Source- and venue-specific inventory data processing and identification system

• US 20070282713A1
• Filed: 09/21/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CDK Global Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ADP Dealer Services Incorporated (CDK Global Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ullman, Matthew Royce, Worsham, Brian T., Leonard, Douglas George Orman
• Granted Patent: US 8,275,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A system processes product data including values for a product data record corresponding to a product style. A network interface receives a product data record over a network from a source. A memory has stored thereon computer readable instruction code, including, a rule set having rules associated with the product data record, and a processing manager to apply the rules to the product data record and determine availability of values to a venue. The processing manager includes a style identification manager to determine from among the available values a product style associated with the available values, and to make the product style available to the venue based on the rules.

Claims

1. A system to identify a product style for a product data record associated with a product, comprising:

a network interface to receive a product data record, including values associated with the product, over a network from a source; and

a memory having stored thereon computer readable instruction code, including,

a rule set including rules associated with the product data record,

style data associated with product styles, and

a processing manager, including a style identification manager, the processing manager to activate the style identification manager according to a rule, the style identification manager to determine the product style from the values and the style data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a value is a granular standard product class and the style identification manager is to determine a candidate for the product style by matching the granular standard product class value with a product style represented in the style data.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the granular standard product class value is a model code value.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a value is a taxonomic classification and the style identification manager is to determine a candidate for the product style by matching the taxonomic classification with a product style represented in the style data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein upon determining a plurality of candidates for the product style, the style identification manager eliminates candidates that are not associated with a value in the product data record.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further includes a master data record including all values in the system associated with a product, and the processing manager activates the style identification manager based on a rule for a change in the master data record.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing manager activates the style identification manager based on a rule for a change in the style data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing manager activates the style identification manager based on a rule for a change to the values available to a venue.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing manager activates the style identification manager when a predetermined set of specified fields available for use by the venue has been changed.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises a transformation manager to modify values in the product data record, wherein the transformation manager facilitates determination of a product style by associating common aliases for standard style label elements with the values.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein a rule requires that a value must be available to a venue as a condition to the processing manager activating the style identification manager.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the values and the determined product style are available to a venue.

13. A method for identifying a product style based on a product data record associated with a product, comprising:

receiving a product data record over a network from a source, the product data record including values corresponding to a product;

providing rules associated with the product data record;

providing style data associated with product styles; and

upon satisfying a condition set by a rule, determining the product style from the values and the style data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the product style includes determining a candidate for the product style by matching a value that is a granular standard product class with a product style represented in the style data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the granular standard product class value is a model code value.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the product style includes determining a candidate for the product style by matching a value that is a taxonomic classification with a product style represented in the style data.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining a plurality of candidates for the product style; and

eliminating candidates that are not associated with a value in the product data record.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a rule that requires a change in a master data record, that includes all values in the system associated with a product, as a condition for determining the product style.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a rule that requires a change in the style data as a condition for determining the product style.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a rule that requires a change in the values available to a venue as a condition for determining the product style.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the rule requires a change in a predetermined set of specified fields available for use by the venue.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising associating aliases for standard style label elements with the values to facilitate determination of a product style.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a rule that requires that a value must be available to a venue as a condition to the processing manager activating the style identification manager.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing availability of the values and the determined product style to a venue.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein determining a product style includes:

determining whether a rule requires matching of a granular standard product class value to a product style; and

populating a first style candidate list with candidate product styles based on matching the granular standard product class value to product styles.

26. The method of claim 25, in which the first style candidate list includes a plurality of candidate product styles, the method further comprising:

comparing a product attribute value with each candidate product style of the first style candidate list to determine if each candidate product style matches; and

eliminating any non-matching candidate product styles from the first style candidate list.

27. The method of claim 13, wherein determining a product style includes:

determining whether a rule requires matching of a taxonomic classification to a product style; and

populating a first style candidate list with candidate product styles based on matching the taxonomic classification to product styles.

28. The method of claim 27, in which the first style candidate list includes a plurality of candidate product styles, the method further comprising:

comparing a product attribute value with each candidate product style of the first style candidate list to determine if each candidate product style matches; and

eliminating any non-matching candidate product styles from the first style candidate list.

29. The method of claim 13, wherein the product styles correspond to vehicle types.

30. A computer readable medium including computer readable instruction code for performing a method for identifying a product style based on a product data record associated with a product, the method comprising:

receiving a product data record over a network from a source, the product data record including values corresponding to a product;

providing rules associated with the product data record;

providing style data associated with product styles; and

upon satisfying a condition set by a rule, determining the product style from the values and the style data.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein determining the product style includes determining a candidate for the product style by matching a value that is a granular standard product class with a product style represented in the style data.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the granular standard product class value is a model code value.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein determining the product style includes determining a candidate for the product style by matching a value that is a taxonomic classification with a product style represented in the style data.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 30, the method further comprising:

determining a plurality of candidates for the product style; and

eliminating candidates that are not associated with a value in the product data record.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 30, the method further comprising providing a rule that requires a change in a master data record, that includes all values in the system associated with a product, as a condition for determining the product style.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 30, the method further comprising providing a rule that requires a change in the style data as a condition for determining the product style.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 30, the method further comprising providing a rule that requires a change in the values available to a venue as a condition for determining the product style.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein the rule requires a change in a predetermined set of specified fields available for use by the venue.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 30, the method further comprising associating common aliases for standard style labels with the values to facilitate determination of a product style.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 30, the method further comprising providing a rule that requires that a value must be available to a venue as a condition to the processing manager activating the style identification manager.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 30, further comprising providing availability of the values and the determined product style to a venue.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein determining a product style includes:

determining whether a rule requires matching of a granular standard product class value to a product style; and

populating a first style candidate list with candidate product styles based on matching the granular standard product class value to product styles.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 42, in which the first style candidate list includes a plurality of candidate product styles, the method further comprising:

comparing a product attribute value with each candidate product style of the first style candidate list to determine if each candidate product style matches; and

eliminating any non-matching candidate product styles from the first style candidate list.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein determining a product style includes:

determining whether a rule requires matching of a taxonomic classification to a product style; and

populating a first style candidate list with candidate product styles based on matching the taxonomic classification to product styles.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 44, in which the first style candidate list includes a plurality of candidate product styles, the method further comprising:

comparing a product attribute value with each candidate product style of the first style candidate list to determine if each candidate product style matches; and

eliminating any non-matching candidate product styles from the first style candidate list.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the product styles correspond to vehicle types.