Showing papers by "Amazon.com published in 1999"

Collaborative recommendations using item-to-item similarity mappings

Abstract: A recommendations service recommends items to individual users based on a set of items that are known to be of interest to the user, such as a set of items previously purchased by the user. The service is used to recommend products to users of a merchant's Web site (30). The service generates the recommendations using a previously-generated table (60) which maps items (62) to lists (64) of 'similar' items. The similarities reflected by the table (60) are based on the collective interests of the community of users. To generate personal recommendations, the service retrieves from the table (60) the similar items lists (64) corresponding to the items known to be of interest to the user. These similar items lists (64) are appropriately combined into a single list, which is then sorted and filtered to generate a list of recommended items. Also disclosed are various methods for using the current and/or past contents of a user's electronic shopping cart to generate recommendations.

System and method for providing secure URL-based access to private resources

Abstract: In a Web site system in which different private records or other resources are personal to different users, a method is provided for allowing users to securely access a private resource without the need to enter a username, password, or other authentication information, and without the need to download special authentication software or data to the user's computer. Each resource is assigned a private uniform resource locator (URL) which includes a fixed character string and a unique token, and the URLs are conveyed by email (preferably using hyperlinks) to users that are entitled to access such resources. The tokens are generated using a method which distributes the tokens substantially randomly over the range of allowable token values (“token space”). The token space is selected to be sufficiently large relative to the expected number of valid tokens to inhibit the identification of valid tokens through trial and error. When a user attempts to access a private URL (such as to access a private account information page), a token validation program is used to determine whether the token is valid. The method may be used to provide users secure to access private account information on the Web site of merchant. Other practical applications include electronic gift certificate and coupon redemption, gift registries, order confirmation electronic voting, and electronic greeting cards.

System and method for refining search queries

Abstract: A search engine is disclosed which suggests related terms to the user to allow the user to refine a search The related terms are generated using query term correlation data which reflects the frequencies with which specific terms have previously appeared within the same query The correlation data is generated and stored in a look-up table (137) using an off-line process (136) which parses a query log file (135) The table (137) is regenerated periodically from the most recent query submissions (eg, the last two weeks of query submissions), and thus strongly reflects the current preferences of users Each related term is presented to the user via a respective hyperlink (910) which can be selected by the user to submit a modified query In one embodiment, the related terms are added to and selected from the table (137) so as to guarantee that the modified queries will not produce a NULL query result

Electronic gift certificate system

Abstract: An electronic gift certificate system is disclosed which distributes electronic gift certificates in the form of e-mail documents that include hyperlinks for automating the redemption process. When a gift certificate recipient selects such a hyperlink, the recipient's computer automatically transmits a claim code to the merchant's Web site, and the site responds by automatically crediting the recipient's personal account with the gift certificate amount. When the recipient subsequently makes a purchase from the merchant's Web site, the recipient's account balance is automatically applied to the purchase price.

System and method for exposing popular nodes within a browse tree

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method are provided for identifying popular nodes within a browse tree or other hierarchical browse structure based on historical actions of online users, and for calling such nodes to the attention of users during navigation of the browse tree. The system and method are particularly useful for assisting users in locating popular products and/or product categories within a catalog of an online merchant, but may be used in connection with browse structures used to locate other types of items. Node popularity levels are determined periodically (e.g., once per day) based on recent user activity data that represents users' affinities for such nodes. Such activity data may include, for example, the number of times each item was purchased, and/or the number of times each category was selected for display, within a selected period of time. Popular nodes are called to the attention of users by automatically “elevating” the nodes for display within the browse tree. For example, when a user selects a particular non-leaf category (a category that contains subcategories) for viewing, the most popular items corresponding to the selected category may be displayed (together with the immediate subcategories), allowing the user to view or directly access these items without having to navigate to lower levels of the browse tree (and particularly those associated with leaf categories). Subcategories may be elevated for display in a similar manner. The node elevation process may also be used to elevate items and/or categories that are predicted to be of interest to a user, regardless of popularity. In a preferred embodiment, both popular items are leaf categories are elevated on a user-specific basis using a combination of user-specific and non-user-specific activity data.

Computer-based funds transfer system

Abstract: A service configured to be accessible by two or more parties to a two-sided funds transfer transaction through a computer network (e.g., the Internet) provides functionality for sending a payment request to a target payer or payee who is not yet registered with the service. Depending upon who is initiating the transaction (i.e., a payer or a payee) the payment requests may be received as requests to send payments or requests to collect payments. In the latter case, the service may be further organized to solicit a payment, for example by transmitting an e-mail message to a second party to the funds transfer transaction. When used to collect payments, the service may be further organized to process one or more responses to the above-mentioned solicitations.

