AU2013219233B2 - Method and system for mobile publication - Google Patents

Abstract

ARSTRA(T Methods and system for mobile pubcation are described A captured image may be accessed, A bar code may be decoded froin the captured image An item associated with the bar code may be identified An item listing of the item may be generated in accordance with the identifying of the henm The item isting may be utilized for posting with a sting manager, One or more item listings for the item may be identified. At least one item listing of the one or more iem listings may be provided for presentation in accordance with the searching of the plurality of item listings.

Description

256986 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MOBILE PUBLICATION RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of United States Patent Application No. 12/058,827 filed March 31, 2008 ("METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MOBILE PUBLICATION"), which 5 application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application is related to International Application Number PCT/US2009/001976 (International Publication Number WO 2009/145822 ), filed on 31 March 2009, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 0 BACKGROUND Users and companies typical post publication data (e.g., item listings of items for sale) via a home computer system. Users may include images or other information within the publication data. 5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the present invention provides a computer-implemented method comprising: accessing an image; decoding a bar code from the image; identifying an item associated with the bar code; accessing item attribute information associated with a user, the item attribute information including at least one user-provided preference for an aspect of 0 content included in the item, and the at least one user-provided preference being used to further limit related item searches; identifying one or more item listings for the item by using the item attribute information to further limit a search for the item in accordance with the at least one user-provided preference for the aspect of content included in the item; and providing at least one item listing from the identified one or more item listings for presentation. 1 256986 In a second aspect the present invention provides a non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions that, when implemented by one or more processors, perform operations comprising: accessing an image; decoding a bar code from the image; identifying an item associated with the bar code; accessing item attribute information associated with a user, the 5 item attribute information including at least one user-provided preference for an aspect of content included in the item, and the at least one user-provided preference being used to further limit related item searches; identifying one or more item listings for the item by using the item attribute information to further limit a search for the item in accordance with the at least one user-provided preference for the aspect of content included in the item; and providing at least 10 one item listing from the identified one or more item listings for presentation. In a third aspect the present invention provides a system comprising at least one computer configured to perform operations for computer-executable modules including: an image-access module to access a image; a bar-code module to decode a bar code from the image accessed by the image-access module; an item-identification module to identify an item associated with the 15 bar code decoded by the bar-code module; an item-attribute module to access item attribute information associated with a user, the item attribute information including at least one user provided preference for an aspect of content included in the item, and the at least one user provided preference being used to further limit related item searches; an item-listing identification module to identify one or more item listings for the item by using the item attribute 20 information to further limit a search for the item in accordance with the at least one user provided preference for the aspect of content included in the item; and an item-listing-providing module to provide at least one item listing from the identified one or more item listings for presentation. As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise the term "comprise" and 25 variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude other features, components, integers or steps.

