Patent ID: 8140408
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: G06Q,H02M,H05K

Abstract:
1. A computer system comprising a similarity engine for use in conjunction with an Internet shopping site, the similarity engine for determining similarity between a first product and a second product, the similarity engine configured to: receive a plurality of attributes of the first product, each attribute of the first product having at least one attribute value of the first product, the attributes of the first product including a particular attribute having a plurality of attribute values of the first product for the particular attribute; receive a plurality of attributes of the second product, each attribute of the second product having at least one attribute value of the second product, the attributes of the second product including the particular attribute having a plurality of attribute values of the second product for the particular attribute; determine a set of attributes that includes the particular attribute included in the attributes of the first product and the second product; for each attribute in the set of attributes, compare each of the attribute values of the first product for the attribute to each of the attribute values of the second product for the attribute to obtain attribute value similarity information, the attribute value similarity information for the particular attribute being calculated as a sum of similarity values between each attribute value of the plurality of attribute values of the first product for the particular attribute and each attribute value of the plurality of attribute values of the second product for the particular attribute; receive an attribute weight for each of the attributes in the set of attributes; calculate the similarity between the first product and the second product based on the attribute value similarity information for each of the attributes in the set of attributes, a weighting of each attribute relative to other attributes in the set of attributes, and the attribute weight for each of the attributes in the set of attributes; and in response to selection of the first product, return the second product in a list of similar products.