WO2002003295A1

WO2002003295A1 - System and method for product comparisons and billing

Info

Publication number: WO2002003295A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/020759
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seiichi Saito
Original assignee: Seiichi Saito
Priority date: 2000-06-30
Filing date: 2001-06-28
Publication date: 2002-01-10
Also published as: AU2001273078A1

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for comparing current products to future products. The provider (#1302) administers the current and future products database (#1307) and gathers information by receiving information directly from the manufacturer or by gathering information from secondary sources. The provider inputs this information into a database that is connected to the Internet through a server (#1308). A program utilizes the database data and reports or transforms that data into new information. A computer program then searches the database for requested information and outputs the results on the web site. In a separate aspect, information or advertising is posted at a web site. The information may include text, images, audio, and/or video, or a combination of them. The provider of the web site charges the advertiser or sponsor of the information delivered to the user, based at least in part on a function of the time required to deliver the information to the user.

Description

DESCRIPTION

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCT COMPARAISON AND BILLING

Field of the Invention The field of the invention is electronic commerce, marketing, and marketing research.

The invention further relates to internet-based methods and systems for providing information comparing currently existing products with future products, for collecting and using data about such products and actual or potential customers of such products, and for facilitating transactions or sales of such products. The invention further relates to business methods intended for use with a computer- based network, such as the Internet. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for delivering information, including advertising, over a computer-based network such as the Internet and for charging or billing the sponsor or the information.

Background of the Invention The invention relates generally to electronic commerce, also known as "e-commerce", which is commerce conducted over one or more networks of computers, such as the Internet. The Internet is a global communications network that has become an important forum for communication, research, and commerce. As users have become accustomed to the Internet as a global marketplace, they have begun to spend billions of dollars purchasing goods and services from Internet sites. The Internet appeals to users, in part, because of the ease of comparison shopping it provides. User demand has spawned Internet sites that offer comparison-shopping services and information. Indeed, the success of these "comparison bot" websites clearly demonstrates that consumers or internet users highly value comparative shopping information. Most "comparison bots" or comparison-shopping Internet businesses earn revenue by charging for advertising on their website, by retaining a percentage of sales that users transact through their site, or a combination of both. Many currently existing comparison-shopping sites allow users to compare one currently existing product with other currently existing products. However, no currently existing site offers comparison of currently existing products with products yet-to-be-released. These "yet-to-be-released" products are referred to herein as "future products".

Even with the now widespread use of the Internet by consumers, there remains a dearth of information about future products. Consumers have traditionally found small amounts, if any, of information about future products scattered among various media, such as magazines and newspapers. However, these media sources have often been unindexed, and difficult to search or retrieve. In addition, these media sources are motivated to provide editorial opinion and recommendations. As a result, these types of media have provided only limited benefits to consumers and manufacturers. While the uses of the Internet often focus on consumers, manufacturers of course also want information to help them make their products more competitive. When introducing a new product, manufacturers typically advertise to a user segment that is interested in and motivated by new and unique products, features, and services, rather than by price alone. Currently, manufacturers do not have a forum for users to compare future products against currently existing products of both their brands and of competing brands. If manufacturers could quickly, easily, and accurately acquire information, from users or potential buyers, about their future products, then manufacturers could more readily alter the design and marketing of new products to match user needs and desires, alter the timing of a product launch for business purposes, or even decide not to launch a product at all. There are now about 92 million Internet users over the age of 16 in the U.S. and

Canada. Among these users are subsets known as Early Adopters, and Information Seekers. In demographic or marketing terms, Early Adopters look for cutting edge information about upcoming products and for the ability to buy those products before they are distributed to the general public. About 20% of internet users are Early Adopters. Early Adopters are highly valuable and coveted consumers, for several reasons. First, they are willing to pay premium prices for new products. Second, they are highly likely to discuss their purchases with others, and are therefore very good word-of-mouth advertisers. Third, they are willing to participate in beta testing, surveys, and focus groups. As manufacturers want to reach this group of consumers, there remains a need for providing a fast and convenient way for connecting such Early Adopters with manufacturers, preferably in a neutral forum disinterested in the sales of any single manufacturer.

Information Seekers, as a group, are motivated by price and obsolescence. Industry figures show that over the next two years, 75% of consumers likely to make a consumer technology purchase will use the Internet to research their purchase. It is estimated that at least 50 million people conduct product research and seek product information using the Internet. Consequently, Information Seekers make up a large fraction of Internet users.

Presently, consumers generally do not have the ability to compare current and future products of similar attributes. Consequently, they cannot easily make an informed decision on whether to buy an existing product now, or to wait until a future product is released. Users might also desire a future product, but be unsure of which future product best suits their needs. Moreover, most types of products are available from several manufacturers. As a result, the ability of an Internet user or consumer to compare two or more future products would, of course, also be highly advantageous. Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods for providing comparisons of current products, for use and future products by both manufacturers and users or consumers. The speed of communications via the Internet depends on various factors, including the computer hardware used, such as the routers or servers, storage media, and especially the communications link between the user and the Internet. Factors on the service providers side may also affect communication speeds. The software driving the hardware and the file types involved of course also influence the time required to send or receive information on a computer network such as the Internet. While Internet communications are very fast compared to many earlier techniques, there remains a constant demand for still faster communication speeds.