IA

256986 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system, according to an example embodiment; 5 FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example item listing subsystem that may be deployed within the system of FIG. 1 according to an example embodiment; FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example item investigation subsystem that may be deployed within the system of FIG. 1 according to an example embodiment; FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for item listing utilization according to an 0 example embodiment; FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts illustrating a method for listing identification according to an example embodiment; FIG. 7 is a network diagram depicting a network system, according to one embodiment, having a client server architecture configured for exchanging data over a network; 5 FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment of multiple network and marketplace applications, which are provided as part of the network-based marketplace; and FIG. 9 is a block diagram diagrammatic representation of machine in the lB WO 200914522 PCTIUIS2J9/001976 5 example foon of a computer system within which a set of instructions for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 10 Example methods and systems for mobile publication are described. Ia the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of example embodiments. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that: the present invention may be practiced without these specific details, 15 i an example embodiment an image may be accessed. A bar code may be decoded from the image. An item associated withthe bar code may be identified. An item listing of the item may be generated in accordance wih the identifying of the inemi. The item listing may be utilized for posting with a listing manager. 20 lI an example embodiment, an image may be accessed. An item identified may be extracted from the image An item associated with the item identifier may be identified, One or more item listings for the item may be identified. At least one item listing of the one or more item listings may be provided for presentation in accordance with the searching of the plurality of 25 item listings. In an example embodiment, an image may he accessed. A bar code my be decoded from the image. An ite associated with the bar code may be identified, One or more item listings for the item may be identified. At least one item listing of the one or more item listings may be provided for presentation in 30 accordance with the searching of the plurality of item listings, IG 1 illustrates an example system 100 in a user may utilize a hand held device 102 to interact over a network with a listing manager 106. The interactions may enable the user to buy andior sell items through postings made with the listing manager 106. Example hand-held devices 102 include a mobile 35 phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a gaming unit, a portable computing unit, and the like. However, other hand-held devices may also be used. The hand-held device 102 may include a camera or other type of imaging unit to record images 2 WO 009/14522 PCT/US200'A/0197 5 The network 104 over which the hand-held device 102 and he citing manager 106 interact may be a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, an Internet Protocol (IP) network, a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) network, a WiFi network, or a 1EEE 802.1 standards network as well as various combinations thereof Other conventional and/or later 10 developed wired and wireless networks may also be used, An item listing subsystem 108 and/or an item investigation subsystem I 1may be deployed with the hand-held device 102 and/or the listing manager 106. The item listing subsystem 108 may enable a user of the hand-held device 102 to utilize an item listing by the listing manager 106, The item investigation 15 subsystem may enable a user to review item listings made available by the listing manager. A database 112 may be coupled with the listing manager 106, The database may include one or more listing images 114, transaction data 116, and/or item attribute information I18. 20 The listing images 114 may be images used in an item listing to show a picture of the item, The transaction data 116 may include information regarding transactions Conducted by users of the listing manager 106. The transactional data 116 may include, by way of example, pricing information for an item during a time period. 25 The item attribute information 118 may include information regarding a number of items. For example, the item attribute information regarding a particular iter may include an edition, a number of pages, an author, chapter titles, song titles, and/or actors, Other information may also be included, The imaging provider 120 may be a service that provides the listing 30 images 114, The information provider 122 may be a service that provides the item attribute information 18., FIG. 2 illustrates an item listing subsystem 200 that may be deployed in the hand-held device 102 and/or the isting manager 106 of the system 100 (see FIG. 1) or otherwise deployed in another system. 35 The item listing subsystem 200 may include an image access module 202, a bar code decoding module 204, an item identification module 206, an item attribute information module 208, an additional information module 210, a pricing module 212, a listing image access module 214, a item listing generation WO 2009/145822 CT/U, 2009/096 5 module 216, a positional information access module 218, and/or an item listing utilization module 220. Other modules may also be included The image access module 202 accesses an image (e.g, a capture image). The image may be accessed by capturing the image associated with the item on the hand-held device 102 and/or receiving the image from the hand-held device 10 102. The bar code decoding module 204 decodes a bar code from the captured image, The bar code may be one-dimensional such as a UPC bar code. The bar code may be mouiti-dimensional (e gtwo-dimensional bar codes such as an Aztec code, Data Matrix Dataglyph, MaxiCode, PDF417, QR Code, Uitra Code 15 or UCC RSS-21 Dbar code). Other machine readable representations of data in a visual form may also be used. The item identification module 206 identifies an item associated with the bar code. The item attribute information module 208 receives the item attribute information 118 from a user and/or accesses the item attribute information 118 20 associated with the item. The item attribute information 118 may be accessed from the database 112, an information provider 122, or may be otherwise accessed. The additional information module 210 provides a request for additional information regarding the item to the user and receives a response to the request. 25 The additional information may include pricing information and/or the item attribute information 118, The pricing module 212 accesses pricing information for the item during a time period (e.g.rom the transactional data 116), provides a price range to the hand-held device 102 for presentation, and receives a pricing selection from, the 30 hand-held device 102. The accessed pricing information may incude, by way of example, start price, end price, discounted price, and/or bid price Other pricing information may also be included. The listing image access module 214 accesses the listing image 114 associated with the item, The listing image 114 may be accessed from the 35 database 112, by capturing the listing image 114 of the item, and/or by providing an image request to the imaging provider 120 and receiving the listing image 114 of the item from the imaging provider 120. 4 WO 209145822 PCT/US2099/0097 S The item listing generation module 216 generates an item listing of the item in accordance with the identification of the item, the item attribute information 118, the receipt of the response the receipt of the pricing selection, and/or the accessing of the listing image 114. The positional information access module 218 accesses positional 10 information from the hand-held device 102. The positional information may include, by way of example, GPS source data, (PS assisted data, triangulation data, and/or a cellular identification (ID) data in the form of location coordinates for the hand-held device 102. However, other types of posinal information may also be used. 15 The item listing utilization module 220 utilizes the item listing for posting with the listing manager 106. The utilization may include posting the item listing directly by the listing manager and/or providing the item listing to the listig manager 106. The utilizing of the item listing may be in accordance with the receipt of the postional information. 20 The item identifier module 222 may extract an item identifier from an image and/or identify an item associated with the item identifier. FIG. 3 illustrates an item investigation subsystem 300 that may be deployed in the hand-held device 102 and/or the listing manager 106 of the system 100 (see FIG. 1) or otherwise deployed in another system. 25 'The item investigation subsystem 300 may include an image access module 302, a bar code decoder module 304, an item identification module 306. a positional information access module 308, an item attribute access module 310 a search module 312, an item listing identification module 314, an item listing provider module 316, a request receiver module 318, and/or a request processing 30 module 320. Other modules may also be used. The image access module 302 accesses an image. The bar code decoder module 304 decodes a bar code from the captured image. The item identification module 306 identifies an item associated with the bar code. The positional information access module 308 accesses positional 35 information from a hand-held device.

