System and method for swapping of tangible items

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for displaying geographical information regarding where a member shipped a tangible item to and received a tangible item from. A web site is provided to allow a user to view information regarding a first member that lists a tangible item. Geographical information is tracked regarding one or more source members that ship a tangible item to the first member and one or more destination members that receive a tangible item from the first member using a server computer. The geographical information regarding the one or more source members and the one or more destination members is stored in an electronic database using the server computer. On a map of the web site, a location of the first member and the geographical information regarding the one or more source members and the one or more destination members are displayed using the server computer.

1 . A system for displaying geographical information regarding where a member shipped a tangible item to and received a tangible item from, comprising:
 an electronic database;   an Internet connection; and   a server computer that communicates with a plurality of members through the Internet connection and that
 stores information in an electronic database regarding the plurality of members, wherein the information includes geographical information regarding one or more source members that ship a tangible item to the first member and one or more destination members that receive a tangible item from the first member; and 
 provides a web site that displays on a map a location of the first member and the geographical information regarding the one or more source members and the one or more destination members 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information includes a tangible item listed by the first member. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information includes a list of tangible items the first member has mailed to other members. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information includes a list of tangible items the first member has ordered from other members. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the web site allows a user to click on a source member or a destination member to send the source member or the destination member a message. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the web site allows a user to click on a source member or a destination member to view a tangible item listed by the source member or destination member, and order a tangible item on the list. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the web site displays for a user interested in a tangible item listed by the first member geographical locations of members to which the tangible item was shipped to prior to shipment to the first member. 
     
     
         8 . A method for displaying geographical information regarding where a member shipped a tangible item to and received a tangible item from, the method comprising:
 providing a web site to allow a user to view information regarding a first member that lists a tangible item using a server computer;   tracking geographical information regarding one or more source members that ship a tangible item to the first member and one or more destination members that receive a tangible item from the first member using the server computer;   storing the geographical information regarding the one or more source members and the one or more destination members in an electronic database using the server computer; and   displaying on a map of the web site a location of the first member and the geographical information regarding the one or more source members and the one or more destination members using the server computer.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the information includes a tangible item listed by the first member. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the information includes a list of tangible items the first member has mailed to other members. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the information includes a list of tangible items the first member has ordered from other members. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the web site allows a user to click on a source member or a destination member to send the source member or the destination member a message. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the web site allows a user to click on a source member or a destination member to view a tangible item listed by the source member or destination member, and order a tangible item on the list. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the web site displays for a user interested in a tangible item listed by the first member geographical locations of members to which the tangible item was shipped to prior to shipment to the first member. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory and tangible computer-readable storage medium whose contents include a program with instructions being executed on a server computer so as to perform a method for displaying geographical information regarding where a member shipped a tangible item to and received a tangible item from, the instructions comprising:
 providing a web site to allow a user to view information regarding a first member that lists a tangible item;   tracking geographical information regarding one or more source members that ship a tangible item to the first member and one or more destination members that receive a tangible item from the first member;   storing the geographical information regarding the one or more source members and the one or more destination members in an electronic database; and   displaying on a map of the web site a location of the first member and the geographical information regarding the one or more source members and the one or more destination members.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the information includes a list of tangible items the first member has mailed to other members. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the information includes a list of tangible items the first member has ordered from other members. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the web site allows a user to click on a source member or a destination member to send the source member or the destination member a message. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the web site allows a user to click on a source member or a destination member to view a tangible item listed by the source member or destination member, and order a tangible item on the list. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the web site displays for a user interested in a tangible item listed by the first member geographical locations of members to which the tangible item was shipped to prior to shipment to the first member.