DETERMINATION OF A PROFILE OF AN ENTITY BASED ON PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS

• US 20100153187A1
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Ghani, Rayid, Fano, Andrew E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,117,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations

Abstract

Relative to a given product or products, one or more attributes and, for each attribute, a plurality of possible attribute values, are defined. For a given product and attribute, one or more descriptions of the product are obtained and analyzed to determine the correspondence of the description(s), and hence the product itself, to each of the plurality of possible attribute values. In one embodiment, this analysis is based on previously-labeled training data. A knowledge base can be populated with information identifying the products and their correspondence to the plurality of possible attribute values for each attribute. This technique may be used to develop a profile of an entity, which in turn may be used to develop appropriate marketing messages or recommendations for other products.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a profile of an entity based on a plurality of products associated with the entity, the method comprising:

for each product of the plurality of products associated with the entity, determining, by a first analyzer implemented by at least one computer, correspondence of at least one attribute value to the product based on at least one description of the product to provide a plurality of attribute value probability sets;

determining, by a second analyzer implemented by the at least one computer and operatively connected to the first analyzer, comparable attribute value probabilities from each of the plurality of attribute value probability sets to determine attribute value probabilities that are representative of the comparable attribute value probabilities from each of the plurality of attribute value probability sets; and

providing, by the second analyzer as the profile of the entity, the attribute value probabilities that are representative of the comparable attribute value probabilities from each of the plurality of attribute value probability sets.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the plurality of products based on product selections by the entity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein identifying the plurality of products based on product selections further comprises:

receiving, by the computer from the entity via a communication network, information identifying products indicated in at least one purchase request by the entity.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein identifying the plurality of products based on product selections further comprises:

receiving, by the computer from the entity via a communication network, information identifying products indicated in at least one request for information by the entity.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, by a message generator implemented by the at least one computer, an appropriate type of message to provide to the entity based on the profile of the entity; and

providing, by the message generator, a message of the appropriate type to the entity.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the plurality of products based on product offerings of the entity.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining at least one product offered by another entity;

for each product of the at least one product offered by the other entity, determining, by the first analyzer, correspondence of at least one attribute value to the product based on at least one description of the product to provide a plurality of other attribute value probability sets;

determining, by the second analyzer, comparable attribute value probabilities from each of the plurality of other attribute value probability sets to determine attribute value probabilities that are representative of the comparable attribute value probabilities from each of the plurality of other attribute value probability sets;

providing, by the second analyzer as a profile of the other entity, the attribute value probabilities that are representative of the comparable attribute value probabilities from each of the plurality of other attribute value probability sets; and

comparing, by a comparator operatively coupled to the second analyzer, the profile of the entity and the profile of the other entity.

7. The method of 6, wherein the at least one description for each product comprises marketing information, corresponding to the product offerings, provided by the entity.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the marketing information is available via a web page.

10. An apparatus for establishing a profile of an entity based on a plurality of products associated with the entity, comprising:

at least one processor;

a storage medium, coupled to the at least one processor, having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

for each product of the plurality of products associated with the entity, determine correspondence of at least one attribute value to the product based on at least one description of the product to provide a plurality of attribute value probability sets;

determine comparable attribute value probabilities from each of the plurality of attribute value probability sets to determine attribute value probabilities that are representative of the comparable attribute value probabilities from each of the plurality of attribute value probability sets; and

provide the attribute value probabilities that are representative of the comparable attribute value probabilities from each of the plurality of attribute value probability sets.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the storage medium further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

identify the plurality of products based on product selections by the entity.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein those instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to identify the plurality of products based on product selections further are further operative to cause the at least one processor to:

receive, from the entity via a communication network, information identifying products indicated in at least one purchase request by the entity.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein those instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to identify the plurality of products based on product selections further are further operative to cause the at least one processor to:

receive, from the entity via a communication network, information identifying products indicated in at least one request for information by the entity.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the storage medium further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

determine an appropriate type of message to provide to the entity based on the profile of the entity; and

provide a message of the appropriate type to the entity.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the storage medium further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

identify the plurality of products based on product offerings of the entity.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one description for each product comprises marketing information, corresponding to the product offerings, provided by the entity.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the marketing information is available via a web page.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the storage medium further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

determine at least one product offered by another entity;

for each product of the at least one product offered by the other entity, determine correspondence of at least one attribute value to the product based on at least one description of the product to provide a plurality of other attribute value probability sets;

determine comparable attribute value probabilities from each of the plurality of other attribute value probability sets to determine attribute value probabilities that are representative of the comparable attribute value probabilities from each of the plurality of other attribute value probability sets;

provide the attribute value probabilities that are representative of the comparable attribute value probabilities from each of the plurality of other attribute value probability sets; and

compare the profile of the entity and the profile of the other entity.