Method and system for categorizing items automatically

• US 8,903,827 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Seth, Shashi, Johnson, Brian, Kothari, Niraj, Kennedy, Robin
• Primary Examiner(s): HICKS, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US10/977,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,686 Days
• US Class Current: 707/740
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/254 Extract, transform and load [ETL] procedures, e.g. ETL data flows in data warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/282 Hierarchical databases, e.g. IMS, LDAP data stores or Lotus Notes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

A method and system to automatically categorize a merchant listing in an electronic marketplace are provided. The method includes parsing the category information submitted by a seller to derive a first category identifier. A first search is performed to locate the first category identifier in a first database containing a listing of category identifiers. If no match is found, the first category identifier is identified as expired or invalid. A second search is performed on a second database that includes mapping information of an expired category identifier to a new category identifier. If a match is found, the first category identifier is assigned as the new category identifier, thereby enabling the listing to be listed in the updated category automatically.

Claims

1. A method of creating a taxonomy and automatically categorizing a merchant listing, the method comprising:

receiving a description for each of one or more goods or services from a seller, the one or more goods or services each to be categorized as separate ones of the merchant listing;

parsing, using one or more processors, the description of each of the one or more goods or services received from the seller;

creating the taxonomy including preparing the merchant listing for use within the taxonomy, the merchant listing to allow the seller in an electronic marketplace to author listings for each of the one or more goods or services, the preparing of the merchant listing including

determining a category identifier for the merchant listing including, based on the parsing, making a determination based on the description whether the seller provided a category description and whether the seller provided a product description for each of the one or more goods or services;

based on a determination that the seller provided a category description, translating the category description into the category identifier; and

based on a determination that the seller provided a product description, translating the product description into the category identifier;

the determining of the category identifier further including

performing a first search to compare the category identifier with a plurality of category identifiers in a first database, and

associating a first category identifier with the merchant listing, the first category identifier to categorize each of the one or more goods or services for transaction in the electronic marketplace; and

based on a determination that no match was found as a result of the first performed search, making a determination as to whether the seller had previously authorized an updating of the category identifier to a more recent version of the category identifier; and

based on a determination that the seller had not previously authorized the updating of the category identifier to the more recent version of the category identifier, transmitting a message to the seller requesting authorization of updating of the category identifier to the more recent version of the category identifier;

based on an evaluation that at least one condition in a list of conditions occurred, where the list of conditions includes a determination that the seller had authorized the updating of the category identifier to the more recent version of the category identifier and that the seller authorized the updating of the category identifier, performing a second search to

compare the category identifier with a plurality of category relationships in a category relationship database,

provide a second category identifier of the merchant listing in response to a match being found in the second performed search, and

associate the second category identifier with the merchant listing, the second category identifier to categorize each of the one or more goods or services for transaction in the electronic marketplace; and

based on a determination that no match was found in either the first search or the second search, transmitting a message to the seller that no match was found.

2. The method of claim 1, further including translating description information of the merchant listing into the category identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the description information is at least one of a category description and a product description.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the translating of the description information of the merchant listing into the category identifier includes locating the description information of the merchant listing in at least one of a current version and a previous version of the first database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of category relationships contains a mapping of an expired category identifier, representing an expired category, to a current category identifier, representing a current category.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first category identifier is the expired category identifier and the second category identifier is the current category identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, further including updating the plurality of category relationships in the-category relationship database.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the updating of the plurality of category relationships includes merging the first category identifier with the second category identifier.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the merging the first category identifier with the second category identifier includes:

removing the first category identifier from the first database; and

adding a mapping of the first category identifier to the second category identifier in the category relationship database.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the updating of the plurality of category relationships further includes merging the second category identifier with a third category identifier.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the merging of the second category identifier with the third category identifier includes:

removing the second category identifier from the first database;

removing the mapping of the first category identifier to the second category identifier in the category relationship database;

adding a mapping of the first category identifier to the third category identifier in the category relationship database; and

