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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method of providing a menu, comprising:
 using a processor 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   rewarding a reward to a user at least partly in response to a selection of an item associated with the menu, where the menu indicates that an item can be at least in part acquired using the reward.   
     
     
         25 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein rewarding the user includes providing one or more reward credits to the user. 
     
     
         26 . A method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the credits are associated with a monetary value. 
     
     
         27 . A method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein one or more of the reward credits are used to purchase an electronic content. 
     
     
         28 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , 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. 
     
     
         29 . A method as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising storing a balance including the one or more reward credits at a profile associated with the user. 
     
     
         30 . A method as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the profile includes personal data associated with the user. 
     
     
         31 . A computer program product for providing a menu, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage 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 reward to a user at least partly in response to a selection of an item associated with the menu, where the menu indicates that an item can be at least in part acquired using the reward.   
     
     
         32 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 31 , wherein rewarding the user includes providing one or more reward credits to the user. 
     
     
         33 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the credits are associated with a monetary value. 
     
     
         34 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 32 , wherein one or more of the reward credits are used to purchase an electronic content. 
     
     
         35 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 35 , 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. 
     
     
         36 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 32 , further comprising storing a balance including the one or more reward credits at a profile associated with the user. 
     
     
         37 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 36 , wherein the profile includes personal data associated with the user.