Systems and methods for determining facet rankings for a website

• US 10,410,261 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2017
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Siddiqui, Omar Saeed, Amarthaluri, Abilash, Roumeliotis, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Scott L
• Application Number:
  US15/605,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20180341997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Systems and methods including one or more processing modules and one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform acts of displaying a plurality of facets of a product type on a website of an online retailer in a plurality of facet orders, determining a first individual number of times a facet was selected when in a first position, determining a second individual number of times the facet was selected when in a second position, estimating a first estimated number of times the facet would have been selected if the facet had been in the first position rather than the second position, determining a ranking of the plurality of facets, and coordinating displaying at least a portion of the plurality of facets on the website of the online retailer in an order of the ranking.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an online retailer computer system comprising one or more processing modules and one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform acts of;

coordinating displaying a plurality of facets of a product type on a website of an online retailer in a plurality of facet orders, each facet of the plurality of facets comprising a product attribute of a plurality of product attributes for the product type;

for each facet of the plurality of facets;

determining a first individual number of times the facet was selected when in a first position in the plurality of facet orders;

determining a second individual number of times the facet was selected when in a second position in the plurality of facet orders different from the first position; and

estimating a first estimated number of times the facet would have been selected if the facet had been in the first position rather than the second position using (1) a first set of rules and (2) the second individual number of times the facet was selected when in the second position;

determining a ranking of the plurality of facets using (1) a second set of rules, (2) the first individual number of times each facet of the plurality of facets was selected when in the first position, and (3) the first estimated number of times each facet of the plurality of facets would have been selected if each facet of the plurality of facets had been in the first position rather than the second position; and

coordinating displaying at least a portion of the plurality of facets on the website of the online retailer in an order of the ranking of the plurality of facets.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions are further configured to run on the one or more processing modules of the online retailer computer system and perform an act of:

for each facet of the plurality of facets;

determining a facet score by normalizing an empirical click-through-rate for the facet.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions are further configured to run on the one or more processing modules of the online retailer computer system and perform an act of determining a quality score for product information of each product of a plurality of products of the product type by subtracting from a predetermined number the facet score of each facet of the plurality of facets not included in the product information of each product of the plurality of products.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions are further configured to run on the one or more processing modules of the online retailer computer system and perform acts of:

receiving one of (1) a search query related to the product type or (2) an indication of a selection of one or more of the plurality of facets displayed on the website of the online retailer;

selecting a first portion of the plurality of products for display in search results, wherein the facet score of each product of the first portion of the plurality of products is higher than the facet score for each product of a second portion of the plurality of products not selected for display in the search results for the search query; and

coordinating displaying the first portion of the plurality of products in the search results.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a user computer system comprising one or more processing modules and one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processing modules of the user computer system and perform acts of:

displaying a user interface on the website of the online retailer comprising at least one of (1) a search query entry field and (2) the plurality of facets;

transmitting the search query entered by a user to the online retailer computer system;

transmitting the selection of the one or more of the plurality of facets to the online retailer computer system; and

displaying the first portion of the plurality of products in the search results on the user interface of the website of the online retailer.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions are further configured to run on the one or more processing modules of the online retailer computer system and perform an act of coordinating displaying a webpage for a product of the plurality of products, the webpage comprising a highlighted product attribute for a product attribute of the plurality of product attributes for the product, the highlighted product attribute for the product attribute being associated with a facet of the plurality of facets comprising a highest facet score relative to facet scores associated with other product attributes of the plurality of product attributes for the product.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions are further configured to run on the one or more processing modules of the online retailer computer system and perform acts of:

indicating a product of the plurality of products requires additional product attribute information in the product information for the product if the quality score for the product information of the product is below a predetermined threshold; and

coordinating displaying an information request webpage for a supplier of an additional product of the product type, the information request webpage comprising the plurality of facets as ranked and a facet entry field proximate each facet of the plurality of facets.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of rules comprises:

multiplying (1) the second individual number of times the facet was selected when in the second position, and (2) a first overall number of times any facet of the plurality of facets was selected when in the first position to obtain a first multiplication product; and

dividing the first multiplication product by a second overall number of times any facet of the plurality of facets was selected when in the second position.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second set of rules comprises:

determining a total number of order positions of the plurality of facet orders in which the facet appeared; and

obtaining an empirical click-through-rate for the facet by dividing a sum of (1) the first individual number of times and (2) the first estimated number of times, by a second multiplication product of (a) the total number of order positions multiplied by (b) an overall number of impressions of the product type at the first position.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first set of rules comprises;