adding a mapping of the second category identifier to the third category identifier in the category relationship database.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the updating of the plurality of category relationships includes adding a third category identifier that had been previously removed from the first database.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the adding the third category identifier includes:

adding the third category identifier in the first database; and

removing a mapping of the third category identifier in the category relationship database.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the updating the plurality of category relationships includes renaming the first category identifier as a third category identifier.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the renaming the first category identifier as the third category identifier includes:

deleting the first category identifier in the first database;

adding the third category identifier in the first database;

replacing the first category identifier with the third category identifier in the category relationship database; and

adding a mapping of the first category identifier to the third category identifier in the category relationship database.

16. A computer system for creating a taxonomy and automatically categorizing a merchant listing, the system comprising:

a taxonomy creation applications engine having a processor, the taxonomy creation applications engine to allow a seller in an electronic marketplace to create a taxonomy and author listings for one or more goods or services within the taxonomy, and receive a description for each of the one or more goods or services from the seller, the one or more goods or services each to be categorized as separate ones of the merchant listing; and

storage media coupled to the processor, the storage media including;

means for parsing the description of each of the one or more goods or services received from the seller;

means for determining a category identifier for the merchant listing including, based on the parsing, making a determination based on the description whether the seller provided a category description and whether the seller provided a product description for each of the one or more goods or services;

based on a determination that the seller provided a category description, translating the category description into the category identifier; and

based on a determination that the seller provided a product description, translating the product description into the category identifier;

the means for determining a category identifier further including

means for performing a first search to compare the first category identifier with a plurality of category identifiers in a first database; and

means for associating a first category identifier with the merchant listing, the first category identifier to categorize each of the one or more goods or services for transaction in the electronic marketplace; and

based on a determination that no match was found as a result of the first performed search, the means for determining a category identifier further for determining whether the seller had previously authorized an updating of the category identifier to a more recent version of the category identifier; and

based on a determination that the seller had not previously authorized the updating of the category identifier to the more recent version of the category identifier, means for transmitting a message to the seller requesting authorization of updating of the category identifier to the more recent version of the category identifier;

based on an evaluation that at least one condition in a list of conditions occurred, where the list of conditions includes the determination that the seller had authorized an updating of the category identifier to the more recent version of a category identifier and that the seller authorized an updating of the category identifier,

means for performing a second search to compare the category identifier with a plurality of category relationships in a category relationship database;

means for providing a second category identifier of the merchant listing in response to a match being found in the second performed search; and

means for associating the second category identifier with the merchant listing, the second category identifier to categorize each of the one or more goods or services for transaction in the electronic marketplace; and

based on a determination that no match was found in either the first search or the second search, means for transmitting a message to the seller that no match was found.

17. The system of claim 16, further including means for translating description information of merchant listing into the category identifier.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the description information is at least one of a category description and a product description.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for translating the description information of the merchant listing into the category identifier includes locating the description information of the merchant listing in at least one of a current version and a previous version of the first database.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of category relationships contains a mapping of an expired category identifier, representing an expired category, to a current category identifier, representing a current category.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first category identifier is the expired category identifier and the second category identifier is the current category identifier.

22. The system of claim 16, further including means for updating of the plurality of category relationships in the category relationship database.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for updating of the plurality of category relationships includes means for merging the first category identifier with the second category identifier.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the means for merging the first category identifier with the second category identifier includes:

means for removing the first category identifier from the first database; and

means for adding a mapping of the first category identifier to the second category identifier in the category relationship database.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the means for updating of the plurality of category relationships further includes means for merging the second category identifier with a third category identifier.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for merging of the second category identifier with the third category identifier includes:

means for removing the second category identifier from the first database;

means for removing the mapping of the first category identifier to the second category identifier in the category relationship database;

means for adding a mapping of the first category identifier to the third category identifier in the category relationship database; and

means for adding a mapping of the second category identifier to the third category identifier in the category relationship database.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for updating of the plurality of category relationships includes means for adding a third category identifier that had been previously removed from the first database.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for adding the third category identifier includes:

means for adding the third category identifier in the first database; and

means for removing a mapping of the third category identifier in the category relationship database.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for updating of the plurality of category relationships includes means for renaming the first category identifier as a third category identifier.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for renaming the first category identifier as the third category identifier includes:

means for deleting the first category identifier in the first database;

means for adding the third category identifier in the first database;

means for replacing the first category identifier with the third category identifier in the category relationship database; and

means for adding a mapping of the first category identifier to the third category identifier in the category relationship database.

