Computer-implemented procurement of items using parametric searching
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented system for parametric searching of one or more item catalogs, comprising a server associated with one or more software components collectively operable to:
- receive a keyword specifying one or more attribute values common to all items in a corresponding class, one or more attributes common to all items in the corresponding class being left unconstrained by the keyword;
determine which one or more attributes common to all items in the corresponding class are left unconstrained by the keyword;
receive attribute values for one or more attributes that are left unconstrained by the keyword;
parametrically search an item catalog based on the attribute values specified by the keyword and the attribute values received for the attributes that are left unconstrained by the keyword;
generate search results according to the parametric search, each of the search results comprising an item with attribute values matching all those specified by the keyword and all those received for the attributes that are left unconstrained by the keyword; and
receive a selection of an item from among the search results.
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Abstract
A computer-implemented method for procuring one or more items includes, in response to user-provided data and after user selection of a search module using a client system, providing an item category. Based on user selection of the item category using the client system, one or more attributes associated with: all items in the item category are provided. Based on user input identifying an attribute value for at least one attribute, search results including one or more items matching the attribute value are generated. In response to user selection of a particular item from among the search results using the client system, an order request for the selected item is then generated.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented system for parametric searching of one or more item catalogs, comprising a server associated with one or more software components collectively operable to:
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receive a keyword specifying one or more attribute values common to all items in a corresponding class, one or more attributes common to all items in the corresponding class being left unconstrained by the keyword;
determine which one or more attributes common to all items in the corresponding class are left unconstrained by the keyword;
receive attribute values for one or more attributes that are left unconstrained by the keyword;
parametrically search an item catalog based on the attribute values specified by the keyword and the attribute values received for the attributes that are left unconstrained by the keyword;
generate search results according to the parametric search, each of the search results comprising an item with attribute values matching all those specified by the keyword and all those received for the attributes that are left unconstrained by the keyword; and
receive a selection of an item from among the search results. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer-implemented system for parametric searching of one or more item catalogs, comprising:
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means for receiving a keyword specifying the one or more attribute values common to all items in the corresponding class, one or more attributes common to all items in the class being left unconstrained by the keyword;
means for determining which one or more attributes common to all items in the class that are left unconstrained by the keyword;
means for receiving attribute values for one or more attributes that are left unconstrained by the keyword;
means for parametrically searching at least a portion of an item catalog according to the attribute values specified by the keyword and the attribute values received for the attributes left unconstrained by the keyword;
means for generating search results according to the parametric search, each search result comprising an item with attribute values matching all those specified by the keyword and all those received for the attributes left unconstrained by the keyword; and
means for receiving a selection of an item from among the search results.
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17. A method of searching a database, comprising:
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performing a textual search on the database;
obtaining results from the textual search as a list of items;
selecting an item from the list of items generated according to the textual search;
viewing all related attributes for the selected item. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A relational database, comprising:
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a keyword table comprising a primary key keyword_id comprising member data fields keyword, parent_keyword_id, keyword_path, and last_in_chain;
a keyword_char table comprising a primary key keyword_char_id comprising member data fields keyword_id, char_id, and char_valid_values;
a parts table comprising a primary key part_id comprising member data fields part_number and keyword_id;
a part_char table comprising primary key part_char_id comprising member data fields part_id, char_id, char_value, characteristic, and keyword_id; and
a characteristic table comprising a primary key char_id comprising member data fields characteristic and numeric. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer-implemented method for procuring one or more items, comprising:
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in response to user-provided data and after user selection of a search module using a client system, providing an item category;
based on user selection of the item category using the client system, providing one or more attributes associated with all items in the item category;
based on user input identifying an attribute value for at least one attribute, generating search results comprising one or more items matching the attribute value; and
in response to user selection of a particular item from among the search results using the client system, generating an order request for the selected item.
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Specification