Methods and apparatus for catalog data capture, storage and distribution

• US 8,738,662 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 1WorldSync, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CBS Interactive Inc. (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Blaettler, Eric Oscar, de Heer, Albert Henricus Franciscus, de Heer, Rudolf Cornelius Wilhelmus, Zabrodine, Constantin Nickolayvich, Kviatkevitch, Alexandre Igorevitch
• Primary Examiner(s): HASAN, SYED HAROON
• Application Number:
  US13/612,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20130066745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/802
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering

Abstract

An invention is described herein that provides methods and apparatus for collecting, distributing and storing product data. A data structure suitable for use in collecting, distributing or storing product data for use in a catalog is disclosed. More particularly, the data structure is based on a data model having one or more classes, where each of the classes has one or more associated categories. The data structure includes at least one class definition, each class definition being arranged to identify one or more associated categories. In addition, the data structure includes a plurality of category definitions, each category definition being arranged to identify an associated attribute group.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining catalog data stored in a system product data file, the method executed by one or more computing devices and comprising:

receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a customer product portfolio file that identifies products for which product data is requested by one or more customers, the product data being suitable for use in an electronic catalog, the customer product portfolio file including a manufacturer SKU uniquely identifying a product for which product data is requested for use in an electronic catalog, a customer SKU uniquely identifying a product that corresponds to one of the customers, and a manufacturer identifier identifying a manufacturer of a product for which product data is requested, each of the customers being a manufacturer, retailer, or distributor products for which product data is requested by the customer in the customer product portfolio file; and

mapping, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the customer product portfolio file to the system product data file such that each product for which product data is not in the system product data file is identified, thereby identifying product for which product data is requested but has not been previously obtained and stored in the system product data file, wherein mapping the customer product portfolio file includes;

determining, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, whether the customer SKU in the customer product portfolio file is new, the customer SKU being new if the customer SKU is not identified in the system product data file; and

creating, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a new system SKU based at least in part on a determination that the customer SKU is new, wherein the new system SKU is mapped in the system product data file to the customer SKU.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising classifying, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the new system SKU according to a data model, the data model including one or more classes, each of the one or more classes including one or more categories.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, whether the customer SKU is invalid; and

reporting, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the customer SKU based at least in part on a determination that it is invalid.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a user interface for input and storage of product data into the database, the user interface including a plurality of possible value lists for facilitating input and storing of product data into the database, each possible value list having a plurality of predetermined, user selectable values that are selectable during input and storage of product data as a value for an attribute of a product that is being classified and stored in the database so as to minimize potential error during inputting and storing of product data, wherein each attribute is associated with at least one of the plurality of possible value lists.

5. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause at least one of the one or more computing devices to:

receive a customer product portfolio file that identifies products for which product data is requested by one or more customers, the product data being suitable for use in an electronic catalog, the customer product portfolio file including a manufacturer SKU uniquely identifying a product for which product data is requested for use in an electronic catalog, a customer SKU uniquely identifying a product that corresponds to one of the customers, and a manufacturer identifier identifying a manufacturer of a product for which product data is requested, each of the customers being a manufacturer, retailer, or distributor products for which product data is requested by the customer in the customer product portfolio file; and

map the customer product portfolio file to the system product data file such that each product for which product data is not in the system product data file is identified, thereby identifying product for which product data is requested but has not been previously obtained and stored in the system product data file, wherein mapping the customer product portfolio file includes;

determining whether the customer SKU in the customer product portfolio file is new, the customer SKU being new if the customer SKU is not identified in the system product data file; and

creating a new system SKU based at least in part on a determination that the customer SKU is new, wherein the new system SKU is mapped in the system product data file to the customer SKU.

6. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5, further storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more computing devices, cause at least one of the one or more computing devices to:

classify the new system SKU according to a data model, the data model including one or more classes, each of the one or more classes including one or more categories.

7. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5, further storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more computing devices, cause at least one of the one or more computing devices to:

determine whether the customer SKU is invalid; and

report the customer SKU based at least in part on a determination that it is invalid.

8. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5, further storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more computing devices, cause at least one of the one or more computing devices to:

transmit a user interface for input and storage of product data into the database, the user interface including a plurality of possible value lists for facilitating input and storing of product data into the database, each possible value list having a plurality of predetermined, user selectable values that are selectable during input and storage of product data as a value for an attribute of a product that is being classified and stored in the database so as to minimize potential error during inputting and storing of product data, wherein each attribute is associated with at least one of the plurality of possible value lists.

9. An apparatus for maintaining data for use in an electronic catalog, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at least one of the one or more processors to;

receive a customer product portfolio file that identifies products for which product data is requested by one or more customers, the product data being suitable for use in an electronic catalog, the customer product portfolio file including a manufacturer SKU uniquely identifying a product for which product data is requested for use in an electronic catalog, a customer SKU uniquely identifying a product that corresponds to one of the customers, and a manufacturer identifier identifying a manufacturer of a product for which product data is requested, each of the customers being a manufacturer, retailer, or distributor products for which product data is requested by the customer in the customer product portfolio file; and

map the customer product portfolio file to the system product data file such that each product for which product data is not in the system product data file is identified, thereby identifying product for which product data is requested but has not been previously obtained and stored in the system product data file, wherein mapping the customer product portfolio file includes;

determining whether the customer SKU in the customer product portfolio file is new, the customer SKU being new if the customer SKU is not identified in the system product data file; and

