Systems and methods for maintaining and distributing a commerce catalogue

• US 20040177039A1
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intec Telecom Systems PLC (CSG Systems International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Intec Telecom Systems PLC (CSG Systems International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pincus, Simon, Watson-Luke, Brett
• Application Number:
  US10/683,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20040177039A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A computerized system for maintaining a commerce catalogue includes a commerce manager operable to read an catalogue repository that includes XML schema data defining products and services. The commerce manager sends the XML schema data to a publisher operable to forward the data to a particular viewing agent. In addition, the commerce manager communicates with a listener to receive XML schema data defining products and services.

Claims

1. A computerized system for maintaining a commerce catalogue, the system comprising:

an catalogue repository including catalogue schema data;

a commerce index manager operable to read and write catalogue schema data to the catalogue repository;

a publisher operable to send the catalogue schema data to a viewing agent; and

a listener operable to receive catalogue schema data from a product or service supplier;

wherein the catalogue schema data comprises a common schema and a sub-schema.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the catalogue repository comprises a relational database.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the catalogue repository comprises an XML database.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the common schema and the sub-schema are defined using XML.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a security component operable to authorize and authenticate transactions for the catalogue repository.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the viewing agent comprises an OSS component.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the OSS component is a billing component.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the OSS component comprises a web self-care component.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the OSS component comprises an order management component.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the OSS component comprises a rating component.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the OSS component comprises a customer relationship management component.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the product or service supplier comprises a content provider.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the product or service supplier comprises an application provider.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the product or service supplier comprises an information provider.

15. A method for maintaining a commerce catalogue, the method comprising:

defining a schema and at least one sub-schema for a catalogue database;

receiving catalogue data conforming to the schema and the at least one sub-schema;

storing the catalogue data in a catalogue repository; and

publishing the catalogue data to a viewing agent, wherein the catalogue data is filtered according to a sub-schema of interest to a viewing agent.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the catalogue data is filtered by the viewing agent.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the catalogue data is filtered prior to publishing to the viewing agent.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the catalogue data comprises receiving the catalogue data from a content provider.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the catalogue data comprises receiving the catalogue data from an application provider.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein publishing the catalogue data includes translating the catalogue data into a format used within the viewing agent.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the viewing agent comprises a billing system.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the viewing agent comprises a rating system.

23. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for maintaining a commerce catalogue, the method comprising:

defining a schema and at least one sub-schema for a catalogue database;

receiving catalogue data conforming to the schema and the at least one sub-schema;

storing the catalogue data in a catalogue repository; and

publishing the catalogue data to a viewing agent, wherein the catalogue data is filtered according to a sub-schema of interest to a viewing agent.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the catalogue data is filtered by the viewing agent.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the catalogue data is filtered prior to publishing to the viewing agent.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein receiving the catalogue data comprises receiving the catalogue data from a content provider.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein receiving the catalogue data comprises receiving the catalogue data from an application provider.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein publishing the catalogue data includes translating the catalogue data into a format used within the viewing agent.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the viewing agent comprises a billing system.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the viewing agent comprises a rating system.