Computer services for assisting users in locating and evaluating items in an electronic catalog based on actions performed by members of specific user communities

Abstract: A Web based system provides informational services for assisting customers in selecting products or other types of items from an electronic catalog of a merchant. Users of the system can create and join user communities, such as communities based on user hobbies, localities, professions, and organizations. The system also supports implicit membership communities that are based on email addresses (e.g., all users having a “nasa.com” email address), shipping/billing addresses, and other known user information. Using purchase history data collected for online users, the system automatically identifies and generates lists of the most popular items (and/or items that are becoming popular) within particular communities, and makes such information available to users for viewing. For example, in the context of an online book store users of the nasa.com community may automatically be presented a Web page which lists the bestselling book titles among nasa.com users, or may be sent email notifications of purchase events or hotselling books within the community. Another feature involves automatically notifying users interested in particular products of other users (preferably other members of the same community) that have purchased the same or similar products. For example, in one embodiment, when a user accesses a book detail page, the detail page is customized to include the names and email addresses of other members of the user's community that recently purchased the same book.

System and method for correcting spelling errors in search queries

Abstract: A search engine uses correlations between search terms to correct misspelled terms within search queries. The correlations are based at least in-part on historical query submissions to the search engine. Preferably, the correlations reflect the frequencies with which the search terms have historically appeared together within the same query, and are stored within a correlation table (50) using related terms lists (62). In one embodiment, a correlation table (50) is generated periodically from the M (e.g. 10) most recent days of entries in a query log (36), and thus reflects the current preferences of users. In operation, when a query that includes both matching and non-matching search terms is submitted to the search engine, a spelling correction process (48) accesses the correlation table (50) to generate a list of terms that are deemed to be related to the matching term(s). The spellings of these related terms are then compared to the spelling of each non-matching term using a spelling comparison function that compares two character strings and generates a similarity score. If a suitable replacement is found for a given non-matching term, the non-matching term is replaced with the similar related term. The modified query is then used to perform the search, and the user is notified of the modification(s) made to the query. In the disclosed embodiment, the search engine is used on the Web site of an online merchant to assist users in locating book titles, music titles, and other types of products.

Method and system for electronic commerce using multiple roles

Abstract: A computer system for conducting electronic commerce. The system provides multiple electronic shopping carts for each user. Each electronic shopping cart has an indication of items currently within the electronic shopping cart and billing and shipment information. The system generates a display that identifies each of the electronic shopping carts and sends the generated display to a user computer system. The system then receives a selection of one of the identified electronic shopping carts from the user computer system and receives a selection of an item from the user computer system. In response to receiving the selection of the item, the system adds the item to the selected electronic shopping cart. The system then receives an indication to checkout the items in the selected electronic shopping cart from the user computer system. In response to receiving the indication to checkout, the system ships the items in the selected electronic shopping cart in accordance with the shipment information of the selected electronic shopping cart and bills for the items in the selected electronic shopping cart in accordance with the billing information for the selected electronic shopping cart. The system thus allows a user to select each of the electronic shopping carts for adding items to each electronic shopping cart.

Method and system for conducting a discussion relating to an item

Abstract: A method and system for conducting an electronic discussion relating to a topic. The discussion system of the present invention receives a selection of an item that is to be the topic of the discussion. The discussion system then receives comments relating to the selected item and generates a message that includes a description of the selected item and the received comments. The discussion system then sends the generated message to participants of the discussion. The discussion system receives from a participant who received the generated message additional comments that are to be added to the generated message. The discussion system sends the generated message along with received additional comments to the participants of the discussion.

System and method for exposing popular categories of browse tree

Abstract: A computer-implemented process identifies popular nodes (items and/or item categories) within a browse tree or other hierarchial browse structure based on historical actions of online users, and calls such nodes to the attention of users during navigation of the browse tree. The system and method are particularly useful for assisting users in locating popular products and/or product categories within a catalog on an online merchant, but may be used with browse structures for navigating other types of content. Node popularity levels are determined periodically (e.g. once per day) based on recent user activity data that reflects users' affinities for specific nodes. Popular nodes are called to the attention of users, preferably by automatically “elevating” such nodes for display within the browse tree. The node elevation process may also be used to elevate nodes that are predicted to be of interest to a user, regardless of node popularity levels.

Tropical tree gene flow and seed dispersal

Abstract: Deforestation affects the genetic structure of the surviving forest fragments In tropical forests, trees provide habitats and environmental conditions that support thousands of species However, deforestation creates a mosaic landscape of cleared areas and forest fragments, which become the source of future tree populations Fragmentation changes the movement of pollen and seed dispersal, modifying the gene flow and altering historical patterns of genetic subdivision Paternity studies in tropical figs1 and trees2 have shown that pollen is dispersed over long distances, maintaining gene flow among widely spaced forest fragments, but gene movement by seed dispersal has not been studied in tropical trees I have estimated chloroplast genome subdivision in the Amazonian canopy tree Corythophora alta, and here I show that seed dispersal is limited, with forest fragments as large as ten hectares being founded by a single maternal lineage

Biodiversity as an environmental service in Brazil's Amazonian forests: risks, value and conservation

