Online Shopping Server Recommendation Transparency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users are unable to understand the perspective or criteria used by existing item recommendation systems to suggest related items, as this information is not transparently provided.

Innovation Solution

An information providing device and method that acquires selected item information, recognizes common attributes among the items, and displays this information along with related items from an item database, allowing users to see the basis for recommendations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a recommendation system determines recommended items using complex hybrid recommendation processes from multiple points of view, then the accuracy and quality of recommendations improve, but users cannot understand from what point of view the recommendations were extracted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecommendation accuracyVSAvoidtransparency of recommendation criteria

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the recommendation information into two distinct parts: the recommended items themselves and the common attributes that serve as recommendation criteria. By displaying both the items and their associated common attributes separately but together, the system maintains recommendation accuracy while providing transparency about the basis for recommendations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces common attributes as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between the complex recommendation process and user understanding. These attributes act as mediators that explain the reasoning behind recommendations, making the black-box recommendation system transparent without compromising its complex underlying logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the system displays only recommended items without explaining the basis, then the interface remains simple, but users cannot understand the reasoning behind recommendations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface simplicityVSAvoidrecommendation basis information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is segmented to display recommended items and common attributes as distinct but related information elements. This segmentation allows the interface to remain simple and organized while providing both the items and the explanatory attributes, preventing information overload while maintaining transparency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a new dimension to the display by introducing common attributes as a separate informational layer alongside the recommended items. This dimensional addition provides explanatory information without complicating the basic item display structure, maintaining interface simplicity while enhancing information completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9557891B2Information supply device

Publication Date: 2017.01.31 RAKUTEN GROUP INC

AI summary

An online shopping server (10) includes a receiving unit (17a) that, when a plurality of first item information are selected by a user operation on a user terminal (T), acquiring the plurality of selected first item information, a retrieval unit (17b) that recognizes a common item attribute among the plurality of acquired first item information and reads item information different from the plurality of first item information and corresponding to the common item attribute as second item information from an item database (14), and a transmitting unit (17c) that outputs the read second item information in order to display the second item information together with the common item attribute on the user terminal (T).