Significant advances have been made in both Internet hardware and software, allowing faster Internet communications. Technology companies working in these areas continue to receive extensive media coverage and acclaim. Internet based business and e-commerce companies, have multiplied exponentially in recent years, following some dramatic early successes. These types of activities continue to expand rapidly and draw extensive interest among businesses and the public.

Internet business methods have also developed in parallel with these events. These methods, like conventional non-internet related business methods, are generally intended to earn money for the business owner, whether public or private. Information providers on the Internet have used various revenue generating methods. These include charging or billing for information provided on a per piece basis, e.g., via a fixed charge for electronic delivery of document of known length, charging for connection time to a particular web site, and via other well known ways.

Advertising is also a source of revenue for Internet related businesses. For example, so called "banner" advertising has been extensively used on the Internet, with the advertiser or sponsor of the banner advertisement paying a service provider, web host, etc. for displaying the banner advertisement, based on duration of the display, user hits, click throughs, actual sales, etc. However, few if any Internet business methods have been proposed which account for communication speeds in an information providing or advertising context.

Summary of the Invention

Methods and systems are provided for comparing current products to future products, future products to current products, and future products to future products. The provider, preferably via the operation of a website, administers the current and future products database and web site, and gathers information about current and future products. The provider gathers information either by receiving information directly from the manufacturer or by gathering information from secondary sources. The provider inputs this information into a database that is connected to the Internet through a server. A program utilizes the database data and either reports the information or transforms that data into new information. The information is preferably accessed or displayed through a web site. A computer program then searches the database for requested information and outputs the results on the web site.

In a first aspect of the invention, the program allows users to compare current and future products, to make purchasing choices. Users visit the web site and select a product category and subcategory. Then, users select either from the category of current products, or from the category of future products. Users can begin with current products and have the program search for future products. Conversely, users can begin with future products and have the program suggest current products. Users select current and future products in combination or select only future products to compare side-by-side. Once the search is complete, users can gather more detailed information about the selected products through a targeted product information page, and can buy current products or preorder future products.

In a second and separate aspect of the invention, the program tracks users input and activity. The program then allows manufacturers to access this information about their current and future products already in the database, for product design and marketing research purposes. The program that tracks users' activity can report aggregate activity for a particular product. The program also has the ability to record specific comments from individual users and then sends those comments to the manufacturer.

In a third and separate aspect, information or advertising is posted at a web site. The information may include text, images, audio, and/or video, of a combination of them. The information, typically provided via the web site on a host or provider's server, is accessible or downloadable to the user. The user signals a request for the information, by e.g., clicking on an icon on the web site. The information is then sent from the server to the user's computer, over a communications link, such as a telephone line connected to a modem in the user's computer, via a cable link, a satellite link, etc. The time required to send the information will vary, based in part on the speed of the communications link. The provider of the web site charges the advertiser or sponsor of the information delivered to the user, based at least in part on a function of the time required to deliver the information to the user. This amount of time will vary depending on the speed of the link of the user and other factors. Consequently, the billing for delivering the same amount of information to different users may well be different. In a fourth and separate aspect of the invention, the provider is compensated on the basis of the time for the provider's server to respond to a user's request, rather than purely on a volume of information basis.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide improved systems and methods for product or service comparisons, including comparisons to and of future products, and for collecting and providing related information. It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved business method for billing an information sponsor or advertiser in connection information or advertising delivered over a computer-based network, such as the Internet. The invention resides as well in sub-combinations of the systems and methods described and illustrated.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, where the same reference number denotes the same element, throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 illustrates a sample web page where a user chooses either current or future items as the basis for comparison.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sample web page where users can register, and optionally sign up for email notices

FIG. 3 illustrates a sample web page where users can create their "dream" product.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sample web page where users can offer to test products in pre- production stage.

FIG. 5 illustrates a sample web page where users can provide comments to a manufacturer.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sample web page where users can participate in a focus group.

FIG. 7 illustrates a sample web page where users can participate in a survey. FIG. 8 illustrates a sample web page where users can select current products as anchor products.

FIG. 9 illustrates a sample web page where future products are selected and displayed based on the current products selected as anchor products.

FIG. 10 illustrates a sample web page where users can view detailed information about a product.

FIG. 11 illustrates a sample web page where users can view their selected products in a comparative forum, including comparisons for the features of price, availability, and reviews.

FIG. 12 illustrates a sample web page where users can purchase current products or preorder future products. FIG. 13 is a process flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the methods of the invention relating to users.

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a system configuration according to the invention. FIG. 15 is a process flow chart illustrating an embodiment of methods of the invention relating to manufacturers.

FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of the third and fourth aspects of the invention as used with the Internet.

