Good and service description system and method

• US 6,886,011 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Datalign Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Datalign Incorporated
• Inventors: Beauchamp, Jeffery O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Shahid
• Assistant Examiner(s): EHICHIOYA, IRETE FRED
• Application Number:
  US09/776,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20020107851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 382/159, 382/187, 704/3, 704/8, 704/9, 704/252, 704/277, 704/10, 704/20, 704/244, 704/258, 704/270, 705/1, 705/35, 705/26, 707/1, 707/4, 707/5, 707/10, 707/100, 707/102, 707/103.R, 707/3, 707/101, 709/203, 709/217, 709/225, 709/226, 709/228, 709/231, 709/202
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for the description of goods and services which permits the user to use an interactive system to automate the generation of descriptions of those goods or services for use, entry into a database or for query of a database. The invention comprises a dictionary database which provides associated lists. The lists may be of associated nouns, describing adjectives and modifying attributes from which to compose the description or specification. The lists may correspondingly represent services with verbs, adverbs and attributes. The invention may accept direct user input and attempts to automatically match the input to the unified dictionary database. The system may also display a list of possible elements from which the user may select. The invention then composes the description based upon user responses which may include the original user input and/or synonyms.

Claims

1. A method for specifying using a data processing system comprising the steps of:

reading a first list of nouns from a dictionary database;

attempting to match a set of user input to the first list to select a first element, the first element being a noun;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible first elements from the first list and permitting selection of a member of the possible first elements list;

reading a second list of adjectives from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element;

attempting to match the set of user input to the second list to select a second element, the second element being an adjective;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible second elements from the second list and permitting selection of a member of the possible second element list;

reading a third list of attributes from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element and the selected second element;

attempting to match the set of user input to the third list to select a set of third elements and corresponding third element values, the third elements being attributes;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible third elements from the third list and permitting selection of a set of third elements of the possible third element list and entry of corresponding third element values; and

composing a specification from the selected member of the first list, the selected member of the second list, and the selected set of third elements and corresponding third element values.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first list is mutually-exclusive.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second list is mutually-exclusive.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first list is mutually-exclusive.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the data processing system is configured to access a local search engine.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining appropriate first synonyms for the first element; and

adding the first synonyms to the specification.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining appropriate first synonyms for the second element; and

adding the second synonyms to the specification.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining appropriate third synonyms for an element of the set of third elements; and

adding the third synonyms to the specification.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of attempting to match the user input to the first list is accomplished with further reference to external factors.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

permitting the user to elect entry of a freeform specification;

accepting entry of a freeform specification; and

composing the specification from the freeform specification.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein each attribute comprises a value.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein each attribute further comprises a label.

13. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of writing the specification to a listing database.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising the additional step of passing the specification to a server.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the specification is passed in a different language from that utilized uring the other steps in the method.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the specification is used to add to the listing database a description of the element.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the specification is used to compose a query to locate a certain element the database.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the specification is composed in a different language from that utilized during the other steps in the method.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the data processing system is configured to access a computerized translation service.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the data processing system comprises a computerized translation service.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the data processing system is configured to access a sales system.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the data processing system is configured to access a system to facilitate goods sales.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the data processing system is configured to access a search engine.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the data processing system is configured to access an inventory control system.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the data processing system is configured to access a customer assistance system.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein the data processing system is configured to access a computerized telephone directory service.

27. A method for specifying using a data processing system comprising the steps of:

reading a first list of nouns from a dictionary database, wherein the first list is mutually-exclusive;

attempting to match a set of user input to the first list to select a first element, the first element being a noun;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible first elements from the first list and permitting selection of a member of the possible first elements list;

reading a second list of adjectives from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element wherein the second list is mutually-exclusive;

attempting to match the set of user input to the second list to select a second element, the second element being an adjective;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible second elements from the second list and permitting selection of a member of the possible second element list;

reading a third list of attributes from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element and the selected second element;

