Product feature and relation comparison system

• US 20060112099A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CBS Interactive Inc. (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Smartshop.Com
• Inventors: Musgrove, Timothy A., Walsh, Robin
• Granted Patent: US 7,698,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A method of presenting data regarding products. Feature categories are assigned to each product category based on available data. A weighted importance is assigned to each feature category of each product category based on the available data. The items in the product category are ranked according to the weighted importance of the feature categories of each item, and the evaluation metrics of each feature category.

Claims

1. A system for generating a customized listing of items comprising:

a database having a plurality of items stored therein;

a controller adapted to receive from a user, a request to retrieve a plurality of items from said database and a plurality of weighting selections corresponding to a plurality of features, said weighting selections being indicative of the importance of said corresponding features to the user; and

a processor adapted to retrieve a plurality of items from said database and generate a listing of at least a portion of said plurality of items retrieved based on said request and said plurality of weighting selections so that said generated listing of items is customized for the user based on the importance of said plurality of features to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said items are data records.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said data records are references to web pages.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said data records include at least one of a product identification, a product category, and a product feature category.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor generates an initial ranking of said plurality of items by assigning initial weightings to said plurality of features.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said processor re-sorts said initial ranking of items based on said plurality of weighting selections received from the user to generate said listing of items.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said request and said plurality of weighting selections are made by said user through a user interface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said request is a selection of a category.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is graphically rendered to graphically indicate said plurality of weighting selections corresponding to said plurality of features.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of features are graphically rendered.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of weighting selections of the user for said plurality of features are graphically rendered.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further adapted to allow the user to assign numeric values to weigh said plurality of features.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further adapted to allow the user to select numerals from a numeric scale to weigh said plurality of features.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is adapted to allow the user to assign a letter value to weigh said plurality of features.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further graphically renders said generated listing of items.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is further adapted to reduce at least one of said plurality of weighting selections from the user to include additional items in said generated listing of items.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is connected to a wide area network and remotely accessible by the user.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor generates the listing based also on each item'"'"'s evaluative metrics so that said generated listing of items is customized for the user based on the importance of said plurality of features to the user and evaluative metrics associated with each item.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said database includes evaluative metrics associated with said plurality of items stored therein.

20. The system of claim 18, further including a means for assigning evaluative metrics to at least one of said plurality of features.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said means for assigning evaluative metrics assigns the evaluative metrics based on a feature category property type and available data.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said means for assigning evaluative metrics assigns:

a numerical property type to a feature category if the features in the feature category are measured in a quantitative way;

an enumerated property type to a feature category if the features in the feature category have a fixed number of specified values; and

a property type of text property if the features in the feature category are represented by free form text.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said means for assigning evaluative metrics assigns the enumerated property type by:

assigning a sub-property type of discrete if one feature in a feature category is not inherently more valuable than another;

assigning a sub-property type of scalar if one feature in a feature category is inherently more valuable than another;

assigning a sub-property type of Boolean if the features in a feature category may have a valuation of only yes or no; and

assigning a sub-property type of qualified Boolean if the feature in a feature category may have a valuation of yes, no, or optional.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein said means for assigning evaluative metrics assigns:

an evaluative tag of forward metric to a feature category if a value of an item in a product category increases as a numerical valuation of features within the feature category increases;

an evaluative tag of backward metric to a feature category if the value of an item in a product category decreases as numerical valuation of features within the feature category increases; and

an evaluative tag of non applicable to a feature category if the value of an item in a product category does not change with numerical valuation of features within a feature category;

wherein the evaluative tag is used to rank items in a product category by said processor.

25. A system for generating a customized listing of data records comprising:

a database having a plurality of data records stored therein;

a controller adapted to receive a request to retrieve a plurality of data records from said database, and weighting selections corresponding to a plurality of features, said weighting selections being indicative of the importance of said corresponding features; and

a processor that retrieves a plurality of data records from said database based on said request, and generates a listing of at least a portion of said plurality of data records retrieved based on said plurality of weighting selections so that said generated listing of data records is customized based on the importance of said plurality of features.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said controller is graphically rendered to graphically indicate said plurality of features and said plurality of weighting selections corresponding to said plurality of features.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said system further graphically renders said generated listing of data records.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said controller is adapted to allow assignment of numeric values to weigh said plurality of features.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said controller is adapted to allow selection of numerals from a numeric scale to weigh said plurality of features.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein said processor generates the listing based also on evaluative metrics associated with the data records so that said generated listing of data records is customized for the user based on the importance of said plurality of features to the user and evaluative metrics associated with the data records.

31. The system of claim 30, further including a means for assigning evaluative metrics to at least one of said plurality of features.

