Methods and systems for searching for and identifying data repository deficits

• US 8,001,003 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nightingale, Terrance R., Robinson, James G., Mongrain, Scott Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss; John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHORNESKY, ADAM B
• Application Number:
  US11/864,521
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.12, 705/14.19, 705/14.25, 705/14.53, 705/463
• US Class Current: 705/14.53
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations

Abstract

A computing system for searching for and identifying data repository deficits includes an interactive database of items, a data repository that stores a first type of information related to items, a search engine configured to identify items that do not have an amount of the first type of information that meets a first threshold, a candidate selection interface that provides functionality for the user to select an item from recommended candidate items needing the first type of information, a user interface via which the user can provide the first type of information for an item selected by the user, a game system configured to calculate for a game scores and rankings based at least in part on data stored in the data repository.

Claims

1. A computing system configured to search for and identify data repository deficits, comprising:

a computing device;

an interactive catalog of items being offered to users for purchase;

a data repository that stores;

purchase histories for users,

a first type of information related to items submitted by users and an identification as to which user submitted a given information of the first type, and

indicators related to how other users valued information of the first type,

wherein the first type of information includes feedback information regarding one or more items being offered to users for purchase;

a search engine system configured to identify catalog items that do not have an amount of the first type of information that meets a first threshold, the first type of information including feedback information;

a recommendation system configured to recommend to a user candidate items for the user to provide the first type of information for,

wherein the recommendation system uses data stored in the data repository to determine user item affinity and the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information to generate recommendations for first information type candidate items, the first type of information including feedback information;

a candidate selection interface that provides functionality for the user to select an item from the recommended candidate items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information to generate recommendations for first information type candidate items;

a user interface via which the user can provide the first type of information for an item selected by the user;

a game system configured to calculate for a game, scores and rankings based at least in part on data stored in the data repository, wherein the data stored in the data repository includes data related to submissions of the first type of information by users; and

an interface configured to provide information to users related to their scores and rankings.

2. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first type of information is a tag, an item accessory identification, a manual, a substitute item identification, a picture, update information for an item description, an indication as to whether a user submission is useful, an indication as to whether a user submission is accurate, online discussion content, and/or a list of related items.

3. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the search engine system is configured to provide functionality for users to conduct searches to locate items in the interactive catalog that do not have the amount of the first type of information that meets the first threshold.

4. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the game system is configured to calculate a score for a first user based at least in part on a quantity of first type of information provided by the first user and on indications as to how many other users found the first type of information provided by the first user useful.

5. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the game system is configured to calculate a first game score for a first user based at least in part on a quantity of the first type of information provided by the first user and on indications as to how many other users found the first user'"'"'s submissions of the first type of information not useful.

6. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the game system is configured to prevent a score associated with a given submission of the first type of information from exceeding a predefined cap or from falling below a predefined floor.

7. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the computing system includes a user interface that displays a game ranking, badge, and score for at least one user.

8. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the recommendation system is configured to recommend candidate items to the user based at least in part on item-to-item similarity mappings with respect to items the user has provided the first type of information for and/or has purchased.

9. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the computing system is configured to offer an enhanced number of points for the first type of information submitted for categories of items identified as having more than a specified percentage and/or amount of items without the first type of information.

10. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the computing system includes a user interface via which the user can specify that the system is to email message and/or transmit a message to the user'"'"'s mobile phone when one or more user specified events related to the game occur.

11. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the computing system includes a user interface via which the user can specify that the system is to automatically transmit a message to the user when there is a change in badge for the user and/or when the user has been surpassed in rank by first other user.

12. A computer-implemented method of obtaining information for data store information deficits, comprising:

using at least one computing device, searching for and identifying to a first user item records in a data store having a deficit of data of a first type,

wherein the data of the first type is user feedback regarding a respective item, the respective item included in an online catalog of items, including items offered to one or more users for purchase by the one or more users, and

the deficit is related to a lack of user feedback regarding the respective item included in the online catalog of items offered for purchase to one or more users;

informing the first user how many points in a first game would be allocated to the first user if the first user provides data of the first type for one or more items of the identified item records having the data deficit, wherein the data of the first type is user feedback;

calculating, using at least one computing device, a first game score for the first user based at least in part on the quantity of item feedback data of the first type submitted by the first user in a first time period and on usefulness indications provided by other users with respect to the item feedback data of the first type submitted by the first user within the time period;

calculating, using at least one computing device, a first game ranking for the first user relative to other users playing the first game based least in part of the user'"'"'s first game score and the first game scores of other users; and

displaying to the first user the first user'"'"'s first game ranking.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the first type of data is a tag, an item accessory identification, a manual, a substitute item identification, a picture, update information for an item description, an indication as to whether a user submission is useful, an indication as to whether a user submission is accurate, online discussion content, and/or a list of related items.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

identifying at least a first category of items having a first characteristic; and

offering an enhanced number of first game points to users that submit data of the first type for items within the first category as compared to game points offered for a category of items that do not have the first characteristic.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a user interface via which the first user can search for items in a selected category in the electronic catalogue for which an enhanced number of points will be awarded for submissions of data of the first type.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a user interface displaying information related to the first user'"'"'s performance in the first game, including the first user'"'"'s ranking relative to other users.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a user interface displaying information related to the first user'"'"'s performance in the first game, including titles and/or badges assigned to the first user.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing first game performance trend information for the first user to the first user.

19. A computing system configured to obtain data, comprising:

a computing device;

an electronic catalog of items;

a data repository that stores;

purchase histories for users,

data submissions of a first type submitted by users, wherein the data submissions of the first type include feedback data regarding one or more items in an online catalogue of items being offered to users, and an identification as to which user submitted a given data submission of the first type, and

scores related to how useful others have found the data submissions of the first type, wherein the data submissions of the first type include feedback data regarding one or more items in the online catalogue of items being offered to users;

a system that identifies items not having an amount of feedback data of the first type meeting a first threshold;

a candidate selection interface that provides functionality for a user to select at least one item not having an amount of feedback data, wherein the at least one item is included in the items identified as not having an amount of feedback data of the first type meeting the first threshold;

a user interface via which the user can provide data of the first type for at least one item;

a game system configured to calculate for a game scores and game rankings for users based at least in part on data stored in the data repository and previous game scores, wherein the data stored in the data repository includes feedback data submitted by users; and

an interface configured to provide information to users related to their game scores and rankings.

20. The computing system as defined in claim 19, further comprising a recommendation system configured to recommend candidate items for the user to provide data of the first type for.

21. The computing system as defined in claim 19, wherein the computing system is configured to offer an enhanced number of points for data of the first type submitted for categories of items identified having a first characteristic.

22. The computing system as defined in claim 19, further comprising a search engine system configured to identify catalog items that do not have sufficient data of the first type to meet a first threshold.

23. The computing system as defined in claim 19, wherein the game system is configured to calculate a first score for a first user based at least in part on a quantity of data of the first type provided by the first user and on indications as to how many other users found the submissions of data of the first type by the first user useful.

24. The computing system as defined in claim 19, wherein the game system is configured to prevent a score associated with a submission of data of the first type from exceeding a predefined cap.

25. The computing system as defined in claim 19, wherein the computing system includes a user interface that displays a game ranking, badge and/or title, and score for at least one user.