EP3997654A1

EP3997654A1 - Method and system for making a database of classified ads for offers and/or searches of goods

Info

Publication number: EP3997654A1
Application number: EP20736386.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Massimo PAPETTI
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-07-11
Filing date: 2020-07-09
Publication date: 2022-05-18
Also published as: WO2021005181A1; IT201900011514A1

Abstract

The invention has as its object a method and a system for the construction of a database of classified ads (DB_A) of offer and/or search of goods by means of a logical control unit (U)which performs the following steps: (a) requesting the type of goods by showing a plurality of options; (b) requesting the type of deed of goods conveyance by showing at least one option selected from a first database of options (DB_1); (c) requesting the type of procedure to follow to define the economic conditions relating to a transaction by showing at least one option selected from a second database of options (DB_2); (d) receiving at least one option for each of the preceding steps (a), (b), (c); (e) inserting at least one ad in said database of classified ads (DB_A) depending on the options received in said step (d); wherein said first database of options (DB_1) and/or said second database of options (DB_2) include at least three options.

Description

" athod and system for making a database of classified ads for offers and/or searches of goods".

k k k k k

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention concerns the field of electronic commerce, or e- commerce. In particular, the present invention is mainly used in the field of commercial advertisements by means of which is possible to make available and find certain types of goods depending on the type of e-commerce contract applied to the goods.

PRIOR ART

In recent years there has been an increase in electronic commerce e-commerce (commonly referred to as e-commerce) and the simultaneous proliferation of websites where goods of various kinds can be made available and purchased, wherein e-commerce has recently been further increased due to pandemics such as COVID-19.

However, the multiple e-commerce websites have a graphic interface and an information management that sometimes is very different between them.

In other words, an unsolved technical problem is due to the fact that, at present, the insertion of search and/or offer classified ads for any type of goods (objects, services, real estate, vehicles, etc.), each with its own possible contractual conditions and the related procedures for defining the economic conditions linked to the contract, is currently only possible by means of the use of many different websites.

Document US 2006/173742 illustrates a method for the construction of a database and the search for items in this database via the Internet. The invention provides for the creation of "customized" data fields for each type of advertisement. Advertisers can then generate a plurality of classified ads based on these custom data fields and allow users to search in these custom data fields. Document US 2016/321710 illustrates a method to optimize the classified ad space on a web page that allows to display a first tier of data and, if a user requests it, to expand the information by displaying a second tier of data and so on, if necessary.

In this scenario, there is therefore a need for more efficient and intuitive information management for the user, who often finds it difficult both to place and search for commercial ads on a particular type of asset.

One purpose of this invention is to provide a method and system for the construction of a database of classified ads capable of making the management of information relating to goods and transactions to which they may be subject simpler and more efficient.

A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a method and system for the construction of a database of classified ads capable of simplifying the insertion and search of classified ads of different kinds.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is therefore aimed to achieve the purposes described above by a method and system according to independent claims .

Further features of the invention can be inferred from the dependent claims .

In particular, the method for the construction of a searchable database of classified ads for offer and/or searches for goods, wherein said classified ads can be associated to one or more merceological classes, and wherein said searchable database is stored in a storage unit, and is built using a logical control unit which performs the following steps:

(a) requesting the type of goods by showing a plurality of options;

(b) requesting the type of deed of goods conveyance by showing at least one option selected from a first database of options; (c) requesting the type of procedure to follow to define the economic conditions relating to a transaction by showing at least one option selected from a second database of options;

(d) receiving at least one option for each of the preceding steps (a) , (b) , (c) ;

(e) inserting at least one ad in said database of classified ads depending on the options received in said step (d) ;

wherein said database of classified ads is searchable by merceological class and is configured in such a way as to generate search results that include a plurality of classified ads relating to the above merceological classes, wherein said classified ads resulting from the search may include any of the contracts as defined in step (b) and any of the procedures to be followed to define the economic conditions relating to a transaction as defined in step (c) .