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WO 2009/145s22 PCT!US20091001976 5 The item atbute access module 310 accesses a designated item attribute associated with a user The search module 312 searches a number of item listings for the item and/or sends a search request for the item to the listing manager 106 and receives the one or more item listings for the item. The item listing identification module 314 identifies one or more item 10 listings for the item. The identification of the one or more item listings for the item may be in accordance with the receipt of the positional information, the access of the designated item attribute, the search of the number of item listings, and/or the receipt of the one or more item listings from the sting manager 106 The item listing provider module 316 provides at least one item listing of 15 the one or more item listings for presentation in accordance with the searching of the number of item listings. The request receiver module 318 receives a transaction request (eg a purchase request and/or a bid request) for an item of a particular listing of the at least one item listing The request processing module 320 processes the transaction request for the item. 20 FIG, 4 illustrates a method 400 for item listing utilization according to an example embodiment. The method 400 may be perfonned by the hand-held device 102 and/or the listing manager 106 of the system 100 (see FIG. 1) or otherwise performed. An image is accessed at block 402, The image may be accessed by 25 capturing the image associated with the item on the hand-held device 102 and/or receiving the image from the hand-held device 102, The image may be otherwise accessed, In an example embodiment, sting information may be provided with along with the captured image. For example, the captured image may be 30 provided in a message to the listing manager 106 from the hand-held device 102 that includes information regarding a potential listig to be generated. The subject line and/or body of the message may indicate a type of request (eig. a request to generation an item listing at a variable or fixed price)astarting price of the item listing, and duration for the item listing. Other information may also 35 be provided with the message. 6 WO 209/14582.2 PCIWSZaO9/OO1 97 S A bar code may be decoded from the image at block 404, The bar code may be decoded by a bar code reader Java SKD made by Tasman software, by a barcode SDK plug-in by LEAD Technologiesn c, or different software and/or hardware. An item identifier may be extracted from the image at block 405. 10 An item associated with the bar code and/or the item identifier is identified at block 406, For example, the bar code may be used to look up identification of the item. The item attribute information 118 may be accessed at block 408. The item attribute information may be received from a user through e mail, a text 15 message, or otherwise received. The item attribute information 118 may be received at the same time (eg in the same e-mail) as the captured image or at a different time The item attribute information 1 associatedwith the item may be accessed from the database 112. the information provider 122, or otherwise accessed. 20 The listing image 114 associated with the item may be accessed at block 410, The listing image 114 may be accessed from the database 112, the listing image 114 of the item may be captured on the hand-held device 102, and/or an image request may be provided to the imaging provider 120 and the listing image 114 of the item may be received from the imaging provider 120 25 A request for additional information regarding the item may be provided at block 412. The additional information may include pricing information and/or item attribute information- Other information may also be requested. A response to the request may be received at block 414 Pricing information for the item during a time period may be accessed 30 (e,& from the transactional data 116) at block 416. The pricing information may include start price, end price, discounted price bid price and the ike. Other type of pricing information may also be accessed. A price range may be provided to the hand-held device 102 for presentation based on the obtained pricing information at block 418. At block 420, a pricing selection may be 35 received from the hand-held device 102 based on the provided price range An item listing of the item is generated in accordance with the identifying of the item at block 422. The generating of the item listing of the item may be in accordance with the identification of the item, the access of the 7 WO 2009/45822 P6rlUs{o/a9 5 item atribute information 118, the receipt of the response, the access of the listing image 114 and/or the receipt of the pricing selection Positional information may be accessed from the hand-held device 102 at block 424. The item listing is utilized for posting with the listing manager 106 at block 426, The item listing may be posted or otherwise made available directly 10 by the listing manager 106 provided from the hand-held device 102 to the listing manager 106 for posting, or otherwise utilized; In an example embodiment, the utilization of the item listing may be in accordance with the receipt of the positional information. For example, One or more geographic posting areas may be selected based on the positional 15 information. FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 for listing identification according to an example embodiment, The method 500 may be performed by the hand-held device 102 and/or the listing manager 106 ofthe system 100 (see FIG. 1) or otherwise performed, 20 A captured image is accessed at block 502. In an example embodiment, access information may be provided with along with the captured image. For example, the captured image may be provided in a message to the listing manager 106 from the hand-held device 102 that includes Information regarding desired listings, The subject line and/or 25 body of the message may indicate a type of reequst (e.g, a request to view item listings at a variable or fixed price), a desired price of the item listing and time left for the item listing Other information may also be provided with the message. A bar code is decoded from the captured image at block 504. An item 30 associated with the bar code may be identified at block 506. The item may be identified by performing a lookup or may be otherwise identified, A designated item attribute associated with ai user may be accessed at block 508. The designated item attribute may include a user desired aspect of the item. For example, the designated iter attribute may be a condition (e-g., 35 "new" or "used"), an edition ("seventh edition"), or the like, Positional information may be accessed from the hand-held device 102 at block 510; A number of item listings are searched for the item at block 512. The searching may be in accordance with the designated item attribute