attempting to match the set of user input to the third list to select a set of third elements and corresponding third element values, the third elements being attributes;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible third elements from the third list and permitting selection of a set of third elements of the possible third element list and entry of corresponding third element values;

composing a specification from the selected member of the first list, the selected member of the second list, and the selected set of third elements and corresponding third element values;

determining appropriate first synonyms for the first element;

adding the first synonyms to the specification;

determining appropriate first synonyms for the second element;

adding the second synonyms to the specification;

determining appropriate third synonyms for an element of the set of third elements; and

adding the third synonyms to the specification.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the steps of:

permitting the user to elect entry of a freeform specification;

accepting entry of a freeform specification; and

composing the specification from the freeform specification.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein each attribute comprises a value.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein each attribute further comprises a label.

31. A method for specifying using a data processing system comprising the steps of:

reading a first list of verbs from a dictionary database;

attempting to match a set of user input to the first list to select a first element, the first element being a verb;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible first elements from the first list and permitting selection of a member of the possible first elements list;

reading a second list of adverbs from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element;

attempting to match the set of user input to the second list to select a second element, the second element being an adverb;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible second elements from the second list and permitting selection of a member of the possible second element list;

reading a third list of attributes from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element and the selected second element;

attempting to match the set of user input to the third list to select a set of third elements and corresponding third element values, the third elements being attributes;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible third elements from the third list and permitting selection of a set of third elements of the possible third element list and entry of corresponding third element values;

composing a specification of services from the selected member of the first list, the selected member of the second list, and the selected set of third elements and corresponding third element values.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the first list is mutually-exclusive.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the second list is mutually-exclusive.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the first list is mutually-exclusive.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein data processing system is configured to access a local search engine.

36. The method of claim 31 further comprising the steps of:

determining appropriate first synonyms for the first element; and

adding the first synonyms to the specification.

37. The method of claim 31 further comprising the steps of:

determining appropriate first synonyms for the second element; and

adding the second synonyms to the specification.

38. The method of claim 31 further comprising the steps of:

determining appropriate third synonyms for an element of the set of third elements; and

adding the third synonyms to the specification.

39. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of attempting to match the user input to the first list is accomplished with further reference to external factors.

40. The method of claim 31 further comprising the steps of:

permitting the user to elect entry of a freeform specification;

accepting entry of a freeform specification; and

composing the specification from the freeform specification.

41. The method of claim 31 wherein each attribute comprises a value.

42. The method of claim 31 wherein each attribute further comprises a label.

43. The method of claim 31 comprising the additional step of writing the specification to a listing database.

44. The method of claim 43 comprising the additional step of passing the specification to a server.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the specification is passed in a different language from that utilized during the other steps in the method.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein the specification is used to add to the listing database a description of the element.

47. The method of claim 31 wherein the specification is used to compose a query to locate a certain element the database.

48. The method of claim 31 wherein the specification is composed in a different language from that utilized during the other steps in the method.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the data processing system is configured to access a computerized translation service.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein the data processing system comprises a computerized translation service.

51. The method of claim 31 wherein the data processing system is configured to access a sales system.

52. The method of claim 31 wherein the data processing system is configured to facilitate the ordering of services.

53. The method of claim 31 wherein the data processing system is configured to access a search engine.

54. The method of claim 31 wherein the data processing system is configured to access a customer assistance system.

55. The method of claim 31 wherein the data processing system is configured to access a computerized telephone directory service.

56. A method for specifying using a data processing system comprising the steps of:

reading a first list of verbs from a dictionary database, wherein the first list is mutually-exclusive;

attempting to match a set of user input to the first list to select a first element, the first element being a verb;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible first elements from the first list and permitting selection of a member of the possible first elements list;

reading a second list of adverbs from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element, wherein the second list is mutually exclusive;

attempting to match the set of user input to the second list to select a second element, the second element being an adverb;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible second elements from the second list and permitting selection of a member of the possible second element list;

reading a third list of attributes from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element and the selected second element;

