US6728706B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Searching products catalogs
Assignee: PayPal Inc
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Filing: 2001-03-23
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Granted: 2004-04-27
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Expires: 2021-03-23
Abstract
Abstract Searching online catalog databases by shoppers is improved by performing similarity searching on searches performed by the shopper, in conjunction with adjusting the similarity metric used during the search to interactively improve the relevance of the resulting search results to the shopper. This involves using relevance feedback and/or product redefinition to learn the “implied concept” of the shopper's stated product requirements; that is, the quality of the search results is enhanced through understanding the concept implied by the shopper's queries by, for example, learning from the product results marked as “relevant” or “irrelevant” by the shopper. This approach is in contrast with attempts to enhance search results using, for example, the shopper's past orders or previous actions, or the past orders or previous actions of other shoppers who may have a purchase history similar to that of the current shopper.
Inventors
- 👤 Gaurav Aggarwal
- 👤 Sugata Ghosal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of providing to a user an interactive product search facility suitable for searching product information stored in a product catalog, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a database of records respectively describing products, each of said records including a plurality of fields containing respective field values which characterize said products; (b) receiving from a user a request to search said database of records in the form of a query based on one or more of said fields; (c) providing to the user an initial set of similar search records found as a result of a similarity search based on said search request; (d) receiving from the user relevance feedback as to which of said similar search records are of greater and/or lesser relevance to the user compared with other similar search records; and (e) providing to the user a modified set of similar search results found as a result of a similarity search based on (i) said search request, and (ii) said relevance feedback, said modified set of similar search results providing to the user records which are generally of greater relevance to the user than said initial set of similar search results, wherein the provision of similar search results is performed with the assistance of similarity functions, and wherein different similarity functions are used for different types of products attributes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of providing to a user an interactive product search facility suitable for searching product information stored in a product catalog, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a database of records respectively describing products, each of said records including a plurality of fields containing respective field values which characterize said products; (b) receiving from a user a request to search said database of records in the form of a query based on one or more of said fields; (c) providing to the user an initial set of similar search records found as a result of a similarity search based on said search request; (d) receiving from the user relevance feedback as to which of said similar search records are of greater and/or lesser relevance to the user compared with other similar search records; and (e) providing to the user a modified set of similar search results found as a result of a similarity search based on (i) said search request, and (ii) said relevance feedback, said modified set of similar search results providing to the user records which are generally of greater relevance to the user than said initial set of similar search results, wherein the provision of similar search results is performed with the assistance of similarity functions, and wherein different similarity functions are used for different types of products attributes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the provision of similar search records involves a combination of two or more different types of product attributes, including numeric, nominal and image-based product attributes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the similarity function used for numeric products attributes is Mahalanobis distance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the Mahalanobis distance is a weighted Euclidean distance measure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein to calculate the weighted Euclidean distance measure, relative weights are assigned to respective product attributes to represent the relative importance of that attribute in the similarity function.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the relevance feedback received from the user is used to automatically adjust the relative weights assigned to respective product attributes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the relevance feedback involves an indication from the user, for one or more of the results in the set of similar search results, at least whether the result is relevant or irrelevant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein steps (c) and (d) are iteratively performed a plurality of times.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the initial set of similar search results includes K-nearest neighbors found as a result of the similarity search.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the initial set of similar search results includes search results that are markedly different from each other and the query point, and are selected to assist in orienting the similarity function to the shopper's implied concept.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
246 words
A method of providing to a user an interactive product search facility suitable for searching product information stored in a product catalog, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a database of records respectively describing products, each of said records including a plurality of fields containing respective field values which characterize said products; (b) receiving from a user a request to search said database of records in the form of a query based on one or more of said fields; (c) providing to the user an initial set of similar search records found as a result of a similarity search based on said search request; (d) receiving from the user relevance feedback as to which of said similar search records are of greater and/or lesser relevance to the user compared with other similar search records; and (e) providing to the user a modified set of similar search results found as a result of a similarity search based on (i) said search request, and (ii) said relevance feedback, said modified set of similar search results providing to the user records which are generally of greater relevance to the user than said initial set of similar search results, wherein on the basis of the relevance feedback, the similarity function, or parameters thereof, are modified so that the results of the modified similarity search provide the modified set of similar search results which better matches those of the initial set of similar search results designated relevant or irrelevant.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
