System, Method, and Computer-Readable Storage Medium For Identifying A Product

Abstract

A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium for enabling the accurate identification of a product identified by a multiple product identifiers and offered by one or more merchants by using a product-data-identification mechanism via a computing device. The mechanism may enable accurate product-data identification by receiving a product identifier from a computing device, using the received product identifier to obtain one or more forms of data associated with the product identifier from one or more data sources, thereby enabling the mechanism to evaluate data from multiple sources to identify the most accurate product data associated with the product identifier. Data sources accessed by the mechanism may be scored according to the accuracy of their data, and a data system's score may affect how its data is evaluated by the mechanism.

1 . A product-identification computer comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the product-identification computer to at least:
 receive a product identifier from a client device;   access product data associated with the product identifier, the product data including sets of data elements originating from respective sources, the sets of data elements including one or more corresponding data elements across at least some of the sources;   identify one or more agreements or disagreements between the sets of data elements including the one or more corresponding data elements;   generate identification scores for respective sets of data elements, each identification score being generated based on the one or more agreements or disagreements, and further based on a trust score for the source from which the set of data elements originates; and   cause communication of a selected set of data elements to the client device, the respective set of data elements being selected from the sets of data elements based on the generated identification scores.   
     
     
         2 . The product-identification computer of  claim 1 , wherein the product identifier is one or more of a Universal Product Code (UPC), a European Article Number (EAN), an Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN), or an International Standard Book Number (ISBN). 
     
     
         3 . The product-identification computer of  claim 1 , wherein the sets of data elements include one or more of title data, image data, attribute data, or product-identifier data. 
     
     
         4 . The product-identification computer of  claim 1 , wherein the product-identification computer being caused to receive the product identifier includes being caused to further receive user-location data, and wherein the memory stores further executable instructions that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the product-identification computer to:
 determine whether the client device is located in proximity to a merchant location; and in an instance in which the client device is located in proximity to a merchant location,   access merchant-product data associated with the merchant location;   determine whether the merchant-product data includes one or more products relevant to a data element; and   adjust the identification score for any set of data elements including the respective data element in an instance in which the merchant-product data is relevant or not relevant to the respective data element.   
     
     
         5 . The product-identification computer of  claim 1 , wherein the memory stores further executable instructions that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the product-identification computer to:
 cause communication of an instruction to the client device to request feedback regarding an accuracy of the selected set of data elements;   receive and store feedback from the client device in response to the instruction; and   adjust the trust score for at least one source per the feedback.   
     
     
         6 . The product-identification computer of  claim 1 , wherein the product-identification computer being caused to access the product data includes being caused to access the product data from one or more of the respective sources in response to receipt of the product identifier and in real time. 
     
     
         7 . The product-identification computer of  claim 1 , wherein the sources include at least one of an online-merchant system, a bricks-and-mortar merchant system, a data-aggregator system, or a system user. 
     
     
         8 . A method to identify a product, the method comprising:
 receiving a product identifier from a client device;   accessing product data associated with the product identifier, the product data including sets of data elements originating from respective sources, the sets of data elements including one or more corresponding data elements across at least some of the sources;   identifying one or more agreements or disagreements between the sets of data elements including the one or more corresponding data elements;   generating identification scores for respective sets of data elements, each identification score being generated based on the one or more agreements or disagreements, and further based on a trust score for the source from which the set of data elements originates;   causing communication of a selected set of data elements to the client device, the respective set of data elements being selected from the sets of data elements based on the generated identification scores,   wherein receiving the product identifier, accessing the product data, identifying the one or more agreements or disagreements, generating the identification scores, and causing communication of the selected set of data elements are operations performed by a product-identification computer including a processor and memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the product-identification computer to perform the respective operations.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the product identifier is one or more of a Universal Product Code (UPC), a European Article Number (EAN), an Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN), or an International Standard Book Number (ISBN). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sets of data elements include one or more of title data, image data, attribute data, or product-identifier data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving the product identifier includes further receiving user-location data, and wherein the method further comprises:
 determining whether the client device is located in proximity to a merchant location; and   in an instance in which the client device is located in proximity to a merchant location, accessing merchant-product data associated with the merchant location;   determining whether the merchant-product data includes one or more products relevant to a data element; and   adjusting the identification score for any set of data elements including the respective data element in an instance in which the merchant-product data is relevant or not relevant to the respective data element.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 causing communication of an instruction to the client device to request feedback regarding an accuracy of the selected set of data elements; 
 receiving and storing feedback from the client device in response to the instruction; and 
 adjusting the trust score for at least one source per the feedback. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein accessing the product data includes accessing the product data from one or more of the respective sources in response to receipt of the product identifier and in real time. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a source of product data includes an online-merchant system, a bricks-and-mortar merchant system, a data-aggregator system, or a system user. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein that, in response to execution by a processor, cause a product-identification computer to at least:
 receive a product identifier from a client device;   access product data associated with the product identifier, the product data including sets of data elements originating from respective sources, the sets of data elements including one or more corresponding data elements across at least some of the sources;   identify one or more agreements or disagreements between the sets of data elements including the one or more corresponding data elements;   generate identification scores for respective sets of data elements, each identification score being generated based on the one or more agreements or disagreements, and further based on a trust score for the source from which the set of data elements originates; and   cause communication of a selected set of data elements to the client device, the respective set of data elements being selected from the sets of data elements based on the generated identification scores.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the product identifier is one or more of a Universal Product Code (UPC), a European Article Number (EAN), an Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN), or an International Standard Book Number (ISBN). 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the sets of data elements include one or more of title data, image data, attribute data, or product-identifier data. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the product-identification computer being caused to receive the product identifier includes being caused to further receive user-location data, and wherein the computer-readable storage medium has further computer-readable program code portions stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the product-identification computer to:
 determine whether the client device is located in proximity to a merchant location; and in an instance in which the client device is located in proximity to a merchant location,   access merchant-product data associated with the merchant location;   determine whether the merchant-product data includes one or more products relevant to a data element; and   adjust the identification score for any set of data elements including the respective data element in an instance in which the merchant-product data is relevant or not relevant to the respective data element.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15  having further computer-readable program code portions stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the purchase-proxy computer to:
 cause communication of an instruction to the client device to request feedback regarding an accuracy of the selected set of data elements; 
 receive and store feedback from the client device in response to the instruction; and 
 adjust the trust score for at least one source per the feedback. 
 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the product-identification computer being caused to access the product data includes being caused to access the product data from one or more of the respective sources in response to receipt of the product identifier and in real time. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein a source of product data includes an online-merchant system, a bricks-and-mortar merchant system, a data-aggregator system, or a system user.