Amazon.com

About: Amazon.com is a company organization based out in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Computer science & Service (business). The organization has 13363 authors who have published 17317 publications receiving 266589 citations.

System and method for locating and displaying web-based product offerings

Abstract: A search engine system (130) displays the results of a multiple-category search according to levels of relevance of the categories to a user's search query. A query server (140) receives a search query (620) from a user (110) and identifies, within each of multiple item categories, a set of items that satisfy the query (640). The sets of items are then used to generate, for each of the multiple categories, a score that indicates a level significance or relevance of the category to the search (650). The scores may be based, for example, on the number of hits (items satisfying the query) within each category relative to the total number of items in that category, the popularity levels of items (756) that satisfy the query, or a combination thereof. The categories are then presented to the user, together with the most relevant items within each category, in the order of highest to lowest category relevance (660). The search engine also implements a feature for assisting users in locating web pages from which user-specified products can be purchased. Web pages (167) located by a crawler program (160) are scored, based on a set of rules, according to likelihood of including an online product offering (170). A query server (140) accesses an index (147) of the scored web pages to locate pages that are both responsive to a user's search query and likely to include a product offering. In one embodiment, the responsive web pages are listed on a composite search results page (300) together with products that satisfy the query.

Method and system for producing item comparisons

Abstract: A method and system for producing an item comparison may initially include obtaining data based on user activity that is indicative of an item and other items likely to be comparable to the item, and recording the data for later access. An item comparison may thereafter present an item of interest to the user along with other items identified based on the recorded data. Prior to producing the item comparison, the user may be provided at least one list of potentially comparable items that can be selected for the item comparison, the list including items in the recorded data that are likely to be comparable to the item of interest. The recorded data may be specific to the user or may include data obtained from other users. Data reflecting user activity with an item comparison may be recorded as additional data indicative of comparable items.

Gesture actions for interface elements

Abstract: A user interface (UI) enables a user to access a set of options relating to an element of the UI by contacting a region of a touchscreen, or hovering a feature over the region, associated with that element. Upon contacting or hovering for at least a determined period of time, an arranged set of options is displayed and the user can swipe or move the feature in a specified direction to select a specific option. The options can be the same for each instance of a type of item. When a user learns the direction of one of these options, the user does not have to contact or hover long enough to bring up the menu, but can contact or hover long enough to indicate the element of interest and then perform the appropriate motion, which can cause the action to be performed without first displaying the menu.