246 words
A method of providing to a user an interactive product search facility suitable for searching product information stored in a product catalog, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a database of records respectively describing products, each of said records including a plurality of fields containing respective field values which characterize said products; (b) receiving from a user a request to search said database of records in the form of a query based on one or more of said fields; (c) providing to the user an initial set of similar search records found as a result of a similarity search based on said search request; (d) receiving from the user relevance feedback as to which of said similar search records are of greater and/or lesser relevance to the user compared with other similar search records; and (e) providing to the user a modified set of similar search results found as a result of a similarity search based on (i) said search request, and (ii) said relevance feedback, said modified set of similar search results providing to the user records which are generally of greater relevance to the user than said initial set of similar search results, wherein on the basis of the relevance feedback, the similarity function, or parameters thereof, are modified so that the results of the modified similarity search provide the modified set of similar search results which better matches those of the initial set of similar search results designated relevant or irrelevant.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
273 words
A method of providing to a user an interactive product search facility suitable for searching product information stored in a product catalog, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a database of records respectively describing products, each of said records including a plurality of fields containing respective field values which characterize said products; (b) receiving from a user a request to search said database of records in the form of a query based on one or more of said fields; (c) providing to the user an initial set of similar search records found as a result of a similarity search based on said search request; (d) receiving from the user relevance feedback as to which of said similar search records are of greater and/or lesser relevance to the user compared with other similar search records; and (e) providing to the user a modified set of similar search results found as a result of a similarity search based on (i) said search request, and (ii) said relevance feedback, said modified set of similar search results providing to the user records which are generally of greater relevance to the user than said initial set of similar search results, wherein before providing an initial set of similar search results, the following steps are performed: (i) generating a number of similar product specifications by modifying one product attribute for each such product specification; and (ii) receiving relevance feedback for one or more of these modified product specification, in order to adjust the query point and learn the similarity metric that is most suitable, prior to conducting a similarity search on the basis of said search request.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
273 words
A method of providing to a user an interactive product search facility suitable for searching product information stored in a product catalog, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a database of records respectively describing products, each of said records including a plurality of fields containing respective field values which characterize said products; (b) receiving from a user a request to search said database of records in the form of a query based on one or more of said fields; (c) providing to the user an initial set of similar search records found as a result of a similarity search based on said search request; (d) receiving from the user relevance feedback as to which of said similar search records are of greater and/or lesser relevance to the user compared with other similar search records; and (e) providing to the user a modified set of similar search results found as a result of a similarity search based on (i) said search request, and (ii) said relevance feedback, said modified set of similar search results providing to the user records which are generally of greater relevance to the user than said initial set of similar search results, wherein before providing an initial set of similar search results, the following steps are performed: (i) generating a number of similar product specifications by modifying one product attribute for each such product specification; and (ii) receiving relevance feedback for one or more of these modified product specification, in order to adjust the query point and learn the similarity metric that is most suitable, prior to conducting a similarity search on the basis of said search request.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
244 words
A program storage device readable by computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform a method of providing to a user an interactive product search facility suitable for searching product information stored in a product catalog, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a database of records respectively describing products, each of said records including a plurality of fields containing respective field values which characterize said products; (b) receiving from a user a request to search said database of records in the form of a query based on one or more of said fields; (c) providing to the user an initial set of similar search records found as a result of a similarity search based on said search request; (d) receiving from the user relevance feedback as to which of said similar search records are of greater and/or lesser relevance to the user compared with other similar search records; and (e) providing to the user a modified set of similar search results found as a result of a similarity search based on (i) said search request, and (ii) said relevance feedback, said modified set of similar search results providing to the user records which are generally of greater relevance to the user than said initial set of similar search results, wherein the provision of similar search results is performed with the assistance of similarity functions, and wherein different similarity functions are used for different types of product attributes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
244 words
