Most cited e-commerce patents

1

Amazon's 1999 patent describes how a customer can buy an item online with just one click, bypassing a traditional shopping cart by using pre-stored payment and shipping information.

2

This patent describes the foundational RSA algorithm, a method for securely sending messages where anyone can encrypt a message using a public key, but only the intended recipient can decrypt it using a secret private key.

3

A method for searching databases by visually connecting Venn diagrams to represent complex logical relationships between different sets of data.

4

This patent describes a computer method for scoring documents in a linked database, like the internet, by considering the importance of other documents that link to them, helping search engines find better results.

5

Prodigy's 1994 patent outlines an interactive online system that delivered news, shopping, and banking to personal computers by breaking applications into 'objects' stored locally or remotely, and used user data for targeted ads.

6

Netscape's 1998 patent on storing small pieces of website information (like login details or preferences) on your computer so the website can recall them later, enabling personalized experiences and smoother navigation.

7

This patent describes a system where a store can make a custom product for a customer, but only after getting permission and the necessary design information from a central, remote office.

8

A method for web browsers to identify the correct webpage address to show relevant advertisements, even when the ad code is hidden inside a frame.

9

Netscape's 1995 patent defining the architecture for SSL, the foundational technology that allows browsers to securely transmit encrypted data over the internet.

10

A 1990 patent describing the basic process of paying for digital audio or video content over a phone line and downloading it to a personal device.

11

The 1995 patent by Toyota Central R&D Labs that invented the QR code, using three distinct corner squares with a unique 1:1:3:1:1 pixel ratio to let scanners instantly find and read the code from any angle.

12

IBM's 1999 patent on automatically sorting lists of items, like emails, by watching which ones you click first and updating a mathematical model of your preferences in the background.

13

A system that tests different ways to distribute website resources across multiple domains to find the fastest way to load a webpage for users.

14

Sprint's 2006 patent on a system that downloads a pool of ads to a phone and uses an on-device manager to decide which ad to show, even breaking its own rules to make sure lagging ad campaigns get seen.

15

A 1997 Microsoft patent describing how a server can mix general content with specific local details to create a personalized experience for users based on their location or demographics.

16

This patent describes an automated system that uses artificial intelligence to pick the best ways to check and update information about people or businesses, choosing from methods like web searches, phone calls, or direct mail.

17

A method for web applications to use abstract templates that automatically connect to back-end databases based on the user's device or platform.

18

Amazon's 2016 patent describes a system for breaking down digital content into smaller pieces and storing them on servers located near users to speed up downloads and reduce network traffic.

19

A method for predicting what a user might be interested in by analyzing the web of connections created when people view each other's social media profile pages.

20

Amazon's patent on using client-side code like JavaScript to dynamically rewrite website links so they point directly to the fastest content delivery server, bypassing traditional DNS routing bottlenecks.

21

A method for ranking search results by prioritizing links that your social network friends have clicked on previously.

22

This 2018 patent from Square describes a system that predicts which restaurants will get orders and tells delivery drivers where to wait to be ready.

23

This 2015 IMDb patent describes a system that predicts if you'll attend an event, like a movie, by checking your phone's location near the event time and place, then sending you related content.

24

This patent describes a system that automatically checks when internet domain names are set to expire, calculates how much time is left, and can notify a user or even try to register the domain once it becomes available.

25

A system that suggests events to you by analyzing your social media connections and your past attendance history to see what your friends are doing.

26

Uber's 2015 patent on matching multiple riders into a single shared vehicle by calculating whether the detour will keep everyone's arrival times within an acceptable limit compared to a private ride.

27

A system that improves image search results by combining how well an image matches a search term with how highly users have rated that image elsewhere.

28

A mathematical method for deciding how many items to stock in different warehouses to minimize the cost of running out of products.

29

A method for a system to identify and authorize a user it doesn't know by asking a different, trusted service that already has the user's information.

30

A method for creating a virtual dressing room where a user's photo is combined with images of clothing from different websites to see how they look together.