Dynamic generation and display of catalogs

United States Patent [w]

Wong et al.

US005890175A [ii] Patent Number: 5,890,175 [45] Date of Patent: Mar. 30, 1999

[54] DYNAMIC GENERATION AND DISPLAY OF CATALOGS

[76] Inventors: Garland Wong, 4682 Robbins St., San Diego, Calif. 92122; Randall Pipp, 1334 Cynthia La., Carlsbad, Calif. 92008; Eric van Lydegraf, 1823 W. Minister Dr., Cardiff, Calif. 92007

[21] Appl. No.: 719,561

[22] Filed: Sep. 25, 1996

[51] Int. C I. G06F 3/00

[52] U.S. CI 707/505; 705/26

[58] Field of Search 707/501, 505,

707/506, 507, 512, 513, 514, 515, 517, 520, 526, 530, 3, 10, 102; 705/26, 27

[56] References Cited

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5,319,542 6/1994 King, Jr. et al 705/27

5.339,392 8/1994 Risberg et al 345/333

5,483,651 1/1996 Adams et al 707/1

5,493,490 2/1996 Johnson 705/26

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OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Brochure from Profesional Business Solutions, Inc., Bolts
Business On-Line Server, 1996, Carlsbad, CA.
Brochure from Professional Business Solution, Inc., Net-
Success Line of Electronic Commerce Products, 1996,
Carlsbad, CA.

Primary Examiner—Stephen S. Hong

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fish & Richardson PC.

[57] ABSTRACT

A computerized method for dynamically generating and displaying a catalog including a plurality of items, each item being classified by at least group information and product information is disclosed. The method allows a merchant user to generate a catalog by classifying new items by entering into pre-defined fields at least group and product information text for each item, and by optionally specifying a multimedia object associated with the new item, where each field optionally has an associated link to a linked object. The user selects a display template which defines a pre-designed catalog page layout having generally designated areas for placement of text and multimedia objects relating to an associated item. After the user inputs information regarding an item into the form fields, the field contents are associated with corresponding areas of the selected template. The field contents are then stored as a part of a page of the catalog. Upon receiving a request to display a page, the stored field contents are retrieved and checked as to whether the requested page includes any multimedia objects. If so, the logical framing for each area designated for placement of multimedia objects is adjusted to accommodate all of the multimedia objects. The retrieved field contents, including any associated links to linked objects, of the requested page are then combined with the display template to generate a display page, which is displayed to a consumer.

9 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets