Data structure and method for publishing electronic and printed product catalogs

• US 5,740,425 A
• Filed: 09/26/1995
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zarbana Digital Fund LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: David S. Povilus
• Inventors: Povilus, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amsbury, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US08/534,055
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 395/226, 395/227, 395/228, 395/229, 395/600, 395/794, 395/751
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

The specification discloses a data structure and method for creating, maintaining, and publishing multiple renditions of both electronic and printed, single and multi-manufacturer catalogs using a single product database. Also disclosed is an electronic catalog created using the data structure and methodology of the present invention. The data structure includes means for creating a product database and means for creating a KnowledgeBase, which includes a concept structure for at least one product realm and a glossary. The concept structure includes at least one concept frame for defining classes of product groupings, where the concept frames include a plurality of concept nodes having relationships based upon characteristics of the products within the product realm. The product database preferably includes a listing of SKUs, each SKU corresponding to a product or a component of a product. The product database further including product information for each associated SKU, and an identification of each concept node in which each SKU can be located. The glossary is used for searching for a particular product or group of products having desired characteristics, and includes a plurality of phrases, at least one of which being a definer that links the phrase to one of the concept nodes.

Claims

1. A data structure for use in publishing an electronic catalog containing information on a plurality of products, comprising:

means for creating a concept structure for at least one product realm wherein said concept structure includes at least one concept frame for defining classes of product groupings, said concept frames including a plurality of concept nodes having relationships based upon characteristics of the products within the product realm;

means for creating a product database including a listing of SKUs, each SKU corresponding to a product or a component of a product, said product database further including product information for each associated SKU, and an identification of each concept node in which each SKU can be located; and

means for creating a glossary to be used for searching for a particular product or group of products having desired characteristics, said glossary including a plurality of phrases, at least one of said phrases being a definer that links said at least one phrase to one of said concept nodes.

2. The data structure as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said phrases is a synonym and having a predetermined relationship to at least one definer.

3. The data structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for creating a product database includes a relational database management system.

4. The data structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for creating a concept structure includes an object-oriented database management system.

5. The data structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said means for creating a product database includes a relational database management system.

6. The data structure as defined in claim 5 and further including linking means for automatically linking entries in said relational database management system with entries in said object-oriented database management system.

7. The data structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for creating a product database includes means for creating at least one table of SKUs, said table including for each SKU an identification of each concept node in which the associated SKU can be located.

8. The data structure as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for creating a table of SKUs includes means for generating and displaying a SKU table template having data entry fields for entering an SKU and for entering data in predefined columns of said SKU table.

9. The data structure as defined in claim 1 and further including means for creating a second concept structure for at least one product realm wherein said second concept structure represents an industry standard for classification of product groupings, said second concept structure having nodes that are cross-referenced to said concept frames of said first concept structure.

10. The data structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for creating a product database includes means for creating a media base as part of the product database, wherein said media base includes numeric media content associated with at least one product and links associating a portion of the numeric media content to a numeric characteristic of a product.

11. A data structure for use in publishing print and/or electronic catalog containing information on a plurality of products, comprising:

means for creating a concept structure for at least one product realm wherein said concept structure includes at least one concept frame for defining classes of product groupings, said concept frames including a plurality of concept nodes having relationships based upon characteristics of the products within the product realm;

means for creating a product database including an object representation of products, said object representation including for each product an identification of each concept node in which the associated product can be located, said means for creating a product database further includes means for creating a media base as part of said product database wherein said media base includes descriptive media content associated with at least one product and content tags linking a portion of the descriptive media content to characteristics of a product linked to characteristics identified for each product in said object representation of products; and

means for creating a glossary to be used for searching for a particular product or group of products having desired characteristics, said glossary including a plurality of phrases, at least one of said phrases being a definer that links said at least one phrase to one of said concept nodes.

12. The data structure as defined in claim 11, wherein at least one of said phrases is a synonym and having a predetermined relationship to at least one definer.

13. The data structure as defined in claim 11 and further including means for creating a second concept structure for at least one product realm wherein said second concept structure represents an industry standard for classification of product groupings, said second concept structure having nodes that are cross-referenced to said concept frames of said first concept structure.

14. The data structure as defined in claim 11, wherein said descriptive media content is expressed in Standardized Generalized Markup Language.

15. The data structure as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for creating a media base includes means for creating templates outlining the relation between content sections and concept frames.

16. The data structure as defined in claim 11 and further including means for creating product options representing differences between SKUs that exist in a common generic product class.

17. The data structure as defined in claim 16, wherein said means for creating product options includes means for relating said product options to said concept nodes.

18. The data structure as defined in claim 17, wherein when said product options are numeric values, said means for creating product options automatically summarizes the numeric values for specific SKUs within a common generic product class as maximum and minimum values for the products within the common generic product class.

19. The data structure as defined in claim 17 and further including means for automatically summarizing product options possessed by specific SKUs within a common generic product class as optional characteristics of products within the common generic product class.

20. The data structure as defined in claim 11, wherein a portion of said descriptive media content is numeric data that is linked to numeric characteristics of a product identified in said object representation of products.

21. The data structure as defined in claim 20, wherein said numeric data represents a product dimension illustrated in a CAD-type drawing.

22. The data structure as defined in claim 11, wherein said media base includes numeric media content associated with at least one product and links associating a portion of the numeric media content to a numeric characteristic of a product.