and/or the 8 WO 209/145822 PCT/US2009/001976 5 positional information, For example, the search may be restricted to items that have the designated item attribute and/or are located within a certain distance from the hand-held device 102, One or more item listings for the item may be identified at block 514, The identification of the one or more item listings for the item may be in 10 accordance with the search of the item listings, the access of the designated item attribute and/or the receipt of the positional information. For example, the positional information may be used to limit the item listings to a certain geographic area relative to the current Location of the user. At block 516, one or more item listings of the number of item listings 15 may be provided for presentation in accordance with the searching of the number of item listings. For example, the five cheapest listings may be provided for presentation to the upset A transaction request may be received at block 518. The transaction request may be a bid request, a purchase request, or a different type of 20 transaction request. The transaction request for the item may be processed at block 520. FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 for listing identification according to an example embodiment. 'The method 600 may be performed by the handheld device 102 and/or the listing manager 106 of the system 100 (see FIG. 1) or 25 otherwise performed. A captured image is accessed at block 602. A bar code is decoded from the captured image at block 604. An item associated wih the bar code may be identified at block 606. A designated item attribute associated with a user may be accessed at block 608, 30 Positional information may be accessed from a hand-held device at block 610. At block 612, a search request forthe item is sent to the listing manager 106. The search request may include the designated item attribute and/or the positional information. The search results are received from the listing manager 106 at block 614. 35 One or more item listings for the item may be identified at block 616, The identifying of the one or more item listings for the item may be in accordance with the receiving of the search results, the accessing of the designated item attribute and/or the receiving of the positional informauo For 9 WO 2009/14822 PCT/S2000197 5 example, the positional information may be used to fimit the item listings to a certain geographic area relative to the current location of the user At block 618, one or more item listings of the number ofitem listings may be provided for presentation in accordance with the searching of the item listings. For example, the five cheapest listings may be provided for 10 presentation to the user. A transaction request may be received at block 620. The transaction request for the item may be processed at block 622, FIG. 7 is a network diagram depicting a clientserver system 700, within which one example embodiment may be deployed. By way of example, a 15 network 704 may include the functionality of the network 104, the listing manager 106 may be deployed within an application server 718, and the hand held device 102 may include the fuintionality of a clent machine 710 or a client machine 712. The system 100 may also be deployed in other systems, A networked system 702, in the example fonna of a network-based 20 marketplace or publication system, provides server-side functionality, Via a network 704 (eg the Internet or Wide Area Network (WAN)) to one or more clients. FIG. 7 illustrates for example a web client 706 (e a browser/such as the Internet Explorer browser developed by Microsoft Corporation of Redonnd, Washington State), and a programmate client 708 executing on respective client 25 machines 710 and 712, An Application Program Interface (API) sener 714 and a web server 716 are coupled to, and provide programmatic and web interfaces respectively to, one or more application servers 718. The application servers 718 host one or more marketplace applications 720 and authentication providers 722. The 30 application servers 718 ae, in turn, shown to be coupled to one or more databases servers 724 that facilitate access to one or more databases 726. The marketplace applications 720 may provide a number of marketplace functions and services to users that access the networked system 702. The authentication providers 722 may likewise provide a number of payment 35 services and functions to users. The authentication providers 722 may allow users to accumulate value (e.g, in a commercial currency, such as the US. dollar, or a proprietary currency, such as "points") in accounts, and then later to redeem the accumulated value for products (e g, goods or services) that are WO 2009/1412 Pr/US29976 5 made available via the marketplace applications 720. While the marketplace and authentication providers 720 and 722 are shown in FIG. 7 to both form part of the networked system 702, in alternative embodiments the authentication providers 722 may form part of a payment service that is separate and distinct from the networked system 702. 10 Further, while the system 700 shown in FIG, 7 employs a client-server architecture, the present invention is of course not limited to such an arahitecture, and could equally well find application in a distributed, or peer-to peer, architecture system, for example. The various marketplace and authentication providers 720 and'722 could also be implemented as standalone 15 software programswhich need not have networking capabilities. The web client 706 accesses thevarious marketplace and authenticaion providers 720 and 722 via the web interface supported by the web server 716. Similarly, the programmatic cient 708 accesses the various services and functions provided by the marketplace and authentication providers 20 and 722 20 via the programniatic interface provided by the Ai server 714. The programmatic client 708 may, for example, be a seller application (eg the TurboListerm application developed by eBay Inc., of San Jose, Califoria) to enable sellers to author and manage listings on the networked system 702 in an off-line manner, and to perform batch-mode communications between the 25 programmatic client 708 and the networked system 702. FIG. 7 also illustrates a third party application 728, executing on a third party server machine 730, as having programmatic access to the networked system 702 via the programmatic interface provided by the API server 714. For example, the third party application 728 may, utilizing information retrieved 30 from the networked system 702,support one or more features or functions on a website hosted by the third party, The third party may, for example, provide one or more promotonal, marketplace or payment Amcions that are supported by the relevant applications of the networked system 702, FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating multiple applications 720 and 722 35 that, in one example embodiment, are provided as part of the networked system 702 (see FIG 7), The applications 720 may be hosted on dedicated or shared server machines (not shown) that are communicatively coupled to enable communications between server machines. The applications themselves are 11 WO 2009/145822 PCT/US209JO41976 5 communicatively coupled (eg., via appropriate interfaces)to each other and to various data sources, so as to allow information to be passed between the applications or so as to allow the applications to share and access common data. The applications may furthermore access one or more databases 726 via the database servers 724. 