System and Method for Generating an Electronic Catalog for Online Computer Users

Abstract

A system and method for generating an electronic catalog for online computer users is disclosed. The system and method in an example embodiment include generating a tagged webpage template corresponding to a seller site; using the tagged webpage template to extract item information from the seller site; storing the extracted item information in a database of item listings; enabling selection of a plurality of item listings from at least some of the item listings provided in the database; enabling arrangement of the plurality of selected item listings on a plurality of pages in a computer-generated electronic catalog; recording an identifier of the computer-generated electronic catalog; and recording information associating each of the plurality of selected item listings with the identifier of the computer-generated electronic catalog.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 obtaining item information of item listings from a database of a seller site;   receiving user input to select at least one of the item listings for listing in an electronic catalog;   providing respective item information associated with the selected item listing to the electronic catalog to enable the selected item listing to be listed on a page of the electronic catalog; and   associating the selected item listing with an identifier of the electronic catalog.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving additional user input to position the selected item listing on the page of the electronic catalog; and   arranging the selected item listing on the page of the electronic catalog based on the additional user input.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the respective item information associated with the selected item listing includes at least one of a sales price for the selected item listing, a description of the selected item listing, or an image of the selected item listing. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the item information is obtained from multiple different seller sites. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from a client device, a request to access the page of the electronic catalog; and   communicating the page to the client device for display.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the page displayed at the client device includes the selected item listing and at least one additional item listing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic catalog includes the page and at least one additional page. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving user input providing descriptive information related to the electronic catalog; and   associating the descriptive information with the electronic catalog.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving user input to resize, or reshape the selected item listing. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising installing a link or widget on a webpage that is usable to activate the electronic catalog for display at the web page. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected item listing is also displayed on a web page of the seller site. 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 obtaining item information of item listings from a database of a seller site; 
 receiving user input to select at least one of the item listings for listing in an electronic catalog; 
 providing respective item information associated with the selected item listing to the electronic catalog to enable the selected item listing to be listed on a page of the electronic catalog; and 
 associating the selected item listing with an identifier of the electronic catalog. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving additional user input to position the selected item listing on the page of the electronic catalog; and   arranging the selected item listing on the page of the electronic catalog based on the additional user input.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the respective item information associated with the selected item listing includes at least one of a sales price for the selected item listing, a description of the selected item listing, or an image of the selected item listing. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving, from a client device, a request to access the page of the electronic catalog; and   communicating the page to the client device for display, wherein the page displayed at the client device includes the selected item listing and at least one additional item listing.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving user input providing descriptive information related to the electronic catalog; and   associating the descriptive information with the electronic catalog.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise installing a link or widget on a webpage that is usable to activate the electronic catalog for display at the web page. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the selected item listing is also displayed on a web page of the seller site. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a web page, a request to view an electronic catalog;   determining item listings of a seller site that are associated with an identifier of the electronic catalog;   obtaining, from a database of the seller site, item information of the item listings of the seller site that are associated with the identifier of the electronic catalog;   displaying a page of the electronic catalog, the page including the item listings and item information obtained from the database of the seller site; and   enabling purchase of the item listing from the seller site via the displayed page of the electronic catalog.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the item listings are also displayed on different web page of the seller site.