Dynamic Product Variant Disaggregation in Online Search
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current online search systems only display one variant of a product group on search result pages, limiting customer discoverability of other relevant variants and increasing the likelihood of customers abandoning their search if their desired variant is not prominently displayed.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that dynamically disaggregates product variants on search result pages by determining the number of items to display based on user queries and preferences, searching a database to identify relevant variants, and generating a ranked list of items for display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If only one variant of a product group is displayed on the search result page, then the search result page remains simple and easy to manage, but customer discoverability of other relevant variants is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the product group into multiple individual variant items that can be independently displayed on the search result page. Instead of showing a single aggregated product entry, the system divides the product group into separate variant cards or listings, allowing customers to see multiple variants simultaneously while maintaining organized presentation through consistent formatting and grouping indicators.
2Loss of information
If multiple variants are displayed on the search result page, then customer discoverability improves, but the complexity of determining which variants to display increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic variant selection by adjusting the number of variants displayed (M) based on query characteristics and total product group size. The system dynamically determines whether to show 1, 2, or more variants per product group by evaluating factors such as query specificity, product group cardinality, and device screen real estate, allowing the search result page to adapt its content density to different search contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of variant display quantity based on input query properties and product group attributes. By modifying the number of variants shown according to query intent and product characteristics, the system optimizes both information visibility and computational efficiency without requiring complex manual configuration for each search scenario.
3Loss of information
If the system searches for and displays more items from the database, then customer choice and discoverability improve, but the search and processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by retrieving and displaying only a subset of available variants (M variants) rather than all possible variants from the database. This selective display approach balances comprehensiveness with performance, showing enough variants to satisfy customer discoverability needs while avoiding the computational overhead of processing and rendering every available option.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for dynamically disaggregating product variants in online search are disclosed. In some embodiments, a disclosed method includes: obtaining, from a computing device, a search request identifying a query and seeking N items to be displayed on a search result page of a website to a user, wherein N is a positive integer; determining, dynamically based on the query and N, an integer M; searching, based on the query, a database to identify M items associated with the website, wherein the M items comprise at least one subset of items that include at least one variant of a product; generating, from the M items, a ranked list of N items; and transmitting, to the computing device, the ranked list of N items in response to the search request.