Facet Discovery Platform for Item Search
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for identifying items on virtual advertising platforms become cumbersome as the volume and variety of items increase, with supplier-provided item data often being inconsistent and irrelevant to customers, making it difficult for customers to find desired items.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that involves associating items with separate facets, managed and defined by an internal merchant device, allowing for effective differentiation and retrieval of items based on customer requests, without interfering with supplier-provided item data, using a facet discovery platform that includes a datastore and a facet discovery server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If supplier-provided item data is used to search for items, then item identification can be performed, but the search process becomes cumbersome as volume and variety of items increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments item data into two distinct components: supplier-provided item datasets and customer-relevant facets. The facets are extracted and separated from the original item data, allowing independent management and retrieval. This segmentation enables customers to search using relevant facets without being overwhelmed by the full complexity of supplier data, thus improving search efficiency while reducing perceived system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts relevant search attributes (facets) from the supplier-provided item datasets. These facets are taken out as separate, customer-friendly search criteria that represent the most important characteristics for item identification. By extracting only the relevant portions rather than presenting the complete supplier data, the system improves productivity while simplifying the search interface.
2Loss of information
If supplier-provided item data is used for item characterization, then item information is available, but the data may not be relevant to customers for identifying desired items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces facets as an intermediary layer between supplier-provided item data and customer search requirements. These facets act as mediators that translate supplier data into customer-relevant characteristics. The facets are derived from item datasets but reformulated to represent attributes that are actually meaningful to customers, thus reducing information loss while improving adaptability to customer needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of item characterization from supplier-centric attributes to customer-centric attributes. By transforming the representation of item characteristics into facets that align with customer search behavior and preferences, the system maintains comprehensive item information while improving its relevance and adaptability to actual customer needs.
3Ease of operation
If traditional item search techniques are used, then items can be identified, but the user interface becomes cluttered and difficult to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and presents only the most relevant search parameters as facets in the user interface. By taking out and highlighting only the essential search attributes rather than presenting all possible parameters, the system reduces interface clutter while maintaining ease of operation. Customers can search using a manageable set of faceted parameters that are most likely to be relevant to their needs.
Data Source
AI summary
This application relates generally to systems and methods for identification of facets for associated items in a datastore. In an embodiment, a method performed by a computing device includes: receiving, from a supplier device, a first item dataset characterizing a first item purchasable on a sales platform. The method also includes associating the first item with a facet in accordance with an instruction from an internal merchant device, where the facet is separate from the first item dataset, and where the facet may be selected to differentiate the first item from a second item purchasable on the sales platform. The method also includes retrieving the facet from a datastore in response to an item request from a customer device. The method also includes retrieving the first item dataset from a datastore in response to a selection of the facet from the customer device.