System and method for creating a searchable electronic catalog

• US 20030093337A1
• Filed: 06/09/2001
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WW Grainger Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WW Grainger Incorporated
• Inventors: Westphal, Geoffry Arthur, Song, Jinshan
• Granted Patent: US 7,254,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24552 Database cache management
• 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 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A system and method for creating a searchable representation of an electronic catalog. the searchable representation of the electronic catalog includes one or more search data structures each having one or more search data records. The search data records include a first data field containing data representing an attribute of a product within the electronic catalog, a second data field containing data representing the number of times the attribute is used in connection with any product within the electronic catalog, and one or more additional data field each containing data representing a record address within the electronic catalog at which data pertaining to each product having the attribute is stored.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a searchable representation of an electronic catalog, comprising:

a first data field containing data representing an attribute of a product within the electronic catalog;

a second data field containing data representing the number of times the attribute is used in connection with any product within the electronic catalog; and

one or more additional data field each containing data representing a record address within the electronic catalog at which data pertaining to each product having the attribute is stored.

2. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the first data field contains data representative of searchable keywords.

3. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the first data field contains data representative of a binary value indicative of whether or not a product has the attribute.

4. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the first data field contains data representative of an enumerated value indicative of a predefined aspect of the attribute.

5. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 4, wherein the predefined aspect of the attribute pertains to a color of a product.

6. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the searchable electronic catalog further comprising a fourth data field, the fourth data field being comprised of an index representing a range of values, the range of values encompassing a value equivalent to that contained within the first data field of the respective record.

7. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a searchable representation of an electronic catalog, comprising:

a plurality of records, each record comprising;

a first data field containing data representing a unique attribute of a product within the electronic catalog;

a second data field containing data representing the number of times the attribute is used in connection with any product within the electronic catalog; and

one or more additional data field each containing data representing a record address within the electronic catalog at which data pertaining to each product having the attribute is stored.

8. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 7, wherein the unique attributes are selected from a data the populates a predetermined field within the electronic catalog.

9. A method for creating a searchable representation of an electronic catalog, comprising:

storing a representation of an attribute of a first product from the electronic catalog into the first data field of a first record of a search data structure, incrementing a second data field of the first record of the search data structure by one, and adding an additional data field to the first record of the search data structure which has a representation of an address within the electronic catalog at which data pertaining to the first product is stored.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

comparing an attribute of a second product from the electronic catalog to the attribute stored in the first data field of the first record and, if the attributes match, performing the further steps of;

incrementing the second data field in the first record by one and adding an additional data field to the first record of the search data structure which has a representation of an address within the electronic catalog at which data pertaining to the second product is stored; and

if the attributes do not match, performing the further steps of;

storing a representation of the attribute of the second product into a first data field of a second record of the search data structure, incrementing a second data field of the second record of the search data structure by one, and adding an additional data field to the second record of the search data structure which has a representation of an address within the electronic catalog at which data pertaining to the second product is stored.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for creating a searchable representation of an electronic catalog, the instructions performing steps comprising:

storing a representation of an attribute of a first product from the electronic catalog into the first data field of a first record of a search data structure, incrementing a second data field of the first record of the search data structure by one, and adding an additional data field to the first record of the search data structure which has a representation of an address within the electronic catalog at which data pertaining to the first product is stored.