Method, medium, and system for dynamic user interface control for efficient and controlled ordering

1 . A method for presentation of a user interface control in a software graphical user interface, implemented with electronic operations executed using a processor and memory of a computing system, the method comprising:

providing a user interface button in a screen of the software graphical user interface, the user interface button provided in an enabled state to receive a first interaction from a human or automated user;

receiving the first interaction from the user via the user interface button, wherein the first interaction from the user provides a first request to initiate a commerce action with a constrained item;

calculating a delay time period to disable functionality of the user interface button and delay the commerce action with the constrained item, wherein the delay time period is uniquely calculated for the user and is not displayed to the user;

in response to receiving the first interaction from the user, starting the delay time period and providing a presentation of a descriptive overlay message on the screen, wherein the presentation of the descriptive overlay message is provided during the delay time period;

enforcing the delay time period to disable the functionality of the user interface button, which prevents the graphical user interface from performing the commerce action with the constrained item during the delay time period;

receiving a second interaction from the user via the user interface button, outside of the presentation of the descriptive overlay message on the screen, wherein the second interaction from the user provides a second request to initiate the commerce action with the constrained item during the delay time period;

in response to receiving the second interaction from the user, calculating an updated delay time period that extends the delay time period to disable the functionality of the user interface button and further delay the commerce action with the constrained item, wherein the updated delay time period is not displayed to the user; and

enforcing the updated delay time period to disable the functionality of the user interface button, which prevents the graphical user interface from performing the commerce action with the constrained item until expiration of the updated delay time period, wherein the presentation of the descriptive overlay message continues during the updated delay time period.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the commerce action is:

adding the constrained item to an electronic shopping cart, initiating or completing a purchase of the constrained item in an electronic shopping cart, or requesting a reservation of the constrained item.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the presentation of the descriptive overlay message on the screen includes a message that indicates an occurrence of the delay of the commerce action with the constrained item without indicating an amount of time remaining in the delay time period.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first interaction from the user comprises a first selection of the user interface button received within a first instance of the graphical user interface, and wherein the second interaction from the user comprises a second selection of the user interface button received within a second instance of the graphical user interface.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the descriptive overlay message is provided as a popup on an individual product display screen corresponding to the constrained item, wherein the presentation of the descriptive overlay message is closed by the user during the delay time period, and wherein the second interaction from the user comprises another activation of the user interface button.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second interaction from the user comprises one or more additional clicks or interactions with the graphical user interface that occur during the delay time period, and wherein the second interaction from the user is determined as likely to originate from an automated bot.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the delay time period is uniquely calculated for the user based on a user profile or customer identifier.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by processor circuitry and memory of a computing device, causes the computing device to perform operations that:

output a user interface button in a screen of a software graphical user interface, the user interface button provided in an enabled state to receive a first interaction from a human or automated user;

detect the first interaction from the user via the user interface button, wherein the first interaction from the user provides a first request to initiate a commerce action with a constrained item;

calculate a delay time period to disable functionality of the user interface button and delay the commerce action with the constrained item, wherein the delay time period is uniquely calculated for the user and is not displayed to the user;

in response to receipt of the first interaction from the user, start the delay time period and output a presentation of a descriptive overlay message on the screen, wherein the presentation of the descriptive overlay message is provided during the delay time period;

enforce the delay time period to disable the functionality of the user interface button, which prevents the graphical user interface from performing the commerce action with the constrained item during the delay time period;

detect a second interaction from the user via the user interface button, outside of the presentation of the descriptive overlay message on the screen, wherein the second interaction from the user provides a second request to initiate the commerce action with the constrained item during the delay time period;

in response to receipt of the second interaction from the user, calculate an updated delay time period that extends the delay time period to disable the functionality of the user interface button and further delay the commerce action with the constrained item, wherein the updated delay time period is not displayed to the user; and

enforce the updated delay time period to disable the functionality of the user interface button, which prevents the graphical user interface from performing the commerce action with the constrained item until expiration of the updated delay time period, wherein the presentation of the descriptive overlay message continues during the updated delay time period.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the commerce action is:

adding the constrained item to an electronic shopping cart, initiating or completing a purchase of the constrained item in an electronic shopping cart, or requesting a reservation of the constrained item.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the presentation of the descriptive overlay message on the screen includes a message that indicates an occurrence of the delay of the commerce action with the constrained item without indicating an amount of time remaining in the delay time period.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the first interaction from the user comprises a first selection of the user interface button received within a first instance of the graphical user interface, and wherein the second interaction from the user comprises a second selection of the user interface button received within a second instance of the graphical user interface.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the descriptive overlay message is provided as a popup on an individual product display screen corresponding to the constrained item, wherein the presentation of the descriptive overlay message is closed by the user during the delay time period, and wherein the second interaction from the user comprises another activation of the user interface button.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the second interaction from the user comprises one or more additional clicks or interactions with the graphical user interface that occur during the delay time period, and wherein the second interaction from the user is determined as likely to originate from an automated bot.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the delay time period is uniquely calculated for the user based on a user profile or customer identifier.

15 . A computer system comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to perform operations that:

provide a user interface button in a screen of a software graphical user interface, the user interface button provided in an enabled state to receive a first interaction from a human or automated user;

receive the first interaction from the user via the user interface button, wherein the first interaction from the user provides a first request to initiate a commerce action with a constrained item;

calculate a delay time period to disable functionality of the user interface button and delay the commerce action with the constrained item, wherein the delay time period is uniquely calculated for the user and is not displayed to the user;

in response to receipt of the first interaction from the user, start the delay time period and provide a presentation of a descriptive overlay message on the screen, wherein the presentation of the descriptive overlay message is provided during the delay time period;

enforce the delay time period to disable the functionality of the user interface button, which prevents the graphical user interface from performing the commerce action with the constrained item during the delay time period;

receive a second interaction from the user via the user interface button, outside of the presentation of the descriptive overlay message on the screen, wherein the second interaction from the user provides a second request to initiate the commerce action with the constrained item during the delay time period;

in response to receipt of the second interaction from the user, calculate an updated delay time period that extends the delay time period to disable the functionality of the user interface button and further delay the commerce action with the constrained item, wherein the updated delay time period is not displayed to the user; and

enforce the updated delay time period to disable the functionality of the user interface button, which prevents the graphical user interface from performing the commerce action with the constrained item until expiration of the updated delay time period, wherein the presentation of the descriptive overlay message continues during the updated delay time period.

16 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the commerce action is: adding the constrained item to an electronic shopping cart, initiating or completing a purchase of the constrained item in an electronic shopping cart, or requesting a reservation of the constrained item.

17 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the presentation of the descriptive overlay message on the screen includes a message that indicates an occurrence of the delay of the commerce action with the constrained item without indicating an amount of time remaining in the delay time period.

18 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the first interaction from the user comprises a first selection of the user interface button received within a first instance of the graphical user interface, and wherein the second interaction from the user comprises a second selection of the user interface button received within a second instance of the graphical user interface.

19 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the descriptive overlay message is provided as a popup on an individual product display screen corresponding to the constrained item, wherein the presentation of the descriptive overlay message is closed by the user during the delay time period, and wherein the second interaction from the user comprises another activation of the user interface button.

20 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the second interaction from the user comprises one or more additional clicks or interactions with the graphical user interface that occur during the delay time period, and wherein the second interaction from the user is determined as likely to originate from an automated bot.

21 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the delay time period is uniquely calculated for the user based on a user profile or customer identifier.