Detailed Description of the Invention The following description of the invention is made using the definitions provided below: current products: products that have a release date on or before the current date . future products: products that have a release date after the current date, and also including concepts, products still in the planning or development stages anchor products: products that serve as a baseline for a comparative search. manufacturer: any manufacturer, producer, wholesaler, merchant, retailer, or any other entity having current or future products (or services) available now or in the future, for sale or trade. traffic: the movement of users on the Internet, either within a web site or across two or more web sites. page: one unit of a web site, typically appearing on one screen. provider : the person, company, or other entity that owns and operates the provider node and/or website described below. user— any person, group, or other entity that uses the providers node and/or website described below, typically consumers or other actual or potential customers for a current or future products or services.

The invention provides methods and systems for comparing currently available products to future products, future products to other future products, and future products to current products, preferably via a global communications network, such as the Internet. The ability to compare future and current products both to each other, and within their own category, facilitates users' improved decision-making because users have additional product information.

In a preferred embodiment, users select current products to serve as products and compare the future products to current products. This process of comparative analysis is called prescanning, or more properly, previewing. In a separate preferred embodiment, users select future products as the anchor products and compare current products against future products. This process is called reverse prescanning or more properly, reverse previewing

In yet another separate preferred embodiment, manufacturers access information and reports about the reaction of users to manufacturers' current and future products. This allows manufacturers to access information about web site traffic, aggregate data about the number of times that users viewed their products, and to see specific comments by users directed toward a particular manufacturer's product. The program also allows for the transformation of raw data into marketing research reports for the manufacturers. Fig. 14 illustrates the basic client-server architecture for a prescan or preview web site

1310 providing the current and future product comparative processes. As shown in Fig. 14, the provider node 1302 includes a current product database 1304 containing current product information, a future product database 1307 containing future product information, a user database 1305 containing information about users, a computer program 1306, and a web server 1308. Other databases may also be used. The web server runs the PRESCAN web site 1310.

In the preferred embodiment, users and manufacturers access the web site through the Internet 1312. A user node 1314 is also connected to the Internet 1312. The user node 1314 has a user's computer 1318 which has or operates with a web browser 1316. While Fig. 14 shows only a single user node 1314, in practice, ordinarily there will be many user nodes present and in operation, at any given time.

Fig. 13 graphically shows method steps for users on the PRESCAN web site 1310. Referring to Fig. 13, after entering the site 1310 at step 1102, users can either select a product category tab 1106 or a Hot Product 1104 tab, by clicking on an icon on the user's screen. If they select a product category tab 1106 , they next select a product subcategory 1108 tab. If a user selects the Hot Product tab 1104, the user then can get additional information from a Targeted Product Page (TPP) at tab 1110, purchase the product at tab 1112 or download advertisements at tab 1114. Preferably, the products shown in the Hot Products column at the tabs 1104 change periodically, e.g., every 30 seconds via rotating data. Users can also return to select a product subcategory at tab or step 1108. At this point, users can select one or more current products at tab 1118 as anchor products, and then select one or more program-suggested future products 1120 to preview 1122. The program 1306 selects the suggested future products based on characteristics of the anchor products. The other option is to select one or more future products as anchor products 124 and then select computer-suggested current products 1126 to reverse preview 1128. Once the users preview or reverse preview, they can compare the products 1130 in a chart format and purchase 1132 or preorder 1134 their preferred selections.

The program 1306 may be designed to include "must show " products. Specifically, a must show product is a product linked within the program 1306 to at least one other product. Whenever the other product is designated by a user as an anchor product, the program automatically shows the must show product, bypassing or overriding the usual program operation, which otherwise may or may not have selected the must show product, based on the users selection of the anchor product. Preferably, the number of must show products is limited, to avoid extensively interfering with the usual operation of the program 1306. As must show is a highly desirable status, the provider may charge manufacturers a surcharge for it.

Fig. 15 illustrates the method steps for manufacturers on the preview site 1310. As shown in FIG. 15, after a manufacturer enters the site at step 1202, and accesses its account information at step 1204, it has several choices. The manufacturer may submit additional information for an existing product at step 1206, to update or change information in the database 1304 about that product. A manufacturer can also similarly submit information on a new product at step 1208. If a manufacturer is interested in information on what users think about one of the manufacturer's future products, on the preview site 1310, the manufacturer can select a future product at step 1210, and select a report type at step 1212 from a list of available reports. After the manufacturer has the results, it can leave the product information as it is in step 1214, amend the product information at step 1216, or remove the product from the preview site at step 1218. The manufacturers preferably do not connect directly into the provider node 1302, but rather they connect into a separate manufacturers server 1309, for security and quality control purposes. FIG. 1, shows an example of the features of the site 1310 that are preferably found on every page of the site. The PRESCAN button or icon 101 in the upper left corner functions as a "Home" button for the site and returns users to a home page. The product category tabs 102 direct users to a particular category of products, such as electronics. The site 1310 lists electronics, automotive, movies/music, fashion, and athletics as categories 102. The product categories 102 as shown, e.g., in Fig. 1 are preferably selected based on high levels of consumer interest; high brand loyalty among consumer base; short product life cycles; and high levels of technical innovation or aesthetic design features. The product categories shown in the drawings can of course be varied or added to. Consumer electronics is a strongly preferred product category because these types of products rate very highly in the four factors listed above, and they are also frequently researched and/or purchased using the Internet. Preferably, when a user comes to the web site 1310, the user first registers ( if the user is not already registered ) by clicking on the "become a member icon " 120. This displays the screen such as shown in Fig. 2, where the user can register, by filling in the entries at e.g., spaces 122. The user also selects a password at 124. The user may optionally also enter an email address at 126, to receive email notices and information, as described below. While a user may perform certain functions at the site 1310 without registering (such as previewing or prescanning, or purchasing or preordering, as described below, other functions may require registering first.

