Product Alternative Identification via Query Comparison Frequency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for identifying alternative products are inadequate and time-consuming, requiring significant data gathering to confidently determine if two products are alternatives.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses a processor and computer-readable memory to analyze query logs, identifying alternative products by determining the frequency of queries associated with one product in comparison queries with another, and assigning weights to relevant alternatives for user presentation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional methods are used to identify alternative products, then reliability of product alternative identification is improved, but loss of time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfidence in product alternative identificationVSAvoidtime to gather data and identify alternatives
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-computes and stores product similarity scores and alternative product relationships in advance by analyzing query logs and product data. When a user searches for a product, the pre-computed alternatives are immediately retrieved and presented, eliminating the need for real-time data gathering and computation. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by preparing the identification framework beforehand, ensuring both high reliability through comprehensive analysis and instant response time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive data gathering is performed to identify alternative products, then measurement precision of product relationships is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy in determining product alternative relationshipsVSAvoidcomplexity of data gathering and processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and utilizes only the most relevant features and data elements needed for product alternative identification from the vast product database and query logs. Instead of processing all available data, it focuses on extracting key product attributes, query patterns, and comparison relationships that directly indicate alternative product connections. This extraction approach maintains high measurement precision while reducing device complexity by eliminating unnecessary data processing components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If real-time analysis of query logs is performed, then adaptability of product alternative identification is improved, but productivity of the system decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to identify relevant alternatives based on user queriesVSAvoidsystem response speed and efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of query logs to establish product alternative relationships and stores these results in advance. This pre-computation captures the adaptability insights from query patterns without requiring real-time processing during user interactions. When users search for products, the system quickly retrieves pre-analyzed alternative relationships, maintaining both adaptability to user needs and high productivity through efficient data retrieval.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8700625B1Identifying alternative products
Publication Date: 2014.04.15 GOOGLE LLC
  • US8700625B1 patent drawing
  • US8700625B1 patent drawing
  • US8700625B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A product catalog system includes a product catalog having information regarding products for sale online by various merchants. The product catalog system transmits information regarding products in response to queries for a target product and also transmits information regarding products that serve as alternatives to the target product. The product catalog system includes a product alternatives module that identifies product alternatives based on information regarding a multitude of received queries and information regarding products that were selected from other products presented in response to the queries. The alternatives module computes an association weight for pairs of products that indicates the likelihood that the two products are alternatives. This association weight is based on the query and product information and further based on the number of times that the two products were the subject of a comparison query.