Knowledge-based e-catalog procurement system and method

Abstract

A flexible, intelligent electronic procurement method and system that emulates and learns from the adaptive behavior of a user trying to find a product in an electronic catalog. The invention allows for searching heterogeneous catalogs in virtually any format, and does not require pre-defined hierarchies, nor the pre-loading of vendor catalog contents, nor the scrubbing of vendor data. It does not impose fixed structures on the user, and it does not force the user to think like someone else. Instead, the invention allows the user to choose their own way to navigate a catalog of items, and then by recording successful search scenarios and storing that knowledge in a dynamic collection of search paths, the invention organically evolves. As the collection of search paths can be accessed by other users, the utility of the invention increases over time once implemented in a given environment.

1 : A computer-implemented method for acquiring information from a collection of one or more electronic data stores, whereby said acquisition of information is accomplished automatically, without the requirement for:
 pre-loading of a complete index for said data stores;   prior alteration of information in said data stores by the provider of said data stores;   the imposition of fixed data-relationship structures on said data stores;   fixed links to specific pages for information in said data stores.   
     
     
         2 : The method of  claim 1 , whereby information from said electronic data stores is at least one of acquired, maintained or updated by interacting with said collection of electronic data stores, and storing retrieved information in a separate data cache, wherein said collection of electronic data stores includes said separate data cache. 
     
     
         3 : The method of  claim 1 , whereby information from said collection of electronic data stores is at least one of acquired, maintained or updated by:
 exploring said collection of electronic data stores for selected information;   storing retrieved information in said separate data cache.   
     
     
         4 : The method of  claim 1 , whereby information from said collection of electronic data stores is at least one of acquired, maintained or updated by:
 accessing information in said collection of electronic data stores about similar information previously available in said separate data cache;   accessing information in said collection of electronic data stores, to check for any changes from information previously available in said separate data cache.   
     
     
         5 : The method of  claim 1 , whereby information from said collection of electronic data stores is at least one of acquired, maintained or updated by synchronizing information in said separate data cache with new or changed information. 
     
     
         6 : A system for locating information in a collection of one or more electronic data stores, the system comprising:
 a first storage device for storing information retrieved from said electronic data stores;   a processor connected to the first storage device, with the processor configured whereby:   information from a collection of one or more electronic data stores is acquired, whereby said acquisition of information is accomplished automatically, without the requirement for:
 pre-loading of a complete index for said data stores; 
 prior alteration of information in said data stores by the provider of said data stores; 
 the imposition of fixed data-relationship structures on said data stores; 
 fixed links to specific pages for information in said data stores. 
   
     
     
         7 : The system of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured whereby information from said electronic data stores is at least one of acquired, maintained or updated by interacting with said collection of electronic data stores, and storing retrieved information in a separate data cache, wherein said collection of electronic data stores includes said separate data cache. 
     
     
         8 : The system of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured whereby information from said collection of electronic data stores is at least one of acquired, maintained or updated by:
 exploring said collection of electronic data stores for selected information;   storing retrieved information in said separate data cache.   
     
     
         9 : The system of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured whereby information from said collection of electronic data stores is at least one of acquired, maintained or updated by:
 accessing information in said collection of electronic data stores about similar information previously available in said separate data cache;   accessing information in said collection of electronic data stores, to check for any changes from information previously available in said separate data cache.   
     
     
         10 : The system of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured whereby information from said collection of electronic data stores is at least one of acquired, maintained or updated by synchronizing information in said separate data cache with new or changed information.