31. A computer system to create a taxonomy and automatically categorize a merchant listing, the computer system comprising:

a taxonomy creation applications engine having a processor, the taxonomy creation applications engine to allow a seller in an electronic marketplace to create a taxonomy and author listings for one or more goods or services within the taxonomy, and receive a description for each of the one or more goods or services from the seller, the one or more goods or services each to be categorized as separate ones of the merchant listing;

a parser to parse the description of each of the one or more goods or services received from the seller; and

storage media coupled to the processor, the storage media including;

a database application to determine a category identifier for the merchant listing including, based on the parsing of the description and to make a determination based on the description whether the seller provided a category description and whether the seller provided a product description for each of the one or more goods or services;

based on a determination that the seller provided a category description, translating the category description into the category identifier; and

based on a determination that the seller provided a product description, translating the product description into the category identifier;

the database application further to

perform a first search by locating a first category identifier within a first database, and

associate a first category identifier with the merchant listing, the first category identifier to categorize each of the one or more goods or services for transaction in the electronic marketplace; and

based on a determination that no match was found as a result of the first performed search, further to make a determination as to whether the seller had previously authorized an updating of the category identifier to a more recent version of a category identifier; and

based on a determination that the seller had not previously authorized the updating of the category identifier to the more recent version of the category identifier, to transmit a message to the seller requesting authorization of updating of the category identifier to the more recent version of the category identifier;

based on an evaluation that at least one condition in a list of conditions occurred, where the list of conditions includes the determination that the seller had authorized an updating of the category identifier to the more recent version of a category identifier and that the seller authorized an updating of the category identifier, database application further to

perform a second search by locating the category identifier with a category relationship database,

provide a second category identifier of the merchant listing in response to a match being found in the second performed search, and

associate a second category identifier with the merchant listing, the second category identifier to categorize each of the one or more goods or services for transaction in the electronic marketplace; and

based on a determination that no match was found in either the first search or the second search, transmitting a message to the seller that no match was found.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the parser is operable to translate description information of the merchant listing into the category identifier.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the description information is at least one of a category description and a product description.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the parser is operable to locate the description information of the merchant listing in at least one of a current version and a previous version of the first database.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the first database includes a plurality of category identifiers.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the category relationship database includes a plurality of category relationships representing a mapping of an expired category identifier, representing an expired category, to a current category identifier, representing a current category.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the first category identifier is the expired category identifier and the second category identifier is the current category identifier.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the database application is to update the first database and the category relationship database.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the database application is to merge the first category identifier with the second category identifier.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the database application is to remove the first category identifier from the first database and add a mapping of the first category identifier to the second category identifier in the category relationship database.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the database application is to merge the second category identifier with a third category identifier.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the database application is to remove the second category identifier from the first database, remove the mapping of the first category identifier to the second category identifier, add a mapping of the first category identifier to the third category identifier and add a mapping of the second category identifier to the third category identifier in the category relationship database.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the database application is to add a third category identifier that had been previously removed from the first database.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the database application is to add the third category identifier in the first database and remove a mapping of the third category identifier in the category relationship database.

45. The system of claim 38, wherein the database application is to rename the first category identifier as a third category identifier.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the database application is to delete the first category identifier in the first database, add the third category identifier in the first database, replace the first category identifier with the third category identifier in the category relationship database and add a mapping of the first category identifier to the third category identifier in the category relationship database.

