merchant's catalog are displayed and mini catalogs of said categories can be viewed. 
     
     
         43 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein said server computer is operative to provide to said user hyperlinks to one or more social networking websites. 
     
     
         44 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein said server computer is operative to categorize said merchant catalogs into departments whereby all merchant catalogs associated with a department are presented to said user. 
     
     
         45 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein said server computer is operative to present said user with one or more special offers from merchants. 
     
     
         46 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein said server computer is operative to present said user with a cover page of each merchant's catalog. 
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein said server computer is operative to present said user with one or more navigation controls to aid in browsing through a merchant's catalog. 
     
     
         48 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein said server computer is operative to provide an ability for merchants to update their respective catalog data via a merchant services portal. 
     
     
         49 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein said merchant services portal provides merchants with the ability to manipulate their product feed and take actions related thereto. 
     
     
         50 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein users communicate with said server computer over the Internet. 
     
     
         51 . A computer program product for browsing multiple electronic catalogs of products from a plurality of merchants, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer usable storage medium having computer usable code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising:   computer usable code configured for receiving from each merchant a product feed that includes data related to products in a merchant's catalog;   computer usable code configured for storing item data received from each merchant in a product database; and   computer usable code configured for providing to a user the ability to browse and search products in said product database.