23. A data structure for use in publishing multiple renditions of electronic catalogs and for publishing multiple renditions of printed catalogs, the electronic and printed catalogs containing information on a plurality of products, the data structure comprising:

means for creating a concept structure for at least one product realm wherein said concept structure includes at least one concept frame for defining classes of product groupings, said concept frames including a plurality of concept nodes having relationships based upon characteristics of the products within the product realm;

means for creating a product database including an object representation of products, said object representation including for each product an identification of each concept node in which the associated product can be located, said means for creating a product database further includes means for creating a media base as part of said product database wherein said media base includes descriptive media content associated with at least one product and content tags linking a portion of the descriptive media content to characteristics of a product linked to characteristics identified for each product in said object representation of products; and

means for selecting portions of the descriptive media content in said media base for specific products in order to compile information from said product database and said media base to generate a desired rendition of a printed catalog.

24. The data structure as defined in claim 23, wherein said descriptive media content is expressed in Standardized Generalized Markup language.

25. The data structure as defined in claim 24, wherein said means for creating a media base includes means for creating templates outlining the relation between content sections and concept frames.

26. The data structure as defined in claim 24, wherein said descriptive media content is further expressed in Document Style Semantics and Specification Language.

27. The data structure as defined in claim 23 and further including means for creating a second concept structure for at least one product realm wherein said second concept structure represents an industry standard for classification of product groupings, said second concept structure having nodes that are cross-referenced to said concept frames of said first concept structure.

28. The data structure as defined in claim 23 and further including means for creating product options representing differences between products that exist in a common generic product class.

29. The data structure as defined in claim 28, wherein said means for creating product options includes means for relating said product options to said concept nodes.

30. The data structure as defined in claim 29, wherein when said product options are numeric values, said means for creating product options automatically summarizes the numeric values for specific products within a common generic product class as maximum and minimum values for the products within the common generic product class.

31. The data structure as defined in claim 29, means for automatically summarizing product options possessed by specific products within a common generic product class as optional characteristics of products within the common generic product class.

32. The data structure as defined in claim 23, wherein said media base includes numeric media content associated with at least one product and links associating a portion of the numeric media content to a numeric characteristic of a product.

33. An electronic catalog containing information on a plurality of products, comprising:

a concept structure for at least one product realm wherein said concept structure includes at least one concept frame for defining classes of product groupings, said concept frames including a plurality of concept nodes having relationships based upon characteristics of the products within the product realm;

a product database including an object representation of products, said object representation including for each product an identification of each concept node in which the associated product can be located, said product database further includes a media base as part of said product database wherein said media base includes descriptive media content associated with at least one product and content tags linking a portion of the descriptive media content to characteristics of a product linked to characteristics identified for each product in said object representation of products;

a glossary to be used for searching for a particular product or group of products having desired characteristics, said glossary including a plurality of phrases, at least one of said phrases being a definer that links said at least one phrase to one of said concept nodes; and

means for locating specific portions of the descriptive media content based upon identified product characteristics and for selecting a specific product possessing such identified product characteristics.

34. An electronic catalog as defined in claim 33, wherein at least one of said phrases is a synonym and having a predetermined relationship to at least one definer.

35. An electronic catalog as defined in claim 33, wherein said means for locating specific portions of the descriptive media content locates the identified product characteristics by navigating through said at least one concept frame.

36. An electronic catalog as defined in claim 33, wherein said means for locating specific portions of the descriptive media content locates the identified product characteristics by selecting amongst search phrases that are morphologically similar.

37. An electronic catalog as defined in claim 33, wherein said products listed in said table of said product database include products manufactured by a plurality of manufacturers.

38. An electronic catalog as defined in claim 37, wherein said specific portions of the descriptive media content are located in a catalog including a listing of product SKUs available from a single manufacturer.

39. An electronic catalog containing information on a plurality of products, comprising:

a concept structure for at least one product realm wherein said concept structure includes at least one concept frame for defining classes of product groupings, said concept flames including a plurality of concept nodes having relationships based upon characteristics of the products within the product realm;

a product database including an object representation of products, said object representation including for each product an identification of each concept node in which the associated product can be located, said product database further includes a media base as part of said product database wherein said media base includes descriptive media content associated with at least one product and content tags linking a portion of the descriptive media content to characteristics of a product linked to characteristics identified for each product in said object representation of products; and

means for locating products having characteristics associated with a specific identified portion of the descriptive media content.

40. A method for publishing an electronic catalog and for publishing multiple renditions of printed catalogs using a data structure, the electronic and printed catalogs containing information on a plurality of products, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a concept structure or at least one product realm wherein said concept structure includes at least one concept frame for defining classes of product groupings, said concept frames including a plurality of concept nodes having relationships based upon characteristics of the products within the product realm;

creating a product database including an object representation of products, said object representation including for each product an identification of each concept node in which the associated product can be located;

creating a media base as part of said product database wherein said media base includes descriptive media content associated with at least one product and content tags linking a portion of the descriptive media content to characteristics of a product linked to characteristics identified for each product in said object representation of products;

creating a glossary to be used for searching for a particular product or group of products having desired characteristics, said glossary including a plurality of phrases, at least one of said phrases being a definer that links said at least one phrase to one of said concept nodes;

selecting portions of the descriptive media content in said media base for specific products in order to compile information from said product database and said media base to generate a desired rendition of a printed catalog; and

distributing portions of the data structure for adding and updating data within the concept structure and the product database amongst a plurality of workstations of parties responsible for creating and maintaining such data.

41. An electronic catalog containing information on a plurality of products, comprising:

a concept structure for at least one product realm wherein said concept structure includes at least one concept frame for defining classes of product groupings, said concept frames including a plurality of concept nodes having relationships based upon characteristics of the products within the product realm;

a product database including a listing of SKUs, each SKU corresponding to a product or a component of a product, said product database further including product information for each associated SKU, and an identification of each concept node in which each SKU can be located; and

a glossary to be used for searching for a particular product or group of products having desired characteristics, said glossary including a plurality of phrases, at least one of said phrases being a definer that links said at least one phrase to one of said concept nodes.