Referring still to Fig. 1, the Find function or icon 103 is linked to a search engine that scans the site 1310 for the requested content.

The "Build your DREAM product" icon 104 allows users to design their ideal product by answering a customized series of questions. Sample questions 130 are shown in Fig. 3

The "Be a Beta Tester" icon 105 provides an opportunity for users to volunteer to test products in the pre-production stage and for manufacturers to find a willing pool of test subjects. Fig. 4 shows the screen which appears when the user clicks on the icon 105. This secondary registration screen 140 allows the provider node 1302 to send email notices regarding beta testing to registered users ( if the users request such notices when they register). These email notices may include or consist of advertising paid for by a manufacturer. When registered as a beta tester, the user selects a password which allows the user to access beta testing information, such as what products are available for beta testing, and which also allows the user to volunteer to be a beta tester.

The "Talk to a manufacturer" function, accessed by clicking on the icon 106 allows users to send comments to a manufacturer about a product or idea, by entering text into the space 150 Pull down menus for manufacturer and product type or model are provided at 152 and 154. The user can also request a reply from the manufacturer, using the screen shown in

FIG. 5, which appears on the users computer 1318 when the user clicks on the icon 106.

In the "Participate in a focus group" function, accessed by clicking on the icon 107, a small group of users can communicate with an anonymous or an identified manufacturer about a given topic in a live chat format. The manufacturer, if identified, is specified in the caption 160 in FIG. 6. Current participants, if identified, are listed in the block 162

The "Get product info, via e-mail" function, accessed by clicking on the icon 108, sends e-mail about Preview news, products, and information to users who request the notification. Fig. 2 shows the screen which appears on the users computer 1318 when the user clicks on the icon 108. The user survey function, accessed by clicking on the icon 109 is another method for collecting demographic data and personal opinions from users. Clicking on the icon 109 presents a screen such as in Fig. 7, having spaces 170 for entry of information to be collected in the survey.

In one embodiment, users enter the website 1310, e.g., at www.prescan.com, where background information about the web site and its functions and advantages is presented. The user typically then enters the Product Page 300, shown in Fig.l. After selecting a product category via the product category tabs 102, a screen displaying products such as shown in Fig. 1 is presented to the user.. Users are able to either "choose a product to prescan" at tab or icon 302 or "scan a future product" 303. Under the "current products" category, users select one of several subcategories of products 302a-e. After selecting a subcategory 302a-e, the user moves to the Selection Page shown in

Fig. 8. The screen is split into two sides; the left side is the "current products" side and the right side is the "future products" side. As shown in Fig. 8, the user is prompted to select any number of the displayed products, for use as anchor products, by checking the boxes 812 next to the products. As this occurs, the program 1306 identifies and displays future products, based on characteristics of the selected products, and via the information in the databases 1304 and 1307. Users now decide if they want to preview or prescan using current products as anchor products or reverse preview using future products as anchor products. To use the current products as anchor products, the user clicks on the "current products" button and a list 900 of future products, advantageously, with prices and descriptions, is displayed in the left side of the screen, as shown in FIG. 9.

The search list 900 allows users to sort the list of products by brand, price, popularity, or release date. Users then can access reviews of the particular product 902 on the list 900 or buy the product by clicking on the shopping cart icon 405 and going directly to the Product Purchase Page 700 shown in. Fig. 12. To buy a product, the user makes entries in the spaces 702. When completed, the user sends the order by clicking on a send icon 704. If the desired product is a future product, the user can preorder it, following a similar method.

Another option available on the Selection Page shown in Fig. 9 is clicking on the image of the product itself 404. The image is a link, called a Targeted Product Infolink (TPI) that takes the user to a Target Product Page 500 and gives detailed information about the product. Fig. 10 shows an example of a Target Product Page. Typically, the Target Product Page will be in one of the databases 1304 or 1307. The Target Product Page (TPP) 500 contains information or advertisements about the selected product. The information or advertisements are displayed as buttons 504 next to a large picture of the product 505. Users may select a downloadable advertisement or piece of information, which may include video and/or audio. The TPPs 500 may be standard material or content provided by a manufacturer.

Alternatively, the provider operating the provider node 1302 may create an enhanced TPP, as a value added service for the manufacturer, and charge the manufacturer accordingly. As another alternative, the provider may create a customized TPP from scratch for a manufacturer, with the provider creating all of the content, in a turnkey operation.