10 The networked system 702 may provide a number of publishing, listing and price-setting mechanisms whereby a seller may list (or publish information concerning) goods or services for sale, a buyer can express interest in or indicate a desire to purchase such goods or services, and a price can be set for a transaction pertaining to the goods or services. To this end, the marketplace 15 applications 720 are shown to include at least one publication application 800 and one or more auction applications 802 which support auction-format listing and price setting mechanisms (eg, English, Dutch, Vickey, Chinese, Double, Reverse auctions etc), The various auction applications 802 may also provide a number of features in support of such auction-format listings, such as a reserve 20 price feature whereby a seller may specify a reserve price in connectionn with a listing and a proxy-bidding feature whereby a bidder may invoke automated proxy bidding, A number of fixed-price applications 804 support fixed-price listing formats (e.g., the traditional classified advertisement-type listing or a catalogue 25 listing) ad buynttype listings Specifically. buyout-type listings (e g., including the Buy-It-Now (BIN) technology developed by eBay Inc,, of San Jose, Califomia) may be offered in conjunction with auctionformat listings, and allow a buyer to purchase goods or services, which are also being offered for sale via an auction, for a fixed-price that is typically higher than the starting 30 price of the auction, Store applications 806 allow a seller to group listings within a "virtual" store, which may be branded and otherwise personalized by and for the seller. Such a virtual store may also offer promotions, incentives and features that are specific and personalized to a relevant seller 35 Reputation applications 808 allow users that transact, utilizing the networked system 702, to establish, build and maintain reputations, which may be made available and published to potential trading partners Consider that where, for example, the networked system 702 supports person-to-person -12 WO 200911$45822 PCTJS2u09/001976 , trading, users may otherwise have no history or other reference information whereby the trustworthiness and credibility of potential trading partners may be assessed. The reputation applications 808 alow a user, for example through feedback provided by other transaction partners, to establish a reputation within the networked system 702 over time. Other potential trading partners may then 10 reference such a reputation for the purposes of assessing credibility and trustworthiness Personalization applications 810 allow users of the networked system 702 to personalize various aspects of their interactions with the networked system 702. For example a user may, utilizing an appropriate personalization 15 application 810, create a personalized reference page at which information regarding transactions to which the user is (or has been) a party may be viewed Further, a personaization application 810 may enable a user to personalize listings and other aspects of their interactions with the networked system 702 and other partes, 2Q The networked system 702 may support a number of marketplaces that are customized, for example, for specific geographic regions, A version of the networked system 702 may be customized for the United Kingdom, whereas another version of the networked system 702 may be customized for the United States. Each of these versions may operate as an independent marketplace, or 25 may be customized (or internationalized and/or localized) presentations of a common underlying marketplace The networked system 702 may accordingly include a number of internationalizaion applications 812 that customize information (and/or the presentation of information) by the networked system 702 according to predetermined criteria (e.g., geographic, demographic or 30 marketplace criteria). For example, the internationalization applications 812 may be used to support the customization of information for a number of regna websites that are operated by the networked system 702 and that are accessible via respective web servers 716. Navigation of the networked system 702 may be facilitated by one or 35 more navigation applications 814. For example, a search application (as an example of a navigation application) may enable key word searches of listings published via the networked system 702. A browse application may allow users to browse various category, catalogue, or system inventory structures according 13 WO 009/14522 PC'USr2009/01 976 5 to which listings may be classfifed within the networked system 702 Various other navigation applications may be provided to supplement the search and browsing applications In order to make listings available via the networked system 702 as visually informing and attractive as possible, the marketplace applications 720 10 may include one or more imaging applications 816 utilizing which users may upload images for inclusion within listings. An imaging application 816 also operates to incorporate images within viewed listings. The imaging applications 816 may also support one or more promotional features, such as image galleries that are presented to potential buyers, For example, sellers may pay an 15 additional fee to have an image included within a gallery of images for promoted items. Listing creation applications 81 Iallow sellers conveniently to author listings pertaining to goods or services that they wish to transact via the networked system 702, and the listing creation application 818 may include the 20 functionality of the item listing subsystem 108 (see FIG. 1). The listing management applications 820 allow sellers to manage listings. Specifically, where a particular seller has authored and/or published a large number of listings, the management of such listings mray present a challenge. The listing management applications 820 provide a number of 25 features (e-g, auto-relisting, inventory level monitors, etc) to assist the seller in managing such listings. One or more post-listing management applications 822 also assist sellers with a number of activities that typically occur postlisting. For example, upon completion of an auction facilitated by one or more auction applications 802, a seller may wish to leave feedback regarding a