Methods and systems for a dynamic networked commerce architecture

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides systems and methods, which allow a more efficient shopping experience. A cascading commerce menu provides access to a plurality of product, service, and/or content categories. In one embodiment, the cascading commerce menu is stored on a client computer, thereby providing quick access to the menu.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of generating a search query, comprising:
 providing a menu including one or more product category menu items, wherein at least one of the product category menu items is associated with at least one subcategory menu item; and   rewarding a user at least partly in response to a selection of an item associated with the menu.   
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein rewarding the user includes providing one or more reward credits to the user. 
     
     
         17 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the credits are associated with a monetary value. 
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein one or more of the reward credits are used to purchase an electronic content. 
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising providing a referral reward to the user for at least in part causing one or more other users to participate in a desired activity. 
     
     
         20 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising storing a balance including the one or more reward credits at a profile associated with the user. 
     
     
         25 . A method as recited in claim  20 , wherein the profile includes personal data associated with the user. 
     
     
         26 . A system for generating a search query, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 provide a menu including one or more product category menu items, wherein at least one of the product category menu items is associated with at least one subcategory menu item, and 
 reward a user at least partly in response to a selection of an item associated with the menu; and 
   a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.   
     
     
         27 . A system as recited in  claim 26 , wherein to reward the user includes providing one or more reward credits to the user. 
     
     
         28 . A system as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the credits are associated with a monetary value. 
     
     
         29 . A system as recited in  claim 27 , wherein one or more of the reward credits are used to purchase an electronic content. 
     
     
         30 . A system as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising the processor configured to provide a referral reward to the user for at least in part causing one or more other users to participate in a desired activity. 
     
     
         31 . A system as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising the processor configured to store a balance including the one or more reward credits at a profile associated with the user. 
     
     
         32 . A system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the profile includes personal data associated with the user. 
     
     
         33 . A computer program product for generating a search query, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:
 providing a menu including one or more product category menu items, wherein at least one of the product category menu items is associated with at least one subcategory menu item; and   rewarding a user at least partly in response to a selection of an item associated with the menu.   
     
     
         34 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 33 , wherein rewarding the user includes providing one or more reward credits to the user. 
     
     
         35 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 34 , wherein the credits are associated with a monetary value. 
     
     
         36 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 34 , wherein one or more of the reward credits are used to purchase an electronic content. 
     
     
         37 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 33 , further comprising providing a referral reward to the user for at least in part causing one or more other users to participate in a desired activity. 
     
     
         38 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 34 , further comprising storing a balance including the one or more reward credits at a profile associated with the user. 
     
     
         39 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the profile includes personal data associated with the user.