32. A method for generating a customized listing of items comprising:

providing a database having a plurality of items stored therein;

receiving from a user, a request to retrieve a plurality of items from said database;

receiving from the user, a plurality of weighting selections corresponding to a plurality of features, said weighting selections being indicative of the importance of said corresponding features to the user;

retrieving a plurality of items from said database; and

generating a listing of at least a portion of said plurality of items retrieved based on the received request and said plurality of weighting selections so that said generated listing of items is customized for the user based on the importance of said plurality of features to the user.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said items are data records.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said data records are references to web pages.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said data records include at least one of a product identification, a product category, a product feature category, and evaluative metric.

36. The method of claim 32, further including generating an initial ranking of said plurality of items by assigning initial weightings to said plurality of features.

37. The method of claim 36, further including re-sorting said initial ranking of items based on said plurality of weighting selections received from the user to generate said listing of items.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein said request and said plurality of weighting selections are made by said user through a user interface.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said request is a selection of a category.

40. The method of claim 32, further including graphically rendering said plurality of features.

41. The method of claim 32, further including graphically rendering said plurality of weighting sections corresponding to said plurality of features.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said plurality of features are graphically rendered in a pop-up window.

43. The method of claim 32, further including assigning numeric values to weigh said plurality of features.

44. The method of claim 32, further including selecting numerals from a numeric scale to weigh said plurality of features.

45. The method of claim 32, further including assigning letter values to weigh said plurality of features.

46. The method of claim 32, further including graphically rendering said generated listing of items.

47. The method of claim 32, further including reducing at least one of said plurality of weightings from the user to include additional items in said generated listing of items.

48. The method of claim 32, wherein generating said listing is based also on each item'"'"'s evaluative metrics so that said generated listing of items is customized for the user based on the importance of said plurality of features to the user and evaluative metrics associated with each item.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said database includes evaluative metrics associated with said plurality of items stored therein.

50. The method of claim 48, further including assigning evaluative metrics to at least one of said plurality of features.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein assigning evaluative metrics includes:

assigning a property type to each feature;

wherein said step of assigning the evaluative metrics to each feature is based on the property type and available data.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein assigning the property type includes:

assigning a numerical property type to a feature category if the features in the feature category are measured in a quantitative way;

assigning an enumerated property type to a feature category if the features in the feature category have a fixed number of specified values; and

assigning a property type of text property if the features in the feature category are represented by free form text.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein assigning the enumerated property type comprises:

assigning a sub-property type of discrete if one feature in a feature category is not inherently more valuable than another;

assigning a sub-property type of scalar if one feature in a feature category is inherently more valuable than another;

assigning a sub-property type of Boolean if the features in a feature category may have a valuation of only yes or no; and

assigning a sub-property type of qualified Boolean if the feature in a feature category may have a valuation of yes, no, or optional.

54. The method of claim 52 further comprising:

assigning a evaluative tag of forward metric to a feature category if a value of an item in a product category increases as a numerical valuation of features within the feature category increases;

assigning a evaluative tag of backward metric to a feature category if the value of an item in a product category decreases as numerical valuation of features within the feature category increases; and

assigning a evaluative tag of non applicable to a feature category if the value of an item in a product category does not change with numerical valuation of features within a feature category;

wherein the evaluative tag is used to rank items in a product category.

55. A method for generating a customized listing of data records comprising:

providing a database having a plurality of data records stored therein;

receiving a request to retrieve a plurality of data records from said database;

retrieving a plurality of records from said database based on said request;

receiving a plurality of weighting selections corresponding to a plurality of features, said weighting selections being indicative of the importance of said corresponding features; and

generating a listing of at least a portion of said plurality of data records retrieved based on said received plurality of weighting selections so that said generated listing of data records is customized based on the importance of said plurality of features.

56. The method of claim 55, further including graphically rendering said plurality of features and said plurality of weighting selections corresponding to said plurality of features.

57. The method of claim 56, further including graphically rendering said generated listing of data records.

58. The method of claim 57, further including assigning numeric values to weigh said plurality of features.

59. The method of claim 57, further including selecting a numeral from a numeric scale to weigh said plurality of features.

60. The method of claim 55, wherein said listing is generated based also on evaluative metrics associated with the data records so that said generated listing of data records is customized for the user based on the importance of said plurality of features and the evaluative metrics associated with the data records.

61. The method of claim 55, further including assigning evaluative metrics to at least one of said plurality of features.

62. A computer readable medium for generating a customized listing of items by retrieving a plurality of items from a database, said medium comprising:

instructions for receiving from a user, a request to retrieve a plurality of items from said database;

instructions for receiving from the user, a plurality of weighting selections corresponding to a plurality of features, said weighting selections being indicative of the importance of said corresponding features to the user;

instructions for retrieving a plurality of items from said database; and

instructions for generating a listing of at least a portion of said plurality of items retrieved based on said received request and said plurality of weighting selections so that said generated listing of items is customized for the user based on the importance of said plurality of features to the user.

