Knowledge-based e-catalog procurement system and method

• US 20030061122A1
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Michael Roe, Charles Christopher Wurtz, Dmitry Serebrennikov, Gary Charles Berkowitz
• Original Assignee: Brian Michael Roe, Charles Christopher Wurtz, Dmitry Serebrennikov, Gary Charles Berkowitz
• Inventors: Serebrennikov, Dmitry, Roe, Brian Michael, Berkowitz, Gary Charles, Wurtz, Charles Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,249,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A flexible, intelligent electronic procurement method and system that emulates and learns from the adaptive behavior of a user trying to find a product in an electronic catalog. In contrast to existing methods and systems, the invention does not require the pre-loading of index hierarchies, it does not impose fixed structures on the user, it does not require the user to start ‘from scratch’ when looking for a new item, and it does not force the user to think like someone else. Instead, the invention allows the user to choose his own way to navigate catalogs of items, and then, by remembering successful search scenarios, and storing that knowledge in a dynamic, growing database (or ‘forest’) of collected search paths, or ‘trees’, the invention evolves ‘organically’ over time. Thus, the utility of the invention increases over time once implemented in a given environment. Further, the invention is able to do this in a time- and space-efficient manner (that is, without the forest growing too tangled, dense or large) not only because of its method and architecture, but also through the use of autonomous background processes that continually prune and update the tree structures for optimum storage and navigation.

Claims

1. A software method for enabling electronic procurement users to locate electronic-catalog items, without the need for pre-defined hierarchies, that functions across a variety of electronic formats, utilizing knowledge captured from previous users of the system in a flexible, adaptive manner that allows for differing cognitive styles of search, providing intelligent assistance in finding search terms, and learning and growing with increasing use, in a series of steps comprising:

a. verifying and logging the user according to a security profile;

b. connecting the user to a database of existing search trees;

c. allowing the user to navigate existing search trees, and/or

d. allowing user to construct and/or modify their own search tree by choosing search terms;

e. utilizing an intelligent assistance function that provides lists of suggested terms culled from existing electronic catalogs and previous user experience;

f. providing a mechanism for users to requisition and/or purchase any found catalog item;

g. storing the terms, the search path taken, and the search tree constructed by the user, and any catalog items selected, for later use by other users;

h. using the information captured in (f) to update the database of trees, enabling the system to grow and adapt over time.