Patent · US Expired

Methods of catalog data maintenance, storage, and distribution

US7949691B1 · kind B1 · utility

28Cited by
17References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 26, 2000
Grant dateMay 24, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 18, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06Q30/0603
  • WIPO fieldIT methods for management
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An invention is described herein that provides methods and apparatus for collecting, distributing and storing product data. A data structure suitable for use in collecting, distributing or storing product data for use in a catalog is disclosed. More particularly, the data structure is based on a data model having one or more classes, where each of the classes has one or more associated categories. The data structure includes at least one class definition, each class definition being arranged to identify one or more associated categories. In addition, the data structure includes a plurality of category definitions, each category definition being arranged to identify an associated attribute group. The data structure further includes a plurality of attribute group definitions, where each attribute group definition is arranged to identify one or more attributes that are associated with the attribute group. In order to assist in the capture of data, each attribute has an associated possible value list that identifies values that are selectable as values for the associated attribute.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.