WO2001039061A1

WO2001039061A1 - A method and software element for adaptation of information

Info

Publication number: WO2001039061A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/002299
Authority: WO
Inventors: Björn Söderlund
Original assignee: Tech Data Corporation
Priority date: 1999-11-22
Filing date: 2000-11-22
Publication date: 2001-05-31
Also published as: AU1908401A; SE9904219D0; SE9904219L; EP1238354A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for obtaining user-suited real-time information about a specific object (11) in a network (A) such as the Internet or an Intranet. Starting from an optional home page (B) comprising general information (12) about the object (11) a user (1) can mark a feature (13) in said general information. The user then activates a search function (22) which utilises this feature (13) to seek information concerning the object in a database (21). If information concerning the object is to be found in the database, an adapting function (23) presents information concerning the object to the user, which information constitutes the user-suited information. The present invention also relates to a number of different software elements that co-operate to offer a practical realisation of the method in accordance with the invention.

Description

A METHOD AND SOFTWARE ELEMENT FOR ADAPTATION OF INFORMATION

Technical field The present invention relates to a method and a number of software elements that co-operate to offer a possibility of suiting general information to information sought by a user

More specifically, the invention relates to a method for obtaining user- suited real-time information about a specific object in a network such as the Inter- net or an Intranet, starting from an optional home page comprising general information about said object

Background art

It is already known to present product information on the Internet in order to offer possible customers an opportunity to easily survey which products are available, when and how they can be supplied and the price.

In this type of product information various search tools are available whereby a user can seek a product or a group of similar products by means of a search word or a product number, for instance. It is also known for one and the same product, such as a product from a specific manufacturer, to be offered by a number of different suppliers or retailers It is also known for a user, through different agreements with a supplier or a retailer, to have special supply or price benefits which it may be of interest to be able to include in calculations when comparing the offers available from different suppliers or retailers of the same or similar products.

It should also be mentioned that it is known for certain search motors to offer a service whereby a concept that is of interest and that can be found on an optional home page is marked, by double-clicking on a right-side mouse button on a computer mouse with the cursor over the relevant concept, for instance after which the marked text string is sent to the search motor by means of a command, such as a single click on the right-side mouse button and a choice in a menu that appears upon such a right-click, and a search is performed on the marked concept. It is thus also known that, through a menu extension, it is possible to add a menu selection to the menu that appears when a user right-clicks on a marked text string

Account of the present invention

Technical problems

The object of the present invention is to offer a solution to the following technical problems, either through a general embodiment of the present invention or through one of the preferred embodiments that will be illustrated in the follow- ing description of the present invention

Taking into consideration the state of the art as described above, it is a technical problem to be able to offer a user who finds a general description of a product of interest on an optional home page an opportunity to obtain user-suited specific information about the product in a simple manner A technical problem exists in being able to offer specific information suited to an agreement between the user and the party offering the specific user-suited information

A technical problem also exists in being able to offer a user an opportunity of placing an order for a product for which the user finds a general description on an optional home page, but where the order is placed with a supplier or a retailer that the user normally uses and where any agreement relating to delivery method and price between the user and the supplier/retailer is taken into consideration when an order is placed

A technical problem also exists in being able to offer a user an opportunity of obtaining information, or of placing an order for a product for which the user finds a general description on an optional home page on a network from a retailer the user normally uses, starting from the general information on the optional home page, without the retailer in question having a home page of his own or even offering the service of being able to order via the relevant network A technical problem also exists in being able to offer a software element that provides a user with this search function and which can easily be installed in a user's computer unit A technical problem also exists in being able to offer a software element that gives a supplier or a retailer an opportunity of providing a user with the user- suited information sought.

Solution

With the object of solving one or more of the above technical problems the present invention shows a method for obtaining user-suited real-time information about a specific object in a network such as the Internet or an Intranet, starting from an optional home page, here termed a first home page, comprising gen- eral information about said object.

The present invention particularly advocates that a user mark a feature in the general information concerning the object, after which the user activates a search function, which search function utilises the feature to seek information concerning the object in a database. If information concerning the object is to be found in this database, an adapting function presents information concerning the object to the user, which information constitutes the user-suited information.