creating a new system SKU based at least in part on a determination that the customer SKU is new, wherein the new system SKU is mapped in the system product data file to the customer SKU.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the one or more memories has further instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at least one of the one or more processors to:

classify the new system SKU according to a data model, the data model including one or more classes, each of the one or more classes including one or more categories.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the one or more memories has further instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at least one of the one or more processors to:

determine whether the customer SKU is invalid; and

report the customer SKU if it is determined to be invalid.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the one or more memories has further instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at least one of the one or more processors to:

transmit a user interface for input and storage of product data into the database, the user interface including a plurality of possible value lists for facilitating input and storing of product data into the database, each possible value list having a plurality of predetermined, user selectable values that are selectable during input and storage of product data as a value for an attribute of a product that is being classified and stored in the database so as to minimize potential error during inputting and storing of product data, wherein each attribute is associated with at least one of the plurality of possible value lists.

13. A method of maintaining catalog data stored in a system product data file, the method executed by one or more computing devices and comprising:

receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a customer product portfolio file that identifies products for which product data is requested by one or more customers, the product data being suitable for use in an electronic catalog, the customer product portfolio file including a manufacturer SKU uniquely identifying a product for which product data is requested for use in an electronic catalog, a customer SKU uniquely identifying a product that corresponds to one of the customers, and a manufacturer identifier identifying a manufacturer of a product for which product data is requested, each of the customers being a manufacturer, retailer, or distributor products for which product data is requested by the customer in the customer product portfolio file; and

mapping, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the customer product portfolio file to the system product data file such that each product for which product data is not in the system product data file is identified, thereby identifying product for which product data is requested but has not been previously obtained and stored in the system product data file, wherein mapping the customer product portfolio file includes;

determining, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, whether the manufacturer identified in the customer product portfolio file is new, the manufacturer being new if the manufacturer is not identified in the system product data file; and

assigning, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a new manufacturer identifier to the manufacturer based at least in part on a determination that the manufacturer is new, wherein the new manufacturer identifier is stored in the system product data file.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a user interface for input and storage of product data into the database, the user interface including a plurality of possible value lists for facilitating input and storing of product data into the database, each possible value list having a plurality of predetermined, user selectable values that are selectable during input and storage of product data as a value for an attribute of a product that is being classified and stored in the database so as to minimize potential error during inputting and storing of product data, wherein each attribute is associated with at least one of the plurality of possible value lists.

15. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause at least one of the one or more computing devices to:

receive a customer product portfolio file that identifies products for which product data is requested by one or more customers, the product data being suitable for use in an electronic catalog, the customer product portfolio file including a manufacturer SKU uniquely identifying a product for which product data is requested for use in an electronic catalog, a customer SKU uniquely identifying a product that corresponds to one of the customers, and a manufacturer identifier identifying a manufacturer of a product for which product data is requested, each of the customers being a manufacturer, retailer, or distributor products for which product data is requested by the customer in the customer product portfolio file; and

map the customer product portfolio file to the system product data file such that each product for which product data is not in the system product data file is identified, thereby identifying product for which product data is requested but has not been previously obtained and stored in the system product data file, wherein mapping the customer product portfolio file includes;

determining whether the manufacturer identified in the customer product portfolio file is new, the manufacturer being new if the manufacturer is not identified in the system product data file; and

assigning a new manufacturer identifier to the manufacturer based at least in part on a determination that the manufacturer is new, wherein the new manufacturer identifier is stored in the system product data file.

16. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, further storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more computing devices, cause at least one of the one or more computing devices to:

transmit a user interface for input and storage of product data into the database, the user interface including a plurality of possible value lists for facilitating input and storing of product data into the database, each possible value list having a plurality of predetermined, user selectable values that are selectable during input and storage of product data as a value for an attribute of a product that is being classified and stored in the database so as to minimize potential error during inputting and storing of product data, wherein each attribute is associated with at least one of the plurality of possible value lists.

17. An apparatus for maintaining data for use in an electronic catalog, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at least one of the one or more processors to;

receive a customer product portfolio file that identifies products for which product data is requested by one or more customers, the product data being suitable for use in an electronic catalog, the customer product portfolio file including a manufacturer SKU uniquely identifying a product for which product data is requested for use in an electronic catalog, a customer SKU uniquely identifying a product that corresponds to one of the customers, and a manufacturer identifier identifying a manufacturer of a product for which product data is requested, each of the customers being a manufacturer, retailer, or distributor products for which product data is requested by the customer in the customer product portfolio file; and

map the customer product portfolio file to the system product data file such that each product for which product data is not in the system product data file is identified, thereby identifying product for which product data is requested but has not been previously obtained and stored in the system product data file, wherein mapping the customer product portfolio file includes;

determining whether the manufacturer identified in the customer product portfolio file is new, the manufacturer being new if the manufacturer is not identified in the system product data file; and

assigning a new manufacturer identifier to the manufacturer based at least in part on a determination that the manufacturer is new, wherein the new manufacturer identifier is stored in the system product data file.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one of the one or more memories has further instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at least one of the one or more processors to:

transmit a user interface for input and storage of product data into the database, the user interface including a plurality of possible value lists for facilitating input and storing of product data into the database, each possible value list having a plurality of predetermined, user selectable values that are selectable during input and storage of product data as a value for an attribute of a product that is being classified and stored in the database so as to minimize potential error during inputting and storing of product data, wherein each attribute is associated with at least one of the plurality of possible value lists.