Patentseed

eBay is undoubtedly the champion of selling used goods.  Those who follow Amazon closely know all too well that Amazon launched their own online auction system and failed miserably.  Well, it looks like Amazon may be ready to do battle once again.  Amazon recently filed a continuation patent application (12/332,246) which has a priority date that goes as far back as Oct 2001.  The invention is for marketplace where users can sell to one another.  Sort of like a classifieds, but with a twist.  The marketplace is tied into their catalog system, which is pretty much Amazon’s primary model. 

The images do a pretty good job of describing the system.  For example, say you own a Canon SD1100IS and would like to sell it.  You can search for the product on Amazon and click to sell yours.  This will add a link to your used camera (which will be listed in the marketplace) from the Canaon SD1100IS page in the catalog.  You set a price and specify the condition.  Future visitors to the catalog page will see the link and may follow it to the marketplace and purchase your used camera.  Also interesting is the ability for buyers to post that they are willing to buy it used and post the price and condition they are looking for.  This is then also linked from the catalog page.  Could this be a better way to sell used?  It’s already available for merchants selling used, but will it work for user to sell used goods like eBay does?

This patent application by Google may be on to something.  As we’re all intricately aware, Google has done more than anyone else to capitalize off PPC (pay per click).  Their patent application, 11/948,171 brings the same concept to telephone calls.  As coined in the patent application, advertisers would be charged based on a “cost-per-call amount.”  Here’s how the “cost-per-call” advertisement works.  Let’s say an advertiser has a phone number for consumers to place an order, and let’s call this a “second telephone number.”  The “first telephone number” is a number created for an advertisement that is associated with the “second telephone number” - i.e., calls to the “first telephone number” are forwarded to the “second telephone number.”  When an ad is displayed, and somebody calls the “first telephone number,” Google is able to track this call and charge the advertiser the “cost-per-call.”  To prevent call fraud, Google also discusses the concept of a “call-through event” which would make sure that the advertiser wasn’t charged for more than say 5 phone calls from the same number.

Microsoft is far behind Google when it comes to internet advertising, and it’s no secret that they’re desperate to catch up.  Patent application 11/939,269 is one such attempt by Microsoft.  As Google advertisers well know, you use AdWords by associating your ad with a set of keywords.  Those keywords are matched against searches performed on Google, and also against content on websites (utilizing AdSense).  Microsoft wants to extend this method of advertising to visual images, including video.  Their method utilizes automatic image recognition to categorize the images.  The advertiser either inputs keywords or selects from a list of categories.  Matching images/videos are then discovered for the advertisement to be displayed with.  Of course, this is just a grossly oversimplified synopsis of what happens.  If you care to know the technical (and mundane) details, follow the link and have a read.