Methods and systems for searching for and identifying data repository deficits

• US 8,566,178 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• 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: Nightingale, Terrence R., Mongrain, Scott Allen, Robinson, James G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHORNESKY, ADAM B
• Application Number:
  US13/614,844
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.53, 705/14.12, 705/7.29, 705/7.32, 705/26.7
• US Class Current: 705/26.7
• 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 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; and

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

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

a recommendation system configured to recommend to a user candidate items, identified as not having the amount of the first type of information that meets the first threshold, 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 that meets the first threshold; and

wherein the computing system is configured to selectively provide, at least partly in response to a recommendation from the recommendation system recommending candidate items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information that meets the first threshold, 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 that meets the first threshold; and

a user interface via which the user can provide the first type of information for an item selected by the user from the recommended candidate items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information that meets the first threshold.

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 information that meets the first threshold regarding at least one of:

accessories for respective catalog items, substitute identification items for respective catalog items, manuals for respective catalog items, or item photographs for respective catalog items.

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 user provided descriptive tags 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 indications of usefulness with respect to user submissions 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 indications of accuracy with respect to user submissions 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 online discussion content 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 lists of related items that meets the first threshold.

8. The computing system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a search engine system 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.

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

accessing by a computing system a data store storing;

a first type of information submitted by users related to catalog items in an interactive catalog of items being offered to users for purchase, and

an identification as to which user submitted a given information of the first type;

identifying, by the computing system, catalog items that do not have an amount of the first type of information that meets a first threshold;

determining, by the computing system, user item affinity with respect to a user 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 that meets the first threshold;

recommending by the computing system to the user candidate items, identified as not having the amount of the first type of information that meets the first threshold, for the user to provide the first type of information for based at least in part on the determined user item affinity; and

providing 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 that meets the first threshold; and

a user interface via which the user can provide the first type of information for an item selected by the user from the recommended candidate items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information that meets the first threshold selected by the user.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, 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 information that meets the first threshold regarding at least one of:

accessories for respective catalog items, substitute identification items for respective catalog items, manuals for respective catalog items, or item photographs for respective catalog items.

11. The method as defined in claim 9, 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 user provided descriptive tags that meets the first threshold.

12. The method as defined in claim 9, 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.

13. The method as defined in claim 9, 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.

14. The method as defined in claim 9, 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.

15. The method as defined in claim 9, 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.

16. The method as defined in claim 9, further comprising a search engine system 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.

17. Non-transitory computer readable memory storing instructions that when executed by a computer system are configured to cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:

accessing a data store storing;

a first type of information submitted by users related to catalog items in an interactive catalog of items being offered to users for purchase, and

an identification as to which user submitted a given information of the first type;

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

determining user item affinity with respect to a user 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 that meets the first threshold;

recommending to the user candidate items, identified as not having the amount of the first type of information that meets the first threshold, for the user to provide the first type of information for based at least in part on the determined user item affinity; and

providing 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 that meets the first threshold; and

a user interface via which the user can provide the first type of information for an item selected by the user from the recommended candidate items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information that meets the first threshold.

18. The non-transitory computer readable memory as defined in claim 17, 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 information that meets the first threshold regarding at least one of:

accessories for respective catalog items, substitute identification items for respective catalog items, manuals for respective catalog items, user submitted tags describing respective catalog items, or item photographs for respective catalog items.

19. The non-transitory computer readable memory as defined in claim 17, 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.

20. The non-transitory computer readable memory as defined in claim 17, 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.