particular 30 buyer. To this end, a post-listing management application 822 may provide an interface to one: or more reputation applications 808, so as to allow the seller conveniently to provide feedback regarding multiple buyers to the reputation applications 808. Dispute resolution applications 824 provide mechanisms whereby 35 disputes arising between transacting parties may be resolved For example, the dispute resolution applications 824 may provide guided procedures whereby the parties are guided through a number of steps in an attempt to settle a dispute. In 14 WO 2009/145822 PC 1J80$001976 5 the event that the dispute cannot be settled via the guided procedures, the dispute may be escalated to a merchant mediator or arbitrator. A number of fraud preventon applications 826 implement fraud detection and prevention mechanisms to reduce the occurrence of fraud within the networked system 702, 10 Messaging applications 828 are responsible for the generation and delivery of messages to users of fkie networked system 702, such messages for example advising users regarding the status of listings at the networked system 702 (e g., providing "outbid" notices to bidders during an auction process or to provide promotional and merchandising information to users) Respective 15 messaging appliations 828 nay utilize any one have a number of message delivery networks and platforms to deliver messages to users. For example, messaging applications 828 may deliver electronic mail (e-rnail), instant message (M), Short Message Service (SMS), text, facsimile, or voice (e.., Voice over IP (VoI)) messages via the wired (e g., the Internet), Plain Old 20 Telephone Service (PTS), or wireless (e.g, mobile, cellular, WiFi WiMAX) networks. Merchandising applications 830 support various merchandising fCtions that are made available to sellers to enable sellers to increase sales via the networked system 702 The merchandising applications 830 also operate the 25 various merchandising features that may be invoked by sellers, and may monitor and track the success of merchandising strategies employed by sellers. The networked system 702 itself, or one or more parties that transact via the networked system 702, may operate loyalty programs that are supported by one or more loyalty/promotions applications 832. For example, a buyer may 30 earn loyalty or promotions points for each transaction established and/or concluded with a particular seller, and may be offered a reward for which accumulated loyalty points can be redeemed, FIG. 9 shows a diagrammatic representation of machine in the example form of a computer system 900 within which a set of instructions may be 35 executed causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methods, processesI operationsor methodologies discussed herein. The hand-held device 102 (see FIG. 1) may include the functionality of the computer system 900. The WO 2009/145822 PCTUS2009/001976 5 listing manager 106, the imaging provider 120, and/or the information provider 122 (sec FIG I) may be deployed on the computer system 900. In an example embodiment, the machine operates as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. hi a networked deployment, the machine may operate i the capacity of a server or a client 10 machine in server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to peer (or distributed) network envirnment The machine may be a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC). a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB) a Personal Digital Assistant(PDA). a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, r any machine capable of executing a set of 1 instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine is lustrated, the term machine" shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed heroin, 20 The example computer system 900 includes a processor 902 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) a graphics processing unit (GPU) or both), a main memory 904 and a static memory 906, which conununicate with each other via a bus 908.. The computer system 900 may further include a video display unit 910 (e g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer 25 system 00 also includes an alphanumeric input device 912 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 914 (eg.,a mouse) a drive unit 916, a signal generation device 918 (e g a speaker) and a network interface device 920 The drive unit 916 includes a machine-readable medium 922 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (eg., software 924) embodying any one 30 or more of the methodologies or -functions described herein. The software 924 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 904 and/or within the processor 902 during execution thereof by the computer system 900, the main memory 904 and the processor 902 also constituting maclime readable media. 35 The software 924 may further be transmitted or received over a network 926 via the network interface device 920. While the machine-readable medium 922 is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term "machine-readable median" should -16 WQ 2009/145822 PCTUS2009/0 9 5 be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (eg, a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term "machine-readable medium" shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to 10 perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention. The term "machine-readable medium" shall accordingly be taken to include, but ot he limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, and carrier wave signals, Certain systems, apparatus, applications or processes are described herein 15 as including a number of modules or mechanisms, A module or a mechanism may be a unit of distinct functionality that can provide information to, and receive information from, other modules, Accordingly, the described modules may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Modules may also initiate communication with input or output devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g 20 a collection of information), The modules be implemented as hardware circuitry, optical components, single or multi-processor circuits, memory circuits, software program modules and objects, finrware, and combinations thereofas appropriate for particular implementations of various embodiments. Thus, methods and systems for mobile publication have been described, 215 Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention; Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 30 The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.RR. §172(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain de nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, in addition, in the foregoing Detailed Descriptonit can be seen that various 35 features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, 17 WO 209/14!2 PTs2009/O*19% 5 inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment is

