Comparing items using a displayed diagram

Abstract

Among other things, a user can view graphically how different available items compare to one another, with respect to attributes of the available items, by controlling what is shown in a displayed diagram that identifies the items, in the context of indicators of their attributes.

1 . A method comprising
 displaying a scatter graph of markers on a page of an online commerce site, the scatter graph representing a selection of items,   the selection of items for which markers are included in the scatter graph being based on current user input criteria,   the scatter graph having a first axis corresponding to an array of possible values of a first attribute of the items and a second axis corresponding to an array of possible values of a second attribute of the items,   each marker being associated with a value of the first attribute and a value of the second attribute of a particular item, the value of the first attribute being one of the possible values of the first attribute of the array, and the value of the second attribute being one of the possible values of the second attribute of the array, the marker having a position along the first axis and along the second axis of the scatter graph corresponding to the value of the first attribute and the value of the second attribute of the particular item,   receiving updated current user input criteria representing a motion made graphically by a user with respect to an interactive graphical element of the scatter graph, the motion made by the user graphically indicating an area of the scatter graph, and   based on the motion made by the user, updating the scatter graph to reduce the possible values of the first attribute of the array or reduce the possible values of the second attribute of the array or both and to reduce the number of markers in the scatter graph accordingly.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  in which at least some of the possible values of the attributes and the values of the attributes are quantitative. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  in which at least some of the possible values of the attributes and the values of the attributes are non-quantitative. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  in which the motion made by the user comprises dragging a graphical element of the scatter graph. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  in which the graphical element comprises a limit line. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  in which dragging the limit line comprises dragging the limit line along the first axis or along the second axis. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  comprising
 presenting an interactive control for controlling redraw of the scatter graph to contain only markers within the limits defined by the dragged limit line. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  in which of the graphical element comprises a cursor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  in which the dragging of the cursor comprises dragging the cursor to define a rectangular area on the scatter graph. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  comprising
 automatically updating the scatter graph to correspond to the markers in the defined rectangular area. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  in which the motion made by the user comprises outlining two or more of the markers. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  in which the motion made by the user comprises a motion of a finger or a stylus relative to the displayed scatter graph. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  in which the motion is made by the user on a touch screen. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  comprising
 presenting an interactive control for controlling removal of one or more of the markers from the scatter graph. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  comprising
 imparting interactive control features to each of the markers, and 
 responding to a user's invocation of one of the interactive control features of one of the markers by displaying additional information about the item associated with the marker. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  comprising
 changing a graphical feature of the marker that has been the subject of the user's invocation. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising
 displaying a map on an online real estate commerce site, the map representing an area where a selection of properties are for sale,   displaying one or more markers on the map, each of the markers representing one of the properties for sale,   receiving information representing a subarea of the map identified by a user moving his finger or stylus or dragging a cursor, to outline the subarea,   updating the area represented by the displayed map to show markers representing properties for sale within the subarea and to exclude at least one marker for one of the properties for sale not within the subarea.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  in which the updating of the area comprises causing the map to expand. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  comprising causing the map to include only the subarea. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  in which the updating of the area comprises updating the area immediately after the user outlines the subarea by moving his finger or stylus or dragging the cursor.