Amazon.com, Inc.
System for location-based determinations using common regions

Abstract:

Managing merchant coverage areas is complex. Different merchants may have different coverage areas, with some products only available in some regions, and so forth. When a user is searching for an available product, the user expects search results quickly. These search results may take into consideration which merchants offer which products at a user's physical location, or other location-dependent considerations. A system provides customizable region sets arranged in a hierarchy, where individual regions are indicative of a geographic area. The customized regions are usable by merchants to identify products or services available in different regions. The customized regions are also used to describe a user's physical location. The system may use the hierarchy of regions to quickly and efficiently determine which products or services are available to a user.