Claims (20)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising: 5 accessing an image; decoding a bar code from the image; identifying an item associated with the bar code; accessing item attribute information associated with a user, the item attribute information including at least one user-provided preference for an aspect of content included in the item, and 10 the at least one user-provided preference being used to further limit related item searches; identifying one or more item listings for the item by using the item attribute information to further limit a search for the item in accordance with the at least one user-provided preference for the aspect of content included in the item; and providing at least one item listing from the identified one or more item listings for 15 presentation.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more item listings are identified by limiting a result of the search to include the item with the at least one user-provided preference for the aspect of content included in the item. 20

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more item listings each comprise the item including the at least one user-provided preference for the aspect of content included in the item. 25

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: searching a plurality of item listings to identify the one or more item listings for the item by using at least one key word based on the item attribute information in a key word search for the item, the searching being directed towards a search result that includes the item with the at least one user-provided preference for the aspect of content included in the item. 30 19 256986

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: sending a search request for the item to a listing manager to identify the one or more item listings for the item in accordance with the item attribute information, the search request being directed towards a search result that includes the item with the at least one user-provided 5 preference for the aspect of content included in the item; and receiving the one or more item listings for the item from the listing manager.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: accessing positional information from a hand-held device to identify a location of a user 0 of the hand-held device in combination with the at least one user-provided preference for the aspect of content included in the item ; and using the location of the user of the hand-held device to limit the search for the item.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein accessing the item attribute 5 information includes: accessing the item attribute information from a database that stores item attribute information that characterizes content preferences for a plurality of users, the database including at least some content preferences provided by the users for related item searches, and the database being accessible by a listing manager that that stores the one or more item listings. 0