63. The medium of claim 62, wherein said items are data records.

64. The medium of claim 62, wherein said data records are web pages associated with products.

65. The medium of claim 64, wherein said data records include at least one of a product identification, a product category, and a product feature category.

66. The medium of claim 64, further including instructions for generating an initial ranking of said plurality of items by assigning initial weightings to said plurality of features.

67. The medium of claim 66, further including instructions for re-sorting said initial ranking of items based on said plurality of weighting selections to generate said listing of items.

68. The medium of claim 62, further including instructions for providing a user interface, said request and said plurality of weighting selections being made by the user through said user interface.

69. The medium of claim 68, wherein said request is a selection of a category.

70. The medium of claim 62, further including instructions for graphically rendering said plurality of weighting sections corresponding to said plurality of features.

71. The medium of claim 62, further including instructions for graphically rendering said plurality of features.

72. The medium of claim 71, further including instructions for graphically rendering said plurality of features in a pop-up window.

73. The medium of claim 62, further including instructions for receiving numeric values from the user to weigh said plurality of features.

74. The medium of claim 62, further including instructions for graphically rendering at least one numeric scale, and instructions for receiving numeric selections from said at least one numeric scale to weigh said plurality of features.

75. The medium of claim 62, further including instructions for receiving a letter value from the user to weigh said plurality of features.

76. The medium of claim 62, further including instructions for graphically rendering said generated listing of items.

77. The medium of claim 62, further including instructions for reducing at least one of said plurality of weightings from the user to include additional items in said generated listing of items.

78. The medium of claim 62, wherein instructions for generating said listing generates said listing based also on each item'"'"'s evaluative metrics so that said generated listing of items is customized for the user based on the importance of said plurality of features to the user and evaluative metrics associated with each item.

79. The medium of claim 78, wherein said database includes evaluative metrics associated with said plurality of items stored therein.

80. The medium of claim 78, further including instructions for assigning evaluative metrics to at least one of said plurality of features.

81. The medium of claim 80, wherein instructions for assigning evaluative metrics includes:

instructions for assigning a property type to each feature category;

wherein said instructions for assigning the evaluative metrics to each feature in each feature category assigns metrics based on the feature category property type and available data.

82. The medium of claim 81, wherein instructions for assigning the property type comprises:

instructions for assigning a numerical property type to a feature category if the features in the feature category are measured in a quantitative way;

instructions for assigning an enumerated property type to a feature category if the features in the feature category have a fixed number of specified values; and

instructions for assigning a property type of text property if the features in the feature category are represented by free form text.

83. The medium of claim 82, wherein instructions for assigning the enumerated property type comprises:

instructions for assigning a sub-property type of discrete if one feature in a feature category is not inherently more valuable than another;

instructions for assigning a sub-property type of scalar if one feature in a feature category is inherently more valuable than another;

instructions for assigning a sub-property type of Boolean if the features in a feature category may have a valuation of only yes or no; and

instructions for assigning a sub-property type of qualified Boolean if the feature in a feature category may have a valuation of yes, no, or optional.

84. The medium of claim 82, wherein instructions for further comprising:

instructions for assigning a evaluative tag of forward metric to a feature category if a value of an item in a product category increases as a numerical valuation of features within the feature category increases;

instructions for assigning a evaluative tag of backward metric to a feature category if the value of an item in a product category decreases as numerical valuation of features within the feature category increases; and

instructions for assigning a evaluative tag of non applicable to a feature category if the value of an item in a product category does not change with numerical valuation of features within a feature category;

wherein the evaluative tag is used to rank items in a product category.

85. A computer readable medium for generating a customized listing of data records by retrieving a plurality of data records from a database, said medium comprising:

instructions for receiving a request to retrieve a plurality of data records from said database;

instructions for retrieving a plurality of data records from said database based on said request;

instructions for receiving a plurality of weighting selections corresponding to a plurality of features, said weighting selections being indicative of the importance of said corresponding features; and

instructions for generating a listing of at least a portion of said plurality of data records retrieved based on said received plurality of weighting selections so that said generated listing of data records is customized based on the importance of said plurality of features.

86. The medium of claim 85, further including instructions for graphically rendering said plurality of features and said plurality of weighting sections corresponding to said plurality of features.

87. The medium of claim 86, further including instructions for graphically rendering said generated listing of data records.

88. The medium of claim 87, further including instructions for receiving numeric values to weigh said plurality of features.

89. The medium of claim 87, further including instructions for receiving a numeral selection from a numeric scale to weigh said plurality of features.

90. The medium of claim 85, wherein instructions for generating said listing generates said listing based also on evaluative metrics associated with the data records so that said generated listing of data records is customized for the user based on the importance of said plurality of features and the evaluative metrics associated with the data records.

91. The medium of claim 85, further including instructions for assigning evaluative metrics to at least one of said plurality of features.