Mining For Product Classification Structures For Internet-Based Product Searching

Abstract

A product search engine uses web-crawling software to index textual webpage content from multiple internet sources. The product data obtained from the web-crawling process is then granulized by parsing methods into key words, such as, words and/or phrases. These components are compared with existing key words from search queries or webpage content. Each key word includes component tags, where the component tags map each component to product classification information in the form of structural parameters; and other product information such as, URLs, product images and product descriptions. When at least one matching key word is found, structural parameters are extracted from the matching components and assigned to the received key words. A search results webpage including product information grouped by associated structural parameter may be provided.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-executable storage device having computer-readable program instructions embodied thereon that when executed by the computer cause the computer to mine classification structures for search results from textual content, the computer-executable program instructions comprising:
 computer-executable program instructions to receive a search query; 
 computer-executable program instructions to identify at least one of a plurality of key words that matches at least a portion of the search query; 
 computer-executable program instructions to associate a structural parameter associated with each matching key word with the matching portion of the search query; 
 computer-executable program instructions to verify a contextual similarity between the matching portion of the search query and the associated structural parameters, the contextual similarity verification comprising parsing web content using a pre-determined contextual phrase, the contextual phrase comprising the associated structural parameter; and 
 computer-executable program instructions to generate a search result responsive to the search query and comprising search suggestions grouped by the structural parameters. 
   
     
     
         32 . The computer-program product of  claim 31 , wherein one of the structural parameters comprises a brand name category, a product attribute category, a product retailer category, a product category, a product line category, a product discount category, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-program product of  claim 31 , wherein the matching portion of the search query comprises information regarding a type of product, and wherein the search results webpage further comprises a list of items corresponding to the type of product, the list being arranged by popularity of the items. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-program product of  claim 31 , wherein the matching portion of the search query comprises at least one of a word component and a phrase component, wherein the phrase component comprises a combination of at least two words. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of associating each structural parameter with the matching portion of the search query is automatically implemented by a computer-coded automated learning software. 
     
     
         36 . The computer program-product of  claim 31 , wherein the identifying step comprises the step of evaluating a semantic comparison between the key words and at least a portion of the search query. 
     
     
         37 . The computer-program product of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of obtaining the plurality of existing key words from at least one of product search feeds, web clicks on search query results, product queries logged in product logs, website site-maps, product categories on manufacturer websites, and product categories in manufacturer brochures. 
     
     
         38 . The computer-program product of  claim 31 , wherein the existing key words comprise a product brand name, and wherein the identifying step further comprises the step of identifying a match between the product brand name and the at least a portion of the search query only if the computer verifies the match based on a number of clicks recorded in a product search log for the product brand name. 
     
     
         39 . The computer-program product of  claim 31 , wherein the contextual phrase comprises the structural parameter associated with the identified key words. 
     
     
         40 . The computer-program product of  claim 31 , wherein the web content comprises at least one of a social networking website, a blog, a forum website, a product website, and a review website. 
     
     
         41 . A system to mine classification structures for search results from textual content, the system comprising:
 a storage device; and   a processor communicatively coupled to the storage device, wherein the processor executes application code instructions that are stored in the storage device and that cause the system to:   receive a search query;   identify at least one of a plurality of key words that matches at least a portion of the search query;   associate a structural parameter associated with each matching key word with the matching portion of the search query;   verify a contextual similarity between the matching portion of the search query and the associated structural parameters, the contextual similarity verification comprising parsing web content using a pre-determined contextual phrase comprising the associated structural parameter; and   generate a search result responsive to the search query and comprising search suggestions grouped by the structural parameters.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein one of the structural parameters comprises a brand name category, a product attribute category, a product retailer category, a product category, a product line category, a product discount category, or a combination thereof 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the matching portion of the search query comprises information regarding a type of product, and wherein the search results webpage further comprises a list of items corresponding to the type of product, the list being arranged by popularity of the items. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the matching portion of the search query comprises at least one of a word component and a phrase component, wherein the phrase component comprises a combination of at least two words. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the step of associating each structural parameter with the matching portion of the search query is automatically implemented by a computer-coded automated learning software. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the identifying step comprises the step of evaluating a semantic comparison between the key words and at least a portion of the search query. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , further comprising the step of obtaining the plurality of existing key words from at least one of product search feeds, web clicks on search query results, product queries logged in product logs, website site-maps, product categories on manufacturer websites, and product categories in manufacturer brochures. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the existing key words comprise a product brand name, and wherein the identifying step further comprises the step of identifying a match between the product brand name and the at least a portion of the search query only if the computer verifies the match based on a number of clicks recorded in a product search log for the product brand name. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the contextual phrase comprises the structural parameter associated with the identified key words. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the web content comprises at least one of a social networking website, a blog, a forum website, a product website, and a review website. 
     
     
         51 . A computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-executable storage device having computer-readable program instructions embodied thereon that when executed by the computer cause the computer to mine classification structures for search results from textual content, the computer-executable program instructions comprising:
 computer-executable program instructions to receive textual content; 
 computer-executable program instructions to identify a match between one of a plurality of key words and at least a portion of the received textual content, the matching key word having associated therewith at least one structural parameter that classifies the key word; 
 computer-executable program instructions to verify a contextual similarity between the match and the structural parameter associated with each matching key word, the contextual similarity verification comprising parsing web content using a contextual phrase, the contextual phrase comprising the structural parameter associated with each matching key word; 
 computer-executable program instructions to classify, in response to verifying the match, the at least a portion of the received textual content with the structural parameter associating with the matching key word; and 
 computer-executable program instructions to store in a database the at least a portion of the received textual content with the corresponding associated structural parameter. 
   
     
     
         52 . The computer program product of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 computer-executable program instructions to receive a search query;   computer-executable program instructions to determine whether at least one of the key words in the database matches at least a portion of the search query, each key word having one or more structural parameters associated therewith;   computer-executable program instructions to verify a contextual similarity between the matching portion of the search query and the structural parameter of the matching key word, the contextual similarity verification comprising parsing web content using a pre-determined contextual phrase; and   computer-executable program instructions to update the database based on the verifying step.   
     
     
         53 . The computer program product of  claim 52 , wherein the step of updating the database based on the determining step comprises increasing a confidence score of an association between each matched key word and that at least a portion of the search query in response to determining that at least one key word matches at least a portion of the search query. 
     
     
         54 . A system to mine classification structures for search results from textual content, the system comprising:
 a storage device; and   a processor communicatively coupled to the storage device, wherein the processor executes application code instructions that are stored in the storage device and that cause the system to:   receive textual content;   identify a match between one of a plurality of key words and at least a portion of the received textual content, the matching key word having associated therewith at least one structural parameter that classifies the key word;   verify a contextual similarity between the match and the structural parameter associated with each matching key word, the contextual similarity verification comprising parsing web content using a contextual phrase, the contextual phrase comprising the structural parameter associated with each matching key word;   classify, in response to verifying the match, the at least a portion of the received textual content with the structural parameter associating with the matching key word; and   store in a database the at least a portion of the received textual content with the corresponding associated structural parameter.   
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54  further comprising application code instructions that are stored in the storage device and that cause the system to:
 receive a search query; 
 determine whether at least one of the key words in the database matches at least a portion of the search query, each key word having one or more structural parameters associated therewith; 
 verify a contextual similarity between the matching portion of the search query and the structural parameter of the matching key word, the contextual similarity verification comprising parsing web content using a pre-determined contextual phrase; and 
 update the database based on the verifying step. 
 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein updating the database comprises increasing a confidence score of an association between each matched key word and that at least a portion of the search query in response to determining that at least one key word matches at least a portion of the search query.