Multi-Item Seller Matching in Electronic Marketplaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic marketplace systems lack the ability to efficiently search for and find sellers offering multiple items simultaneously, requiring users to manually search and compare sellers for each item, which is time-consuming and impractical, especially when looking for sellers offering three or more different types of items.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses a keyword prompt engine, price range prompt engine, and search engine to locate items and sellers in an electronic marketplace environment, allowing users to input keywords and price ranges for multiple items and concurrently matching sellers offering those items, presenting a list of sellers with matching items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users manually search and compare sellers for each item separately, then they can find sellers for individual items, but the process becomes time-consuming and impractical when looking for sellers offering three or more different types of items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate search operations into a single unified search process. The system simultaneously searches for multiple items and identifies sellers offering all desired items in one operation, rather than requiring separate searches and manual comparison for each item.
Solution Approach 2:
The search system is designed to perform multiple functions: it searches for individual items, identifies sellers offering multiple items, and provides consolidated results all through a single search interface, making the system versatile for different search needs.
2Ease of operation
If the system searches for multiple items simultaneously, then users can find sellers offering multiple items at once, but the search complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that receives user search criteria, coordinates the simultaneous search across multiple item categories, and synthesizes results to identify sellers offering all desired items. This intermediary manages the complexity internally while presenting a simple interface to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The search process is segmented into distinct functional modules: input processing for multiple items, simultaneous search execution across different item categories, seller identification and matching, and result presentation. This segmentation manages complexity by organizing the search system into manageable, specialized components.
3Quantity of substance
If users search for multiple items from different sellers separately, then they can purchase items individually, but they incur higher shipping costs and items arrive separately
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple item purchases into a single transaction with one seller, combining what would otherwise be separate shipping operations into one consolidated shipment. This reduces the total number of shipping operations and associated costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of sellers who offer multiple desired items before the purchase decision is made. By pre-identifying sellers with multiple items in stock, the system enables consolidated purchasing and shipping arrangements before transactions are finalized.
Data Source
AI summary
In various exemplary embodiments, a system and associated method perform a search for a plurality of items in an electronic environment. In one embodiment, the system includes a keyword prompt engine to receive a plurality of keywords from an end-user. Each of the plurality of keywords is related to the plurality of items for which the end-user is searching. A price range engine prompts the end-user to input a price range for each of the plurality of items. A search engine uses one or more processors to locate the plurality of items in an inventory within the electronic environment based on the plurality of keywords and the price range. The search engine further matches concurrently one or more sellers having the plurality of items available for sale.