MERCHANT SCORING SYSTEM AND TRANSACTIONAL DATABASE

• US 20080270209A1
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Woodrow Arnold, Springer, Joel Richard, Malik, Rajeev Kumar, Mauseth, Michael Jon
• Granted Patent: US 8,725,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls

Abstract

A merchant scoring system predicts and reports the likelihood that a merchant is reliable (e.g., trustworthy, honest, and reputable), which is expected to translate into a positive consumer experience. The system collects data from a variety of data sources, including combinations of the merchant, third-parties, and/or customers who have transacted with the merchant. A scoring model is executed on this collected data to determine an independent and objective merchant reliability metric that predicts the expected reliability of a merchant within a range. The system may also track transactions of individual merchants, populating a transaction history database with information about each merchant for use in this collection and scoring process. The transaction history data and other data may also be accessible to a prospective customer to build his or her confidence in and understanding of the merchant reliability metric and his or her trust of the merchant.

Claims

1. A method of predicting reliability of a merchant, the method comprising:

defining an inspection template listing merchant reliability characteristics including at least one merchant-provided reliability characteristic and at least one non-merchant-provided reliability characteristic;

collecting data parameter values about the merchant based on the merchant reliability characteristics listed in the inspection template, including the at least one merchant-provided reliability characteristic and at least one non-merchant-provided reliability characteristic;

computing a merchant reliability metric predicting reliability of the merchant by applying each of the collected data parameter values about the merchant as a contribution to the merchant reliability metric of the merchant;

presenting the merchant reliability metric to a potential customer of the merchant.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a data parameter value for the non-merchant-provided reliability characteristic is provided by a prior customer of the merchant.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a data parameter value for the non-merchant-provided reliability characteristic is provided by a prior customer of the merchant about a prior transaction with the merchant.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a data parameter value for the non-merchant-provided characteristic is provided by a third party that is not party to a transaction with the merchant.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a data parameter value for the non-merchant-provided characteristic is provided by public records.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a data parameter value for the non-merchant-provided characteristic is provided by a commercial database.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a data parameter value for the non-merchant-provided characteristic is provided by a credit reporting organization.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein a data parameter value for the non-merchant-provided characteristic is provided by an online activity monitoring service.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein a data parameter value for the non-merchant-provided characteristic is provided by an online search engine organization.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein a data parameter value for the non-merchant-provided characteristic is provided by a domain data service.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein a data parameter value for the non-merchant-provided characteristic is based on a seal authorized by a certificate authority and the seal indicated on at least one web page of the merchant.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein a data parameter value for the non-merchant-provided characteristic is provided by a verification inspector that verifies a data parameter value of at least one merchant-provided characteristic using a data parameter value of at least one non-merchant-provided characteristic.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

applying a weighting to a collected data parameter value based on a level of importance placed on a merchant reliability characteristic identified by the potential customer the collected parameter value corresponding to the merchant reliability characteristic identified by the potential customer;

adjusting the merchant reliability metric according to the applied weighting, prior to presenting the merchant reliability metric to the potential customer.

14. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process that predicts reliability of a merchant, the computer process comprising:

defining an inspection template listing merchant reliability characteristics including at least one merchant-provided reliability characteristic and at least one non-merchant-provided reliability characteristic;

collecting data parameter values about the merchant based on the merchant reliability characteristics listed in the inspection template, including the at least one merchant-provided reliability characteristic and at least one non-merchant-provided reliability characteristic;

computing a merchant reliability metric predicting reliability of the merchant by applying each of the collected data parameter values about the merchant as a contribution to the merchant reliability metric of the merchant;

presenting the merchant reliability metric to a potential customer of the merchant.

15. A method of predicting reliability of a merchant, the method comprising:

defining an inspection template listing a first merchant reliability characteristic and a second merchant reliability characteristic;

collecting data parameter values about the merchant based on the characteristics listed in the inspection template, including a binary parameter value representing the first merchant reliability characteristic of the merchant and a variable parameter value representing the second merchant reliability characteristic of the merchant;

mapping each of the determined parameter values to a corresponding a point value;

combining the point values into at a first sub-score value pertaining to a merchant-provided reliability characteristic and a second sub-score value pertaining to a non-merchant-provided reliability characteristic;

computing a merchant reliability metric predicting reliability of the merchant by applying each of the sub-score values as a contribution to the merchant reliability metric;

presenting the merchant reliability metric to a potential customer of the merchant.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the computing operation comprises:

computing a merchant reliability metric predicting reliability of the merchant by applying each of the sub-score values as a weighted contribution to the merchant reliability metric.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

applying a weighting to a collected data parameter value based on a level of importance placed on a merchant reliability characteristic identified by the potential customer, the collected parameter value corresponding to the merchant reliability characteristic identified by the potential customer;

adjusting the merchant reliability metric according to the applied weighting, prior to presenting the merchant reliability metric to the potential customer.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein a data parameter value mapped to a sub-score for the non-merchant-provided reliability characteristic is provided by a prior customer of the merchant about a prior transaction with the merchant.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein a data parameter value mapped to a sub-score for the non-merchant-provided characteristic is provided by a verification inspector that verifies a data parameter value of at least one merchant-provided characteristic using a data parameter value of at least one non-merchant-provided characteristic.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein a data parameter value mapped to a sub-score for the non-merchant-provided characteristic is provided by a third party that is not party to a transaction with the merchant.