METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING COMPARATIVE SHOPPING INFORMATION WITHIN AN INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

摘要

Apparatus for delivery of comparative shopping information within an interactive communications network comprise at least one comparative shopping server system that interacts through the network with one or more comparative shopping client systems, and that also interacts through the network with one or more online shops such that the prices of the offers for the same product from a plurality of competing online shops may be compared, and such that, optionally, one or more other customer service attributes (e.g., the estimated total delivery time for the product) may also be compared; furthermore, the information delivered may optionally be customized for each individual user of the system, such that other offer parameters (e.g., shipping costs) are calculated and may also be compared. In the most preferred embodiment, the invention is implemented on the interactive computer communications network known as the Internet. Methods for delivering comparative shopping information within such networks are also disclosed.