Patent Publication Number: US-2005131771-A1

Title: System and method for generating data sets associated with an entity

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a system and a method for generating data sets associated with an entity.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Known computer systems have been utilized to store data sets associated with an individual. For example, when an individual purchases a saleable good using a credit card, a record of the purchase can be stored in a computer system. However, known computer systems have not monitored a plurality of data sets relating to selected or purchased products or services to determine common attributes that indicate an individual&#39;s personal interests or preferences.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The foregoing problems and disadvantages are overcome by a system and a method for generating data sets associated with an entity.  
      A method of generating data sets associated with an entity is provided. The method includes determining when the entity selects a first service or product. The method further includes generating a first data set having a first attribute associated with the first service or product. The method further includes determining when the entity selects a second service or product. The method further includes generating a second data set having a second attribute associated with the second service or product. Finally, the method includes generating a third data set based on the first and second attributes when a portion of data associated with the first attribute is substantially similar to a portion of data associated with the second attribute.  
      A system for generating data sets associated with an entity is provided. The system includes a first device configured to determine when the entity selects a first service or product and generating a first data set having a first attribute associated with the first service or product. The system further includes a second device configured to determine when the entity selects a second service or product and generating a second data set having a second attribute associated with the second service or product. Finally, the system includes a third device configured to generate a third data set based on the first and second attributes when a portion of data associated with the first attribute is substantially similar to a portion of data associated with the second attribute.  
      Other systems, methods, and computer program products according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic of a system for generating data sets associated with an entity.  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic of exemplary data sets generated by the system of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method of generating data sets associated with an entity. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to the drawings, identical reference numerals represent identical components in the various views. Referring to  FIG. 1 , system  10  is utilized to monitor the selections of an entity and to generate a master data set based upon the selections in order to determine an entity&#39;s personal interests or preferences. An “entity” may comprise a person or a predetermined group of people. A “selection” may comprise: (i) electronically selecting a product or a service, (ii) accessing or selecting a particular piece of information, (iii) purchasing a product or service, or (iv) ordering a product or service.  
      System  10  includes a computer server  12 , a personal computer  14 , a store computer  18 , a digital video recording (DVR) device  16 , a wireless network  20 , a cell phone  22 , a TV  24 , a distribution network  26 , and content  28 .  
      Computer server  12  is provided to generate a “master data set” associated with an entity that corresponds to the preferences or interests of the entity. In particular, computer server  12  may be configured to query store computer  18 , personal computer  14 , DVR device  16 , and cell phone  22  for data sets generated therein. Server  12  communicates with store computer  18 , personal computer  14 , and DVR device  16 , via communication channels  30 ,  32 ,  34 , respectively. Server  12  communicates with wireless network  20  via communication channel  36  to further communicate with cell phone  22 . Further, computer server  12  may be operatively connected to a grid computer network (not shown) and allocate computational tasks to the grid computer network for generating the “master data set.” 
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , before proceeding with a detailed discussion of the remaining components of system  10 , a discussion of the data sets received by computer server  12  will be discussed. It should be noted that each of the queried data sets  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  50  includes the following attributes: (i) ID, (ii) Date, (iii) Time. The ID attribute corresponds to a unique identifier associated with an entity. For example, the ID attribute may represent: (i) the name of an individual or group of people, (ii) the social security number of an individual, (iii) a driver&#39;s license number of an individual, or (iv) a zip code. The Date attribute corresponds to the calendar date of a selection or purchase of a service or product by an entity. The Time attribute corresponds to the time of the selection or purchase of a service or product by an entity.  
      Data set  40  is generated by DVR device  16 . As shown, data set  40  may include the following attributes: (i) ID, (ii) Date, (iii) Time, (iv) Title. The Title attribute corresponds to a title of a program or movie that was selected by the entity to be recorded by DVR device  16 , such as a program entitled “Ballet for Beginners”, for example.  
      Data sets  42 ,  46  correspond to data sets that may be generated by personal computer  14 . Data sets  42 ,  46  include the following attributes: (i) ID, (ii) Date, (iii) Time, and (iv) Web Address. In particular, personal computer  14  may monitor the web addresses accessed by the entity using a conventional Web browser, and create data sets  42 ,  46  for two Web addresses accessed by the entity. Data set  42  indicates that the web address “ballet.com” was accessed by the entity. Data set  46  indicates the web address “carstereos.com” was accessed by the entity.  
      Data set  50  corresponds to a data set that may be generated by a store computer  18 . Data set  50  may include the following attributes: (i) ID, (ii) Date, (iii) Time, and (iv) Title. The Title attribute may correspond to the name a product purchased by the entity, such as a book entitled “How to Install Car Stereos”.  
      Data set  44  corresponds to a data set that may be generated by cell phone  22  having a barcode scanner (not shown) incorporated therein. For example, an entity may scan a barcode corresponding to a book entitled “Russian Ballet” which induces cell phone  22  to generate data set  44 . Data set  44  may include the following attributes: (i) ID, (ii) Date, (iii) Time, and (iv) UPC Title.  
      Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a detailed description of the remaining components of system  10  will now be described. Personal computer  14  is provided to generate data sets  42 ,  46  corresponding to web addresses (i.e., URL identifiers) accessed by the entity using computer  14 . Computer  32  communicates with computer server  12  via communication channel  32 .  