Abstract: The environmental service provided by the great biodiversity of Amazonian forests is one of several factors leading to the conclusion that much greater efforts are warranted to reduce the destruction of these forests. Risks to biodiversity in Amazonian forests include deforestation, logging, fires, fragmentation, depletion of fauna, invasion by exotic species, and climate change. Financial values assigned to biodiversity depend strongly on the purposes of valuation. Utilitarian benefits include the values of presently-marketed and presently-unexploited forest products, and the monetary value of environmental benefits. Non-monetary values of Amazonian forests are also essential components of decision-making on conservation. Measures of ‘willingness to pay’ and ‘willingness to accept’ can be useful as indicators of potential financial flows, but should not be confused with the true values of the forests to society. Valuation for the purpose of setting penalties for destruction of biodiversity is an important legal question in Brazil and must take into consideration additional factors.Conservation of biodiversity in Brazil includes creation of various types of protected areas. The status of these areas varies greatly, with practice frequently deviating from official requirements. Creating reserves that include human occupants has a variety of pros and cons. Although the effect of humans is not always benign, much larger areas can be brought under protection regimes if human occupants are included. Additional considerations apply to buffer zones around protected areas. The choice and design of reserves depends on the financial costs and biodiversity benefits of different strategies. In Brazil, rapid creation of lightly-protected ‘paper parks’ has been a means of keeping ahead of the advance of barriers to establishment of new conservation units, but emphasis must eventually shift to better protection of existing reserves. Indigenous peoples have the best record of maintaining forest, but negotiation with these peoples is essential in order to ensure maintenance of the large areas of forest they inhabit. The benefits of environmental services provided by the forest must accrue to those who maintain these forests. Development of mechanisms to capture the value of these services will be a key factor affecting the long-term prospects of Amazonian forests. However, many effective measures to discourage deforestation could be taken immediately through government action, including levying and collecting taxes that discourage land speculation, changing land tenure establishment procedures so as not to reward deforestation, revoking remaining incentives, restricting road building and improvement, strengthening requirements for environmental impact statements (RIMAs) for proposed development projects, and creating employment alternatives.

Seed germination in rainforest fragments

Abstract: Habitat loss and fragmentation remain the greatest threats to the world's biodiversity1. The local extinction of plant species from habitat fragments is common2, although the reasons for this are not fully understood. Fragmentation is known to influence both birth- and death-related processes3, but the disruption of plant reproduction, especially pollination and seed production, is thought to be particularly important4,5. The effects of fragmentation on post-pollination processes such as seed dispersal and germination have rarely been explored experimentally6. Here I show that seeds planted in forest fragments are less likely to germinate than those in continuous forest. This finding can have negative demographic consequences because it reduces the emergence of seedlings.

Computer-assisted funds transfer system

Abstract: A payment request associated with a transfer of funds is received and a risk management assessment for both sides thereof is performed. If the risk management assessment procedure produces an adverse indication, the payment request is declined. Otherwise, the payment request may be processed for delivery of a payment associated therewith. The risk management assessment may be performed on the basis of credit/authentication information derived from customer information received with (or even prior to) the payment request. Such customer information may include credit card account information and/or bank account information (e.g., checking account) information. In some cases, the risk management assessment may include an automated component and a manual (non-automated) component. Such a manual component may be needed where the automated component of the risk management assessment provides suspect information regarding one of the parties to the transaction. Where the payment request is processed for delivery of the payment, such processing may include submitting a payment authorization request, and, upon receiving a settlement indication regarding that payment authorization request, transmitting the payment. In some cases, the payment may be transmitted as a check, while in others it may be transmitted as a money order or instruction to have funds automatically deposited in an account.

Software application and associated methods for generating a software layer for structuring semistructured information

Abstract: A wrapper builder application provides a variety of features for facilitating the creation of wrappers that are used to extract information from Web sites In one aspect, the wrapper builder application provides a tool with which the process of creating a wrapper, which typically resembles coding, can be accomplished by a graphical design process involving drag and drop operations, clicking on objects, and filling in forms A web viewer component provides a web browser frame, a source code frame, and a tree view frame, enabling the user to identify semistructured information of interest on Web sites A wrapper editor component provides a graphical design environment in which a wrapper can be graphically constructed from operations and links A wrapper model component provides a functioning internal representation of the graphically designed wrapper using Java objects and methods A property editor component provides for the setting of properties that define the particular functionality of individual wrapper operations A wrapper execution component provides features that enable the wrapper to be executed and debugged using a number of debugging tools A wrapper serialization component provides a mechanism for storing and retrieving a wrapper for subsequent use and/or modification

Universal protocol for enabling a device to discover and utilize the services of another device

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling any of a variety of devices to communicate with each other over a common or universal protocol. In general, a client device and a server device communicate with each other over a communications link utilizes the common protocol. Initially, once a communications link is established, the server device identifies itself to the client device by sending a tag line message over the communications link. Upon receiving the tag line message, the client then determines that the server is capable of using the common protocol. The client device may then initiate several requests including a service request, a type request or a use request. If the client device initiates a service request, the client simple uses the common protocol to request the service. In response to receiving the service request, the server device performs the requested service and provides a confirmation to the client device. If the client device initiates a type request, the service device will respond by providing information regarding the services the server device provides and the device types supported by the server device. If the client device initiates a use request for a particular service, the server device will provide information to the client device that describes the necessary parameters for invoking the particular service.