Clickable map interface for product inventory

Abstract

A method is disclosed for providing a map for displaying inventory for sale. A clickable map interface allows users to view or purchase the inventory of a product from a seller at a particular location. A user can view the inventory of a product from sellers within a particular region.

1 . A computer implemented method for displaying products for sale on an interactive map comprising:
 receiving information from sellers on products for sale, wherein the information includes an inventory quantity and location for each of the products;   generating an interactive map that displays the products at their respective locations and provides the inventory quantity for each of the products;   receiving a search request for a particular product;   identifying related products based on the search request, wherein the related products are similar to the particular product;   displaying the related products at their respective locations on the interactive map, wherein the related products that are displayed are those products located within a boundary of the interactive map;   receiving a selection of at least one of the related products from the interactive map; and   updating the inventory quantity of the selected at least one of the related products when the selection comprises a purchase.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selection comprises a click on the location of the at least one of the related products from the interactive map. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the displayed products comprise points on the interactive map at the respective locations. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inventory quantity is displayed for a particular product when that product is selected from the interactive map. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein a product is not displayed on the interactive map when the inventory quantity for that product is zero. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the boundary of the interactive map is established by an input from a user, a physical location of a user, a computer profile of the user, information from a computer that is displaying the interactive map, or a location term from the search request. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the boundary of the interactive map is defined by at least one of an address, a Global Positioning System (“GPS”) location, a city, a neighborhood, a zip code, an area code, a county, or a state. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the products for sale comprise auction listings or classified advertisements. 
     
     
         9 . In a computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for displaying inventory on a map, the storage medium comprising instructions for:
 receiving information regarding inventory for sale from a plurality of sellers, wherein the information includes a location for each of the sellers, further wherein each of the sellers has at least some of the inventory for sale;   generating an interactive map configured to display a location for at least one of the sellers;   displaying the information regarding the inventory that is for sale from the at least one of the sellers that are displayed on the interactive map;   receiving a search request relating to at least one category of the inventory;   identifying which of the inventory is related to the search request; and   receiving a selection of the inventory displayed on the interactive map.   
     
     
         10 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9  wherein the selection comprises clicking on a location of the seller of the selected inventory. 
     
     
         11 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9  wherein the inventory for sale comprises items subject to an auction, further wherein the information regarding the inventory for sale comprises a current price and an auction end date. 
     
     
         12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11  wherein the information further comprises a starting price and an auction start date. 
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9  wherein the inventory for sale comprises items listed in classified advertisements, further wherein the information regarding the inventory for sale comprises a description and price. 
     
     
         14 . A computer implemented method for providing a searchable interface with products for sale comprising:
 receiving feeds from sellers including seller information and available products with respective locations of the available products, where the available products are associated with an inventory amount;   providing a searchable interface with the available products and the respective locations;   receiving a search request related to a particular product from the searchable interface;   providing search results on the searchable interface based on the search request, where the search results include at least some of the available products;   receiving a selection for at least one of the provided available products; and   updating the inventory amount of the selected at least one provided available product when the selected product is purchased.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein seller information or the inventory amount of products is updated by consumers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the products comprise goods and services. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the searchable interface comprises an interactive map. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the providing a searchable interface comprises displaying the interactive map with at least a portion of the available products displayed on the interactive map at their respective locations. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the selection comprises clicking the displayed product from the interactive map. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the search results provided on the searchable interface include the inventory amount of each respective product in the search results. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the products comprise online advertising. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the online advertising is sold and displayed based on the geographic location.