The feature used preferably consists of a marked text string which is sent to the search function by means of an application stored locally with the user. The present invention is particularly applicable when the object consists of a product, when the database consists of a first database such as an inventory register of various products, and when the feature consists of an item of information that can identify a product or a group of products from amongst this plurality of products. The user-suited information may consist of availability, such as the number of products in stock and delivery time, and/or the price of the relevant product.

The application offers a possibility for the user to seek the user-suited information from one or more different first databases.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment the present invention advo- cates that the locally stored application or presentation of user-suited information comprises a possibility for the user to order the product.

In accordance with the invention the feature used and taken from the general information may consist of a product number for a product, wherein the product number constitutes a product number stated by a manufacturer of the product, the number being the same for said product irrespective of which home page in the network the user utilises

The feature may also consist of a more or less specific designation for the product where the user-suited information may comprise information concerning a plurality of different products all of which fall within said more or less specific designation The designation used shall be a designation for the product that uniquely describes the product, or a group of similar products, irrespective of which home page in the network the user utilises

The database that receives the feature for a product and sends the user- suited information to the user may be one of several actors or parties in a relationship between seller and buyer The concepts of user, supplier and retailer are used in this description

In a business situation a user constitutes a possibly buyer of a product, a supplier may be seen here as a supplier direct to a buyer or as a supplier to a re- tailer who in turn deals directly with a buyer A retailer always deals directly with a buyer A user, that is to say a possible buyer, may thus also be a retailer who deals with a supplier

According to the invention, the user-suited information may comprise availability and price of the relevant product from the supplier/retailer to the user The present invention prescribes that the user may be identified in the first database, thereby enabling the user-suited information to be specifically suited to the user, e g by the specific adaptation comprising price information being suited to an agreement between the user and the supplier/retailer

If the user normally deals with a retailer who in turn purchases from a sup- plier, the present invention prescribes that the first database co-operate with a second database, the first database being related to the supplier and the second database being related to the retailer

If presentation of the user-suited information is generated from the supplier, according to the present invention it may appear as if the presentation comes from the retailer and it is also possible to have the specific adaptation of the information include the price information being suited to a possible agreement between supplier and retailer

The advantage is thus obtained that a supplier can offer one of his retailers an opportunity to conduct trade via the Internet, for instance, where the re- tailer's customers (the user) believe that the information comes from the retailer and where the information is suited to an agreement between the retailer and the supplier as well as to any agreement that exists between the retailer and the user In accordance with the present invention it is also possible to allow a re- tailer to offer user-suited information, but where supplementary information is collected directly from the retailer's supplier in order to make the user-suited information as complete as possible This can be offered, for instance by a first database in this case being related to the retailer and co-operating with a second database related to the supplier Here, too, the specific adaptation may comprise the price information being suited to agreements both between supplier and retailer and between retailer and user

In accordance with the invention a user is offered the possibility of searching for an object in a selection of different databases where said user-suited information can be sought by allowing the application to offer a selection of data- bases

The application at the user's can be realised by it comprising an extended menu by means of which the marked text string can be sent to the search function where a menu, including the extended menu, is presented by said user giving a command such as right-clicking on a mouse or depressing a specific key on a keyboard

The application may also comprise an external application such as a Java application, by means of which the marked text string can be sent to the search function where a menu specifically defined by the external application is presented, by the user giving a command in similar manner The locally stored application opens a first home page, which first home page includes an application that is initiated upon opening of this first page This application collects a text string that is temporarily marked on the page from where the first home page was opened, after which the application uses the text string as an argument in the search With the object of solving the problems listed, the present invention also proposes a number of different software elements by means of which the method described above can be realised via the computer units utilised by user and supplier/retailer A first software element is arranged for execution in a first computer unit, which first computer unit is the one that a user utilises to log in to the relevant network such as the Internet or an Intranet

This first software element is initiated by means of a specific command from the user which command is given when the user has marked, on a home page, a feature pertaining to an object or a product the user wishes to know more about The home page from which the user activates the first software element is termed a first home page Upon execution of the first software element a link is activated to a home page on the network, which home page is related to a first da- tabase This home page will be termed a second home page in the following

The first software element is preferably designed to constitute an accessory to software used by the user to seek information on the relevant network

