Patent ID: 6988111

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for mapping between part numbers that are based on different part numbering schemes, comprising: receiving a first part number associated with an item, the first part number associated with the item being defined according to a first part numbering scheme; searching a database for one or more second part numbers that are associated with the item and also cross-referenced to the first part number associated with the item, the one or more second part numbers associated with the item being defined according to one or more corresponding second cart numbering schemes; and in response to identifying the one or more second part numbers associated with the item, searching a database for a third part number that is associated with the item and also cross-referenced to at least one second part number associated with the item, the third part number associated with the item being defined according to a third part numbering scheme, the first part number associated with the item being mapped to the third part number associated with the item through the at least one second part number associated with the item, wherein: the first part number is not completely mapped to the third part number in that a plurality of second part numbers are associated with the item, at least some of these second part numbers are cross-referenced to the first part number but not cross-referenced to the third part number, and at least some of these second part numbers are cross-referenced to the third part number but not cross-referenced to the first part number; and the method further comprises: determining a percentage of second part numbers to which both the first part number and the third part number are cross-referenced; and if the determined percentage is greater than a predetermined value, considering the third part number equivalent to the first part number for purposes of a particular application for the first part number.