Method and system for online product data comparison
First Claim
1. A method for comparing and validating product data, the method comprising:
- a. generating first records that describe a plurality of first products;
b. storing the first records in a database system;
c. obtaining from a web page second records that describe a second product;
d. normalizing the second records into the same format as the first records; and
e. comparing the second records to the first records to determine whether or not the second product matches one of the first products.
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Abstract
A method and system is provided that in a fully automated manner generates and stores records regarding online product offerings from a variety of merchants, obtains records relating to a product displayed on a merchant web page, then normalizes and compares the two records to determine whether or not the products they represent are a match. An exemplary method according to the invention is a method for comparing and validating product data. First records that describe a plurality of first products are generated and stored in a database system. Second records that describe a second product are obtained from a web site, and normalized into the same format as the first records. The second records are then compared to the first records to determine whether or not they relate to the same product.
69 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for comparing and validating product data, the method comprising:
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a. generating first records that describe a plurality of first products;
b. storing the first records in a database system;
c. obtaining from a web page second records that describe a second product;
d. normalizing the second records into the same format as the first records; and
e. comparing the second records to the first records to determine whether or not the second product matches one of the first products. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
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a first computer having a first computer-readable medium containing a plurality of first records that describe a plurality of first products; and
a second computer coupled to the first computer having a second computer-readable medium containing one or more second records that describe a second product;
wherein the second records are normalized into the same format as the first records and compared to the first records to determine whether or not the second product matches one of the first products. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for updating product data, the method comprising:
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a. generating first records that describe a plurality of first products;
b. storing the first records in a database system;
c. obtaining from a web page second records that describe a second product;
d. normalizing the second records into the same format as the first records;
e. comparing the second records to the first records to determine whether or not the second product matches one of the first products; and
f. if the second product matches one of the first products, updating the first records to reflect the information contained in the second records.
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Specification