multiplying (1) the second individual number of times the facet was selected when in the second position, and (2) a first overall number of times any facet of the plurality of facets was selected when in the first position to obtain a first multiplication product; and

dividing the first multiplication product by a second overall number of times any facet of the plurality of facets was selected when in the second position;

the second set of rules comprises;

determining a total number of order positions of the plurality of facet orders in which the facet appeared; and

obtaining an empirical click-through-rate for the facet by dividing a sum of (1) the first individual number of times and (2) the first estimated number of times, by a second multiplication product of (a) the total number of order positions multiplied by (b) an overall number of impressions of the product type at the first position;

the one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions are further configured to run on the one or more processing modules of the online retailer computer system and perform acts of;

for each facet of the plurality of facets;

determining a facet score by normalizing the empirical click-through-rate for the facet;

determining a quality score for product information of each product of a plurality of products of the product type by subtracting from a predetermined number the facet score of each facet of the plurality of facets not included in the product information of each product of the plurality of products;

receiving one of (1) a search query related to the product type or (2) an indication of a selection of one or more of the plurality of facets displayed on the website of the online retailer;

selecting a first portion of the plurality of products for display in search results, wherein the facet score of each product of the first portion of the plurality of products is higher than the facet score for each product of a second portion of the plurality of products not selected for display in the search results for the search query;

coordinating displaying the first portion of the plurality of products in the search results;

coordinating displaying a webpage for a product of the plurality of products, the webpage comprising a highlighted product attribute for a product attribute of the plurality of product attributes for the product, the highlighted product attribute for the product attribute being associated with a facet of the plurality of facets comprising a highest facet score relative to facet scores associated with other product attributes of the plurality of product attributes for the product;

indicating the product of the plurality of products requires additional product attribute information in the product information for the product if the quality score for the product information of the product is below a predetermined threshold; and

coordinating displaying an information request webpage for a supplier of an additional product of the product type, the information request webpage comprising the plurality of facets as ranked and a facet entry field proximate each facet of the plurality of facets; and

the system further comprises a user computer system comprising one or more processing modules and one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processing modules of the user computer system and perform acts of;

displaying a user interface on the website of the online retailer comprising at least one of (1) a search query entry field and (2) the plurality of facets;

transmitting the search query entered by a user to the online retailer computer system;

transmitting the selection of the one or more of the plurality of facets to the online retailer computer system; and

displaying the first portion of the plurality of products in the search results on the user interface of the web site of the online retailer.

11. A method comprising:

coordinating, by an online retailer computer system, displaying a plurality of facets of a product type on a web site of an online retailer in a plurality of facet orders, each facet of the plurality of facets comprising a product attribute of a plurality of product attributes for the product type;

for each facet of the plurality of facets;

determining, by the online retailer computer system, a first individual number of times the facet was selected when in a first position in the plurality of facet orders;

determining, by the online retailer computer system, a second individual number of times the facet was selected when in a second position in the plurality of facet orders different from the first position; and

estimating, by the online retailer computer system, a first estimated number of times the facet would have been selected if the facet had been in the first position rather than the second position using (1) a first set of rules and (2) the second individual number of times the facet was selected when in the second position;

determining, by the online retailer computer system, a ranking of the plurality of facets using (1) a second set of rules, (2) the first individual number of times each facet of the plurality of facets was selected when in the first position, and (3) the first estimated number of times each facet of the plurality of facets would have been selected if each facet of the plurality of facets had been in the first position rather than the second position; and

coordinating, by the online retailer computer system, displaying at least a portion of the plurality of facets on the website of the online retailer in an order of the ranking of the plurality of facets.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising for each facet of the plurality of facets:

determining, by the online retailer computer system, a facet score by normalizing an empirical click-through-rate for the facet.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining, by the online retailer computer system, a quality score for product information of each product of a plurality of products of the product type by subtracting from a predetermined number the facet score of each facet of the plurality of facets not included in the product information of each product of the plurality of products.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, by the online retailer computer system, one of (1) a search query related to the product type or (2) an indication of a selection of one or more of the plurality of facets displayed on the website of the online retailer;

selecting, by the online retailer computer system, a first portion of the plurality of products for display in search results, wherein the facet score of each product of the first portion of the plurality of products is higher than the facet score for each product of a second portion of the plurality of products not selected for display in the search results for the search query; and