According to one aspect of this invention, the first database of options and/or the second database of options include at least three options .

Thanks to this invention, it is therefore possible to insert search and/or offer classified ads for any type of goods (objects, services, real estate, vehicles, etc.), each with its own possible contractual conditions and the related procedures for defining the economic conditions linked to the contract. This is possible today only through the use of many different websites. Thanks to this invention it is also possible to make it easier and more efficient to search for classified ads of any kind of goods on a single e- commerce website.

The invention makes it possible to overcome the technical problem illustrated above and to place and search classified ads on one website.

A further object of the present invention is a system for the construction of a database of commercial advertisements including a logic control unit programmed to perform a method according to any of the forms of realization of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more evident in light of the detailed description below with the help of the drawing tables in which:

- Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a system according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows schematically a flowchart of the main phases of the method according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention will now be described with initial reference to Figure 1, in which a block diagram of a system S is shown schematically for the construction of a database of classified ads DB_A according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The system S includes a logical control unit U, such as a computer, a controller or a generic data processing device, preferably connected to at least one storage unit M. Storage unit M may include one or more hard-disk (s) in which classified ads of various kinds can be placed in a database of classified ads DB_A built by performing the method steps of this invention.

The storage unit M can also be distributed over several interconnected servers.

The logical control unit U is preferably connected to a computer network N of terminals (e.g. a network of computers connected to the Internet) by means of which users can place classified ads in the database DB_A and consult the announcements in the database DB_A via a graphical interface (e.g. a website) .

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the logic control unit U is programmed to perform the following steps:

(a) requesting the type of goods by showing a plurality of options;

(b) requesting the type of deed of goods conveyance by showing at least one option selected from a first database of options (DB_1) ;

(c) requesting the type of procedure to follow to define the economic conditions relating to a transaction by showing at least one option selected from a second database of options (DB_2) ;

(e) inserting at least one ad in said database of classified ads (DB_A) depending on the options received in said step (d) require the kind of an asset by showing a plurality of options;

According to one aspect of this invention, the first database DB_1 and/or the second database DB_2 include at least three options. Preferably, the plurality of options shown in step (a) include tangible and/or intangible assets.

Tangible goods may include both movable goods (such as vehicles, electronics, food, tools, equipment, etc.) and real estate (such as buildings, apartments, land, etc.).

Intangible goods may include services, labour, intangible goods (e.g. industrial property rights, such as patents, designs, trademarks, etc . )

Preferably phase (a) includes a plurality of sub-phases in which the options related to the type of good are shown hierarchically. In particular, the options shown in step (a) include a plurality of asset categories that are shown hierarchically in one or more sub^¬ phases. In particular, during step (a), the logical unit may show hierarchically organized categories to specify the type of product in more detail. For example, during step (a), the logical unit may show options related to movable goods, such as vehicles with their respective categories (e.g. cars, mopeds, trucks, etc.) shown in one or more sub-phases.

The first database DB_1 preferably includes at least three of the following options:

- sale;

- rental;

- signature;

- contract .

Preferably, the second database DB_2 includes at least three of the following options:

- auction offer;

- exposed price;

- contact information request;

- quoted value request.

For example, if a user desires place a classified ad for an apartment, the logical control unit in step (a) requires the type of property showing a multitude of options. Among the various options shown, the user can easily choose the option relating to an apartment from the various real estate shown. The selection made by the user is received, in step (d) , by the logical control unit which then shows in step (b) the options relating to the type of contract for the transfer of the asset according to the type of asset selected. For example, in the case of real estate, the options shown in step (b) may preferably be two: sale or lease. Further embodiments may, however, require that the options shown in step (b) include additional options grouped in a hierarchical manner.