The present invention also proposes a second software element arranged for execution in a second computer unit, which second computer unit is one through which the owner of a first database is connected to a network such as the Internet or an Intranet

This second software element is adapted to receive an argument from a first home page on the network

In accordance with the invention this second software element is arranged to be initiated when a second home page is opened from the home page here termed the first home page This first home page is already open on a first computer unit and, via the linking to the second home page, the second computer unit has sufficient address information to be able to send information to the first computer unit The second software element is arranged to automatically collect a text string that is temporarily marked on the first home page

The second software element is also arranged to use the collected text string to search for an object in the first database, using the text string as search word The result of the search is presented for a first computer unit in accordance with the address information available to the second computer unit

In accordance with the invention the second software element may also be arranged to match the result of the search to an identity for the first computer unit, or an identity for a user of the first computer unit, and the presentation may therefore comprise information thus suited to the user.

In accordance with a proposed embodiment the first database may cooperate with a second database. In accordance with the invention, then, besides the above adaptation to the specific user, the second software element can also perform adaptation of the user-suited information to an agreement between the owner of the first database and the owner of the second database, such as an agreement between a supplier and a retailer.

In accordance with a proposed embodiment it is also possible to use a third software element arranged for execution in a third computer unit, where a third computer unit is connected to a network such as the Internet or an Intranet. In the same way as the second software element described above, this third software element is arranged to receive an argument from a first home page on the relevant network, which can be used to seek an object in the first data- base.

However, the present invention directs that a result of a search be presented on a first computer unit in accordance with the available address information where, to a user of the first computer, the presentation appears to come from an owner of the second database. The third software element can also match the result of the search to an identity for the first computer unit or an identity for a user of the first computer unit, and also to an agreement between the owner of the first database and the owner of the second database, the presentation comprising information thus suited to the user. The present invention also relates to a fourth software element arranged for execution in a fourth computer unit, whereby a supplier or retailer is connected to a network such as the Internet or an Intranet.

The fourth software element can be executed by a user visiting a home page that is related to the fourth computer unit on the network, by the user giving a command from the third home page.

Execution of the fourth software element results in a first software element as described above being down-loaded from the fourth computer unit to a first computer being used by said user to access the network. In accordance with the present invention the first software element is down-loaded to the first computer unit in a format in which the first software element is automatically installed on the first computer unit, or which can easily be installed by the user

Advantages

The advantages primarily associated with the present invention are that a possibility is offered to search for specific information about an object, starting from general information about the object that is available on an optional home page on the Internet, for instance

It is possible by means of the present invention to offer specific information which is also suited to the user, that is to say, the person seeking the information, e g by offering information to a user concerning delivery time, taking into account distance and availability to the user, or by offering price information that is suited to a possible agreement between user and supplier

A supplier can also offer a retailer a service whereby the retailer's customers have access to specific user-suited information concerning products in the retailer's product range without the retailer having to take any action on the network

Brief description of the drawings

A method and software elements exhibiting the properties associated with the present invention will be described in more detail as various embodiments by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows schematically how a user seeks information from a first database co-operating with a second database, Figure 2 shows schematically a second embodiment of how a user seeks information from a first database co-operating with a second database, Figure 3 shows schematically a third embodiment of how a user seeks information from a first database co-operating with a second database, Figure 4 shows schematically how an application on a second home page functions, and Figure 5 shows schematically how a software element is down-loaded from one computer unit to another

Description of proposed embodiments Referring to Figure 1 the present invention proposes a method for obtaining user-suited real-time information about a specific object 11 in a network A, such as the Internet or an Intranet, starting from an optional home page comprising general information 12 about the object in question In the following this optional home page will be termed a first home page B Real-time information relates to the latest available information concerning the object, that is stored with a holder of information It may, for instance, be the number of products currently available in stock or the current price of a product

When a user 1 marks a feature 13 in the general information 12 concern- ing the object 11 , the user can activate a search function 22 which utilises the marked feature 13 to seek information concerning the object 11 in a database 21. If information concerning the object 1 is to be found in the database 21 , an adapting function 23 presents information concerning the object to the user 1 , which information constitutes the user-suited information 14, in accordance with Figure 2

The feature 13 in question may consist of a marked text string which is sent to the search function 22 by an application 15 stored locally with the user

In accordance with a preferred embodiment the object comprises a product 11 about which the user 1 is interest in receiving more information The user can surf around on the Internet, for instance, looking for information about memory circuits If he finds an interesting memory circuit on an optional home page B, he can mark a special feature 13 in the description 12 on the memory circuit and, by means of the local application 15, send this feature 13 to a specific database 21 to discover further information about the memory circuit In a preferred embodiment the database consists of a first database 21 In this description the term first database refers to the database that the user's local application is connected to when an enquiry is made A first database might be an inventory register for various products Features used may consist of information that can identify a product or a group of products amongst a plurality of products The user-suited information may then comprise availability, such as the number of products in stock and the delivery time, and/or the price of the relevant product. The user who has found an interesting memory circuit is thus able to find out if the product is in stock at a certain supplier or retailer and what it costs to purchase.

In accordance with the present invention the application 15 can offer a possibility for the user 1 to search for the user-suited information 14 in one or more different first databases 21 , 25, 26.

The locally stored application 15 or presentation 14 of the user-suited in- formation may, according to the invention, also include a possibility for the user to order the relevant product. How a product order is effected over a network A may be considered known to one skilled in the art and this technology will not therefore be described further here.

The feature used may consist of a product number for a product 11 , the product number constituting a product number stated by a manufacturer of the product, and the number being the same for the product irrespective of which home page on the network the user utilises.

It is also possible for the feature to consist of a more or less specific designation for the product where the user-suited information 14 may comprise infor- mation concerning a plurality of different products, all of which fall within the more or less specific designation.

The designation may be a designation for the product that uniquely describes the product, or a group of similar products, irrespective of which home page in the network the user utilises. In accordance with a proposed embodiment the first database 21 is related to a supplier 2 of the product and in this case the user-suited information 14 comprises availability and price of the product from the supplier 2 to the user 1.

If the user 1 is also identified 24 in the first database 21 the user-suited information may be specifically suited to the user 1 in question. Such adaptation might comprise the price information being suited to an agreement between the user 1 and the supplier 2. It is also feasible for other relationships controlled between the user and the supplier to adapt the information in accordance with their terms, such as delivery terms or credit terms. According to Figure 1 it is also possible for the first database 21 to cooperate with a second database 31 , which is related to a retailer 3 of a product 11 being sought The presentation 14 may then still be generated from the supplier 2 but it appears to the user 1 as if the presentation 14 comes from the retailer 3 The specific adaptation of the information may here comprise both the terms agreed between supplier 2 and retailer 3 and also the terms agreed between the retailer 3 and the user 1 Price information may for instance be suited to one or both of these agreements

If an additional operation is offered after the user has obtained the user- suited information 14 such as ordering a product, the present invention proposes that this operation be implemented via contact between the user 1 and the supplier 2 but that it appears to the user as if this additional operation is also performed via contact with the retailer 3

A supplier 2 can thus have an ordered product sent to the user 1 but the invoice sent to the retailer 3, the retailer then invoicing the user 1 It is also possible for the supplier 2 to invoice the user 1 directly

Figure 3 shows another alternative embodiment in which the first database 21' is related to a retailer 2' of the relevant product and in which the user- suited information comprises availability and price of the product from the retailer 2' to the user 1 '

Here also if the user 1 ' is identified in the first database 21 ', the user- suited information can be specifically suited to the user 1 ' by the specific adaptation comprising the price information being suited to an agreement between the user 1' and the retailer 2' According to this embodiment the first database 21 ' co-operates with a second database 31 ' which is related to a supplier 3' of the product

Here the specific adaptation may for instance comprise the price information being suited to an agreement between the supplier 3' and the retailer 2'

If the user is identified in the first database 21 ' the user-suited information can also be specifically suited to the user 1 in these respects

This offers an opportunity of having the specific adaptation comprise, for instance, price information being suited to an agreement between the user 1 ' and the retailer 2' If, for instance, the supplier 3' sets a current price for a product, this will in turn affect the current price charged by the retailer 2' and, thanks to this adjustment of the price information the user 1 ' is given information in real time that takes into account both the current price of the supplier and any agreement terms controlling the price between the user and the retailer

In accordance with the present invention the application 15 which is stored locally in the user s computer unit 16' can offer the user 1 ' a selection of different databases 25' 26' where the user-suited information can be sought This enables the user easily to compare the prices of a product from different suppliers or retailers, the different price information automatically taking into consideration any agreement between the user and the seller and where all information is updated

The application 15 stored locally with the user can be realised in various ways According to a proposed embodiment the local application may comprise an extended menu by means of which the marked text string 13 can be sent to the search function 22 where a menu including the extended menu is presented, by the user giving a command such as right-clicking on a mouse 17 or depressing a specific key on a keyboard 18

It is also possible for the local application 15 to comprise an external ap- plication, such as a Java application, by means of which the marked text string 13 can be sent to the search function 22 where a menu specifically defined by the external application 15 is presented by the user giving a command such as nght- clicking on a mouse 17 or depressing a specific key on a keyboard 18

According to Figure 4 the locally stored application 15 is designed to open a specific home page, here termed a second home page C, containing an application C1 that is initiated upon opening of the second home page C

This application C1 collects a text string 13 that is temporarily marked on the home page B from where the second home page C was opened which home page is the optional home page where the user 1 found the general information and which has been termed a first home page B The application C1 is arranged to use the text string 13 as an argument in the search, to send the text string to a search function where it can be used as search work or argument in the search The present invention also relates to a number of different software elements which upon execution are arranged to be able to perform the method in accordance with the invention as described above Different software units are required by the user and the supplier/retailer and these will interact with each other in different ways, as will be described in the following

A first software element 15A is arranged for execution in a first computer unit 16 which first computer unit is the computer unit a user 1 utilises to log in to the relevant network A such as the Internet or an Intranet

Referring again to Figure 4 this shows that the first software element 15A is initiated by means of a specific command from the user 1 This command is given when, on a home page B, the user has marked a feature 13 pertaining to an object or a product 11 about which the user 1 wishes to know more via user- suited information The home page B, from which the user activates the first software element 15A is here termed a first home page B

Upon execution of the first software element 15A, a link BC is activated to a home page C on the network A, which home page is related to a first database 21 This home page C will in the following be termed a second home page The second home page is opened by the user 1 but need not necessarily be displayed since its task is not to display information, but only to collect the marked text string 13 and in turn initiate an application C1 The function of the second home page and this application will be described in greater detail in conjunction with the de- scnption of a second software element

The first software element 15A is preferably designed to constitute an accessory to software 19 used by the user 1 to seek information on the relevant network A and may, for instance, constitute a plug-in to the user s Internet browser The present invention also proposes a second software element 22A arranged for execution in a second computer unit 27 which second computer unit is a computer unit through which the owner of a first database 21 is connected to a network A such as the Internet or an Intranet

The second software element 22A is adapted to receive an argument from the first home page B on the network A

In accordance with the present invention this second software element 22A is arranged to be initiated when a second home page C is opened from the home page here termed first home page B This first home page is already open on a first computer unit 16 and through the link BC to the second home page C the second computer unit 27 has sufficient address information to be able to send information to the first computer unit 16

The second software element 27A is arranged to automatically collect a text string 13 that is temporarily marked on the first home page B The second home page C thus in principle comprises only the function to start the second software element 22A that collects the marked text string 13 on the first home page B It therefore displays no information and thus need not be viewed by the user 1 either

The second software element 22A is also arranged to use the collected text string 12 to search for an object in the first database 21 , using the text string 13 as search word

The result 14 from the search is presented to the first computer unit 16 in accordance with the address information available in the second computer unit 27 In accordance with the present invention the second software element

22A may also be arranged to match the result of the search to an identity for a first computer unit, or an identity for a user 1 of the first computer unit 16, so that the presentation 14 comprises information thus suited to the user

Access to such an identity can be given by marking a so-called "cookie" on the first computer unit 16 The second software element 22A may also be required to request a password or the like from the user 1 of the first computer unit 16 after which adaptation to a specific user is possible

In accordance with a proposed embodiment the first database 21 may cooperate with a second database 31 In accordance with the invention the second software element 22A, besides the adaptation to the specific user 1 described above, may also carry out adaptation of the user-suited information 14 to an agreement between the owner 2 of the first database and the owner 3 of the second database, such as an agreement between a supplier and a retailer

Referring again to Figure 3, this shows a proposed embodiment in which a third software element 22A' may also be used, arranged for execution in a third computer unit 27' the third computer unit being connected to a network A such as the Internet or an Intranet

As described above in connection with the second software element 22A, the third software element 22A' is arranged to receive an argument from a first home page on the relevant network A, which can be used to search for an object in the first database 21 '

However, the present invention directs that the result of a search is presented to a first computer unit 16' in accordance with the available address infor- mation, this presentation appearing to a user 1 of the first computer unit 16' to come from an owner 2' of the second database 21 '

The third software element 22A' can also match the search result to an identity for the first computer unit 16' or an identity for the user 1 of the first computer unit, and also to an agreement between the owner 2' of the first database 21 ' and the owner 3' of the second database 31 ', where the presentation comprises information thus suited to the user

Figure 5 shows a fourth software element 4A arranged for execution in a fourth computer unit 41 , through which a supplier or retailer 4 is connected to a network A such as the Internet or an Intranet This fourth computer unit 41 may be the same as the previous second or third computer unit, or it may be a completely separate fourth computer unit.

The fourth software element 4A can be executed by a user 1" visiting a third home page D that is related to the fourth computer unit 41 on the network A, by the user 1" giving a command from the third home page D. Execution of the fourth software element 4A results in a first software element 15A' as described above being down-loaded from the fourth computer unit 41 to a first computer unit 16" being used by the user 1 " to access the network A

In accordance with the present invention the first software element 15A' is down-loaded to the first computer unit 16" in a format in which the first software element is automatically installed on the first computer unit 16", or which can easily be installed by the user 1"

Claims

1 A method for obtaining user-suited real-time information about a specific object in a network such as the Internet or an Intranet, starting from an optional home page, here termed a first home page, comprising general information about said object, characterized in that a user marks a feature in said general information concerning said object, in that said user activates a search function, in that said search function utilises said feature to seek information concerning said object in a database and in that, if information concerning said object is to be found in said database, an adapting function presents information concerning said object to said user, which information constitutes said user-suited information

2 A method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said feature consists of a marked text string and in that said marked text string is sent to said search function by means of an application stored locally with said user

3 A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said object consists of a product, in that said database consists of a first database such as an inventory register of various products, in that said feature consists of an item of infor- mation that can identify a product or a group of products from amongst said many products, in that said user-suited information consists of availability, such as the number of products in stock and delivery time, and/or the price of the relevant product, and in that said application offers a possibility for said user to seek said user-suited information from one or more different first databases

4 A method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said locally stored application or said presentation of user-suited information comprises a possibility for said user to order said product

5 A method as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that said feature consists of a product number for said product, said product number constituting a product number stated by a manufacturer of said product, said number being the same for said product irrespective of which home page in said network said user utilises

6 A method as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that said feature consists of a more or less specific designation for said product where said user-suited information may comprise information concerning a plurality of differ- ent products, all of which fall within said more or less specific designation and in that said designation is a designation for said product that uniquely describes said product, or a group of similar products, irrespective of which home page in said network said user utilises

7 A method as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that said first database is related to a supplier of said product and in that said user- suited information comprises availability and price of said product from said supplier to said user

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said user is identified in said first database and in that said user-suited information is specifically suited to said user

9 A method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that said specific adap- tation comprises said price information being suited to an agreement between said user and said supplier

10 A method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said first database co-operates with a second database, which second database is related to a re- tailer of said product, in that said presentation is generated from said supplier, in that it appears to said user as if said presentation comes from said retailer and in that said specific adaptation comprises said price information being suited to an agreement between said supplier and said retailer

11 A method as claimed in 10, characterized in that said user is identified in said first database and in that said user-suited information is specifically suited to

12 A method as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that said specific adaptation comprises said price information being suited to an agreement between said user and said retailer

13 A method as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that after said user has obtained said user-suited information, a further operation is offered, such as ordering said product, this being implemented via contact between said user and said supplier, and in that to said user it appears as if said additional operation is performed via contact with said retailer

14 A method as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that said first database is related to a retailer of said product and in that said user- suited information comprises availability and price of said product from said retailer to said user

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that said user is identified in said first database and in that said user-suited information is specifically suited to said user

16 A method as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that said specific adaptation comprises said price information being suited to an agreement between said user and said retailer

17 A method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that said first data- base co-operates with a second database, which second database is related to a supplier of said product, and in that said specific adaptation comprises said price information being suited to an agreement between said supplier and said retailer

18 A method as claimed in 17, characterized in that said user is identified in said first database and in that said user-suited information is specifically suited to

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that said specific adaptation comprises said price information being suited to an agreement between said user and said retailer.

