Methods and systems for selecting item variations for display in user interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods for presenting a user interface that shows a consolidated representation for an item available from multiple sources are described. The multiple offerings of the same items offered for sale by multiple sellers are combined into a simple user interface that is transparent to the consumer, but where the consumer can find an item and all of its attributes as though it was offered for sale by a single seller. The user interface can be created when a consumer selects an item, a list is generated of the sellers offering that item for sale, a list is generated of the various attributes of the item, a representation for each attribute is gathered, and an optimal representation for each attribute can be generated for display to the consumer when that attributed is selected by the consumer. The process for creating and modifying such a user interface can be automated or semi-automated, decreasing the manual intervention needed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving a selection of an item by a user;   retrieving information from a plurality of sellers having offers for the selected item;   identifying a plurality of attributes for the selected item;   aggregating a plurality of representations for the item based at least in part on the information from the plurality of sellers and the plurality of attributes, wherein the plurality of representations includes one or more images for the item;   receiving a selection of a first attribute of the plurality of attributes for the item;   identifying a first set of determined criteria for the first attribute;   selecting a first set of representations for the item from the aggregated plurality of representations for the item that represent the first attribute, based at least in part on the first set of determined criteria;   receiving a selection of a second attribute of the plurality of attributes for the item;   identifying a second set of determined criteria for the second attribute;   selecting a representation image from the first set of representations that represents the second attribute based at least in part on the second set of determined criteria; and   generating a presentation of the selected item, wherein the presentation includes at least the selected representation image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein retrieving the information from the plurality of sellers is responsive to receiving the selection of the item. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising making the selected representation image available for display in a network environment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying the representation image; 
 displaying at least one of the sellers having offers for the selected item; and 
 displaying conditions of sale of the item for the sellers. 
 
     
     
         5 . A computer-implemented system comprising:
 a data store configured to store a plurality of items from multiple sellers; and   a computer processor in communication with said data store that is configured to execute computer-executable code that causes the computer processor to:
 receive a selection of an item from a user; 
 aggregate a plurality of representations for the item based at least in part on information from a plurality of sellers, wherein the plurality of representations includes one or more images associated with the item; 
 receive a selection of a first attribute for the item; 
 select a first set of representations for the item from the aggregated plurality of representations for the item based upon an evaluation of a first set of determined criteria for the first attribute; 
 receive a selection of a second attribute for the item; 
 select a representation image from the selected first set of representations based upon an evaluation of a second set of determined criteria for the second attribute; and 
 generate a presentation of the item for sale for the customer, wherein the presentation includes at least the representation image. 
   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 5 , wherein the first set of determined criteria and the second set of determined criteria comprise color matching information for selecting images associated with a substantially similar color. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 5 , wherein the first attribute and the second attribute are different. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 5 , wherein the computer executable code further causes the computer processor to update the selection of the representation image based on a selection of a third attribute, wherein the representation image is selected based upon an evaluation of a third set of determined criteria for the third attribute. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of representations for the item comprise at least one of a perspective view, a top view, a front view, and a side view of the item. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 5 , wherein the computer executable code further causes the computer processor to identify a list of sellers offering the selected item for sale and a condition of each offer associated with each selected seller. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer executable code further causes the computer processor to identify a preferred seller from the list of sellers. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 5 , wherein the computer executable code further causes the computer processor to select a plurality of representation images from the first set of representations based upon an evaluation of a second set of determined criteria for the second attribute. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 5 , wherein the computer executable code further causes the computer processor to identify a plurality of attributes for the item based at least in part on the information from the plurality of sellers, wherein the plurality of attributes comprises the first attribute and the second attribute 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer executable code, wherein the computer executable code when executed by a computing system causes the computing system to:
 receive a selection of an item;   aggregate a plurality of representations for the item based at least in part on information from a plurality of sellers, wherein the plurality of representations includes one or more images for the item;   receive a selection of a first attribute for the item;   apply a first set of evaluation criteria associated with the first attribute against the aggregated plurality of representations to generate a first set of representations;   receive a selection of a second attribute for the item;   apply a second set of evaluation criteria associated with the second attribute against the first set of representations to select a representation image; and   generate a presentation of the item, wherein the presentation includes at least the selected representation image.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the computer executable code further causes the computing system to display a list of sellers offering the selected item for sale and the condition of each offer for each seller. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the first set of evaluation criteria and the second set of evaluation criteria comprise color matching information for selecting images associated with a substantially similar color. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the first attribute and the second attribute are similar. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the computer executable code is further configured to:
 update the selection of the representation image based on a selection of a third attribute; and   apply a third set of evaluation criteria associated with the third attribute against the first set of representations to select the representation image.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of representations for the item comprise at least one of a perspective view, a top view, a front view, and a side view of the item. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the computer executable code further causes the computing system to select a plurality of representation images from the first set of representations that represent the second attribute.