coordinating, by the online retailer computer system, displaying the first portion of the plurality of products in the search results.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

displaying, by a user computer system, a user interface on the website of the online retailer comprising at least one of (1) a search query entry field and (2) the plurality of facets;

transmitting, by the user computer system, the search query entered by a user to the online retailer computer system;

transmitting, by the user computer system, the selection of the one or more of the plurality of facets to the online retailer computer system; and

displaying, by the user computer system, the first portion of the plurality of products in the search results on the user interface of the website of the online retailer.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising coordinating, by the online retailer computer system, displaying of a webpage for a product of the plurality of products, the webpage comprising a highlighted product attribute for a product attribute of the plurality of product attributes for the product, the highlighted product attribute for the product attribute being associated with a facet of the plurality of facets comprising a highest facet score relative to facet scores associated with other product attributes of the plurality of product attributes for the product.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

indicating, by the online retailer computer system, a product of the plurality of products requires additional product attribute information in the product information for the product if the quality score for the product information of the product is below a predetermined threshold; and

coordinating, by the online retailer computer system, displaying an information request webpage for a supplier of an additional product of the product type, the information request webpage comprising the plurality of facets as ranked and a facet entry field proximate each facet of the plurality of facets.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first set of rules comprises:

multiplying (1) the second individual number of times the facet was selected when in the second position, and (2) a first overall number of times any facet of the plurality of facets was selected when in the first position to obtain a first multiplication product; and

dividing the first multiplication product by a second overall number of times any facet of the plurality of facets was selected when in the second position.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second set of rules comprises:

determining a total number of order positions of the plurality of facet orders in which the facet appeared; and

obtaining an empirical click-through-rate for the facet by dividing a sum of (1) the first individual number of times and (2) the first estimated number of times, by a second multiplication product of (a) the total number of order positions multiplied by (b) an overall number of impressions of the product type at the first position.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the first set of rules comprises;

multiplying (1) the second individual number of times the facet was selected when in the second position, and (2) a first overall number of times any facet of the plurality of facets was selected when in the first position to obtain a first multiplication product; and

dividing the first multiplication product by a second overall number of times any facet of the plurality of facets was selected when in the second position;

the second set of rules comprises;

determining a total number of order positions of the plurality of facet orders in which the facet appeared; and

obtaining an empirical click-through-rate for the facet by dividing a sum of (1) the first individual number of times and (2) the first estimated number of times, by a second multiplication product of (a) the total number of order positions multiplied by (b) an overall number of impressions of the product type at the first position; and

the method further comprises;

for each facet of the plurality of facets determining, by the online retailer computer system, a facet score by normalizing the empirical click-through-rate for the facet;

determining, by the online retailer computer system, a quality score for product information of each product of a plurality of products of the product type by subtracting from a predetermined number the facet score of each facet of the plurality of facets not included in the product information of each product of the plurality of products;

receiving, by the online retailer computer system, one of (1) a search query related to the product type or (2) an indication of a selection of one or more of the plurality of facets displayed on the web site of the online retailer;

selecting, by the online retailer computer system, a first portion of the plurality of products for display in search results, wherein the facet score of each product of the first portion of the plurality of products is higher than the facet score for each product of a second portion of the plurality of products not selected for display in the search results for the search query;

coordinating, by the online retailer computer system, displaying the first portion of the plurality of products in the search results;

coordinating, by the online retailer computer system, displaying a webpage for a product of the plurality of products, the webpage comprising a highlighted product attribute for a product attribute of the plurality of product attributes for the product, the highlighted product attribute for the product attribute being associated with a facet of the plurality of facets comprising a highest facet score relative to facet scores associated with other product attributes of the plurality of product attributes for the product;

indicating, by the online retailer computer system, the product of the plurality of products requires additional product attribute information in the product information for the product if the quality score for the product information of the product is below a predetermined threshold;

coordinating, by the online retailer computer system, displaying an information request webpage for a supplier of an additional product of the product type, the information request webpage comprising the plurality of facets as ranked and a facet entry field proximate each facet of the plurality of facets;

displaying, by a user computer system, a user interface on the website of the online retailer comprising at least one of (1) a search query entry field and (2) the plurality of facets;

transmitting, by the user computer system, the search query entered by a user to the online retailer computer system;

transmitting, by the user computer system, the selection of the one or more of the plurality of facets to the online retailer computer system; and

displaying, by the user computer system, the first portion of the plurality of products in the search results on the user interface of the website of the online retailer.