      Store computer  18  is provided to generate data sets associated with an entity based upon selections of services or products by the entity at a particular store. It should be noted that a plurality of store computers  18  could be utilized (e.g. one or more store computers  18  for each store) in system  10 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary data set  50  is illustrated that may be generated by store computer  18  when an entity purchases a book which induces computer  18  to generate data set  50  and store data set  50  in internal memory of computer  18 . Computer server  12  may periodically query store computer  18  for the data sets stored in the internal memory of computer  18 . Alternately, computer  18  can periodically transmit stored data sets to computer server  12 .  
      DVR device  16  is provided to record television shows and/or movies selected by the entity. In particular, content  28  from a service provider (e.g., MSNBC, ESPN, etc) is broadcast through a distribution network  26  to DVR device  16 . The entity can selectively program device  16  to record predetermined content from network  26  for later viewing by the entity. DVR device  16  communicates with distribution network  26  via communication channel  37 . DVR device  16  may be further coupled to a TV  24 . DVR device  16  may generate one or more data sets  40  corresponding to content selected by the entity and thereafter store the data sets in an internal memory of device  16 . As shown, data set  40  indicates that the entity selected to record either a movie or TV program entitled “Ballet for Beginners”. Computer server  12  may periodically query DVR device  16  for the data sets stored in the internal memory of device  16 . Alternately, device  16  can periodically transmit data sets generated in device  16  to computer server  12 .  
      Cell phone  22  is provided to record information related to products or services selected by the entity. Cell phone  22  may include a barcode reader (not shown) that an entity can use to scan a bar code associated with products or services that the entity may be interested in purchasing immediately or at a later time. When the entity uses the cell phone  20  to scan in barcode information using the barcode reader, cell phone  22  can generate data set  44  and store the data set in an internal memory of cell phone  22 . As shown in data set  44 , the entity scanned in a barcode relating to a book entitled “Russian Ballet”. As shown, cell phone  22  can transmit RF signals  23  representing data set  44  to wireless network  20 . Thereafter, wireless network  20  can transmit data set  44  to computer server  12 . Computer server  12  may periodically query cell phone  22  via wireless network  20  for the data sets stored in the internal memory of phone  22 . Alternately, cell phone  22  can periodically transmit data sets generated in phone  22  via wireless network  20  to computer server  12 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , method for generating data sets associated with an entity will be described. At step  52 , the entity selects a first service or product. The term “product” used herein comprises any type of product they can be physically or electronically exchanged between the entity and a third-party. For example, the term “product” includes: (i) physical objects, and (ii) information that can be transmitted in an electronic format such as movies, TV programs, web pages, data files, streaming data, and software programs. The selection may comprise for example: (i) electronically selecting a product or a service, (ii) accessing or selecting a particular piece of information, (iii) purchasing a product or service, (iv) ordering a product or service.  
      Next at step  54 , a first device generates a first data set having a first attribute associated with the first service or product. For example, one of store computer  18 , personal computer  14 , DVR device  16 , cell phone  22 , can generate one of data sets  50 ,  42 ,  40 ,  44 , respectively having the attributes discussed above.  
      Next at step  56 , the entity selects a second service or product.  
      Next at step  58 , a second device generates a second data set having a second attribute associated with the second service or product. For example, one of store computer  18 , personal computer  14 , DVR device  16 , cell phone  22 , can generate another one of data sets  50 ,  42 ,  40 ,  44 , respectively, having the attributes discussed above.  
      Next at step  60 , computer server  12  can generate a third data set based on the first and second attributes when a portion of the data associated with the first attribute is substantially similar to a portion of data associated with the second attribute. In particular, computer server  12  can perform a text comparison of: (i) the Title attribute of data set  40  containing the text string “Ballet for Beginners”, (ii) the web address attribute of data set  42  containing the text string “ballet.com”, and (iii) the Title attribute of data set  44  containing the text string “Russian Ballet” to determine a common text string “ballet”contained in each of the data sets  40 ,  42 ,  44 . Further, the computer server  34  can perform at text comparison of: (i) the web address attribute of data set  46  containing “carstereos.com” and (ii) the title attribute of data set  50  containing the text string “How to Install Car Stereos” to determine a common text string “stereo” contained in each of the data sets  46 ,  50 .  
      Thereafter, computer server  12  can generate a master data set  48  that includes the following attributes: (i) ID, (ii) Potential Interest Element 1 , and (iii) Potential Interest Element 2 . In particular, server  12  can compare the text strings in each of the data sets to the text strings in the remaining data sets to determine that the queried data sets have three occurrences of the text string “ballet” and two occurrences of the text string “stereo.” Thereafter, server  12  can assign the most commonly occurring text string to the attribute Potential Interest Element 1  and the second most commonly occurring text string to attribute Potential Interest Element 2 . It should be noted that although only two Potential Interest Elements are shown in data set  48 , a plurality of additional Potential Interest Element attributes could be included in this master data set indicative of other preferences and/or interests of the entity. Further, the master data set  48  can be periodically updated based upon data sets queried from the various devices by computer server  12 . Further, computer server  12  may assign an occurrence number (not shown) to each Potential Interest Element attribute in data set  48 . Server  12  can utilize the occurrence number to rank order the Potential Interest Element attributes according to the number of matched text strings associated with a Potential Interest Element attribute that occur over a predetermined time period.  
      The inventive system and method for generating data sets associated with an entity provides a substantial advantage over known systems and methods. In particular, the system and method generate a plurality of data sets based upon selections of products and services made by an entity and then determining common attributes that indicate the personal interests or preferences of the entity. Thus, the system and method can automatically determine personal interests or preferences without having the entity answer or fill out questionnaires regarding their personal interests or preferences.  
      As described above, the present invention can be embodied in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is embodied in computer program code executed by one or more network elements. The present invention may be embodied in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.  
      While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.