System and method for presenting search results including a call back inidicator

Abstract

A search based call back request system enables a user to request a follow up contact from a seller. The system provides search functionality and stores seller information such that when search results appear for sellers that have requested to offer call back service to a buyer, the system formats the search results screen to include a call back request indicator for the seller. The system includes functionality for the user to enter custom call back data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method implemented by one or more computers comprising:
 sorting, by a server, a plurality of items associated with a search result, wherein each one or more items is associated with a seller, and wherein each item comprises at least one of a product, a service and the seller;   presenting, by the server and to a user, the plurality of items and a call back request interface associated with one or more of the items, wherein the call back request interface enables the user to select a call back indicator for one or more of the plurality of items;   receiving, by the server and from the user, a selection of a first call back indicator associated with a first item of the plurality of items;   receiving, by the server, call back data associated with the user and including a preferred email address for contacting the user;   determining, by the server, a first seller associated with the selected first item, and sending, by the server, a call back request to the first seller including the preferred email address for the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the call back data associated with the user is input in the call back request interface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the call back data is received from at east one of a user database, session ID and a cookie. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the call back data comprises at least one of a user name, a user email address, a user phone number and a user message. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , call back request is sent via at least one of short messaging service (SMS), multimedia messaging service (MMS), instant messaging (IM) and email. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search results presented to the user in a search result interface comprising the plurality of items. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a registration interface for receiving registration information from at least one of the first seller and the user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the registration information for the first seller comprises an indication that the first seller wishes to receive call back requests from potential buyers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of determining that the first seller is registered to receive the call back request and determining for each item in the plurality of items whether the seller associated with the item is registered to receive the call back request. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, in response to determining that a second seller is not registered to receive the call back request, disabling the call back indicator associated with a second item, wherein the second item is associated with the second seller. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection further comprises a selection of a second call back indicator associated with a second item, wherein the plurality of items includes the first item and the second item. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining a seller associated with the second item, wherein the sending the call back request further comprises sending the call hack request to the second seller. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving compensation from the first seller based upon sending the call back request to the first seller. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising sending a first invoice to the first seller, wherein the first invoice comprises a transaction fee and wherein the first seller is associated with at least one of the first buyer and the first transaction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first invoice comprises a plurality of transaction fees associated with the first seller. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving payment based upon the first invoice, wherein the payment comprises the compensation; and,   in response to the receiving the payment, crediting an account associated with the first seller with a first portion of the payment.   
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a network interface communicating with a server computer, the server computer comprising a memory, a processor and a computer program, wherein the processor, when executing the computer program, is configured to:   sort a plurality of items associated with a search result, wherein each one or more items is associated with a seller, and wherein each item comprises at least one of a product, a service and the seller;   present to a user the plurality of items and a call back request interface associated with one or more of the items, wherein the call back request interface enables the user to select a call back indicator for one or more of the plurality of items;   receive from the user, a selection of a first call back indicator associated with a first item of the plurality of items;   receive call back data associated with the user and including a preferred email address for contacting the user;   determine a first seller associated with the selected first item; and   send a call back request to the first seller including the preferred email address for the user.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the call back data is received from at least one of a user database, session ID and a cookie. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the call back data comprises at least one of a user name, a user email address, a user phone number and a user message. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , call back request is sent via at least one of short messaging service (SMS), multimedia messaging service (MMS), instant messaging (IM) and email.