For example, in the case of real estate, the option shown in step (b) relating to the sale may in turn include additional options specifying the type of sale (full, partial, bare property, etc.). Similarly, the option of renting a property, i.e. renting a property, may in turn include additional options to specify the type of rent (short term rent, long term rent, etc.) . In other words, the options shown in step (b) are chosen from the first option database DB_1 according to the option received in step (d) and shown in step (a) .

The choice made by the user among the options shown in step (b) is then received by the logical control unit U which then shows in step (c) the options related to the type of procedure to define the economic conditions of the transaction. For example, in the case of real estate (an apartment) for sale, the options shown in step (c) can be three:

• price displayed (i.e. the price of the asset is shown in the ad) ;

• request contact information (i.e. the price of the property is not shown in the ad, and can be requested by contacting the owner of the property privately) ;

• bid at an auction (i.e. the price of the good is not shown in the ad, but is decided by means of an auction) .

In this form of implementation, the options shown in step (c) are chosen from the second option database DB_2 according to the options received in step (d) and shown in step (a) and in step (b) .

According to one aspect of this invention, the options shown in step (c) may include additional options grouped hierarchically. For example, the option shown in step (c) relating to the price shown as a procedure to define the economic conditions of the transaction may in turn include additional options to specify the payment method (credit card, bank transfer, etc.).

Similarly, in the event that the procedure to define the economic conditions of the transaction is an auction offer, the options shown in step (c) may include additional options to specify the type of auction (upwards or downwards) .

In general, the options shown in step (c) may include additional options to more accurately define the procedure that will be followed to define the economic conditions of the transaction and through which the price of the asset offered and/or sought in the ad will be established.

Some embodiments may provide that after receiving an option shown in step (a) , the logical control unit requires the type of procedure to define the economic conditions of the transaction by showing the options in step (c) according to the type of asset selected by the user and that subsequently in step (b) the options relating to the type of contract for the transfer of the asset are shown according to the type of asset selected and the type of procedure to define the economic conditions of the transaction. In other words, the options shown in step (b) are chosen from the first option database DB_1 according to the options received in step (d) and shown in step (a) and in step (c) .

According to one aspect of the present invention, the method further includes the step of requesting the type of announcement among the following options:

- offering of goods (advertisement to make a goods available) ;

- searching for goods (advertisement to request goods) .

By virtue of this invention it is therefore possible to build a database of classified ads DB_A of various kinds in a simple and intuitive way.

The search within the database DB_A can be carried out by means known in the art (for example by means of search engines that search among the ads where one or more keywords entered by the user are present) .

Further forms of implementation may provide that the search within the database DB_A can be carried out by filtering the ads according to the type of good and/or according to the type of procedure to define the economic conditions of the transaction and/or according to the type of contract for the transfer of the good. For example, the user can search the database DB_A for all ads where a certain type of property is offered for rent, and/or for example all ads where a certain type of property is auctioned.

The table below shows some examples of commercial ads that can be entered in the database DB_A using the method of this invention.

According to one aspect of the present invention, phase (e) is carried out further according to the announcements previously entered in the database of classified ads DB_A. In particular, the database DB_A obtained through the method of the present invention makes it possible to correlate different types of goods of different nature and to correlate different types of advertisements, for example advertisements of offer and search for the same goods.

In particular, some forms of implementation may require that the logical control unit, following the insertion of an advertisement relating to the offer of a certain type of good under certain contractual/economic conditions, performs a search phase within the database DB_A in order to associate all the advertisements relating to the search for the same good and the same contractual/economic conditions to that offer advertisement.

Similarly, some forms of implementation may provide that the logical control unit, following the insertion of an advertisement relating to the search for a certain type of good under certain contractual/economic conditions, performs a search phase within the database DB_A to associate to this search advertisement all the advertisements relating to the offer of the same good and the same contractual/economic conditions .

