| 摘要 |
An apparatus and a method are provided for facilitating the ability of a local organization to have its products or services displayed to a consumer on a computer monitor in a manner that facilitates their identification by the consumer in the local area. A search engine server is formed to display search results according to distance from the consumer. Search results are ordered in a specified manner that includes evaluating store location, product availability and price. With respect to store location, GPS coordinates are used if available to determine distances from the stores to the consumer. If GPS coordinates are not available, then a database that correlates postal codes is used to determine adjacent postal codes. Thus, search results are ordered in terms of highest priority being given to vendors in the same postal code, then to vendors in neighboring postal codes. Thereafter, priority is given to vendors whose postal codes are within the same city, then the same county, and finally, within the same state. The display results are generated with a graphical user interface that creates "buttons" to facilitate the user sending an e-mail message to the particular store, a hold request to hold a particular product, and to initiate a voice call between the consumer and the store.
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