Referring momentarily again to Figs 8 and 9, when a user chooses to prescan or preview a product, the user selects from at least one product in the "Current Products" category by clicking in the "Add to list" box 403. When a user clicks the "add to list" 403 button, the program 1306 determines the key attributes of the current selected products and finds future products that have similar key attributes by searching the database 1304. Key attributes are aspects of a product that are important in the functioning of that product or are distinctly distinguishable from other products in the same subcategory. The program then immediately returns the results of the similar future products in a format identical to the current products 402 on the right side of the screen, as shown in Fig. 9. The user then has a list of current products that they selected and future products selected by the program 1306, based on similarity of attributes. The user now has the option of deselecting and/or reselecting any of the current products, preferably up to five total current products. Then, the user can select up to five future products that the user wants to compare to each other, and to the selected current products. When a user clicks the "prescan these products" button 408, the Product Comparison page 600 appears, as shown in Fig. 11. The Product Comparison page 600 shows up to ten (five current and five future) products with a picture containing a TPI. Beneath the picture, a comparison of price, availability, and reviews is preferably displayed. Other features listed are customized to the type of product, but might be categorized under the broad headings of "key features", "control features", or "video features". For example, a DVD player might list configuration, format, and video scan resolution under its key features section. Once users compare the products, they can purchase they current products or preorder the future products on the Product Purchase Page 700, as shown in Fig. 12.

Reverse prescanning or previewing is similar to the regular or forward previewing process. A user clicks on the right side of the Selection Page 400 under "Future Products" and chooses up to five future products as anchor products, by clicking the boxes 409. The program then suggests similar current products based on key attributes, i.e., the anchor product is used by the program 1306 to develop search criteria used to identify relevant future products in the database 1304. The user then selects which products to preview and can then analyze the results on the Product Comparison Page 600, shown in Fig. 11. If the user decides to preorder the product, the user can do so on the Product Purchase Page 700, shown in Fig. 12. The products serving as the anchor products are preferably always displayed on the left side of the screen. In reverse prescanning or previewing, the future product (s) 0 designated as the anchor product, is therefore displayed on the left side of the screen.

In addition to these methods, a user can also scan all unreleased products within a product category.

The invention contemplates various modifications to the systems and methods described above. For example, the system need not be an Internet based system. Rather, it may be a stand alone kiosk type of system periodically updated, either by temporarily accessing the internet, (or other link, such as a telephone or satellite) or via updating via installation of a CD or other storage media.

The provider is the host or owner or operator of the provider node 1302. The provider generates revenue by offering three services to manufacturers and retailers: advertising; sales transactions; and research data. The advertising offered by the provider is in the form of product inclusion in the databases 1304 and 1307 and paid placements. For example, manufacturers pay the provider to have a product featured in a Front Page Infolink, or to have Targeted Product Pages (TPPs). Preferably, the advertising rates for creating the TPPs increase as manufacturers add more customized information for consumers to use in making purchase decisions.

As most users visiting the web site 1310 are interested in buying a product, the provider can optionally help the users make their purchases by linking the users with partnering retailers of current products. Future products may be sold directly to users by the manufacturers, optionally under the providers trademark or brand name, with the provider collecting a percentage of the sales price of the future product.

Research data collected by the provider via the provider node 1302 is preferably sold to manufacturers as part of an advertising package. Customized reports can be generated at added cost. Over time, the user database 1305 becomes increasingly accurate, as data from larger numbers of users is collected. This data may be mined to extract information useful to manufacturers, such as trends in a particular product segment or industry, for inclusion in marketing or product data available to manufacturers. The program may also collect and compile information on user activity within the web site, among different product categories. For example, if statistically significant numbers of users accessing certain consumer electronic products, or brand of them, are also accessing another product category, such as sporting goods, or subcategories, or brands within e.g., sporting goods, the program may identify such a trend. The provider can then offer that trend and related information to manufacturers for marketing purposes. Consumers are increasingly accessing and leveraging information about products and services. Via the Internet, and the existing product comparison web sites on the Internet, product comparison has become fast, easy and convenient. On the manufacturers side, the advent of e-tailers has resulted in conflict between manufacturers and their traditional " brick and mortar" distribution channels. The internet makes price comparison easy, holding inventory expensive, and geographical location much less important, for most products. These factors have exerted downward pressures on the profit margins of many manufacturers. Some manufacturers are attempting to recover some of these losses by increasing sales early on in life cycles of their products ( a period when the products are new and can command higher prices).

The system and methods of the invention better facilitate these attempts. By giving consumers the opportunity to look at future products and services, manufacturers or service providers can create advance consumer demand for their products and services, and build mind share among consumers. With this advance consumer demand, sales at that the early stages of the product life cycle can be increased, thereby allowing products to become more successful over their entire life cycles.

Using the system shown in Fig. 15, manufacturers can take sales orders for current products, and can take presales order for future products, optionally with along with such orders from retail partners. The pre-sales order taking function allows manufacturers to gauge the market demand for a product; guarantee a certain baseline of revenue from the product ( to hedge capital risk ) and get consumer commitment in advance, reducing or eliminating risk of loss of that consumer to a competitor.