attempting to match the set of user input to the third list to select a set of third elements and corresponding third element values, the third elements being attributes;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible third elements from the third list and permitting selection of a set of third elements of the possible third element list and entry of corresponding third element values;

composing a specification of services from the selected member of the first list, the selected member of the second list, and the selected set of third elements and corresponding third element values;

determining appropriate first synonyms for the first element;

adding the first synonyms to the specification;

determining appropriate first synonyms for the second element;

adding the second synonyms to the specification;

determining appropriate third synonyms for an element of the set of third elements; and

adding the third synonyms to the specification.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising the steps of:

permitting the user to elect entry of a freeform specification;

accepting entry of a freeform specification; and

composing the specification from the freeform specification.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein each attribute comprises a value.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein each attribute further comprises a label.

60. A computer program product in a computer-readable medium adapted to specifying using a data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

a first list reading code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to read a first list of nouns from a dictionary database;

a first matching code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to attempt to match a set of user input to the first list to select a first element, wherein the first element is a noun;

a first element selection code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to display a list of possible first elements from the first list and permit selection of a member of the first list if a definitive match is not made by the first matching code;

a second list reading code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to read a second list of adjectives from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element;

a second matching code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to attempt to match the set of user input to the second list to select a second element, wherein the second element is an adjective;

a second element selection code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to display a list of possible second elements from the second list and permit selection of a member of the second list if a definitive match is not made by the second matching code;

a third list reading code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to read a third list of attributes from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element and the selected second element;

a third matching code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to attempt to match the set of user input to the third list to select a set of third elements and corresponding third element values, wherein the third elements are attributes;

a third element selection code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to display a list of possible third elements from the third list and permit selection of a set of third elements and entry of corresponding third element values if a definitive match is not made by the third matching code;

a composition code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to compose a specification of a good from the first element, the second element, and the set of third elements and corresponding values.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein the first list is mutually-exclusive.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein the second list is mutually-exclusive.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the first list is mutually-exclusive.

64. The computer program product of claim 60 further comprising:

a specification writing code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to write the specification to a listing database.

65. The computer program product of claim 60 further comprising:

a specification passing code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to passing the specification to a server.

66. The computer program product of claim 65 wherein the specification passing code further comprises codes operable to direct the data processing system to pass to the specification in a different language from that used by the user to select the first element, the second element and the set of third elements and corresponding values.

67. The computer program product of claim 60 wherein specification is suitable to be used to add a description of the good to a database.

68. The computer program product of claim 60 wherein the specification is suitable to be used to locate a description of a good within a database.

69. The computer program product of claim 60 wherein the composition code further comprises codes to direct the data processing system to compose the specification in a different language from that previously used by the user to select the first element, the second element and the set of third elements and corresponding values.

70. A computer program product in a computer-readable medium adapted to specifying using a data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

a first list reading code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to read a first list of verbs from a dictionary database;

a first matching code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to attempt to match a set of user input to the first list to select a first element, wherein the first element is a verb;

a first element selection code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to display a list of possible first elements from the first list and permit selection of a member of the first list if a definitive match is not made by the first matching code;

a second list reading code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to read a second list of adverbs from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element;

a second matching code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to attempt to match the set of user input to the second list to select a second element, wherein the second element is an adverb;

a second element selection code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to display a list of possible second elements from the second list and permit selection of a member of the second list if a definitive match is not made by the second matching code;

a third list reading code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to read a third list of attributes from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element and the selected second element;

a third matching code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to attempt to match the set of user input to the third list to select a set of third elements and corresponding third element values, wherein the third elements are attributes;

a third element selection code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to display a list of possible third elements from the third list and permit selection of a set of third elements and entry of corresponding third element values if a definitive match is not made by the third matching code;

a composition code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to compose a specification of a good from the first element, the second element, and the set of third elements and corresponding values.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein the first list is mutually-exclusive.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein the second list is mutually-exclusive.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the first list is mutually-exclusive.

74. The computer program product of claim 70 further comprising:

a specification writing code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to write the specification to a listing database.