20. A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said application offers said user a selection of different databases where said user-suited information can be sought.

21. A method as claimed in claim 2 or claim 20, characterized in that said application comprises an extended menu by which said marked text string can be sent to said search function where a menu including said extended menu is presented, by means of said user giving a command such as right-clicking on a mouse or depressing a specific key on a keyboard.

22. A method as claimed in claim 2 or claim 20, characterized in that said application comprises an external application by means of which said marked text string can be sent to said search function where a menu specifically defined by said external application is presented, by said user giving a command such as right-clicking on a mouse or depressing a specific key on a keyboard.

23. A method as claimed in claim 2, 20, 21 or 22, characterized in that said locally stored application opens a second home page, in that said second home page contains an application that is initiated upon opening of said second home page, in that said application collects a text string that is temporarily marked on said first home page, and in that said application uses said text string as an argument in a search.

24. A first software element arranged for execution in a first computer unit, where said first computer unit is connected to a network such as the Internet or an Intranet characterized in that execution of said first software element is initiated by means of a specific command from an optional home page, here termed first home page, and in that upon said execution a link is activated to a second home page on the network, which home page is related to a first database. 25 A first software element as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that said first software element constitutes an accessory to software used by said user to seek information on said network

26 A second software element arranged for execution in a second computer unit, where said second computer unit is connected to a network such as the Internet or an Intranet, characterized in that said second software element is adapted to receive an argument from a first home page on said network, in that said second software element is arranged to be initiated when a second home page is opened from the home page here termed first home page and in that said second software element, upon execution, is arranged to automatically collect a text string that is temporarily marked on said first home page, which text string constitutes said argument, and in that said second software element is arranged to use said collected text string to search for an object in said first database, using said text string as search word.

27 A second software element as claimed in claim 26, characterized in that the linking to the second home page provides sufficient address information for said second computer unit to be able to send information to said first computer unit and in that the result of said search is presented for said first computer unit in accordance with the address information available to said second computer unit

28 A second software element as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that the result of said search is matched to an identity for a first computer unit, or an identity for a user of a first computer unit, and in that said presentation comprises information thus suited to the user

29 A second software element as claimed in claim 27 or claim 28 wherein said first database co-operates with a second database, characterized in that said user-suited information is suited to an agreement between the owner of said first database and the owner of said second database

30 A third software element arranged for execution in a third computer unit, where said third computer unit is connected to a network such as the Internet or an Intranet, characterized in that said third software element is arranged to receive an argument from a first home page on said network, in that said third software element is adapted to be initiated when a second home page is opened from the home page here termed first home page and in that said third software ele- ment, upon execution is arranged to automatically collect a text string that is temporarily marked on said first home page which text string constitutes said argument, in that said second software element is arranged to use said collected text string to search for an object in said first database, using said text string as search word, in that a result of said search is presented on a first computer unit, and in that said presentation appears to a user of said first computer to come from an owner of said second database

31 A third software element as claimed in claim 30, characterized in that the result of said search is matched to an identity for a first computer unit or an iden- tity for a user of a first computer unit, and also to an agreement between the owner of said first database and the owner of said second database, and in that said presentation comprises information thus suited to the user

32 A fourth software element arranged for execution in a fourth computer unit, where said fourth computer unit is connected to a network such as the Internet or an Intranet, characterized in that said fourth software element can be executed by a user visiting a home page that is related to said fourth computer unit on said network, by said user giving a command from said home page, in that execution of said fourth software element results in a first software element as claimed in claim 25, 26 or 27 being down-loaded from said fourth computer unit to a first computer unit being used by said user to access said network, and in that said first software element is down-loaded to said first computer unit in a format in which said first software element is automatically installed on said first computer unit, or which can easily be installed by said user