SYSTEM FOR COORDINATING INFORMATION FROM A PLURALITY OF WEBSITES AND SELECTIVELY PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION TO A USER
A system for coordinating information from a plurality of websites and using this information to create a dynamic watchlist is provided. The system selectively provides this information to a user. In one embodiment, the system permits a user to access a plurality of websites and identify particular items of those websites that are of interest. The system stores the identified items on a watchlist for later retrieval, review, transmission or action by the user. The system may periodically inform the user of any changes to the items of interest.
1 . An electronic commerce system, comprising:
a browsing module, for permitting a user to access a plurality of websites and select items of interest;
a database for storing information, including:
a watchlist for storing said selected items of interest along with an identifier of the associated website, each selected item of interest having at least one associated descriptor; and
an email address associated with a particular user; and
at least one processor, which emails the watchlist to the user.
2 . The electronic commerce system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the processor determining when a descriptor has changed and, if so, automatically updating said watchlist to include said change to the descriptor.
3 . The electronic commerce system of claim 2 , further comprising:
the processor determining when a descriptor has changed by periodically accessing the associated website to look for changes.
4 . The electronic commerce system of claim 2 , further comprising:
the processor determining when a descriptor has changed by automatically receiving updates from the associated website.
5 . The electronic commerce system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the processor periodically accessing the internet to identify said items of interest on other websites, said other websites not comprising said associated websites, and storing these items of interest in the watchlist as new items of interest with their associated website.
6 . The electronic commerce system of claim 1 , wherein the processor emails the watchlist to the user on a periodic basis.
7 . The electronic commerce system of claim 1 , wherein the processor emails the watchlist to the user on a basis selected by the user.
8 . The electronic commerce system of claim 1 , whereby items are automatically added to the watchlist by the processor.
9 . An electronic commerce system comprising:
a database configured to store information that includes:
an identification which is associated with at least one customer; and
an email address which is associated with said at least one customer; and
a plurality of items selected by said at least one customer, each item having a plurality of identifiers and an associated website, each of the identifiers indicating a different attribute of the associated item; and
a processor configured to generate an email message, and transmit the email message to the email address of the customer; wherein the email message lists the plurality of items their identifiers.
10 . The electronic commerce system of claim 9 , further comprising:
the processor determining when an identifier has changed and, if so, automatically said updated identifier in said database.
11 . The electronic commerce system of claim 10 , further comprising:
the processor determining when an identifier has changed by periodically accessing the associated website to look for changes.
12 . The electronic commerce system of claim 2 , further comprising:
the processor determining when an identifier has changed by automatically receiving updates from the associated website.
13 . The electronic commerce system of claim 9 , further comprising:
the processor periodically accessing the internet to identify said items on other websites, said other websites not comprising said associated websites, and storing these items in the database as new items with their associated website.
14 . The electronic commerce system of claim 9 , wherein the processor generates and transmits said email to the customer on a periodic basis.
15 . The electronic commerce system of claim 9 , wherein the processor generates and transmits said email to the customer upon reaching an activation time.
16 . The electronic commerce system of claim 15 , wherein the activation time is selected by the customer.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the activation time is a periodic basis.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the activation time is a specific date and time selected by the customer.
19 . The electronic commerce system of claim 9 , whereby items are automatically added to the database by the processor.