The cross-relationship of offer and search announcements makes it possible to carry out a monitoring service made available for a certain period of time (e.g. chosen by the user), during which the user who has placed an offer or search announcement in the database DB_A is notified (e.g. by e-mail or SMS) when corresponding search or offer announcements concerning the same type of goods and the same contractual/economic conditions are detected in the database DB_A.

Some forms of implementation may require the method to further include a phase in which the logical control unit U requires at least one product class to be associated with the good indicated in the advertisement.

For example, the logic control unit U is preferably configured to require the user to select one or more product classes in order to display this ad together with other ads that have at least one product class in common. Further forms of implementation may also involve the use of semantic recognition algorithms, for example by means of artificial intelligence algorithms, by means of which the logic control unit is able to recognize announcements relating to goods belonging to the same commodity class and to correlate such announcements automatical1y.

In other words, the commercial ads in the database DB_A can be associated with one or more commodity classes, so that during the consultation of the database, by means of search engines known in the technique itself, classified ads belonging to at least one commodity class are also shown together with the commercial ad resulting from the search.

For example, if a user performs a search on the database DB_A to find commercial advertisements related to the sale of a property for catering activities, the search results will also include (preferably shown in a separate section) advertisements belonging to the same product class, such as advertisements related to kitchen equipment, restaurant furniture, offers related to electricity and/or gas supply, beverage suppliers, etc..

These forms of implementation make it possible to obtain a database DB_A structured in an efficient way that optimizes the visibility of the commercial ads placed within the database and at the same time makes the search for assets easier and more intuitive for users who consult the database DB_A.

In general, the system therefore allows the generation of search results that include a plurality of advertisements related to the above mentioned product classes, wherein the above mentioned advertisements resulting from the search may include any of the contracts as illustrated above and any of the procedures to be followed to define the economic conditions related to a transaction.

Claims

1. Method for the construction of a searchable database of classified ads (DB_A) for offer and/or searches for goods, wherein said classified ads can be associated to one or more merceological classes, and wherein said searchable database is stored in a storage unit (M) , and is built using a logical control unit (U) which performs the following steps:

(a) requesting the type of goods by showing a plurality of options;

(e) inserting at least one ad in said database of classified ads (DB_A) depending on the options received in said step (d) ;

wherein said database of classified ads (DB_A) is searchable by merceological class and is configured in such a way as to generate search results that include a plurality of classified ads relating to the above merceological classes, wherein said classified ads resulting from the search may include any of the contracts as defined in step (b) and any of the procedures to be followed to define the economic conditions relating to a transaction as defined in step (c) .

2 . Method according to claim 1, wherein said first database comprises at least three of the following options:

- sale;

- rental;

- signature;

- contract .

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second database comprises at least three of the following options:

- auction offer;

- exposed price;

- contact information request;

- quoted value request.

4 . Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said plurality of options shown in said step (a) comprise material goods and/or non-material goods.

5 . Method according to claim 4, wherein said non-material goods comprise:

- services;

- work;

- intangible goods .

6. Method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said material goods comprise:

- movable properties;

- real estate properties.

7 . Method according to claim 6, wherein the movable properties comprise:

- vehicles;

- electronics;

- food products;

- tools;

- equipment .

8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said real estate properties comprise:

- buildings;

- apartments;

- pieces of land.

9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of requesting the type of ad from the following options :

- offering of goods;

- searching for goods.

10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said step (e) is further carried out depending on the ads previously inserted in said ad database.

11. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one option shown in said step (b) is selected from said first database of options depending on at least one option received in said step (d) and shown in said step (a) and/or in said step (c) .

12. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one option shown in said step (c) is selected from said second database of options depending on at least one option received in said step (d) and shown in said step (a) and/or said step (b) .

13. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said step (a) comprises at least one sub-step, said plurality of options shown in said step (a) comprising a plurality of categories of said goods shown in hierarchical manner in said at least one sub^¬ step of said step (a) .

14. System for making a database of classified ads, comprising a logic control unit programmed to carry out a method according to any one of the preceding claims.