A function of the provider node 1302 and the user database 1305 is optionally to track the movement and pattern of users within the site 1310. This data can provide valuable information about user or consumer behavior. This data can be provided to manufacturers in the form of brand popularity and positioning, demographics by product, product popularity, etc. As a result, manufacturers can then conduct effective surveys on their own or using the web site 1310, target certain markets, and identify cross-selling and product design opportunities. In the present system and methods, the users need not have a conventional PC. Various equivalent devices, such as PDA's, cell phones, pagers, and other wireless devices, etc. may be used, so long as they can provide information to the user, via a display and/or sound. Although the user of such equivalent devices preferably is also able to make entries and selections, via a keyboard, stylus, mouse, voice, etc., the methods of the invention may be practiced in a more basic form without such user inputs. For example, a cell phone has an optical scanner and a display. The user, at a retail store or other location having a product of interest, holds the optical scanner of the cell phone up to a bar code or similar indicia on the product of interest ( or on the product packaging or advertising—such as a point of sale ad or display ). The scanner scans the bar code and transmits it to a host, such as the provider node 1302. The computer program 1306 in the provider node 1302 then identifies the scanned product, retrieves selected relevant data from the databases 1304 and 1307, such as data on similar current and/or future products, and sends the data back to the user's cell phone, where it is displayed, provided as voice messages, or stored. In another similar embodiment, the bar code or indicia scanner is included in a cell phone or other device, and the bar code scanned is a code printed separate from the product itself, such as in an advertisement in a newspaper, or in a brochure, etc.

The provider may offer incentives in the form of points to users. For example, points may be offered to users who register, either as users, as shown in FIG. 2, or as beta testers, survey participants, etc. The information on points earned or redeemed for each user is stored in the user database 1305. The points may be redeemed as discounts for products, preferences for receiving future products when they are released, or in other ways. For example, the points may be used with an affiliate , such as a retailer, for products or services. Points may also be awarded for making purchases or pre orders at the web site 1310. Referring momentarily back to FIG. 1, if a user clicks on the icon 122 "why become a member", a screen explaining the benefits of registering is presented, including information about points.

While the systems and methods described above refer primarily to products, the principles and advantages of the invention apply equally as well to services. Although the foregoing methods are generally described as implemented with mouse clicks in a windows environment, equivalents, such as keyboard entries, touch screen, voice, etc. may of course also be used.

Turning now to describing the third and fourth aspects of the invention, as shown in FIG. 16, a provider server 10 includes a program 12 for carrying out various functions. The server also a timer 14 and optionally a billing generator 16. Although schematically illustrated as separate sections for purposes of explanation, it will be understood that the timer 14, program 12, and billing generator 16 may be integral or embedded aspects of the server 10.

The server supports a web site 20 accessible via the Internet 30, or other computer- based network. The web site 20 has content of interest to Internet users, such as users 40, 50, 60, 70. These users are shown as examples. In practice, there are typically millions of users. The server 10 and web site 20 are generally owned and operated by a provider. The provider puts up and maintains the web site 20. Preferably, the web site 20 has content, such as text, images, video, audio etc. having educational, consumer, entertainment, business, or other form of value, so that the users will access the web site 20. The web site 20 preferably also has information, directly or indirectly about products and/or services of sponsors. This information will also be advertising type of information. A sponsor is , for example, a manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or promoter of goods or services ( other than the provider ) , interested in providing information or advertising to the users. The promoter makes the sponsor's information available to the users on the provider's web site 20. Typically, the sponsor's information can be accessed by a user by clicking on an icon on a page of the provider's web site 20. Each user 40, 50, 60 and 70 has a computer 42, 52, 62, 72, respectively, or an equivalent machine ( such as a cell phone, PDA, etc. ) allowing the user access to the Internet 30. Fig. 1 shows sample links connecting the users to the Internet. User 40 has a computer 42 connecting to the Internet 30 via a modem 44 and an ordinary telephone line 46. User 50 has a computer 52 connecting to the Internet with a DSL line or service 54. User 60 has a computer 62 connecting to the Internet via a Tl line 64. User 70 has a computer 72 connecting to the Internet via a satellite link 74. The users accordingly have Internet access speeds which vary. The server 10 may be considered as a first or sending node of a computer-based network, such as the Internet 30. The users, or their computers or equivalents, such as the computers 42,52,62,and 72, may be thought of as second or receiving nodes of the computer-based network.

Currently, most users access the Internet via telephone lines 46 and modems 44, via telephone lines with DSL ( digital subscriber line ) service 54 ; via cable modems, via satellite links 74, or via more specialized broadband telephone-like services, such as a Tl line 64.

Most modems now in use are 56K ( kilobytes per second ) or slower. In use, they operate at speeds somewhat below 56K. DSL, ISDN, or cable modem links, although less common, are much faster than current telephone modems, and typically run in the ranges of 640K to 1.2M (megabytes per second). Even faster communication speeds are available using Tl lines, satellite links, and optical fiber.

The time required for a user to access or download a file depends on the size of the file, the format of the file ( i.e., the software type of the file ), and the speed of the hardware, such as the servers, routers, and the nature of the link to the user.

