Method to identify a suggested location for storing a data entry in a database

Abstract

A method and system to identify a suggested location for storing a data entry in a database including a plurality of divisions is provided. The method includes receiving entry criteria associated with the data entry, and searching the database using the entry criteria to locate similar stored data entries. At least one division for data entries is identified wherein the stored data entries are located. The at least one division is then presented to a user as the suggested location. The method and system may be applied in a network-based auction facility and the data entry may then be a user listing. The method may thus include identifying at least one potentially relevant category for the user listing as the suggested location.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method comprising:
 receiving a keyword identifying new data to be stored in a database;   searching the database, based on the keyword, to locate data entries stored in the database;   identifying a database storage division in which the stored data entries located by the search are located based on a relevance of the database storage division, the relevance determined using a number of data entries stored in a respective database storage division as a percentage of a total number of data entries located by the search; and   causing storage of the new data in the identified database storage division.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the database storage division is in a plurality of database storage divisions that are a plurality of categories of data entries in a database of a network-based commerce facility. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the network-based commerce facility is a network-based auction facility and the new data is a user listing, further comprising identifying at least one potentially relevant category for the user listing as a suggested location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , herein the network-based auction facility is a web-based auction facility, further comprising:
 rendering a web page to the user to enter at least one user listing for auctioning by the auction facility, the web page including a listing criterion field for receiving a criterion from the user; and   rendering a web page to the user in which the at least one potentially relevant category is presented to the user as the suggested location.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 removing stored listings from the database that are no longer up for auction by the auction facility;   adding additional listings up for auction; and   searching the database based on the criterion to locate listings stored in the database that are similar to the new data to be stored, wherein the relevance of each identified category changes dynamically over a period of time as listings are added and removed from the database.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 identifying a group of database storage divisions, each database storage division in the group of database storage divisions including a predetermined minimum number of stored data entries located therein; and   presenting the identified group of database storage divisions to a user.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 identifying a plurality of database storage divisions in which the stored data entries are located;   monitoring selection of a database storage division by a user from the identified plurality of database storage divisions; and   storing the new data in the database storage division selected by the user.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a further entry criterion;   searching the database based on the further entry criterion to locate further similar stored data entries;   identifying at least one further database storage division for data entries wherein the further similar stored entries are located;   in an event of the selected database storage division being identified during the search using the further entry criterion, eliminating the selected database storage division from the at least one further database storage division and presenting any remaining further database storage divisions to the user; and   in an event of the selected database storage division not being identified during the search using the further entry criterion, presenting the at least one further database storage division as a further potentially relevant location to the user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 identifying a plurality of categories in which the stored data entries are located; and   determining a relevance of each category identified based on one of a weight associated with a respective category and a price range of the stored data entries in the respective category.   
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory machine-readable hardware storage device including a set of instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a keyword identifying new data to be stored in a database;   searching the database, based on the keyword, to locate data entries stored in the database;   identifying a database storage division in which the stored data entries located by the search are located based on a relevance of the database storage division, the relevance determined using a number of data entries stored in a respective database storage division as a percentage of a total number of data entries located by the search; and   causing storage of the new data in the identified database storage division.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory machine-readable hardware storage device of  claim 11 , wherein the database storage division is in a plurality of database storage divisions that are a plurality of categories of data entries in a database of a network-based commerce facility. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory machine-readable hardware storage device of  claim 12 , wherein the network-based commerce facility is a network-based auction facility and the new data is a user listing, further comprising identifying at least one potentially relevant category for the user listing as a suggested location. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory machine-readable hardware storage device of  claim 13 , wherein the network-based auction facility is a web-based auction facility, further comprising operations for:
 rendering a web page to he user to enter at least one user listing for auctioning by the auction facility, the web page including a listing criterion field for receiving a criterion from the user; and   rendering a web page to the user in which the at least one potentially relevant category is presented to the user as the suggested location.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory machine-readable hardware storage device of  claim 14 , further comprising operations for:
 removing stored listings from the database that are no longer up for auction by the auction facility;   adding additional listings up for auction; and   searching the database based on the criterion to locate listings stored in the database that are similar to the new data to be stored, wherein the relevance of each identified category changes dynamically over a period of time as listings are added and removed from the database.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable hardware storage device of  claim 11  further comprising operations for:
 identifying a group of database storage divisions, each database storage division in the group of database storage divisions including a predetermined minimum number of stored data entries located therein; and 
 presenting the identified group of database storage divisions to a user. 
 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable hardware storage device of  claim 11 , further comprising operations for:
 identifying a plurality of database storage divisions in which the stored data entries are located;   monitoring selection of a database storage division by a user from the identified plurality of database storage divisions; and   storing the new data in the database storage division selected by the user.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable hardware storage device of  claim 17 , further comprising operations for:
 receiving a further entry criterion;   searching the database based on the further entry criterion to locate further similar stored data entries;   identifying at least one further database storage division for data entries herein the further similar stored entries are located;   in an event of the selected database storage division being identified during the search using the further entry criterion, eliminating the selected database storage division from the at least one further database storage division and presenting any remaining further database storage divisions to the user; and   in an event of the selected database storage division not being identified during the search using the further entry criterion, presenting the at least one further database storage division as a further potentially relevant location to the user.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable hardware storage device of  claim 11  further comprising operations for:
 identifying a plurality of categories in which the stored data entries are located; and 
 determining a relevance of each category identified based on one of a weight associated with a respective category and a price range of the stored data entries in the respective category. 
 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors configured to perform operations comprising:   receiving a keyword identifying new data to be stored in a database;   searching the database, based on the keyword, to locate data entries stored in the database;   identifying a database storage division in which the stored data entries located by the search are located based on a relevance of the database storage division, the relevance determined using a number of data entries stored in a respective database storage division as a percentage of a total number of data entries located by the search; and   causing storage of the new data in the identified database storage division.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the database storage division is in a plurality of database storage divisions that are a plurality of categories of data entries in a database of a network-based commerce facility.