CONTENT CURATION AND PRODUCT LINKING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140279257A1
• Filed: 07/20/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mediander LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Fine
• Inventors: FINE, Michael J., ERLBAUM, Jesse
• Granted Patent: US 10,650,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/34 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of operating a user-searchable database system of curated, themed digital content data, which method includes operating a Connects function to process and store heterogeneous digital content comprising topic data as curated topic data and identified connections between each topic and other topics, and operating a user interface to enable users to search the curated topics and present a search results page in a way that invites further investigation of topics searched, including a list or compilation of topics matching terms defining the search. The method also includes displaying topic elements corresponding to the list or compilation of matching topics in prioritized order based on each topic'"'"'s relatedness to the search.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of operating a user-searchable database system of curated, themed digital content data, comprising steps of:

processing and storing heterogeneous digital content data as a collection of curated topics, including data identifying connections defining a degree of relatedness between each topic and other topics;

operating an interface to enable users to search the curated topics and generate search results; and

rendering a search results page including a list of matching topics, embodied as topic screen elements, in a prioritized order of presentation based on a degree of relatedness of the topic content of each of the topic screen elements to the search query, wherein each of the topic screen elements are displayed with some part of the respective topic'"'"'s stored content and, interactive links, including a link to a list or compilation of the topic'"'"'s connected topics.

2. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 1, wherein the step of rendering the search results page includes presenting links to other data including multimedia data, if available.

3. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 1, wherein the step of rendering includes presenting product data, embodied as product data screen elements, in a prioritized order of presentation based on a degree of relatedness of the product data to the search.

4. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 3, wherein the interactive links from the topic screen elements include a link, and wherein activating the link renders a page presenting a list or compilation of product data preferably displayed in a prioritized order reflecting the degree of relatedness to the topic, and once expanded, to the topic and to the topic'"'"'s connected topics.

5. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 1, further comprising preparing and storing themed subjects, wherein each of the themed subjects embodies a description of the themed subject and the editorially curated relationships among a subset of connected topics.

6. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 5, wherein the step of rendering includes presenting a page displaying a themed subject in a way that communicates the themed subject'"'"'s editorially curated relationships, using a graphical representation.

7. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 6, wherein the editorially curated relationships included in the graphical representation of a themed subject comprise links to texts describing the editorially curated relationships between connected topic pairs comprising the themed subjects.

8. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 5, wherein the interactive links include a link to a themed subject related to the topic screen element.

9. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 1, wherein the interactive links include a link to a list or compilation of product data related to the topic screen element.

10. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 9, wherein the list or compilation of product data is filtered by the topics connected to the topic defined by the topic screen element.

11. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 9, wherein the product data are presented as screen elements and wherein the product screen elements actively link to a process or function for purchasing the product associated with the product screen element.

12. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 6, wherein the rendered themed subjects are presented with links to relevant product data.

13. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 12, wherein the product data are presented as screen elements, and wherein the product screen elements actively link to a process or function for purchasing the product associated with the product screen element.

14. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 1, further comprising a step of presenting links to social networking sites or processes that enable users to upload curated topic data as well as themed subjects and graphical representations related thereto.

31. A database system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

an interface enabling communication by and with the database system;

wherein the memory includes a set of computer-readable instructions that upon execution by the process implements the method of operating the database system defined by claim 1.

15. A computer-implemented method of operating a user-searchable database system of curated, themed digital content data, comprising steps of:

operating a Connects function to process and store heterogeneous digital content comprising topic data as curated topic data and identified connections between each topic and other topics;

operating a user interface to enable users to search the curated topics and present a search results page in a way that invites further investigation of topics searched, including a list or compilation of topics matching terms defining the search; and

displaying topic elements corresponding to the list or compilation of matching topics in prioritized order based on each of the topic'"'"'s relatedness to the search.

16. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 15, wherein the connections between topics include a relatedness ranking or score between the topic and the other topics.

17. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 15, wherein the Connects function operates a Connects database with topical data records corresponding to each of the stored curated topics and the connections of each topic to the other topics related thereto.

18. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 16, wherein the Shops function generates one Shop for each curated topic, and wherein each Shop comprises a list or compilation of product data associated with a topic and its connected topics.

19. The computer-implemented method as defined by claim 18, further comprising a Shops function that generates product data screen elements for each product of a Shop, and wherein the user interface displays the product screen elements.

20. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 15, wherein the Shop can be a Shop based on a relatedness of products to the search, a Shop based on relatedness to a disambiguated Connects topic and a Shop based on relatedness to the topics within a themed subject.

21. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 15, where the Shops are displayed in window-like Shop screen elements, in a displayed page, that upon activation by a user cause a products purchase page to be presented that enables users to purchase the product associated with the Shop screen element so selected by the user.

22. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 15, further including preparing and storing a list of themed subjects embodying descriptions of the themed subjects and of the editorially curated relationships among the topics comprising the themed subjects.

23. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 22, wherein the themed subjects are prepared from a themed editorial perspective and the editorial perspective defines a theme of the database system configured with the themed subjects.

24. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 22, wherein the themed subjects are presented as graphical depictions of the relatedness between topics included in each of the themed subjects.

25. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 24, wherein the graphical representations of the themed subjects include connective elements linking topics of a themed subject, and wherein the linking of topics is two-by-two.

26. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 25, wherein the connective elements, upon activation, present a textual description of an editorially curated relationship or connection between the two topics.

27. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 15, wherein the user interface provides for displaying a home page to receive the user search queries and to present a daily feature element within which links to topics, themed subjects, Shops and product data are presented as individual screen elements within the daily feature element.

28. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 27, further including a change element within the daily feature element that enables the user to navigate sequentially through thematically related sets of the individual screen elements.

29. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 15, further including presenting links in rendered pages to social media websites and/or application program interfaces to enable users to share search results including themed subjects.

30. A computer program product comprising program code means stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, for carrying out all steps of the method as recited in claim 15 when the computer program product is run on a computer or processor-driven device.

32. A database system, comprising:

a Connects function configured to process imported topic content data to realize stored, indexed topic data records, including topic data content, topic connections data and rankings or scores defining a relatedness between the topical data content comprising the topical data records;

a user interface function configured to receive users'"'"' search queries to search the indexed topic data records, in cooperation with the topic Connects data and rankings or scores associated with the topical data records by the Connects function and, to present search results in a screen environment that invites and enables the user further investigation of the search results;

a ThemedSubjects function configured to select any of a set of pre-prepared themed subjects stored as themed subject records that embody descriptions of editorially curated relationships between a particular subset of topics; and

a Shops function configured to select product data stored as product records or product metadata, in association with a topic or themed subject.

33. The database system as set forth in claim 32, wherein the user interface presents the topics, themed subjects and product data as screen elements with active links in various pages generated at run time.

34. The database system as set forth in claim 33, wherein the screen elements include active links to social media websites through which particular topics, themed subjects and product data is uploaded for sharing and/or public viewing.

35. The database system as set forth in claim 33, wherein the themed subjects are pre-prepared to define a perspective on the subset of topics and wherein the perspective defines a theme for a system configured to operate with the themed subjects.