If the computer-based network has constant or predictable transmission speeds between any given pair of sending and receiving nodes, the time required to send any given file or packet of information between those nodes can be determined based on the file size and transmission speed between the nodes. Although that time may vary depending on other factors, such as network traffic loading at the time the file was sent, or a temporary slow down on the network for technical reasons, these factors are also known and measurable or otherwise subject to being calculated or reasonably estimated. Hence, they can be accounted for in determining the time required for any given file to move from a first node to a second node within a computer-based network. Consequently, a fee can be charged to a sponsor of the information contained in the file, based on the time required for sending the file. That fee will be a direct function of the size of the file, the format of the file, and speed of the computer-based network in moving information from the first node to the second node. In this type of computer-based network, having these known or predictable parameters, no other information or measurements are needed. The Internet is a large computer-based network. It is made up of a huge number of routers, servers, and other hardware, of various makes and models, operating at various speeds over varying connecting links, and with various software and types of files. Moreover, it is subject to unpredictable variations in operating characteristics, due to e.g., changing concentrations and numbers of users from moment to moment, hardware failures, configuration changes, viruses, etc. As a result, although files can move from a first node, such as a web site on a provider's server , to a second node, such as a user's computer, the actual time required to move the file cannot be known or accurately predicted. Consequently, in a heterogeneous network such as the Internet, the methods described above may not work as desired. However, other methods achieving a similar result may be used. Referring to Fig. 1, the provider's server 10 can determine the time (TS) it has spent servicing a request from a user 40 for the sponsor's information. In one embodiment useful for communications on the Internet 30, the billing for sending the sponsor's information is determined as a function of this time TS. The time TS will vary with the encoding speed of the server 10, the file size and the file type. It may also vary with the load (number of users accessing the web site 20 ) on the server during the interval when the sponsor's information is transmitted out to the user. For example, due to technical considerations, if e.g., at any given moment, 25,000 users are accessing the web site, the server 10 may require e.g., 1-5 microseconds to service each user 40. At this moment, responding to the user's request may take the server 10 e.g., 5 microseconds. However, at a later time with e.g., 50,000 users accessing the web site 20, it may take the server 10 e.g., 1 millisecond to respond to the user's request and send out the sponsor's information. Thus, in the second case, although the sponsor could still be billed for the time required for the server to send the requested information ( an amount of time measurable by the server 10 ), the billing would then also be a function of the server speed at whatever times the server 10 responded to a user's request for the sponsor's information. For some providers and sponsors, this may be acceptable. However, for other providers and sponsors, the variations in billing due to changes in server service speeds may be undesirable. These variations in the billing can be compensated by setting a standardized or fixed time for a given file of sponsor's information, so that the billing for sending that file will always be a constant amount, regardless of the actual time taken to send it. Alternatively, the server speed at the time the sponsor's information is sent can also be monitored and factored into the function used to generate the billing from the provider to the sponsor, to reduce the affect of variations of server loading on the billing.

The provider's server 10 cannot determine when the sponsor's information is actually delivered to the user 40, 50, 60, or 70. The billing method for use on the Internet is therefore modified. One modification includes the additional step of the user's computer 42, 52, 62, 72 automatically sending an acknowledgement back to the provider's server 10. The server 10 can then measure the elapsed time. The billing for sending the sponsor's information can then be calculated as a function of the elapsed time. The elapsed time is not a measurement of the time required for sending the sponsor's information, or even necessarily directly related to it. The time required for the acknowledgement to reach the server 10 could be greater or less than the time required for the sponsor's information to be sent to the user. This uncertainty results because of the way information travels over the Internet. Consequently, for any individual event of sending the sponsor's information to a user, the time between commencement of responding to the user's request by the server 10, and the time the user's acknowledgement is received back at a the server 10, may not be a useful parameter for purposes of billing the sponsor for providing the service of sending out the sponsor's information. However, the average elapsed time between sending and acknowledgement, over a larger number of such events, can be a much more useful factor for use in a billing function.

In another embodiment, the billing is made a function of a user speed parameter. The user speed parameter is a value assigned to that specific user, generally representative (at least for billing purposes) of the time required for sending a standard unit (e.g., 100 kilobytes) of information to that user from the server 10. The user speed parameter may be determined based on the speed of the users network connection, as provided by the user. For example, preferably the user registers as a user at the web site 20. As part of that registration process, the user enters information on whether the user is using 56K modem, DSL line, Tl etc. This information is used to determine the users speed parameter. Other factors may also be included in it. The users speed parameter can also be created by actually repeatedly measuring elapsed time between commencement of sending a known file to the user, and receipt or an acknowledgement from the user, and then averaging or otherwise mathematically manipulating the collected elapsed time data.

Claims

1. A method using a computer wherein users can compare currently available products to future products comprising the steps of: inputting into a computer at least one current product; outputting from the computer at least one future product; inputting into the computer a requested selection of at least two products that can be selected from the inputted current product list or the outputted future product list outputting from the computer a list of comparative attributes for all requested products.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the future products are initially inputted and the current products are initially outputted.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one future product can be substituted for at least one currently available product so that two or more future products are compared against each other.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein any inputting step comprises the methods of activation by clicking, voice, touch screen, animation, or keystroke.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein any outputting step comprises the methods of transmission by text, graphics, or sound.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the inputting into a computer of at least one current or future product includes selecting a product from a list furnished by the provider.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user's computer is connected to the provider's computer via a distributed electronic network.

