User-Contributed Item Attributes in E-Commerce Catalogs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic commerce systems limit user engagement by restricting attribute control to the catalog operator, preventing users from contributing additional attributes that may enhance product discovery and relevance.
Innovation Solution
Allowing users to submit and view contributor-provided item attributes alongside operator-controlled attributes, enabling a more dynamic and user-driven product catalog experience through a content delivery application that integrates contributor identification, filtering, and rating systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users are allowed to submit contributor-provided item attributes, then the richness and relevance of product attributes is improved, but the complexity of catalog management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments attribute control into two distinct categories: operator-controlled attributes and contributor-provided attributes. This segmentation allows the system to maintain structured, reliable attributes while incorporating user-generated content, thereby increasing attribute diversity without overwhelming the entire catalog management system with complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary filtering and moderation system that processes contributor-provided attributes before they are fully integrated into the catalog. This intermediary layer validates, filters, and manages user-submitted attributes, reducing the burden on operators while maintaining data quality and managing the increased complexity of having user-contributed content.
2Productivity
If multiple attribute sources are integrated, then product discovery effectiveness is improved, but information verification difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where user-submitted attributes are evaluated, rated, and validated by the community and operators. This feedback loop allows the system to verify attribute accuracy over time, with high-quality attributes being promoted and low-quality ones being filtered out, thus maintaining product discovery effectiveness while managing verification challenges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the community to self-validate attributes through voting, rating, and verification systems. Users can report inaccurate attributes, and the community collectively verifies information quality, reducing the burden on operators while maintaining high standards for attribute reliability across multiple information sources.
3Ease of operation
If user-submitted attributes are displayed alongside operator-controlled attributes, then user engagement is improved, but information quality control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality standards and verification processes to different attribute sources. Operator-controlled attributes maintain strict quality control with guaranteed reliability, while contributor-provided attributes undergo community validation and filtering. This local quality approach allows the system to display diverse attributes for user engagement while maintaining overall information quality through source-specific management strategies.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for using contributor-provided attributes in conjunction with an electronic item catalog. A request is received from a catalog user to obtain information an item in a catalog of items. Responsive to the request, the catalog is queried to obtain a plurality of attributes associated with the item. The attributes include at least one operator-controlled attribute and at least one contributor-provided attribute. A page is generated for display to the catalog user. The page includes the at least one operator-controlled attribute and at least one contributor-provided attribute.