Method and apparatus for interactive sourcing and specifying of products having desired attributes and/or functionalities

• US 6,360,216 B1
• Filed: 03/11/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas Publishing Company
• Original Assignee: Thomas Publishing Company
• Inventors: Emerich, Scott, Hennessey, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, CAM Y T
• Application Number:
  US09/265,928
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104, 707/1, 707/3, 707/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method is provided for organizing and retrieving graphical and/or text information pertaining to products. Also disclosed is an apparatus using the methodology of the present invention. A computerized database is provided, in which is entered graphical and/or text information from product catalogues pertaining to the products. An indexer determines and enters into the database structural attribute classification values and solution functionality classification values of the products. A user of the invention interactively selects and retrieves desired graphical and/or text information from the database, which dynamically displays only relevant classification values as the user selects desired structural attribute classification values or desired solution functionality classification values, until the user chooses to select products or to view information associated with selected products. The invention allows the user to view information associated with selected products, and having selected a product, to view information associated with other products having similar solution functionality.

Claims

1. A method for organizing and retrieving graphical and/or text information pertaining to products, comprising:

a. providing a computerized database;

b. entering into said database graphical and/or text information from product catalogues pertaining to said products;

c. determining, and entering into said database, structural attribute classification values of said products;

d. determining, and entering into a solution functionality index of said database, solution functionality classification values of said products;

e. providing means for a user to interactively select and retrieve desired graphical and/or text information from said database by dynamically displaying only relevant classification values as the user selects desired structural attribute classification values or desired solution functionality classification values, until the user chooses to select products or to view information associated with selected products;

f. providing means for a user to view information associated with selected products;

g. providing means for a user who has selected a product to view information associated with other products having similar solution functionality.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a computerized database comprises providing a network web server accessing a database which may be accessed by means of the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of entering graphical and/or text information comprises:

a. selecting a product catalogue to be included in said database;

b. scanning each page of said selected product catalogue to produce files comprising scanned images of each page;

c. determining, and entering into said database, manufacturer information and catalogue information relating to said selected product catalogue;

d. indexing said scanned images by;

(i) viewing an image of a page;

(ii) selecting a cropped graphical or textual portion of said viewed page;

(iii) determining, and entering into said database, page identification and coordinates within the page of said selected portion.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said scanning further comprises converting textual portions of said scanned images by means of optical character recognition to produce text files comprising textual information appearing on each page.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said indexing further comprises determining and entering into said database a product name for each product;

determining whether each selected graphic or text portion corresponds to a product; and

if so, entering into said database which corresponding product corresponds to said selected graphic or text portion.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said indexing further comprises determining, and entering into said database, a classification corresponding to said selected graphic or text portion, wherein said classification may comprise one or more selected from the product-specific group consisting of specifications, descriptive text, pictures, drawings, schematics, tables, and the like;

or may comprise one or more selected from the non-product-specific group consisting, of the front cover, back cover, general company information, general product information, logo, warranty information, and the like.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining, and entering into said database, structural attribute classification values comprises

a. determining, and entering into said database, one or more device identifications corresponding to said product;

and

b. determining, and entering into said database, one or more structural attributes of the product, wherein said structural attributes may comprise one or more selected from the group consisting of material, composition, features, inputs, outputs, capabilities, limitations, options, locations, design characteristics, physical characteristics, and the like.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of entering into said database structural classification values of said product further comprises building a flexible dynamic hierarchy of said structural attributes;

and wherein the step of entering into said database solution functionality classification values of said product further comprises building a flexible dynamic hierarchy of said solution functionality classification values.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining, and entering into said database, solution functionality classification values comprises:

a. determining, and entering into said database, one or more functions of the product corresponding to said selected product;

b. determining, and entering into said database, one or more objects of said functions;

c. determining, and entering into said database, one or more method descriptors identifying how each function relates to or achieves an object of said selected product.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing means for a user to interactively select and retrieve desired graphical and/or text information further comprises providing a flexible dynamic hierarchy of structural attribute classification values and/or solution functionality classification values.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing means for a user to interactively select and retrieve desired graphical and/or text information comprises:

a. displaying on a client workstation a search option screen comprising a set of selectable categories and a set of selectable structural attribute and/or solution functionality values under each said category;

b. upon selection by a user of one or more structural attribute and/or solution functionality values, computing a revised set of selectable values meeting the criteria of said selected value(s).