8. A system for comparing currently available products to future products comprising: a provider node having a current and future products database coupled to a distributed network through a server; a web page through which the provider and user can interface; a user node having a browser program coupled to said network wherein the said browser can send requests to and receive information from the provider's server.

9. A system of claim 8, wherein the server is comprised of a plurality of servers.

10. A system of claim 8, wherein the products database is a plurality of databases.

11. A method for providing information via a global communications network about user products, comprising the steps of: collecting information about a current user product, directly or indirectly from the manufacturer of the current user product; collecting information about a future user product, directly or indirectly from the manufacturer of the current user product; storing the collected information collected about the current and future products, in an electronic format retrievable via the said communications network; providing information from the collected information about the current or future user products to a user, via the said communications network, following a request made for that information by the user; and simultaneously notifying the user, via the said communications network, of future or current products with similar attributes, so the user can buy the current products or preorder the future products.

12. A method of providing marketing research data to product manufacturers, comprised of the steps of: inputting into a computer information about the manufacturer's current and future products; sending information to the current and future products database via the said network; outputting user data, based on user interactions with the information provided by the manufacturers.

13. A method of claim 12, wherein manufacturers are comprised of any entity that sells, is intending to sell, advertises, or is intending to advertise a product to users.

14. A method of claim 12, wherein information is comprised of facts, specifications, product reviews, images, sounds, and animation.

15. In a system for product comparison, the system adapted to present product attributes, a method for comparing a first product to a second product, the method comprising; selecting the first product; selecting the second product; compiling a first set of attributes relating to the first product; compiling a second set of attributes relating to the second product, at least one attribute in the second set being relative to at least one attribute in the first set; and presenting the first set of attributes and the second set of attributes, wherein each attribute from the first set that is relative to an attribute from the second set is displayed in close proximity to the relative attribute from the second set.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first product is a current product and the second product is a future product.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising receiving the first set of attributes from a provider.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising receiving the first set of attributes from a manufacturer.

19. A method for billing a sponsor for sending the sponsor's information from a first node on a computer based network to a second node on the computer based network, comprising the steps of : posting the sponsor's information at the first node; establishing a communication connection in the computer based network between the first node and the second node; receiving a prompt at the first node requesting transfer of the information; sending the information from the first node to the second node; detecting a start time when the sending of the information starts, and starting a clock timer at that start time; detecting a stop time when the sending of the information is completed, and stopping the clock timer at the stop time, to determine the time required for sending the information; and calculating an information sending fee as a mathematical function of the time required for sending the information.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of generating a billing statement including the calculated information sending fee.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of sending the billing statement to the sponsor of the information.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of receiving an acknowledgement back from the second node as an indication that the information has been received at the second node, measuring the elapsed time between the start time and the time of rece/ipt of the acknowledgement, and using the elapsed time as the time required for sending the information.

23. A method for billing an information sponsor for providing information to a user on a computer-based network, comprising the steps of: making the sponsor's information available at a first node of the computer-based network; receiving a prompt at the first node requesting the sponsor's information; responding to the prompt by sending the sponsor's information out from the first node; measuring the required time for sending the sponsor's information out from the first node; and calculating an information sending fee as a mathematical function of the measured required time.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the computer-based network is the Internet, and the prompt is received from a user at a second node connected to the first node via the Internet.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the sponsor's information is posted on a web site and comprises text, images, video, audio, or a combination thereof.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the first node comprises a provider's server and the sponsor's information is stored in a memory in or associated with the provider's server.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of calculating the information sending fee as a function of the number of bytes of the sponsor's information.

28. A method for billing a sponsor for providing the sponsor's information to a user on a computer-based network, comprising the steps of: A. ] making the sponsor's information available at a first node of the computer-based network;

B. ] receiving a prompt from a user at the first node requesting the sponsor's information; C. ] responding to the prompt by sending the sponsor's information out from the first node;

D. ] measuring the required time for sending the sponsor's information out from the first node;

E. ] repeating steps B, C and D a number of times sufficient to develop a statistically determined average time for sending the sponsor's information out from the first node to the second node; and

F. ] calculating an information sending fee as a mathematical function of the average time determined in step E.

29. A method for billing an information sponsor for providing information to a user on a computer-based network, comprising the steps of: making the sponsor's information available at a first node of the computer-based network; storing information about communication speeds between the first node and the user, in the form a user speed parameter; receiving a prompt from the user at the first node requesting the sponsor's information; responding to the prompt by sending the sponsor's information out from the first node; and calculating an information sending fee as a mathematical function of the size of the sponsor's information sent to the user ( in kilobytes or megabytes ) and of the user speed parameter.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the user speed parameter is based on information about the user's network connection speed, as provided by the user.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of having the user register as a user with the first node and having the user provide information about the user's network connection speed at the time of registration.

32. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of having the user over time repeatedly automatically send an acknowledgement back to the first node upon receipt of information from the first node, and by averaging the elapsed times between the sending of the information from the first node and receipt of the acknowledgement at the first node, and then using the averaged elapsed times to generate the user speed parameter.