47. A processor-readable storage medium not including any transitory components and storing an instruction that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations of creating a taxonomy and automatically categorizing a merchant listing, the operations comprising:

receiving a description for each of one or more goods or services from a seller, the one or more goods or services each to be categorized as separate ones of the merchant listing;

parsing, using one or more processors, the description of each of the one or more goods or services received from the seller;

creating the taxonomy including preparing the merchant listing for use within the taxonomy, the merchant listing to allow the seller in an electronic marketplace to author listings for each of the one or more goods or services, the preparing of the merchant listing including

determining a category identifier for the merchant listing including, based on the parsing, making a determination based on the description whether the seller provided a category description and whether the seller provided a product description for each of the one or more goods or services;

based on a determination that the seller provided a category description, translating the category description into the category identifier; and

based on a determination that the seller provided a product description, translating the product description into the category identifier;

the determining of the category identifier further including

performing a first search to compare the category identifier with a plurality of category identifiers in a first database, and

associating a first category identifier with the merchant listing, the first category identifier to categorize each of the one or more goods or services for transaction in the electronic marketplace; and

based on a determination that no match was found as a result of the first performed search, making a determination as to whether the seller had previously authorized an updating of the category identifier to a more recent version of a category identifier; and

based on a determination that the seller had not previously authorized the updating of the category identifier to the more recent version of the category identifier, transmitting a message to the seller requesting authorization of updating of the category identifier to the more recent version of the category identifier;

based on an evaluation that at least one condition in a list of conditions occurred, where the list of conditions includes the determination that the seller had authorized an updating of the category identifier to the more recent version of a category identifier and that the seller authorized an updating of the category identifier, performing a second search to

compare the category identifier with a plurality of category relationships in a category relationship database,

provide a second category identifier of the merchant listing in response to a match being found in the second performed search, and

associate the second category identifier with the merchant listing, the second category identifier to categorize each of the one or more goods or services for transaction in the electronic marketplace; and

based on a determination that no match was found in either the first search or the second search, transmitting a message to the seller that no match was found.

48. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 47, further including translating description information of the merchant listing into the category identifier.

49. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the description information is at least one of a category description and a product description.

50. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the translating of the description information of the merchant listing into the category identifier includes locating the description information of the merchant listing in at least one of a current version and a previous version of the first database.

51. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein the plurality of category relationships contains a mapping of an expired category identifier, representing an expired category, to a current category identifier, representing a current category.

52. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 51, wherein the first category identifier is the expired category identifier and the second category identifier is the current category identifier.

53. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 47, further including an updating of the plurality of category relationships in the category relationship database.

54. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein the updating of the plurality of category relationships includes merging the first category identifier with the second category identifier.

55. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein the merging the first category identifier with the second category identifier includes:

removing the first category identifier from the first database; and

adding a mapping of the first category identifier to the second category identifier in the category relationship database.

56. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 55, wherein the updating the plurality of category relationships further includes merging the second category identifier with a third category identifier.

57. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 56, wherein the merging the second category identifier with the third category identifier includes:

removing the second category identifier from the first database;

removing the mapping of the first category identifier to the second category identifier in the category relationship database;

adding a mapping of the first category identifier to the third category identifier in the category relationship database; and

adding a mapping of the second category identifier to the third category identifier in the category relationship database.

58. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein the updating of the plurality of category relationships includes adding a third category identifier that had been previously removed from the first database.

59. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the adding the third category identifier includes:

adding the third category identifier in the first database; and

removing a mapping of the third category identifier in the category relationship database.

60. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein the updating of the plurality of category relationships includes renaming the first category identifier as a third category identifier.

61. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 60, wherein the renaming of the first category identifier as the third category identifier includes:

deleting the first category identifier in the first database;

adding the third category identifier in the first database;

replacing the first category identifier with the third category identifier in the category relationship database; and

adding a mapping of the first category identifier to the third category identifier in the category relationship database.