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing means to create additional sets of criteria and displaying a list of products which meets the criteria of either set.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing means for a user to view information associated with selected products comprises:

a. displaying a list of all products meeting the criteria of said selected structural attribute and/or solution functionality value(s);

b. upon selection by the user of a product from said list of products, displaying a list of classifications of portions of product catalogue pages for said selected product;

c. upon selection by the user of a classification from said list, displaying the cropped portion of the product catalogue page meeting the criteria of said classification.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing means to simultaneously display two or more portions of catalogue pages corresponding to two or more selected products to permit the user to compare two or more products.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing means to view information associated with other products having similar solution functionality comprises:

a. providing means for the user to choose to view information associated with alternative products;

b. displaying on a client workstation a search option screen comprising a set of selectable solution functionality values corresponding to the solution functionality of the product previously chosen by the user.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising means to expand one or more values and thereby display values associated with the expanded value.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising having one or more engineers enter, index, and/or review all data entered into said database.

18. A method for identifying a product or device having desired attributes or functionality comprising:

providing a web server which accesses a computerized database, said database comprising;

a. graphical images of catalogue pages or portions of catalogue pages;

b. coordinates of said pages and/or portions;

c. classification of said pages and/or portions;

d. device identification of the product associated with said pages and/or portions;

e. structural attributes of the product associated with said pages and/or portions;

a solution functionality index comprising one or more solution functionality classification values of the product associated with said pages and/or portions;

said web server programmed to provide display information when accessed by a client web browser or software application, to provide selection options, and to compute responses upon receipt of selections from said client;

wherein a set of categories having an initial set of selectable structural attribute values and/or solution functionality values is displayed on a client browser or software application;

wherein upon selection of one or more desired values under associated categories, a revised set of selectable values is displayed, said revised set meeting the criteria of the selected structural attributes and/or solution functionalities of said initial set;

wherein upon selection of any additional values from said revised set, further revised set(s) of selectable values, is/are displayed;

wherein at the request of said client, a list of all products meeting the criteria of all the selected value(s) is displayed;

wherein upon selection by the user of a product from said list of products, a list of classifications of pages or portions of product catalogue pages for said selected product is displayed;

wherein upon selection by said client of a classification from said list of classifications, the portion of the product catalogue page meeting the classification criteria is displayed;

wherein upon request by said client to see alternatives to a product previously selected, a new list of selectable solution functionality values is displayed, corresponding to those of the previously selected product.

19. A computer implemented system for identifying desired products and viewing information associated with said products, comprising an electronic computer having a processor and a database, said database having the following information:

a. graphical images of catalogue pages or portions of catalogue pages;

b. coordinates of said pages and/or portions;

c. classification of said pages and/or portions;

d. device identification of the product associated with said pages and/or portions;

e. structural attribute values of said product associated with said pages and/or portions;

f. a solution functionality index comprising one or more solution functionality classification values values of said product associated with said pages and/or portions, said solution functionality values consisting of function, object, and method;

said system adapted to display a search option screen comprising one or more selectable categories and one or more selectable structural attribute and/or solution functionality values under each said category;

said system further adapted, upon selection of one or more structural attribute and/or solution functionality values within a selected category, to display a subset of values which meet the criteria of said selected values,

said system further adapted to display at the request of a client a list of all products which meet the criteria of said selected value(s), and upon selection by said client of one or more products from said list, to display a list of classifications of said portions of product catalogue pages for said selected product(s), and upon selection by said client of a classification from said list of classifications, to display the portion(s) of said product catalogue page(s) meeting said classification criteria;

said system further adapted to display information associated with alternative products having similar solution functionality values to a product previously selected.

20. The computer implemented system of claim 19, wherein said database is accessed by means of a server and a client each having a connection to the Internet, and wherein said search option screen is displayed on a client web browser or software application.

21. The computer implemented system of claim 19, wherein said database is accessed by means of a server and a client each having a connection to the Internet, and wherein said list of classifications of portions of product catalogue pages and said portions of product catalogue pages are displayed on a client web browser or software application.