Automated decision advisor
First Claim
1. A method for assisting a user in selecting one or more items from an item set that best match a set of target preferences, the method comprising:
- obtaining information from the user about that user'"'"'s set of target preferences, using direct questions;
generating at least one list of items selected from the item set that will best meet the set of target preferences based on the information provided; and
generating a display including the list of items and explanations for at least one item on the list of items explaining how well attributes of the at least one item match the set of target preferences.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an automated system to guide people (“users”) to help them find and select products, services, or other items, that best meet their needs and preferences. The system obtains information from and about users to assess their needs and preferences. The system dynamically selects those questions to ask that are most likely to help discriminate between items based on information about user preferences and differences between the items, based on information about the user obtained so far. The system scores the available items in terms of how well they match user'"'"'s needs and preferences and generates lists of recommended items. The system explains its recommendations using lists of pros and cons to help users understand how well the features or attributes of the items do or do not match their expressed needs.
52 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for assisting a user in selecting one or more items from an item set that best match a set of target preferences, the method comprising:
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obtaining information from the user about that user'"'"'s set of target preferences, using direct questions;
generating at least one list of items selected from the item set that will best meet the set of target preferences based on the information provided; and
generating a display including the list of items and explanations for at least one item on the list of items explaining how well attributes of the at least one item match the set of target preferences. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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- 8. The method of 6, further comprising generating a statement relating one or more pro or con to a matching of an attribute and a recommendation for or against an item based on indirect inferences from user inputs.
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15. The method of 11, further comprising generating a statement relating one or more pro or con to a matching of an attribute and a recommendation for or against an item based on indirect inferences from user inputs.
Specification