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the item attribute information includes a user-provided preference related to prior usage of the item

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the item attribute information a 25 user-provided preference for a condition of the item 20 256986

10. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions that, when implemented by one or more processors, perform operations comprising: accessing an image; decoding a bar code from the image; 5 identifying an item associated with the bar code; accessing item attribute information associated with a user, the item attribute information including at least one user-provided preference for an aspect of content included in the item, and the at least one user-provided preference being used to further limit related item searches; identifying one or more item listings for the item by using the item attribute information 10 to further limit a search for the item in accordance with the at least one user-provided preference for the aspect of content included in the item; and providing at least one item listing from the identified one or more item listings for presentation. 15

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising instructions that, when implemented by one or more processors, perform operations comprising: receiving a purchase request for an item from a particular listing of the at least one item listing; and processing the purchase request for the item from the particular listing. 20

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising instructions that, when implemented by one or more processors, perform operations comprising: receiving a bid request for an item from a particular listing of the at least one item listing; and 25 processing the bid request for the item from the particular listing. 21 56986

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising instructions that, when implemented by one or more processors, perform operations comprising: searching a plurality of item listings to identify the one or more item listings for the item 5 by using at least one key word based on the item attribute information in a key word search for the item.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising instructions that, when implemented by one or more processors, perform operations comprising: 0 sending a search request for the item to a listing manager to identify the one or more item listings for the item in accordance with the item attribute information; and receiving the one or more item listings for the item from the listing manager.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising instructions that, when 5 implemented by one or more processors, perform operations comprising: accessing positional information from a hand-held device to identify a location of a user of the hand-held device; and using the location of the user of the hand-held device to limit the search for the item. 0

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein accessing the item attribute information includes: accessing the item attribute infon-nation from a database that stores item attribute information that characterizes content preferences for a plurality of users, the database including at least some content preferences provided by the users for related item searches, and the 25 database being accessible by a listing manager that that stores the one or more item listings.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the item attribute information includes a user-provided preference for a specific edition of the item. 22 256986

18. A system comprising at least one computer configured to perform operations for computer-executable modules including: an image-access module to access a image; a bar-code module to decode a bar code from the image accessed by the image-access 5 module; an item-identification module to identify an item associated with the bar code decoded by the bar-code module; an item-attribute module to access item attribute information associated with a user, the item attribute information including at least one user-provided preference for an aspect of 10 content included in the item, and the at least one user-provided preference being used to further limit related item searches; an item-listing-identification module to identify one or more item listings for the item by using the item attribute information to further limit a search for the item in accordance with the at least one user-provided preference for the aspect of content included in the item; and 15 an item-listing-providing module to provide at least one item listing from the identified one or more item listings for presentation.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the item-attribute module accesses the item attribute information from a database that stores item attribute information that characterizes content 20 preferences for a plurality of users, the database being accessible by a listing manager that that stores the one or more item listings.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the item-attribute module accesses the item attribute information from a database that stores user-provided content preferences for related items, the 25 item attribute information being associated with an identification of the user and the item in the database. 23