75. The computer program product of claim 70 further comprising:

a specification passing code comprising a set of codes operable to direct the data processing system to passing the specification to a server.

76. The computer program product of claim 75 wherein the specification passing code further comprises codes operable to direct the data processing system to pass to the specification in a different language from that used by the user to select the first element, the second element and the set of third elements and corresponding values.

77. The computer program product of claim 70 wherein the specification is suitable to be used to add a description of the good to a database.

78. The computer program product of claim 70 wherein specification is suitable to be used to locate a description of a good within a database.

79. The computer program product of claim 70 wherein the composition code further comprises codes to direct the data processing system to compose the specification in a different language from that previously used by the user to select the first element, the second element and the set of third elements and corresponding values.

80. A method of doing business providing the service of specifying using a data processing system, the method of business comprising the steps of:

reading a first list of nouns from a dictionary database;

attempting to match a set of user input to the first list to select a first element, wherein the first element is a noun;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible first elements from the first list and permitting selection of a member of the possible first elements list;

reading a second list of adjectives from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element;

attempting to match the set of user input to the second list to select a second element, wherein the second element is an adjective;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible second elements from the second list and permitting selection of a member of the possible second element list;

reading a third list of attributes from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element and the selected second element;

attempting to match the set of user input to the third list to select a set of third elements and corresponding values, wherein the third elements are attributes;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible third elements from the third list and permitting selection of a set of third elements and entry of corresponding values;

composing a specification of a service from the selected first element, the selected second element, and the selected set of third elements and corresponding values; and

receiving revenues.

81. The method of doing business of claim 80 further comprising the step of charging a user for the service of specifying.

82. The method of doing business of claim 80 further comprising the step of charging an advertiser for the right to display an advertisement to the user of the service of specifying.

83. The method of doing business of claim 80 comprising the additional step of writing the specification to a listing database.

84. The method of doing business of claim 83 comprising the additional step of passing the specification to a server.

85. The method of doing business of claim 84 wherein the specification is passed in a different language from that subsequently displayed.

86. The method of doing business of claim 83 wherein the specification is written in a different language from that subsequently displayed.

87. The method of claim 80 wherein the first list is mutually-exclusive.

88. The method of claim 80 wherein the second list is mutually-exclusive.

89. The method of claim 88 wherein the first list is mutually-exclusive.

90. A method of doing business providing the service of specifying using a data processing system, the method of business comprising the steps of:

reading a first list of verbs from a dictionary database;

attempting to match a set of user input to the first list to select a first element, wherein the first element is a verb;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible first elements from the first list and permitting selection of a member of the possible first elements list;

reading a second list of adverbs from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element;

attempting to match the set of user input to the second list to select a second element, wherein the second element is an adverb;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible second elements from the second list and permitting selection of a member of the possible second element list;

reading a third list of attributes from the dictionary database based upon the selected first element and the selected second element;

attempting to match the set of user input to the third list to select a set of third elements and corresponding values, wherein the third elements are attributes;

if a definitive match is not made, displaying a list of possible third elements from the third list and permitting selection of a set of third elements and entry of corresponding values;

composing a specification of a service from the selected first element, the selected second element, and the selected set of third elements and corresponding values; and

receiving revenues.

91. The method of doing business of claim 90 further comprising the step of charging a user for the service of specifying.

92. The method of doing business of claim 90 further comprising the step of charging an advertiser for the right to display an advertisement to the user of the service of specifying.

93. The method of doing business of claim 90 comprising the additional step of writing the specification to a listing database.

94. The method of doing business of claim 93 comprising the additional step of passing the specification to a server.

95. The method of doing business of claim 94 wherein the specification is passed in a different language from that subsequently displayed.

96. The method of doing business of claim 93 wherein the specification is written in a different language from that subsequently displayed.

97. The method of claim 90 wherein the first list is mutually-exclusive.

98. The method of claim 90 wherein the second list is mutually-exclusive.

99. The method of claim 98 wherein the list is mutually-exclusive.