SIMILARITY MATCHING OF A COMPETITOR'S PRODUCTS

• US 20080294583A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Information Resources Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Symphonyiri Group Incorporated (New Mountain Capital Group LLC)
• Inventors: Johnson, Arvid C., Bergeon, Cheryl G., Hudson, Gregory David Neil, Basilico, Andrea, Gibbs, Marshall Ashby, Chapa, Craig Joseph, Yusko, Jay Alan, Griglione, Bradley Michael, Mason, Trevor, Hunt, Herbert Dennis, Agostinelli, Alberto, West, John Randall
• Granted Patent: US 8,160,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0855 involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for identifying a classification scheme associated with product attributes of a grouping of products of an entity, receiving a record of data relating to an item of a competitor to the entity, the classification of which is uncertain, receiving a dictionary of attributes associated with products, and assigning a product code to the item, based on probabilistic matching among the attributes in the classification scheme, the attributes in the dictionary of attributes and at least one known attribute of the item.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a classification scheme associated with product attributes of a grouping of products of an entity;

receiving a record of data relating to an item of a competitor to the entity, the classification of which is uncertain;

receiving a dictionary of attributes associated with products; and

assigning a product code to the item, based on probabilistic matching among the attributes in the classification scheme, the attributes in the dictionary of attributes and at least one known attribute of the item.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising iterating the probabilistic matching until a statistical criterion is met.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the product attribute is a nutritional level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the product attribute is a brand.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the product attribute is product category.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the product attribute is based at least in part on a SKU.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the product attribute is physical attribute.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical attribute is a flavor.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical attribute is a scent.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical attribute is packaging type.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical attribute is a product launch date.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical attribute is display location.