Methods and systems for searching for and identifying data repository deficits

• US 8,290,811 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2011
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Robinson, James G., Nightingale, Terrence R., Mongrain, Scott Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chornesky, Adam
• Application Number:
  US13/196,799
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.53, 705/7.29, 705/7.32, 705/26.7, 705/347, 707/603, 709/203
• US Class Current: 705/7.32
• 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,

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 based at least in part on a similarity of at least one item, for which the user previously provided information of the first type, with at least one of the identified 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;

wherein the computing system is configured to provide, for display on a user system;

a user 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; and

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

2. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of item accessory identifications that meets the first threshold.

3. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of manuals that meets the first threshold.

4. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of tags that meets the first threshold.

5. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of substitute item identifications that meets the first threshold.

6. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of pictures that meets the first threshold.

7. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of descriptions that meets the first threshold.

8. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of indications of usefulness with respect to user submissions that meets the first threshold.

9. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of indications of accuracy with respect to user submissions that meets the first threshold.

10. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of online discussion content that meets the first threshold.

11. The computing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of lists of related items that meets the first threshold.

12. 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.

13. A computer-implemented method of obtaining information for data store information deficits performed using at least one computing device, the method comprising:

identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of a first type of information that meets a first threshold, the first type of information including feedback information;

using data stored in a data repository to determine, for a user, user item affinity based at least in part on a similarity of at least one item, for which the user previously provided information of the first type, with at least one of the identified catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information to generate recommendations for first information type candidate items;

identifying the recommendations for first information type candidate items to the user;

providing a user interface for display that provides functionality for the user to select an item from the identified 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;

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

storing information of the first type provided by the user.

14. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of item accessory identifications that meets the first threshold.

15. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of manuals that meets the first threshold.

16. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of tags that meets the first threshold.

17. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of substitute item identifications that meets the first threshold.

18. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of pictures that meets the first threshold.

19. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of descriptions that meets the first threshold.

20. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of indications of usefulness with respect to user submissions that meets the first threshold.

21. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of indications of accuracy with respect to user submissions that meets the first threshold.

22. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of online discussion content that meets the first threshold.

23. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information further comprises identifying catalog items that do not have an amount of lists of related items that meets the first threshold.

24. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising receiving a user search request for items in the interactive catalog that do not have the amount of the first type of information that meets the first threshold, and providing the user with search results corresponding to the user search request.