A program storage device readable by computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform a method of providing to a user an interactive product search facility suitable for searching product information stored in a product catalog, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a database of records respectively describing products, each of said records including a plurality of fields containing respective field values which characterize said products; (b) receiving from a user a request to search said database of records in the form of a query based on one or more of said fields; (c) providing to the user an initial set of similar search records found as a result of a similarity search based on said search request; (d) receiving from the user relevance feedback as to which of said similar search records are of greater and/or lesser relevance to the user compared with other similar search records; and (e) providing to the user a modified set of similar search results found as a result of a similarity search based on (i) said search request, and (ii) said relevance feedback, said modified set of similar search results providing to the user records which are generally of greater relevance to the user than said initial set of similar search results, wherein the provision of similar search results is performed with the assistance of similarity functions, and wherein different similarity functions are used for different types of product attributes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The program storage device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the provision of similar search records involves a combination of two or more different types of product attributes, including numeric, nominal and image-based product attributes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The program storage device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the similarity function used for numeric product attributes is Mahalanobis distance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The program storage device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the Mahalanobis distance is a weighted Euclidean distance measure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The program storage device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein to calculate the weighted Euclidean distance measure, relative weights are assigned to respective product attributes to represent the relative importance of that attribute in the similarity function.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The program storage device as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the relevance feedback received from the user is used to automatically adjust the relative weights assigned to respective product attributes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
The program storage device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the relevance feedback involves an indication from the user, for one or more of the results in the set of similar search results, at least whether the result is relevant or irrelevant.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The program storage device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein steps (c) and (d) are iteratively performed a plurality of times.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The program storage device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the initial set of similar search results includes K-nearest neighbors found as a result of the similarity search.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
The program storage device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the initial set of similar search results includes search results that are markedly different from each other and the query point, and are selected to assist in orienting the similarity function to the shopper's implied concept.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus searching product catalogs, the apparatus comprising: (a) a first unit operable for providing a database of records respectively describing products, each of said records including a plurality of fields containing respective field values which characterize said products; (b) a second unit operable for receiving from a user a request to search said database of records in the form of a query based on one or more of said fields; (c) a third unit operable for providing to the user an initial set of similar search records found as a result of a similarity search based on said search request; (d) a fourth unit operable for receiving from the user relevance feedback as to which of said similar search records are of greater and/or lesser relevance to the user compared with other similar search records; and (e) a fifth unit operable for providing to the user a modified set of similar search results found as a result of a similarity search based on (i) said search request, and (ii) said relevance feedback, said modified set of similar search results provides to the user records which are generally of greater relevance to the user than said initial set of similar search results, wherein the provision of similar search results is performed with the assistance of similarity functions, and wherein different similarity functions are used for different types of product attributes.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus searching product catalogs, the apparatus comprising: (a) a first unit operable for providing a database of records respectively describing products, each of said records including a plurality of fields containing respective field values which characterize said products; (b) a second unit operable for receiving from a user a request to search said database of records in the form of a query based on one or more of said fields; (c) a third unit operable for providing to the user an initial set of similar search records found as a result of a similarity search based on said search request; (d) a fourth unit operable for receiving from the user relevance feedback as to which of said similar search records are of greater and/or lesser relevance to the user compared with other similar search records; and (e) a fifth unit operable for providing to the user a modified set of similar search results found as a result of a similarity search based on (i) said search request, and (ii) said relevance feedback, said modified set of similar search results provides to the user records which are generally of greater relevance to the user than said initial set of similar search results, wherein the provision of similar search results is performed with the assistance of similarity functions, and wherein different similarity functions are used for different types of product attributes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the provision of similar search records involves a combination of two or more different types of product attributes, including numeric, nominal and image-based product attributes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the similarity function used for numeric product attributes is Mahalanobis distance.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the Mahalanobis distance is a weighted Euclidean distance measure.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the initial set of similar search results includes search results that are markedly different from each other and the query point, and are selected to assist in orienting the similarity function to the shopper's implied concept.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-27 | 2007-10-27 | 2008-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-27 | 2011-10-27 | 2012-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-27 | 2015-10-27 | 2016-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |